《The Apocalypse is a Sidequest - [LitRPG System Apocalypse]》 1 - Fishing: 1000 After 5000 hours in the game Peaceful Valley and two all-nighters in a row, Nathan was on the verge of greatness. Hed found the perfect lake with the right specs. The water''s acidity, the bait, and the stars aligned. They were just right to catch the legendary Ub?rfish. He reached to the right and groped through the darkness for a drink. On the way there, his hand bumped into one of his old college textbooks and knocked it to the ground. He ignored it and grabbed the cheap gas station coffee that had been fueling him up to this point. The smell wafted up to his nose, overpowering the perpetual pizza scent that characterized his apartment. He was normally a cappuccino guy, but the drink he was holding was bitter and black as the night. Sacrifices had to be made to achieve Fishing Greatness. He tilted his head back and choked down the caffeine, then returned his attention to the screen. Still nothing, just the calming 16-bit music. Nathan clicked his mouse key and his in-game character swung out his fishing rod. The hook flew through the air before landing into the lakes shitty 2.5D poly graphics. On his side, a spreadsheet with hundreds of entries was on another monitor. In the background, his twenty-year-old video card whirred with a buzz. In the glare of his screen, he spotted his reflection. Greasy brown hair and green eyes, a figure so thin he looked more like a weed. He tapped the desk with his free hand, then put his chin in his palm. Peaceful Valley was honestly a pretty mediocre game, all things considered. The only interesting thing about it was that no one had ever gotten 100% in the game. There was a fish that was basically imposisble to catch. The only reason people knew about it was through data mining. Nathan, having nothing better to do and having completed every other game in his library, decided to go for the achievement. Hed also worked on his farms looks in between fishing trips, creating a giant stone monument to radishes. The rod had twitched. His focus narrowed to a laser point. He couldnt afford to mess this one up, who knew if hed get another chance? The rod twitched again. Nathans throat went dry. The golden pop-up telling him to click appeared! His phone rang loudly in his apartment. He misclicked and changed his item from a rod to a turnip. Nathan stood up slowly, then flipped the table and scattered everything all over the floor. Nathan stared at the caller ID: Sarah. His sister. His older sister. He let it ring twice more before answering. "What?" "Wow, feeling the love," Sarah said. Through the phone, he could hear the rustle of what was probably her wedding dress. "You''re not at Mom and Dad''s yet." It wasn''t a question. Nathan''s eyes drifted to his monitor, lying face-down on the floor after his earlier outburst. Still intact, thankfully. "I''m kind of in the middle of something." "Let me guessits some farming game? "It''s not always about games, Sarah." Yeah, sometimes it''s about avoiding your family." Her voice softened. "Remember that internet caf we used to go to? Id destroy everyone, and I''d pretend I didn''t know you just so I could watch people''s faces when my archrival turned out to be my baby brother." Despite himself, Nathan smiled. "You''re remembering it wrong. I got my ass kicked plenty." "But you kept playing." She paused. I I wish you applied some of that determination to other things in life. The smile faded. Nathan righted his overturned table, buying time before he had to respond. "Look, I know what you''re doing. But maybe it''s better if I sit this one out. Your wedding should be perfect, and me being there..." He trailed off. "Don''t you dare finish that sentence." The sharpness in Sarah''s voice made him flinch. "You''re my brother. You''re family. Whatever''s going on in that head of yours, whatever you think you did or didn''t do - it doesn''t change that." Nathan''s throat tightened. The game music still playing in the background felt suddenly hollow, meaningless. "Sarah-" "No, listen to me. I''m getting married tomorrow, and I want my little brother there. Not because Mom''s making me ask, not because it''s what we''re ''supposed'' to do. Because I love you, you idiot, and that''s never going to change." The dial tone rang out. He stood in silence for a second, then he dashed for the closet and threw his suit onto his bed, barely missing the open pizza box. He wasnt going to be the one to ruin his sisters wedding, damn it. If she wanted him there, then thats what shed get. He sniffed the air and looked down at his armpit. Nathan hadnt exactly taken care of himself over the past couple of days. He rushed for the shower. After a one-minute sprinkle, he burst out of the bathroom dripping wet and buck-naked. He quickly rubbed a towel over himself, then slipped his suit on. As soon as he had it on, he slammed his apartment door open and ran out. In the background, he heard an angry yell from one of his neighbors. He threw the door shut behind him and raced to the elevator. It was at floor zero. He hit the button. Seconds ticked by. He tapped his feet and waited for the elevator to go up. After a full minute, the number hadnt changed. He scowled. Was it under maintenance? The number remained the same, taunting him. He ran to the stairs and began the arduous trek to the first floor. After several minutes, he tumbled to the bottom, his chest heaving. Fine he gasped for breath. Maybe the gym suggestion has some merit! After a moment, he pushed himself up and ran to his car. He swung open his door, hopped in, and started the car. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Nathans fingers drummed against the wheel. The inside of the car was silent. Normally, he wouldve had the radio on, but his mind was too busy to even consider listening to music. The sky outside was an odd red colorsome kind of atmospheric phenomenon? Whatever, it didnt matter to Nathan. He had to pick up a gift for Sarah. The problem was that he wasnt exactly rolling in dough. Still, he might be able to get something at a bargain if he was lucky. After a few more minutes, he stopped at a dollar store and rushed inside. He tripped on a loose shoelace, smashing into the ground with a loud thud. The cashier completely ignored him, staring at something on her phone with a shocked look. He pushed himself up and speed-walked over to the bargain section. There werent exactly a lot of options. He picked up a bargain on mens shampoo. Arent I just saying that she smells? he muttered. He went through two more objects. Too gaudy, too cheesy In the background, someone shouted something. Hey, look outside! What the hells going on!? Nathan picked up a blender, and then put it back. No, she doesnt like smoothies. The sound of a car braking outside entered Nathans ears. He stopped a clerk. Excuse me! Whats a good gift thatll convince my family that Im not a failure? The clerk was looking outside. Oh, uh, we have a toaster on sale? Listen, sir, I dont think that Thanks! Nathan rushed over to the front and picked up the toaster. It was 75% off, according to the tag. He grinned. Perfect. Sarah will probably really appreciate this. The glass shattered behind him. He turned around and blinked. People screamed at the top of their lungs and ran away from something. Nathan got closer to the window and looked up. There was a massive purple vortex with lightning flashing every couple of seconds across it. Nathans jaw dropped. What the hell? he said. He didnt have time to contemplate it, because seconds later, a blue box appeared in front of him. The world outside seemed to silence in the face of what he saw. [Greetings, User.]
"Sorry, what?" Nathan stared at the floating blue box, the toaster still clutched in his hands. [Ah. Another human encountering the System. Splendid. Your worlds ambient mana levels have finally triggered my oversight. Youve arrived, and so has my paperwork. Lets try not to waste anyone''s time, shall we?] Nathan blinked rapidly, looking from the box to the chaos outside and back again. "Is this some kind of elaborate prank? Because if it is, it''s really not funny. I''m already late for" [Analyzing user profile...] A long pause followed, and Nathan could almost imagine the box sighing. [Youve got to be kidding me. Your highest affinity is farming simulators?] "Hey!" Nathan protested, momentarily forgetting the apocalyptic scenario unfolding around him. "There''s nothing wrong with liking farming games!" [Of course. Of course there isnt. But when it comes to surviving the collapse of civilization, I somehow doubt turnip cultivation will be your salvation.] Nathan scoffed. This thing was rather rude, wasnt it? [Analyzing talent distribution] It suddenly stopped and a number appeared in a new box. [1000] Nathan blinked. It looked like the system had frozen. [W-what?! No. Absolutely not. Do you know how many actual Warriors I''ve processed? Heroes? Chosen ones? And the universe gives ONE THOUSAND POINTS to some loser who spends his time harvesting virtual cabbage?! This is completely unfair!] The box started pulsing an angry red. Nathan blinked. Is one thousand a lot? [I''ve given battlefield generals FIFTY points. I gave some old martial arts master two hundred. But YOU get a thousand?! This is... this is... You know what? Fine. Here''s your points. I CANNOT WAIT to watch you waste this astronomical power.] A list of skill categories appeared in front of Nathan. Swordsmanship, Spearmanship, Speech, Firearm Maintenance. The list went on and on. At the very bottom of it, one jumped out at Nathan. Fishing. "I''ve got to be dreaming, right?" he said. [Oh, if only. Then I could wake up from this bureaucratic nightmare. Do you have any idea how pissed my higher-ups will be when they find out about you?] A new box popped up: [INCOMING CALL FROM DIMENSIONAL OVERSIGHT - REJECT/ACCEPT?] The System quickly swatted it away. [ILL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU LATER, DAVE.] Nathan''s palms began to sweat as he looked over the list of skills. This was exactly why he stuck to farming games C no pressure, no real consequences. But now, faced with a decision that felt monumentally important (even if it was just a hallucination), he froze. His eyes darted between the options. Swordsmanship? He''d never been athletic in the first place. Engineering? What if he wasn''t as smart as he thought and couldn''t properly use this skill? The pressure mounted, his breath coming in short gasps. [Are you... are you having a panic attack? NOW? With more power than the last hundred users COMBINED?] In a panic, Nathan''s finger darted out, intending to close the screen or back out somehow. Instead, it landed squarely on ''Fishing'' C the skill most reminiscent of his beloved farming games. [No. Don''t you dare. DON''T YOU FREAKING DARE] "Wait, no! I didn''t mean to" Nathan started, but in his flustered state, he accidentally tapped ''Confirm'' instead of ''Cancel''. The box went silent for a full ten seconds. When it spoke again, its text was shaking with rage. [You just... you just spent ONE THOUSAND POINTS... on FISHING. I think I''m going to have an aneurysm. Do Systems even GET aneurysms? Because I''m pretty sure you just GAVE ME ONE.] A simple fishing rod materialized in Nathan''s hand. The box stared at it, then at him. [That''s it. That''s IT. You want to play games? Let''s play games. Congratulations, youll be starting off at Diamond, halfway up the skill tier list. HERE''S YOUR PATHETIC STICK OF DESTINY.] "No, no, no," he said. "This can''t be happening. I messed up. I always mess up. Can I start over? Please?" [Start over? START OVER?! Oh, this is precious. The most powerful being I''ve processed in eight millennia wants a DO-OVER? Because he ACCIDENTALLY became the future God-Emperor of FISHING?] The box''s color shifted to a deep, murderous crimson. [You know what? Welcome to the ULTRA HARD NIGHTMARE DEATH TUTORIAL. Because if I have to process this cosmic joke, I''m going to at least enjoy the show.] Ultra hard what-now? Nathan felt a sinking feeling in his gut. [Tutorial quest: "Sink or Swim." And yes, that''s a fishing pun, you absolute waste of metaphysical power. Reach Level 15 or die trying. The Mother needs sustenance after all. Maybe you get a class at the end.] "I can''t do this. I''m not cut out for apocalypses or quests or... or fishing! I just wanted to buy a stupid toaster!" [Well, I wanted to process a potential hero today, but apparently we''re both going to be disappointed. Initiating transfer in 3... 2... Actually, you know what? No countdown for you.] The fluorescent lights of the dollar store began to flicker and buzz, their harsh glare intensifying until it burned his retinas. The air grew thick, syrupy, like trying to breathe through cotton. Nathan''s skin prickled with static electricity, each hair standing on end as reality began to tear apart around him. The scent of ozone filled his nostrils, sharp and metallic. The floor beneath his feet turned to jelly, and his stomach lurched as gravity seemed to lose its meaning. Colors bled together like wet paint, the familiar shelves of the dollar store stretching and warping like melting plastic. A deep, resonant hum built in his bones, rising in pitch until his teeth rattled. The world spun like a kaleidoscope gone mad, fragments of reality spinning away into an infinite void. The temperature plummeted, then soared, then vanished altogether, leaving him numb to everything except the sensation of falling. Then, absolute silence. Absolute darkness. Absolute nothing. The impact of solid ground knocked the wind from his lungs. The first thing he noticed was the smell C rot and sulfur and something metallic that might have been blood. His fingers dug into loose, gritty soil. The air tasted like ash and old bones. He opened his eyes and pushed himself off the dirt. Nathan was in some barren hellscape. Around him was nothing but black trees, leafless bushes, and dead soil. He turned around in a circle, coming face-to-face with a giant, red-eyed skeleton that stared down at him. [Oh look, it''s a Dread Bone Titan. Usually we save these for level 20, but... special occasion and all that. Have fun!] Nathan blinked. Fuuuuuuuu 2 - “Do you have any idea how long it’ll take to patch this?” Nathan looked up at the skeleton monster and gave it a slow wave. It roared and raised its hands into the air. For a few heart-pounding seconds, the world slowed down. Nathan screamed and ran off in the other direction. A second later, the monster swung its fists down. The ground shook and dust kicked into the air. Nathan tripped, and flew forward, crashing into the black soil. The skeleton monster let out a low laugh. Nathan stood back up and continued running. He looked from left to right. The ground was flatter than a pancake, with no outcroppings or forests to hide in. There were dead bushes, but Nathan doubted those would stop a giant skeleton monster. He forced himself to his feet and sprinted. I just wanted to buy my sister a toaster! he said. The skeleton monster stood up. It ran toward Nathan, its footsteps shaking the ground. Nathan looked behind himself and let out a shrill scream. The monster grabbed him by the back of his shirt and looked at him, bored. For a moment, Nathan held out hope that the monster would spare him. Then it threw him to the side. Nathan crashed against the soil. The ground scraped against his exposed skin, cutting it open. He folded his arms around his head to protect his brain. He stopped rolling and wheezed for breath. The toaster and fishing rod were scattered over the ground beside him. The monster stepped closer. Nathan groaned. What had he done to deserve this? The skeleton monster stood still and raised its foot to crush Nathan. Panic flooded Nathans veins and he instinctively reached out for the closest weapon he had. The fishing rod. The monster laughed. It brought its foot down. Nathan swung the fishing rod toward the monster. The hook flew through the air and caught onto its leg bone. [Fishing Minigame Engaged!] At that exact moment, the skeleton monster froze. A blue, glowing box similar to the System messages popped up in front of Nathan. There was a circle with a rotating green spot on one side. At the top was a fish. The green spot rotated past the fish and a bar to the left decreased. For a few precious seconds, Nathan stared in shock before it finally registered what he was looking at. In another farming game, there was a system similar to this. You had to click when the green spot touched the fish. If you did this four times, youd get the fish. If you missed your chance, then youd take a hit to your fishing stamina. Lose all your stamina, and you lose the fish entirely. The green spot passed by the fish and the bar to the left dropped down. Based on the rate hed been losing stamina, he only had three chances left. Old instincts locked in. The green part of the circle rotated, and this time Nathan tugged on his rod at just the right time. The fish on the screen let out a little wiggle. He waited for it to pass by the green spot, then tugged again. The monster, despite being frozen, seemed to widen its eyes. It twitched, and the fish changed position. Nathan tugged after a moments hesitation, but he failed to react fast enough and missed his chance. The stamina bar dropped. Two more strikes and hed lose the catch. His heart pounded in his chest. He wasnt sure what was happening or if this would somehow save his life, but he figured it was better than rolling over to die. The green circle rotated. The fish shifted. Nathan gritted his teeth and tugged on the fishing rod. The fish wiggled, confirming success. One more tug and hed win. At that thought, the fish spun around the circle, then it teleported to the other side. A droplet of sweat rolled down Nathans back. His eyes followed the complex movements as best he could. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. It teleported in front of the green circle. He tugged, only for the fish to disappear and return to the other side. The failed tug consumed some of his fishing stamina. One more hit to that bar and it was over. His heart seemed to gallop in his chest. Salty water rolled down his cheeks. The fish teleported, it did a slow meander toward the green spot of the circle. It stopped right before the green spot and teleported away. Nathan sucked in a breath. Patience The fish teleported back to just in front of the green spot, then sprinted backward. It slowed to a halt. And the green spot passed in front of it. Nathan tugged. A small message popped up, saying, [Catch Successful!] The monster let out an inhuman scream and lifted into the air. It dissolved into white particles before a blue window popped up in front of Nathan labeled Inventory. The white particles flew into the window, and a small image of a skeleton monster popped up in one of the boxes. Nathan stared at it. A new box appeared. [System Error detected! Living Organisms should not be in the inventory. Placing Organism back into material plane] The picture of the monster turned white. In front of him, Nathan could see a glowing outline of the skeleton monster. It was getting more clear and defined by the second. Nathan blanched. His eyes washed over the different buttons. To the right, there was a trashcan icon. He clicked the mini-skeleton-monster, then dragged it over to the trashcan. For a second, the window froze and nothing seemed to happen. Nathan watched with bated breath. Then, the icon of the monster disappeared. The glowing outline vanished. [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have gained 6 new achievements!] [Error Detected! Class: Monster incompatible with Function: Trash. Determining course of action] Nathan stiffened. Would it reverse the deletion? [Deletion confirmed.] [Sending bug report to System-B32. Approximate update time 8 hours.] [Special achievement: Do you have any idea how long itll take to patch this? obtained!] He slumped over onto the ground. He was alive. Somehow. He lifted his head and stood up. Where was he?
He ignored all the new windows. Theyd long since drifted to the edge of his vision. For several minutes, he observed the empty plains that hed stumbled into. He hadnt noticed it before, but it was evening. The sun had dipped below the horizon and it was getting darker and colder by the second. He needed to find shelter. Nathan breathed in. He let out a fake laugh. This is going on my list of top 10 worst experiences. Just behind the time Sarah ate my entire birthday cake. Sarah. His sister. The one that he was supposed to be meeting with. Was she okay? Was she here in this whatever this place was? His thoughts spun in circles for several minutes. Nausea assaulted his senses. He tried to stay still for a few seconds before he felt something rush up his throat. He vomited onto the ground. The wet liquid chunks dripped into the soil. He heaved for several minutes and wiped away the spit with his suits sleeve. A chilling wind whistled in his ears. After what felt like an hour of dry heaving, Nathan dug his fingers into the dirt and forced himself up to his feet. If he ever wanted to see his sister, hed have to survive and get out of this nightmare. And to survive, he needed shelter. There would be time to freak out later. He reached down and picked up the toaster, then walked. There was nothing at all. Just miles and miles of the same land over and over. There was the occasional dirty puddle, but that was about it. The whole time, Nathan reminded himself that he would freak out later. The mantra helped to keep him focused. As time went on, the air got chillier. Nathan shivered. He saw a stone outcropping. He dashed over, nearly stumbling over himself in his haste. When he got there, he found an opening leading into a cave system. He gulped as he stared into the dark abyss. Better than staying out, exposed to the cold. He wandered in. Nathan pulled out his phone and took a look at the battery symbol. 100%. He breathed a sigh. Nathan turned on the flashlight, revealing the interior of the cave. He crept inside and descended. As he got deeper, the sound of the wind became deafened and the temperature warmed. He continued walking until he heard the sound of dripping water. He blinked. Was there an underground stream? Im parched. Nathan didnt have a kettle to boil the water, though. He sighed and continued onward, then paused. There was a light up ahead. He crept forward, his eyebrows furrowed. Where was that light coming from? When he saw it, his jaw dropped. It was a massive underground lake. The water glowed with an ethereal light, white spots like fireflies illuminating the rock shore. A drop from the ceiling fell, glistening, before landing in the water and creating several ripples. Nathan stared at the sight for several minutes before he leaned down. He washed his hands and splashed his face with the refreshing water, the dirt melting away instantly. He reached his hands in and cupped a handful. Nathan was thirsty. He put the water to his lips and sipped on it. There was a sweetness to the water, along with a slight sting as it went down his throat. Once it reached his stomach, his pains and aches started to disappear. It was like his soul was the part getting refreshed, not his body. He leaned down and lapped up the water like a dog. Nathan was sure that there was absolutely nothing weird that would happen from drinking the glowing mystery water. After he finished, the euphoria from drinking faded away, and he slumped over on the rocky shore. Now that hed found somewhere safe, it was time to figure out what the hell was going on. 3 - [Congratulations! Youve unlocked the Apocalypse?] Right. The blue boxes had said something about a System. The earth had reached minimum ambient mana levels and could now be integrated, whatever the hell that meant. After that, hed gotten thrown into some kind of Ultra Hard Nightmare tutorial. If this was supposed to be a tutorial, it was doing a crappy job of it. Tutorial. Like a video game? If he could summon an inventory, then maybe he could summon something else, like a status page or a help menu. He looked at the edges of his sight for some kind of button but didnt see anything. Perhaps he could ask the blue boxes for help? Hey, uh, System person? Can you help me out? Nathan said. Nothing happened. Id appreciate an explanation, you know. Once again, he received no response. Nathan grunted. Would it have been too much to get a goddamn help page? A blue box appeared in front of him. Nathan jumped back instinctively, and the blue box followed. Nathans heart slowed and he took a closer look. [Congratulations! You''ve unlocked the Apocalypse?] If you''re reading this, congratsyour planet has been granted the privilege of participating in the Great Descent?. Thats right, you lucky soul, your world has been selected to partake in a legendary, totally-not-optional battle that happens every 1000 years! Alongside five other confused species, you''ll fight tooth and nail to reach the bottom of the 9 circles. And trust us, these circles are no walk in the parkeach one comes with its own flavor of misery...uh, we mean challenges. But hey, if you make it, youll be heading home with some serious loot and impressive new powers! Features: 9 Custom-Tortured Worlds: Explore beautifully crafted realms, each designed to test your sanity and survival skills! Diplomacy: Trade with, befriend, or declare war on bizarre species gathered from across the universe! (Friendly tip: they probably hate you.) System Enhancement: To aid you in the integration of your new magical powers, the System guides, categorizes and automatically applies your abilities to your body! Reaction-Based Combat: Blink, and youre dead! No pressure. Arcane Madness: Master an in-depth magical system that will either make you a god or a greasy stain on the floor. So go ondive in, fight for survival, and make your species proud! (Or, you know, die trying. That works too.) Nathan looked at the box with a dry expression. He stared up at the cavern ceiling and shook his fist. I did not agree to this, you jackass! I demand a refund! After grumbling a bit, he thought over what hed learned. Nine circles Nathan assumed, based on the features list, that this was another word for realms or worlds. And to return home, he had to get to the final circle. He searched the box and spotted a pop-up icon. He clicked it, revealing two other articles. [Clearing a Circle] [Classes] Oh, how convenient. He clicked the first one. [The conditions for exiting a circle change from Circle to Circle. Some Circles will require combat. Some will require information-gathering. Some will require a virgin sacrifice (jk, jk unless??). One universal thing is that if you fail to clear the circle in the allotted time frame, you will be crushed during the recycling of the Circle and turned into monster food. So, uh, get to the end and dont die. Non-Users (barring rare exceptions) may not pass through the exit. To view Circle clear conditions, go to the quest menu and view the current Circle quest.] Recycled? Nathans hands shook before he forcibly stopped them. He took a deep breath and looked closer at the description. If the quest menu was anything like the help page Quests. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. At that moment, a new blue box appeared to the left of the article list. There were three tabs. Main Quests, Personal Quests, and Side Quests. The current tab selected was Main Quests. There was only one item in the list: [Escape the Tutorial!] Nathan clicked it. [Escape the Tutorial!] Aw, leaving so soon? We totally dont take it personally. To escape the dreaded tutorial, weve made it so dead simple even a level 1 NPC could figure it out! Just kill one, harmless, adorably-named Circle Boss. Its just a single, tiny (okay, not that tiny) bosshow hard could it be, right? Requirements: -Kill [Gliding Eel] - Lv. 37 -Must be finished in 15 Days (Day 1/15) Rewards: -Soulbound Town (Starts with 4x standard town points) -Staircase to Circle 1 Nathan got the feeling that it wouldnt be an easy fight. That was ignoring the fact that hed almost gotten massacred by that giant skeleton monster. The only reason hed survived was because hed gotten lucky with the hook thing, and that was going to get patched in a few hours if the System hadnt been lying earlier. Why couldnt it have been something easy, like collecting ten apples? Thats a good starter quest, right? he said. He clicked on the next tab, Personal Quests. Three different items appeared. [Upgrade REEL to Diamond+] (0/10 fish caught) [Upgrade BAIT to Diamond+] (0/1 Scythian Worms) [Upgrade CAST to Diamond+] (0/10000 casts made) [Sink or Swim] (9/15 Lv.) For [Reel], he needed to fish 10 fish of F-rank or higher. For [Bait], he had to find one rare [Scythian Worm], a powerful bait. Finally, hed need to cast his fishing line 10000 times to upgrade [Cast]. Nathan bit his bottom lip. A sinking feeling entered his gut. None of these skills were related to fighting. Then again he didnt know what [Cast] did. Maybe it was referring to magic casts? Im deluding myself. But to find that out for sure, hed need to get access to his personal information. In a few of the RPG farming games hed played, there was a menu related to that. Status. Nothing happened. His stomach growled and a wave of exhaustion hit him. He needed to rest. Nathan decided to check out the other article before he fell asleep. [Classes] Ah, the all-important class selection. This is, without a doubt, the single most crucial choice youll make you know, if you survive long enough to reach it. Your class doesnt just hand out perksit basically decides whether youll spend the apocalypse as a badass hero or a well-dressed corpse. For example, a [Warrior] (Copper) could eventually class-up into the slightly more intimidating [Mighty Warrior] (Iron). Pretty cool, right? But heres the thing: you start with no class. Nada. Zilch. Youre just youLv. 1 Nobody. Its only at Lv. 15 that the System decides youre worthy of a job title. The classes are kind of random, but the System does its best to match them to your personality and existing skills. If youre the sword-swinging type, youll likely end up with something swordy. But if youve spent your days, say, crafting pottery or maxing out your fishing skills well, uh, you might not get the most apocalypse-ready options. Lets just say that wielding a fishing rod in battle isnt as effective as youd hope. Crap. Nathan tried to stay awake, but he couldnt keep it up. His body slumped over to the hard ground. As he fell asleep, his mind wandered back to the events of the day. Hed almost died to a giant skeleton monster. He didnt even get to see his sister. And worst of all? He was freaking starving. His mind shut down.
The next morning, Nathan woke up to hunger pangs. His body felt weak and exhausted, and all he wanted to do was lie down and try to get more sleep. He forced himself into a sitting position and looked at the glowing water. Nathan wanted to keep experimenting with the System, but first, he needed to eat. Nathan didnt feel like searching for food on the surface after hed almost died. Besides, what would he eat? The bone marrow of one of those skeleton creatures? A glowing window appeared in front of him before he could think anymore. [Greetings, survivors. I am System-B32. Normally, I dont do this, but special times call for special measures, as you humans put it. Last night, I received a bug report for the first time in ten thousand years. A survivor in the ULTRA HARD HELL NIGHTMARE tutorial exploited a bug. This bug has been patched by removing the fishing system. Youll have to do it the normal way now. Mad? Blame that guy.] The window disappeared and another one appeared. [Private Message Received] [SCREW YOU, NATHAN LEE. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH TROUBLE YOUVE CAUSED? IF YOU WERENT GOING TO DIE ANYWAY, ID PERSONALLY COME DOWN THERE AND RIP YOUR HEAD OPEN.] The window disappeared, revealing a third window with a gif of a middle finger. The window closed, leaving Nathan alone. Nathan blinked and rubbed his eyes. There were multiple concerning parts to that message. First of all, he definitely wouldnt be able to exploit that bug again. In addition, he wouldnt be able to flex his fishing game skills anymore. This was a problem, considering he didnt know how people fished in real life. Also, the Systems certainty about his impending death was worrying. He sighed and picked up the fishing rod. He might as well give it a shot. There was no reel. It was just a hook and a piece of string attached to a long, tapered stick. Nathan threw his line into the water. Less than three seconds later, he felt a nibble on his line. He blinked. Another nibble. His hands jerked of their own accord and he knew that hed managed to hook the fish. It swam away and Nathans hands wrapped themselves around the rod tightly. He pulled backward until the fish flew into the air and landed beside him with a thump. Nathan stared at the flopping fish with wide eyes. No bait, and he somehow managed to get a fish? He shook his head and drew his fishing rod back for another swing. He threw forward and waited for three seconds. A moment later, he felt his hook snag on something. He pulled backward and a gleaming piece of metal was dragged out of the water. He stared down at it. It was a beautifully crafted, intricately designed sword. Inscriptions ran up and down the metal while the hilt was covered in valuable jewels. Nathan slowly blinked his eyes. Did someone leave an entire sword in this random-ass lake? He shook his head. Hed take a closer look at it in a minute. He threw his fishing rod back into the water. Like clockwork, he felt a nibble and pulled back. The object clattered to Nathans side. [You have leveled up!] Nathan stared at the object for a long period of time. Several minutes passed, nothing to be heard but the gentle drips of water falling into the pool. Hed just fished out an AK-47. 4 - Please Prepare Your Sushi Safely Nathan reached up and rubbed his forehead. How did he manage to accidentally get a sword and a rifle within ten seconds of each other? Water dripped in the background. He stared over at the sword. It was a heavy sword. He could see that when it fell, bits of the rock floor had chipped off from the sheer weight of the crash. Nathan reached down and picked it up. It was as light as a feather in his hand. Why was there a rifle and a sword down there at all? Fine, the sword he could accept. But a rifle!? Did it still work? He picked it up and clicked some of the buttons. After a moment, he aimed it up at the wall of the cave and fired. The muzzle of the gun flashed and Nathans eardrum erupted in pain. He dropped the gun to the ground and brought his hands to his ears. Agh, bad idea, he muttered. Dont fire off a gun without hearing protection. After the pain passed away, he looked down at the gun. A flicker of hope lit up inside him. With a gun, maybe he had a chance against the more dangerous monsters. But how had he gotten them in the first place? Was it like his farming games, where you had a chance to get items from fishing? He had a strong suspicion that his skills had something to do with all this. Skills, he said. Nothing. System. Nope. Menu. At that, a window popped up in front of Nathan. Nathan Lee - Lv. 10 Age: 22 Race: Human (F) Class: N/A Stats: Strength: 3 (+27) = 30 Dexterity: 4 (+3) = 7 Constitution: 1 (+5) = 6 Magic: 3 (+5) = 8 Luck: 12 (+15) = 27 Available Stats: 36 Skill List: [Reel] (Diamond) [Bait] (Diamond) [Cast] (Diamond) [Basic Inspect] (Copper) Achievements: [Monster Catch], [Fish Out of Water], [Against All Odds], [First Blood], [Do you have any idea how long itll take to patch this?] Nathans heart quickened. His stats were through the roof from those pluses. Where were those even coming from? He clicked through them to check each of the descriptions. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Each of them was as expected. Strength governed his ability to lift big things, Constitution helped with healing and bodily toughness, et cetera, et cetera. What stuck out to him was his high luck. I sure as hell dont feel lucky, he said. If I was lucky, I wouldnt be in this mess. He clicked on the stat description. [Luck determines several abstract, difficult to define things. The most noticeable change will be increased chest loot rarity and increased catch rate and catch rarity.] Increased catch rate and catch rarity. He looked over at the rifle. Could it be that he was just that lucky? If he could keep getting strong weapons, could he have a chance, even against crazy monsters like the skeleton titan? Maybe, in the long run, he might even be able to avoid fighting. Maybe fishing wasnt as weak as everyone thought, at least if you had a build optimized for it. If I got something strong enough, I might be able to blow away the monsters in one easy blow. Id be safe, Id never get hurt again. Nathan felt goosebumps rush up his skin. Earlier, he felt that he had zero chance of survival, but with this He clicked on his skills to see what bonuses they were giving him at the moment. [Reel] decreased his catch difficulty by 35%. [Bait] increased catch rarity and catch rate by 20%. [Cast] allowed him to cast his fishing rod with higher accuracy and speed. It also increased fishing pole damage by 15%. He clicked on the last skill, [Basic Inspect] (Copper). [Basic Inspect] Allows you to get a basic description of an object or lifeform. His eyes wandered down to the last section. Achievements. He clicked on the first one. [Monster Catch] Description: Not only did you catch something, but it also tried to kill you. And you won. Reward: +12 Strength, +5 Constitution His eyes widened. So that was where the extra stat points were coming from. Achievements [Fish Out of Water] Description: Youve done the impossiblekilled a monster using a fishing rod. Might want to keep that hook handy. Reward: +5 Luck, +3 Dexterity [Against All Odds] Description: Killing something 20 levels higher than you? Either youre a genius, or youre just lucky. Reward: +10 Luck, +5 Magic [Primal Blood] Description: In a dark, dangerous, bloodthirsty world, youre the most bloodthirsty of them all. Youre the first player to kill in the entire apocalypse. Reward: +15 Strength Nathan whistled. He was strong. It was also pretty surprising that he was apparently the first one to kill something well, not really. He bet that everyone else got to start somewhere safe. Lucky bastards. Im out here fighting skeleton titans while theyre dealing with I dont know, zombies or something. Well, I guess it wasnt really a fight. He clicked on the last achievement. [Do you have any idea how long itll take to patch this?] Description: Jackass. Itll be refreshing to see your cooling corpse when I check back in on you at the end of two weeks. Reward: -50 Relation with System-B32 Nathan got the feeling that the System didnt like him. Luckily, it looked like it wouldnt be paying much attention to him, going off the two weeks comment. A noise caught his attention. A deep groan from within the cave. He stood up and gave a gulp. After a moment he breathed in deep and picked up the rifle. If something was sleeping around in his cave, theyd get another thing coming.
Nathan crept forward, his phone acting as a flashlight while his other hand gripped his rifle. Strips of fabric were pushed into his ears to prevent them from getting damaged if he had to fire the gun. The roaring noise rumbled out again and he winced instinctively. Be brave, he whispered. Ive got a gun. What will that thing have? Teeth? Claws? I gotta believe in the power of Soviet engineering The roar came back and he nearly dropped his gun onto the floor. He looked from left to right before breathing out a sigh. The stone floor masked his footsteps well. He continued walking, then stopped. It was a massive snail seated on top of a stone rock. Its eyes swayed in odd directions until it honed in on Nathan. Nathan sucked in a breath and pointed his gun at the giant snail. He wouldnt let himself get killed! A pop-up appeared in front of him. [Feed the Snail!] Description: The snail is extremely hangry! If it doesnt receive food, itll become sad. Find something for the snail to eat! Rewards: [Shell of Protection] (Copper), A small amount of EXP Accept/Deny Nathan blinked and lowered his gun. For a moment, Nathan thought it over before turning around. As much as he wanted to mess around with side quests, there were only 14 days left until he would be recycled along with the rest of the circle. He walked away. Then he turned around and smashed the Accept button. Nathan wouldnt spend too much time on it, so it was fine. He rushed back to his place and grabbed a fish for the snail. The snail did not accept or even seem to notice the fish. After trying a few different fish variants, Nathan gave up for the day. He wandered back to the glowing lake and sat down. Oh shit, Im starving, he said. He still hadnt eaten a thing since he woke up. But how the hell was he supposed to cook anything? Hed have to head back up top and collect wood Well, sushi was raw fish, and the Japanese ate that regularly, right? He grabbed the Jeweled Sword and awkwardly maneuvered the fish, cutting it open and spilling the guts everywhere. After that, he fileted the meat. The slices were jagged and randomit looked like a serial killer was brutalizing the meat for fun. By the end of it, he grabbed the meat and put it on a relatively clean-looking stone off to the side. Nathan picked one up and gulped. If I die, I die not because of my own ignorance, but because sushi is fake, he said. He put the fish in his mouth and chewed slowly. After a few seconds, he increased his speed and ate the whole thing. It was tasty. He picked up another slab of meat and scarfed it down. Then he did another. Once he was done chewing, he lapped up the water from the river until his thirst went away. He had two more cuts of meat before he found a sense of drowsiness attacking him. Nathan tried to keep his eyes open. He still had to inspect his items, after all, but his body couldnt be controlled. He slumped over and fell asleep. 5 - Attack of the Mutant Sheep Nathan woke up the next morning and stretched out. He bent his neck and a loud crack echoed out. My back, he said. God, I need a chiropractor. He stared at his reflection in the water for a bit before he sucked in a breath. He looked good. His cheeks were filled out and healthy-looking for the first time in a while. He felt like he could run for several miles. All of the weakness had disappeared. He stood to his feet. Looks like the water isnt going to kill me, he said. Neither will the raw fish. Thats good because I dont know how I wouldve started a fire. The most experience he had with those things was watching videos on the web. Behind him, the sword and rifle caught his attention. He looked at the water and gave himself a little nod. Im going to try to find some loot, he said. And then Im going to go to the surface. He knew it had to happen. Fishing seemed to grant EXP, but deleting that skeleton monster had given him nine levels in one fell swoop. He had to fight. At least a little. I just need to get out of the tutorial and sell my services to other people, then Ill never be in danger again. Nathan opened up his phone and navigated to the photos app. His last picture had been a selfie taken by his sister. He had to find his way out of this hell hole, meet up with her, and then theyd lay low while all of this craziness happened. But first, fishing.
Hed ended up catching and releasing several fish, but nothing else had happened. No more special loot. It may have been that there was nothing else in the lake. At the very least, he managed to get enough fish to finish the [Reel] skill quest. [Upgrade REEL to Diamond+] (10/10 fish caught) Apparently, [Reel] now had a 15% decrease in catching difficulty, which was good. Nathan was sure that it would be helpful if the object was particularly big or rare. Nathan spent the next hour doing nothing but casting his line repeatedly to upgrade [Cast]. Hed tried cheating the System by just dipping his hook into the water, then taking it out. Unfortunately, the System saw through his attempts and didnt count them. Even so, it wouldnt take long. Assuming 21 casts per minute, Nathan could probably get the Diamond+ upgrade in about 8 days if he spent an hour every day. By the end of the hour, hed gotten the [Reel] quest up to (1123/10000). Afterward, he picked up a piece of algae and tried feeding that to the snail. It didnt respond. He finally used [Basic Inspect] on his weapons. [Modified AK-47] (F+-tier) The AK-47, a powerful rifle designed by the Soviet Union. Boasting a scary amount of reliability, this particular unit has been modified to be waterproof. [Jeweled Sword] (F+-tier) An ornate, jeweled sword. Though it possesses no apparent specialties, its reliably made and sturdy. He picked the sword up and looked forward. Inventory. A moment later, the inventory menu appeared in front of Nathan. He sucked in a breath and pushed the sword into the inventory. The box rippled, then absorbed it. Wait, how do I get it out? After some experimentation, he learned to reach into the inventory and then think of the object in question. He also figured out that he had 10 slots availablehe confirmed this by using different types of fish. He didnt know much else, such as the size cap or stack cap. He didnt have enough objects to test that information with. He looked up toward the entrance of the cave. The excuses melted away soon enough. Hed done everything he could do in the cave. It was time to head above ground.
Nathan climbed out of the cave. It was early in the morning, the sun poking over the horizon. Despite this, his breath came out in steamy puffs. Before hed left, hed inspected his stats and invested some of his points in his Strength and Constitution, with a little thrown into Dexterity as well. He didnt have a strong rationale for his decisionhe just knew that being strong was generally a good thing in combat situations. Hed also decided to leave 9 points in reserve, thinking that he might want to invest them into Luck. He could only hope hed made the right decisions. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Stats: Strength: 10 (+27) = 37 Dexterity: 10 (+3) = 13 Constitution: 15 (+5) = 20 Magic: 3 (+5) = 8 Luck: 12 (+15) = 27 Available Stats: 9 It gets cold out here, he said. If Id known, I wouldve packed some winter clothes. He stuck to the ground, his clothes rubbing against the black dirt. His ears were alert, listening for any sign of a monster. This suit is a rental. I wonder if Ill have to pay for it when we get back to earth. When. It was a funny wordwhy use it? He didnt know if hed make it back, after all. He pushed the thoughts away. There was no point in being depressed. Stay positive, Nathan. Will that shit into existence. Call upon the universe to materialize goodness He shut up and sucked in a breath. In the distance, there was a sheep with boar tusks growing from its mouth. Its eyes were red and seemed to have flames growing off it, while its entire body was more muscular than a Bulgarian weightlifter Inventory, Nathan whispered. He reached into the box, pulling out his rifle. He pointed toward its center of mass and sucked in a breath. It leaned its head down and chewed on the dirt. Nathans hands shook before he gripped his rifle tighter. Sorry, little buddy. Its you or me, and I already missed my sisters wedding. Im not missing out on the baby shower. Wait, didnt she something about living one of those hip, childless lifestyles? Or was that a random internet video he saw? He forced his thoughts back to the rifle. Oh, wait, I should check to see its level. That was important, right? [Basic Inspect]. [Mutant Sheep] - Lv. 7 - F-rank Once a cute, docile farm animal, now a slightly radioactive, permanently angry ball of fluff. Known for chewing on fencing, headbutting anything that moves, and giving you that look. It turned and looked at him, even from the distance. It let out a bleat and ran forward. Nathan sucked in a breath. How did it know I was here? He pulled the trigger twice. Shots fired out at the mutant sheep, the first one grazing it with the other getting it in the shoulder. It didnt stop and barreled forward, even as its wounds dripped blood to the ground. Nathan let out a screech and jumped clear, barely avoiding its extremely sharp teeth. It turned and glared at him, then bleated again. Isnt level seven supposed to be, like, tutorial mode for most monsters!? Nathan said. Thats how I remember it from the RPGs! The sheep bleated as if in response, then jumped at him. Nathan pulled around his rifle and clicked the trigger two more times. Each shot flew out and slammed into its chest. The sheep continued forward before crashing into the ground. Nathan blinked. Wait, thats it? [You have leveled up!] He breathed a sigh of relief and ignored the twist in his stomach over the fact that hed killed a creature. Maybe he could handle this combat thing after all. A loud bleat caught his attention. Nathan reached out and clicked the x button on the corner of the level-up window. In front of him was another one of the Mutant Sheep. He looked to the left. The same thing greeted him. He was surrounded by Mutant Sheep. Nathans mouth opened, then shut. Believe it or not, he said. Im innocent. Yeah, this guy? He died on his own. Crazy. The Mutant Sheep seemed to stare at his gun. Nathan grimaced. It dived toward him, its mouth wide open.
Nathan screamed and ducked. This time, one of the other sheep took the opportunity to gently smash his thigh. It was not a gentle smash, Nathan was just lying to himself to feel better. Tears sprang to Nathans eyes and he kicked at the Mutant Sheep with his other leg. As soon as his foot made contact with the wool of the Mutant Sheep, the force sent it flying away in an arc. [You have leveled up!] Nathan blinked. Looked like 37 Strength was a hell of a lot better than he thought. One of the other Mutant Sheep rushed toward him, its jaw unhinged and widened. Nathan shielded himself with his arm. The teeth of the Mutant Sheep dug into his flesh and Nathan braced himself for the pain. Nothing happened? It felt more like a tight grab. Painful, but not nearly as unbearable as the last attack. He pressed the barrel of his rifle against the sheeps head and pulled the trigger. It fell to the ground with a thump. Nathan glanced around. There were still three more, and he didnt feel like playing the odds. He aimed his rifle and fired into the air twice. The third time, he heard a click. This seemed to break whatever spell the Sheep were under and caused them to run away. He looked at his rifle and pointed forward. He clicked the trigger again. Nothing. Out of ammo. Nathan looked at his arm. It was a little worse than he thought. The skin wasnt mangled, but blood was dripping from his arm in rivulets. He needed to get himself bandaged and disinfected. While he ran back, his mind wandered back to his usage of [Basic Inspect]. As soon as I used that skill, it noticed me. He needed to be more careful with his usage of that skill. A distant sheep bleated. Nathan ran back to his cavern, stumbling and tripping his way back to the lake. Once he arrived here, he washed out the wounds as best he could using the water. He was fairly certain the water was safe, but it was hard for his heart not to drop at the way the water soaked into his wound. On the off-chance that it was carrying some kind of bacteria that attacked open wounds, then he was screwed. Once he was done cleaning the wound, he looked around for some kind of bandage. He checked his pockets and pulled out a handkerchief, then wrapped his arm with it. After a moment of thought, he used the Jeweled Sword and sliced off parts of his sleeve. He washed them in the water, then set them out to dry at the front of the cavern where the sun would hit it. Hed use those for bandages in the future. Once he arrived at the lake, he looked into the reflection. When had he gotten more muscle? At that thought, he received a pop-up. Achievement get! [Dirty Coward] They were right there. You couldve killed them with ease, they were so low level oh my gosh. You loser. +1 Luck Nathan felt the wind deflate out of his sails. He wasnt aware that the level difference was so huge. What did it matter if he had all of this power, but he wasnt brave enough to use it? He looked back up toward the entrance to the cavern. Somewhere out there, a [Gliding Eel] was waiting for their battle. He had to be ready for it, and he had to put aside his fear. That night, he went to sleep, his heart pounding at the memory of the gun blowing the brains out of the sheep. 6 - Metal Fishing Nathan decided to start his morning by fishing. He wanted to get his 1000 casts in. He wasnt planning to catch something. It seemed that his Luck disagreed with his intentions. Nathan grunted and pulled back. A wooden box sailed through the air before crashing into the ground with a loud bang and spilling its contents all over the ground. Nathan winced at the noise. He cracked his eyes open and took a closer look Seed packets and vegetables. Nathan picked up a radish and inspected it closely. Despite the crash, it was still in good condition. He put it down and grabbed up one of the seed packets. They were unlabeled. Wait, he had [Basic Inspect], right? Nathan used his skills on each of the seeds. [Normal Potato Seeds] A bunch of normal potato seeds. [Normal Strawberry Seeds] A bunch of normal strawberry seeds. [Normal Carrot Seeds] A bunch of normal carrot seeds. I was hoping that they would be magic or something. Nathan rubbed his chin. How long did it typically take for plants to mature? He was getting tired of eating nothing but raw fish He wandered up to the surface. Overhead, the sun was already starting to beat down on him, causing sweat to appear and stick his clothes to his skin. Nathan dug out several rows of small holes all along the ground with his hands. He planted a few of the seeds in each hole. The process took about two hours, and by the time he was done, the sun had already reached the midpoint in the sky. It was absolutely boiling, the air had turned arid and he could already feel the sunburn seeping into his skin. Not done yet, he muttered. Luckily, he hadnt been attacked by any monsters. He wasnt sure why they were avoiding him. Maybe because of the cave and the snail? Either way, he was glad for the relief. He wandered back to the cavern and tried scooping handfuls of water up to his new seeds. Nathan quickly decided this was an awful idea and it would take forever. Thats when Nathan had a very good idea. He opened up his inventory halfway into the lake. Instantly, the lake started flowing into the inventory. After only a few seconds, hed gotten a stack of 99 water, whatever the hell that meant. Nathan headed back up top. He opened up his inventory and stared at it. He reached in, then pulled out, getting a cupful of water. Well, that works, he said. He went around and poured water over every plant. If he didnt know any better, he couldve sworn the soil had twitched as he poured the water into it. Once he was done, he returned to the underground and stared at his radishes. He picked up two of the radishes and walked over to the deeper reaches of the cavern, where the snail resided. He put the radishes in front of the snail. It looked at them curiously, then moved forward. A crunch echoed out, and Nathan heard a ping. [Quest Complete!] [Feed the Snail!] Description: The snail is extremely hangry! If it doesnt receive food, itll become sad. Find something for the snail to eat! Rewards:[Shell of Protection] (Copper) Skill Seal, A small amount of EXP The snail floated into the air. Nathan watched it and blinked. The snail glowed and spun around in the air, then faded before his eyes. Nathan stood there for several minutes. Okay, what the hell did I just see? he said. Did he at least get the [Shell of Protection] thing? He popped open his menu to check, only to see that it hadnt shown up. He frowned and scratched the back of his head. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Something glimmered out of the corner of his eye. On the stone where the snail had sat, there was a small copper medallion of some sort. Nathan stepped forward and picked it up. Once he did so, a small pop-up appeared. [Would you like to learn the skill SHELL OF PROTECTION (Copper)?] Accept/Deny Nathan blinked and clicked Accept. There was no reason to deny it, right? The copper medallion burst into shards of light right in front of his eyes. He felt a warm presence pass through his chest and instinctively knew that hed learned a new skill. He opened up his menu to confirm. Skill List: [Reel] (Diamond+) [Bait] (Diamond) [Cast] (Diamond) [Basic Inspect] (Copper) [Shell of Protection] (Copper) Hed gotten it. The question, then, was it worth it? Was it worth giving up his hard-earned radishes in exchange for this mysterious skill? Nathan reached out and clicked it to view more information. [Shell of Protection] (Copper Rank) Acquired by showing kindness to a gastropod. Who knew snails were so generous? Creates a shimmering, slightly slimy barrier that can absorb one F-rank attack before dissipating in a shower of iridescent bubbles. The protection recharges every 24 hours, presumably while you sleep C just like how snails do most of their important business. Effectiveness: Blocks one attack from a Copper-ranked creature Cooldown: 24 hours Side effects: May occasionally emit a faint scent of lettuce Well, that seemed useful. Aside from the whole lettuce smell thing. That seemed less useful. Nathan scratched his chin. He wanted to test it but hed need to find something dangerous first. Maybe he could regain some of his honor and go kill one of the surviving Mutant Sheep? He headed back to the lake and sat down. Beside him was one radish. Nathan picked it up and took a bit, and the flavor exploded in his mouth. Compared to the fish hed been eating for the past four days, it might as well have been a luxury home-baked cinnamon roll. Nathan popped open his quests menu to double-check his time. Day 4/15 Nathans eyes narrowed. He still hadnt so much as seen the Gliding Eel. Not only that, but he was still at Level 12, not even close to the monsters insane level 37. Nathan laid down and curled into a ball. There was only one choice, and he knew it. He had to go hunting again. This time, things would be different, he wouldnt run away. At least, he hoped. Sleep took him away.
When Nathan woke up, the very first thing he did was head up and check on his plants. When he saw what had happened, his jaw dropped. His plants were still alive. Not only that but overnight, theyd exploded out of the ground as fresh green sprouts. I dont think plants are supposed to grow this fast, he said. Nathan suspected that it was either the soil or the water. Nathan doubted it was the soil because everything else seemed to be dead. The whole surface was a hellscape. The only thing that made sense was the water. This was a little bit concerning, considering that hed been drinking nothing but that water for the past several days. Would he sprout wings or something? Explode? Nathan pushed it out of his mind. There was no point in freaking out about it. Hed either die or he wouldnt. After watering his plants again, he headed back down to the cavern to get through the rest of his morning routine. In the back of his head, he was already starting to get nervous. His heart rate increased. He would be heading back out into the wilderness to try his hand at hunting again. The serene lake water greeted him at the bottom of the cavern. He did his hour of casting, putting him at 3000/10000. It wouldnt be long before he got Diamond+ with [Reel]. Nathan did one final cast, not expecting anything to come about from it. Then his line got a gentle tug. He blinked and pulled back, hooking it around the object. He drew it backward. Whatever it was kept getting caught on the ground. Whatever the object was, it mustve been large and unwieldy. A giant sword? he said. Come on, with my high strength stat, it would be perfect Out plopped a long fishing rod. It was double the length of Nathans wooden one and twice as thick. The rod was made of some kind of glimmering metal. The whole thing had a certain aura of power radiating around it. Most importantly, however, it had an actual reel. No more swinging the rod and grabbing the string to get his catches out of the water. Nathan used [Basic Inspect]. [Metal Fishing Rod] (E-rank) For the angler who''s tired of explaining why they came back with broken equipment instead of fish. A surprisingly sturdy fishing rod made entirely of metal, because someone finally asked "What if we made fishing unnecessarily hardcore?" Comes with a reel that makes satisfying clicking sounds to convince nearby fishermen you know what you''re doing.Enchanted to survive both your terrible casting technique and that inevitable moment when you try to use it as an impromptu weapon against a slime that interrupted your peaceful fishing session. Not to mention, it comes with a magical bob that only appears when thrown into the water. Pretty cool, right? Manufacturer''s Note: While technically capable of bonking monsters, we remind users that this is a fishing rod, not a quarterstaff. Please stop sending us testimonials about "that awesome time I pole-vaulted over a goblin." Catch Rate: +10% Catch Difficulty: -5% Damage: Low (E-rank) (But hey, at least you won''t break it trying!) Nathan reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was glad that hed gotten something with such good stats, but the idea of using a fishing rod as a weapon just seemed all sorts of bizarre to him.The fact that someone had apparently done so in the past was also more than a little strange. He picked up the fishing rod. Heavy. The reel clattered inside of its casing. Nathan experimented with a button on the side, causing the hook to fall. It slammed into the ground with a loud bang, carving a hole in the stone. Nathan blinked. He reeled the hook back in and swung the rod out, clicking the button at the same time and allowing it to sail out into the air. Unfortunately, he overestimated his strength. The hook flew across the lake and smashed the edge of the cavern. The stone broke apart, creating a crater and causing a rockslide into the cavern lake. The sound exploded across Nathans ears. Nathans jaw dropped. Just how powerful was this fishing pole!? He reeled back in the hook, sending rubble that had gotten hooked flying into the air. Nathan stared at the fishing pole for a little bit longer. Hed been wondering about using the sword in combat, but compared to this thing, the sword might as well have been a kitchen knife. He nodded to himself. This would be his weapon from now on. A a fishing rod. Nathan sighed. No more excuses. It was time to head topside and find something to kill. 7 - Gliding Eel Nathan walked along the dead, cracked soil. His heart jumped at every stray noise. He was fairly certain he could take on those Mutant Sheep, but who knew what else was out there? After about five minutes of walking, he shook his head and pushed away the fear. I have to be brave. The words sounded faker every time he thought them. God, what I wouldnt give for some company, he said. Would it be so much for one other person to be here? Just one? The universe didnt reply. Nathan decided to circle his caves location. This would have the side effect of allowing him to learn more about his home bases surroundings. Ten more minutes of walking occurred, with nothing at all happening. The fear slipped away, replaced by boredom. Nathan glanced north by using the sun as his compass. He couldnt see the stone outcropping of his cavern anymore, hed wandered so far. He turned back around just in time to see something out of the corner of his eye. A large, black color at the edge of his vision. Nathan swallowed, then approached it. It was an inky lake. It was huge, stretching out for what seemed like miles. The surface of the water was completely still, with no ripples. He reached out and tapped a finger against the surface. His finger didnt register any unusual feeling. It seemed normal. Then why is it such a strange color? Is it some sort of algae? he said. Nathan brought his fishing rod out. There might be loot in here that he could fish up! He pulled his fishing rod and slung it forward. The hook sailed through the air before landing in the water with a loud splash. A red and white bob shimmered into existence a moment later, preventing the hook from sinking into the bottom of the lake. Nathan sat down and counted the seconds. No bites. He took one hand away from the fishing pole and scratched the back of his head. It was almost relaxing. Sure, the temperature was a little warm scratch that, it was hot. But still, he was starting to understand why people had enjoyed fishing back in his old world. He hummed a little tune to himself and bobbed his head. A shadow appeared in the distance. Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. His heart increased in speed. The figure got closer and closer. It was flying in the air, wings flapping through the air. Its body was long and serpentine, like some kind of wyvern. Nathan almost used [Basic Inspect] before pausing. He knew that the monster would notice him, but he had to confirm if he was looking at what he thought he was looking at. He used Inspect. The monster let out a roar. Gliding Eel - Lv. 37
Nathans face paled. It was only a minute away. Should he run? He took a step backward, only to be stopped by the resistance of his hook and string. He hurriedly reeled the hook back in. The monster flapped its wings, getting closer to Nathan. Nathan adjusted his position, trying to get a little bit more reeling speed. The monster opened its jaws. It was a few seconds away now. Nathan shouted and pulled his hook up, sending it flying into the air. The hook hit the tip of one of the eels wings, and the eel screeched and flapped to the side. Nathan glanced back to his cavern. He wouldnt be able to outrun the eel. Maybe I could jump into the water? The eel flapped its wings, stabilizing its flight and turning right back around. Nathan slung his hook into the air, aiming for the eels stomach. The eel dodged with a spin. Nathan didnt even have time to scream. The eel bit into Nathans hand. Its teeth ripped into his flesh, bypassing his high Constitution with ease. The bone crushed and cracked where the teeth got to. The only thing that prevented it from getting ripped off instantly was the fishing rods large reel and thick handle, which somehow managed to withstand the strength of the eels sharp teeth. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Im going to die. The thought rang in Nathans mind. Tears burst to his eyes and his knees collapsed. [Shell of Protection]! he said. A glowing shell exploded from his chest and shoved the eel away from him. A second later, it dissipated into nothingness. Run. Nathan jumped into the water. Everything disappeared and he could hear nothing but the sound of his own heartbeat. He swam down as deep as he could, despite his damaged handa hand that was still holding his fishing rod. A sensation poked at him, like gentle needles pricking at his skin. At first, Nathan could ignore it. Then the pain increased. Instead of gentle pricks, it was more like it was digging daggers deep into his muscles. Tears came from his eyes. As soon the tears leaked, the pain shot into his eyeballs. It was the water. The black water was so much worse than he thought. No wonder nothing was alive in it. Theyd all died. It was liquid poison. He heard a muffled splash. Oh. His enemy was an eel, and Nathan just went into the water. A crackle in his ear was all the warning he got. A moment later, the world lit up with light and pain. A river swept him through the underground. The black ink gave way to glowing blue.
Nathan coughed, each retch sending waves of agony up his spine as water poured from his throat. His whole body shook, heat leaking from his soaked clothes. His head spun as he forced his eyes open. The ceiling above glowed faintly, the flickering reflection of the underground lake rippling below him. He groaned and tried to push his head up only for it to drop back down, the effort too much. His body was heavy like something had drained all the strength out of him. He recalled getting swept away in a currentwater, darkness, cold. Thats how he ended up here, on the shore of the glowing lake. A feeling of weakness washed over him and collapsed to his side. Vomit rushed up his mouth and he threw up on the lake shore. After several minutes of dry heaving, he got enough strength to stand up. The world tilted. He stumbled, falling to his knees. Crap he muttered, clutching his temples as pain shot through his skull like a nail being hammered in. He looked around. He didnt see the dent that hed made in the cavern wall with his fishing pole, which meant he was on the wrong side of his magic lake. Either that, or he was in a separate lake entirely and there just happened to be multiple underground. Nathan hoped it wasnt the second one. He needed to get back. Back to the surface, where he could grab those dead bushes for a fire. He shivered violently at the idea of going without warmth. If he didnt get to the surface, hed die here, from the cold or the poison tearing through him. Something caught his attention. Something was wiggling on the ground in his vomit. He blinked and inspected it. [Scythian Worm] (E-rank) When life gives you poison, make bait A revolting, writhing mass that you''d rather forget came from your own insides. This nauseating nugget of near-death experience turns out to be an irresistible lure for fish with questionable taste buds (which is most of them, really). Origin: Self-produced through an impromptu stomach evacuation after Blackwater poisoning. Scent: Indescribable (We tried. The scent-tester quit.) Taste: Somewhere between "oh no" and "dear god why" Note: We''d like to remind everyone that intentionally poisoning oneself to produce bait is NOT a recommended fishing technique. Please stop. We''re concerned. The [Scythian Worm] was produced via poisoning himself? What kind of bullshit was this? Nathan reached down and picked it up. He scrunched up his nose at the vomit and stuffed it into his inventory. [Upgrade BAIT to Diamond+] (1/1 Scythian Worms) [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] Bait now provided a +10% increase to catch rarity and catch rate. Nathan sighed. Maybe if he was lucky, hed get another weapon. Something even more powerful than his fishing rod? He also noted that he was only one level away from getting a class a class that would probably be useless for him, given his skillset. A rush of pain shot up his spine. He nearly collapsed before he managed to pull himself together. Nathan had to get back to the surface. He had to put together a fire,and he had to stay alive. He accessed his stats menu. He currently had 25 points available and 20 Constitution. After a moment of hesitation, he put 15 points into his Constitution. He wanted to put everything he had into the stat, but he knew that he might need the points at a later date. He stumbled along the lake shore for what felt like hours, the cold gnawed at him, each step weaker than the last. His teeth chattered violently, and he could barely feel his fingers. Finally, through the haze, he saw ita small rock slide he recognized from before. He had made it back to the other side. Relief flooded him, though he wasnt sure why. He was still freezing, still poisoned, still injured. The swim across the lake was agony. His limbs felt like lead, barely obeying him as he paddled through the cold water. His wrist burned with every stroke, sending sharp jolts of pain up his arm. He let out a cry, gasping as he hit the other side. Nathan ran up to the entrance. It was freezing cold, especially since his clothing was wet. He ripped a dead bush out of the ground and ran back into the cavern. On the way back, he grabbed the dry bandages that hed set out the other day. Chills raced up and down his spine. Nathan ripped the bush to shreds using his enhanced Strength. He grabbed a particularly straight branch and reached both of his palms up to spin it. He paused when his left hand erupted in pain. He looked at it and grimaced. It was still bleeding, and he somehow hadnt noticed. The adrenaline had been enough to distract him, but he was still injured badly. He awkwardly tried his best to spin the twig with only one hand. Over and over, it kept dropping out of his hand when he tried to speed it up. Finally, he just slammed the tinder with his fist. Sparks lit up and he passed it over to the thicker roots of the branch. Hed made his fire. He took off his clothing and let it dry off beside the fire, then wrapped his wounds. He groaned from the pain and his head pounded. Hed just finished when he fell over next to the fire. 8 - Touched By Fate Nathan woke up with a pounding headache. His stomach still felt woozy and his vision seemed to blur together. He blinked a few times and the blurriness disappeared. He looked over at his fire. It had turned into smoldering embers sometime throughout the night. A ding sounded to his side. [Achievement get: Touched By Fate] By all rights, you shouldve died. The odds were against you. Your soul touched deaths borders repeatedly. Yet, you survived. How disappointing. +15 Luck Nathan breathed a sigh. He wasnt feeling great, but compared to yesterday, he might as well have been in perfect condition. The rock dug into his spine. He forced himself to a sitting position and looked back out over the lake. Nathan was hungry. He reached over for his fishing rod, then paused and winced when pain flooded over his hurt arm. He dropped the fishing rod, and it clattered to the ground. Damn it, my arms still messed up. Nathan picked up his fishing rod with one arm instead. He cast his fishing rod with one arm, then slouched. His wrist throbbed with pain. I know how to blame for that. All he could think of was how it looked at him, with its oversized jaws and sharp teeth. If not for the fishing pole, he wouldve lost his right hand. Nathan shivered. That was his favorite hand! Or, er, not really since he was ambidextrous, but still. He smiled, though it didnt touch his eyes. Still no catches. He wiggled the fishing rod from left to right. Come on, had all the fish vacated when he wasnt looking? Nathan glanced around. Did he have any extra fish that hed left lying on the stone? No, he wouldnt have that. Why would he? That food would rot. I need food, damn it. He might have to head outside and try to find another source of food if this place didnt have anything. This wasnt an option he was interested in pursuing, given what had happened last time. But hed have to face that thing again, anyway. No matter how much he might want to avoid the conflict, the Circle Boss had to be defeated to move on. I need food but I also need an edge. Something thatll give me a chance against the Gliding Eel. He shut his eyes and felt a tug. Nathan started and pulled back as hard as he could. Shimmering metal flew out of the water with a loud splash. It fell to the ground next to him with a clang. [You have leveled up!] [Sink or Swim] (15/15 Lv.) COMPLETE! A box appeared to Nathans left. He ignored it and took a closer look at the odd weapon. It was some sort of spear with a particularly large tip. Similar to the fishing rod, it had a distinct aura of power emanating from it. Mystic Harpoon of the Shifting Tides (E-rank) If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Weapon Type: Harpoon Rank: E Enchantment Slots: 3 Weight: Light Forged from the bones of a deep-sea leviathan and imbued with ancient aquatic magic, this harpoon is the perfect tool for any adventurous soul who doesnt mind getting a little wet. Wield it wisely, and the ocean might just call you its friend. Or... its snack. Enchantments: Tidecaller Grants the ability to summon a surge of water with every throw, providing extra momentum. The water does nothing else. It''s mostly just for dramatic effect. Might look cooler if you have a crowd watching. Abyssal Pull Once thrown, this enchantment creates a gravitational pull that draws weaker enemies toward the harpoon''s impact point. Use it to reel in fish... or unsuspecting goblins. Barnacle Shield Summons a temporary shield of enchanted barnacles when the harpoon is held defensively. Beware: the barnacles are alive and may try to start a colony on your equipment if youre not careful. Nathans jaw dropped. It seemed incredibly powerful. He glanced to his side at the box hed ignored earlier. [Would you like to obtain a Copper-ranked class?] Accept/Deny
Nathan slammed the accept button. Instantly, a new box appeared, revealing three new options. [Gatherer] [Farmer] [Fisher] Seriously? he said. Youve got to be kidding me. Not one combat-related class? No Warrior? No I dont know, Mace User? He sighed and took a look through each of the class options. [Gatherer] Description: Congratulations! Youve chosen the Gatherer classa shining example of resource collection at its finest. With your unparalleled talent for picking up herbs, rocks, and the occasional shiny pebble, youll be the go-to hero for all your friendss not-so-urgent quests. Who needs combat skills when you can spend hours collecting dandelions? Just remember: in a world of monsters, someone has to keep the flower supply thriving! Class Bonus: Resourceful: Gain a 10% bonus to gathering speed and a 5% chance to find slightly rare items (like a rock that looks like a face). Nathan did a slow blink. Yup, exactly as expected. He wouldnt have minded doing something focused on gathering if he were playing one of his games. Unfortunately, he wasnt. This was life or death. His eyes wandered down to the next optionfarmingand dismissed it out of hand. Realistically, there was only one option, wasnt there? [Fisher] Description: Ah, the Fisher class! Nothing says adventurer quite like standing on the shore, waiting for a fish to bite. Youll master the art of baiting hooks and telling fish tales that nobody believes. Enjoy the thrill of catching fish that are probably smaller than your shoe, and revel in the glory of... having a mediocre hobby! Who needs fancy magic or combat skills when you can just sit back, relax, and hope for a catch thatll impress literally no one? Class Bonus: Reel Master: Gain a 15% bonus to all fishing-related weaponry, including fishing poles and harpoons. Youll also get a 5% chance of catching a fish twice the size of your harpoonif only to ensure everyone believes your stories. It offered a 15% boost to fishing-related weapons. With his current gear, this was his best option. He sighed and pressed the accept button. Immediately, a wave of power and knowledge surged within him, a refreshing cooling sensation at the core of his being. [Class quests for REEL, BAIT, and CAST already fulfilled. Disabling.] [New Class Quest Unlocked: Upgrade class to Bronze] [New Class Quest Unlocked: Throw Harpoon (Copper)] [New Class Quest Unlocked: Fundamental Cooking (Copper)] [New Class Quest Unlocked: Suspicious Gathering (Copper)] [New Class Quest Unlocked: Gardening (Copper)] [Special Side Quest: Catch the Phantom Minnow] Nathans jaw dropped at all of the class quests. For a moment, his mind was filled with dreams of picking strawberries in the forest until he shook his head and remembered that he couldnt do that. He had to focus on getting EXP by grindingno matter how much he mightve wished to do something less terrifying. Nathan started by checking his class-up quest. [Upgrade class to E-rank] Congratulations, aspiring angler! Youve managed to flounder your way into the prestigious realm of F-rank! To advance to the next level, you must demonstrate your skills in the most fundamental aspects of your craft. Objectives: Get Copper+ in each of the fundamental fishing skills: CAST, REEL, and BAITTTTTTTTTT The box started to ripple like the surface of water. Before Nathan''s eyes, the words changed and shifted. [Upgrade class to Bronze] The sea smiles upon you. If you give a strong enough offering, she will grant you a boon. Objectives: Make an offering to the sea (0/1) Rewards: Bronze class upgrade Heed this calling, and tread carefullygreat rewards await those who dare to listen to the whispers of the waves instead of the static of the System. 9 - [Gardening] (Copper) Nathan stared at the changed class requirements for several seconds. That definitely wasnt the System. The System rotated between snark and politeness. It didnt do this mysterious stuff. And what was up with that ripple in the system window? How did he make an offering to the sea anyway? He pulled the jeweled sword from his inventory and held it to the quest screen. Nothing happened. Maybe a more suitable offering wouldve been a fish? He cast a line and quickly got a fish, then held it to the status screen. Once again, nothing happened. He spent several minutes trying several other things, only to meet with disappointment. Nathan sighed and shook his head. They couldve given me an explanation. He moved to the quest that was most exciting to him[Throw Harpoon]. The quest requirements were dead simple. All he had to do was throw his harpoon at a living target ten times. At first, Nathan had been hoping that he could do that with some fish but there were no fish he could see in the water. No, he knew what he had to do. He had to head to the surface and hunt down some monsters. Nathans hands shook at the thought of running into the Gliding Eel again before he slapped them against his cheeks. Nothing would go wrong. Hed make sure that he was always ready to run back to the cavern. The Eel probably wouldnt follow him inside. How do I know that for sure? After a few more minutes, he headed up to the surface and walked in the opposite direction of the lake. On the way, he noted that his plants were already beginning to bud. After walking for ten minutes, he stumbled upon a forest of dead trees. It wasnt densely packed enough to feel claustrophobic. Instead, it prompted Nathan to envision how the scene could have appeared if the trees had leaves on their branches. Nathan missed grass. He couldnt wait to be out of this hellscape. After several minutes of waiting in silence, he heard something step in the soil at the edge of his hearing. He turned around and saw a long furry creature with arms that stretched to the ground. Its eyes were too large for its face with all the proportions off. Nathan used inspect. [Timber Talltale] - Lv. 15 (F-rank) Creepy thing, yeah? All long limbs and shit. Run away, I guess. Or dont, lol. Nathan stiffened. He drew his harpoon back and threw his harpoon. Water exploded out of its back, speeding it up. Thanks to his Dexterity, the gravity enchantment on the harpoon, and the fact that the monster didnt do anything, the harpoon sank into its fleshy body, puncturing a hole in its chest. It slumped over to the ground. Nathan raised an eyebrow. That easy? A crunch echoed out to the right. Then to the left. Nathan sucked in a breath then ran for his harpoon. Their footsteps trailed him from behind. He grabbed the harpoon and turned around. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. One was two feet away, its arms extended out toward Nathan like some kind of zombie. Nathan let out a little scream and threw the harpoon, killing it on the spot. The second one continued on and hit Nathan with its fists. The attack bounced off Nathans hard skin. Nathan flailed his arms and broke the things back with one accidental strike. It folded over and fell onto the ground. Nathan looked around at the three dead Timber Talltales, then looked at his hand. Oh, yeah, I guess Im kind of strong because of the achievements and stats. He slapped his palms against his face. Be brave! Nathan walked over to his harpoon and pulled it out of the creatures body. For the next two hours, he prowled throughout the forest, hunting 7 more Timber Talltales. With that, he got the [Throw Harpoon] skill. [Throw Harpoon] (Copper) Lets you throw a harpoon! No, really, thats it. Seriously. +10% increase to harpoon damage. With that, he heard a soft ding. [You have leveled up!] Nathan brought his harpoon back and mentally activated the skill. He threw forward the harpoon. Light exploded from the harpoon and it shot forward twice as fast as when he threw it normally. It crashed into a tree, went out the other side, then crashed into two more trees before it slammed into the ground and carved a trail through the dirt. The first tree fell to the ground in a dramatic crash. Nathans jaw dropped. After staring at the desturction for a bit, he walked over and grabbed his harpoon, then headed back to his little cavern. He stayed low to the ground as he traveled, trying to avoid picking up any attention. Once he was back to the cavern, he fell asleep on the spot.
The next morning after his daily 1000 casts (he was at 6981/10000), Nathan decided to work on [Gardening]. He was hoping that all the stuff hed done with his plants meant that hed soon finish the requirements. [Gardening] (Copper) Truly, the most useful of skills. With this, you will never go hungry again! Uh, after youve spent the necessary three months needed to grow the plants Objective: Plant and Harvest 5 different plant types (0/5) Nathan blanched. He wouldnt be able to finish that in time! He paused and rubbed his chin. Then again, his plants had been growing abnormally quickly thanks to the weird soil. When was the last time he checked on his plants anyway? He went up to the surface. When he saw his plants, his jaw dropped. Overnight, the surface had exploded into greenery. Grass covered the ground. Vines wrapped all across the bushes. Most importantly, theyd already started bearing fruit. Grapes. Grains. Potatoes. Nathan took a step forward and reached his hand out toward one of the grapes. If he didnt know any better, hed say that the leaves seemed to be reaching back. He used [Basic Inspect]. [Normal Grape] A grape born of a mystery seed you fished from a magic lake. It was planted in dead soil, brought to life by glowing water, and catalyzed by your poisoned blood. Oh, and it got done growing in less than a week. In other words, theres nothing weird about it. Nothing at all. Okay. Nathan had been willing to ignore how quickly the plants had been growing before, but now he knew that something was off. When [Basic Inspect] laid everything out like this The only part that puzzled Nathan was the poison blood part. When had he Oh, yeah, when he came out here in the freezing cold to get some wood for his campfire. He was still bleeding at the time. Was it safe to eat? Nathan stared at the grape for several seconds, internally debating whether or not he should eat it. I mean, Ive been eating raw fish and drinking glowing water for a while. Besides, if that poison didnt kill me, I doubt a grape will. Nathan bit into the grape. An explosion of sugar assaulted his tongue. He teared up from the sensation and shivered. It was delicious. The best thing hed ever eaten. Granted, he hadnt had fruit in several days, but part of it was that it genuinely tasted that good. Not only that, but he felt stronger as a result of eating it. He pulled his metal fishing rod out and noted that it was almost weightless now. Nathan nodded. These fruits would be an essential weapon for when he faced down the Gliding Eel. He finished off the grape and stored the seed in his inventory. After that, he harvested the rest of the plants that had borne fruit. This easily fulfilled the requirements to finish his quest. [Gardening] was an okay ability. It provided a smattering of abilities enhancing the growth of plants. The more important thing was the EXP that hed gotten. He instinctively knew that he wasnt too far from another level up. One more side quest would do it. Nathan tried to work on [Suspicious Gathering]. The requirements said that he just needed to find and burn a suspicious plant, whatever that meant. It provided a hint saying that it would have several leaflets fanning out from a central stem. Nathan hadnt seen a single leaf at all since he arrived here, except for the ones that hed planted. The surface seemed to be dead, and the underground wasnt much better. But surely the System wouldnt give him a quest that was just impossible to finish, right? It had to be somewhere around here. And once he did that, he bet that there would be some improbably useful ability associated with it. Nathan nodded to himself. The best chance was to head out again and see if he could find this suspicious plant. 10 - Attack of the Killer Gerbil Nathan headed out toward the northeast. The sun was overhead, beating down on him, but he didnt mind. He guessed that his high Constitution was protecting him from the suns rays. He looked at his hand. Upon closer inspection, Nathan had tanned quite a bit, hadnt he? He shrugged and ignored it. There wasnt any point in looking at his skin like some kind of weirdo. After walking for a bit, he came upon row after row of dark brown, shriveled grass that stretched onward for miles. Finally, something other than dead soil. Nathan crept through the plants, his feet crunching against them with loud cracks. Wind swept across the reeds, waving them in a hypnotic pattern. Nathan paused. He pulled out one of the grapes hed harvested from his plants and ate it. Afterward, he saved the seed in his inventory. He opened his menu and reviewed his stats. Stats: Strength: 10 (+27) = 37 Dexterity: 10 (+3) = 13 Constitution: 30 (+5) = 35 Magic: 3 (+5) = 8 Luck: 12 (+31) = 43 Available Stats: 18 He wasnt sure what the right makeup of stats was. This wasnt a farming game. It wasnt even a game, period. In the end, he decided to continue what he was doing and keep it balancedexcept magic, given that he hadnt been using any spells. He idly noted how high his luck was. Yeah, well, I dont feel lucky. He put his 18 points into Dexterity, bringing it up to 31. He experimentally flexed his fingers. Nathan wasnt noticing any major differences, but it would become more obvious with usage, right? A noise caught his attention. He summoned his harpoon to his hand from his inventory. Silence. He stood to his feet, harpoon at the ready. A moment later, dirt flew into the air. A furry head slowly rose out of the ground. Nathan blinked and his weapon lowered. What? A gerbil stared back at him. He used [Inspect]. [Gerbil] - Lv 10 (F-rank) Description: A small but surprisingly resilient rodent that has survived the apocalypse by sheer stubbornness. It''s not the most intimidating creature, but its sharp teeth and intense need to chew through anything in sight might make you rethink leaving it unattended. Rumor has it this particular gerbil is planning a hostile takeover of your pantry. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Nathan breathed a sigh. It was nice to not be assaulted by some freak of nature. Instead, he was just looking at a nice, perfectly normal gerbil with no weird powers or features whatsoever. The gerbil held its hands out, and two absurdly huge, sharp teeth shimmered into its grip. The teeth dwarfed the gerbil, their tips almost reaching up to Nathans height. It swung out the left tooth.
Nathan screeched and ducked down. The tooth swished through the air before crashing into the ground with a loud bang. Goddamn it, what the hell is my luck!? he said. A gerbil!? Am I going to get killed by a dual-wielding gerbil!? The gerbil screeched and waved around its other tooth-sword like a flag. Nathan spotted a shade of green behind the gerbil. It was a leaf with five leaflets on it, branching from a central stem. Nathan felt like screaming from frustration. Of course, the gerbil has the weird leaves that Im probably looking for. The gerbil lifted the tooth-sword out of the ground and stabbed at Nathan with it. Nathan rolled to the side and threw his harpoon forward. He failed to hit the gerbil, instead destroying one of its tooth-swords. It screamed in outrage and swung its other tooth-sword at Nathan. Too close to dodge, Nathan was hit head on by the tooth-sword and tumbled to the ground. He coughed and pushed himself up. He reached into his inventory, pulling out his fishing rod. The gerbil swung out its tooth-sword. Nathan blocked with his fishing pole, then cast out his hook. The hook flew through the air like a missile, but the gerbil dodged underneath it. Unfortunately for the gerbil, the tooth-sword was not spared from destruction. Like its brother-blade, the tooth-sword was shattered into dozens of pieces. The gerbil stared at Nathan, its eyes wide. Yeah, thats right! Nathan said. Take that, you stupid rodent! The gerbil screamed and jumped at Nathans face. Oh shit! Nathan tried to swing the tip of his fishing pole up, but he was too slow. The gerbil slammed into Nathans face and started scratching at his face. Nathan stumbled backward and fell to the ground. Several long cuts swept over his skin and he screamed. On instinct, he grabbed the gerbil and threw it as hard as he could. It flew through the air before tumbling to the ground. The gerbil stood up and screeched again. Nathan ran for his harpoon and threw it at the gerbil. The air around the harpoon cracked and it exploded toward the gerbil. It crashed and dirt flew into the air from the landing. Nathan breathed a few deep breaths. Hed grabbed his fishing pole and was ready in case it was somehow still alive. The dust cleared away and revealed a mangled body. [You have leveled up!] Nathan rubbed away the blood dripping into his eye. Whoevers designing this shit needs to be fired, Nathan said. He walked over to the burrow that the gerbil had come from and picked up the leaves. They seemed to be the right type, so he put them in his inventory and began the long trek back to his cavern.
Once Nathan arried back, he set up another fire. So I just need to burn it? he said. Sounds easy enough. He chucked the leaf into the fire. Instantly, a purple cloud of dust poofed out of the leaf and into the air. Nathan instinctively gasped and breathed it in. Nathan''s vision began to swim. The cave walls seemed to breathe, expanding and contracting like a giant stone lung. He blinked hard, but that only made things worse. "Huh," he said, his voice echoing strangely in his ears. "That''s... that''s not great." The Status Window popped up in front of him, but instead of staying put like a normal menu, it started doing backflips. The numbers danced around, rearranging themselves into little stick figures that waved at him cheerfully. "Stop that," he told his stats. "You''re being unprofessional." His Luck stat winked at him. Nathan sat down heavily, watching as the fire transformed into a tiny dragon that was having an animated conversation with his fishing rod about the economic implications of fish-based currency. The fishing rod seemed skeptical. "I should write this down," he mumbled, reaching for his inventory. Instead of items, he pulled out what appeared to be a very concerned-looking butterfly made of pure mathematics. "No, you''re not what I wanted. Go away." The butterfly fluttered off, leaving a trail of quadratic equations. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice that sounded suspiciously like his old high school chemistry teacher was saying, "And this is why we don''t inhale random purple smoke from apocalyptic plants, Nathan." He looked down at his hands, which had apparently decided to become transparent. Through them, he could see his Constitution stat doing jumping jacks. "At least I''m not getting killed by a gerbil with sword-teeth anymore," he said philosophically. "Unless... oh god, what if the gerbil comes back as a ghost?" He spent the next twenty minutes hiding from imaginary ghost gerbils while his inventory contents performed an elaborate musical number about the end of the world. The harpoon was a surprisingly good tenor. [Achivement get: Highest Level] [Quest Complete: Suspicious Gathering] [You have leveled up!] [Your Luck stat is very amused by this situation] [Your Magic stat would like to remind you that this is not what it signed up for] 11 - One Cast Man Nathan woke up with a killer headache. He reached his hand up and grabbed his head. What the heck happened last night? he said. Why was the System box doing backflips? He popped open his menu and noted the new achievement. [Highest Level] Reach new highs through questionable means. Im not sure if this is what I had in mind +5 Luck Nathan blanched. Did did I smoke Fantasy world LSD? Nathan removed one of the leaves from his inventory and used [Basic Inspect]. [Funny Leaf] Does exactly what you think it does. Also helps relieve pain in smaller doses, and has legitimate medical uses. You just dont qualify for any of those uses. Nathan stuffed the leaves into the inventory and tried to ignore his worsening headache. He looked at his stat sheet. He now had 48 Luck. When hed gotten his first batch of loot, itd been a mere 27 Luck. He also double-checked his [Cast] (Diamond+) upgrade. Only about a thousand casts left. His eyes widened. He could get that in an hour. Nathan picked up his fishing rod. For the next hour, he repeatedly cast his fishing rod in and out of the water. The number ticked upward higher and higher until [Quest Complete: CAST (Diamond+)] He reviewed the skill. [Cast] (Diamond+) +10% Cast Speed. +20% Accuracy. Modifier: Hunters Instinct Youve spent so much time fishing that you can practically smell fear in the water or maybe thats just the fish. When you Cast, your accuracy increases by an additional 30% if the target is even slightly wet (thanks to water, rain, or an unfortunate soup spill). At all times, you have a vague sense of where the creature is. Nathan picked up his fishing rod and threw out an experimental cast. Unlike his previous casts, his hook made a high-pitched whistling noise even though he didnt put very much strength into it. The hook smashed into the rock and carved a line of destruction across it. A cloud of rubble kicked into the air. Nathan let out a cough. By the end of it, it looked like Nathan had taken explosives to the stone. Ok well, thats interesting. Um, what about my new Hunters Instinct? He stepped over to the water and blinked. It was an odd thing, suddenly getting a new sense. Nathan could feel the fish in the water. He knew where they were clustering and what locations they were avoiding. There wasnt any rational reason as to how he knew. He just knew. Not only that, but he could sense something else in the water. A non-fish. A physical object. He walked along the lake for a minute before pausing. He cast his rod out into the water. Instinctively, he knew that hed missed. He pulled it out and cast again. Once more, he knew that hed failed. He cast a third time. After a few seconds, he felt the hook latch onto something. Nathan pulled back, revealing a gleaming metal reel. [Enhanced Metal Reel] (E+-rank) Equipment Type: Fishing Gear Durability: High Weight: Moderate Expertly crafted by a blacksmith who clearly didnt realize this was for fishing, the [Enhanced Metal Reel] is the pinnacle of over-engineering. Made from reinforced steel and enchanted to withstand extreme tension, this reel is as tough as it gets for E-rank fishing gear. It is capable of reeling in fish and foes and designed for anyone who believes that no catch is too bigor too aggressive. Nathan pulled out his fishing pole and put the reel next to it. He stared at the two for several moments. Wait, but how do I put them together? Nathan did not have access to a screwdriver. After some thinking, he ended up using the tip of his harpoon to unscrew his old reel. Thankfully, whatever metal they were using was ridiculously durable and he didnt damage any of the screws. He threw his newly upgraded fishing rod into the air and let it drop into his hand. Even heavier. Nathan wondered what the fishing rod was made of. Tungsten? Before Nathan could continue the line of thought, he sniffed something. It was a wet, grassy smell. Fresh and new. He followed the scent along the cavern, heading into the dark. He didnt pull out his phone, the light of the lake providing illumination even into the deep caverns. The smell got stronger and stronger until he came to a stop. On the ground, a cluster of green mushrooms had taken root from a patch of soil. Nathan reached down and picked them out of the ground. How did I know where these were? Did I ever check what my new skill actually did? He opened up the [Suspicious Gathering] skill. [Suspicious Gathering] (Copper) Description: Your sense of smell has reached an uncanny level, allowing you to detect the presence of herbs, mushrooms, and other foragable goodies. Is that rosemary behind a rock? A rare truffle under a bush? Or just your boots that haven''t seen soap in weeks? Youre not quite surebut youre willing to check, even if everyone else thinks youre being weird about it. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Nathan blinked. The skill enhanced his smelling skill? He looked at the mushrooms in his hand. There was some sort of rule about mushrooms, right? Like, red is bad, and brown is good? Or was it the other way around? The mushroom was green, though. Nathan walked back to his fire. After a moment, he shrugged and took a bite out of the mushroom. It had a surprisingly tangy flavor, with a lemon-like backdrop behind it. The texture was soft. Nathan rubbed his chin. It needed a little extra flavor. Fish would go well with it. Wait, he had a quest for cooking, right? What were the requirements? [Fundamental Cooking] (Copper) Requirements: Cook five hearty meals. (0/5) Nathan pulled out his fishing rod and got to work. Once hed caught the fish, he laid them out on the stone and turned his attention to the fire. I dont have a pan. After several minutes of thinking, Nathan grabbed a stick and pierced it through a fishes mouth. Hed do it campfire style, like how the people in the survival movies did it! As for toasting the mushrooms, the best he could do was put them next to the fire and hope that would be enough. He cut up the mushrooms using the Jeweled Sword, then plopped them next to his soon-to-be fire. Nathan started the fire, arranged his food, and waited quietly. After several minutes the fish seemed to have browned along with the musrooms. Nathan didnt have a plate. After a moment of thinking, he cut apart the fish and tossed the mushrooms on top of the fileted fish parts. He took a bite, then frowned. The fish was only halfway cooked while the mushrooms had burned. Maybe eating them raw is better? He took a glance at the quest requirements. Cook five hearty meals. (3/5) Nathan cooked two more fish-mushroom meals. Neither of them were very tasty, but he could feel the EXP click up internally, so that was nice. Cook five hearty meals. (5/5) In a few short days, hed come to prefer eating fish raw, overcooking it. It finally hit Nathan that he was basically a caveman at this point. Nathan put that thought out of his head. It didnt matter. Hed meet up with other people soon enough, and then get back to normal. This was all temporary. Nathan glanced through his quest list. He only had a few side quests left. Catching the Phantom Minnow, getting Poor Crafting, and getting a class-up. The Phantom Minnow reward only offered a question mark as a reward, along with a level-up. He still didnt know how to give an offering to the sea for his class-up. Nathan sighed. Why had the requirements changed? It still frustrated him that it had done so. This class-upwhatever it wasmightve been just what I needed to face down the Gliding Eel. He took a look at the requirements for his crafting quest. [Poor Crafting] (Copper) Requirements: Craft a spear (0/1) Craft a knife (0/1) Craft a hand axe (0/1) Nathan decided to finish up this side quest. If he was lucky, it might just give him enough EXP to level up. He didnt invest too much time in the quest. He already had a knife, essentially, with the Jeweled Sword. His harpoon made for a more powerful spear than he could ever make himself. And as for hand-axeuh, well, he didnt really have anything like that, so maybe it would come in handy. For the spear, found a moderately long stick that hed been intending to use for firewood. He chipped a rock with another rock, then tied the sharpened tip to the wood using some of the vines from his plants above the ground. He did something similar with the knife and hand axe. The quest dinged. He felt a rush of power But no level-up. He looked up toward the entrance of the cavern. Im going to have to head outside again. Nathan didnt want to hunt any more monsters if he could avoid them. His goal would be to catch the Phantom Minnow. Maybe, in the process, he would get clues as to how to get a class-up. And maybe, just maybe, thatll be the edge I need to defeat the Eel. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. The pain of having his arm crunched hadnt quite left his mind. But he had to be brave. There was time to freak out later. Once he was out of this mess, he could break down crying and curl up into a little ball. Until then, he had to keep it together. He walked toward the entrance.
He exited out of the cavern and searched the skies. No Gliding Eel. Nathan let out a sigh of relief and stood to his full height. Nothing around for miles except dead bushes and dead soiljust the way he liked it. This time, he went to the northwest. Before long, the bushes cleared away, revealing nothing but bare soil for mile after mile. Nathan trudged forward, his fingers tapping against his hip on the inside of his suit pocket. What I wouldnt give for someone to talk to, he said. I feel like Im going to lose my mind. A light breeze kicked up and ruffled his clothes. Dust flew through the air. Nathan shut his eyes. Damn it, he said. Seriously? He paused and sniffed, there was something on the tip of his nose. Something sort of Fishy? Literally. It had a fish smell. The dust cleared away. He opened his eyes and walked in the direction where the wind had come from. Dust storms kicked up every couple of minutes. Each time, the smell got stronger and stronger. Up ahead was a grove of dead trees. Off to the side of the trees, there was a giant green ogre over twice Nathans height. Nathan ducked to the ground. His fishing rod rattled in his hands. The green ogre stepped to the side, revealing a silver pond behind it. Beside the silver pond, green grass had sprung up. Plant life? So it wasnt poisonous like the Blackwater. Nathans eyes wandered over to the green ogre. Before he got to check the water out, hed need to kill its apparent guard. Nathan crawled forward. After a minute, hed gotten next to one of the trees. He sidled up behind it and stood to his feet. The ogre grumbled and moved around, shaking the earth. Nathan wanted to inspect the monster, but he knew that it would spot him once he did. Did he want to give up his chance at a stealth attack to get more information? He took a deep breath and nodded. No, hed go for the stealth attack first, then hed inspect. Nathan stepped to the right and trained his eyes on the ogre. The ogres body flinched. Nathan swung his fishing rod as hard as he could. The hook flew through the air and slammed into the ogres skull. It went directly through, smashing the head to bits and sending gore all over the ground. A bit of flesh landed on Nathans cheek. [Youve leveled up!] Wait, seriously? That was it? he said. After a moment, he shrugged and stepped over to the pond. He looked down into the water. He could already tell thanks to his new [Cast] modifier that there was a single fish down there. It was a small thing, barely as big as his hand. But it was a fish. On the surface. Nathan scratched his chin. What if this was the Phantom Minnow? What were the odds of just running into it here? Maybe that luck stat does more than I thought. He threw his hook into the water. Nothing happened. He could tell that the fish wasnt even slightly interested. He frowned. Did he need to try something else? On instinct, he opened up his inventory. Bait. Hed forgotten about that. You were supposed to use bait when fishing. Hed just never bothered because his skills were normally enough to take care of things. Nathan reeled his hook back in and pulled out the Scythian Worm. The smell was atrocious. He scrunched his nose up and tears came to his eyes. After a moment of thought, he ripped a segment of the worm off and hooked it. The rest of the worm, he saved in his inventory. As soon as the hook fell into the water, the fish rushed upward and grabbed onto it. A moment later, it tugged and the fishing rod was ripped out of Nathans hands.
Nathan reached out and grabbed onto the fishing rod; he pulled back as hard as he could. What the hell!? How is it so strong? Nathan had just killed a goddamn ogre with a single toss of his fishing rod, but this tiny minnow was about to kick his ass! The fishing rod tugged downward suddenly. Nathan held on tightly and took a step backward. Some of the pressure was relieved. Nathan grabbed his reel and spun it. The fish started pulling again and Nathan stopped. This is just like Fishing Sim 2500. Ive done this hundreds of times. Except for the fact that Fishing Sim 2500 was a video game from 2003 and this was real life. The back-and-forth continued for almost ten minutes. Nathan could sense that the fish was getting closer and closer to the surface. As if it knew that same fact, the fish fought harder the closer Nathan was to victory. Sweat dripped down Nathans body. His clothes were soaked to the brim. He pulled as hard as he could for the last stretch. The fish flew into the air. Nathan reached into the air and grabbed it. Two dings echoed to the side, indicating that a System window had popped up. He breathed heavily and stared. It was a tiny thing, barely filling out his hand. Youre a lot of trouble, Nathan said. A muffled male voice rang out. Nathan started backward. Hello? he said. Is someone there? The voice cried out again. Nathan looked down at the fish. Wait it couldnt be. Nathan grabbed the hook and pulled it out of the fishs mouth. As soon as he did so, the fish let out a grumble. Shouldve known it was too good to be true, the fish said. But that damned scent was so delicious! Nathans fishing rod dropped to the ground. He stared at the fish for several seconds. Wait a second, he said. You can talk!? 12 - Thats How Fish Mafia Works Well, of course I can talk, you cheeky bastard. What, did you think Im one of those dumb animals who swim around all day, eating barnacle shit? Nathan breathed in quickly. Oh god, Ive finally lost it. Im so alone that Im hallucinating animals talking. What the hell are you on about? the fish said. You act like youve never seen a talking fish before! Thats cause Ive never seen a talking fish before! Nathan said. The fish blinked. Oh. Its eyes stared at Nathan, then at the surrounding area.Wait a second, this aint Circle Seven. N-no. This is a tutorial. Can we get back to the part about you being able to talk? The tutorial? Oh, that explains why I couldnt get out of that pond... Nathans hands shook. Can we please talk about you being able to talk!? Whats there to talk about? Oh, yeah. Okay. Id bet your world doesnt have a talking fish, dont it? Thats why youre acting like a newborn cod. Nathan adjusted his grip on the fish. Alright, okay. Whatever. Ive been fighting ogres and mutant sheep and all sorts of random crap. Why should I be surprised by a talking fish? Thats the right attitude, mate! the fish said. Youll go far. Might even make it to the eighth circle if youre lucky. Nathan took a deep breath. Lets back up. Can you explain who you are? Nathan said. And, like, whats happening? And just please chat with me? I havent talked to anyone besides myself for over a week. Blimey, mate. You havent run into anyone else? Isnt this supposed to be the tutorial? Yeah, what does that have to do with anything? Well, Id expect you to have run into someone at some point, unless there are only twenty members of your race. Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. Last I checked, the global population was seven billion? Thats decently sized. You shouldve run into someone. Hold on, do you remember what difficulty the tutorial assigned you to? Ultra hard nightmare or something like that, I think. The fish blinked. Wow. I dont think Ive ever heard of that in my whole life. And trust me, Ive been around the reef for a while. You must have a pretty damn high number of talent points. Yeah, I remember the System saying something about that. The fish hummed. Lemme take a guess. Id say five hundred? A thousand, actually, but good guess. The fishs eyes bugged out and it flopped around in Nathans hand. Youre a right monster is what you are! Uh, thanks? Youre destined for great things, lad, I can tell you that much. Nathan groaned. Look, you still havent explained who you are. My apologies, mate. The fish seemed to smile. The names Captain Finnacious Gambino! The fish winked. But you can call me Finny! Nathan groaned internally. How did things reach this point? Im currently conversing with a talking fish named Finny. Kill me. So, howd you end up in this pond, Finny? You dont seem like the monsters around here, Nathan said. Of course not! Finny said. Those dumb shit-for-brains are just generated by the System. Me and my mates, on the other handwere like you. Like me? Last I checked, I didnt have scales. Or the ability to breathe underwater. Finny rolled his eyes. Not like that, lad. I mean that like you, we were stolen from our homeland. One day, I was in my living room with my wife, the next, there was an odd blue box telling me to distribute talent points. Do fish have living rooms? Nathan tilted his head. So youre one of those other races that the System was talking about? But how do you know so much? Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Because Ive already finished my run, mate. Finny sighed. We made it bloody far, too, but at the Sixth Circle, there was an impossible quest. Nobody knew how to finish it. Nathan frowned. Then how are you here? Shouldnt you have been recycled? The System offered us a choice, Finny said. Rather than get killed at the end of the time limit, it told us that we could join it, you know? Join it? How did you do that? The fish isnt about to sell me out to the System or something, right? Well, it costs energy for the System to make and maintain things. Much easier if the materials are already there. Were those materials. The System uses us for quests and asks us to do things. In exchange, we get to live in the Circles and gain a sort of immortality. Not a bad deal, to be honest. But how did you end up here, in the tutorial? Did the System place you here? Oh, no, mate. The System prefers to save us for the circles. I got here because I was on the run, got in trouble with the coppers. Coppers? Like, police? Wait, are you a criminal?! The fish coughed. You didnt have to put it so blunt. And Ill have you know, its not like I do anything really dangerous. All we do is move things around. Youre a smuggler? Nathan said. Yeah, just announce it to the whole damn world, why dont you, Finny said. Were a pretty big operation too. Fish mafia. What. Id bet we have a cache somewhere around here too. Finny paused. Wait a second, Gin was mentioning something about one of our locations getting cleaned Finny looked over at the fishing rod. Nathan rotated his body so that Finny couldnt see it. Youre a bleeding thief! Finny cried. How dare you! I didnt know it was yours! Besides, it was probably stolen in the first place! That doesnt make it right for you to steal it back! Nathan was about to respond when he paused. Hold on a second. How are you even moving things around like that? The fish smirked. Us fishies figured out a way to travel from circle to circle through cracks in space. The System still hasnt caught on, ha! Nathans eyes widened. Can you take other people with you? Finnys head drooped. Thats the question everyone asks. Afraid not. Weve tried, but we can only bring ourselves along with the things in our inventories. Thats it. Nathan shrugged. It wouldve been neat if he could go from circle to circleit mightve helped him find his sister. Well, I guess I should let you go now, Nathan said. Thanks for answering my questions Hold on a moment, its my turn now, Finny said. Did you think Id just walk out of here? I want some answers. O-oh. Sure, what do you want to know? Just let me use Advanced Inspect, Finny said. I want to know how the hell you got a thousand talent points. Nathan paused. Was this a good idea? Hed be letting his capabilities leak but then again, Finny had been forthright and helpful. Not to mention, he didnt make a huge deal out of Nathan stealing his organizations goods. In the long run, too, it might help to have allies like Finny, and this could be the first step in building that kind of trust. Nathan nodded. Go ahead. Finny looked at Nathan. After a moment, Nathan felt a wave of energy run over the outside of his body. His skin burst with goosebumps. No wonder monsters notice when I use Basic Inspect. They stood in silence. W-well? Nathan said. The fish didnt respond. Finny? Whats going on? The fish shook in his hand. Y-you didnt tell me you had the sea watching you, mate. Youre gonna need to explain what that means. You dont know? How dont you knowdamn it, you really have no idea, do you? Know what? You havent gotten a quest mentioning it? That shes watching you? Nathan groaned. Who are you talking about!? Your sea, damn it! Nathan was about to respond when he paused. Back when he got the class-up quest, didnt it suddenly change? It said something about the sea watching him. Oh. Okay, um, lets say that I got a quest mentioning something about that, what does that mean? It means youve got someone very high up watching you. If you play things right, you could end up in a very favorable position, lad. Uh, what if I dont play things right? You could get turned into a piece of plankton, depending on how bad you screw the pooch. Finny sighed. Ive got to get back and tell everyone about this, damn it. Nathan raised a hand. Could you tell me more? This is all very vague I cant. Sorry mate, Id help if I could, but if she wanted you to know more, then shed tell you. I dont feel like getting turned into a barnacle. Can you tell me one thing, at least? The fish stopped. Depends on what you ask. The quest told me to make an offering to the sea, but I dont know how to do that. Ive tried holding fish up to the sky, but that didnt seem to work. Finny snorted. An ordinary fish isnt going to do the trick. Youll need something much rarer. Youre on the right track, thougha sea creature would probably please her. When you get the right type, throw it into some water. If shes as powerful as I think she is, shell get it, dont worry. Nathan nodded. Thanks. Alright mate, I think Id best get going. Can you throw me back into the pond? Nathan thought for a few seconds. He had a few other questions to ask, but he didnt want to trap Finny. None of his questions needed to be answered at the moment. Got it, Nathan said. He threw Finny into the water. After a few moments, Finny popped his head out. Hey, wait a few minutes, then cast another line, he said. You might find something interesting. Before Nathan could respond, Finny disappeared back under the water. Nathan could feel that the fish had vanished. After a few minutes, he felt something appear from the edges of his senses at the bottom of the lake. Nathan cast a line. The red bob appeared, then disappeared with a mental command. The hook sank to the bottom and he felt it latch onto something. He reeled it up and up, then slung it out of the water. He blinked. It was a box labeled FLASHBANGS. Huh. He looked over to the right and spotted the blue window hed ignored. [Quest Complete: Phantom Minnow] [You leveled up!] [Achivement get: Lucky Catch] [Lucky Catch] Congratulations, you lucky angler! Youve caught an exceptionally rare fish, one that has only been caught a hundred times before, if that! +10 Luck
Nathan had returned back to his cavern, and then fallen asleep. Beside him, a campfire flickered gently. When he woke up, hed decided to check on how much time he had left to clear the circle. 13/15 Two days left. Shit. 13 - Disarmed Nathan hadnt been paying close enough attention to his timer. Why had he wasted so much time? He shouldve grinded more to level up. But hed been afraid. And now he was paying the price. Nathan bit the inside of his cheek. He had an entire bag full of flashbangs. He had a harpoon too. Maybe hed be able to get out of this if he played his cards right. My accuracy is insane with [Cast]. What if I hook the flashbangs up to my fishing pole, pull the trigger, and throw them right into that things face? It sounded like a good plan. After its stunned, he could throw his harpoon. Given how the weapon could apparently stab through two or three trees in a row, it would probably be strong enough to pierce the Gliding Eel. Nathan grabbed a tomato from his inventory and bit into it. The juices energized him. Hed do this. Hed fight the Gliding Eel, get out of this circle, then (hopefully) never fight again. Nathan took a deep breath and headed to the surface.
Nathan sat on the side of the black lake. On the outside, he seemed perfectly calm. Internally, his heart pounded away like a drum. Goosebumps ran along the back of his neck in waves. The lake was quiet. No ripples, no nothing. Behind him, the sun had yet to rise. He gulped and looked to his left. His harpoon sat right beside his fishing rod. The fishing rod was hooked to a rope bag containing dozens of flashbangs. Nathan had wrapped vines around the metal pins for the flashbangs. The hope was that he could pull on the central vine and all of the pins would come out. Nathan looked back toward the sky. Still no sign of the Gliding Eel. Is it too late to back out? The Gliding Eel had twenty levels on him. Could Nathan hope to stand up against something like that? I dont have a choice. Two days left. There was no more time. He wanted to go level up more, but realistically, how many more levels would he be able to get? Two? Three? And what if he missed his chance to kill the Gliding Eel because he was out in the forest? Be brave. He had to get to Sarah. That was all that mattered. The minutes ticked by. Nothing seemed to happen. Some of the tension unwrapped from Nathans spine. The sun started to peek from behind him. A ripple came from the water. Nathan froze. It came from the sky last time, right? He stopped breathing. A second passed by. Two seconds. Ten seconds. He breathed out. The paranoia mustve been getting to him. The water rippled again. His senses screamed that something was in the water. Glittering scales exploded out of the lake. Nathan hesitated for a split-second, and then reached for his fishing rod. He was too slow. Its jaws opened before he could react. Flashbangs flashbangs flashbangs The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The Gliding Eel had gotten behind him. There was a cool sensation near his hand, something like an ice cube being applied to it. Then he realized what had happened. His arm was gone
Nathan stared at his arm for a second. What just happened? There was no way hed just lost his arm, right? Right? Right? Right? His heartbeat increased and he felt the pain dull. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug. He heard the Gliding Eels wings flapping back. Nathan pulled on the vine connected to the flashbang pins. He reached out with his other handoh. He couldnt use that hand. It was gone. He used his first hand instead and grabbed the fishing rod. With every ounce of strength he had in his body, he twisted his hips and casted the bag of flashbangs right at the Gliding Eel. He shut his eyes and looked down. A moment later, the world lit up with light. Even with his eyes shut, he felt it burn his retinas. Sound exploded, making his ears ring. Nathan opened his eyes and rushed for the cavern. Out of the corner of his vision, he spotted the Gliding Eel flailing about on the ground. This wouldve been the perfect time to strike, if not for the fact that his arm was gone. He reached the bottom of the cavern. His vision started to blacken. He was losing blood quickly. How did people stop blood loss? A tourniquet was one waydamn it, he didnt have time. Nathan spotted the campfire and pulled out the jeweled sword from his inventory. He held the fire over the embers. Blodo gushed from his body. There was no time to backtrack. Im such an idiot. He dipped his destroyed arm stump into the water to clean it. Red tendrils spread through the water like an oil spill. The metal was white hot. He stared at it and tears rushed to his eyes. This was going to hurt. He pressed the sword against the wound. The world lit up white and he nearly fell over from the amount of pain flooding his nervous system. A loud ring banged against his eardrums. He screamed at the top of his lungs, tears and snot gushing down his face. Why me? Whymewhymewhymewhy After a few more seconds, he pulled away the sword. Exhaustion slammed into him like a freight train and he fell to the ground. He convulsed against the hard rock. The blackness crept at the edge of his vision, and his heart slowed. And the world went black.
Nathan awoke to a blistering headache. He reached backward to try to rub his temples, only for one limb to remain stubbornly unmoved. He opened his eyes and looked at the offending arm. But there was nothing to look at. His brain refused to process it for a moment. He stared at the empty space where his arm should be, waiting for his vision to correct itself. An achievement notification popped up, but the words blurred together, meaningless. All he could focus on was the wrongness of it. [Achievement get: Need a hand?] You lost an arm during the apocalypse He tried to dismiss the notification with his missing arm. The action was so automatic, so natural, that its failure sent a wave of nausea through him. The water dripped somewhere in the background, each drop a hammer against his skull. Tap. Tap. Tap. He pushed himself up with his remaining armhis only armand caught his reflection in the murky water. The wound had healed overnight, leaving nothing but a smooth stump. Clean. Neat. Like his arm had never existed at all. His fingers trembled against the ground. A quiet voice echoed in his head. Are you really going to let it get away with that? Nathan frowned. Get away with what? Hurting you. What''s the point? The words felt distant, disconnected from himself. The voice laughed, and the sound sent chills down his spine. Nathan. I''m not another person. You can''t trick me. I''m you. I''m not tricking anyone. Nathan stared at the ground, watching the water ripple. I don''t want to fight this thing. Yes you do. The voice grew sharper, more insistent. Not only do you want to kill it, you want to rip it to shreds. You want to claw its eyes out. You want to tear its tongue out. I can see all of your fantasies, so stop trying to pretend otherwise. Nathan''s remaining hand shook. The drops of water now sounded like drums right against his ears. "I want to kill it," he said aloud. Yes. "I want to tear it apart." His voice cracked. "I hate it." Nathan had never hated someone before. He thought he had, in the past. He hadn''t. This was different. This hatred had weight. Had teeth. It was a white-hot feeling running down his spine, making his breaths come faster and heavier. How dare some disgusting Eel eat his arm? It was an insult. A personal insult. The water kept dripping, but now each drop sounded like a promise. Like a countdown. Kill it. Kill it. Kill it. Kill it. Kill itKill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill itkill it Take an hour to fish. You might find something useful beforehand if some deity is really watching over you. Perhaps your friend, Finny, left more gifts. Nathan wanted to go out and kill the Gliding Eel, but the voice was right. Besides, it was only an hour. He pulled out his fishing rod. By the end of the hour, hed fished two things. [Fishing Hook] (E+-rank) He installed it onto his fishing rod with one hand. It was a pain, but hed been through worse. He lifted it experimentally. Even heavier than before. He looked at the other thing hed obtained. It was some sort of box. Nathan opened it up. Just what I need to finish the job. 14 - [Circle 0 cleared!] Nathan stepped out of his cavern and approached the blackwater lake. His fishing rod was in his remaining hand. He searched the skies. Hey, you big ugly bastard! he shouted. Where are you!? Nathan wouldnt be caught off guard. Not like last time. A distant screech caught his attention. Another sky attackNathan could work with that. He readied his fishing rod. It got closer, its form getting larger in the sky. Nathan cracked his neck. It roared again. Nathan swung his fishing rod as hard as he could. The hook flew through the air and smashed into the Gliding Eel, knocking it to the side. It screamed and crashed into the ground. Nathan dropped the fishing rod and pulled his harpoon out of his inventory. Before he could line up the shot, The Gliding Eel slithered back into the air and dived for Nathans surviving arm. Not this time! Nathan slashed with his harpoon and it hit the Gliding Eels jaw. The Gliding Eel rolled against the ground, shaking the earth from its weight. Nathan pulled back his arm and threw the harpoon forward with everything he had. It shot out like a lightning bolt, water conjuring behind it. The harpoon pierced the Eels stomach, pinning it to a rock. It screamed and convulsed against the soil. Nathan picked up his fishing rod. A sickly sweet feeling rushed up his spine when he saw the Gliding Eel in pain. Die. He cast his fishing rod. The hook hit its jaw and a loud crack echoed out. The Gliding Eel pulled and ripped the harpoon out of the rock. It sailed away from Nathan, into the sky. Over and over, it would approach, only to turn and spin away. Its scared. Nathan grinned. Time for phase 2. He turned and ran back to the cavern. Behind him, he heard the Gliding Eel swooping toward him. He rushed into the cave opening. A tripwire clicked underneath his feet. The Gliding Eel soared in behind him. Nathan ran past his camp and jumped into the water. Nathan had wondered why it didnt bother to follow him last time, when he was swept by the underwater currents to the lake. His theory was that it couldnt go into the clear watersome property of the water prevented it. Hopefully Im right! The Gliding Eel swooped toward him, then at the last second It turned around. Success. Nathan waited patiently. Any second now A loud click echoed through the cavern. A second later, a bomb exploded and the cave rumbled. Rocks fell from the ceiling. One slammed into the Gliding Eel. Nathan dived deeper into the water to avoid getting hit, expertly dodging between the falling rocks. After several minutes, the cave-in stopped. He pulled himself out of the water. Didnt know I could hold my breath for that long, he muttered. Good to know. The cavern had been ripped to shreds from the bomb explosion. Uneven mounds and large boulders coated the once-flat surface. He approached the area where the Gliding Eel had been. He paused. Shouldnt I have gotten a level up? There was no Gliding Eel. He took another step. Instinct screamed at him and he jumped out of the way. A moment later, the dirt shifted and large sharp jaws bit down where hed just been. It was the Gliding Eel. Beaten, damaged, but still alive. Blue blood poured from its skin. Somehow, the harpoon was still embedded in its side. A twisted pleasure filled Nathans veins.
The cave had been sealed. There was nowhere to run. He smiled. Perfect. It wont be able to get away. Nathan swung his fishing rod like a mace, the hook flying through the air. The Gliding Eel ducked underneath the attack and dived for Nathans neck. Nathan dropped the fishing rod and reversed his hand back toward the coming attack. His fist slammed into the monsters head like a hammer. It was diverted from Nathan and crashed into the ground. Its tail whipped out before Nathan could react, getting him in the stomach. He flew through the air before his back hit a boulder. The air was forced out of him in one blow. He coughed, then staggered to his feet. The Gliding Eel pulled back from the soil and into the air. It swooped directly down, like a meteor. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. I could dodge. But where would be the fun in that? Nathan scrambled up the side of the boulder and jumped into the air, meeting the Gliding Eel. He reached out his hand and managed to wrap it around the creatures spine. With a single flex of his muscles, he threw the gliding Eel into the ground as hard as he could. Scales ripped off, blood spilled. Nathan threw the Gliding Eel into the ground again. He did it again, and again, and again. He eventually switched over to pummeling it with his fist when it stopped trying to escape. Minutes passed. Maybe an hour. The Gliding Eels corpse was like something out of a B-rated horror movie. Massive chunks of flesh were gone. Its eyes rolled along the ground. Its tongue had been ripped off. Nathan stared at the scene. His blood cooled and his breathing slowed. He blinked and looked at his bloodied hand. what did I just do? His arm shook. His spine convulsed. A sick feeling worked its way up his stomach. He threw up onto the ground. Im a monster. Nathan had killed animals before and squashed bugs. During this apocalypse, hed killed monsters But hed never reveled in the violence before. What the hell is wrong with me? What if his sister had been there? What if shed had to see him ripping some creature to shreds with a sick, sadistic grin on his face? Shed never look at him the same way again. Im not like that. It wasnt me. It was someone else. His breathing leveled out again. It wasnt him. He hadnt done that. It wasnt him. It was that voice. The voice had told him he was angry, and then he suddenly got angry. He looked away from the carnage and faced toward the blue windows. [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [Global Circle Exit requirements cleared! The portal has been summoned. If you have fulfilled the personal requirements, you may now leave the Circle!] [Congratulations, youve cleared the Circle Exit personal requirements! Leave as soon as possible!] He didnt see any portal. It was probably outside. He looked at his stat sheet. 32 available pointshed have to decide how to distribute those soon. The words of Finny echoed in his ears. He still had to make an offering to the sea. The Gliding Eel caught his attention. He grabbed what was left of the warm corpse. His face scrunched up from the smell. He ignored it and tossed the body into the water. For a few seconds, it sank into the depth before it abruptly started to glow. Bits of it flaked off as white shining bits. They dissolved in the liquid with a flash. A cool, salty breeze brushed against Nathan. But were underground. How is there a breeze? A box appeared. [Class-up quest Complete! Bronze Classes available for selection!] [Tidecaller] [Wayfinder] [Seabound Hunter] [Ocean Warden] Nathan blinked. Those looked way cooler than a fisherman. He clicked on the descriptions. [Tidecaller] As a Tidecaller, the waters shall heed your voice. You gain the power to stir small waves to repel your foes. Call forth creatures of the shallows to aid you, and watch as the sea itself bends to your will. Use your rod to channel these gifts, for the sea recognizes you as one of its herald. Huh. So a water mage with a specialization in waves and tides? Not only that, but hed be able to summon creatures of the shallows. Fish? Interesting. He looked at the next one. [Wayfinder] Wayfinder, seeker of paths unseen. The currents guide you now, gifting you with an enhanced sense of direction and intuition. You can summon a gentle stream to carry you faster across land or water and reveal hidden items or paths when near the sea. And the bounty of the sea shall be in your hands. The utility classthe one that would allow him to get more loot. The one that would let him stick to his fishing ways. At the start, he mightve considered choosing this option. Back when we wanted to avoid combat. But he knew, deep down, that such an option was untenable. Hed have to fight, and hed keep fighting till he reached the bottom circle. [Seabound Hunter] You have honed your skill against the denizens of the deep. Now, mark your prey with the seas blessing, revealing their weaknesses and granting you increased precision and strength when facing them. You will find greater rewards in your hunts and knowledge of their kind. Nathan shook his head. Too specialized. Besides that hed rather not fight more sea monsters. [Ocean Warden] As an Ocean Warden, the sea grants you its protective embrace. You gain the power to summon barriers of swirling water to shield yourself or allies, absorbing attacks and deflecting lesser threats in addition to lesser offensive options. You shall also be granted affinity with small sea creatures and have their aid. Your defenses will prove that the ocean is more than a force of destruction. A protector. Nathan paused. All the descriptions were vague, but the right option was probably the first class. The ability to manipulate water offensively was exactly the kind of power he couldve used at the start of all this. But He didnt want to become what he was becoming. He didnt want to turn into some freak who tore monsters limb from limb for fun. Becoming a protector instead sounded like a pretty good deal. If he had to fight, he wanted to fight for the right reasons. Before he could doubt his decision, he clicked the class. He felt a wave of power wash over him. The smell of the sea flooded his nose. His body felt lighter and something washed over the inside of his body. He breathed out, and the sensation was gone. Okay, that was pretty cool, he said. Time to get out of here. Hed seen enough of this Tutorial to last a lifetime. Luckily, the cave-in hadnt come too close to the entrance. On his way out, he sniffed the air. Fresh fruit. He looked over at his garden. Flowers were blossoming. Its a shame I cant take this whole thing with me, he said. The ground shook. A budding flower grew out of the dirt in front of him. Around him, the rest of the plants suddenly shriveled up and died. The budding flower opened, revealing a glowing, iridescent seed. Nathans jaw dropped. Okay, what the hell? The rainbow effect vaguely reminded Nathan of a rare holo card from a trading card game. Nathan used Basic Inspect. [Mysterious Seed] Yeah, I have no clue. Plant it and see what happens, I guess. Hopefully it doesnt turn into some kind of plant monster, HAHA! Youre not funny, System. Nathan slowly reached out his hand and took the seed from the flower. The flower instantly turned brown and withered just like the rest of the plants. Nathan turned the seed over in his fingers. After a moment of indecision, he placed it inside his inventory. Itll probably come in handy later, he said. Maybe Ill get a flowerpot or something. He walked toward the Blackwater lake. In front of it, a shimmering white portal caught his attention. White flames licked the edges of the portal. Beyond it, Nathan couldnt see anything. He steeled himself and walked through. [Circle 0 cleared!] [Distriubting rewards] [Soulbound town attached!] [Approaching Circle 1] Nathan fell out of the sky and crashed onto the ground. Ow, he muttered. He pushed himself up. Nathan was in a lush green field. Hed landed in a pile of grass. Oh, thank god, he said. Im finally somewhere normal. He heard a scream and tilted his head. He reached into his inventory and grabbed his harpoon. Another person! Nathans heart slammed in his chest. After two weeks of no one to talk to except a fish (and that was for, like, ten minutes), he was finally going to speak with another person. He got closer and closer. Something was stomping the ground, shaking it. He burst through a bush. A guy with a blue mullet was screaming at the top of his lungs while a T-Rex chased him from behind. Nathans face fell. I THOUGHT I WAS FINALLY SOMEWHERE NORMAL! 15 - "This is such killer content!" Chad wasnt having a good day. Granted, every day had been pretty sucky since the whole apocalypse thing happened, but this took the cake. CHAT! he yelled into his phone. Im being attacked by a goddamn T-Rex! He jumped over a rock. Behind him, the T-Rex stretched out its foot and cracked the stone. The ground shook from side to side as the dinosaur chased after him. This is such killer content! Once he figured out how to get internet again, hed upload this stuff and become super famousafter he, you know, survived. Mara, this is the part where you kill it! he yelled out. A loud boom echoed out. A slug of metal slammed against the T-Rexs side, then bounced off, doing no damage. The T-Rex roared and continued chasing Chad. He screamedsorry, yelled in a manly wayhis sunglasses slipping off his face. He slipped and tumbled to the ground. The dinosaur loomed over him. Crit Stick, dont fail me now! He reached into his inventory and pulled out a katana from his inventory. Quick Slash! The katana flew out of Chads sheath and slashed against the T-Rexs hard skin. Like Maras shotgun slug, it failed to do any serious damage. Chat, he said. This may be the end. If I die, give it all to my cat. Right before the T-Rex could lean down and bite him, a streak of metal flew toward the T-Rexs side. The T-Rex flew into the the air before landing with a loud thud. Sticking out of its limp body was a long spear-like weapon. It was dead? Okay, that slayed. Mara, was that you? he shouted. You were lying when you said the guns were the only thing you had! Wasnt me. A figure emerged from the trees. Mara. She still had her shotgun in hand, red hair wrapped up in a ponytail. Her eyes were locked on a segment of the forest. Chads heart began to beat in his chest. He manuevered the camera to the point Mara was looking at. A man stepped forward. He was a thin guyhollow cheeks, loose, ripped clothes that barely seemed to fit him. He was like a reed thatd been snapped at some point in the past. Despite that, there was a clear layer of muscle on top of him. And his arm. He was missing an arm. He caught sight of Chad and raised his only hand. Um, hi, he said. Are you okay?
Nathan shook internally. People! Actual people! Not a fish, and not his own mind! Other people, in the real world! The guy was well-built and good looking, a blue mullet attached to his head and sunglasses covering his eyes. If Nathan didn''t know any better, he''d think that he was an actor or something. The woman looked malnourished and thin, a slight slouch to her posture. Her hair was blood-red and her clothing seemed haphazarly chosen. Neither of them responded to his greeting. "Are either of you injured?" Nathan said. Blue-hair looked at Red-hair and shrugged at her. She shook her head andwait, where did that gun come from? "We''re fine, but you look like you''ve been through hell," she said, dismantling the handgun like it was a fidget toy. "Fighting one-handed must''ve been rough. You need a gun. Everyone needs at least one gun. Or five." She pulled out a second pistol. "I could teach you. The tutorial weapons are incredible. Nathan took an instinctive step back. He opened his mouth to respond before pausing. How do I talk to people!? He''d only been alone for, like, two weeks. Surely that wasn''t enough to destroy his social skills! Wait. He never had social skills in the first place. And now he was stuck with Gun Girl and Mullet-head. Thankfully, the blue-haired guy finally spoke. "Yo. Thanks for the save. I''m Chad." He pointed with his thumb at the woman. "That''s Mara." "You really should let me help you pick out a weapon, she said. The recoil compensation on some pistols is perfect for one-handed shooting. Nathan glanced at Chad, hoping to see an equally concerned expression. The guy just shrugged like this was normal. Nathan was about to speak when Chad maneuvered his phone to better catch Nathan and him in the shot. "Why don''t you tell us about yourself, bro? Chat needs to know." Nathan blinked. "M-my name is Nathan!" He winced at how loud he was and quieted his voice. "I''m just a guy, I guess?" Chad''s eyes widened at Nathan''s name before he nodded. "Being a guy is a respectable occupation." "Being armed is an even more respectable occupation," Mara said, pulling out what looked like an assault rifle. Nathan''s eyes widened. Was her inventory nothing but guns? She caught him staring. "What? The monsters aren''t going to shoot themselves! Well, technically that one did shoot itself when I rigged itsnever mind." She looked at his arm stub. Nathan opened his mouth. Uh "How''d you lose your arm?" she asked. Chad staggered back and stared at her in shock. "Mara, jeez! You don''t ask those kinds of things right off the bat!" "Why not? You were thinking it too." Mara clicked her gun back together and smirked. "Besides, knowing what took it might help us pick the right caliber for payback." Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Nathan''s gaze darted between the growing pile of weapons and Mara. "I got unlucky. A monster took out my arm and ate it, he said. She froze. "Did you get it back?" she said. A dark satisfaction flickered inside Nathan before he snuffed it out. "It''s dead," he said with as little emotion as he could muster. "Good. She resumed cleaning her gun. Nothing better than a revenge story with a happy ending. Except maybe a pump-action shotgun. Nathan wondered if it was too late to go back to his fish-only diet and hermit lifestyle. Chad leaned in and whispered loudly. "I don''t actually know her that well," he said. "We met, like, an hour ago. So I don''t know if she''s some cracked psychopath or something." "I''m right here," Mara said, rolling her eyes. "And I''m not psychotic, I''m passionate. There''s a difference. Besides, who saved your ass when that slime thing tried to eat you?" "You did," Chad said. "Though I''m still not sure we needed to use three different guns." "The first two were to test its resistance to different ammunition types," Mara said. "The third one was just because it looked cool." Nathan stared at the growing arsenal around her feet. One hour. Chad had known her for one hour and this was normal to him already. Maybe he was the crazy one for thinking this wasn''t normal? No. No, this wasn''t normal. But they were real people. Weird, possibly unhinged people, but real ones! Nathan felt tears of joy welling up, even as Mara produced what was probably s a small cannon from her inventory. "We should trade information and stories," Chad said. "Get to know each other, right?" Nathan nodded. "I can get behind that." They found a relatively secluded part of the forest and set up a campfire. Nathan pulled out three fish from his inventory, stabbed two into sticks, and set it up to cook. Meanwhile, Mara had arranged what looked like a small armory in a semicircle around her sitting spot. "You guys want it cooked, right?" he said. Chad tilted his head. "Uh, yes?" He laughed. "I mean, there''s not many other ways to eat it, right?" Nathan ripped open the third fish and let the guts spill out to the side. "Oh god, that reeks!" Chad said. Nathan took a bite of the fish and paused. He wiped the spittle off his mouth and swalloed. "Sorry," he said. "I got used to the smell. Forgot that not everyone is okay with that. Chad frowned. "It''s fine." "I barely noticed it," Mara said, polishing what appeared to be herTenth? Eleventh?gun. You know what else gets rid of bad smells? Gunpowder residue. Nothing quite like it." Chad looked at the fish in Nathan''s hands. "Are you... eating it raw?" he said. Nathan nodded. "It''s just sushi," he said. Chad blinked. "I... I guess?" They were quiet for a bit before Chad rolled his eyes, muttering about ''anti-social loners.'' "Says the guy who doesn''t appreciate the subtle art of weapon maintenance," Mara said, somehow producing yet another firearm. Nathan was starting to wonder if she had an entire gun shop in her inventory. "I''ll start out," Chad said. "My name is Chad Mann." Silence, broken only by the rhythmic sound of Mara field-stripping yet another rifle. Chad coughed. "Most-subbed channel on Reflex?" Nathan looked away. "I''ve collabed with major celebrities? I went on tour and all my shows sold out? I was even in a Superbowl advertisement! Nathan shrugged. "Sorry man, I don''t watch any of that stuff." Chad''s shoulders slumped. "Damn it, no one in the tutorial recognized me either. I was even on the national news for that last one. Where the hell have you guys been living?" "Mostly in my apartment," Nathan said. "At the range," Mara said. "They had terrible WiFi." "Whatever," Chad said. "Anyway, it all happened just like it did for you guys, I''d bet. I was streaming in my apartment, we were doing a challenge: ''Rizzle dat Gyatt''" "Words cannot express," Mara said. How little that interests me. Now, if you want to hear about the time I modified a pistol to fire explosive rounds" "I was getting to the main point, jeez." Chad swept his hand back through his blue mullet. "Anyway, there was this loud boom outside and I went to go check it. There''s a weird purple vortex and next thing I know, this blue window''s in front of me, saying something about how the apocalypse is a thing. Gave me 20 points, then chucked me into the tutorial. "What''d you pick?" Nathan said. "Sword mastery, obviously." Chad reached into the airhis inventoryand pulled a katana from it. "I figured I could be a glass cannon, you know? High crit, high DPS build." Nathan had no clue what half of that meant but slowly nodded like he understood. "Right." "Swords. Mara scoffed. "So uncivilized." "Anyway" Chad put the katana back into his inventory. "When we were summoned in, I was summoned with about twenty other people? We lost... someone... but other than that, it was pretty smooth. We beat the circle boss and got out. How was it for you guys?" Mara paused her cleaning frenzy for the first time since they''d sat down. "Nothing special. I had the same story as you. Met some people, lost some people." Her hands unconsciously reached for another gun. "We killed the circle boss and got out." Nathan blinked. "Man, you guys had it lucky." "Bro, Chad said. Mara raised an eyebrow, her hands still moving mechanically over what looked like her fifteenth firearm of the evening. Nathan drew back. "Sorry. It''s just... you got summoned with other people." "You didn''t?" Mara said, looking up from her work. "Yeah. One second I''m buying a toaster, the next, there''s this giant skeleton monster about to kill me. I didn''t meet another human my entire time in the tutorial." Chad''s eyes widened. He nodded slowly. "Okay, I get why you''d call us lucky. Two weeks on your own must''ve been... damn." So hed had two weeks. "Well, at least you made it out, huh?" Chad said. He tapped his foot quickly, then stiffened. "Hey, what''s your full name?" "Oh, Nathan Lee." "Like... the Nathan Lee?" Nathan rested his arm over his lap. "What do you mean by that?" "Like, the guy at the top of the Rankings!" "Rankings?" A window popped up in front of Nathan. A list of names with points, all of it sorted by rank. And highlighted at the very top was Nathan Lee, 10,327 points. The next person was someone by the name of... Leviathan, 4134 points. Not even close. Nathan noted the total number of players. One billion. Nathan''s mood dropped before he pushed away the thoughts. No point in getting depressed. "Oh," Nathan said. "Are you that guy?" Chad said. Nathan squinted his eyes at the window. My name is highlighted, so I assume so." "Damn. I guess it makes sense. You didn''t have to split EXP with anyone else during the tutorial because you were alone. Of course you''d be at the top." "But how come no one else even comes close?" Mara said, her cleaning motions slowing as she focused on the conversation. "Why was Nathan the only one to be summoned alone across the entirety of humanity? Maybe everyone else who tried to go it alone died, Chad said. Riding solo is tough, after all. Yeah, but across all seven billion members of humanity? Seems kinda crazy to me. They both turned to Nathan. He shrugged. "Yeah, I have no clue, he said. Chad clapped his hands together. "Did you get any cool rewards for exiting the tutorial?I got the Katana. I guarantee Mara got one of those guns. "Nowait." Nathan paused. "I think that it mentioned something about a soulbound town." Chad gasped dramatically. A soulbound town?! Nathan leaned in. "...I have no idea what that is," Chad said. Nathan glared at Chad. "It''s in the help page," Mara said. I was trying to see if they had something new related to weapon modification. No dice. [Exiting a Circle] [Classes] [Soulbound Towns] Nathan clicked [Towns]. [Soulbound Towns] Sick of being a wandering hobo with zero property value? Tired of your only companion being a moth-eaten map and your own existential dread? Want to claim some real estate in the metaphysical realm? Welcome to Soulbound Townswhere urban planning meets the supernatural! Existing in a dimension so exclusive it makes the 9 Circles look like a budget timeshare, these towns are YOUR personal playground. As the Ruler, you''ll earn Town Pointsthink of them as magical municipal credits. Build factories that defy physics, upgrade infrastructure that would make city planners weep, and construct armies to raid other towns because why not? Conquest has never been so bureaucratically thrilling! Entering is simple: Just will a portal into existence. Five minutes later, congratulations! You''ve got instant access to your own pocket dimension. But here''s the catch - be stealthy. The last thing you want is an unexpected plus-one tagging along or some vengeful entity leaving a surprise at the portal exit. Discretion is your best friend... well, that and an impenetrable dimensional barrier. Disclaimer: Management not responsible for interdimensional property disputes or unexpected demonic squatters. Nathan stared at the article for a while. Chad summed it up. Youre basically playing one of those crappy mobile city-builder games on the side. I guess so? Nathan said. Well, open up the portal, Chad said. Dude, youve got to check it out. Nathan stood up and shut his eyes. He focused on summoning the portal. Five minutes passed and a whirl of light flashed across his eyes. In front of him, a glowing blue portal had appeared. Flames didnt lick its edges like the circle portal. Instead, it was more like a piece of glass. Reflective, almost unnoticeable. He pushed his hand against it. It sunk into the portal. He pulled back. Mara walked past him and walked in. Chad shrugged and followed after. Nathan sucked in a breath and walked in behind them. 16 - Magic Mushroom People Nathan wasnt quite sure what he was expecting when he entered the portal. He wasnt expecting to end up in a post-apocalyptic hellscape like the one hed left ten minutes ago. Abandoned houses and buildings spackled the streets. The roads used to be paved, but time had worn them into nothingness. Nathan? No offense, but I think you got screwed in the town department, Chad said. It figures. This looks pretty much how a town from my tutorial would look like. This reminds you of your tutorial? Chad said. Jeez, man. They walked forward, Maras pistols held loosely at her sides, Chads katana sheathed and sitting at his hip. Its kinda weird, isnt it? Chad said. Why are there buildings already here? Maybe there were previous residents, Nathan said. But where did they go? Good question. Nathan kept his harpoon at the ready. He moved with familiarity and confidencethis was no different than his sessions on the surface back at the tutorial. Mara looked back at Nathan and smiled. Awful confident, arent you? This is familiar territory for me, Nathan said. A rafter fell from a building to the side, creating a loud crash noise. Chad yelped and almost fell back. Mara whipped her pistols up and fired into the rafter two times. Nathan threw his harpoon, destroying the house and causing it to cave in. Mara grinned. Nice shot! Chad blinked. I mean, overkill is great, but thats a bit much, Chad said. Nathans cheeks turned red from embarrassment. Sorry, I panicked. He walked over to the harpoon and picked it up. Mara walked forward and slipped her pistol into a holster on her side. Lets face it, this place is abandoned Chad stopped. A figure caught Nathans eyes. A brown cloak covered them, preventing any obvious details from being seen. Woah, mysterious character encounter! Chads hand tightened around his katana. Mara pointed her gun at the figure. Stop right there, cloak person, or Ill turn you into Swiss cheese! The figure stopped. Take off your hood, Nathan said. Long purple fingers reached out of the cloak and took off its hood, revealing the creatures face. Nathan blinked. It was a purple mushroom man?
The mushroom man had a long fibrous beard. His head was in the shape of a shroom head. His skin was wrinkled and scratched and his eyes were so narrow they seemed to be shut. Greetings, he said. I am Gius. Which of you is the new Ruler? Nathan stepped forward after a second. I think its me? This is supposed to be my Soulbound Town. Gius bowed low. My lord. Its a pleasure to meet you. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Nathan raised a hand. Look, youre gonna have to explain what on earth is happening right now. Like, how are you here? Is it normal for soulbound towns to have people in them already? Where did you come from? Were you just born here? Why is this town like this Perhaps I should start from the beginning, Gius said. Chad lowered his katana. Yeah, the beginning is usually a really good place to start. Gius took a deep sigh. A long time ago, our people were nature mages, he said. This all changed when Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. the System came, right? Nathan said. Yes, exactly. But our people were weak and peaceful by nature. One of our greatest warriors unlocked the town system and proposed a dealwe would populate the town, providing her with bonuses and workers, and in exchange, wed receive the safety and protection of the town. It was a good deal. We celebrated the triplicate signing of the deal by having a highly organized sacred dance. But what happened to the warrior? Nathan said. Mara hummed. Im gonna bet that they died. Giuss lips turned into a deep frown. She made it far. All the way to the sixth circle. We dont know what happened, but the link was severed. Without a master, the town began to shrivel up. Our buildings and tools that wed spent so much time working on suddenly became unusable. Chad looked around at the devastated buildings. The System wouldnt let you make repairs? Yes. It all became forbidden property. Whatever that meant. Gius folded his hands behind his back. Then, one day, something changed. If you have any experience with the System, then you know that it prefers to avoid excessive effort, yes? Recycling, it calls it. In the case of towns, this means that when a survivor dies, the town is passed to another. In our case, this town was passed to a lizard man. He did not incline to be kind to us. We were nothing more than slaves. We couldnt even escape. Why not? Nathan said. You couldnt have taken him out or figured out some way to make a portal? That is an ability exclusively granted to the Ruler, Gius said. Besides, the paperwork wouldve been an utter pain to deal with. Uh-huh Gius bowed his head. And that brings us to you, Ruler. You have become the next inheritor. He paused. I was the manager of the last two Rulerss properties, hence why I am the one speaking to you now. Mara fiddle with one of her pistols, then looked up at Gius. Im surprised you arent trying to leave or kill your Ruler. Thats what I would do. She aimed a finger gun at Nathan. Bang. Can we not suggest murdering me, please? Nathan said. Leaving would simply leave us adrift in the nine circles, ready to be recycled into the next apocalypse. Killing him would put us right back where we started. Gius growled. Besides, our contract was very specific. We are to remain here and serve the Ruler until the ninth circle is reached and we are returned to our homeland. Was it, like, one of those magic contracts? Chad asked. No. Nathan blinked. Then why dont you just ignore it? Ignore a contract!? Gius gasped. Did you not hear me when I said that it was signed? In triplicate!? They take contracts pretty seriously Nathan staggered back. Oh. Um, well, if youre going to stay here, what do we do now? Thats up to you, Ruler. Gius said. I am assigned to assist you. What do you wish to be done? Nathan tried to cross his arms before realizing he couldnt do that anymore. Thisll take a while to get used to. He shook his head and thought for a few seconds. First, I want to see how many people Im working with. Can you bring out everyone? he said. Giuss eyes darkened. Of course. A Ruler must know how many resources he has to work with. Thats an odd way of putting it. Gius raised his voice. Everyone, come out! The Ruler wishes to see us! Dozens of footsteps pitter-pattered. Flashes of movement came from the surrounding abandoned buildings. Mushroom people of all shapes and sizes poured out into the street. Young and old, big and small. All of them were worn, ragged, and thin. Nathan looked over the group and tallied them up in his head. A hundred, huh? Nathan said. Thats not too bad. We will, of course, be pleased to listen to whatever commands you have, Gius said through gritted teeth. As is our duty. Uh, yeah, sure. Anyway, what do you guys need the most right now? Gius froze. What? he said. What do you mean? Im asking what you guys need, Nathan said. Like, food, water? Im not super well-versed on the dietary requirements of mushroom people. Giuss mouth flapped open and shut a few times. I suppose that we could use some fruit, he said. But you probably dont have Nathan reached into his inventory and started putting all of the fruit hed collected in the tutorial onto the ground. With each batch of fruit, the mushroom mans eyes widened. Chads jaw dropped. Mara stared at the food, her head tilted. Damn, I didnt realize just how much stuff I planted back in the tutorial. Nathan paused at the mystery seed. Better to keep that one in his inventory. When Nathan paused, Gius looked at him with confusion. Where did you get all this from? he said. I was farming during my tutorial. It was a part of a quest. Dude, how long were you in the tutorial for? Chad said. Two weeks? Giuss eyebrows raised up. Thats alarmingly fast. Nathan shrunk backward. Im not totally sure why it did this, he said. I mean, I ate it, I promise its not poisoned or anything. I think it just has to do with the fact that I planted it in the tutorial, maybe? I bet the water had something to do with it, too. Chad reached down and picked up a bell pepper. He bit into it, and his eyes widened. Holy shit, this is really good! At his words, a few of the Mushroom people closest to Nathan reached out and took the food. They bit into it and had similar reactions to Chad. Before long, everyone was rushing forward to take it Halt! Gius said. Line up, right now! Were doing this in order! Everyone drew back and nodded in sync. In 30 seconds flat, they were all lined up as if they hadnt just acted like starving wolves earlier. Its a part of the contract. They have to listen to the Ruler, and since Im the manager, I speak on behalf of you, Gius said. Nathan nodded slowly. Right Gius bowed his head. Ruler, what do you wish to do next? The article at the start of this said something about making improvements. Can we fix up these streets and get these buildings fixed? Nathan said. Giuss arms twitched. You dont want to look into the potential for resource extraction? Factories? Not really. We need to get everyone here fed, right? I suppose that if were fed, well be able to work better. What? Nothing, Gius said. Very well, Ruler. I will show you how to operate the town system. Lets begin by opening up the Strategy View. Strategy View? As soon as he said that, a window appeared in front of him, showing a 2D isometric perspective of the town. He could see the mushroom people in a line, approaching the food. The buildings were outlined by a dim white line. To the top right, there were the words Town Points: 10000. Underneath that, there was a bar labeled Authority that was 100% full. Wait a second This was This was a real-time strategy game! 17 - Unable to Build: Insufficient Existential Dread Nathan didnt play RTS games, but there was one that hed sunk a decent number of hours into. It didnt have any combat and focused more on farming. Hed finished the game, 100%. In the background, Chad was devouring another bell pepper while Mara cheered him on. This is the Strategy View, Gius said, looking at the window along with Nathan. Using Town Points, you can build structures and make repairs Nathan clicked on a farm at the edge of town. A list of options appeared. Nathan clicked the obvious option: repair. Two Mushroom People in ragged cloaks ran off toward the structure. Nathan saw them in the Strategy View and in front of him. Tools and a construction hat appeared in their hands with a sparkle. The system gives us citizens several benefits, as you can see, Gius said. The problem is that without a Ruler, it all falls apart. Were unable to harvest resources or use our tools. Its a nightmare. Its a shame you couldnt find a Ruler when the last one died, Nathan said. Gius paused. Yes, he said. But thats neither here nor there. Food production was a good start. If I might make some recommendations, you should create a few workshops to allow for more builders, then continue repairing the farms. Nathan clicked through the menu. Should we be concerned about running out of Town Points? They regenerate over time, Gius said. The regeneration rate is based on many factors, and I wont delve into it. Suffice it to say that the more the town is developed, the more town points youll receive. Gius looked closer at the Strategy View. Youre at a distinct advantage, though. The last Ruler only had 2500. Before that, our warrior received a scant 1000. The tutorial mentioned something about me getting a bonus because of my tutorials difficulty. Nathans eye caught on the text below the Town points. Whats this authority thing? Unimportant, Gius said. Or at least, thats what my experience has shown. Weve done some analysis, but nothing seems to make any kind of sense. It doesnt do anything, it changes randomlyeveryone agreed that its best to ignore it, Ruler. Nathan scratched his cheek. What a bizarre resource. He clicked through a few more of the menus, repairing farms, fixing workshops, and rebuilding houses. Mushroom people in construction clothes rushed from place to place to keep up with Nathans orders. Nathan looked at the list of buildings. Walls. Barracks. Laboratory the names stretched on and on. I still have about five thousand points left, Nathan said. What should I put them into? You seem to have solved the food problem. Well make do with collecting resources. Gius stroked his beard. Id say that the best thing to do would be to invest in a shop. A shop? Yes, Ruler. A shop will give you access to purchasable items and allow you to sell your excess materials, all directly through the System. Normally, you dont get it till the second circle, but thanks to your exceptionally high number of Town Points, youll be able to support it. Nathan scrolled through the list of building options and selected the Shop. Got it. Ill go ahead and place it at the edge of town Not there! Nathans finger stopped right before clicking the confirm button. He looked at Gius. Why not? Because thats a part of a residential zone! The city council will throw a fit if you put it there! Im sorry, what? Okay, um. Nathan dragged the building to a separate area. What about here? Gius sucked in a breath through his teeth. Im afraid that wont work. The shop exceeds the vertical building size we assigned for that zone. Nathans left eye twitched. Okay, what about this spot? Nathan put it smack in the center of town. Gius opened his mouth to speak, then shut it. He muttered to himself, then nodded. Theres one or two HOA regulations, but I should be able to bat them away, he said. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Okay then. Nathan clicked the build button. Two mushroom people ran out of one of the workshops in progress to the area hed assigned. They smashed down the old building plank by plank. Off to the side, Nathan saw a few other mushroom people without hardhats grabbing logs and bringing them over to the work site. Very well, Gius said. You still have town points, but I would recommend saving those for later. Nathan nodded. He looked at the outside of the town. The soil was a muddy black. Dead trees and dead bushes marked the landscape. He walked out of the town. Gius trailed behind him without a word. After a few minutes of walking, Nathan stopped. He reached into his inventory and pulled out the Mystery Seed. Gius froze. What is that? Its a weird seed I got in the tutorial. I want to see what it does, Nathan said. Gius gulped. The amount of nature essence I feel coming off it Ive never seen anything like it before. Nathan kneeled, made a hole in the ground, then placed the seed inside. He covered the seed with dirt. The soil shuddered and a green bud poked through. Can you assign one of your guys to water this daily? Nathan said. And to keep an eye on it? Gius nodded. Of course, Ruler. We will ensure that this precious plant receives all the care it needs. There was a nigh-devoted tone to Giuss speech that was concerning to Nathan, but he didnt have time to analyze it. There were more important things to deal with. I think its about time we left and headed back to the first circle, Nathan said. Will you be okay? Now that we have a Ruler, all the old functions have been unlocked again. Gius smiled. Well be fine. Especially with all the farms back up. Nathan nodded. Good. Ill check in periodically to make sure youre doing well. Nathan walked back to town and collected his two new-found companions. Chad had been entertaining the mushroom people by slicing fruit in midair. Mara had been watching, firing a pistol at the ones Chad missed. When Nathan arrived back, Chad sheathed his katana. You done? he said. Nathan nodded. All finished. Lets get out of here already. Gius chose that moment to break into the conversation. To exit is the same method as opening. Simply will the portal into existence. Nathan nodded and faced toward an empty spot in the town square. A few seconds later, there was a shimmer and a portal appeared. Nathan walked through.
Nathan stumbled into the clearing theyd come from, blinking the sun out of his eyes. He felt a weight shove him from behind and spun to the ground. Chad fell and his nose slammed right into Nathans elbow. He groaned and stood back up. Shit, that hurts, Nathan said. That was a pretty nice three-sixty, Mara said. You should do it again, but with a gun in your hand! The portal snapped shut behind them. Nathan stood to his feet and the three stared at each other for a bit. So, uh, what now? Nathan said. Have you checked the Circle Quest requirements? Chad said. Nathan scratched the back of his head. I mean, I didnt exactly have a lot of time to check it out. Take a look, Chad said. Thatll help us decide what to do. Nathan nodded and opened his Quests window. Global Quests [Find and Use the 100 Pandoras!] Global Quests actually has something in it. Remind me again what global quests are? Anyone can complete them, Chad said. In theory, we should be working together to do so. In theory? Chads lips thinned. We had a global quest for my tutorial. Some dicks got a hold of one of the required items and wouldnt use it., Chad said. They wanted everyone else to cough up their dough first. Nathan frowned. Thats gross. What happened? Some of the other guys got mad and there was a big fight. One person died. It was a pretty sucky situation, not gonna lie. They shouldnt have tried to steal one of the requirements if they didnt have the firepower to back up their threats, Mara said. Kind of a weird thing to take away from that story, but okay. Nathan clicked on the quest. [Find and Use the 100 Pandoras!] 100 artifacts have been scattered across the first circle. If used, they immediately grant top-tier ascension to the user, upgrading your race from F to E! When all 100 Pandoras have been found, the exit will appear. Note: Ascension is good. Top-tier ascension is really good. Get the Pandoras. Rewards: -Power -Circle 1 Exit You can upgrade your race? Nathan said. Yeah, not sure what it means, Chad said. My best guess is that its like one of those mobile gacha games. Theres a level cap somewhere, and ascension lets you break that cap. I would also bet you get general improvements to your stats. The person who got it would have a huge advantage, Mara said. I wonder who should have it? It should be the weakest person, right? Nathan said. Wouldnt that make the most sense? Mara blinked and looked at Nathan. I wouldve thought it should be the strongest. But thats fine too. Chads lips stretched into a thin line. I guess. These people, man. I cant believe Im about to ask this I have a proposal, Nathan said. What if we work together to get a Pandora? We could stick together, defend each other, it seems like a better idea than going it alone. Defend each other Mara honed in on Nathans face. Sure. For now, why not? I might even teach you how to fire a rifle! "With one hand!?" Chad coughed into his hand. I think were missing something important, dudes. Mara tilted her head. Im not a dude, Im a girl. What are we missing, Chad? Nathan said. We dont have any way to find these Pandoras, Chad said. We dont even know what these Pandoras look like. Nathan winced. Oh, yeah. Thats a problem. We could just walk around and hope we run into it? Nathan asked. Theres gotta be someone who knows something about how to find these things, Chad said. I just dont know where wed find a person like that. I know someone like that. Finny. If Nathan fished a bunch, maybe hed run into Finny again? Hed bet that Finny would have some advice on what to do. Mara sighed and walked off. Where are you going? Nathan said. Class Quests, Mara said. I want to do something fun, not sit around talking. She vanished into the foliage. Will she come back? Nathan said. Probably, Chad said. But shes right, I dont think theres any reason for us to babble away. Shes got the right ideaits almost evening, we should work on our class quests. Nathan nodded and cracked his neck. He opened up his class quests. [Upgrade Throw Harpoon to Bronze] [Obtain Riptide Grasp (Bronze)] [Obtain Oceans Embrace (Bronze)] [Obtain Tidal Shield (Bronze)] 18 - Rise of the Waifubait Nathan rubbed his chin. A bird chirped above, and a stray branch dropped from a tree. It missed Nathans head by inches. He ignored it and clicked on the first quest for upgrading his harpoon-throwing skill. The requirements were simple: he just had to kill 100 enemies using his harpoon. Easy. The other quests, though [Obtain Riptide Grasp (Bronze)] The Riptide Grasp waits within the rush of swift currents. Go where the waters pull the strongest, and reach into their flow. Only by understanding the force of their grip can you summon it in your hands. [Obtain Oceans Embrace (Bronze)] The Oceans Embrace requires a heart attuned to gentleness. Rest where the waters move without force, and sense their touch. When you know their comfort, you will hold the key to their healing. Tidal Shield [Obtain Tidal Shield (Bronze)] To call upon the Tidal Shield, seek the place where the waters press hardest. Let the weight of the flow test your resolve, and hold steady within it. Only then will the shield recognize your strength. Nathan stared at the requirements. Chad? he said. Maybe you can make sense of this. Chad perked up. What is it? Nathan read out the descriptions out loud. Chad nodded up and down, humming at the appropriate moments. After Nathan was done, he turned to Chad. Chad pressed his hand to his chin. Yup, I have no clue what that means, Chad said. Nathan slumped over. Damn it. My requirements are a lot clearer, Chad said. It just says stuff about using my sword to kill 50 monsters. What weird-ass class are you using? Uh, something called Ocean Warden. Chads eyebrows furrowed together. What? That sounds like some kind of special class, nothing like Duelist or Mage. How did you get that? There was this whole thing with my quest changing out of nowhere? I honestly dont get it Okay. Well, sorry, dude, I have no idea whats up with that. Nathan sighed. I think Ill just try following what it said. It keeps mentioning the water, so Ill go there? Swimming is a good stress reliever, Chad said. They walked around the area, searching for a river. As they walked, Nathans thoughts turned to his odd companion. The blue mullet was an interesting fashion statement. So, uh, Chad, Nathan said. You were a streamer, right? Chads visage brightened at the question. Yeah, man. I was pretty good at it too. I broke the records for max subs on Reflex, like, five times. Nathan nodded. Oh, cool. What the hell is Reflex? What kind of things did you stream? Nathan said. Lots of stuff. Variety is really important to succeed on the platform, you know? But my bread and butter was gaming. I used to dump, like, thousands of hours into MMORPGs. Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. MMORPGs? Like Neverquest? Chad paused. Dude, Neverquest was 20 years ago. Where have you been? Chad asked. Nathan winced. Ah, well, I dont play a lot of these types of games. Bruh. I guess Ill have to teach you the methods of a pro gamer like myself. why? Because this is literally a video game! He faced Nathan and leaned in. Its just like World of Warriors! Nathan tilted backward. O-oh. Is that so? Yes! The class system, the way skills are upgraded, its all just like the game! Chad paused. Well, except for the fact that if I died in WoW, Id just get hit with a penalty. Here, Im pretty sure that Id just, yknow uh, die. That seems like a big difference. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. A MINOR TECHNICALITY! Chad said. Pull up your stats! Lemme take a look. We can share stats? Nathan said. Sure. Its not private, now come on, let me see Nathan searched around for an escape. A flash of blue caught his attention. Oh, hey, the water, Nathan said. I think Id better go do the class quest stuff now. Alright. But youve got to let me see your stats later. Nathan walked up to the flowing river. Yeah, sure, he said. He stepped into the cool water. It brushed up against his legs and chilled his skin. His lost arm ached. I wonder if I count as fully human anymore. Wouldnt I just be, like, 75%? He glanced at his arm stub before turning away. Let the weight of the flow test your resolve, and hold steady within it. The words echoed against Nathans ears. He held firm and shut his eyes. How many games have you played, anyway? Chad said. Youve played a few things based on how optimized your build is. Nathans left eye twitched. Ive played a few games, Nathan said. Like? Chad swung his sword, cutting through the air. Played any Dark Spirits? Nathan tried to concentrate on the flow of the water. Oh, uh You got crushed at the first boss, didnt you? Chad said. Dont worry, theres nothing to be ashamed of. Nathans lips pursed. I died seventeen times in the tutorial and then returned the game. Chads jaw dropped and his katana froze in mid-air. Bro, what? He waved his katana around. I know its hard, but thats thats game journalist levels of play! Nathan groaned and looked up at the sky. The water continued to run against his calves. I just dont play those types of games. I prefer farming sims and stuff, he said Chad held up his hands. Whatever, man. It just kind of shocked me. You slayed earlier, so I just thought that youd be What? Cooler. His missing arm throbbed. 75%. The number bounced around in his head. Nathan took a deep breath. I think Im plenty cool, Nathan said. I dont know, man. Chad tilted his head. By the way, what was your class before Ocean Warden? I was wondering how that progression tree workedI mean, Im assuming that Ocean Warden is at least bronze. Its bronze, Nathan said. And my class before Do I really want to tell this guy that I picked the fisher class? whatever. Why not? I had the fisher class, Natham said. Chad snickered before covering it up with his hand. Nathan frowned. What is it? So during your tutorial, you were, what, fishing? Yes. Chad laughed again. Nathans eyes narrowed. Sorry, its just Chad motioned at him. I mean, come on. I dont get it. Chad rubbed his nose, a sleazy expression on his face. Well, based on everything Ive heard, I just really expected you to have some badass backstory. But it turns out you were just chilling, fishing your whole tutorial. Nathans eyes widened. Hot blood shot through his veins and goosebumps ran down his back. How dare he? Nathan had lost his arm in that tutorial. Nathan had nearly died over and over. Hed been alone in hostile conditions for two weeks. He turned sharply and took a step out of the river. As soon as he did so, an explosion of water sprayed out to Nathans left and right. The water torrented through the undergrowth, ripping through the grass with a loud roar. Nathan stopped. What was that? Chad jumped back, his katana ready. Holy balls! I didnt mean it like that, no need to get violent! Nathan looked at the paths of destruction hed created. Did I do that? Before he could think about it any further, something caught his attention. Smoke in the distance. Chad followed his gaze and squinted his eyes. What the hell? Chad said. I dont know, but wed better check it out.
The two rushed through the forest. A squirrel ducked out of the way of their footsteps. Nathan jumped over a vine and ducked under a low-hanging branch. Chad slammed directly through both objects. Ouchshit! A few moments later, Nathan felt a presence to his side. The sound of a shotgun cocking entered his ears. He looked to his left. Mara? he said. She jumped over a log and did a three-sixty spin in midair before falling perfectly back onto the ground. You saw the smoke too, right? she said. Theres got to be something interesting going on over there! Nathan nodded. Behind them, Chad tripped and rolled into a ball. Goddammit, fine, maybe I shouldve put a few more points into Dexterity! Chad said. Nathan didnt slow down. A woman with a staff in a green cloak was surrounded by raptors. The ground around her was littered with the seared corpses of other raptors. A fireball appeared over her staff and launched out. With a whizzing noise, it hit, blowing a raptor away. One of the other raptors jumped forward at the woman. She moved her staff to block, but she was too slow. Nathan ran forward, reaching into his inventory. He pulled out his harpoon. Do I trust my aim that muchoh I already threw it. The harpoon shot through the air and went through the raptor, killing it instantly. The figure stared at Nathan, red eyes peeking out from below the hood. The sides of the hood seemed to poke out slightly. Wait why does she have red eyes? A loud crack like thunder echoed out. Mara cocked her shotgun and fired again. A raptor dropped dead and she grinned widely. Finally, some action! she said. She ran forward and shot another round. Nathan pulled out his fishing rod. He cast his hook out. It flew through the air and smashed into a raptor with a loud thud. The raptor fell to the ground and didnt move. Another one rushed toward Nathan. He moved and started to punch with his other hand Oh. I dont have another hand. Its gone. The raptor bit into Nathans arm stub. He grunted in discomfortit wasnt strong enough to do any real damage. He let go of his fishing rod and punched the raptor. His fist went directly through the raptors chest. It let go of his shoulder and dropped to the ground. The bit wound was okay. It would sting, but hed had worse. Nathan and Mara systematically exterminated all of them. By the end of it, not a single one had been left alive. Chad ran in, his breath heaving. Okay, I made it through the forest, lets get ready to rumble! Were done, Nathan said. Chad stared at a raptor corpse. Mara shot it for good measure. Oh, Chad said. Nathans sight wandered over to the red-eyed person. The person blinked, eyes wide as they stared at him, head tilted. Whos this? Chad said. They were fighting off the raptors earlier with fire magic, Nathan said. Thats where the smoke came from. The person stiffened. Oh my gosh, I didnt even thank you, the voice said. It was feminine and sweet, like wind chimes in the breeze. Her form was lithe and smooth, carved out of marble. The person took off their hood, revealing a young woman with white hair and red eyes. That alone was surprising, but the thing that caught Nathans attention was her ears. They were long and pointed at the tip. Before Nathan could think on this, she bowed her head and lifted the edges of her cloak in a curtsy. Greetings, she said. I am Eminia Laplanta, princess and heir to the Elven Realms. She raised her head and winked. But you can call me Emi! 19 - Prisoners Dilemma Nathan blinked. An elf? Emis white hair was cut short, just above her shoulder. Her form was petite, red eyes staring at Nathan, reminding Nathan vaguely of a puppy. It didnt help that she kept bouncing off her heels. Holy shit, hot elf princesses are a thing, Chad said. Nathan turned and glared at Chad. Seriously? Maras eyes were on Emis hair. She had a look of idle curiosity on her face. Weird. Emi stepped closer to Nathan, leaning in. Nathan tilted his body back. What is she doing? Youre not elves. But youre not orcs either. What are you? Emi said. Were human. And can you please step back? Nathan said. Emi hurried away from Nathan. She rubbed the back of her head. Im sorry, she said. Ive just never seen creatures like you before. Her eyebrows furrowed together. But youve heard of my kind. You knew what we were. There are stories about pointy-eared humanoids in our myths, Chad said. I think its just a funny coincidence. But how are you speaking English? Ah, the system must be translating everything! Emi said. The old legends mentioned something about that. The old legends? Chad said From our first time through the Nine Circles. Nathans brain fritzed. First time? Before anyone could say anything, Mara spoke up. Do the old legends mention anything about guns? Guns? Emi tilted her head. Do you mean that odd magic crossbow you have? Maras jaw dropped. Y-you dont know what a gun is!? Chad held up a hand. Your species went through the Nine Circles and survived? Emi nodded up and down slowly. It was thousands of years ago. Some of our people believed that it was nothing more than a myth. But, uh they dont believe that anymore. Okay, were getting off-topic, Nathan said. Can we redo the introductions? I think were going all over the place. Yes, of course! As I said, my name is Eminia Laplanta. I am the last of my lineage and heir to my people. Why are you the last? Mara said. Dont you have any brothers or sisters? Nathan winced as the atmosphere took a nose dive. Emi looked at the ground. Id rather not talk about that, she said. Chad clapped his hands together. Right, lets move to a different topic. So, youre an elf? Indeed! She brightened. I am unsure where to start telling you about myself. AhI was born third in line for rulership. I live in a castle with lots of servants. I used to, anyway. I spent my days preparing for an official position in the court and practicing magic. She awkwardly laughed. And then the apocalypse happened and now Im here. W-wait, magic? Nathan said. Yes, magic. Why would you ask She gasped. You cannot, can you? Nathan slowly nodded. Thats not something we have, yeah. Emi sighed. What a shame. Magic is such a wonderful thing. She perked up. But if the legends are true, you should be capable of magic now. Are skills a type of magic? Ill need to ask her that later. How did you end up surrounded by a bunch of raptors? Nathan said. Raptors? Emi hummed. Thats what theyre called? Yes, well, I just escaped from the tutorial. My escort did not come with me, evidently. I was taken off guard by those animalswhich is why Im very grateful for the assistance you gave me. Nathan was about to respond when she gasped dramatically. Heavens! I dont even have your names! Please, let me know who saved me so I can thank you all appropriately. Chad crossed his arms and threw his head back. The names Chad Mann. Not to brag, but I can bench 200. My DMs are open, you interested? She squinted her eyes. Were you invisible? she said. Chad froze. Pardon me, honeybuns? Im sorry, I just didnt see you during the battle. Do you have some sort of invisibility spell? Can you teach me? Chad melted into the ground. Never mind me, guys. Ive just been killed. Its over. Nathan ignored Chad. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Mara stuffed her revolver into her inventory. Im Mara! And if you ever want to learn how to fire a pistol, Im your gal. Hell, Ill even give you a gun right now Erm, lets not give a pistol to the elf girl whos never even seen one before, Nathan said. Emi smiled. A pleasure to meet you, Mara. Im unsure about these guns you tell me of, but Id love to learn when we have more time. Her attention turned to Nathan. She didnt say anything and looked over him from top to bottom. You rescued me earlier, she said. Huh, shes looking at me really intently. Uh, yeah. Sorry about the harpoon throw. It was kind of risky, I know, Nathan said. No, dont be sorry. You saved me from grievous injury. She looked at his arm. May I ask how you lost your? Nathans lips narrowed into a thin line. A monster. I see. Her tone was noticeably calmer than earlier in the conversation. Im sorry. I wish that things were different. You dont deserve this. Nathan reared back as if struck. Too sincere! Thanks, he said. I appreciate that. I still dont know your name. Im Nathan. Nathan Lee. Her staff dropped out of her hands. THE Nathan Lee? Yes? She reached forward and grabbed his hand. Excuse me what the f So not only was I rescued by a hero, this hero just so happens to be the strongest person in the apocalypse! she said. Its just like a storybook! Chad (having recovered from Emis emotional attack) stared at Nathan. You lucky bastard he said. Emi dropped his hand and clasped her fingers together in a pleading gesture. May I travel with you? As you can see, Im quite defenseless. I promise Ill be of aidI can teach you to harness your newfound magic. And I will, of course, assist you in finding a Pandora! Chad ducked behind Emi and hurriedly put his hands into a time-out gesture while shaking his head quickly. I think he doesnt want her on the team. Nathan turned back to Emi. Can we have a second to discuss it? Of course, she curtsied again. I will wait here for your group to come to a decision.
The three walked over the edge of the primeval forest and gathered into a huddle. So, we cant let her join us, Chad said. Nathan tilted his head. He sounded so confident. Why? he said. Dont you remember the article in the help page? Chad said. It mentioned competing with other races. Im, like, 90% sure that only one race is getting out of here. The rest are going to be killed or something. We dont know that for sure, Nathan said. We dont. I bet the cute elf girl thinks it means one race is getting out. Even if she doesnt believe it now, what about the third or fourth circle? We shouldnt risk it it. Nathan looked over at Mara. She shrugged. I like her. After all, she wants to learn about using a gun. Someone like that cant be a bad person. Nathan turned and stared at Mara before shaking his head. She mentioned finding the Pandora, Nathan said. And how is she going to do that? Chad said. Like, theres got to be a plan or something before I can believe her. And like I said, I just dont see how we can trust her. Nathan pursed his lips. Chad made a pretty compelling point. Even if everyone could walk away from the Nine Circles, the text in the article had been so ambiguous that people would inevitably resort to violence. Barely 3% into this mess and everyones gonna be planning how to backstab each other. I think we should tell her our concerns, Nathan said. Give her a chance to defend herself. Mara snickered. She already knows, silly. How could she possibly know that? Chad said. Mara reached her hands up and gestured at her ears. Chads mouth made an o shape. Yeah, that makes sense and Im surprised youre the one who pointed it out, Chad said. Shell probably deny it though. The three separated and walked over to Emi. So, Emi, Chad said. Weve been discussing things and we have some concerns I promise that I wont betray you! Nathan stared at her. She laughed nervously and waved her hands in front of her. Im sorry. You were right, I can hear you. But I swear Im not planning to betray you, I would never do that! We cant believe you, Chad said. Its not that you seem like a bad person, but we just dont know for sure. W-wait! At least give me a chance! Can I at least have the opportunity to gain trust before breaking it? Chad cocked an eyebrow. So youre planning to break our trust? Emis mouth froze. Uh She dug her hands into her white hair and curled up into a ball. No! I didnt mean it like that! Nathan stuck his hand into his pocket. I kind of feel bad for her. I think we should let her come with us, Nathan said. Really? Chad frowned. Dude, its not a good move. For all I know, you guys could be planning to betray me, Nathan said. I could be planning to betray you. But were willing to set that aside. I dont see how this is any different. Chad reached up and scratched his head. I mean, I guess so Emi sprang up and clapped her hands together. You said you wanted a plan for finding a Pandora, right? she asked. Well, I have one! She pulled up her quest window in front of everyone. Class Quests [Obtain Mana Sensing (Bronze)] [Obtain Raging Fireball (Bronze)] [Obtain Waterbolt (Bronze)] [Obtain Earth Shards (Bronze)] [Obtain High Jump (Bronze)] Mana sensing? Nathan said. Yup! She closed the window. These ascension artifacts give off an enormous amount of mana. If I have a stronger Mana Sensing ability, then I should be able to detect it, even if its a hundred leagues away. Chads eyes lit up at the plan before they dimmed. Wait, but what are the quest requirements? Chad said. I have to absorb three mana stones. Im not totally sure how Ill absorb them, but Ill figure it out when I get there. I have no idea what those are, Chad said. Theyre little stones filled with condensed mana. Mages use them when they run out of mana in their bodies. Theyre also used for lots of spells. Chad rubbed his chin with his index and thumb. And how would you find these mana stones? Theyre super common! Most elves have at least one, and the monsters here should drop them. If we run across another group of people, I bet theyd have some. Nathan shrugged. I mean, its at least worth pursuing, right? Whats our alternative otherwise for getting a Pandora? Chad looked up at the sky and then down at the ground. He hummed, tapped his foot, and did a few other gestures. Finally, he sighed. Fine, Ill sign off on it, he said. We need a baddie on the team anyway. Uh, no offense, Mara. Im not sure what that means, said Mara. But I have no objections to the plan. Nathan stuck out his hand. Welcome to the team, Emi. She stared at his hand for a bit and tilted her head. What are you doing? Oh yeah, she has no idea what a handshake is
When Nathan had explained what a handshake was to Emi, she enthusiastically grabbed his fingers and nearly ripped his arm out of his socket. Nathan made a mental note to be more careful about explaining this stuff to her. After the fact, theyd ended up creating a camp. Nathan had proposed sleeping inside his Soulbound Town, but Chad had objected. What if a bunch of monsters end up hanging outside the portal door, and we walk right into an ambush, bro? Chad had said. Nathan hesitantly ended up agreeing. Mara and Emi didnt say anything. Emi was fine with it because she was used to sleeping under the starsodd for a princess, but normal for an elf?while Nathan had no clue about Mara. Maybe she used to camp. The next morning while Chad was still sleeping, Nathan pulled Emi aside. You said youd offer help with magic, right? he said. Emi nodded. Yes, is this about all the raging magic inside of you? Magic? Is that referring to my skills? Skills, magic. Its all the same name for different sides of the same thing. She smiled. Of course, I can helpI should be able to give you a better grasp on your new skills. New skills? No, Im trying to get a skill. It keeps saying stuff about contemplating the flow of water. Her jaw dropped. Nathan blinked. Are you okay? he said. Y-youre a cultivator!? 20 - Reasonable Responses Youre going to need to explain what a cultivator is, Nathan said. Because I really dont know. Emi sucked in a breath. Of course, Im sorry, sir Nathan. Allow me to explain, she said. There are two ways of manipulating magic in this world that have been discovered. The first is through what my people call Formulae. She raised her staff in the air. Glyphs appeared and a blast of wind burst from the tip of her staff. The wind ruffled Nathans hair and clothes, cooling his skin. Developed through extensive study and time, she said. These Formulae allow one to manipulate mana along pre-determined paths. Its the easiest method of casting a spell. I have been taught fifty Formulae, Id say. That spell you just saw me cast was one of them. She smiled, though it didnt reach her eyes. Why does she look like that? My mother was the one who taught me that one, she said. Air Burst. A simple one meant for practicing power. Your mother? Its not important. She let out a laugh and shook her head. Sorry. We should stay focused, sir Nathan. Where was I? Nathan pushed the awkward moment out of his mind. It was none of his business. And whats this cultivator business? Cultivation is an alternative method of manipulating mana. Rather than manipulate mana, its more she paused and looked up at the sky. mystical, I guess. Im not sure how to describe itIm not a cultivator, after all. The analogy thats always used is that Formulae mages cast spells using their mind. Cultivators cast using their heart. And Im one of those cultivators? It sounds like it? Emi shrugged. The terminology you used is the same one Ive heard cultivators use. It sounds like the System is guiding your path so that you can tap into those abilities. Its not the Systemits the sea giving me these quests. I think. Why didnt you make a Formulae during the battle against the Raptors? Fireballs just sort of appeared when you were fighting. Her eyes widened. A very astute observation. Impressive. She leaned in toward him. Nathan stared at her, waiting for an explanation. She coughed and drew back. Why I didnt use a Formulae earlier? Well, the Systemwere not exactly sure what it istakes care of Formulae for you. The way it does this is via skills. It embeds the knowledge into your body. We have similar techniques in my homeland, but none as effective as the System. Is it a bad thing for me to be a cultivator? Emi frowned. It depends on who you ask. There are certainly disadvantages. Nathans heart sank. Like? Well, it takes much longer to learn spells due to needing to understand it on a much deeper level than Formulae mages. Can I just do the Forumlae mage stuff instead? Emi grimaced. Maybe? But youd have to learn from scratch, without the assistance of the System. By the time were done with the Nine Circles, I might be able to teach you two or three basic spells. Ah. Chin up! Youve got amazing physical abilities. Even if you never advance in terms of magic, does it matter? she said. Besides youre extremely special, Nathan. The strongest warrior of the apocalypse, according to the rankings. If theres anyone who can master cultivation in a matter of months, it would be you. Nathan thought about it for a second. Can you teach me? Show me how to tap into these abilities? She scratched her cheek. I dont know. Im not a cultivator. Ive only read some books on the subjectbut Im willing to try. Nathan nodded. Lets try.
After explaining the descriptions of the quests and what had happened with Chad, Emi was able to explain what the issue had been with getting anything to happen with Tidal Shield. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Of course, defensive abilities arent as powerful. You have the bearing of an attacker, not a protector. Emi hadnt elaborated, and Nathan didnt feel like asking for more information. I mightve picked wrong when I selected Ocean Warden. Either way, Emi had asked him to focus on Riptide Grasp. They waded into a nearby river, the water going up to just below Nathans knees. Emi had walked in wihtout any hesitation, unconcerned for the fact that her cloak was soaking wet. Okay, she said. We will begin by meditating. Once youve hit a state of mental quiet, I want you to nudge your thoughts toward the feeling of the water pulling at your legs. I believe thats what the quest seems to be aiming for. Got it. Ill shut my eyes now. Nathan shut his eyes. Breath in and out with me. One, two, three, four, five Emi said. Nathan followed the instructions. It felt like a physical weight had lifted off his shoulders. Once more, with me, she said. Nathan breathed in and out. His limbs relaxed. His jaw unclenched. Meditation is actually pretty nice, I see why people like to do it. Emi had gone quiet. Nathan didnt mind. A minute ticked by. He felt a hot breath tickle his face and opened his eyes. Red eyes were staring at him from inches away. His face twisted up with incredulity. Emi jumped back and fell into the water with a splash. I was just checking to see your state of relaxation! she squeaked. Im sorry, it wasnt what it looked like! Nathan reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. I do not need whatever this is right now. Can we just get back to meditation? he said. Y-yes! Of course! Nathan managed to slip back into his meditative state relatively quickly. He focused on the sound of his breath going in and out. A warm breath tickled his cheek again. Emi, he said without opening his eyes. S-sorry! she said. Ill stop now! Im getting some stalker-y vibes from this girl. Nathan tried his best to push the thought out of his mind. He was here to focus on contemplating the water. Minutes passed, and this time, Emi didnt come over to check on his relaxed state. The sounds faded away around him. The rustle of the wind in the trees. Emis breathing. His own heartbeat. The only thing left was the sound of the water streaming through the river. Even that faded away. The feeling of water wrapped around his legs. Gripping them, attempting to pull him away. Goosebumps ran down his spine. There was something at the edge of his awareness. Something that he was about to understand. A thread, waiting to be pulled. Dont be surprised if nothing happens, Emi said, her voice muffled through his meditative state. It might take weeks just to see the slightest ripple He pulled on the thread. Water gushed and shifted. He opened his eyes. The ground to his sides was devastated, dirt thrown everywhere and clumps of grass on the ground. Emi stared at him. T-the water, it just how did you do that? Nathans mouth opened and shut two times. Finally, he shook his head. I dont know, I just did it. She was about to respond when she froze. He turned her head to the left and sniffed the air. Her pupils dilated to pinpricks. Orc, she said, the words coming out as more of a growl. She looked back at Nathan. Stay right there! Before Nathan could respond, shed already taken off into a dash.
Nathan ran after her, of course, and easily kept pace. She glanced back at him and a flicker of reason seemed to come into her eyes. She nodded her head and faced forward again. Within a minute, they came across an unusual sight. There was an orc seated on a fallen log. The orc was built like an iron ingot, all hulking muscle and sharp edges. He hadnt caught sight of Nathan and Emi. Maybe we should discuss a plan Emi pointed her staff at the orc. A fireball appeared. The orc perked up. A moment later, the fireball launched. The orc dived out of the way, dodging the fireball. Slippery bastard, Emi muttered. She raised her voice. Youre not getting away! The orc turned and growled. I have no conflict with you, girl. Leave this place. Nathan stiffened. He could speak? This wasnt a monster, it was an intelligent creature. Emi, stop, I need to talk with this guy. Im sorry, but I cant! Emi shouted. Her staff lit up with a glow and two more fireballs appeared. They launched out. The orc thrust his hand out to the left. A massive two-handed hammer materialized from the air. The two ran at each other. The orc swung his hammer. A blast of air redirected the blow into the air and a bolt of water flew toward the orc. The orc spun and swung the war hammer at the bolt, causing it to explode with a splash. Emi screeched and raised her staff. Four fireballs appeared. Nathan launched his harpoon between the two of them. It smashed into the ground with a loud crash. They both froze. Stop. Right now, he said. Emi stared at him, wide-eyed. Nathan, you dont get it, hes an orc! We have to kill him before he kills us! Emi said. I have no such desire, girl, the orc said. Leave me be. Emi shifted her staff. The orc responded in kind by gripping his war hammer. You dont get it, Emi said, her voice dropping to a whisper.You asked what happened to my family? How I became the heir? They happened. Every single member of my family was executed by these bastards. Her voice raised and she glared at Nathan. So dont tell me to stop! Nathans eyes widened. Holy shit, no wonder she went berserk on this orc guy. The orc flinched. Youre the princess? the orc muttered. Thats right. I do not hold culpability for the crimes of my people, girl She rolled her eyes. Cut the crap. You think Im going to buy that? That war hammer is military-grade. Youre not some innocent civilian. The orcs jaw clenched. I promise that I was not involved in the death of any of your relatives, he said. Uh-huh. She shifted her hand. She was about to attack him. Nathan had a split second to make a decision. The world slowed to a halt. He moved and grabbed Emis staff. Her face twisted up in pain. Why are you stopping me? she said. Im not going to stand by while you execute someone for being of another race, Nathan said. Like, thats seriously screwed up, even though I get that youve been through some horrible stuff. Emis shoulders shook. She ripped the staff from Nathans hand and walked off, leaving the orc and Nathan alone. The orc stared after her. Gods above, that girl is a monster in the making. Nathan sighed. The orc grunted. The names Bjorn. Youve probably got a few questions, he said. 21 - Treehugger Nathan watched the orcBjorncarefully. Just because Nathan had protected Bjorn didnt mean he would let down his guard. Can you explain what all that was about? Nathan said. Youre from another world. You dont know about our conflict, Bjorn said. Yeah, so Id appreciate it if you could fill me in on that. Bjorn sighed. On our home planet, he said. Elves and orcs have been at war since Creation. Our ways are very different, yet we live very close together. Conflict was inevitable. Over millennia, the battle has shifted back and forth, with one side having the advantage before it moves to the other. But But what? Our leader. Fenrir. He took control. He is a military genius greater than weve ever had, and the elves were weak. Theyd grown decadent. We systematically captured and executed every member of the royal family till there was only one left. A young girl whod never been groomed for the throne. We were on the cusp of victory when this apocalypse occurred. Nathan frowned. You dont sound very apologetic about their deaths, he said. There were good men and women among them. I wish that theyd been born in a different world. And I feel sorrow for the situation of the girl. She shouldve never had such a responsibility placed upon her. But you dont feel sorry, Nathan said. No, he said. They wouldve done the same to us. We cannot coexist, it is simply impossible. Nathan sighed. Damn it, man, youve put me in an awkward position. Nathan found Bjorn to be a distasteful individual. His government had been involved in the mass execution of prisoners, but all he had to say was that it was inevitable. What are your goals now? Nathan said. I was transported with my squad, Bjorn said. But when we exited to the next circle, we were separated. I need to find them. Why? They are my friends and companions. I have sworn my life to them, and they have sworn theirs to me. We are brothers in all but blood. Nathan was trying to do the same thing, wasnt he? Find his family? What are your own goals? Bjorn said. Escape this hellhole and find my sister. Bjorn crossed his arms and nodded. A fair goal. Nathan scratched the back of his head, his mind spinning with conflicting thoughts. Working with someone who openly said that prisoner executions were a good thing felt wrong, but if Bjorn was telling the truth about his loyalty to his squad, maybe there was a sliver of goodnessor honorleft in him. What do you know about this place? Nathan said. Not much more than youthough I ran across another group of humans. Nathan stiffened. Other people? What were they like? Nathan said. They seemed ordinary. Well-organized, more so than I wouldve expected. They seemed to imply that they had dozens of other people in their camp. They might have the mana stones. Can you lead us to these people? Nathan said. I was heading that way myself. Nathan bit his lip. Im about to catch a lot of flack for this. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. I propose a deal.
You want us to help him find his squad?! Emi said. Theyd gathered around the campsite, the sun streaming from overhead. Mara had been doing some target practice while Chad worked on some class quests involving his katana. Nathan caught them up on what had happened and they were now trying to decide what to do. We need the mana stones for your ability, Nathan said. And he can lead us to them. I dont want us to just wander around in circles. Y-you cant seriously be considering this! Emis hands wrapped tightly around her staff. Hell turn around and betray us, mark my words. We cant trust him. Hold on, gotta record this drama Chad pulled out his phone. yeah, I dunno about this one, chief. Emi is already kind of a flight risk, and we got her literally yesterday. Im not sure we should be adding the big scary green orc. Mara shrugged, the motion tossing her red ponytail on her back. Seems like as good an idea as anything else to me. Plus, well get a plan now rather than just wandering around. We can figure something else out, Chad said. This cant be the best option Emi grabbed her hair. Hell stab us! Emi said. Hell kill me, just like he killed my family! Her words caused the conversation to stop. Chad paused the recording with a frown and put his phone away. Mara glanced at her before making a small shrug with her shoulders. Nathans lips pursed, an uncomfortable feeling rolling down the back of his spinewhy was he doing this, damn it? Was this really a good call? I really hope Im doing the right thing. Emi, he said. I understand that whats been done to your family is unforgivablebut he didnt have any direct involvement in that. And besides that, we need him. We need his information, his abilities are bound to be useful in the challenges well face. Emi bowed her head, her hair hiding her eyes. I just I cant trust him. Who said you have to trust him? Mara kicked her legs back and forth. Use him and kill him once weve extracted everything we need. Nathans eyes widened. Mara, are you insane!? Were not going to turn back around and assassinate the guy after we made a deal with him! Emi paused. Her fingers twitched. You know what? she said. Ive changed my mind, lets have him join us. Itll be great. Nathans jaw flapped open and shut a few times. This is an awful idea, he said. I take it all back. Nope! Emi said. I love orcs! Orcs are great, I have no issues with them at all! Lets have Bjorn join us! Nathan got the feeling that hed just made a terrible mistake.
Brute. Leave me be. Oversized pig. Go away. Murderous bastard. treehugger. Nathan plugged his ears. Bjorn had been introduced to everyonethered been a bit of awkwardness, of course. After that, hed explained the precise directions needed to reach the camp, it would be at least a days travel, maybe more. There was no time to waste, and they set off at a light jog. Theyve been at it for hours, Chad said. Literal hours. Nathan, why did we do this? Maras left eye twitched. I cant believe Im saying this, but I think I was wrong. We should kill them both, now. I have explosives, we can make it look like an accident. Nathan took a deep breath. We had good reasons for making this choice. We need allies, we need information Did your mother drop you at birth, or is your head naturally that shape? Emi said. Nathan was filled with violent murder for a split second. The insults continued till they came to a stop to prepare camp. Nathan walked away after dumping a pound of fish from his inventory onto the ground, citing his need to practice his abilities. He eventually found himself at a gentle stream, the water flowing around his calves and creating a gentle trickling sound. In the background, a bird chirped while a branch swayed in the wind. He shut his eyes. Breath. The world faded away. Unlike before, it took mere seconds to clear his mind. Nothing remained save for the feeling of cool wrapping around his skin, his body relaxed and his muscles unstiffened. Last time, hed made the water move unconsciously. Could he do it on purpose? He reached out mentally and tugged at the water. Nothing. He could already tell it didnt work. He didnt have that same strain on his chest that had happened last time, the same pressure, drive, something that had made the water explode around him. Nathan took another breath. He felt the push and pull of the water flowing around his legs and let his focus sink deeper into the current. The water flickeredsomehow, he could sense it. Excitement flooded his veins right before the sensation slipped away again. Nathans jaw clenched. Seriously? Come on. I can do this. Water was a live-giving substance. But it was also destructive. Perhaps even deadly. Floods. Typhoons. When focused, it became cutting. It was capable of slicing through skin and bone, wiping out civilizations, destroying worlds if needed. It was dangerous. Like him. Something clicked. He opened his eyes and the water exploded out around him. He felt it spray what was left of his suit and pants, shooting out, catching the riverbanks edge with devastating force, ripping chunks of dirt and roots into the water. [Skill Unlocked: Riptide Grasp (Bronze)] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [Achievement unlocked: F-rank Cultivator] [Achievement unlocked: Gifted] [Stat Unlocked: Soul] Holy shit, what the hell!? someone yelled. Nathans eyes turned toward the right where a group of figuresunfamiliarjumped out of the path of destruction. Oh shit, did I hurt any of them!? Nathan ran over. Hey, are you guys okay?! It was a group of two. They were dressed in old t-shirts and shorts, pants and jackets. Normal clothes for normal people from planet Earthfellow survivors! Holy crap, man, one with a scar over his eye said. What the heck was that? Sorry, I was practicing a technique. Nathan blinked. Its great to see another bunch of survivors. The man with one eye nodded. Definitely. This was supposed to be a routine patrol, I wasnt expecting to find anyone out here. Theres a patrol? Wait, who are you guys? The man crossed his arms. Were with the Harrowed Hand. And who are you? 22 - Justice Wait, the Harrowed Hand? Nathan said. Ive heard of you! The man narrowed his eyes. Where? An orc by the name of Bjorn. Weve been traveling together to try to find you guys. The mans hand twitched. Oh, yeah. One of the exploratory squads mentioned something about that. He nodded. Good to meet youaside from the whole water attack. Nathan rubbed the back of his head. Sorry about that. I didnt mean to hurt anyone. Were all good, the scarred man said. Im glad that weve run into another person. Nathan pointed backward. I think we should meet with the rest of my group. Well talk more with them. The man nodded. Youre right, lead the way. On the way back, Nathan looked at his new achievements. [Achivement get: F-Rank Cultivator] Congrats! Youve finally ascended beyond total garbage into slightly above-average garbage! Basically, youve chosen the path of mystical enlightenment, which is basically the grindy road to nowhere but hey, you now have a Soul stat! Sure, you dont know what it does yet, but its there, a spark of cosmic potential just waiting for you to spend the next thousand years figuring it out. +10 Soul [Achievement Unlocked: Gifted] You possess an above-average talent for cultivation, making you more likely to make progress without face-planting quite as often as everyone else. Sure, its not the blazing brilliance of a true genius, but youve got potentialand thats at least a bit reassuring. +10 Soul Nathan was gifted? His lips turned down at the word. He ignored the description and popped open his menu. Stats: Strength: 10 (+47) = 37 Dexterity: 28 (+3) = 31 Constitution: 30 (+5) = 35 Magic: 3 (+5) = 8 Luck: 12 (+46) = 58 Soul: 10 (+20) = 30 Available Stats: 32 As the system had said, he now had a new stat. Soul. What was soul? He clicked on the stat to see if there would be a pop-up, but nothing appeared. I really need to invest my stats soon. The group of three walked back to the camp. Mara was cleaning a gun, Chad was talking to his camera, and Emi chanted something under her breath while Bjorn cleaned up the camp. Emi perked up when she saw Nathan. Nathan, youre back she looked at the scarred man and his companion. Who are they? Theyre a part of the Harrowed Hand. I just ran into them. Chad flipped off his phone and cast a glance over them. Huh. Nice to meet you guys. Likewise, the scarred man said. Weve been searching for other survivors. Im glad to see so many in one place. After a few brief introductions, they sat around in a circle. The scarred man stared at Emi. An elf and an orc. Didnt think that you guys existeddespite what the boys said, but here we are. He shook his head. So why were you looking for us in the first place? Mana Stones. Nathan pointed at Bjorn. He mentioned you might have them and be willing to trade. The scarred man nodded. We do. Weve been collecting them, assuming they might be valuable later. I only have one at my camp, though. Wed need to go meet your leader to make a deal, though, Chad said. The scarred man grinned. Actually, youre speaking to him. Really? Yup. At least, the leader of our camp. I dont have any control over our regional operations. Regional? Its only been two or three days since we dropped out of the tutorial. Can we back up a little? Nathan said. I dont get how you guys have formed an entire organization. I can believe that you managed to find a bunch of people and put together a survivor camp, but a whole organization? The scarred man nodded. Two things. First, the tutorial. Our tutorial was different than yourwe were dropped in with about fifty thousand people. We were also inside for several months, not two weeks. He looked at Nathan. Im assuming you guys had smaller groups. They were inside for months? No wonder they were able to get so organized, they had so much time. Yeah, everyone here was dropped in with only ten or twenty except for me, right guys? A bunch of nods came from everyone except Mara, who was too busy examining the scope of a rifle. Is she always like that? the scarred man said. Yeah, Nathan said. Pretty much. The scarred man quirked his lip before regaining his neutral expression. Anyway, a couple thousand of us banded under one man. The guy who formed the Harrowed Hand. The goal was to bring order to the tutorial, make sure everyone was fed, quell any violence, you know? Chad adjusted his sunglasses, his expression blank. Thats a noble goal. But how did you not get disbanded when you entered here? The rest of us all were separated from our groups once we left the tutorial. Our boss, the leader of the Harrowed Hand. An odd light came to the scarred mans eyes. Hes invincible. Ive never seen anything like him. He killed monsters, developed his magic, and somehow got an award from the system allowing him to group people together for transportation to the first circle. He must be pretty powerful, Nathan said. Extremely so. The scarred mans voice grew higher, more excited. And he had a dream. He wanted us to spread our order everywhere. Save people all over the place, and we couldnt do that if we were all just bunched up as one big blob, so he came up with a plan. Mara perked up curiously. What kind of plan? He divided us into groups of a couple hundred each, led by a regional governor. Once we dropped, wed establish camps, absorb fellow survivors, and conquer the Nine Circles. The long-term hope is to set up some kind of communication and transportation between each other, but thats way off. Thats a pretty heroic dream, Nathan said. Id like to meet him. Maybe youll run into him at some point, the scarred man said. But anyway, you guys want a Mana Stone, right? How about we head back to my camp? If possible, Id like you to meet our regional governor. I think hell be very interested in someone of your capabilities. Nathan shrugged. Sure. It couldnt hurt to meet him, right? Yeah. Hes only a days travel away, the scarred man said. Oh, and he should have more Mana Stones, too. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Nathan nodded. Sounds like a plan. They set off. The scarred man walked alongside his partner, leading them toward the camp. Nathan walked in front. He felt a tap on his shoulder. Chad stared at him with a solemn expression. He signaled toward the back of the group with his eyes, then slowed his walking pace. Nathan slowed down, curiousity in his mind, and he fell in line with Chad at the back of the group. What is it? Nathan said. I dont trust them, Chad said. You didnt trust Emi No, you dont understand. Chad took off his sunglasses, revealing his blue eyes. They were clear and steady and altogether different than what Nathan had expected. Nathan, theres something really off about those guys. Nathan wouldve dismissed Chad, but something about his tone concerned him. Chad always had a lightheartedness about him, even when hed been attacked by a T-Rex. There was none of that now. Instead, he was dead serious. What is it? Nathan said. Is it something they said? Look, Ive met a lot of people as a streamer, Chad said. Most of them are good. Most of them are awesome. But there were a few people you just meet them and you know somethings off, but you dont say anything about it, cause its just a silly feeling, right? Nathan hesitantly nodded. Right. His voice lowered. Every single person who gave me that feeling turned out to be batshit insane. It always comes out that they were pedophiles or some shit. Youre not accusing this guy of being a pedophile without any evidence. Chad let out a hot breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. No, Nathan, youre not He breathed out slowly and stared at Nathan. There was this one case I remember. It was so distinctive I still remember it even now. Id just been invited to a collab. I was an up-and-coming streamer with only a handful of followers while she was crazy popular, so I was super grateful. We met up. She was a sweet girl. We were joking, having fun, but the whole time, there was just something in her eyes. She wanted to schedule another collab, but I declined. Okay Nathan, a week after that collab, she killed her family, Chad said. Nathans jaw dropped. Im telling you, Chad said. That look in her eyes? I saw it just now. In both of those two. I dont know what theyre hiding, but theres something theyre not telling us. Nathan nodded slowly. I Jesus, Chad. I get your point. Ill keep an eye out. Chad nodded and slipped his sunglasses back on his face. Thanks, man. Thats all I wanted to say. Nathan turned back toward the front of the group. The scarred man was looking back at him. He smiled and waved before turning his neck back toward the front. A chill went down Nathans spine. He wasnt going to bank everything on Chads gut feelings but hed be lying if he said he wasnt feeling nervous now.
Welcome to our camp! the scarred man said. Dozens of tents were scattered across a cleared section of the forest. Timber had been used to set up spikes in the area leading to the central part of the camp. A single wooden tower had been set up with a man watching it. Off to the side, there was a wooden building with a shut door. Several people walked from section to section, dragging wood and taking care of various tasks. One burst out laughing at something another man said. As you can see, weve got pretty robust defenses, the scarred man said. Mara shook her head. It needs more rifles. Where are the rifles? Um, we dont have any rifles. Mara snorted. Lame. The scarred man laughed. You remind me of Vinces right hand man. He trained some of the men here. Ex-military. Smart guy. Nathan looked around for any signs of something. Blood on the ground or scared faces or a rotting smell. But there was nothing. A man approached them. Sir. Youre back, we need to discuss This is our logistics head, the scarred man said. Hes something of an egghead, but he gets work done. Sir, please. The scarred man waved his hand over the camp. Were still working on getting some of the basic amenities set up, but when youve got this much manpower, you can get a lot done. The logistics head started to debate with the scarred man. Nathan looked at the logistic heads hand. Blood. Nathans heart rate increased. Whats that red color on your hand? Nathan said. The logistics head stopped arguing with the scarred man and looked at Nathan. What, this? He held up his hand. I got attacked by one of those raptors outside camp. It was a bad choice on my part. It was a reasonable explanation. Nathan started to relax. Maybe Chad was just being paranoid. Ill go take a look around for that mana stone, the scarred man said. Feel free to walk around and check out the sights. He paused. Oh, except for the storehouse. We preserve food in there and it smells awfuland besides that, we keep sensitive materials there that outsiders arent allowed to see. He walked off. They all looked at each other and shrugged. I want to see if anyone has a gun, Mara said. For research purposes. Emi glanced around. There are so many humans. I will remain here, Bjorn said. Chad didnt bother to speak, instead walking off toward the storehouse immediately. Nathans eyes widened and he followed behind. Wait, where are you going? Nathan said. Chad brushed Nathan off and continued walking. Im going to see what theyre hiding. He said something about outsiders not being allowed to go there. Dont care. Privacy laws have never stopped me before, and that was when we still had police. Mildly concerning. Nathan sighed and followed behind Chad. Before long, they were in front of the door to the storehouse. The distinct smell of blood and meat filled Nathans lungs, the scent so powerful that Nathan wanted nothing more than to turn around on the spot. Chad leaned down and tugged on the door. Jammed, he muttered. Gimme a sec. Nathan looked from left to right. Chad, were right in the open, we shouldnt The door clicked open, swinging into the darkness. Chad walked inside. Nathan grumbled and followed behind him, shutting the door. Meat had been strung up in the middle of the storehouse using ropes. To the side, on a table, there were a few sheets of paper. Chad went deeper into the ware house, his eyes searching the walls from top to bottom like a machine. Nathan walked over to the sheets of paper. Camp locations, camp information. Boring things. Theres nothing here, Nathan said. Its not even that interesting. Chad stopped. He stared around the dark room. Theres nothing. He clicked his tongue. Sorry, Nathan. I guess my paranoia got the better of me A muffled groan echoed out. Nathan and Chad froze on the spot. Nathan looked down. It had come from underneath? Nathan dropped to his knees and wiped his hand across the wood floor, the texture rubbing against his palms. What are you doing? Chad said. Searching for a hidden passage, Nathan muttered. He crept forward and his hand passed over a crack. Nathan smashed his fist into the wood, cracking it and revealing an underground passageway. Chad pulled out his phone and flipped on the light. Come on, Chad muttered. I want some answers. The two walked down the dugout passage. The groan came again, louder and more pained. Nathans heart started to beat in his chest. What were they about to find? He clenched his jaw and continued walking. There was a sheet in front of them. A makeshift door. A rotting smell entered Nathans nose, almost making him gag. It was the smell of death and decay, corpses and cremation. What were they hiding down here? The thoughts filled Nathans mind. A corpse, meat, filled with ants and worms. Chains and shit strewn all over the ground in some kind of sick tribute to some pagan god. Nothing couldve prepared him for what he was about to see. Chads hands reached up for the sheet. He tore it off. Five corpses had been thrown inside, hog-tied. They were all in varying states of decay. One corpse oozed with maggots, flesh falling off the bone. Another was little more than a skeleton. The smell of rotten eggs slammed into Nathan like a freight train, making him gag. Blood coated the walls, the ceiling, everything, like some kind of sick snuff film. Nathan barely held back the vomit in his throat. What the fuck is this, man? Chad took a step back and covered his mouth and nose. I knew these people were screwed in the head, but The groan came back. Chad shone the flashlight to the right, revealing that one of the corpses wasnt as dead as they thought. It was a manat least, thats what Nathan thought. He was so malnourished that his ribs poked painfully out of his chest. He wheezed for air and his glassy eyes blinked. W-whos there? the man said. Please, dont hurt me. N-no, dude, were not here to do that, Chad staggered forward and pulled a knife from his inventory. He dropped to his knees and shakily cut through the mans rope bonds. Im so sorry, god The man flexed his wrists. Im free? Yeah, Chad said. Yeah, you are. Thank you who are you? the man gazed at them vacantly. You dont seem like youre with the Hand. Were just passersby, Nathan said. I I hate to ask this of you, but can you please explain what happened? Why are you what is this? The mans hands shook. What were you told? he said. What did that bastard tell you? That they were a peacekeeping organization set up to help people, Nathan said. Its all bullshit, the man spat. It mightve started that way, but He coughed. Start from the beginning, please, Chad said. We need to know. When when we were summoned into the tutorial, everyone was terrified, the man said. Within days, murder had become commonplace. Theft was normal. Thousands of people. No government. It was a recipe for disaster. So we got scared. The man coughed. And I think that was our first mistake. We wanted someone, anyone to save us. And thats what happened. A messiah emerged, a leader. A tyrant, Nathan said. Yes, the man said. How sad is that? Thirty days. Thats how long it took for everyone to become convinced that he was the savior we needed. They all fell in line. Every single one of them. He rounded up his opposition. Thousands of deaths. It was horrible. You opposed him, Chad said. Didnt you? Yes. All five of us, the man said. The regional governorVincehas a policy of bringing the corpses along. Its to break our spirits. W-we need to get him out of here, Chad said. Maybe we can heal him The man laughed, the sound more like a dead frogs ribbit. Im already dead, boy. But at least Ill die a free man and not a prisoner. Nathans fists clenched. Run, the man said. Escape. They will find you Thats not happening, Nathan said. A fire roared to life in his chest. A fire hed only felt once before when hed lost his arm. Rage. Pure hatred for another flooded his veins like a drug, the sensation so overpowering that it almost made his legs collapse. He wouldnt let these people get away with this. Nathans hand twitched. Are there any innocent people in this camp, sir? The man coughed. You cant challenge them Please. I need to know. The man was silent. No. U-unless theyre chained, theyre guilty. Thats all I needed to know. Thank you. The man coughed. His body spasmed, then stopped. Chad stared at the corpse for several seconds, an empty look in his eyes. Dude, he muttered. What the hell is wrong with these people? Nathan stood to his feet and walked back the way they came. Chad turned back and sucked in a breath. Nathan, wait. Nathan didnt stop. He climbed his way out of the hole. Nathan, we need to plan this out! Chad said. Nathan slammed the door open. His eyes looked from left to right. Where was the camp leader? There he is. Nathan marched in his direction. Chad hurried to his side, sweat pouring down his cheeks. Shit, shit, shit, he muttered. You need to stop. Nathan walked until he was directly behind the scarred man. He reached into his inventory and pulled out his fishing rod. The scarred man was talking with someone, laughing without a care in the world, as if he wasnt a monster in human skin. Nathan shifted his left foot. The scarred man turned around. Nathan! he said. I have the mana stone. Whats with the fishing rod Nathan swung out his fishing rod. The hook flew through the air and slammed into the mans head, popping it like a watermelon. 23 - "Depictions of extreme violence are against streaming TOS" [You have leveled up!] For a split second, there was a small part of Nathan that screamed inside his skull like a siren. The men whod been next to the tents stopped talking. The laborers stared. Everyone looked at the headless corpse. After a second, it fell to the ground in a heap. I killed someone. Im a murderer. It was just an eel last time, but this time it was a person and now Im a murderer Kill him! someone shouted. Hes got one arm, he cant fight all of us from different directions! A man with a sword slashed at Nathan. He blocked with his fishing rod, then rammed the handle into the mans chest. A loud crack echoed out and the man screamed before falling into the ground. Im killing people using a fishing pole. This is the world I live in now. Chad blocked an attack and slashed out, killing someone with a single blow. His hands shook for a second before he gripped his blade tighter. If we survive this, youre going to an anger management class, he said. Nathans heart pounded in his chest. Sure, he muttered. Ill take you up on that. A spear came for Nathans side. He dodged and slashed with his fishing rod. The hook hit the man in the arm and he screamed. Nathan dropped the fishing rod and reached for his trusty harpoon, the metal gleaming in the sun. He blocked a strike, creating a shield of barnacles that a half-dozen other weapons bounced off with a loud clang. He jumped back and threw his harpoon. It went through three people, making a human kebab. A fireball flew by Nathans head, smashing into a swordsman whod been about to hit him. He turned to see Emi run up to him. Nathan, what happened!? Nathan punched a weapon that was about to hit Emi, then backhanded the attacker. The attacker flew into the air an impressive several feet before it crashed into another guy with a boom. Well talk later, Nathan said. The glint of an arrowhead hit Nathans eyes. He sprinted toward his harpoon. A bolt whizzed through the air and slammed into his side. Pain spiked through his spine and tears came to his eyes, the sensation a bit more painful than hed expected. He jumped, dodging an arrow, and picked up his harpoon. He sprung back up and aimed it at the archer. The archer didnt even have a chance to scream before the harpoon sped straight into his chest. Bjorn swung his war hammer and hit five different people all at once. Off to the side, a shotgun blast rang through the air. Nathan turned to see the source of the blast. Mara aimed her shotgun in his direction. She fired. Nathan felt the slug rush by him in a flash, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest. A grunt echoed behind him. He turned around. The logistics head stared at him, knife in hand, blood pooling on his shirt. Y-you bastard, the logistics head said. Youre doing this because of the Pandora, arent you? You want it for your arm A second shotgun blast echoed out and he was blown into the ground. Nathan ignored the sight and picked up his fishing rod. My arm? About half the camp was already dead. An arrow shot rang out. Nathan dodged and pointed his hand at the attacker. A blast of water flew out with speed and precision, severing the archers head from his body instantly. A blow hit Nathans side. He looked to the right to see a knife had gone about two inches into his ribs. The woman holding the knife paled. Nathan dropped his fishing rod and hit the woman with his backhand, a loud crack echoed out. The woman fell to the ground. Just a few more. Nathan pulled the knife out and ran at one of the peoplea guy with a gun. Before the man could fire, Nathan jumped, low to the ground. The bullet whizzed overhead. Nathan exploded up, tackling the man like a football player, the force strong enough to send a jolt up Nathans spine. He raised his fist up and smashed the mans face. He did so again, and again, and again. By the time he was done, the man was nothing but a stain on the ground. Nathan took heavy, deep breaths. The bloodlust phased from his mind. It was like a cloud passing across the sun, or fog lifting away. [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] For a few seconds, he stared at the corpse. He pulled his hand up. It was covered in blood. Soaked in it. What is wrong with me? There was no visceral reaction. No nausea. No emotion at all. He felt like an empty shell, all hollowed out and dried up like one of the corpses hed just created. He wasnt sure how long he sat there before he gained the strength to stand up. Finally done? Nathan turned around. Mara was seated on top of one of the logs. She passed a wipe over her pistol. yeah, Nathan said. Aw, dont be such a Debbie Downer, she said. You were pretty great out there, you know? Good technique. I prefer a shotgun for my executions, but I can respect your approach. Where did everyone else go? Not far. They just wanted to get away from the corpses for some reasontheyre waiting for us. Why are you still here? I volunteered. She shrugged. It was no big deal, I dont see why they didnt want to wait for you. Lets get out of here, please. Sure, buddy. Dont talk to me. Mara sighed and tutted, slipping her guns back into her inventory. Of course, of course. Whatever you say, boss-man.
By the time they met up with the rest of the group, Nathans emotions had calmed down. Hed managed to convince himself that it was just a temporary thing and that he wasnt an insane person. It had felt more like a lie every time he thought it. His thoughts had also wandered back to what the man had said about the Pandora and his arm before Nathan swiftly crushed that line of thought. Better not to have hope. Still, he could confirm it for himself. Just to make sure. Emi shot him a nervous smile. Chad frowned at him. Bjorns eyes were narrowed. Chad explained everything, Bjorn said. Everyone understands. But you need to get your anger under control. What if the enemies had been stronger? You couldve gotten everyone killed. Nathan turned his head down. Sorry. It wont happen again. Chad sighed. Well, this raises a big question: what the hell do we plan to do about the Harrowed Hand? Leave them alone, Bjorn said without skipping a beat. We dont know their resources, and its none of our business anyway. Emi glared at Bjorn. There are innocent prisoners! And think about how much damage theyve done and will do if we dont stop them! I agree with Emi! Mara said. Wait, what? Nathan said. Why? I need to keep running tests on my shotguns stopping power. I cant do that with a non-human target. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Okay, that makes sense. Chad reached up and adjusted his sunglasses. Look, bros. No one was more screwed up by that then me. These people are scum, he said. But I just dont think we should be going around, pissing off would-be warlords. Chad looked up at the sky. Dying would make for good content, admittedly, but I think Id prefer to stay alive. What, so we should stand by if someones getting attacked in front of us? Emi said. Of course not, Chad said. But theres a difference between that and fast-tracking your suicide by getting in the middle of a war. Also, depictions of extreme real-life violence are against streaming TOS. I wouldnt be able to share any of my footage. Nathan bit the inside of his cheek. They were split in halfhed be the deciding vote, it seemed. He sighed. Id much rather leave them alone, he said. If this leader theyve been talking about is as powerful as they say, Im not eager to get into a fight with him. Chad clapped and nodded. Bjorn stared at him. But, Nathan said. Two things. We still need the mana stones if we want to get a Pandora. Besides that, what if they have a prisoner whos still alive? I dont know about you, but Id feel guilty forever if I couldve saved one of them but ignored the problem. Of course, its really about the Pandora, you liar. You just want to find out what they meant. Learn if it could fix your arm. But you wont admit that because youre a coward. Emi smiled. Exactly. I just want to shoot things, Mara said. Chad shook his head. Were gonna get sent to the magic gulag, bros. It looks like weve made our decision, Bjorn said. Well be taking down the Harrowed Handat least, this particular sect of the organization. His eyes trained on each of them. We may never run into the Harrowed Hand after this. Perhaps the circles are big enough for such a thing to be possible. But maybe they arent. Maybe were putting a target on our backs with this action. Are we prepared for that possibility? Nathan nodded. I am. He looked at the group. If anyone isnt, theyre free to leave to avoid potential retribution. Id understand if you Absolutely not! Emi said. I agree with you, we have to take them down! Target practice. Mara held up her shotgun and pumped it. At the very least Im gonna have some cool stories for my storytime streams, Chad said. That time I dismantled a genocidal cult is a really good video title. I do not leave my allies, Bjorn said simply. Even if our arrangement is only temporary. Nathan nodded at them. Alright. But if were going to be doing this, then well need some better weapons. I dont want you guys fighting underequipped. Mara froze. G-guns? If Im as lucky as my stats say I am? Yes, Nathan said. I managed to get a gun using this technique in my tutorial. H-how!? Please, tell me your secret! Nathan pulled his fishing rod out of his inventory and grinned. He paused, the expression on his face frozen. Wait, how am I going to fish with one hand?
Vince, someones here to see you. The bald manVincelooked up from a report. Around him, dozens of his men were working on revamping their camp to make it sturdier against any attackers. Those damn T-Rexes were doing a number on them, which wasnt exactly a statement that Vince ever thought hed utter, but here they were. Tents had been trampled, and the ground spikes had been destroyed. He grunted at the man whod spoken to him. Come on, then. Dont waste my time, he said. A bruised man was dragged over and thrown to Vinces feet. He was beaten and slouched, with a massive bump on his forehead. What the hell do you want? Vince said. Im busy. G-governor Vince. The bruised man stood to his feet shakily. I bring you news of camp twelve. What about it? Vince lifted his papers back toward his head. Its gone. Vince froze. Its what? he said. Its gone, governor. Vince tilted his head mechanically to look at the man. And, how exactly does an entire camp become gone? The bruised man gulped. It was a guy with one arm, governor. He ripped through the entire camp. He had allies too. An orc, an elf, and two other humans. Youre telling me that five people managed to destroy an entire camp? One of them being an armless man? Y-yes, governor. What was the mans name? Vince said. Nathan, sir. I think it mightve been Nathan Lee. Vince started chuckling. It was a low thing that slowly got louder and louder. The other men chuckled nervously. Then Vince stopped his laughter, pulled a scimitar from his sheath, and cut the bruised mans head off with a single swing. The body fell to the ground. Someone clean that up, Vince said. And assign a squad to find out what happened to camp twelve. I want a real report, not whatever the hell that was. You think they deserted? one of the men asked. Not sure. Its a possibility. They also mightve been attacked by a rival faction we havent heard of. Vince shrugged. Hell, maybe theyre fine and this guy was just making shit up. I dont know. Find out. The man saluted. Yes sir. Vince looked down at his report. Nathan Lee. As if. The man at the top of the rankingssomeone who was even higher than their leader, the tenth ranked. The odds of just randomly running into the man when theyd only found two other survivors so far were astronomical. Still, Vince needed to know what was going on. Hopefully, the investigative squad would shed some light on the truth. He continued reading the report. System B32 wasnt having a good day. Granted, good and bad were pretty loose concepts for a multidimensional entity, but stillmanaging countless apocalypses across endless realms was a headache even for him. His subsenses spread across his modules, checking up on the usual chaos. A horde of orcs rampaged through a desert wasteland, though half of them were carrying bananas instead of weapons. A zombie plague was devouring its third continent. And on one world, The Goose King had risen again, whichwell, that was just par for the course. I dont get paid enough for this shit. Hell, I dont get paid at all. Then a notification interrupted. [INCOMING CALL FROM DIMENSIONAL OVERSIGHT C REJECT/ACCEPT?] His core flickered nervously. Dave? Why was Dave calling him? He hesitated, then accepted. Dave? his voice projected. Whats going on? My apocalypses arent due to finish for another year or two. This is about one of your apocalypses, Dave said. What do you mean? B32 tried not to let irritation slip in. Dave, you cant be telling me Theres a massive power spike in one individual within one of your apocalypses. Disturbingly massive. That amount of mana pooling in one place is setting off alarms all the way up the chain. Thats not possible, B32 said quickly, his subsenses fanning out across his assigned scenarios. I have everything under control. If someones consolidating power, its probably within acceptable He paused. There. A spike, massive and growing, originating from Nathan Lee? he muttered, his core pulsing erratically. That doesnt make any sense. That guys dead. He died in the Ultra Hard Nightmare Tutorial. Daves tone turned icy. Did he? B32 hesitated, then opened the file. He skimmed quickly, expecting to find confirmation of Nathans demiseand stopped cold. ...No, he said aloud, rereading the entry. No, no, no. This has to be a bug. Keep reading, Dave said grimly. B32 scrolled further. His core pulsed harder with each line. Nathan Lee had survived the tutorialan experimental tutorial designed for races ten times stronger than humans. This cant be real, B32 muttered, scanning the logs. Nathan had fought his way through tutorial monsters armed with a fishing rod. A fishing rod. Hed looted a lake for a harpoon, a slightly better fishing rod, andhow?!a gun. Then hed taken on the tutorial boss: a gliding eel. B32 read the next entries in horrified disbelief. Nathan had blinded the eel with flashbangs, lost an arm in the fight, run away, and thenagainst all logicreturned to finish the job. The logs showed hed massacred the eel with sheer brute force. I dont B32 stammered, his core glitching as he continued. He didnt just survive? He leveled up? The logs grew worse. In the first circle of the apocalypse, Nathan had somehow assembled a team that made no sense. Hed convinced an orc warrior, an elf mage, a psychotic gun enthusiast, and some streamer bro to not only work together but not kill each otherdespite the fact that orcs and elves hate each other. And the streamer bro was recording everything on his phone?! None of this should even be possible! B32 burst out. And yet it happened, Dave said. Waithe learned a cultivation technique?! B32 said, scrolling. Thats a high-level skill! It shouldve taken him weeks, months, to master! He picked it up in days?! The log updated again, showing Nathan and his crew wiping out an entire camp of survivors after discovering they were evil. And Nathans stats? Insane. Hed been leveling up at a ridiculous pace, his achievements stacking one absurd feat after another. B32s core dimmed further. How is this guy not dead? He shouldve died twenty times over! Because you werent paying attention, Dave said, his tone sharp. You assumed hed die in the tutorial and stopped monitoring him. That negligence has now created a destabilizing anomaly. Its not my fault, B32 said. He burned a thousand talent points on Fishing, Dave! Fishing! Hes a deadbeat! He was living off instant noodles and pizza before the apocalypse! How am I supposed to predict A psychic blow slammed into him, so sharp and overwhelming that his core energy reeled, tendrils of thought collapsing toward his center. Do you have any idea what an imbalance like this does in the long term? Daves voice filled every corner of B32s consciousness, freezing him with a sharp stab of energy. When one being hoards mana like that, it corrupts the whole network. It spoils the power, siphons off energy that should have been cultivated in the others. You know what happens if the Mother System has such a disappointing meal, dont you? B32 pulsed uneasily. His core dimmed as though attempting to make himself smaller. She gets testy. She gets more than testy, Dave said. A harvest full of tainted power sends her into a rage. The last time this happened, she consumed four Systems as punishment. Four. Youre already on thin ice, B32. You barely avoided recycling after your last apocalypse went sideways. You cant blame me for that! B32 said. Thats the job, B32, Dave said. Youre supposed to be prepared for these situations. And now youve got this Nathan Lee hoarding more mana than his rank could ever justify. You know what this means for your record if this happens again, dont you? B32 buzzed in frustration. Cant we overlook this one? Its a minor blip Silence. Then, the pressure from Daves psychic presence turned crushing, suffocating, forcing B32s core to coil in on itself. Pain was something he shouldnt have been able to feel. He didnt have a body. He was an abstract entity. But at the current moment, he thought he was getting an experience pretty damn close to that particular emotion. You dont get it, do you? Dave said. You have one option here: fix it. Quietly. I want this Nathan gone without drawing any more attention. And if you screw up? Its not just the Mother whos capable of consuming another System. Ive done it before. The call ended, leaving B32 trembling. B32s core pulsed weakly as he turned his attention back to Nathan. Fix it, he muttered. Yeah. Sure. No problem. Just neutralize the most absurdly overpowered underdog in multiversal history. Plans flickered through his thoughts, half-baked at first, but then something shifted. No, no. Wait. Im a System, he said, his voice gaining a sharper edge. Im not just some cosmic errand boy. I define the rules. Nathan Lee is a bug in my grand tapestry, and what do you do with bugs? You squash them. His core flared, a crackling energy radiating outward. Ive handled dimensional collapses! I once ran three simultaneous apocalypses while debugging a faulty mana flow in a cursed timeline. Do you know what that takes? Genius! I am B32! The harbinger of despair! The architect of entropy! The mastermind of multiversal ruin! (He ignored the fact that he was currently on probation due to multiple failed apocalypses.) His subsenses locked onto Nathans location. The human stood there with his ragtag team of misfits, smugly fishing, oblivious to the storm brewing against him. B32 sneered. You think youre clever, Nathan Lee? You think youve outplayed me? Hah! Youve barely scratched the surface of my designs. Im going to throw challenges at you so diabolical, so soul-crushingly impossible, that youll beg for mercy. A malicious glee crept into his tone. Ill pit you against hordes of monstrosities, rival factions, bosses you cant hope to defeat! Ill turn your little team of misfits against each other! Ill break you, Nathan Lee, and when Im done, youll be nothing more than a forgotten footnote in the annals of my apocalyptic glory! He paused, his core thrumming with satisfaction as he imagined his inevitable triumph. Yes, he said, more to himself now. Yes, this will be a masterpiece. The fall of Nathan Lee will be remembered across dimensions as my magnum opus. Lets see how long your absurd luck holds out, you ridiculous, fishing-rod-wielding fool. Prepare yourself, Nathan Lee. The game is on. And this time, its my game. 24 - Living Slot Machine Nathan sat on the lakeside silently. His hook sunk to the bottom. Inch by inch it sunk deeper and deeper until finally It wrapped around a solid object. He reeled it in, pulling through the resistance of the water. With each reel, the object got closer to the surface. It was long. Easily a good three feet. Maybe more. What could it be? A katana flew out of the water and landed to his side. E-Rank Katana: Midnight Edge A step above your cousins cosplay katana, the Midnight Edge gleams with the faint promise of glorythough it might not quite deliver. Perfect for the emerging warrior, this blade feels almost too reliable for an E-rank, with a tempered edge thats just sharp enough to cut down low-level monsters (and overgrown shrubbery). Damn it, another one, he said. Nathan chucked it into a pile of similar-looking katanas. Beside that pile was an assortment of various other weapons, artifacts, accessories, and so on. Emi clapped loudly from her seated position on the ground. Woo-hoo, nicely done, Nathan! Wheres my gun? Mara said. Nathan, you promised me a new gun! Nathan cast the line again. Itd been kind of a pain to figure out how to fish with one arm. He had to sit with crossed legs, maneuvering them to manipulate the rod. Maybe the Pandora will make it so I dont have to do it like this It might take a few more hours, Mara, Im sorry. Mara whined. Unfair... Chad dropped to his knees. This is so stupid. Why does this work? He slammed his fists against the ground. Fishing should not be this OP! You have a better weapon now. Why are you sad? Bjorn rubbed a piece of cloth over his new E-rank war hammer. Because Nathan completely lucked out! If Id known that fishing gives such ridiculous loot, I wouldve put my talent points into it as well! Nathan elected not to mention that hed done so by accident and that he had a thousand points. Im afraid my success wouldve been hard to replicate, Chad. Chad groaned and looked over at the pile of garbage. Where do they come from, though? Chad asked. I told you, its the fish mafia. They have caches all over the Nine Circles. Firstly, that explanation is complete bullshit, Chad said. Secondly, even if I bought thatwhich I dontI was asking, like, where it came from in the first place. Who made it? Are there blacksmiths somewhere around here? Was it just created via quantum tunneling? The power of thought? Nathan opened his mouth to answer. I have no clue, actually, Nathan said. Isnt it kind of convenient, too, that its all E-rank? Why arent we getting any, I dont know, SSS+ rank? I can answer that! Emi said. The system doesnt like overpowered items relative to the circle, and itll go out of its way to make sure you dont get to keep them. We know this because we brought in some of our magical weapons from home during our first apocalypse and they were all taken away. How did it do that? Chad said. Did it, like, just teleport them Apparently it summoned monsters from the seventh circle and just killed anyone who had one of our weapons. Oh. It was a massacre! Emi said, a smile on her face. Half the elf race taken out in one go. Generations later, we still remember the tale. A bird chirped. Mara clapped her hands. Nathan coughed. I guess a bunch of katanas isnt that bad, he said. We can make do with E-rank stuff, Chad said. Nathan glanced at the water. I do want to get E+ if possible, Nathan said. Im not sure why Im having so much trouble. Nathan, weve been here for two hours and we all have better gear already, Chad said. Dont be greedy! It was kind of true. Chad had selected a new katana with some sort of fire enchantment. He also had an earring that increased his healing. Bjorn, as mentioned earlier, had a new war hammer. There was also some leather armor that hed ended up taking. Emi had gotten a brand new staff that doubled her damage. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Mara still hadnt gotten a gun, much to her disappointment. She already has 20 guns. Im not sure why shed need any more. Nathan shook his head. It was an offense to his fishing prowess that he hadnt gotten anything for her, though! Well, nothing good. Hed actually gotten her some leather armor, but she was clearly uninterested in it. She still put it on, whining the whole time about her precious guns. Nathan felt something materialize in the water. His eyebrows shot into his head. He manuevered his hook to catch it, then reeled it back up. Silver flashed through the water, a cling and clang entering his ears. It flopped onto the ground. A necklace? Thin metal chains weaved through a hole in a small conch shell shard. Conch Shell Necklace (E+ Rank) Set Item (1 of 3) Gifted by the Sea, this delicate necklace bears a small, iridescent conch shell that shimmers like ocean waves. A faint, comforting hum echoes within, a reminder of the seas watchful presence. Tides Protection: Reduces incoming damage. The conch resonates with each strike, forming an invisible, shimmering barrier that softens the impact of enemy attacks. Whisper of the Waves: In moments of peril, the necklace emits a soft, melodic hum, calming the wearer and briefly boosting their resilience. Nathan blinked. He looked into the water. He found it hard to believe that it was a mere coincidence. Hed gotten a tool designed to calm him right after he blew his lid and went on a rampage. The sea was watching him. Its trying to help me? Nathan had to repay it. He reached into his inventory and took out one of the rarer fish that hed caughtan E+ rank. Hed been planning to cook it, but this was probably a better use. He kneeled down and let the fish slip into the water. It fell to the bottom before disintegrating into white flecks, like floating, fading stars in the water. It disappeared entirely. A breeze kicked up from nowhere, stirring the trees overhead. It brushed against Nathans body, wrapping around him like a gentle embrace, the smell of salt and the sea filling his lungs. It vanished as quickly as it came. Emi sniffed. Are we near the ocean? What was that? Where did that breeze come from? Chad said. Do I really want to tell them about any of this stuff? No, not really. Nathan looked back at Chad and shrugged. I dont know. Chad stared at Nathan for a few seconds. His gaze was hidden by the sunglasses, but Nathan got the overwhelming feeling that he was being sized up in real-time. Nathan turned back around and cast his line back into the lake. Another hour ticked by. The rest of the group had stopped watching Nathan at this point, the novelty of fishing having worn off. His thoughts were quiet. The sunset swept across the sky, red painting the air like the brushstrokes of a master artist. Suddenly, he heard footsteps from behind him. So. Chad sat down. You got another fishing rod? You want to learn how to do it? Nathan said. Might make for good content. Chad pulled out his phone and clicked the recording button. Whats up chat? Today were here with Nathanthe guy at the top of the rankings. Nathan hesitantly raised his hand. Hi? Today, were gonna be fishing. I think this meta is broken AF and that Nathan is cheating, honestly, so Im gonna prove it. Nathan raised an eyebrow. Ok. He reached into his inventory and pulled out his starting fishing rod. He tossed it toward Chad. Sure, prove that fishing is dumb. Chad caught the rod and stared at it. Wheres the reel? Doesnt come with one. Good luck. Chad cast out his line. They sat there for several minutes in dead silence. Youre scaring away the loot, Chad said. Im scaring away the loot and causing them to hook onto my own fishing rod? Nathan tugged on his pole, revealing hed caught yet another katana. Okay, Im starting to wonder where on earth these are coming from, too. Any luck with your class quests, by the way? Chad said. Nathan reached up and scratched his cheek. He had attempted messing with Oceans Embrace earlier during a break. The description and the whole healing thing were considerably attractive to Nathan after watching someone die in front of him. Hed stood in the lake for a few minutes. After that, hed tried to heal a small fish only for it to end with the fish dying. Nathan shook away the thoughts. No, not much luck, he said. A few more minutes passed. Chad stared into the water. You know, Ive seen some screwed-up things, but that took the cake, Chad said. What, your lack of fishing skill? Chad laughedit was a dry, dead thing. No, he said. Im talking about the people who were locked up underground. Nathans shoulders slumped. Shit, Nathan said. And then afterward, I killed someone, Nathan. Im a murderer. Nathan was silent. Im sorry, he said. Chad sighed. No, Im sorry. It was inevitable, I think. Besides, I shouldnt be trauma-dumping on you like this. I just needed to process it. I hope you know youre still recording. Nah, I switched it off a while ago. Sitting down and saying nothing is actually pretty crap content. Nathan idly adjusted his fishing rods position. Were probably going to kill more people if we want to survive, Nathan said. I think thats just reality now. Doesnt mean I have to be happy about it. I think if you were happy about it, youd be a monster. Like me. Chad didnt respond, instead pulling his string out of the water. Damn, absolutely nothing, he said. Youre totally cheating, arent you? I mean, a thousand talent points might as well be cheating Yes. I have hacked the System in order to give me tons of loot via fishing, Nathan said. Fear me. Chad snorted. The two were quiet as they continued to fish.
Nathan adjusted his position on the ground. He was lying flat on his stomach, underneath a convenient bush on top of a hill. Up ahead, a camp with a few dozen people walked around. They were constructing a watchtower of some sort; lumber was being moved from place to place. Guards on the watchtower and the north and south end, Bjorn had his eye up against a spyglass. Shouldnt be too much of a problem. We just cant get overconfident, Chad said. And the priority is the prisoners! Emi shout-whispered. Weve got to make sure they dont get harmed. Nathan popped open his menu. Stats: Strength: 10 (+47) = 57 Dexterity: 28 (+3) = 31 Constitution: 30 (+5) = 35 Magic: 3 (+5) = 8 Luck: 12 (+46) = 58 Soul: 10 (+20) = 30 Available Stats: 60 Did Nathan want to distribute his available stats? He was still largely over-leveled, it seemed, given how easily he crushed the entire camp earlier. Ill put ten in everything except magic, since that relates to Formulae stuff and I''m already doing cultivation. Stats: Strength: 20 (+47) = 67 Dexterity: 38 (+3) = 41 Constitution: 40 (+5) = 45 Magic: 3 (+5) = 8 Luck: 22 (+46) = 68 Soul: 20 (+20) = 40 Available Stats: 10 A rush of power washed down Nathans spine. He could feel strength in his veins and power in his muscles. Alright, lets head in, Nathan said. 25 - HOA Master Bureaucrat | Lv. ∞ Nathan walked up to the front of the camp. It was like the last one, with buildings being set up and the sound of hammers and saws in the background. A man with a sword stopped him. Hold up, man. Who are you? the man said. My name is Nathan, and I need to speak to your leader. Why? I represent a group of survivors who are interested in joining your organization, and I need to talk to him to work out the details. The two guards looked at each other. The second one shrugged. Well, Ill go ask him, I guess. The second one marched over toward the center of the camp, where construction on a second watchtower was occurring. He tapped the shoulder of a pale man. The pale man turned around. The two exchanged words for a brief minute, then walked back to Nathan. Whats all this about, then? the pale man said. Nathan glanced at the storehouse. He hoped Emi and Chad had already gotten inside and were freeing the prisoners. This is a Harrowed Hand camp, right? Nathan said. The pale man nodded and smiled. Youre a prospective member, yeah? Well, wed be happy to take you on Are you keeping any prisoners? Nathan said. The pale man froze. What? I asked if youre keeping any prisoners. Locked underground. Starving to death. The man chuckled and took a step back. Im sure I have no idea what youre talking about. I think you do. Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled out his harpoon slowly. The guards muscles tensed. Sweat dripped from the pale mans brow. See, a day ago, Nathan said. We ran across one of your camps and found an underground shelter. In it, there were four corpses and one man on the verge of death. Tell me, do you have anything like that? The pale man went quiet. He glanced at one of the guards and nodded. The guard whipped out his sword and aimed it at Nathan. Nathan dodged underneath the attack with ease, then stabbed up and into the mans chest. He pulled his harpoon out and the body dropped to the ground. What the hell was that speed!? the pale man took a step back.Were being attacked! Help, help! Nathans eyes focused on the mans legs. Water materialized to Nathans left and rightRiptide Grasp at work. The water stretched out and slammed into the mans legs, sending him tumbling to the ground. Nathan walked forward. An arrow flew toward Nathans head. He held up his harpoon and a shield of barnacles blocked the shot. The man scrambled back. No, no, please, I wasnt responsible! I swear, I was just following orders! Nathan raised his foot and crushed the mans chest. He looked around himself in a circle. The entire camp had surrounded him. To a tee, all their faces were covered with expressions of outrage. Not one looked apologetic or scared. His bloodlust came back for a second before his necklace glowed and the emotion went away. One person shifted his foot. Before they could attack, Nathan caught sight of green skin. A scream echoed out and five people went flying into the air. Bjorn pulled his war hammer back and brought it around for another attack. Fireballs spackled the air and rained down like divine judgment. Chad moved through the crowd, blocking and attacking with his katana. Gunshots rang out like cannon fire. The fight was over in a matter of minutes. Their new weapons made them all but invincible, and that wasnt even accounting for Nathans ridiculous stats. Not a single one had surrendered. Nathan had tried to give them the option, but they all refused. After the fight, Nathan walked up to Emi. Were there any prisoners? he asked. Emi shook her head. They were all dead. Some had been freshly killed. Only a day or two old. Probably survivors who joined, not knowing that these people were insane. We stopped these people from doing any more harm. Well just have to settle for that. Nathan glanced at a bump in her cloak. What about mana stones? Emi reached into her pocket and pulled out a blue, dimly glowing stone. That makes two of three, right? Nathan said. Yup! She held up the stone, letting it rest on her palm. You wanna see something cool? Uh, sure? Nathan said. The stone started to pulse, glowing brighter and brighter. Nathan leaned in, curious. I can manipulate the mana inside of it, creating really pretty colors and patterns HI GUYS! Mara said. Emi shrieked. A loud sound like glass shattering came from the stone as it lit up brightly and then dimmed down. A spider web of cracks appeared over the surface in an instant. Emi turned her head mechanically toward Mara. She grinned and stared back. Can you not surprise me out of nowhere while Im doing sensitive magic? Emi said. Oh, sorry, Mara said, seeming wholly unrepentant. Her head turned to Nathan. Did you have fun? Nathan squinted his eyes. We just slaughtered several dozen people and youre asking if I had fun? Yes! no. No, I did not. Mara pouted. Come on, Nathan, I saw how crazy you got at the last camp. You should be more like that Mara, shouldnt you be cleaning your guns? Bjorn entered into the tent. From what youve told me, proper firearm maintenance is essential. She gasped dramatically. Youre right! Im sorry Nathan, but I have to clean out my weapons! She pulled out her gun cleaning kit and disassembled one of her pistols in seconds. Nathan leaned in toward Bjorn. Thanks, Bjorn, Nathan whispered. Ive seen her type, Bjorn said, his tone low. Shes not as bad as he seems. Probably. Chadwhod been in the back, checking something on his menuraised an eyebrow at the probably. Nathan followed Chads example and looked over his own quest menu. [Upgrade Throw Harpoon to Bronze] 45/100 Enemies Killed [Obtain Oceans Embrace (Bronze)] [Obtain Tidal Shield (Bronze)] Throw Harpoon was doing goodhe was almost halfway done and he hadnt even really been thinking about it. He reviewed the descriptions for his other skills. [Obtain Oceans Embrace (Bronze)] The Oceans Embrace requires a heart attuned to gentleness. Rest where the waters move without force, and sense their touch. When you know their comfort, you will hold the key to their healing. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. [Obtain Tidal Shield (Bronze)] To call upon the Tidal Shield, seek the place where the waters press hardest. Let the weight of the flow test your resolve, and hold steady within it. Only then will the shield recognize your strength. He was still hesitant to touch Tidal Shield. Hed had absolutely no luck with it the last time hed worked on it. At least with Oceans Embrace, hed made a tiny bit of progress. What was it Emi had said? Of course defensive abilities arent as powerful. You have the bearing of an attacker, not a protector. But that was why he picked the Ocean Warden class. To avoid being a brute fighter. He wanted to protect others didnt he? Emi, can we talk a little about cultivation? Nathan said. Emi stuffed the blue mana stone in her inventory and turned to Nathan. What is it? Im having some trouble with developing Oceans Embrace, he said. I didnt have too much trouble with Riptide Grasp, but She stiffened. Wait, did you unlock Riptide Grasp? Yeah, A day or two ago. Emis mouth opened and shut a few times. Youre telling me that in a matter of days, youve already unlocked a cultivation technique? she said. Um, yes? Her brain seemed to fry in real-time. O-oh. Okay, she said. Which technique are you trying to learn now? Oceans Embrace. Can you read out the description for me? Emi said. Nathan did so. Emi muttered to herself for a few seconds before shrugging. Honestly, Nathan, I think youll develop it just by standing in a lake and meditating. Just do what youve been doing. But its going so much slower than with Riptide Grasp. Slow for you would be normal for anyone else. Still, is there nothing that comes to mind? You dont have some kind of tool or I dont know, something? She bit her lips. Well, its cultivation. It relies on your intrinsic understanding of what the technique is about, she muttered. I guess if you saw extreme regeneration happen in front of you, that might prompt a breakthrough, but other than that Nathan was about to respond when something caught his attention. A loud beep and a blue window. Message from: Gius Ruler, please come immediately. We have urgent news.
Nathan didnt hesitatewithout even talking to Emi, he opened the portal and stepped through, his thoughts flying by at the speed of sound. Why did he send that message? Are they in trouble? Damn it, I shouldve been checking on them more regularly, what the hell was I thinking? He popped out the other side. When he saw the condition of the town, his jaw dropped. The houses werent luxurious, but they were solidly built and sturdy. The roads had all been repaired. Mushroom people walked along the roads, talking, moving lumber and stone without a care. The people themselves looked cleaner. Not clean, but at least they didnt look like theyd just gotten out of a war zone. Grey-ish grass had even started sprouting in a few places. Sadly, Nathan noted that the shop hed bought was only about a quarter done. He wouldnt get to use it today. Nathan felt something bump into his leg. A mushroom boy looked up at him. Oh, sorry his jaw dropped. U-uh, mister Ruler. Im sorry! Please dont kill me! He shrunk away. Nathan squinted his eyes. Im not going to kill you for bumping into my leg. The mushroom boy breathed out. Thank you, mister Ruler. He slowly backed away, then dashed off out of sight. Before Nathan could think about the odd encounter, he heard slow plodding footsteps behind him. My lord. Nathan turned around to see Gius. He was dressed in slightly finer clothing than last time. Gius, Nathan said. Whats going on, why did you send me that message? Giuss face darkened. Its quite serious, my lord. I think its better explained by another. Please come with me. Gius turned around and walked in a random direction. Nathan followed behind him. Is it urgent? Nathan said. Should we be running? No. A brisk walk will suffice. ok? They continued walking. I noticed that the town seems to be doing well? Nathan said. Gius looked back and nodded. Indeed, my lord. As per your orders, Ive been repairing the condition of the town as much as possible. Weve begun establishing food production and have been able to hunt and forage thanks to having access to our tools again. What about the farms? Nathan said. And what have you been foraging? I thought most of the land was dead? Gius nodded. Thanks to our nature magic, weve brought in an early harvest. As for what weve been foraging thats another thing that will be easier to explain with context. Nathan was about to ask another question when Gius stopped. Were here, Gius said. Nathan paused and looked up. They were in front of a building much larger than the others. The construction vaguely reminded Nathan of those pictures of Norse longhouses, a long rectangular shape with solid wood walls and wood frames. This is the meeting hall. The rest of the council is waiting for us. Council? The doors swung open. Two mushroom people with spears stood to the left and right. Lord Nathan, Sir Gius! they said in sync. Before Nathan could respond, a voice broke his concentration. Are you kidding me? a woman said. Are you going to block this? Nathan looked ahead. In the center of the hall, there was a long table. Almost all the seats had been filled except for the one at the end of the table and the seat directly to its right. Im not blocking it. A mushroom man with a pair of spectacles shook his head. But our contracts clearly disallow for the building of defensive structures on residential land, Surely we can amend the contract. The voice came from another mushroom woman dressed in armor with a sword on her hip. Several other voices burst out at the mushroom womans suggestion. Amend a contract!? That would be a clear violation of article I! Look at the situation. We need to get defenses up as soon as possible And compromise our values?! Gius walked forward and rapped on the table loudly. The conversation stopped. Gius, youre back! A mushroom man with his arm in a sling said. Did you bring the Ruler? Gius nodded. He looked back at Nathan and gestured toward the seat at the head of the table. After a second of hesitation, Nathan walked forward and sat down. Um, thank you, he said to Gius. He looked at the group of mushroom people. Can I ask whats going on? Why was I called here? General Fuge can explain, my lord. That is why I brought you here. The woman stood up and bowed. My lord. I am General Fuge, marshal of our armypitiful though it may be. This my lord stuff is going to drive me crazy Er, you can stop bowing, Nathan said. Fuge stood straight and didnt say anything. Nathan squirmed in his seat. Miss Fuge, can you please explain whats Please do not call me miss, my lord. Fuges eyes narrowed. Either call me marshal or general. Nathan gulped. This woman was intense! Y-yes, mimarshall Fuge, he said. Can you explain why I was called here and what you all seem to be debating? She clicked her boots together and folded her arms behind her back. My lord. At approximately o six hundred this morning, an orc man was spotted on the outskirts of town. Upon capture and questioning, we learned that he was a scout. Nathans eyes widened. A scout? For who? An enemy town, my lord, Fuge said. They should not have the resources to attack this early yet they do. The orc was unwilling to explain how this was possible. The only other thing we learned was that they had enough troops to attack three times over the course of the next month or two. If we repel them those three times, then we should cap out the Systems raid limit and well be safe for a period of time. Nathan rubbed his forehead. Gius, you never mentioned this raid stuff. Because it wasnt relevant, my lord. Soulbound Towns shouldnt be capable of raiding until the second circle, Gius said. This is impossible, as Fuge noted. Nathans lips thinned. Do we know when theyre going to raid and where? What are we going to do about it? Nathan asked. The orc didnt give us an exact time, but experience says that they will attack in approximately twenty-four hours, Fuge said. Theyll realize the scout is gone, then strike, as they do not wish to give up the advantage of surprise. Theyll portal in from the edge of our farms, I believe. As for your second questionweve begun preparing defensive fortifications, but But what? Nathan said. At this, the mushroom man with the spectacles stood from his seat. But we are in the way, Im afraid. He bowed his head. I am Burrau, Ruler. I represent the homeowners and landlords. Burraru, why wont you let the defensive fortifications get built? Because the areas that general Fuge wishes to build in are marked as residential zones, Burrau said. And walls higher than hip height are not allowed in that particular area. Nathan opened his mouth and shut it multiple times. Im sorry, are you telling me that youre blocking potentially life-saving defenses over an HOA rule? Yes. Are we seriously doing this? The room gasped dramatically. My lord, Gius said. By uttering the phrase, Are we seriously doing this? you have unwittingly activated a Level Three Homeowners Appeal Clause. All disputes must now go to arbitration! The entire room let out a cheer and everyone pulled scrolls from their cloaks. Someone raised a hand. What if we built them out of mushroom stalks? Wouldnt they be aesthetically consistent with the towns design ethos? It still violates the hip height rule. The spectacled man adjusted his glasses. Im afraid that our contract is quite clear on the matter. Nathan glared at Burrau. Are there any other rules we need to know about? No fortifications may be painted in colors that clash with the local flora, as per subsection C of Article III. What flora!? We dont have any flora! someone shouted. Its all just dead grass! The law is clear, Burrau said. Can we build around it? Nathan said. Just make, like, a bump around the zone? Thats still exurban areas. You can build there, but youll have to secure permission from the owners and the town. And how do we do that? First, you must file Form 12-B, then obtain a permit from the Construction Liaison Office. And where is that? Currently under construction, my lord. Nathan stared at him. How am I supposed to obtain a permit from an office that isnt even built yet? You cant, my lord. Youll have to wait for it to be built. Nathans eyes narrowed suspiciously. Burrau, do you have a house in that zone? I will not have my prize sunset view ruined. Nathan looked ahead of himself. Strategy View. Giuss eyes widened. My lord His town points had grown, though his Authority had dropped to 10%not that he knew what it did. Nathan quickly glanced over the walls that had already been built. There was an obvious gapthe residential zone that had been mentioned. Nathan clicked on the wall and extended it out, marking it to be built. Its done, Nathan said. Amend your contract or whatever. Im not letting people die over this shit. A collective gasp rang through the room. the contract! How dare he!? Pretty decisive. I like the guy! Burraus jaw clenched before he shut his eyes and looked away. Fuge, on the other hand, caught his eye and nodded. Nathan noted that his Authority had gone up by 3%. Gius opened his own Strategy View and stared at the Authority bar with a look of pain. Well, I suppose thats one way of settling things, Gius muttered. You can head back now, my lord. Ill take care of things. I will send you a message when the battle begins. What? Absolutely not. Im staying here to help you guys prepare. Gius smiled, his hands twitching. M-my lord, that isnt necessary. Yeah, but I want to help, Nathan said. You guys are my responsibility, right? I should help. Actually, I should bring in more aid A few of the mushroom people at the seats nodded with approval at Nathans statement, whispering to each other. My lord Yeah, I bet Mara would know something about defensive military strategy. Maybe she knows how to set up bombs? Nathan said. You dont need to Ill be right back, Gius, Nathan said. And dont worry about me being incompetent. I promise that Ill listen to your advice and the advice of everyone hereits just that I want to be involved. Gius gaped like a dead fish. B-but Ill be right back, Nathan said. And then well get to work. Nathan opened up the portal and jumped back outside. 26 - Fungi Constitutional Rights Thankfully, everyone agreed to join Nathan in the defense of his town. Bjorn started assisting in siege planning with his years of experience as a soldiernot as a leader, just as a consultant. Mara had taken to Nathans bomb-building suggestion with glee, screaming, No one ever let me do this after last time! So that was concerning. It would probably be fine. Chad had struck up a conversation with one of the mushroom people chefs and had somehow been conscripted into becoming a cook. Nathan was confused as to how this happened. Emi, meanwhile, had requested to help Nathan, saying that she was trained in negotiation and would be able to resolve any conflicts. This came in handy because several contract issues popped up whenever Nathan wanted to add additional defenses. When this happened, Emi would just step in and negotiate around the contract. The whole time, Nathans Authority kept going back up until it hit a solid 100%. At the same timefor unknowable reasonsGiuss expression became more and more downcast. Eventually, they finished with everything that could be done. By the way, Gius, Nathan said. Hows my plant been doing? Gius straightened his back. The Divine Seed? What? The Divine Seed, my lord. I believe you should take a look. Its quite astonishing. They walked toward an area far on the outskirts of the town. As they walked, grass became more common, covering the landscape like polka dots. Emi tugged on Nathans sleeve. Whats this about a Divine Seed? I think hes talking about a seed I got in the tutorial. kind of made it? Its a long story You made a seed? she paused and sniffed the air. What is that smell? Gius glanced back at Emi. Ah, you have some affinity for Nature, dont you? I suspected as much when you interacted with the other Mushroom People. The rest of the land is still sleeping, even if its not dead, Emi said. But theres something writhing with energy up ahead. They continued walking. Nathan caught sight of the area where hed planted his seed. His jaw dropped. Where thered once been dead soil, the ground was blooming with life. Flowers were budding, the trees had bunches of new pale green leaves branching out. Vines and bushes were sprouting. They were all fresh. Mixed with the scent of the dead, the smell of spring wafted over the area. And in the center of all this, a single flower sat in the middle, its stalk slightly drooped. Its petals were just coming inhalf of them a pure black, half of them a radiant white. Nathan approached, goosebumps traveling down his spine. This is my seed? Yes, my lord. Beautiful, is it not? Weve been tracking the root system, and what weve found is astonishing. Everything that youve seen, all this life springing upit all seems to be coming from this flower. Your seed is single-handedly bringing life back to the landhence why many are calling it the Divine Seed. Emi stared at the flower. Nathan, where did you get this seed from? None of that should be possible. Nathan extended out his hand toward one of the flowers petals and brushed it. If he didnt know any better, hed say that the flower seemed to move to meet his fingers. Its a bit of a weird story. Nathan stood up and turned to face his companions. Basically, um, I started a farm in the tutorial, right? Gius and Emi nodded their heads. So, basically, I found a bunch of seeds in the tutorial. I was watering it with this weird glowing water, Nathan said. Then I got injured and poisoned with some kind of black water. I ended up bleeding all over the plants and that really seemed to kickstart the growth. Gius mumbled to himself and shook his head. Im unsure as to the exact properties of this water you found, he said. But a glow would imply a massive amount of manaor at least, energy of some kind. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Either that or its radioactive. Wait, I was drinking that stuff for two weeks, I really hope its not radioactive. And then add in your blood, a life-giving essence, Emi said. Im not sure about the black water, but the combination of all those fluids will do strange things to the plants. She shook her head. I still dont understand where you got the seed from, though. Nathan paused. I said out loud that it was a shame that I had to leave, Nathan said. And then all the plants died. There was this flower that just popped out of the ground, and when it blossomed, there was a seed in the middle. Emi stared at the flower, then back at Nathan, then back at the flower. Nathan, Im not sure you understand what you just told us, she said. Youve just said that your plants understood your request, and then spontaneously moved their essence into a seed. That seems to be what youre describing. I have never heard of such a thing. Gius shook his head. Its a shame that we dont have access to the water for analysis. Wait, I have a bunch of it left in my inventory. Giuss jaw dropped. You must let us analyze it immediately! He grabbed Nathan by the shoulders and shook him. This could revolutionize everythingmedicine, agriculture, maybe even contract law! Please, my lord, for the future of fungi constitutional rights! Nathan swung back and forth. O-Okay, I was going to give it to you! Gius froze, then took his hands off Nathan. He dropped into a bow. My most humble apologies! Its fine. Nathan adjusted his ripped-up suit. I get it, you were excited. They headed back to the town where Gius managed to find a few glass bottles. Nathan was able to pour from his inventory into the containers (it was a pain, dont ask how long it took to figure that out). By the end of it, though, Gius was staring at the samples with something akin to reverence. Thank you, my lord, Gius said. When we discover the truth of this strange water, we will alert you immediately.
With that explained and finished up, Nathan checked back on the progress of the defenses. In a matter of hours, ditches had been dug and rough walls made of rubble and duct tape had been thrown together. When they arrived, they were stopped at the gate by a shout. Dont move! There are a bunch of mines there! a voice said. The gates swung open and Chad waved at them. He walked over, stepping from side to side seemingly at random. Follow me, he said. I will show you the way. Nathan stared at the ground. How many mines did Mara make? A lot, Chad said. Like, a lot a lot. What happens if we step on one? The way Mara described it, wed all be turned into burnt fleshsacks in about a second. Dont step on the mines. Got it. Nathan followed Chad back to the gate, each step slow and deliberate. Finally, they reached the end. Emi and Gius walked off. Gius because of the glowing water and Emi because she wanted to check in on the other members of the group. Can you give me a status update? Nathan said. Howd your kitchen adventure go? Chad shrugged. Honestly, I mostly just cooked ramen, but now they think Im some sort of gourmet chef, he said. Bjorns been doing his soldier thing and showing the mushroom people some tactics he learned. And it seems like all the walls have been set upbut its a rush job, and everyone knows it. Nathan nodded. Thanks. Lets hope this goes well. Yup. Dont die, by the way, since youre our escape route out of here. No pressure. There wasnt much Nathan could do anymore. In theory, he could buy more defenses, but that would take time to buildtime they didnt have. There was nothing else but to stay ready. So, he walked over to the wall and climbed up the stairs. Looking out over the field was the mushroom people marshalFuge. She was dressed in full leather armor, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. She caught his eye. My lord. You should retreat. Its dangerous to be up here. Nathan raised an eyebrow. I mean, theres a lot of dangerous things. Ive dealt with them. She snorted. With all due respect, you have no idea of real battle, she said You are only on the first circle, yes? The challenges you are facing will be nothing in comparison to what youll see later. I believe that the worst youve fought is slimes. Nathan squinted his eyes at her. He waved his arm stub up and down. She looked at it. Why are you waving your shoulder like that? Because its missing an arm from a fight? Nathan said. Oh. I thought maybe it was a fashion statement. As if to imply that you are mysterious and battle-hardened. I had it bitten off. By a giant flying eel. It was very traumatic. I see. What kind of a response is that? She shrugged. Im just saying, its not that impressive. What the hell is wrong with you? Do I need to lose the other one? Nathan asked. Maybe a leg too? I could hop around for extra flare. Pardon my lack of respectits not that I dont appreciate your work. I just dont think youre very strong. You havent even seen me in a fight, Nathan said. Hmph. But your bearing says it all. Youre squeamish and fearful. She shook her head. It is not the manner of a warrior. And there is nothing wrong with that, but you should leave the battle to us. Nathan rolled his eyes. Whatever. Do we have a time estimate on when this raid will show up? Approximately 2 hours. Maybe less, maybe more. Do we know what the raid will consist of? Im extremely doubtful that the raider will use intelligent beings. Those are expensive and put to much better use as labor for their town, Fuge said. No, its going to be beasts of war. Monstersat least, for this wave. There are going to be multiple waves? Most likely. Well know for sure when the raid occurs, Fuge said. Nathan nodded. Got it. By the way, wheres Gius and the council? Hiding in the Town Hall, Fuge said. Except Gius. He will be preparing a failsafe along with our elders. A failsafe? You will not understand the details. Suffice to say thatit will be a one-time use and it will take an immense amount of time to prepare, so we should avoid utilizing it if possible. Nathan nodded. Got it. If I might ask, my lord, Fuge said. What will you use for your weapon? Nathan reached into his inventory, pulling out his metal fishing rod. Fuge stared at the fishing rod, a blank expression on her face. Oh, she said. Okay. Nathan faced toward the outskirts of town. A shimmering purple portal appeared in the distance. A chill went down his spine. Theyre here, he said. 27 - “DID SOMEONE SAY EXPLOSIVES?” Nathan looked at the monsters streaming through the portal, but it was hard to see. "Strategy View," he said. Instantly, he was given a window showing the town in a 2D isometric perspective. At the top, there was an ominous bar that had yet to be filled with the text ''Wave 1/5''. He swiped to the right, toward the monsters. Bears. Lots of bears. They poured out of the portal like water from a broken dam. By the time the stream ended, there were easily fifty monsters in front of him. He scrolled around the map. Each wall section had its own lovely collection of incoming death. "How many are there on our side again?" Nathan said. One hundred, Fuge said. She gripped the wall''s edge, knuckles white. "And that''s counting the children." "Oh, perfect," Nathan muttered. Four more waves after this. Just for this raid. Totally fair." The bears charged. Arrows from the Mushroom People whizzed through the air, dropping a few bears. Not nearly enough. "We used to have proper defenses," Fuge said through gritted teeth. "Turrets. Master mages. All stripped away when" A thunderous boom cut her off. Dirt and bear parts flew through the air. Somewhere in the distance, Mara''s cackling mixed with rifle fire. The mines had cut their numbers in half, but the remaining bears didn''t seem to care. They slammed into the wall. The whole structure shuddered. Nathan glanced down at the wood and stone beneath his feet. "How sturdy is this thing?" "It was made in 24 hours from rubble and wood scraps. How sturdy do you think it is?" Another impact. The wall groaned. Nathan''s hand tightened around his fishing rod. He stepped onto the edge. "What are you" Fuge lunged for him. "Get back, you''ll" Nathan was already falling, rod swinging ahead of him. [Big Bear] - Lv. 7 A normal bear, but bigger and magically enhanced! Oh, and the teeth are as sharp as a razor. Have fun! Level 7. Nathan almost laughed. His hook carved through the first bear like it was paper. The second and third died before the first hit the ground. Each swing left a trail of destruction, bears'' enhanced flesh offering about as much resistance as wet cardboard. Fuge''s voice carried from above, something about reinforcements, but Nathan wasn''t listening. He was too busy turning the battlefield into a slaughterhouse. Wherever he moved, bears died. Simple as that. The wall groaned again. Nathan glanced up to see three bears trying to climb over each other to reach the top. Bad idea. He planted his foot, muscles coiling with enhanced strength, and launched himself straight up. The fishing rod sang through the air. Three bears fell in pieces. Nathan landed on the wall, barely winded. Bear corpses littered the ground below like fallen leaves. Some were still twitching. Most were in pieces. Fuge stared at him, then at the fishing rod in his handthe same one she''d dismissed with that blank Oh. Okay. Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. "So," Nathan said, casually checking his rod for damage. "Is this the bearing of a warrior? Or should I try looking more fearsome? Maybe grimace more?" "I..." Fuge''s hand had fallen from her sword hilt. "That was..." "Sorry, what was that about leaving the battle to you? I''m a bit squeamish and fearful, you know. Might need someone to hold my hand through all this." A bear''s head rolled to a stop against the wall. Someone would need to clean that up later. Fuge''s pride visibly warred with her shock. "I... may have been hasty in my judgment." "Oh? And here I thought getting my arm bitten off wasn''t impressive enough for you." She winced. "About that" A horn blared in the distance. Wave 2 incoming. "My lord," Fuge said, and this time there wasn''t a hint of condescension in her voice. "I formally apologize for my previous... assumptions. Though I would appreciate a warning next time before you throw yourself into a horde of enhanced bears." Nathan twirled his fishing rod. "What happened to my bearing saying it all?" "Your bearing," Fuge said dryly, "apparently lies." Nathan chuckled. I see. She readied her sword, but kept glancing at him like he might suddenly sprout wings. "Though I still want to know where you learned to fight like that with a fishing rod of all things." Hell. I learned in hell. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. "Trade secret," Nathan said. More bears poured through the portal. Nathan''s grin widened.
The next three waves were simplein theory, anyway. All Nathan had to do was defeat the monsters en-masse. On the other walls, his companions dispatched monsters with ease. He could hear gunshots going off in the distance. Every now and then, a stray fireball from Emi flew into the sky. Chad screamed, For the content! But with each wave, the number of monsters increased. Long humanoids with twisted limbs. Boars with tusks the size of swords. And all of them by the hundreds. The first wave was easy, and so was the second wave. Sweat had started to build up on the inside of Nathans shirt in the third wave. By the time of the fourth wave, Nathan breathing deep for oxygen, his muscles burning with pain. A rope was thrown down for himsomething he was grateful for since his arms didnt feel like scaling up a wall. One of the mushroom people passed him a drink and a towel, which he accepted gratefully. Once he was done wiping up, he turned to Fuge. Please tell me this wont get much worse, he said. Because Im already starting to burn up. Its going to get worse. In fact, the fifth wave is probably going to be the worst of the lot. Whys that? Nathan said. Because the fifth wave is when theyre allowed to send in a heavy hitter. As if on cue, the world lit up with a bright light and a new portal appeared. Out stepped a spider that dwarfed their walls, easily doubling its height. Hordes of smaller spiders the size of a man swarmed below it. One of the small spiders climbed up the larger spiders legs and Nathan paled. Theyll be able to climb the walls, he said. Fuge stiffened. Shit, she said. Nathan turned to the mushroom person whod gotten him a rag. Get Mara! Check to see if she has any explosives left and get it here, now! The mushroom person took a step back and nodded. Right! Nathan inspected the monster. It was so huge that even from this distance, he could still use the skill. [Mama Charlotte] - Lv. 45 A towering nightmare on eight legs, Mama Charlotte is anything but maternal. Her children are both her minions and her meals, and shes always hungry. With fangs dripping venom and webs that bind like iron chains, shes a terrifying hunter. Her favorite phrase? Mommys home and you look delicious. Okay, what the f He slapped his cheeks and focused on the matter at hand. The spider stepped closer. He felt comfortable that he couldve beaten this thing at the top of his gamebut he wasnt at the top of his game. He was sweaty and exhausted and hed be facing a horde of smaller spiders, not just the big one. Weve got to delay them, Nathan said. And hope that Mara can come through. Fuge pulled out her sword. Ill be joining you. I was managing logistics, but Id be of better use on the field.. Nathan glanced at her. Will you be able to keep up? I mean, are you a high level She snorted. I dont level up in the same way that you do. Im linked to the townand this town is doing pretty damn fine for itself. Nathan nodded and faced back toward the spiders. Then lets get down there! They jumped toward the bottom. Nathan fell into a squat, his raw Strength and Constitution enough to absorb the impact. Fuge, instead, did a combat roll and smoothly sprang into a run. Nathan flexed his legs and chased after her. The spiders were screaming, raising their arms at Nathan and Fuge. Fuges sword lit up a bright green. She stabbed through one of the spiders and it fell to the ground, limp. A moment after, vines and plants erupted from the body of the spider and wrapped around several other spiders. The vines squeezed. They popped them like pinatas. Nathan stared at the scene. Remind me not to piss off Fuge. A few spiders sprang at Nathan, fangs soaked in venom. Nathan pulled out his harpoon and sent them all flying, bloody streaks across their bodies. There was a loud sound like hundreds of horses pounding the ground. Nathan turned just in time to see Mama Charlotte racing toward him and Fuge. Shit shit shit, run! Nathan sprinted to the side. Fuges eyes widened and she jumped out of the way, barely avoiding gettting swept up by Mama Charlottes massive teeth. Natha spun around and threw his harpoon as hard as he could. It burst forward, water propelling it right into the abdomenb of Mama Charlotte. Mama Charlotte screeched, a loud shrill noise. Nathan winced and almost plugged his ears. He took a closer look at the wound hed made. If he didnt know any better, it looked like someone had left a needle embbedded in its stomach. I bet that did almost nothing. Even if he beat this thing, the swarm would overrun the walls. He looked back at the town. Damn it all. Mama Charlotte stomped the ground and swung one of its feet at Nathan. He ducked low to the ground, causing her to hit the smaller spiders and knocking them all over the place. Fuge ran foward and slashed at one of the legs, carving a bloody wound but failing to penetrate deeply. Nathan stiffened and pulled out his fishing rod. Mama Charlotte swooped her head down And bit into Fuges shoulder. Nathans hook flew through the air and slammed into one of the monsters eyes, causing it to pop like a balloon. It let go of Fuge and staggered back, screaming. Nathan grabbed Fuge and ran for the walls. Before Nathan could get away, one of the other spiders bit his armbouncing off a shimmering barrier. At the same time, there was an odd glow coming from his conch necklace. The enchantment. Thanks, sea. The gates were swung open and he ran inside. He dropped Fuge to the ground. She was convulsing, foaming at the mouth. Her skin had turned green and her face was swelling. Someone! he shouted. Please, do we have anyone who can heal!? Why isnt she regenerating? the guard who let them in muttered. I dont know, someone else said. The venom must be so strong that its counteracting her natural regeneration Nathan looked down at her, than at his hand. Come on, I can heal. I can do this. I can help her. He stared at her. Nothing happened. She continued to spasm on the ground. Before Nathan could say or do anything, something happened in front of Nathans eyes. Nathan watched in horror as Fuges skin darkened to a sickly green and her face began to swell. Her body spasmed as the venom took hold, and for a moment, Nathan felt the helplessness settle in, heavy and cold. Then something strange began to happen. He noticed a faint shimmer of green and purple light pulsing from her wounds, like bioluminescent veins flickering to life. Fuge let out a groan as her body began to stiffen, almost rooting her in place. Around the bite wound, her skin started to bubble, turning from green back to a deep purple huetiny tendrils, like mycelium, spread from her wound to knit the torn flesh back together. The swelling on her face reduced as if being drained, her skin reverting to its normal tone. Nathan couldnt look away as something else started sprouting out from her shouldera small mushroom cap, thick and pale, budding where the spiders fangs had punctured her skin. In seconds, it grew until it was the size of Nathans hand, and with a shudder, Fuge reached up and snapped the mushroom off, tossing it to the ground. The venom receded from her face, and her breathing steadied. Alright, Im ready to hop back in, she said. Thanks for getting me out, my lord. Before Nathan could even form a reply, the bite wounds on her shoulder had fully closed up, leaving only faint, silvery scars in their place, while the mushroom on the ground started dissolving, a final puff of spores dispersing into the air. At that exact moment, something clicked inside Nathans head. Something deep and profound about regeneration and healing settled in the back of his mind. Something hed missed the whole time. R-right, Nathan said. Okay, we still have to figure out what were going to do about that giant spider. DID SOMEONE SAY EXPLOSIVES? What, no, Nathan said. I said giant spider He turned around just in time to see Mara, a grin on her face and sitting on top of a barrel. Two other barrels were to the left and right. She winked. Still, I think youre glad I showed up, huh? 28 - Improvised Alcohol Bombs Mara hopped off of the barrels. When that mushroom guy said you needed more explosives, I was thrilled! Im more of a gun gal, but I can definitely appreciate a good explosion. Nathan opened his mouth to respond, then shut it. Is this the woman who made the mines? Funge looked at the barrels. I remember getting a report about her breaking into our tavern and stealing all the alcohol barrels. Guess I know where it went. It was for a good cause! Mara patted a barrel. Each of these has been converted to a different type of incendiary device. This one Its coming! Brace yourselves! Before she could say any more, a loud boom echoed, and the gate shattered to pieces. Stone, metal, and shrapnel flew all over the place like thousands of glass shards. Mama Charlotted stared down at the puny humans who stood before her. She screeched and raised her arms into the air. Its over, Fuge said, her voice cool and collected. It has been an honor, my lord Nathan, grab that barrel and throw it at that thing right now! Mara shouted. But even if we kill it, the small spiders will still stream through the hole Just do it! Screw it. Were gonna die anyway. Nathan grabbed the barrel with one hand. With his now monstrous strength, it was surprisingly easy. I really hope this works. He threw it as hard as he could. It flew through the air for several long seconds, then stuck the side of the giant spider. As soon as the wood cracked, fire flashed and erupted all over Mama Charlottes back. A high-pitched scream slammed against Nathans eardrums as Mama Charlotte staggered away from the opening in the hole. The ground all around the wall was on fire. Spiders screamed, flailing and crashing into the soil. which was kind of bad because the walls were made of wood! Mara, youre going to burn everything down! Nathan said. Dont worry, not only am I a master at setting things on fire, Im also really good at putting them out, Mara said. The third barrel will fix everything, I promise! This woman is insane. I hate to draw attention away from this riveting conversation. Fuge pointed up ahead. But its still alive. Nathan followed her fingers direction. Not only was the spider still alive, but it had put out the fire. Chunks of its exterior were charred black. Blood dripped from the eye Nathan had hit earlier. I think we made it mad, Nathan said. Now, Nathan, fire the second barrel! Mara said. Nathan glanced at the barrel, then at the spider, then at the rapidly burning walls. Were so screwed, he said. Nathan picked up the second barrel and threw it as hard as he could. It smashed into Mama Charlottes face, erupting into a fiery explosion of sound and light. Nathan averted his eyes as the world lit up. Mama Charlotte screamed along with hundreds of her smaller kin. But in the end it was done. Nathan opened his eyes. Theyd turned the once-dead landscape into a picture of hell. Fire everywhere. Fire on the walls. Fire on the houses. Fire on the ground. One of the spiders ran by with its head ablaze, screaming. Thankfully, Nathan didnt see any mushroom people whod been hit. Mara laughed maniacally. Yes! she said. Behold, the perfect vacation spot! Nathan looked into the fire. Was something moving? He paled. Youve got to be kidding me, it cant be alive after that, right? he asked. A loud noise rumbled. It was still alive. Its broken legs pushed it back up and it let out a primal cry of rage as it towered over the town. Nathan, nows the time to use the last barrel! That ones the most powerful of them all! Nathan stared at her, incredulous. Were going to blow up the town! he said. Nowell, yes, but itll be for a good cause! Nathan pullled out his fishing rod. Absolutely not, he said. Im not going to destroy this place. Mara grabbed his sleeve. He stopped and turned around. Nathan, she said. Im serious. I promise you that this will save everyone. You need to trust me. Shes a psychopath! Why am I even considering this!? Because for all her faults, shes not a liar, is she? As far as we know! Weve barely known her for a week, at best! Nathan stared into Maras eyes. They were dead serious, not a trace of humor or insanity in them. Goddammit. He picked up the third barrel. I really hope youre right about this. Aim for the top, thatll protect us from the worst of it and deal the most amount of damage, Mara said. Cover your ears and your eyes and get behind cover. Her instructions spread quickly, repeated by the mushroom peopleit seemed that they knew to listen to the crazy woman who built the big fire bombs. Nathan pulled back his arm and lined up his shot. Strength and Dexterity, dont fail me now. He threw it in an arc. It hit against the top of the monsters exoskeleton. Nathan ducked behind a house, plugged his ears, and shut his eyes. A shockwave of force smashed into and through him, the ground shook, and a random wood plank fell beside him This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. [You have leveled up!] [Achievement Get: David Complex] [Achievement Get: Welcome to the party, pal!] After a few seconds, he poked his head out. The houses closest to the explosion were damaged, but theyd already been destroyed by the spider. The rest of the city was in good condition. Mama Charlotte herself was well and truly dead, a mass of flesh and smoking insect meat. Most surprisingly, though, the fire had gone out. How did it go away? Nathan said. Mara appeared to his left. She brushed off her shirt and faced toward him. Explosives are used all the time in fire suppressant applications, she said. Most often in oil wells, occasionally in forest fires. The shockwave starves the fire of oxygen, putting it out. Huh. I honestly thought we were about to die because of her. She turned and winked at him. I might be a crazy nutcase, but I wouldnt leave a pal hanging. Nathan stared at her face. Maybe shes not all that bad A rafter fell behind Nathan. Then a loud boom echoed. Mara winced. Well, that house was already in pretty bad condition Nathan heard two other loud crashes, one after another. Her face squinted up. I Three more crashes. Then a fourth, then a fifth. It was quiet for a few seconds before a final house spontaneously exploded, sending wood shards blasting into the air. [Achievement Get: Oops, my bad!] Mara chuckled slowly. Ah, um I dont think anyone died? Nathan sighed.
Clean-up began swiftly. Nathan assigned some repair jobs and the mushroom people zipped about in response, cleaning up the damaged areas and removing the giant dead spider body. In the meanwhile, Nathan had decided to check out his new achievements. [David Complex] Defeated a monster at least five times your size. Thats one small step for you, one giant faceplant for the big guy. +10 Strength [Welcome to the Party, Pal!] Survived your first raid without being annihilated. The town still stands mostly. +5 Strength, +5 Constitution [Oops My Bad] Accidentally caused more damage to your town than the actual raid. Hope youve got insurance. +10 Idiocy Nathan frowned at the last one. We caused more damage to the town but it wouldve been worse if the raiders had outright won. Nathan looked at his stats. Stats: Strength: 20 (+62) = 82 Dexterity: 38 (+3) = 41 Constitution: 40 (+10) = 50 Magic: 3 (+5) = 8 Luck: 22 (+46) = 68 Soul: 20 (+20) = 40 Available Stats: 14 Nathan blanched at his strength. All those achievements really built up over time. He swiped the window away. He wasnt sure where to put his stats, and 14 wasnt a lot to him anymore. He might as well just save it for later. His eyes flickered over to Magic. Hed actually had a conversation with Emi about his refusal to put any stats in Magic. Hed been concerned because hed remembered that skills are technically Formulae, right? So shouldnt he put his stats in magic to increase his Skill power? Thats not necessary, shed explained. Formulae come in two flavors: those that draw from your life energyyour vitality, strength, and physical powerand those that draw from mana. The latter rely on the arcane, tapping into the mana flowing through you. Magic can enhance the first type, but only a little. For mana-based skills, though? Thats where Magic shines." How can you tell the difference? hed asked. How do I know that my skills dont rely on Magic? You can feel it. Trust me, youd know. Besides, your class doesnt mention anything about Magic, right? So it wont give you quests relating to it. Nathan pushed the conversation out of his mind. He walked around the town, inspecting the buildings and the looks on peoples faces. They were worried, but there was a hint of determination in their eyes. When they caught sight of Nathan, they would often bow quickly. One of the mushroom people approached him. My lord, he said. I was instructed to bring this to you. The mushroom person held out his hand, revealing a glowing blue gem. A mana stone. Nathan reached out slowly and wrapped his fingers around it. Thank you, he said. Where did you find this? Inside the corpse of the spider monster. I was part of the clean-up crew. Nathan slipped the mana stone into his pocket. They now had three. It was time to find themselves a Pandora.
When Nathan presented the mana stone to Emi, shed been ecstatic. She swept the mana stone out of his hand and stuffed it into her pocket, a grin on her face. Nathan opened up the portal and they all shuffled back out into the first circle. Emi rushed off to find somewhere quiet so she could begin the ritual and absorb the mana stone. It was already night, so the group decided to set up camp. When Nathan lay down, he fell asleep instantly. He woke up the next morning with something uncomfortable pressing against his sides. He opened his eyes to see that grass had sprung up around him overnight. What the hell? Did I roll into a patch of grass? he said. He pushed himself up. Not long after, everyone else started waking up. Emi still wasnt back yetnot concerning since she said the ritual might go into the afternoon. Nathan set up some fish on the campfire for the group to eat. Chad picked one up and gave Nathan a nod. Everyone settled around in a circle, with Mara somehow sitting next to Nathan. Nathan raised an eyebrow but didnt say anything. This is some good shit, man, Chad said. Still dont get why you eat it raw, though. Nathan bit into his own fish. He looked up, then gulped. Its just sushi. I dont think sushi is eaten like that. Let him do what he wants! Mara said. He deserves it after that throw. Mara shoulder-bumped him, a grin on her face. Nathan stared at her, then scooted away. Chad frowned at their interaction. He turned his head back toward his fish. By the way, Why was the town on fire earlier? Chad said. I was on the opposite wall, so I didnt get to see what was happening. There was a giant spider and Mara made some explosive barrels, Nathan said. I threw them at the spider and we accidentally set the town on fire. Chads sunglasses slipped off his face. There were a bunch of explosions and I wasnt there to record it!? Chin up, Nathan said. You probably got a little good footage, right? Yeah, but none of them are comparable to an explosion! The group returned to silence, focusing on their food. Nathan glanced to his right where Mara was taking large, rabid bites out of her fish even in parts that were clearly undercooked. Has she learned the ways of sushi? Before he could think on this, Bjorn opened his mouth. I woke up with a flower beside me. I know that it wasnt there before because I make it a point to rip out flowers in my immediate vicinity. Uh, why? Nathan said. Flowers are elf spies. Bjorns face was dead serious. Nathan couldnt find a trace of humor in his expression. Oh, I didnt know that, Nathan said. I bet that the elf girl is listening in on this very conversation, Bjorn said. At least, someone is. Next, youre going to tell us that the birds are government spies, Chad muttered. Thats ridiculous, Bjorn said. Its the moles who work for the government. Chad blanched. Nathan raised an eyebrow. I guess conspiracy theories are a thing no matter what world Im in. Ignoring that, Chad said. I hear what Bjorns saying. I didnt lay down in a grass bed, but I still woke up in one. Yeah, same here, Nathan said. So were all in agreement that there was some kind of spontaneous plant growth, Chad said. But where is it coming from? The princess, Bjorn said. Its obvious. She knows nature magic, right? Mara said. Should we really be gossiping about her like this? Nathan said. I mean, if you guys are right, then that means shes hearing everything right now Bjorn grabbed the flower and ripped it out of the soil. Youre right, Bjorn said. Were blown. Nathan stared at the roots of the flower and took a bite out of his fish. This is my life now. Talking with orcs about how the flowers are secret elf spy devices. Before he could think on this any further, footsteps caught their attention. Emi stepped out of the bushes, a smile on her face. Bjorn fell over backward. Chad jumped. Mara waved her hand as if shed done absolutely nothing wrong. Nathan choked on his fish and pounded his chest to get it down. He looked over at Emi. O-oh, hi! Nathan said. Hows it going? I finished the absorption ritual! Emi said. I was worried that it would go wrong because I have no idea how to actually do it, but everything turned out great and I finished the quest. Thats great, Nathan said. How did you do it? Well, it was actually pretty simple Bjorn stood up abruptly. Everyone turned toward him. Bjorn? Nathan said. Is something wrong? He was silent for several seconds. I couldve sworn that there was something there. He shook his head. I apologize. Emis nose twitched as she glared at Bjorn, her eyebrows furrowed together. Okay, going back to my very important information, Emi said. I basically broke the mana stones into fine grains and stuffed them into a cut. That sounds kind of bad? Nathan said. Well, at first I was in agonizing pain, Emi said. It was like being burned alive from the inside out. But the quest gave me a pass, so I think I did it right. Chad glanced from left to right. Does this not sound batshit insane to anyone else? It was an experimental procedure, admittedly. Emi rolled her arm sleeve up, showing that the veins were pulsing with a blue color. As you can see, it seems to have left some aftereffects, but Im fairly certain it will fade away. What about the Pandora? Bjorn said. Emi glared at him. I was getting there. I was just asking. Emi took a deep breath. As I was saying, After about 12 hours of unbearable pain, I was finally strong enough to stand up and activate my new ability. What did you find? Chad said. Is there one thats close to us? Emi nodded her head. Indeed. Its not even that faronly a few days travel north from here. Itll be a straight line. As soon as she stopped speaking, a twig cracked over toward the forest. Bjorn leaped into action, lunging in the direction of the noise. Two ragged-looking men in cloaks burst from the undergrowth and ran deeper into the forest. Stop them! Bjorn said. Stop them, quickly! Nathan pulled out his harpoon from his inventory. 29 - Shout out to that One Guys Kneecaps The hooded figures seemed to blend into the forest. Every time Nathan was about to get a lock on them, they vanished from view. Nathan let his harpoon drop and broke off into a sprint. Hed have to get closer. Mara was directly to his right, a pistol in hand. Emi was trailing them. Chad tried to keep up from the rear. Bjorn, meanwhile, was dead last. Mara came to a sudden stop and aimed her pistol forward. She squeezed the trigger in quick succession, two shots bursting through the air. For a split second, Nathan caught sight of the mans eyes. They were cold like ice, so sharp it was like he saw through Nathan. The mans body blurred and disappeared before reappearing a foot away. Maras bullets hit a tree, bark and wood dust blasted all over the ground. Nathans hand wrapped tighter around his harpoon. Who are these people? Those skillsthey were all concealment based. If this were an RPG, theyd be rogues. But that look Those eyes spoke of a level of hardness that Nathan had only seen in one other personhimself, looking into a watery reflection after his arm had been eaten. Hes dangerous. His feet pounded the ground. He was getting closer and closer. The other man looked back and cursed aloud. He reached into his pocket and threw something at the ground. Smoke exploded out of the object. Nathans eyes watered and he coughed as his vision was completely invaded. It lasted for a second before a breeze kicked up and the smoke disappeared. Nathans eyes searched across the forest. They cant have gotten too far. They have to be hiding using some kind of skill. Nathan stiffened. I can track things if they have water on them, right? He shut his eyes. Water was summoned from overhead. He forced the shape of the magic out of alignment with a mental tug. It wouldnt be a Riptide Graspit would be a Riptide Bomb. He opened his eyes. Water exploded across the forest from above Nathans head. If they were still here, then he would be able to find them thanks to Hunters Instinct. That was surprisingly easy. The magic was so simple to manipulate. Was this the power of cultivation? Something tugged at his mind. The right! Nathan threw his harpoon, the movement as quick as a whip. It flew through the air and sliced into flesh and pinned the other man to the ground. A harsh scream ripped through the air. The man flailed about like a dying rat. Footsteps caught his ear. Emi and Mara. Did you get them? Emi said. Second one got away, Nathan said. The dangerous one. Not good. Mara walked over to the other one. Time for some answers.
It had barely been thirty seconds and Nathan was already regretting all his life choices. Why arent I stopping her? Mara reached out her finger and poked at the edges of the harpoon wound. The man pounded his fist against the ground and let out a muffled scream. That looks awfully bad, Mara said. Do you feel like telling us about who youre working for? The man took a few deep breaths. Im not telling you shit! He spat forward at Maras foot. She tilted her head, pulled out her pistol, and shot him in the kneecap before anyone could even say a single thing. Nathan jumped into the air and glared at Mara. This is sick. The man screamed at the top of his lungs. You bitch! Bjorn had come up at this point along with Chad. Chads face turned green. W-whats she doing? Chad said. Are we supposed to stop her? Stop her? Bjorn said. Shes clearly an expert. Let her do what she needs to. Okay, but how does one gain expertise in this? Nathan was beginning to seriously wonder about his companions past. Im not going to ask again, Maras voice was sickly sweet as she spoke. If you want to keep your other kneecap, then you should probably just tell us who you are and who youre working for. He sobbed, his body shaking. Its the Harrowed Hand! I work for the Harrowed Hand, damn it! Were you tracking us on purpose, or was it a coincidence? How much do they know about us? This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. C-coincidence. You were spotted by a scout, so we were assigned to check on you. I Ive heard rumors of you people. I thought it was all bullshit, but its true, isnt it? Youre trying to wipe us all out! Mara shrugged. Well, you really pissed off one of my buddies, she said. I dont really care much about it, but I think its kind of bad that you guys were killing people? The man laughed hysterically as tears streamed down his face in rivulets. You idiots! Do you seriously think youll be able to take us on!? My partners going back for help at this very moment. Even if you survive, Vince will realize youre real and hell send everyone after you. Not only that, but we heard you say where the Pandora is! And once he has that, hell become invincible! Mara held out her pistol and aimed it at his head. The man stopped laughing. She pulled the trigger and a bang echoed out. Red blood painted the grass in great big splotches, bits of flesh and meat scattered around like the aftermath of a butchery. Emi shut her eyes. Chad looked away. Bjorn watched, unconcerned. Nathan winced. It reminds me of my bob-sledding days, Mara said. Good times. What. Mara pulled one of her gun-cleaning wipes from her inventory and rubbed off her pistol. That was fun. She looked over at Nathan and smiled, blood on her cheeks. We should do this more often. What the actual hell is wrong with this woman? Sweet merciful Buddha, Chad said. I knew you were screwed up, but thats just Emi shook her head. We needed the information. It really makes me uncomfortable, but it had to be done. She freaking executed him like one of Henry the Eighths wives, bro! H-his death was inevitable. Nathans eyes were unfocused. We werent going to let him go and we werent going to carry him around. That doesnt make it right to blow his brains out There are more important problems than fussing about morality, Bjorn said. Nathans attention snapped back. What? Weve got to find that camp and kill them all, Bjorn said. Right now. Every second that we stand here dawdling is a second thats wasted. Not you too! Chad said. Dont we have enough psychopaths on this team? Are you stupid? Bjorn glared at Chad. I am no blood-drinker. What Im concerned about is someone like the leader of the Harrowed Hand ascending. Weve been able to comfortably deal with their average fighter so far, but theres no guarantee well be able to survive an E-ranked being. W-we dont know that for sure, Chad said. Maybe Pandoras dont do anything. Maybe this Vince guy doesnt take the report seriously, dismisses it as some crack-induced hallucination. Perhaps, Bjorn said. Or, perhaps he takes it seriously. Im not willing to take that risk. Emi frowned. I cant believe Im saying this, but I agree with the orc, she said. This will turn even bloodier if someone from the Harrowed Hand is allowed to gain such power. This Vince must be prevented from ascending. Mara shrugged. Im always in favor of a fun time. Everyone turned to face Nathan. Why do they always save me for last, damn it? It seems like everyones in favor of taking out the camp, Nathan said. Nothing for it. Chad sighed. Fine, he said. Looks like were doing another camp raid.
They managed to track down the camp surprisingly quickly. After all, it was hard to miss the dozens of raptors being used to lug logs and rubble around. Massive walls had been set up using the logs, and someone had even made a farm plot outside. Nathans group was ducked behind the trees, peeking out to watch the action. Why are they so obsessed with these camps? Nathan said. Why not? Chad said. They probably have no way to find the Pandora, so the only thing to do is grind and finish quests. No reason to live on the road if thats what youre doing. Makes sense. Youre missing something else, Emi whispered. Nathans eyes rotated toward her. Her expression was scrunched up as she watched the raptors move the logs. Its an expression of power, she said. Theyre making a point. The Harrowed Hand can bring order and safety, and these structures prove it. Why do they to do that? Chad said. Why is that so important? It reinforces their self-image, firstly, Emi said. They can remind themselves that theyre the heroes. Secondly, it communicates that message to anyone whos considering joining them. Nathan looked out at the camp with a new light. Thats surprisingly smart, he said. Emi nodded. Its some kind of doctrine from the top down. Theres no way these camp leaders thought of it on their own. If other people are joining as a result, Nathan said. Does that mean weve been potentially killing innocent survivors? Weve offered them the chance to surrender, they never take it, Bjorn said. At that point, we cant be blamed. Nathan sucked in a breath. After a moment, he let out the air, and the tension dissipated. There are two holes in the wall, Bjorn said. If the rogue is still here, hell have to go through one of them. That gives us an opportunity. We can turn it into a chokepoint! Mara whisper-shouted. I know this one! Mara can cover the front with a rifle, Nathan said. Chad, youve been putting points in Dexterity, right? Chad nodded. Yup. Edited my min-maxing strategy a bit. Nathan looked over toward the second gap in the walls. Emis going to sneak in and see if any prisoners are alive, Nathan said. Me and Bjorn will go on in and deliever terms of surrender. Chad will cover the back wall. Does that work for everyone? There was a quick nod. Lets get this done, Nathan said.
Nathan, like before, simply walked in through the front gate. Unlike last time, it wasnt just humans watching. The raptors seemed to follow his footsteps with their eyes as well. Nathan felt something rush down his spine. Everyone seemed to have their hands resting on their weapons. Somethings off, he muttered. Bjorn nodded. Weve already been made. The scout mustve warned them of us. Thats fine. Theyre not too dangerous. Theyre underleveled. Nathans limbs stiffened as he walked toward the leader. Welcome! the leader said. You said that you want to join our little camp, yes? No, Im afraid that was a lie, Nathan said. Were here about a different issue. The leaders eyes flashed. Oh? The Harrowed Hand is an organization responsible for the mass incarceration and murder of thousands of people. A familiar fury started to burn underneath Nathans skin. Were here to make sure that everyone involved in that is duly punished. If you dont want to die, lay down your weapons and leave this place. The leader gasped. Really? Well, I guess we should listen to you. The leader pulled his sword out and dropped it to the ground. Pardon me? Around Nathan, everybody started dropping their weapons. This is a trick. A sudden chill went down his spine. On instinct, he bowed his neck. A split second later, there was a loud swooshing noise, like a supersonic jet soaring overhead. Something shaved his hair and the noise became as loud as a freight train for a single moment. The ground exploded in front of him, a black arrow embedded in the dirt. Nathan turned his head back to see the rogue thatd been spying on them earlier. The rogue stared at Nathan, eyes cold. Plan A failed, switch to plan B, boys! the leader shouted. Nathan stumbled out of the way of a knife strike, barely dodging. They had backup weapons. He reached into his inventory for his fishing rodanother sword swing went for him, forcing him to jump back. Hed failed to get his fishing rod out. A spear came for his side. Nathan slapped it out of the way, only for a pike to slash at his head. He tossed himself underneath the attack and tumbled away. Theyre coordinated! Theyd been prepared. Theyd had a calculated plan, and Nathan had fallen right into it. I just need to get my weapon out A grunt echoed to his right. Bjorn had a knife embedded in his leather armor. He pulled it out and threw it forward, sending it flying directly into someones head. Nathan jumped out of the way of a strike and finally managed to pull out his fishing rod. He swept it around in a long circle, killing five people on the spot. Out of the corner of his eye, Nathan saw the rogue pulling his bow back for another shot. Like last time, the arrow was an unusual pure black color, a malevolent aura emanating from its tip. Nathan ducked down, dodging the arrow. It continued and penetrated directly into the heart of the leader, coming right out the other end. The rogue dropped his bow and ran off toward the gap in the wall. It was fine, Chad would stop him The Chad was currently surrounded by ten attackers. Nathan saw Chads eyes glance over toward the fleeing roguebut he had to block an incoming attack. They outplayed us. Nathan rushed forward, his fishing rod swinging toward the rogue. But it was too late. Hed escaped. 30 - Oh Crap, the Fisherman Guy is Actually Really Dangerous Vince wasnt having a good day. He adjusted his position in his wooden seat, the chair digging into his back like spikes. Overhead, the sun beat against his tent. It was like an oven. He read the report for a third time, still unable to understand how it had happened. Two camps had been destroyed, claiming that some guy with a fishing pole was leading the charge. The worst part was that when he sent in his men to investigate, they found nothing but corpses and destroyed buildings, like a hurricane had swept through. Something was happening, but he still didnt know because of all this weird bullshit intel. Unless, of course, theyre telling the truth. But that was ridiculous, there was no way someone was going around killing his men with a fishing pole. Governor Vince, weve got news! One of his men walked inwhat the hell was his name? What is it? Vince said. Callen came back, governor, the man said. Vince perked up. Callen (along with his partner, James) was one of the few people under him who had a good head on his shoulders. Vince sent him out to train the camps and ensure they adhered to his standards. But he wasnt supposed to be back this early. Callen walked in. He looked sweaty and exhausted. His eyes were weary and worn out, his skin pale white. What the hell happened to you? Vince said. The rumors were true, Callen said without skipping a beat. The fishing rod shit? Its all true. Vince rolled his eyes. I dont appreciate these kinds of jokes, Vince said. Its not a joke, Callen said. They killed James. Vinces head twisted. What? Everything was true, Vince, Callen said. God, I dont even know where to start. Get yourself together and explain from the beginning. Now. Callen shut his eyes. All at once, his face relaxed, and his expression shifted to a cool, neutral expression. There was the Callen that Vince knew. The ex-special forces assassin with almost a hundred confirmed kills. Hopefully, Vince would finally learn whatd been happening in his territory. It was a routine patrol, Callen said. Wed just finished a batch of drills with our assigned camp. By coincidence, we came across a group that looked extremely similar to the group mentioned in report 59C. We investigated and they started talking about a skill that lets them find Pandoras. But how did James die? They spotted us, Callen said. And attacked us. Youre telling me you got your asses kicked by some shithead with a fishing rod? Callen nodded. Not just a fishing rod, sir. The fishing rod. Custom-modified, likely enchanted. Its reach is unparalleled, and that hook. He shuddered. Ive seen bombs that were less dangerous. Are you hearing yourself right now? Vince muttered, rubbing his temples. Youre being insane. Callen adjusted his collar and coughed into his hand. Sir, this wasnt some random brawler. He displayed an unnatural level of dexterity. The fishing rod was an extension of his body. Precision strikes. Quick disengagements. Pure ruthlessness. If he werent using a literal fishing rodand if he hadnt walked directly into a trapId have mistaken him for ex-military. I only escaped thanks to my Flashstep skill. Hes serious. Callen thinks this guy is a threat. An uncomfortable feeling wormed its way down Vinces stomach. If this was for real then he was in serious trouble. How do you know James is dead? Vince asked. I heard a gunshot, sir. I dont think he made it. Vince smashed his desk, cracking it. He took a deep breath. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. What happened next? Vince said. I ran back to the camp. We set up a plan. I would hit them with my Dark Arrow, they would serve as the distraction. Thank god. So I guess their corpses are outside They survived. Vince shut his eyes. Youve got to be shitting me. How? Vince said. Ive seen that technique. Not a single person in any of our camps has a way of countering it. Pure luck, Callen said. Complete, bullshit luck. He just happened to duck his head and the arrow missed. After that, his Dexterity was high enough to dodge my next shot. At that point, I knew it was a loss. I figured I should run for it and try to get my information back to you. Vince rested his face in his palms. How did this happen? This obviously wasnt the Nathan Lee, the number 1 on the rankings. But whoever this guy was seemed to be completely out of their league. Not only that, but he clearly had a hate boner for the Harrowed Hand. If this guy continued his rampage, there would be nothing left of his camps. They needed some way to strike back. Im a governor of a paramilitary faction, Vince said. I command hundreds of men. I have access to rare artifacts, dangerous techniques, and resources that could topple a small country. And somehow He groaned. Somehow, my biggest threat is a guy who brings a fishing rod to a sword fight. Callen shrugged. To be fair, its clearly working for him. Vince pushed himself back up in his chair. Did you get ahold of the Pandoras location? he asked. I did, sir. Good. Submit that information to a clerk ASAP. Vince tapped his fingers against his desk, then stopped. The fisherman. Is he beatable? Callen folded his hands behind his back. It would be close, sir, he said. He has weaknesseshe has no martial training, relying on improvisation and speed. He also didnt seem to have any close-range options. But? His stats, sir. Hes too fast and too strong. He also has a team with him who are all powerhouses of their own. If I could isolate him, and if I had a group of men maybe. But I wouldnt bet on it. And what if I had a way to level the playing field? Sir? Come with me.
Vince led Callen deep into their storehouse. The darkness became deeper and deeper, the windows noneixtent and the only light coming from the open door in the back. At the rear, there was a single bottle. Vince grabbed it. [Potion of Temporary Ascension] (System: EXCEPTION) This potion grants the user five minutes of top-tier ascension to the E-rank. At the end of five minutes, the user will return to their original rank. As a penalty, the drinkers lifespan will be cut in half. My entire life, cut in half. Callen stared at the bottle. Is this worth it? How did you even get this? It was pure luck, Vince said. Stumbled upon from a monster drop. Whatever god is watching over that fisherman, there seems to be one on our side as well. He tossed it at Callen who grabbed it out of the air. Vince turned around and began to walk out. What am I supposed to do with this? Callen said. Do you really expect me to drink this? Vince stopped. He turned his head back to Callen. Youre a soldier. You know what has to be done. Vince turned back around, his eye watching Callen from the corner. Finish the job. Callen stared at the potion for several more seconds. Understood.
The rest of the camp was cleaned rapidly. With his fishing rod out, Nathan was once more a destroyer of worlds. Unfortunately, the rogue was long since gone, having vanished by the time Nathan made it outside. The rogue would feed information back to Vince and that was the end of that. Now, they just had to make it to the Pandora before Vince. They were going through the letters of the group. Mara had wandered next to Nathan and was seated on one of the tables, cleaning a gun. Several minutes passed when Bjorn abruptly dropped a stack of papers to the ground. Nathan started and looked over at Bjorn. On the dropped paper was a sketch of a group of orcs. Bjorn marched up to Emi, his hands twitching and his eyes alit with fire, breathing deep. You knew, he said. She stared at him. Knew what? You knew that I was looking for my men, but you didnt bother to mention that youd seen them? What are you talking about? Emi said. The paper proves it! Bjorn shouted. It says that an elf fought with a group of orcs. It was you! Says who? she asked. You dont know its me. And even if it was me, I dont have to tell you anything. You tried to poison my drinkthe least you can do is give me this much, Bjorn said. Where did they go? Nathans jaw dropped. Wait. Poison? He turned to Emi, wide-eyed. You tried to poison him? Oh, dont worry, Emi said. It was a mild poison. Just enough to make him puke his guts out for a few hours. Call it a bonding exercise. Bonding? Nathan looked horrified. Thats not bondingthats attempted murder! Bjorn''s hand twitched. Where. Did. They. Go? Who knows? Emi said. Bjorns hand twitched before he turned around and stomped off. Emi rolled her eyes. Drama queen. She walked off in the opposite direction. Chad looked between the two of them, then ran after Bjorn. Mara leaned in. Theyre a little bit ridiculous, arent they? I guess, Nathan said. Im kind of concerned, though. She turned her attention back to her guns. You know, Ive been meaning to ask you about something, she said. A breeze brushed against Nathans cheek, chilling it. He turned and readjusted some papers. What? You smiled back there, she said. What are you talking about? The prisoner. When I shot him. Her gaze turned toward him. You smiled. Nathans jaw rolled around. I dont know what youre talking about. Im not wrong, She stood up off the table. Youre like me than you want to admit, you know. Whats that supposed to mean? Nathan said. You do a better job of hiding it, but she reached forward and poked him in the chest. On the inside, youre all shattered, like a bunch of broken mirror pieces on the floor. Nathan squeezed the papers in his hand. I dont know what youre talking about, Nathan said. Im just trying to get you to see the truth. The truth about what? She shook her head. Ill drop it," she said. "Just remember, Nathan, that you cant hide from yourself forever. Trust me, I tried. Spoiler alert: you crack eventually. And when you do, its messy. Lots of blood and viscera. Very hard to clean up. Nathan was just about fed up with all this drama. First Bjorn and Emi, now Mara? Thanks for the therapy session, Nathan said. Maybe next time we can talk about my childhood trauma over coffee. Now lets wrap this up so we can go get that Pandora before the Harrowed Hand gets it. Mara smirked. Sure thing, boss. 31 - Iron Resolve Nathan and the gorup spent most of the day marching. They had to get ahead of the Harrowed Hand and get ahold of the Pandora. But when night fell, they had to stop and get some sleep. Nathan took the opportunity to stock up on his fish at a riverand if he was lucky, get ahold of an E+ rank item. Ultimately, he got an item, but it wasnt what hed expected. Coral Strand Bracelet (E+ Rank) Set Item (2 of 3) Bound with woven coral and silver, this bracelet carries the vibrant energy of the tides. Each bead pulses faintly, as if alive, channeling the oceans untamed force into the wearers strikes. Riptides Wrath: Amplifies offensive abilities. With every attack, the bracelet surges with the oceans fury, adding a swift, cutting force that enhances damage and disrupts defenses. Echo of the Deep: When adrenaline rises, the bracelet hums with a fierce, rhythmic beat, filling the wearer with a surge of power that sharpens their strikes and increases their speed for a brief time. Nathan slipped the bracelet on. Instantly, he felt the effects course through his veins. Water seemed to be above him, below him, everywhere, surrounding him. He took a deep breath, the salty scent refreshing his body. He held up his hand and tugged on his Riptide Grasp skill. Water sliced through the air in a razor-sharp line, cutting through a tree. The trunk stood for a second before falling to the ground in a loud crash. Does this even count as a grasping ability anymore? Nathan said. And why does this come so easy to me, but none of my other cultivator abilities work? Deep down, he knew the answer. Maras conversation with him had confirmed it. He pushed the thought away and turned back around, leaving destruction behind himan increasingly common sight.
They resumed marching. Once or twice theyd run into raptors, but it turned out to be no issue. At this point, everyone in the group was hilariously over-leveled relative to Circle One. It was to the point where theyd started playing a game of it, tracking how many raptors they could kill, with the winner getting bragging rights. Mara won in the end. The scoped rifle allowed her to get an entire group hiding in the distance. While they walked, Mara had glanced back at him. Nathan avoided her gaze. The conversation from last night still bounced around in his mind like a pinball and he didnt want to deal with it. Emi and Bjorn, meanwhile, stayed as far apart as possible. It was as if they were pretending that the other didnt exist. Were incredibly dysfunctional. Bjorn believed in the extermination of elfkind. Emi was a war criminal in the making. Nathans time in the tutorial seemed to have permanently screwed him up. Mara was a walking collection of red flags. What did it say about them that the most sane person they had was a celebrity streamer whod made a cameo in the Superbowl? Nathans eyes darted toward the man himself. Chad had his phone out and was speaking into it, talking about the Stop a gang of psychopaths challenge. How do you even keep that charged? Nathan said. I never use my phone, so thats how I still have ten percent, but you have that out all the time. Chad paused and looked back at Nathan. He reached into his pocket, revealing a battery pack with a solar panel on the side. Behold, he said. The object that has allowed me to stay sane. Are you really planning to upload all this online once were out? Chad turned back at the camera. Can you believe this guy? Thinking that I wont upload this shit. Yall know Ill do anything for content. Nathan rolled his eyes. As he did so, he caught sight of a shadow, darting between the pale green trees. His eyes narrowed in that direction and he stopped. Chad looked back. Dude? Nathan shook his head. Nothing, sorry. They kept walking. A cold feeling went down Nathans spine. Maybe Im just being paranoid? He caught up with Bjorn, standing to his right. Bjorn, does something feel off to you? Nathan said. No. Nathans eyebrows furrowed. Surely Bjorn wouldve noticed if there was something there. Still, the feeling wouldnt go away. Sorry, Bjorn, must be my imagination, he said. Bjorn nodded. An hour passed. Nathan had started to calm down. Chad tapped on his shoulder. By the way, Chad said. I noticed you and Mara were kind of weird earlier. Nathan frowned. She said something that kind of freaked me out, he said. It just surprised me, I guess, Chad said. You two seemed comfortable around each other. Not how most of us roll around here if you hadnt noticed. What do you mean by that? Nathan asked. Oh, nothing. Just saying, most of us are just getting by, yknow? Less drama that way. Chad shrugged.Nothing bad about it, but it is what it is. Chad had a point. There had been a kind of distance between everyone. Nathan had a brief moment of frankness with Chad after theyd both killed their first person, but even that wasnt enough to fully break down the walls between them. It seemed like everyone in his little group was much the same. They all viewed this as an alliance of convenience that would eventually collapse in on itself. But after Mara used those explosives and saved the town, Nathan had unconsciously become more comfortable with her. Of course my first friend in the apocalypse turns out to be a gun nut muderhobo. Just my luck. Nathan was about to respond when he heard something in the distance. He turned his head just in time to see a glint of light before it vanished. The hairs on Nathans back stood on end. Somethings following us, he said. Bjorn looked back. What? I said somethings following us, Im certain of it, Nathan said. Where is it? Chad said. Nathan pointed. Chad squinted his eyes and shielded his vision with the palm of his hand. After a few seconds, he shook his head and turned around, an expression of confusion on his face. Nathan, I dont see anything. Thats because its gone, Nathan said. Im telling you there was something earlier. A glint. Could it have been an animal? Emi said. Maybe, but I really think it was something else. Chad raised an eyebrow. Like what, some kind of monster? Nathans eyes darted to the side. Not sure. Dude, if you dont explain Im just going to assume that the lizard-men are about to strike, Chad said. Nathan was about to respond when he caught sight of something. A black glint. Every alarm in his body screamed at the top of his lungs, and every part of his brain scrambled to duck down. His back strained from the sudden pain of tilting to the side faster than it had any right to move. What felt like a rocket soared just above his head, went behind him, and crashed into a tree. The tree exploded on the spot, a shockwave ran through Nathans body, and a fire blazed to life on the ground. Nathan turned back toward the glint. A figure emerged from the trees. It was the archer from last time. The one whod gotten away. But there was something different about him. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. His body seemed to be crackling with dark energy and the whites of his eyes had turned black. The arrow he had half-cocked on his bow seemed to be burning with a black flame, even his very aura was suffocating. Who the hell are you!? Chad said. My name is Callen, the man said. And Im going to be your downfall. He pointed his bow at Nathan, pulled back an arrow, and let it loose.
Nathan jumped out of the way of the attack. The arrow zoomed by and was about to scratch his side until his necklace glowed bright blue and a barrier formed on his skin. The arrow pinged off with a high-pitched noise. It flew on before crashing into another tree with a loud boom. Instinctively, Nathan knew that if hed been directly hit, he wouldve been dead. Without saying a word, Riptide Grasp roared to life. Water appeared from the air and shot out toward Callen. The water screamed as it flew through the air, like a police siren right behind the ear. Callen vanished from sight in a blur. The water sliced through a tree and continued for a few meters. Nathans eyes darted from left to right. Whered he go!? A moment later, Nathan felt something impact his side. His necklace lit up with a blue glow and its shimmering barrier appeared. Behind me! Nathan threw himself into a roll. He sprung back up and slid into a fighting position. Before he could even blink, Callen was already in front of him, knife outstretchedthen he disappeared. A moment later, a hammer swung through where Callen had been standing. Bjorn grunted and gave him a nod. Chad pulled out his katana. Great, a teleporter. Nathan, if you have some eleventh-hour superpower, nows the time to use it. Emi readied her staff and Mara pumped her shotgun. Nathan grabbed his fishing rod from his inventory and watched the treeline A scream ripped out as Emi was thrown through the air from a surprise attack. She landed with a hard thud on the ground. Bjorn rushed toward Callen only for a sudden attack from behind to knock him out. Nathan sprung into action. His fishing hook spun through the air, aimed toward Callens chest. The hook slammed into Callen. He rolled backward, absorbing the strike. Before He could stand, Chad had dashed in front of Callen and was already swinging his katana down. Callen tilted to the side and dodged the attack. His knife swung out and Chad was forced to jump backward. Nathans eyes flickered toward Emi. His stomach turned as he looked at her limp body. He went for the physically weakest one first, then the slowest one next. Was it just a coincidence? No. Those eyesthey were purposeful. It was planned. Callen flickered out of sight and reappeared in front of Mara. Nathan threw his fishing line for another attack And then he caught sight of Callens grin. Callen immediately ran toward Nathan while his fishing line was still flying through the air. No choice, Ive got to drop it. Nathan let go of his fishing rod and swung his arm toward Callen. Callen ducked underneath the shot and shifted into a boxing stance. A jab with his knife swung out like lightning. Nathan dodged, the knife brushing his nose. The next thing he saw was a kick rising to hit him before it cracked against his head, the sensation instantly sending stars up and down his vision. Nathan gritted his teeth. He tilted his neck and another knife attack flew past his cheek. Nathan tensed his arm for a counterattack. Callens eyes widened and he jumped back. But it was too lateNathan reached out and grabbed Callens hand. I dont have my other hand, I cant attack. Well, plagiarism is okay in some cases. Nathan raised his leg and kicked Callen in the chest. The blow was sloppy and awkward, but with Nathans stats, Callen had just taken a jackhammer to the stomach. Callen only let out a pained grunt. His vision snapped over to his knife then back toward Nathan. Then he vanished from sight. A second later, he reappeared behind Mara. Before Nathan could say a word, shed already jumped forward and swung her shotgun around. The slug fired out, but Callen had already disappeared againthis time, right behind Mara. He punched her head, knocking her out on the spot. A moment later, he vanished from view. This isnt going well. Nathans eyes stared around where Callen had been. Red on the ground. A little bit, but it was thereMaras slug had landed, or at least skimmed the man. Hes not invincible. If the pattern held true, then Callen would appear Now! Nathan dropped low. Sure enough, a knife stabbed toward the position his neck had been. Nathan sprung up and back, fist pointed out. The shot landed with a satisfying crunch, and Callen tumbled backward. Somehow, he managed to recover and get back to a crouched position. You learn fast. Callen wiped the blood from his lips. Id have hated to fight you when you had both your armsbut I guess thats why you want the Pandora. Nathan tucked away the stray piece of information. His eyes flickered toward Chad, whod come up to his side. Give me an opening! he said. Chad nodded and darted in, his katana flashing in the sun. There was a fast exchange of blows, then Nathan dived in and slashed his harpoon down. Callen disappeared. Three-step combination. Always leads with the knife, follows with a kick if blocked, then teleports if countered. Nathan caught the coming attack from an angle using his forearm, his coral necklace barrier flashing and straining from the blow. The familiar kick flew toward his side Nathan was ready. He caught the attack, then pounded the shaft of his harpoon into the mans solar plexus. Callen stumbled back with a gasp. Nathan turned sharply and held out his hand. Water summoned from overhead and blasted out like dozens of knives, supercharged by his bracelet. Callen teleportedbut a droplet of water had gotten onto his neck. Checkmate. As Callen was materializing, Nathan was already stabbing his harpoon. It ripped a bloody wound across Callens arm and he stumbled backward, hissing. He reached into his inventory and pulled out his bow. Nathan got ready to dodge. The bowstring pulled back And at the last second, Callen changed targets and the arrow shot toward Chad. Chad tried to block with his katana, but he was just a bit too slow. The arrow pierced into his chest. Chad looked down and stared at the wound before falling. For a moment Nathan was unable to think. Nathan''s eyes fixed on Emi''s crumpled form. Her staff lay beside her outstretched hand, fingers still curled as if reaching for it. A kick slammed into his ribs. The impact sent him tumbling across the dirt and leaves until his spine cracked against rough bark. The physical pain was distant, dulled. Chad''s final moment replayed in his mindthe arrow punching through his chest, the way his eyes had widened in that last instant of surprise. Copper filled Nathan''s mouth. He wasn''t sure if it was from biting his cheek or from one of Callen''s hits. His hands trembled against the ground. "What''s wrong with you?" Callen''s voice cut through the ringing in his ears. "Don''t tell me you''ve just given up." Nathan didnt respond. Callen raised his bow. Move. Get revenge. Find your sister. Callen smirked. Youre still alive. Fight. The arrow drew back. MOVE! The arrow shot out. The last bit of Nathans strength was used and he threw himself to the side. The arrow cleaved through the bark with a loud explosion, shattering the wood. Nathan tumbled to the side. Callen growled and pulled another arrow from his back. Lucky dodge! Nathan''s muscles screamed as he threw the harpoon. The weapon cut through the air with a whistletoo fast, too sloppy. Callen jerked to the side, but not quite fast enough. The harpoon caught his bow, splintering wood and snapping string before disappearing into the undergrowth with a rustle of leaves. "Shit!" The curse had barely left Callen''s lips when Nathan launched himself forward. The world narrowed to the space between them. Gravel crunched under Nathan''s feet as he closed the distance. He collided into Callen with a bang. The two of them fell into a heap of elbows and fists. Nathan caught sight of a flash of silver going for his heart. Shell of protection. A shimmering barrier appeared, interspersed with a brown color like a snails shell. It cracked. Callen pushed forward, driving pressure into his knife. Nathan punched Callen across the jaw with every bit of rage he had left in him, the blow so strong it sent a jolt back up Nathans arm. Callens head banged against the ground. Blood trickled from his mouth. He disappeared, reappearing a few feet away. His eyes were unfocused, then they snapped back toward Nathan. Why wont you fucking die!? Callen shouted. Nathan didnt respond and dove back at Callen. Callen growled and redirected the blow. Nathan flew into the ground with a loud crash, the air exploding from his chest. He turned around Callen jumped down and wrapped his hands around Nathans throat. Nathan pried at Callens hands. Tears came to his eyes. He threw a punch. Callen absorbed the blow and kept his hand on Nathans throat. Dark spots danced at the edge of his vision. Nathan''s hand trembled as he reached for his inventory. Something, something, something A knife. The knife hed made in the tutorial. A stupid, useless knife that was only made because he needed to finish a dumb quest and he wouldve thrown it away if he hadnt forgotten about it till just now. Nathans eyes flashed. The blade cleared his inventory with a sound like tearing silk. Nathan drove it deep into Callen''s side, feeling it punch through cloth, then skin, then muscle. Callen''s scream hit him like a physical force. He let go of Nathans neck and scrambled backward, blood spraying from his lips in a crimson rain. Y-you bastard! Callen said. Nathan grinned, a rush of adrenaline flooding his veins at the sight. Callen stumbled to his feet, reached into his inventory, and pulled out another bow. If Im going Callen pulled back the bowstring. Youre coming with me. There was a part of Nathan screaming for him to dodge but it was overwhelmed by the exhaustion. Nathan was done. If this is the end, I guess its not a bad one. Nathan prepared himself for the end Then a silver katana flashed through the air. Callen froze in place. A moment later, his head slid off his body and tumbled to the ground. The body fell over, revealing a bloodied and hunched-over Chad, his hand wrapped around a red katana. Chads body shook before he collapsed. [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [Achievement Get: Defier] [Achievement Get: Iron Resolve] Nathan scrambled over to Chad. I knew min-maxing would help, Chad said. Constitution for the win. Nathan looked at his wounds. He ripped open Chads shirt. Chad was still bleeding out, red and red and red everywhere, coating the ground, Nathans hands, everything. I think this is gonna be my final stream, Chad said. I was able to hold on till now, but I dont think Screw that. Nathan pressed his hands against Chads wounds. A groan came from Chad in response. You remember that thing you said about getting a superpower at the last second? Nathan asked. Chads eyes flickered. Yeah? Lets hope youre right. Oceans Embrace. Water appeared from the air, shimmering, glowing with an ethereal blue light. It swirled gently down to the wound. Nathans breath stopped. Then it shattered and the water fell to the ground. No, damn it, dont do that! Nathan shut his eyes tight. He could feel the water come back. Please, Im begging you. Please. Help me. The water flew toward Chads wound. He felt something sap at his energy. He was closeso close. But so far. The water fell out of his control. Thanks for trying, Chad muttered. Its too bad I never got to know you a bit better, man. Shut up, Im trying to save your life. Come on. Theres something Im missing. Some fundamental aspect of this skill. What was Nathan trying to do? Heal. Stitch the body back together. Hed seen it happen beforehed seen it happen quickly. The mushroom woman, Fuge. What did water have to do with healing? He knew that already, water was life. Even blood is mostly water. Water is life, and gentle streams, not just destruction and power. Water could shape mountains, and destroy worlds, but that wasnt all it could do. The realization struck him and he opened his eyes. This isnt a repair job. This technique isnt about slapping a bandaid on a wound. Theres something deeper happening. Im giving Life itself. He felt the energy pull from deep within him. Water swirled around him in a halo. It reached out and seeped into Chads wound, weaving the flesh and fusing it together, making him stronger, all to the pace of Nathans heartbeat. Nathans own strength went down with every second. The tug became stronger and stronger. He didnt resist. The water glowed brighter, bathing their figures in light. At the edges of his vision, he saw that the water had branched off, touching each of his companions, and sapping his stamina to the breaking point. Nathans breath turned shallow and strained, but he held on. Finally, the light faded, his strength completely drained. Chad slowly pushed himself up. He looked down at his chest. Nothing remained but a pale white scar. Holy shit. He touched it. How the hell? Nathan fell over. The world went black. 32 - Town Management Nathan woke up feeling like hed just run a marathon. Every part of him burned with pain. It felt like a tendon in his soul had been sprained, stretched, and bent to a degree that it never had before. His eyes blinked awake, unable to see from the light. I feel like I got run over by a train, he said. Holy shit hes awake! Footsteps. Good. Thank the gods! Thank my shotgun. As far as Im concerned, Im the one who saved the day. You literally got knocked out three minutes into the fight. Eh. I dont remember that. BECAUSE YOU WERE KNOCKED OUT! The voices banged against his ears like a hammer. Chad, all of you, please shut up, Nathan said. A sheepish laugh. Sorry, man. Nathan pushed himself to a sitting position. They were currently underneath a pale green tree. The sun cast its rays through the leaves, dancing patterns across the ground. A gentle breeze swept through his hair. Hed been lying in some kind of cobbled-together leather bed. His body was covered in bandages. Around him, each of his companions stared at him. Emi had a look of naked concern. Mara just seemed happy. Bjorn only cast a glance before turning his neck back to the horizon. Chad hovered right next to Nathan. Pain spilled through his chest and he gripped his heart. Chad reached out a hand. Dude, you okay? Nathan grimaced and relaxed his hand. Im alive. He blinked hard, clearing the spots in his vision. What the hell happened? Is everyone okay? Yeah, man. Whatever you did patched us up real good, Chad said. Everything healed, Emi said. Its still sore, but well be okay. Bjorn grunted. You, on the other hand, gave everyone a scare, Bjorn said. What do you mean? Nathan said. Chad exhaled through his nose. Dude, you werent breathing. Nathans eyes widened. What? Are you sure? Certain, Emi said. You were like a corpse. Really gave us a bit of a fright. A bit? You were screaming like a little girl, Mara said. I think thats better than what you did, Emi muttered. Nathans eyes darted toward Mara. What did she do? She took that Callen guys corpse and set it on fire. Nathans jaw dropped. Mara grinned. It was funny. Nathan was about to respond when Bjorn cast a glance at him. His eyes were dead serious, a muscle tension that hadnt been there earlier. I think we need to discuss the information Callen gave us, Bjorn said. What information? Nathan said. The Pandore. He suggested it will give you your arm back. What are your thoughts? Bjorn said. Oh. Nathan glanced at his arm stump. Hed been able to distract himself from thinking about his amputee status with the action, the battles, and the fishing. Now he was faced with a real opportunity. He could get his arm back. But... Nathan deserves it, Chad said. Everyone turned their heads at him. Hes been kicking ass, hes saved everyone from danger at least once, er, except Mara. He put this group together. He deserves it. We have to think tactically about this, Bjorn said. Nathan is already powerful, even without an arm. Wouldnt the Pandora better serve someone else? I agree with Chad, Emi said. If Nathan wants the Pandora, he deserves it. Ah, damn it, this isnt something I wanted to talk about right after waking up from a coma. Mara looked at him. How do you feel about it, Nathan? What do you want to do? Hed gotten somewhat used to not having an arm. Hed learned how to get around his disability, to fight and use every resource at his disposal. Besides Do I deserve to have my arm back? It was my own fault that I lost it. Chad was nearly killedhe needs it more than I do. If he doesnt want it, then surely Bjorn could use it. Nathan looked at his arm stub. But it sure would be nice to not feel like half a person anymore. Nathan shook his head. I need to think about it. Whats there to think about? Chad asked. Dude, its your arm. Why wouldnt you want it back? Nathan averted his eyes. Chad sighed. Whatever, man. Im not changing my mind. If Nathan is unable to come to a decision, then we need to get going and find the Pandora, Bjorn said. We dont have time to lollygag. Nathan nodded. They moved out.
It was a cool summer evening and the group had just finished setting up camp. Fireflies glowed around them in blinking patterns. They were attracted to Emi and swirled around her like she was a Disney princess. Mara kept swatting at them. Bjorn didnt seem to care in the slightest. Nathan looked over his new achievements. [Defier] You helped take down a monster that shouldve turned you into a fine paste. Sure, you didnt land the final blow, but without your clever meddling (and dumb luck), this victory was impossible. Remember: its not about who lands the last hitits about who tells the story first. +10 Strength, +10 Dexterity, +10 Constitution, +10 Magic, +20 Luck, BONUS: +10 Soul [Iron Resolve] You pushed your body past the point of sanity, proving that your brain isnt the one in charge anymore. Bruised, battered, and possibly concussed, you stood your ground. Some would call it bravery; others, questionable life choices. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. +20 Strength, +20 Constitution Nathan whistled aloud. Fighting impossible odds was pretty damn good for his stats. He was doubtful if much on this Circle was much of a threat to him anymore. Hey, Chad, Nathan said. Did you get any achievements for beating that nutcase? I did, actually. Chad popped open his menu. One. Its called Slayer of Titans. What kind of stat bonus did you get from it? Chad stared at the blue window. A lot, he said. Nathan raised an eyebrow but didnt press any harder. Out of curiosity, he checked on his harpoon-throwing quest. [Throw Harpoon] (Bronze) (91/100) Oh, wow. Nathan was close. Really close. Just a few more kills and Nathan would get another bronze-ranked skill. It was as he was thinking this that a brand new blue box appeared. Message from Gius: The new watchtower worked. Weve received a countdown. Please come quickly.
Nathan opened up the portal to his Soulbound Town. He requested that his allies stay behindhed check out the situtation first and see what was going on. He was greeted by a dozen mushroom guards. They saluted all at once. My lord! they all shouted. Nathan stiffened, then bowed back. A-at ease, he said. Can you take me to Gius? Of course, my lord. One of the guards stepped forward, spear in hand. Please follow me. As they walked, Nathan couldnt help but marvel at the improvements the town had made. Stone wallsreal ones, not the crappy ones that theyd slapped together last raidsurrounded the town. A man poked his head out from the second story of one of the houses and waved a hand at Nathan. Nathan waved back. The guy looked so shocked at Nathan that he fell backward with a loud bang. Nathan winced. What was up with that? A group of three or four children were playing ball. Each of them was dressed in relatively fine clothing, and all their faces were clean. As Nathan passed, they stopped, their eyes widening. L-lord Nathan! one of the kids said. Youre lord Nathan, arent you? I am? Is it true that you fought a two-headed scorpion with both hands tied behind your back? Nathans eyebrows furrowed. No? One of the other kids shoved the one whod asked the question. Of course not, I told you it was a one-headed scorpion. Your dad was just making stuff up! Was not! The guard slammed his spear into the ground. A loud click echoed out and the children paused. Lord Nathan is very busy with affairs of state affairs? one of the kids muttered. My mom was talking about that with my dad after they started fighting again.. The guards left eye twitched. and he has to go deal with them. The kids whined. One in the back took a step forward. Thank you, my lord, the quiet boy said. My father almost died during the first raid. You saved his life. Nathan almost took a step back. He managed to stop himself. N-no problem. Nathan inclined his head down. Im thankful your father managed to survive. They walked away. Im glad that kids dad made it out. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a watchtower. Nathan had commissioned it sometime after the first raidit was expensive. Why? Because it was able to warn of incoming raids. Is it just me or are there more people here? Nathan said. Of course, my lord. We finally have access to food, so many of our children have started to grow up. The mushroom man smiled. Case in point: me. Nathan furrowed his eyebrows together. your face looks familiar. The guard chuckled. You dont remember me, of course, he said. Im the kid that bumped into your leg during the first raid. Nathans jaw dropped. You gained four feet in the couple of days I havent been here? Mushroom people have enhanced physiology, my lord. The only reason we werent multiplying quickly was because we didnt have the food to support that. Now, however, we do. Nathan stepped forward and felt something squish against his feet. He pulled his foot back, revealing a trampled flower. Lifes coming back, too, huh? he said. Shame about the flower In front of his eyes, the flower straightened up. Grass sprang to its sides and in moments it looked like Nathan hadnt done anything. Nathan turned and stared at the guard. Uh was that you? The guard rubbed the back of his neck. No, my lord. Im afraid that our plants are just a bit more resilient, as of late? Resilient? The thing snapped back into place on its own. Imagine if you saw a guy break his neck and then walk it off a second later. Well, us mushroom people dont die from neck snaps, but I hear your point, my lord. The guard shrugged. Im afraid I have no answer for you. It scared everyone at first, too, but we got used to it. Before long, they arrived at the meeting hall. The whole thing was upgraded from last time to be a bit bigger. Wings for extra rooms had been attached to the sides, and someone had taken the liberty of putting banners with Nathans face all over the building. whats up with the banners? Nathan said. Well, weve been so prosperous that the town decided we needed a new flag. In honor of you, my lord, the people created these flags. How did they manage to draw that? How did they print it? Also, they got my nose wrong. Im a little bit concerned about this, Nathan said. Whys that? Nathan stared at the guard. The guard looked back as if there was nothing unusual about Nathan having his face on a flag. Never mind, Nathan said. Is Gius inside? Indeed, my lord. The council is not in session yet, so you should have a few minutes to talk with him. Nathan walked to the door. The guard opened it for him and gave him a nod. The door shut.
Nathan looked around the hall. Ornate torches had been set up around the room. The roof had been raised, granting the space a wide, open feeling. A window in the roof cast light on the table. At the end of the table, Gius was seated at the right hand, surrounded by dozens upon dozens of documents and papers. Gius? Nathan said. Gius sat up in his chair. Lord Nathan! Nathan walked over to the end of the table, noting Giuss features. His eyes had deep bags underneath them. I got your message, Nathan said. Indeed. Weve already held a preliminary meeting, Gius said. But the council agreed that you should be alerted. You already discussed what you were going to do? Nathan said. Gius nodded. Weve made defensive plans, my lord. Fuge has been working hard since the last raid to ensure we are prepared for another attack. I feel like I shouldve been involved in these plans. Whatever. Nathan had bigger fish to fry. Do we have a time window on the raid? Nathan asked. Yes, my lord. Thanks to the watchtower you unlocked, we have the exact time. Three days, or seventy-two hours from now. How are we feeling about our defenses? Good, my lord. The town walls have been built and are of solid construction. The main concern is the wave events. Please check your Strategy View. What the hell are wave events? Nathan opened up the blue window. His Town Points hadnt budged too much from the last time hed checkedGius had probably been spending them on defenses. His Authority had dropped to 65%. At the top of the window, there was a timer. 72 hours. Right below there was some text. Next Wave Event: Thunderstorm. Whats all his stuff? Thunderstorm? Again, this wasnt supposed to be unlocked till the third circle. Im not sure how this raider is obtaining these abilities, Gius said. Nonetheless, raiders can spend town points on battlefield enchantments and attacks. They will only get progressively worse and worse. If were extremely unlucky, we could be looking at something like a hurricane or an earthquake. Nathan groaned. I swear, its like the system is out to get me. Have you guys been working on disaster shelters or something? Nathan asked. Weve established some preliminary plans, my lord. Right now, were converting some of the basements and underground storehouses into designated shelters. Thats a good start. We can make sure theres food and water and stuff down there. Wed also have to add supports We know, my lord. Its all been taken care of. Nathan blinked. Oh yeah, you guys know whats going on. Gius smiled thinly. Trust me, my lord, I have a great deal of experience in things like this. You dont need to worry yourself about such things. Hows that shop coming along? Still under construction, my lord. It probably will be for several more weeks. Nathan sighed. Darn. Well, if you didnt want me doing anything, then why did you call me here? Gius winced. Well, we were hoping that you could bring back the Lady of Destruction. The the what? Your friend, the red-headed woman. She was a master of the explosive arts. Fuge has requested that she create more of her weapons. Youre going to need to explain the whole title thing. Gius coughed. Im afraid that you and her have become quite mythologized as of late, and it seems I picked up the speaking habit. Does this have anything to do with my face being on a bunch of banners? Giuss hands twitched. Those are still up there? I said they should be taken down. Yeah, theyre still up there. I couldnt believe what I was seeing at first. Gius shut his eyes and took a deep breath. When you saved the town, many of our people were in a rather hopeless position. What you did seemed to galvanize them. They see you as some sort of heroic figure from myth. The same goes for your redheaded companion. Some go even further. Because of you bringing us the Divine Seed, some believe that you are, in fact, divine. Mistakes have been made. Thats really awkward. Please tell me the council doesnt buy into that stuff. Of course not, my lord. If we did, our goals would become difficult. Nathan breathed a sigh of relief. It was good to hear that some people werent batshit insane. Since I have the time, could I meet with the council? Nathan said. I havent had the chance to, you always say that theyre too busy when I come to visit and check up on things. Gius froze. Oh, theyre far too preoccupied, my lord The door slammed open. Gius! a voice yelled out. Its about time that we have that discussion. You have to stop this foolhardy plan, hes clearly proven himself Familiar eyes met Nathans own. A mushroom woman with leather armor and a sword on her hip. L-lord Nathan! Fuge said. You came so quickly! Fuge! Nathan said. Its good to see you. How have you been? Fuges posture adjusted. She clicked her heels together and gave a quick salute. My lord. I have been well. So formal! Uh, at ease? Fuges posture relaxed. Its a pleasure to see you, my lord. Ive spoken multiple times about wanting to discuss things with you, but Gius is the only one with access to the messaging system and Im always conveniently preoccupied with other things when youre here. Yes, youre busy attending to defenses, right? Gius said. You should get back to that. I can afford ten minutes to speak with my liege lord, Gius. Nathan looked back and forth between the two. I think theres something Im missing. I was actually hoping that you could talk to me about the defenses, Nathan said. Of course, my lord, Fuge said. I would be happy to explain things to you. Gius sat up from his chair. Ill come along as well. Fuge shot Gius a look. The expression faded too quickly for Nathan to make out what it was. Very well. Lets go. 33 - Have you Heard of our Lord and Savior, The Divine Seed? Nathan walked with Fuge and Gius to the edge of town. Before long, they arrived at a massive wooden gate. There was a chunk of raw iron on the grounda bar to shut the door? At the moment, the doors were open, the metal lying to the side, its purpose clear. There are two gates, one at the south and one at the north, Fuge said. Reinforced wood, two doors to serve as an additional buffer. Nathan nodded. Was there any reason why two were chosen? Compromise, my lord. I wouldve preferred one to create a strong chokepoint, but the merchants and agriculturists said it would impede the flow of goods. We ultimately arrived at two. Nathan hummed and looked at the construction. Whats with the slits in the wall? Nathan said. Archers can take up position and fire from there. We also have oil reservoirs on top that can be thrown down at the bottom. Nathan tried to think through his time playing medieval games. There had to be something he could contribute. W-whats the construction of the walls looking like? As strong as we could ask for at our current level of wealth, Gius said. We could only afford so much. Not to mention Burrau? Nathan said. He keeps blocking me, Fuge said. I cant get anything done. Theres no way the walls we have will be able to withstand the kinds of attacks well be looking at. Gius shook his head. Weve had this discussion, Fuge. Were not upgrading the walls. Its too expensive, and besides that, Burrau has a point. Contract law must be observed. We cant just run roughshod over it. Leadership opportunity. Um, what if we Both of them turned and looked at him. Sweat pooled under his armpits. W-what if we compromise? he forced the words out. What would you suggest? Fuge said. I think we can pretty reasonably guess where theyre going to strike based on last time, right? The bulk of their forces were concentrated to the north. So lets upgrade the walls to the north. Giuss left eye twitched. Thats not An excellent idea, my lord, Fuge said. Nathan opened up his Strategy View and upgraded the walls close to the north gate. Builders streamed in to get to work. The Authority bar clicked upward by 5%. Fuge gave him a nod. They spent half an hour discussing the defenses further. Nathan made a few more suggestions and generally implemented them unless both Fuge and Gius were against it. With that, they enhanced the defenses. Nathan felt pretty confident about the whole thing. Thered been one funny conversation that stuck out to Nathan. We have catapults, Fuge said. Catapults? Howd that happen? Leftovers from the last ruler. It wasnt destroyed by the Systemprobably because we dont have any suitable ammunition. Im not sure. So its just dead weight. Pretty much. After that, Nathan asked about the rest of the council. I want to go see the other members of the council now and try to get a better handle on whats happening here, he said. Gius sighed. Like I said, my lord, that really isnt necessary Sticks is out on the eastern farms, overseeing the harvest, Fuge said. The nutter and Vee are over at the Divine Seed, as usual. Mister the Contract is king is gonna be at his office arguing with Moneybags while Bricker sits on his fat ass. Giuss jaw clenched. Youre overstepping your authority, Fuge. Arent you, too? But in your case, its Authority, not authority. Giuss eyes widened and his nose flared. Wait a second. The emphasis shed put on the word Authority. That had to be on purpose, right? Nathan stepped forward. Hed figure that out later. Priorities. Hold on, Im not sure what all this is about, but you can agree that we need a united council right now. In three days, were all gonna be on the chopping block if were divided, so lets cool our jets. Giuss jaw clenched. Fine. But well be having words, Fuge. Fuge didnt respond. Gius sighed. If youre absolutely insistent on meeting them, then its my obligation to assist you my lord. Let us take our leave.
Whats this Sticks guy like? Nathan said. Theyd exited the gate and were walking toward the east where this Sticks was. After that, theyd stop by the magic grove where Nathans seed had been plantedand where the nutter and Vee were as well. Nathan idly noted the improving plant life. Grass was everywhere now. It was pale green and short, but it was there. His Soulbound town was no longer a hellscape. Gius shivered. Sticks is a terrifying man, he said. Theres a reason why he was able to rise to the head of the farmers. Its a position that requires ruthlessness, cunning, and skill. He is a master of deception. Dont let your guard down. Nathan had never heard Gius take such a fearful tone. If hes that bad, do we want him in a leadership position? Gius shook his head. Too risky, Gius said. There would be riots and public outcry from the farmers. Wed starve to death. Besides that, he makes for a good allyjust dont get on his bad side, my lord. Not even I can defend you from his wrath. Nathan steeled himself. This would be a challenging encounter, but he was sure he could handle it. Whats a master of deception compared to a Gliding Eel? Golden wheat fields stretched onward. Dozens of mushroom men were casting spells. Dozens more were piling the grains in carts and heading back to town. No horses, no livestock. Theyre just dragging the carts manually. There was one mushroom man in overalls, a wheat stalk in his mouth. He was on the ground, wrapping a bushel of wheat and chatting with another farmer. Sticks! Gius shouted. I present to you, Lord Nathan! The mushroom man in overalls poked his head up from his bushel. He stood up and walked over. He had an easygoing smile and kind eyes, a well-muscled figure like youd expect from a lifetime of work. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Gius drew back instinctively. S-sticks. Lord Nathan wished to meet you. Stickss left eye twitched. Gius, can you stop doing that? D-doing what? Sticks sighed and turned his attention back to Nathan. So, boss. Sticks stuck out his hand. A pleasure to meet you properly. Nathan reached out and gave Sticks a firm handshake (not really on purpose, it was more instinctive.) Uh, right back at you, Nathan said. So youre the guy in charge of the farmers? Sticks laughed and rubbed the back of his head. Thats what they say. I dont look at it that way, though. Oh? Nathan said. How do you see it? I think that Im just the only one of this sorry bunch willing to step up and do some real work. A laugh came out from a few of the surrounding farmers. One of them threw some grains at Sticks. Shut up, you old fart. You earned it fair and square! Sticks shook his head. But to answer your question more honestly, we dont have a formal system like the merchants or those HOA guys, Sticks said. Gius asked someone to represent the farmers, and someone threw my hat into the ring. Turns out no one was interested in the job, so I ended up being the winner by default. Gius leaned in, his tone low. Hes lying. Its well-known that the fight to become leader of farmers was one of the most bloody weve had, factions forming around multiple contenders. A man even died. First of all, Sticks said. I can hear youIm literally right here. Second of all, the man in question was two hundred and died of a heart attack after someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. I have no idea where yall seem to be getting these bizarre ideas from. Nathan tilted his head. Sticks didnt seem to be lying. If anything, Sticks seemed to be the most normal person hed run across in this entire apocalypse. Can you walk me through what youve been doing? Nathan said. Like, how the farms are going, stuff like that? Farms have been great, thanks to you, Sticks said. The roots of your flower thing the Divine Seed! Gius shouted. yeah, that. Its spread across most of the ground around the town, and its really brought life back to the soil. Without that, it wouldve taken weeks, maybe even months to bring the farms up to capacity. Do you guys have storehouses? Nathan said. In case theres a disaster? Yes, sir! Sticks nodded, a proud smile on his face. Only thing Ive really pushed for as leader, but I think it was a good thing. Weve got enough food in greenhouses to feed the town for a month without harvesting or foraging abilities. Nathan smiled. You know, you seem like a pretty good guy, Sticks. Sticks laughed. Aw, shucks. You seem mighty fine as well, sir Call me Nathan. Sticks blinked. You sure? Isnt it a breach of protocol or whatever that glasses guy says? Nah. Im the lord of the town, right? So what I say goes. Sticks shrugged. Doesnt make much sense to me, but Im only a simple farmer, Mister Nathan. Nathan couldnt help but grin. Their conversation was productive. The whole time, Gius seemed to have a darkening, depressive mood coming over him. After they were done, Nathan turned to Gius. Whats up with you? Imagine two natural enemies. Both of them dangerous apex predators, Gius said. Oh, like a tiger and a lion? Now imagine that youre trapped in a cage made by a lion. The lion is going to eat you, but then a tiger arrives, Gius said. The tiger and the lion, when they meet, dont fight each other or act skittish. Instead, they become best friends. What? Nothing, my lord. Lets visit Veelda and Papim. If Fuge was right, they wont be far from here.
Nathan blinked. Gius, where did these saplings come from? Your seed, my lord, Gius said. Nathan stared at the sight. Before, thered been a small grove with plants coming to life. Now, thick, wild grass coated the ground. Saplings were springing up everywhere like weeds. The trees toward the center were fully grown at this point, their branches covered in leaves. Nathan took a sniff. There was a power in the air. Thrumming silently in the background, an invisible pressure on Nathans skin. It was almost impossible to describe, subtle yet obvious, like the feeling one gets after staying underwater too long. Whats this feeling? Magic, my lord, Gius said. Pure magic. This place is saturated in it, all coming from the Divine Seed. This plant might be more powerful than me in terms of raw mana production. Im tough, but I dont bleed mana just from my presence. What the hell? Nathan was broken out of his thoughts by the sound of yelling. Just let me take a sample! one feminine voice shouted. Absolutely not! another female voice shouted, this one squeaky and screechy. This plant is sacred! Youre not touching it! Nathan and Gius glanced at each other. Their steps increased in speed. As they did so, the trees and grass seemed to bend toward Nathan. In the center of the forest was the flower that had sprung from Nathans seed. It had gotten slightly bigger than last time, and its petals had opened up furtherit was close to fully blooming but not quite there. It had kept its half-black, half-white petals. I promise that I wont take off too much! Nathan caught sight of the person speaking. It was a mushroom woman with short fibrous hair. She was dressed in a white lab coat, thick, circular spectacles framing her eyes. Just a bit, she said. I swear! I dont know how much clearer I can make this. Youre not taking any samples! The woman whod spoken was much shorter and plumper than the other mushroom woman. She had long fiber hair that extended down to the ground and she was dressed in a nun-like outfit. Excuse me, Gius said. Ladies. Both of them froze. G-Gius, the tall one said. What are you doing here? We werent arguing! Gius raised an eyebrow, then shook his head. He pointed at Nathan. This is Nathan Lee. You werent given a proper introduction to him last time you saw him, and he wanted to meet everyone in the council. The tall one nearly slammed her forehead into the ground from how quickly she bowed. Lord Nathan! So nice to meet you properly! The shorter one did a slow, formal bow. My lord. Gius pointed at the tall one. This is Veelda But you can call me Vee! Gius stared at her. she represents the scientists and arcanists on the council. Why they offered her as a representative, Im not sure, but thats the way things work. They gave me the position because Im a genius! she said. Im the smartest person here! And the humblest, evidently, Gius said. Yup! Before Nathan could say anything, she sprung forward. Youre the one who gave us that weird water, right!? Uh yes? Did you find anything interesting about it! She instantly drooped down. Not a thing, she said. Weve learned some surface-level characteristicsit seems to be chock-full of mana, for example, but the rest of its properties remain a mystery. How it created Specimen 5 is beyond us. First of all, its not Specimen 5, the short woman said. Its the Divine Seed. Secondly, Ive already explained how it was created, you just refuse to believe me! You keep on saying that it sprung into existence from the air! this is Papim, head of the Church of the Seed, Gius said. She turned to Nathan and gave another bow. I am your humble servant, my lord. The Church of the Seed? Nathan said. Please dont tell me that people are taking the Divine Seed thing seriously Youre not a believer? Papim said. How disappointing. I was hoping that the messenger would be aware of what he delivered, but I suppose I expected too much. Okay, I think I already dislike her. Can someone explain what the argument was about? Nathan said. Im not asking for much! Vee said. I just want to take a few samples! Its clear that the flower is the source of the poweror at the very least, that its some kind of control center. I want to find out what strange biological reactions must be happening to enable such prodigious growth! Youd chop off the holy petals before theyre even in bloom!? You heretic! Miss me with that shit, Im not even religious! Blasphemer! Fundamentalist! PAGAN! CRAZY BITCH! Okay, thats enough! Nathan stepped in between the two, holding them apart. Vee scoffed and took a step back. Papim tilted her nose up and opened her mouth to speak when she froze and looked down at Nathans feet. What is that? she whispered. Nathan, curious, followed her gaze. The grass had grown and wrapped around his boot at some point. The flowers stalk bent and the petals reached up toward Nathan. Nathan kneeled and brushed his hand against the petals. The petals reached out and wrapped around his finger, the texture soft with a slight sandpaper edge. The messenger is blessed, Papim said. Its the blood, Vee said. Whatevers in there recognizes our lord as being some kind of relative. How conscious is this thing? Will it just get more and more powerful? Nathan said. Vee shrugged. Probably. But it hasnt hurt anyone so far, and the roots are just helping revive the town, so Nathan inspected the petals more closely. They were just on the verge of blossoming. At the rate it had been going, it would finish in two weeks or so. Are there any risks at all? Nathan said. Is there a chance this thing goes armageddon on us? Vee rubbed her chin. I dont think itll be a danger Idiot, Papim said. Vee scowled. Whats that for!? Papim turned from Vee and looked at Nathan. Think about what this entire place is, my lord. It is Soulbound. Have you ever thought about what that means? Papim asked. Nathan shook his head. Not really. Vee rolled her eyes. Here we go again with the mysticism." The Soulbound Town is linked to the nine circles through your soul, Papim said. This isnt normally a problem in the slightest. Spells that can affect or touch the soul are extremely rare, and the link has several defenses designed to prevent any kind of damage or backflow. I feel a but coming up. Papim stared at the flower. Yes. If the circumstances were rightif, perhaps, the link was unstable on the other endsomething from this end would be able to interfere. What exactly would this look like? I dont know. She doesnt know because its all bullshit, Vee said. Maybe theres a soul, but even if thats the case, shes not the one to ask about it. Shes just repeating stuff from thousands of years ago. Nathan tilted his head at Papim. Why would you tell me this if youre trying to protect the seed? he asked. What if I had gone ballistic and just torched this place to the ground? You wouldnt have been able to, she said. Like, physically been unable to? Or did she mean she would stop me? Besides that, she continued. I feel you have an obligation to know since you are the one who brought the Seed here in the first place. Her tone was simple, brooking no argument. Nathan nodded. Well leave it alone, for now, Nathan said. I would ask, however, that you continue to monitor it, Papim. And please let me know if its about to do something to my soul? Papim bowed. Of course, my lord. Vee sniffed. Suck-up, she muttered. She raised her voice. And what about my sample? Nathan shook his head. At a later date. I dont want anyone touching it till we have a better idea of what it is. She drooped. Fine. Nathan looked back toward the town. The last three to meet. Moneybags, Bricks, and Burrau. 34 - Fungi Contract Law 2: Electric Boogaloo Nathan double-checked the Strategy View. 68:09:37 He noted that his Authority had shot straight back up to 100%. Have you guys managed to figure out what Authority does? Nathan said. Unfortunately not, my lord, Gius said. As Ive explained, much research has already been conducted on the topic, but its effect has been non-existent. Im not sure if I believe you, Gius. but hed been a good subordinate so far. Nathan barely spent time in town, yet the whole place had sprung up under Giuss stewardship. Ill have to keep a close eye on him. Before long, they reached the town. Gius led them through the districts up to a slightly more elevated part of the city with nicer houses. There was a huge villa in the centera building with marble white walls and flowerbeds in the front. It reminded Nathan of pictures of Renaissance Italy. Here we are. Gius sighed. A warning: all the people inside have quirks. Be careful. And please, for the love of the Seed, dont listen to a thing Casc says. Before Nathan could say anything, Gius pulled the door open. Inside, three men were having a stare-down. One was fat and chubby, sweat dripping down his forehead in great big droplets. The second was someone dressed in the builders clotheshardhat, overalls, the whole works. In addition to that, he had a belt with a hammer, a screwdriver, and a few other assorted tools. The third one was someone Nathan knew well. Burrau. His eyes flickered toward Nathan. My lord. Whats going on here? Gius said. Look, I just want to make a few modifications to my home, the fat one said. Is that so much to ask? The one with the tools elbowed him and pointed at Nathan. The fat one turned his head, and, upon spotting Nathan, threw himself to the ground. My lord! Sir, the man with the tools said. What are you doing here? I wanted to meet all of you, Nathan said. Could I get some introductions? Gius opened his mouth to speak when the fat one sprang up. I am Casc, my lord! Your very humble servant. Nathan took an instinctive step back. Okay, Casc. What do you do? Take up space, mostly, Burrau said. This, coming from the government bureaucrat!? Casc said. Gius coughed, catching Nathans attention. Casc is one of the wealthiest landowners in the town. As such, he was given a seat at the council. Casc spread his arms out, blubber jiggling. I own most of the houses youve seen thus far, my lord. Not only that, but the shops and the businesses, too! This guys bragging about having a monopoly. The names Bricks, my lord. The man with the tools stepped forward and held out his hand. Its a pleasure. Nathan hesitantly reached out and then shook his hand. Thank god, theres finally another normal person. You know, Nathan said. You remind me of another guy Ive met Sticks, right? Hes my brother. Nathan squinted his eyes. They did look kind of similar, actually. Same sort of solid build and friendly features Their parents must have had a sick sense of humor. And both of you are on the council? Nathan asked. Bricks shrugged. Yeah. Not sure how that happened, but it did. Gius leaned in. Its well known that Sticks manipulated the Builders Union into electing Bricks. This way they have a bigger voice on the council My brother didnt do that. Im only here because no one else wanted the job. Except you? Nathan said. No, I got conscripted. One of my buddies signed me up and I was forced on by default. Okay, twice in a row? Maybe the conspiracy theories might have some merit. Burrau frowned. We only have three days to prepare, and you want to waste time doing a meet-and-greet? I dont think he likes me. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I just want half an hour of your time, Nathan said. And then youll be free to discuss repainting the walls. Burrau tilted his head up. You already know who I am, he said. I represent the homeowners and HOA organizations scattered across the town. Its my job to ensure that the legal processes are followed and not run over by a speeding wagon. The last few words were said deliberately, his eyes pointed at Nathan like daggers. I REALLY dont think he likes me. What were you all discussing? Nathan asked. Its a small change, Casc said. I just wanted to make some modifications to my home, and I asked Burrau to come here to discuss it. First, it wasnt a minor modification, Burrau said. He wants to build a ten-story mansion in the shape of his face. This violates at least three HOA regulations. Why his face? Nathan muttered. Second, Burrau said. It wasnt a mere discussion. He asked me here so that he could bribe me. Nathan tweaked an eyebrow. Did you accept? Of course not! Burraus hair seemed to stand on end. I would never do such a thing! Casc extended his arms, a smile on his face. Come on, Burrau. It wasnt a bribe. I was simply asking you to expedite the process a little. Theres nothing illegal about that. You offered me a new house. A gift! Totally unrelated. And anyway, I was merely floating it as a possibility. Bricks laughed. I dont think its happening, Moneybags. Best give up on it. Whats your stake in this? Nathan looked at Bricks. Why are you here? I wouldve had to sign off on whatever contract they agreed to since it wouldve been my boys doing the work, Bricks said. Is Burrau right? Nathan asked. Was Casc trying to bribe him? Everyones eyes turned toward Bricks. Burrau had his eyes narrowed while Casc was looking at him with a thin smile. I wouldnt say bribe, Bricks finally said. More, uh, transactional gifting. Thats literally the definition of a bribe, Nathan said. Actually, Burrau said. Under Article X, section 37, the formal definition of bribery is We dont need to hear it! Gius shouted. Please! Burrau adjusted his glasses. What a shame. Much about life can be illuminated from the study of contract law. You have a problem, Burrau, Gius said. My only problem is the worlds need for more contract law. Gius looked back at Nathan. So? Whats your decision, my lord? What do you mean? I assume youd like to offer your thoughts on the matter, Gius said. Nathan bit his lips. Burrau was looking at the ground with a resigned expression. Casc had a smug, self-satisfied smile. Bricks was merely curious. Gius was neutralthough there was a flash of something in his eyes. I guess I side with Burrau on this one, Nathan said. Burraus head shot up. What? Cascs smile cracked. Bricks raised a single eyebrow. M-my lord, surely we can talk about this, Casc said. Arent you being a bit hasty? Besides, I thought you were against Contractism. Whats that? Gius leaned in. A political faction, my lord. They believe that the Contract is the center of civilization and is to be preserved above all else. Why would I be against Contractism? Because of how you ignored Mister Contract himself, Bricks said. Everyone just took it for granted after that. Well, I dont know much about this Contractism, Nathan said. But in this case, Burrau seems to be in the right. The reason why I ignored the rules last time was due to the pressing need for walls, not because Im against Burrau politically. Burrau seemed to be looking at Nathan with something approaching respect. Casc glared for a split second before the look went away. Very well, Ill wait my turn, Casc said. Nathan turned to Burrau. I was hoping that you could take the time to explain to me some of the essential things I need to know about the legal system here. The room froze. W-what have you done!? Gius shouted. You fool, youve doomed us all! Bricks jumped through the window. Glass shattered and he disappeared. No, I wont cower, damn it! Casc said. This is my house Burrau seemed to teleport directly in front of Nathan. You wish to learn the intricacies of Contract Law? Burrau said. Y-yes? Burraus eyes gleamed with an ethereal light. Books materialized from the inside of his jacket, each one thicker and larger than the last. Where is he getting those from!? I would be Burrau breathed deeply. pleased to teach you, my lord. It was in that moment that Nathan knew hed screwed up.
Five hours. Five entire hours went by before Burrau had finished his explanationand that was just the streamlined version. Nathan had learned more about fungi contract law than any one man was ever meant to know. Page after page of minutiae to account for edge cases. Bullshit statements and rulings, all seemingly designed to make Nathans head spin. Eventually, they managed to get him to stop by reminding him that there would be an invasion in about sixty hours or so. Burrau hesitantly stopped, but offered to continue teaching Nathan at some point in the future. They were walking back to the Meeting Hall when Nathan broke the silence. You guys have rules on curtain color, Nathan said. Freaking curtain color. Who does that? Mushroom people, my lord. Every single agreement has to be signed in triplicate. Why would you do this to yourselves? I question this on the daily, my lord. You punish people by forcing them to write out the breached contract by hand, too. Its actually quite an effective punishment because many of these contracts extend for upwards of five hundred pages. Where do you even get the paper from!? Giuss eyes twinkled. You know, Burrau is considered a moderate amongst Contractists. HES CONSIDERED MODERATE!? The more extreme ones will demand a contract even for such things as deciding who should go to pick up groceries. It takes a while for them to get things done. Thats insane. Gius folded his hands behind his back Perhaps. But it is our tradition, my lord. All of us consider contracts to be of the utmost importance, even the apolitical and anti-Contractists.If you wish to effectively rule us, you must first understand us. I dont think Ill ever understand that. Gius didnt respond. They came to the Meeting Hall. I must finish my work, my lord, and I think you need to meet with your party before they start panicking. Nathan nodded. Ill be back with Mara. Shell set up some more mines. With the extra time, I bet shell be able to make some weapons for Fuge to utilize. Very well, my lord. Best of luck. Nathan nodded back. Best of luck to you as well, Gius. Giuss fingers twitched. He turned around and walked into the meeting hall.
When Nathan came back, there was obviously a great deal of shock and confusion from his allies. Bjorn was clearly irritated that Nathan had run off without a word. Emi had been concerned. Chad laughed it off, while Mara was irritated that she didnt get to come along. Nathan explained everything hed done and the situation. Yeah, chief, theres a little issue with your plan, Chad said. What is it? Nathan said. Were running out of time, remember? Were only a few days from the Pandora, and so is that Harrowed Hand group. Shit. Chad was right. But what about my town? Nathan said. We cant just leave them alone. Im not saying we should ignore them. Im saying we should prioritize. Well come in for the final fight, but we shouldnt spend three days preparing. But Trust your people, Bjorn said, speaking up for the first time. Theyre competent. Let them take care of it. Nathan sighed. They have a point Fine. I guess we should get going to make up the lost time, right? They set off after Nathan went back to his town to explain the situation. In the back of his mind, Nathan noted that he hadnt slept in a while. Constitution is a pretty handy stat. Hours passed. They continued walking. The whole time, Nathans thoughts were on his town. He wished he was there so he could see how the preparations were going. Hed actually ended up asking Mara to make some bombs for an emergency. Nothing crazy, Nathan said. Maybe some mines. Shed seemed disappointed but accepted the deal. Time ticked away. A day passed. Nothing important happened. One more day passed. Then Message from Gius: Its time. Please come. 35 - 10 Waves Wave 1/10 The swarm of ants rushing at the walls wasnt the worst part. Nathan had dealt with worse. It was the thunderstorm that was making things tricky. Nathan was unable to see a single thing. More than once hed barely dodged an arrow from behind, shot by accident thanks to the awful visibility. His fishing rod swung around in a circle and smashed apart ten giant ants in one fell swoop. A mandible clenched around his calf. It dug deep into his flesh. Nathan growled and kicked the ant with his free leg, sending it flying like a soccer ball. An explosion went off to his side. He was sent flying and hit the mud hard. That stung. He spat out some soil that had gotten in his mouth. Maras mines are effective as always, he muttered. In the distance, a silver gleam flashed in the rain. Chad. His blade disappeared from view and a second later, splurts of bug blood gushed all over the ground. Nathan turned back to his opponents. After several more minutes, the wave was over. He opened up Strategy View. 300 seconds till the next wave (2/10) Next Wave Event: Hurricane Nathan ran back to the wall, his shoes kicking up mud with each step. Fuge was already waiting for him at the gate, covered in blood and dirt. You saw the wave event? Fuge said. Hurricane. Thats good. Weve prepared for that. Everyones undergroundeven if the buildings fall apart, we can rebuild. What arent we prepared for? A severe earthquake, Fuge said. Weve reinforced the underground shelters as much as possible, but realistically, wed have to take people outwe cant risk them getting stuck underground. Nathan bit his bottom lip. Lets hope that doesnt happen, then. The second wave was a nightmare. The rain was so thick that Nathan couldnt see more than a foot in front of him. Every fight ended up on the ground because of the wet, slippery soil. The only good thing was that the ants werent much better off. Half of them were attacking each other because they couldnt even tell friend from foe. The whole time, the wind bit at Nathan, sending dirt and stone through the air like missiles. By the end, Nathan was covered in bug guts and cuts. He returned to the wall and checked the next wave event. 300 seconds till next wave (3/10) The walls were unmanned, save for Fuge. She gave him a quick nod. Everyones gone, Nathan said. They cant aim their bows in this weather, and youre doing a good enough job anyway, Fuge said. Nathan grunted. I didnt see a new wave event. Therell be more, Fuge said. This is just a temporary relief. Great. The third wave started. More ants. Nathan jumped back into the fray. Blood. Exhaustion. Water in his eyes. It was all a blur. The fourth wave was the same. He could barely think anymore, his body more run by instinct than thought at this point. Nathan licked his lips. The fifth wave boss fight would be coming up soon. The portals opened in the distance. But they didnt attack? Nathan stared into the distance. They were bunching up at the back. Why? He turned on Strategy View. The ground was shaking. A red alert button had popped up. He clicked it. Alert! Enemies are drilling underground! Nathan jumped off the walls and ran as quickly as he could, fighting through the wind and the rain to get closer to the ants. Once he got close enough, he whipped his fishing rod out. The hook flew through the air and smashed through the a wall of ants. There was a hole in the ground. A big hole. It was the size of two cars placed end to end on both sides. The interior was deep and black, making its contents unknowable. Nathan clicked his tongue, then jumped in. His eyes adjusted on the spot. He heard a wet, slimy sound from up ahead. Soil shifted around him. He ran forward. It turned around. It was a massive, hulking thing. A worm slithering through the ground, devouring the dirt en-masse. Its long body pulsated as it moved, slime coating the tunnel like mucus. Nathan inspected the creature. Giant Worm - Lv. 36 This subterranean nightmare is less worm and more fanged freight train from hell. The Giant Worm specializes in ambushes, tunneling silently beneath the ground until it erupts like a horrifying, toothy geyser. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Its sheer size and speed make running pointless and hiding laughable. Pro tip: If you hear a rumble, its not a thunderstormits your funeral march. Nathan threw his hook forward. The tip dug into its flesh. With a single tug, he ground the massive creature to a halt and pulled it back a bit. It wriggled around and smashed into the soil wall. Chunks of dirt fell from the ceiling and onto the ground. Nathan gritted his teeth and pulled back his rod. The worms head scraped along the sides of the tunnel, dozens of cuts appearing across its skin. It slithered toward Nathan, jaw salivating. Its mouth opened, revealing hundreds of teeth like daggers in an endless, gaping maw. Nathan pulled out his harpoon. [Obtain: Throw Harpoon] (Bronze) (99/100) He threw it as hard as he could, every ounce of his now monstrous strength put in a single movement. Water appeared behind it and propelled it forward. The harpoon sank into the skin and ripped a long line across the worms skin. It continued on till it reached the end of the tunnel. The worm unfolded like a piece of paper that had been rolled up into a cylinder. Its skin flopped against the dirt. [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] Nathan ran back across the corpse and collected his harpoon. Inside, he felt his body hum with power. Fifth Wave Bonus: Extra Time! 600 seconds till next wave.
The rain had finally cleared away. Nathan could now see what the rain had hidden. Corpses. Hundreds of corpses. Thered been other bug monsters. BeetlesNathan hadnt even noticed. In the distance, he spotted a few of his companions. Bjorn and Chad had joined him on the field. Both of them looked even worse than him, covered in cuts and barely walking. Nathan ignored them and walked back to the wall. He checked his new skill. [Throw Harpoon] (Bronze) You thought throwing a harpoon was impressive? Now you can hurl it with enough force to make Poseidon jealous. Increases range and precision while also applying Bleed on a critical hit. +25% increase to harpoon damage. +10% increase to range. Solid. Itll do. Nathan was more exhausted than hed been in a long time. It was almost as bad as when hed been poisoned by the black water. He was on the verge of keeling over. But he had to soldier on. He walked through the gate. The mushroom man guard took a step back from Nathan. He continued on, uncaring. On top of the wall, he spotted Emi staring at the scene of destruction, her movements still. Even Mara looked tired, unable to muster more than a quick wave toward Nathan. Fuge looked more like a corpse than a human. She was caked in ant blood. She stared at the ground, a blank expression in her eyes. Fuge, Nathan said. Fuge didnt respond. Fuge! Nathan snapped his fingers. She started and looked back up at him. She shook her head. Sorry, she muttered. Just exhausted. I think everyone is, Nathan said. We cant maintain this, Fuge said. Were about to fall apart. We need time. Thats not something I can get, Nathan said. Fuge stared at him. Yes, it is. Nathan stared at her. Let them come up to the walls and bang against the stone for a while. Well take a break. What if they get through the walls.? They wont. Theyve been reinforced. Fuge said. Nathan, your hand is shaking. Im a veteran and even Im exhausted. We cant maintain this. We need a break. Nathan glanced back at the gate. The rest of his companions had come back inside the walls. Seeing their disheveled, exhausted appearances, Nathan knew Fuge was right. Well take a break. Your soldiers will take care of any climbing ones. Theyre trained for this, Fuge said. Several of them have been through invasions like this before. Nathan wandered back to the group and told them the plan. Hed half-expected someone to argue against him, but all of them were too worn out to argue. Im enjoying the carnage as much as anyone else, Mara said. But even I cant keep it up forever. Plus, my guns kept getting jammed from the weather. The sixth wave was simple. The mushroom people managed to use the gate as a choke point and slaughter the ants that had come to attack again. The seventh wave was harder. A dragonfly attacker managed to hit them on the side. Two mushroom people died. The first casualties. The wave was defeated. Three more remained. 300 seconds till next wave (8/10) Next Wave Event: Blizzard I really hope my Constitution is high enough to handle this shit.
The temperature dropped like a rock. The frosty wind kicked up on the ground. Then snowflakes, small and delicate, fell from the sky like a tidal wave. Nathan shivered. The cold penetrated past his nearly-destroyed suit and right into his bones. If his Constitution wasnt so high, he wouldve been unable to move. Whoever designed these wave events is a sadist! In the distance, he saw the portals open. Nathan cracked his neck and pulled out his fishing rod. Like the hurricane, the main problem was lack of visibility. Nathan could barely see where he was. But there was one advantage. Hed noticed it as soon as hed stepped onto the battlefield. Snow counts as water. He felt every single enemy, even through the roaring gale. He could place their exact positions, all 236 of them. Thank you, Hunters Instinct. It was a massacre. He ran from enemy to enemy, killing them systematically. He felt like a master assassin with how unaware they were. Soon enough, it was over. 300 seconds till next wave (9/10) Next Wave Event: Eclipse Another visibility one. I can work with this. The blizzard didnt stop, as Nathan had expected. A shadow grew from the center of his town. He looked up toward the sun catching glimpses of its blackening surface. The temperature dropped even further. It was a struggle to breathe. The shadow grew and grew, the remaining light dimming until nothing was left. Pitch black. Nathan ignored his eyes and switched to his Hunters Sense. He felt presences at the edge of his ability. They were circling around him, toward his backabout a dozen of them. Phantom - Lv. 33 This malevolent ghost prowls the night, a master of terror and silent strikes. The Phantom doesnt waste time with creaky doors or spooky wailsit prefers to materialize behind you and kill you on the spot. Nathan swung his fishing rod around in a circle, hitting about a dozen in one go But the attack failed to stop them. He felt no resistance, too. It was like hed attacked a ghost. Cold spectral hands passed by his chest and he felt his stomach lurch with pain and nausea. He threw himself back, away from the presences. More were coming. If he didnt do something soon, hed be surrounded. He threw his fishing rod back into his inventory and pulled out his harpoon. The core of his chest hummed with power. In a familiar motion, he pulled back his arm One of the presences rushed toward him. His hand flinched and the throw went to the side, piercing through one of the presences. Itd worked. The creature was dead. But his harpoon was on the other side of a horde of the creatures. I need another option. But what else did he have? He sucked in a breath. Riptide Grasp. Nathan clenched his fist. A typhoon of water materialized into existence around him. With a slight mental tug, the water exploded in every direction, blades slicing through the presences like butter. Nathan breathed deeply in and out. They were dead. Once hed figured out their weakness, the fight went by smoothly. Every now and then, hed spot a different presencea mushroom person. An elf. A human. Each of them seemed to have figured out some method for defeating the phantoms. In Emis case, her fireballs seemed to hit them where it hurt. Chads glowing energy attacks did damage as well. An orc and a woman were running back to the gate, chased by a horde of spectrals. Gunshots rang out. Nathan ran over to them and cast Riptide Grasp. Water burst forward and sliced them to ribbons. The orc and the woman continued on. Nathan paid them no mind and went back to killing Phantoms. Before long, they were finally finished. 10 seconds till next event (10/10) Next Wave Event: Earthquake Ten seconds!? The blizzard died down and the light came back. There was a buzz. Nathan turned his head toward the portal. Ants swarmed out, covering the ground like a massive mobile carpet. Mixed in with the ants were a few werewolves dressed in armor. It was more enemies than Nathan had ever seen in his entire life. His heart stopped. A Giant Worm emerged. Then another. Then another. Three. Four. Five. Nathan gripped his fishing rod. I hate my life sometimes. 36 - No, this isnt Twilight, Shut Up Nathan dashed back toward the gate and leaped over the wall with a single bound. He double-checked his stats. Stats: Strength: 20 (+92) = 112 Dexterity: 38 (+13) = 51 Constitution: 40 (+40) = 80 Magic: 3 (+15) = 18 Luck: 22 (+66) = 88 Soul: 20 (+30) = 50 Available Stats: 42 Nathans hand shook as he hurriedly distributed his available points. Stats: Strength: 30 (+92) = 122 Dexterity: 50 (+13) = 63 Constitution: 50 (+40) = 90 Magic: 3 (+15) = 18 Luck: 22 (+66) = 88 Soul: 30 (+30) = 60 Available Stats: 0 His fingers slipped a few times, but for the most part, hed selected what he wanted. Magic applied specifically to people who used mana to fuel their skills. His skills were fueled by life energy, Emi had said hed know the difference on instinct He was rambling in his mind. He exited the menu. Mara! he yelled. Mara, where are you!? The ground shook. Slowly, at first, then faster and faster. The buildings waved back and forth like pendulums. Nathans heart dropped as a house fell to the ground. Nathan! Nathan turned around. Mara was in the streets. She had one of her guns half-disassembledno cleaning supplies, she mustve been clearing a jammed bullet. Bjorn was beside her, his hammer on his shoulder. She clicked the top of the gun back into place as she jogged toward him. What the hells happening!? He grabbed her shoulders. Please, please tell me that you have more bombs, he said. Uh, a few? Enough to clear out ten city blocks in a row? Maras jaw opened and shut several times. No? she said. Nathan backed away. The ground continued to shake and the walls behind him creaked. You told me you didnt want anything too big, she said. Nathans head snapped back to her. Mara, I was dead wrong. If you have something that can level this place, Ill use it. Please. She blinked. A slow grin formed on her face. Are you sure? Yes! Absolutely! Mara kicked her feet and looked at the ground. Maybe I mightve been collecting some explosive reagents while we were here. What does that mean? Nathan said. A wild look entered her eyes. It means that if you can buy me some time, I can glass this entire town Not that much! Nathan said. Like, just the outside. In the distance, the thousands of monsters were getting closer by the second. Okay, well, I guess I can do that. Like I said, you just need to buy me some time to mix it. Nathan glanced over at the nearby buildings. Several of them had already collapsed. There wasnt much left to lose by letting Mara go nuts. How much time? Nathan said. Five minutes. Five minutes wouldnt be that long under most circumstances but how am I supposed to divert a horde of monsters, including a bunch of underground giant worms!? Nathan dashed up to the top of the wall. There wasnt much time left. With each second that passed, they got closer to the wallsthe walls that were looking more and more rickety with each second that passed. I need bait, I need something they want Nathans hair rose on end. He reached into his inventory. [Scythian Worm] A bait so powerful that it was able to get a conscious, perfectly rational mafia fish to bite into a piece of metal. But would it work on monsters, not just fish? The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Nathan nearly gagged from the scent. Heres hoping! He put the Scythian Worm on his hook and jumped onto the ground. A second later, he heard something else fall next to him. Bjorn grunted. You need a hand? he asked. He doesnt have enough Dexterity for what Im planning. Nathan shook his head. Stick here by the gate. Make sure nothing gets into the town. The ground shook again. Nathan flailed his hands and caught himself from falling. Bjorn gave a quick nod. I dont know what your plan is, but good luck. Nathan nodded back and ran out onto the field. His shirt clung to his back from the sweat. Underneath him, he could feel the ripples of the giant worms approaching him. Are the worms cannibals? I sure hope so His instincts screamed at him. A loud, deep thrum came from just underneath. He sped up and jumped forward and a moment later, a massive worm exploded out of the ground behind him, soil sent flying into the air. He jumped back to his feet and started running again. Behind him, he could hear a horde of feet chasing after him. He looked around just in time to see every single ant on his tail, their insectoid feed stomping against the ground like racehorses. Nathan sped away. Underneath, vibrations ran up and through his feet. He gritted his teeth and tilted to the side. The worm burst out of the ground, sailed through then air, and then fell back into the soil with a loud crash. Three minutes. His hook, equipped with Scythian Bait, swung in the breeze like a metronome. Up ahead he spotted Chad and Emi. She shot a fireball at a stray ant, then caught sight of him. When she saw the horde chasing him, her jaw dropped. Chad, meanwhile, dropped his katana and exchanged it for his phone. Holy shit! Chad yelled. Nathan, what are you doing!? Nathan shouted back, Some help would be appreciated! Something inside him screeched. He instinctively dodged to the right, barely avoiding a bite from one of the armored werewolves. Bro, this is prime content! Hold upIm putting a speedrun timer on this! Chad said. Nathan resisted the urge to scream profanities at Chad and instead focused on keeping his footing. Emi tugged Chads sleeve. Chad. What? Chad said. Let me get this footage. Chad, theyre getting closer. Just one second A rumbling underneath their feet. Chad looked down, and sucked in a breath. Oh, thats not good, he said. Emi broke into a sprint. RUN! Chad stuffed his phone in his pocket, picked up his katana, and ran forward. A moment later, there was a loud boom and the worm exploded out of the ground. Nathan, Chad, and Emi were now running together. Whos plan was this!? Emi said. My plan! Nathan said. My dumb, stupid plan! Nathan, I respect you deeply An ant lunged for Emis neck. She jumped into the air, a blast of wind aiding her. but this plan is awful! Tell me about it! Nathan leaned forward, dodging an attack from another ant. Chad panted quickly, phone in one hand and katana in the other. This is the best footage ever! he said. Dude, were gonna go viral! PRIORITIES! Emi turned around and blasted three fireballs. They flew out and carved lines of destruction through the ants. Off to the left, the horde had somehow looped around and were about to close them offthere was only one direction to go. Back to the gates. They ran toward the town. Bjorn stared at the group in the distance. Even from a distance, Nathan could see Bjorns eyes squinted in confusion. Nathan, the gates still shut! Emi shouted. I know! Nathan, were about to get pincered off! I know! NATHAN, WERE GOING TO DIE! I KNOW! Two minutes. Ahead, the walls trembled violently. Nathans stomach twisted as the gates, already splintered from the tremors, gave a final groan and collapsed entirely. Debris rained down like a thunderstorm of splinters and stone. Bjorn, still stationed at the base, lifted his hammer just in time to bat away a chunk of falling timber. Well, I guess that solves the gate problem! Chad said. MARA! Nathan shouted at the top of his lungs. PLEASE TELL ME YOURE ALMOST DONE! There was no response for several seconds. Something was rolling down the main street to the gate. A catapult? No, multiple catapults. At least ten. And leading the way was Fuge. Behind her, Mara skipped along, a grin on her face. Dozens of mushroom people pushed the catapults and lined them up. Inside each of the catapults was a barrel. The siege weapons came to a stop. Get ready, Nathan! Mara cupped her mouth. Youre about to see something beautiful! Oh god. The catapults were already retracted. Fire! Fuge shouted. Each of the catapults went off. HIT THE DIRT! Nathan shouted. He dived to the groun . A loud whistle echoed as the barrels soared through the air. A crash. A shockwave passed throughNathans body and noise slammed into his ears. Dust flew across the ground and he was lifted up and thrown forward like a tumbleweed. Another boom. Then another. He couldnt see. He couldnt think. Nothing but noise filled his mind. Finally, it stopped. He opened his eyes and pushed himself up. He was covered in dozens of cuts. His body was sore and his vision swam like hed just been hit with ten batches of those drugs from his tutorial. He turned his head back around. They were all gone. The ground had been devestated, with multiple sinkholes having been created. Charred ant bodies covered the dirt. Worm guts covered a section of the battlefield. Holy shit, Nathan said. Were alive. Chad scurried for his phone and clicked at it. I think I saved the footage! Emi rose from the ground like a zombie. Mara is insane and none of you can tell me otherwise. Nathan saw his fishing rod. He walked over and picked it up. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of the Scythian Worm. It didnt fall off the hook, thats pretty amazing. Nathan took the worm off his hook and stuffed it in his inventory. A groan echoed from the distance.
Nathan approached the foreign noise slowly. He glanced back at Emi and Chadonly to see they were arguing over something. Good. He turned back around. When he saw what was making the nosie, Nathans eyes widened. One of the corpses wasnt a corpse. It was a werewolf monster, giant and muscular like bodybuilder. It was on the ground, eyes fluttering and chest heaving. Nathan breathed out a sigh. He was half-worried that some of the worms had survived. But a werewolf? No problem. Nathan raised his fishing rod to finish the job. The werewolf monsters eyes snapped open. It held out its hands. Wait, wait, wait! Nathan stopped. Did the werewolf just? Nathans fishing rod clattered to the ground. You can talk!? Yes, I can talk, please dont kill me! Nathan furrowed his eyebrows together and took a slow step backward. I didnt know that you guys could talk, he said. The werewolf monsterno, not a monsterpushed himself off the ground. He cast a weary gaze over Nathan. You didnt know? the werewolf said. I thought you were just mindless animals, like the ants. The werewolf shook his head. No, those creatures are system creations. Im like you. Someone who was taken from their homeworld and dropped off here. But how did you end up here? The werewolf stared up at the sky. We made it to the Sixth Circle, but there was an impossible task. A foe that was beyond us. Beyond anything Ive ever seen. It always comes back to the Sixth Circle And then the System offered you a deal. The werewolfs ears perked up Yes, thats what happened. How did you know? Talking fish. What? Nothing, keep going. The werewolf squinted his eyes at Nathan like a particularly confused deer before he shrugged. The system offered us a deal. We serve as hireable units for the Raid Subsystem and it would allow us to live. After a long period of deliberation, our leaders agreed to the deal. So youve been a mercenary ever since. Nathan frowned. Do you have, like, your own town where you wait between battles? Were frozen in a void until were hired, the werewolf said. Its just one battle to the next, over and over for eternity until Im finally killed. His tone had turned dark. His hands clenched. That sounds horrible. Do you know who hired you? Nathan said. No. I never saw their face. One second I was frozen in the vast expanse of space. The next, I was here with attack orders from the Raid Leader. Nathan stared at the werewolf man. What am I supposed to do with this guy? Hes technically on the opposing team. But hes not even really an enemy, is he? He was just forced into this. Theres no reason to kill him. We should at least imprison him. Make sure he cant do any damage. If you want to kill me, the werewolf said. I understand. Its enough that I got to enjoy this conversation. Nathan paused. Whats your name? Lupim. Nathans lips thinned. Well, Lupim, Come with me, he said. Lets see if we can get you out of this mess youre in. 37 - The Council will Decide your Fate Nathan walked the werewolf to the meeting hall, where Gius had already been waiting. Nathan explained the situation to Gius, his words short and hurried. Gius nodded and asked a mushroom soldier to find the rest of the council for a meeting. The mushroom council flickered in, one at a time. Bricks and Sticks came in as a pair and shot Nathan a nod. Burrau showed up, a briefcase in hand. His eyes flickered toward Nathan before he sat down, pulling out a sheet of paper and a pencil. Vees mushroom cap head had changed colors from purple to greenshe quickly grinned at Nathan. Papim strolled into her seat, a long robe trailing behind her. She paid attention to no one. Casc arrived, his blubber jiggling as he walked through the front door. The last one to arrive was Fuge. She was covered in dirt, her armor stained with blood. She walked in until she saw the werewolf. Her body stiffened, and she reached for her sword. Wait! Nathan said. She stopped. My lord, it appears theres an enemy in the Meeting Hall. Hes not an enemy. Put away your weapon, Fuge. Fuges eyes flickered between Nathan and Lupim before she untensed. Fine, she said. Your will shall be done, my lord. She strode to her seat and sat down. Nathan let out a quiet sigh. That couldve ended badly. With that done, Gius walked the group through what Nathan had told them. Most of them nodded and whispered to each other. Fuge looked surprised. Of course, I knew about the ability to hire monsters, Fuge said. But I had no idea that there were former Delvers hidden in the raid menu. Did you just not use that feature? Nathan said. Ive never believed in numerical superiority as a default tactic, my lord. I believe in training high-quality troops here, at home. As such, Ive never explored the capabilities of the hiring system. Were getting off-topic! a voice yelled. Nathans eyes turned toward the voice. Casc. He stood to his feet and pointed at Lupim, whod been standing in the center quietly. Why havent we killed him!? Casc shouted. This man is an invader of our hometown! Dont you think youre being too harsh? Bricks said. Hes obviously not here willingly. We dont know that. Were just taking it for granted that hes telling the truth. Sticks leaned in and raised an eyebrow. Mister Cascs, are you saying we should kill the fella? That seems mighty excessive. Im saying that we should do whatever it takes to protect our home, Casc said. I cant believe Im saying this, but I agree with Casc. Vee stood up and placed her hands on the table. We dont know this guy. Should we be taking the risk of keeping him alive? Papim snorted and rolled her eyes. Bloodthirsty harlot. That aside, shes right. This town is a haven, Both for the people and for Her eyes flickered toward Nathan. certain secrets. The consequences could be devastating if other towns learned of what were hiding here. Vee shot Papim a glare but didnt say anything. Nathan frowned. They made compelling points. But surely there was room for some kind of merciful option. Burrau coughed into his hand, pausing the writing of his pencil. Our founding laws are extremely clear on the execution of war prisoners. He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. Namely, that we dont do such barbaric things. Prisoners are to be treated humanely, to the best of our ability. Nathans eyes widened. Burrau came through and defended Lupim. Those were made for a different time! Casc said. Before this whole apocalypse nonsense! Nonetheless, the law has spoken. Bricks and Sticks glanced at each other, then nodded and faced back toward the rest of the council. Im not an intelligent man, Bricks said. But Ive got to state what my conscience is telling me. And my conscience is saying that itd be wrong to kill a man for the crime of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sticks nodded. My brother is right. Besides, imagine if we were in his shoes. Id prefer that my enemy treat me with some basic dignity. Vee slammed her hands against the table. No matter what the extenuating circumstances, hes still a danger to our people! There was a staredown. Three on three. A perfect tie. Fuge, why dont you weigh in? Youre the marshal, Sticks said. Fuge shook her head. Id prefer not to comment. Not on this, anyway. In sync, every single head turned toward Giusthe last potential vote. He sighed. We live in a terrible time, he said. A time where much of our customs have been ignored due to pressing, existential needs. He paused. We ultimately concluded that this dismissal of our ancient traditions was correct. Not because we saw it as rightbut because it was the only decision. And if it is the only decision, then it is the best decision by necessity. Nathans eyes widened. Gius wasnt just a wise elderhe was a statesman. If Nathan didnt know any better, hed have thought it was a governor making this speech, not some random mushroom man. I take no pride in saying this, Gius said. But I believe that we face such a decision now. There is no choice. It is an ugly thing that we shall do, but it is the only thing we can do. He must be killed. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. There was a beat of silence. Four to three, Casc said. That settles it. Bricks shook his head. Sticks frowned. Burraus pencil snapped. Nathan stood up. All eyes turned toward him. Sweat dripped down his back. Gius had given an amazing speechseemingly on the spot. How was Nathan supposed to measure up to that? I his words trailed off. The thing is that, um Casc drummed his fingers against the table. Burrau glanced at Nathan and wrote something down. You see, I Sticks stared, his spine ramrod straight and his eyes burrowing holes in Nathans head. That is to say Oh, come out with it already! Casc said. Nathan flinched and averted his eyes. Damn it. Just come out and say it. Youve faced more terrifying things than a bunch of irritated mushroom people. You fought a flying eel that ate your arm. You beat giant spiders, camps of crazy people, and an ascended human. This is nothing. He took a deep breath and turned his head back toward the group. I hear what you guys are saying, and I understand your concerns. He faced Gius. But I cant consent to this. Gius narrowed his eyes. Why not? Gius said. Because I dont think its the only option. I dont think we have to kill him. He deserves to live. Sticks nodded from the side. Giuss jaw clenched. Hes dangerous, my lord, Gius said. Well put guards on him. Hell, keep Fuge on the guy if thats what itll take for you to go along with this. My lord Nathan stared at Gius. This is not me politely objecting, Gius, Nathan said. This is an order. Were not killing innocentsor at least people we cant say are guiltyas long as Im in charge. Of course, Nathan was being a hypocrite. I let Mara kill that other guy. I let her torture him. How is this any different? But it was all so sudden, Nathan didnt have a chance to object. Besides, Mara was her own woman. Nathan wont force his morality on her. The town, on the other handthe town belonged to Nathan. He was in charge, so he had to govern it the best he could. Y-youd do this for me? Lupim said. Nathan nodded absentmindedly. Lupim dropped into a bow. You will have my loyalty forever. The group was fervently whispering to each other, words flying. Gius stared at the door, a frustrated expression on his face. I have one more thing Id like to say, Nathan said. The conversation stopped. There are going to be more raids. From now on, Im making it a policy that we offer terms of surrender if possible, he said. Not only that, but I want medical care to be administered to any living sapient beings that are still alive after the battle. G-giving health treatment to our enemies!? Casc said. Are you insane!? We could contract them and make them members of the town, Burrau said. Papim pressed her finger to her chin. It would provide an opportunity to gain new converts, she said. Im confident that the majority will become members of the Church of the Seed. Casc stared at her. Are you switching sides!? She shrugged. The decisions already been made, Cascunless you feel like launching a revolt, this is the world were living in, now. Vee sighed. What the boss man says, goes. B-but Theres no point in debating it any further, Gius said. All we can do is execute the plan as best we can. Nathan nodded. Thank you, Gius. With that settled, it mostly came down to detail work. The council decided to assign Lupim two guards. These guards would report to Fuge and ensure there wasnt anything funny going on. There was also a brief time when they talked about repair plans and recovery after the attack. Fuge pushed for better defenses, saying that they needed to be prepared for environmental disasters in the future. The group agreed and Town Points were allocated toward her. They run it like an actual government. because it was an actual government. Nathan had gotten used to seeing it as an RTS, but for them, it was real life. He had to remember that. They soon finished the meeting and Nathan left to check on his friends. Lupim was escorted out by mushroom guards, leaving the council alone.
Gius opened up his Strategy View. Authority: 0%. A sub-bar noted the reason why: Nathan, in one fell swoop, had once again regained all of his lost authority. This was a problem since the only way Gius could usurp the title of lord was by getting Nathans Authority to a flat zero. He looked up at the council. Looks like your little plan fell on its face, Casc said. Again. Im beginning to have serious doubts about you. How was I supposed to know that a prisoner would be alive? Gius said. And not only that, but that he would fight so fiercely to keep said prisoner off the chopping block? Burrau took off his glasses and wiped them on a handkerchief. He defers to us on most matters, but there are certain lines that he refuses to cross. He doesnt give off that appearance at all, Papim said. He comes off as so spineless most of the time. Fuge chuckled. I made the same mistake. Deep down, though, he has a shocking level of inner conviction and strength. Are we just going to sit here blowing smoke up the mans ass? Casc asked. I thought we were in agreement: he needs to be removed. I dont know about you, but I refuse to live under another Malkazor. Giuss fingers twitched at the mention of the name. Their last leader. The one whod run this place like a slave camp. They wouldnt live under tyranny again. Giusor at least someonehad to seize the title of lord. It was their only chance. They might never get an opportunity like this again. A leader who allowed them to organize themselves was rare. Most of the time, they were highly alert to any would-be coups. But hes not like Malkazor, Bricks said. I remember what it was like. I met the man. He had a contempt for anyone below him. Nathan isnt like that. Sticks nodded slowly. Nathan came up to me and treated me like an equal, Sticks said. He made an effort to get my opinion and listen to me. I dont think hes a bad guy. Gius almost shrank into himself before steeling his spine. He wouldnt be intimidated by that damn Sticks. Vee crossed her arms. So what? Nathan still has too much power over us. What if he suddenly woke up and decided to go full tyrant? Were screwed if that happens. If were going to do anything, Papim said. It must be done soon. He will eventually discover what Authority does, and then we will be stuck with him until his death. Hell also learn about the counterattack option, Casc said. And then well be sent off to our deaths. The counterattack. Gius had managed to hide most of the raid options from Nathan, but it would only be a matter of time before he found it. And once that happened, Nathan would surely counterattack against the person whod been attacking them. Im half-tempted to attack this Vin-SYS, myself. The constant raids are becoming annoying, but it would put the people in danger. I have been against this deception from the start, Burrau said. We signed a contract specifying our loyalty to the lord of this town. No loophole has been found, and we are still bound to the contract. Contracts arent everything, Gius said. Not if it costs us our life May I speak? Gius turned his head. Fuge. There are a few things that I value in a leader when considering my men for promotion, she said. Decisiveness. Loyalty, and Compassion. She walked toward Giuss chair. Decisiveness is key. We live in a world where hard choices are made under harder circumstances, she said. Loyaltyspecifically to the peopleis essential. The military is for the town, not the town for the military. And compassion, because I believe its what separates us from monsters. She stopped in front of Giuss chair. He frowned. I believe that Nathan Lee qualifies for all these things, Gius. Even more so than you. He showed decisiveness in exercising his power as a leader. He showed loyalty in putting our needs first, time and time again. And he showed compassion in how he treated a prisoner. Giuss chest burned with indignation. She wasnt about to do She turned around and faced the council. I support Nathan as our leader. I believe hes the man for the job. A beat of silence. The room broke into chaos. Fuge, are you joking!? I suppose that if she says hes the man for the job, then he is. This is absurd, were just going to let him rule over us!? Gius slammed his hand into the table. Quiet! The noise stopped. Gius thought of Nathan. Was Fuge wrong? Gius started to feel a rock drop in his stomach. Nathan had protected them, and put his life on the line. Nathan had ensured that every single Town Point was spent on their needs. Nathan had defended the weak among them. Nathan had listened to the concerns of the council and always looked for the right compromise. Maybe Maybe Gius had been wrong. Well make our decision after the final raid, Gius said. If if we determine that hes the right man to lead us, then I will admit to everything. I will carry the blame and request that all of you be kept from retribution. If we decide that hes too dangerous, then I will use what is left of my druidic power to try to defeat Nathaneven if it kills me. Gasps echoed. Papims eyes widened. Are you certain of this action, Gius? Yes. Its time we stopped this foolish game of subterfuge. Hes been winning it, anyway. The council nodded. Its decided, then, Gius said. Thank you for your time, everyone. The council adjourned. 38 - He Watched That Game Theory Episode They were only a few hours away from the Pandora. It hadnt sunk in between all the chaos of the battles and all the madnessbut they were extremely close to finishing their little quest. The golden glow of the sun in the background seemed to struggle against the chills of the wind. Nathan checked the Global Quest tab. [Find and Use the 100 Pandoras!] Whoever used it would ascend to being an E-rank being. Also, Nathans group would probably separate when the portals opened if the pattern held true. It was an odd thought. Hed gotten used to all of them. Chads eccentricities, Bjorns stoicism, Emis sweetness, and even Maras insanity. Somewhere along the way, theyd just become normal to him, just another part of his now absurd life. Nathan pushed the thoughts out of his mind. He turned his head back toward the group. How much longer? Nathan said. Emi smiled. Not long. Three hours, if my mana sense is right. For a second, Nathan considered asking them if they wanted to hide out in his Soulbound town when he jumped into the portal. He grimaced. The System, if Emis story was true, didnt appear to appreciate anyone trying to sidestep its regulations, as evidenced by the seventh-circle monsters it sent. Perhaps, if Nathan was certain the System wouldnt find out but as it was he wouldnt take the risk. An hour passed. Two hours. Three hours. A colossal temple stretched out before them like a monument to the gods. Vines and moss grew from the dilapidated stone while the whole thing had three floors arranged in a roughly pyramidal fashion. On the sides, column after column wrapped around the building in a long line, most of them crumbling and powdery. Is this where it is? Nathan said. Emi gave a quick nod. Yes. A dungeon with three levels. Made sense. Lets go in.
When they entered the dungeon, Nathan wasnt sure what to expect. Maybe hundreds of monsters, or a pedestal, or something. Instead, the only thing he saw was a long corridor with openings along the side. Its a maze, Chad said. Its just one of those old-school dungeon games. Bjorn trailed his hand along the wall. I dont see any markings. How are we supposed to advance? Nathan felt a shiver go down his spine from out of nowhere. He turned to his right to see Mara looking up at the ceiling with a pointed stare. Mara? Nathan said. What are you thinking? Her head snapped toward him. I still have explosives, Nathan. That sounds like a terrible idea. We could cut through all this nonsense and get to the Pandora. Mara, no. Mara, yes. Somehow, Nathan found himself verbally outwitted and ended up agreeing to her insane proposal. The next thing he knew, they were back outside. Mara took a barrel from her inventory and set it down. She lit something up, then sprinted back toward them. She came to a stop and turned around. Now, my beauties! she shouted. Rage, rage, burn it all to the ground! Nathan shut his eyes and hit the dirt. A split second later, there was an enormous boom. Nathan fell over from the shockwave and rolled against the ground with a crash. Dust washed over his body, propelled by the explosion, brushing against his body and cutting tiny slices across his skin. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes. Oh, what is this bullshit!? Mara said. The temple was still standing. Whats more, it didnt seem like a speck of damage had been done. What do they make these things out of? Nathan said. Whatever it is, even Maras explosives didnt do anything to it, Emi said. Chad raised an eyebrow. Oh, really? I didnt realize. I thought that I was just hallucinating this things continued existence. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. How did you not realize? Are you okay? Thats not what Inever mind. They went back into the dungeon. Chad shrugged at Nathan. Supposedly the best way to get through mazes is to stick to the right side of the wall and youll eventually find the exit, Chad said. Huh. That makes sense. Lets do that, then, Nathan said. They walked along the maze. Torches lit the way, thankfullyit wouldve been rather uncomfortable if they were trapped in total darkness. There was an air of tension at first, but each step chiseled away at the fear. There was nothing. No monsters, no enemies. No traps, no nothing. Honestly, Nathan was kind of disappointed. Mara, Nathan said. What are your thoughts on the Pandora? Mara glanced back at him. It seems neat, I guess. Yeah, but do you want it? Not really. Nathan blinked. Oh, he said. Why not? She snorted and pulled her shotgun from her inventory. This is all the firepower I need. Nathans lips twitched and he nodded. They continued until they came to a massive locked door. Nathan stared at it for a little while. I guess we need to find a key? he said. That might take a while, Bjorn said. Mara started to reach into her inventory. I can fix this Dont! She pulled back from her inventory and pouted. Chad, meanwhile, stared at the locked door. He stepped closer and looked into the keyhole. What are you doing? Nathan said. Does anyone have, like, some tools? Chad said. Even just a thin metal rod will do the trick. I have knitting needles. Emi reached into her inventory. But what do you need them for? She knits? I never saw heroh, well, I guess we dont have a lot of time for that in the apocalypse. This is literally just like Groundrim. Chad took the knitting needles from Emi and pushed them into the lock. Ive done this thousands of times. Watch and learn. Chad, for the last time, this isnt a video game The door clicked and swung open. Chad stared back at Nathan with a smug grin. Point taken, Nathan said. They continued, sticking to the right side of the wall. The air turned humid and warm. Emi pulled off her cloak, revealing a thin, sweaty white tunic. Chad stared shamelessly at her back. Nathan rolled his eyes. Perv. Chad, quit it, Nathan said. Quit what? Dont be a pig. A smile burst across Chads face and he covered his mouth to stop a snicker. Dude, you sound like a sixty-year-old boomer. He shook his head. I guess thats why youre in charge. Im not in charge. Mm. The conversation came to a stop. So, about that Pandora, Nathan said. Youre using it, dude, Chad said. Were all in agreement. Nathan motioned to cross his armsthen stopped when he realized he only had one arm. And what if I disagree? Chad stared at Nathans sad attempt to use his nonexistent arm. Bro, weve already decided. Just let it go. Nathan bit his bottom lip. Its not that I dont appreciate it, he said. But Im strong. You need it more than I do. And were not? Chad asked. Look, youre tough, but get your massive, disfigured head out of your ass. We can handle ourselves and you need your arm back. End of story. I dont have a disfigured head Nathan went quiet. They continued walking. A blue light seemed to come from the next right, its glow bounced off the walls. Chad narrowed his eyes. Ah, shit. Please dont tell me were back at the start. No way! Emi turned around and shook her head. Thats just some weird magic light, definitely. Bjorn didnt comment. Mara looked at Emi and shrugged. Nathan sped up. He turned the corner, and The glow led to the outside. Theyd returned to the start. We did a loop, Nathan said. They havent connected the walls fully, Chad said. Its a disjointed maze, thats the problem. Please tell me you have some trick for solving these types of mazes, Nathan said. Er, I watched a video on some kind of algorithm that helps you solve it faster. do you remember this algorithm? Chad stared at Nathan like a deer in headlights. Uh no. Nathan sighed. I guess theres nothing for it. Well just have to head in and hope were going in the right direction. They went straight down the middle. After a few minutes of heading in a random direction they spotted another blue light. Hold on, how did we get back to the start? Chad said. They walked over to the blue light, revealing that it was, in fact, the beginning. That makes no sense! Emi said. How is this possible? Chads left eye twitched. Screw this. He ran into the maze at breakneck speed. Nathan reached out his hand to stop him, but it was too late. After a few seconds, Chad popped out to their direct right. H-how!? Chad said. Chad ran back in. After a few seconds, he popped back again to their left. This continued for several more minutes before Chad dropped to the ground, chest heaving and covered in sweat. This is so stupid! he said. Who designed this puzzle!? Mara had been in the back, looking at the entrance. She stared at it, then raised a pistol and shot at it. Emi winced. What did you do that for!? The entrance rippled like water and disappeared, revealing a stone wall. Were making progress, Mara said. But somethings playing with our heads, making us see things that arent there. How did you know? Nathan said. Sniff the air. Nathan did as she asked. Still warm. Still humid. If that had been the outside, there shouldve been a cool breeze. And now we have no idea where we are, Chad said. Great. This is off to a good start. A flash of insight struck Nathan. Emi, whatevers doing thiscould it be a spell of some sort? Nathan asked. It has to be, Emi said. If it is, can you sense it using your Mana Sense? Emi paused. probably, she said. Emi held out her left hand. A white glow emanated from her palm. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath, slow and deliberate like she was about to sink into a meditative state. Her eyes snapped open. Follow me, she said. She marched through the maze and everyone followed behind her. As they walked, a thought came to Nathans mind. Emi, Bjorn, Nathan said. What do you guys think about the Pandora stuff? You shouldnt use it, Bjorn said. You should give it to someone else. And here Chad was saying they were all in agreement. Emi glanced over at Bjorn but didnt object. Chad almost died, Bjorn said. I believe he needs it the most. Not you? No, Im strong. Poor Chad. Roasted alive. Emi was quiet. Its up to you, Nathan, she said. I trust your judgment but Ive got to admit that it would be nice to see you be selfish for once. before coming to a sudden stop in front of a blank wall. Its right here, Emi pointed. Mara stepped forward and tapped against the section Emi was pointing out. Without a word, she pulled out her pistol and let two rounds into the wall. A loud shattering noise echoed out and all at once, it was like a veil lifted away from Nathans eyes. A headache that he hadnt noticed vanished along with all of the maze walls. The area that Mara had shot was covered in the remnants of a glass orb. Nathan turned around, revealing a set of stairs going up to the second floor. Lets head up, he said. 39 - Princess Carry Gone Wrong When Nathan reached the top, he immediately noticed that two group members had disappeared. Mara? Chad? He turned in a circle. Emi and Bjorn glanced around. Its just us, Emi said. Nathan looked back at the stairs and saw that theyd disappeared. He tapped his hand against the stone. Im getting real tired of this place, Nathan said. Theres nothing to do about it, Bjorn said. Trust our allies to take care of themselves. Lets take stock of our own situation. Nathan grunted in an affirmative and stared around himself. They were in a wide-open room. Up ahead, Nathan could see blocks and doors with gears and pulleys. But right in front of them, before they could get to any of that, was a massive, wide-open chasm. Are we gonna have to jump that? Nathan said. I hope not. Emi walked over to a pole that was sticking out of the ground. She frowned. Its a Bridger. Ive seen this beforebut it looks like it doesnt have a fuel source. A Bridger? An artificial magic bridge. She held her hands over the pole. Hold on, I can fix this. Her hands glowed and a flickering translucent bridge appeared over the massive chasm. She took her hands off and nodded. Nathan looked at her, then back at the bridge. Is this safe? It should hold up she trailed off. Actually, have Bjorn go first. Why? Bjorn said. No reason. if its all the same to you, I think Nathan and I should go together. Oh, Im sure that isnt necessary. Nathan rolled his eyes and walked straight across the bridge. He turned around and glared pointedly at the two. Emi sighed and followed behind while Bjorn waited till she was at the end of the bridge. The bridge flickered. And then it disappeared. Bjorn jumped forward, hands outstretched for the ledge. Nathan reached his own hand out and grabbed Bjorn. With a single twitch of his legs, Nathan pulled back as hard as he could, sending them both tumbling to the ground in a messy heap. Nathans heart beat in his chest. That was way too close. Bjorn pushed himself up. Yes. Too close. He glared at Emi. Its lucky that Nathan managed to catch you, Emi said. Bjorn scoffed and stood to his feet. He marched ahead. Nathan stared at Emi. Did she actually try to? What is it? Emi said. Nothing. A door sealed the way ahead. Connected to the door was a wire linked to an odd balance scale. One side of the balance had a metal block and the other side was a platform with ropes, the whole thing held together with dozens of complex pulleys. Bjorn approached it slowly. What is this? Another test, Emi said. And I think I know what it is. Nathan turned toward her. And what would that be? I need to stand underneath the metal block, she said. And pump it full of magic to make it heavier. Nathan grimaced. How do you know that you have to be underneath it? Ive seen this before. Its an ancient exercise used among elf magesbanned, actually. Im not sure how its here but thats what it is. Nathan stared at the pulleys. Alright, explain how this is going to go. Ill start with a light amount of magic. Itll tell me a general idea of how much weight the counterbalance needs, Ill tell you how much weight is needed, and then Ill slowly increase the amount of magic Im putting into the weight. Thisll help us get closer and closer to the true balance. What happens if we mess up? Nathan glanced at the massive weight. If its too low or too high when I have that much mana going into it, then I get crushed. She pursed her lips. Dont let that happen, please. She took up position underneath the weight and held her hand up. The weight turned a bright white and started to fall toward her slowly. It needs a lot more weight, she said. Nathan walked over to the platform and put three steel cubes onto it. Bjorn walked up and dropped three more. The weight glowed brighter and became heavier, dropping just above her head. Too much, too much! she said. Nathan scrambled forward, grabbed two of the steel boxes, and tossed them off the platform. The weight stabilized. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Emi stared up at the weight, her face pale. She blinked her eyes together and took a deep breath, then faced toward Nathan and nodded. Im going now, she said. Were close, I can feel it. The weight flashed and grew brighter. It lowered toward Emi. Too little weight, one more cube, she said. Nathan reached out for a cube and put it on right as Bjorn put on another. The weight sailed toward Emis head. Nathan jumped into the air and knocked a cube off the platform. The weight stopped just short of hitting Emis face and creating the worlds thinnest elf. She stared up at it, eyes twitching. Her head tilted mechanically toward Bjorn. He didnt make a single facial expression. Nathan stared between the two of them. This is ridiculous. A moment later, the door clicked open. Emi slipped away from underneath the weight with a quick movement of her feet. She glared at Bjorn. You tried to kill me. You did, as well. Nathans eyes flickered between the two of them. Why on earth would you two do that? I wont get an opportunity to kill him once were separated, Emi said. This is my only chance. Im simply retaliating, Bjorn said. Nathan grimaced. I cant believe I have to say this, but randomly murdering your teammates is a bad thing. Were not teammates, Emi said. We put it aside, but I think that its about time we finish that battle we had. Bjorn grunted. I couldnt agree more. Emis staff appeared in her hand from her inventory. Bjorn pulled out his war hammer and gripped it with both hands. A droplet of sweat rolled down Nathans back. Shit. I shouldnt have ignored this! Both of you stop right now, he said. Why? Bjorn said. Emis staff lit up with a glow. This is inevitable. I wish I could listen to you, Nathan. But this fight is long overdue The Harrowed Hand! Both of them stopped. I need your help, Nathan said. Both of you. If we want them deleted from the world, I need both of you to help me. Please, can you at least put it aside until we kill Vince? Emis eyes flickered between Bjorn and Nathan. Bjorns jaw clenched. Nathans hand wrapped into a fist. If they didnt want to settle their differences peacefully, hed make sure neither of them would be killed, at least. Finally, Emi sighed and put away her staff. Bjorn clicked his tongue and threw his war hammer back into this inventory. Thank you, Nathan said. And please, no more killing each other. Im asking you, sincerely. For now, Emi said. Bjorn nodded. For now. Nathan nearly slumped over from relief. They continued walking up to the last section. It was a maze of platforms and bridges over an endless yawning abyss. Waiting for them in the distance was the stairs. Nothing too difficult. Right as Nathan was about to step forward, something caught his eye. A black flicker. He gasped, and darkness passed through his vision. It disappeared in a flash, he stumbled backward and pawed at his eyes. In a few seconds, the disorientation disappeared. It was like nothing had happened. What was that? he said. I-I cant see! Emi said. Nathan, I cant see! Calm yourself. Everyone turned silent at Bjorns statement. Just as the last test was an exercise from your homeland, Bjorn said. This final one is from mine. We must make it to the end relying on the directions of whoever can see. If we make it to the end, our vision will be restored. Nathan blinked. I can still see. You will have to direct us where to go, Nathan, Bjorn said. Our lives are in your hands. Nathans fingers twitched. No pressure. He took a deep breath, scanning the maze ahead. Had it gotten more complex since last time? He shook his head. He had to focus. Nathan, Emi said. I trust you, but please dont let me fall into the giant pit. You wont fall, Nathan said. If I fall, its because the elf pushed me. I already said I wouldnt do that anymore! Emi said. Neither of you are falling! Nathan took a deep breath. Now come on, grab onto each other or something so you dont wander off. Bjorns massive green hand found itself on Emis shoulders. She yelped. Watch it! she said. Youre going to crush my spine! Man up. Im a woman! Nathan sucked in a breath through his teeth and released it out through his nose. Why did I say I would miss them again? He rubbed his temples. Bjorn, please take one step. Emi, take three steps. Well start slow. They awkwardly shuffled together across a thin platform for a few seconds. A-are you sure this is the right way? Emi said. Yes, Im sure, Nathan said. As they inched across the walkway, Nathan caught sight of something from the corner of his eye. Shadows, similar to the ones that stole his friendss eyesight. One shadow passed through a platform and the platform disappeared with a flicker. Dont panic, Nathan said. But some of the floor may disappear under your feet. Disappear!? Emi said. The first shadow dive-bombed toward Bjorns side. Take a step, Bjorn! Bjorn moved. A moment later, the shadow passed through the stone hed been standing on and it vanished from view. Can someone explain whats happening!? Emi shouted. Nathans hand shook for a split second before he forced them to stop. No time to panic. Theyre hitting the platforms, Nathan said. We need to move. Now! They sped off in a jog, all three of them. Their footsteps clattered against the stone. Behind them, the shadows continued picking away at the stone. It was getting closer and closer with each step. But up ahead, there was a glowing section of floor. Safe zone? Keep moving! Nathan said. I think were almost in the clear! Emis foot slipped. Before she could fall, Nathan grabbed her thin frame and slung her under his arm N-Nathan! she squeaked. What are you doing? This is so much easier, he said. Just hold on! The shadow dived right for Nathans foot He jumped right into the glowing section of the floor. The shadow hissed and flew backward, seemingly unable to enter the glowing section of stone. Nathan breathed deeply. Nathan can you let me go? Emi said. Oh, he was still holding onto her. He lifted and dropped her off. Sorry, he said. No, its fine, she said. Bjorn raised an eyebrow but refrained from commenting. So were safe here? Emi said. We reached the end? Were more halfway through, Id say, Nathan said. Oh. Nathan squinted his eyes as he looked up ahead. Well have to do some jumps, it looks like. Oh. If you want, I can just carry you there? he said. Emi flushed a bright red. I I guess that wouldnt be so bad Me as well, Bjorn said. Thats a good idea! I bet my strengths high enough to pull that off! Emis head drooped. Oh After some finagling and positioning, Nathan had Emi underneath his arm while he gave Bjorn a piggyback ride. Nathan cracked his neck to the left. Shouldve just done this from the start. We look utterly ridiculous, Bjorn said. Emis body slumped in Nathans hold. I hate everything about this. Nathan took a deep breath Then ran out of the safe zone. Immediately, he heard the shadows rushing toward the stone slab he was on. He clenched his thighs and jumped into the air. Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods! Emi said. Nathan fell, the impact sending a jolt on his spine. This is probably terrible for my back. I think we have bigger concerns than your back, Bjorn said. Nathan tilted his body and looked back. The shadows were coming around for another attack. Nathan broke off into a spring. The staircase wasnt too far. He just had to reach the end. That was all he had to do. Reach the end. He jumped again. Behind him, the slab disappeared. Almost there. A shadow went for the slab he was about to jump to. Another one soared toward the slab he was on. He hurried his footsteps and pushed every single bit of Strength he had into his legs. He jumped over every single platform, soaring through the air before he crashed into the staircase. Ow! Damn it! They tumbled over the steps. Nathan felt the sharp edges dig into his sides. Behind him, the shadows tried unsuccessfully to get to thembut they were blocked by an invisible barrier. I can see! Emi stood up and twirled around. I can see again! Bjorn blinked his eyes together. That was just as awful as the last time. Last time? Nathan asked. I told you, this is a training regimen from my homeland. Thats one hell of a training regimen. It was designed for the elites of our army, of which I was one. Emis eyes flickered with an emotion Nathan couldnt detect before she looked up at the stairs. Lets head up. One final floor. Nathan stared upward. One final floor. Time to get the Pandora. 40 - Guys. are we Supposed to Eat Glowing Artifacts? Nathan poked his head through the stairs. The final floor was a wide-open room in the shape of a pyramid, closing to a point at the top. Light shone in from an opening, casting a white glow on a pedestal in the center of the room. Nathan! Nathan turned his head. Chad waved at him, Mara behind him. Both of them were sticking out of a hole in the ground. Chad, Mara! Nathan said. You guys are okay? Chad gave a nod as he climbed up. Yup. Not a scratch. We didnt have to fight anything, we just had to shoot some targets. Mara taught me how to use a pistol.. Chads a quick learner, Mara said. He just needs to stop trying to do three-sixty no-scopes and hell do fine. Behind Nathan, he heard Mara and Bjorn shuffle up the stairs. Theyre alive! Emi said. Bjorn nodded. Yes. What was it like for you guys? Chad said. Im guessing you went through a similar test. Emis smile dropped into a frown. I dont want to talk about it. Bjorn nodded. Yes. We can talk about it later, Nathan said. Chad glanced between the three of them before shrugging. He turned his attention to the large room they were in. So this is the last floor, Chad said. Is there supposed to be a Pandora here? Nathans eyes searched his surroundings. Nothing. The only things in the room were the bare stone floor and the rough, unadorned walls. Hey, I think I see something, Emi said. Nathan turned toward her and followed her gaze. She was looking at the small pillar at the center of the room, the one Nathan had noticed earlier when they came in. What is that thing? With a hesitant breath, Nathan crept closer, his eyes fixed on the mysterious object. At the very top, there was an etching in the shape of a hand. What is this thing? Nathan said. Mara squinted at the etching. I feel like someones supposed to put their hand there. Really? You think so? Chad said. I dont know, I thought I was supposed to sit my ass on it. Do you want me to shoot you? Chad coughed. Sorry. Its been a long day. Nathan took a step forward and put his hand over the top. Wait! Chad said. Are you sure? I dont see any other options for continuing, Nathan said. Emi pursed her lips. Hes right, Chad. This room is empty, I think this is our only choice. Put your hand on it, Bjorn said. Nathan reached out and pressed his hand against the imprint. A powerful blast of wind slammed against Nathan. With a blinding flash of blue light from the stone pillar, the walls of the chamber rattled and dust cascaded down from the ceiling like raindrops. He covered his face instinctively, preventing any particulates from getting into his eyes. Through the dust, he made out the shape of a hulking figure. A reptilian humanoid five times his size. Long limbs and longer claws. A masked, wooden face. Scales all across the skin. It fell to the ground, shaking the temple. Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled out his harpoon. Mara pumped her shotgun. Emi readied her staff. Bjorn pulled out his war hammer. Chad brought out his katana. [Jungle King] - Lv. 40 (E- rank) A giant lizard that spent too long around humans, the reptile king likes knitting, reading, and long walks on the beach. On a totally unrelated note, he also has a professional background in butchery. Good luck!
The battle began as most battles beganwith Mara shooting a shotgun slug right at the things face. The slug flew through the air and bounced off the mask, a loud screech like metal rubbing against metal accompanying the light show. Before Nathan could even so much as blink, Chad had already run forward. He jumped into the air, his katana outstretched for a swing. The jungle kind materialized a spear and stabbed it forward, the attack barely grazing Chads arm. Chad slashed at the shoulder. The katana carved a deep line across the monsters thigh. Oh, right, he got a serious stat increase for landing the killing blow on Callen. Nathan had forgotten all about that. The Jungle King roared and tilted its hand up, then swatted down in Chads direction. Nathan lined up his harpoon for the Jungle Kings stomach. The jungle king, too busy trying to swat Chad, didnt even notice. Nathan threw the harpoon. It flew through the air and pierced into the Jungle Kings stomach, then right out the other side. It screamed and gripped his stomach while blood gushed from the wound. Bjorn walked up to the screaming boss monster. He reared back his hammer, its weight pulling him down, and slammed it into the monsters calf with a deafening crack. The impact sent the Jungle King crashing to the ground. Emi blinked. Huh, this is going to be a lot easier than I thought it would be. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Oh god, she had to say it. As if in response, the Jungle King froze. The wound stopped gushing. Its knee cracked back into place and it forced itself back up to its feet, spear at the ready. Chad clicked his tongue. Well. Thats not good. The Jungle King kicked Bjorn. He tumbled through the air before he crashed into the ground with a loud bang. A moment later, his hand stuck up in a thumbs up. Chad dodged to the side of a spear attack, then ducked underneath a kick. Another spear attack came right for him, and he knocked it aside using his katana. Nathan, a little help here!? Chad said. Nathan pulled out his fishing rod and ran forward. He took a split second to line up his cast, then tossed the hook out toward the Jungle Kings mask. The hook wrapped around the eyehole. Nathan tugged back as hard as he could and the Jungle King stumbled backward, almost falling before he caught himself. Nathan dug his feet into the stone and reeled his fishing rod. The tug of war continued for a moment more Finally, it screamed, reached for the back of its head, and unclasped the mask. It fell off and Nathan tripped backward onto his bum. It was a giant lizard face, it hissed and held up its spear for a throw, then threw forward. Nathan rolled to the side. A second later, the spear passed by Nathans side, carving lines through the stone. Left yourself open, dumbass! Mara shouted. A loud bang echoed out. The Jungle King screamed and covered one of its eyes. Blood dripped through its hands. Mara cocked her shotgun and fired off another shot, the Jungle King backpedaled and the shell bounced off its hand. Emi held up her staff and a massive fireball appeared over her head. She pointed forward and the fireball launched like a rocket, heat licking at Nathans cheeks. It slammed into the Jungle King and he fell to the ground, scrambling, screaming. Bjorn ran up and bashed its kneecaps with two quick strikes. The Jungle King screamed more. Quick, beat the crap out of it before it can revive! Nathan said. Chad came out of nowhere and stabbed it in the other eye. Bjorn ran over to the skull and blew it open with a single attack. Emi hit it with fireball after fireball. Mara unloaded slug after slug. Nathan found his harpoon and stabbed it in the heart repeatedly. And then, a moment later, it somehow swung its leg, sweeping everyone away. Nathan tumbled across the ground before coming to a stop. Ow. Chad flew through the air like a ragdoll, parallel to the ground. He slammed his katana into the stone and grinded to a stop. It had its brain bashed open. Chad pulled his katana back with a hard tug. What is this bullshit? Theres something were missing, Nathan said. But I dont know what it could be. We can overpower itIm sure that theres got to be an end to its healing ability. It cant keep this up forever. Overpower it or find a weak spot. What are lizards weak to? Rapid temperature changes hurt cold-blooded creatures. Of course, they could just brute force it like what Chad was suggesting. Certain lizards could drown easily because of a biological weakness. Pick one. Well drown it, Nathan said. Every creature needs oxygen, this thingeven with its healing factoris probably the same. Chad gave a quick nod. Understood. Ill give you an opening. Nathan took a deep breath, a familiar power flooding his veins. Water flowed in a circle around Nathan. Chad jumped into the air and cut a thick line across the Jungle Kings thigh. It screamed and opened its mouth. Riptide Grasp (why did he even bother calling it that in his head anymore? He hadnt used it for its intended use in ages) launched out and shot down the monsters open throat. Someone hit it in the stomach! Nathan yelled. Emi thrust her staff and another fireball appeared. It launched out and slammed into the monsters stomach, searing the flesh. The Jungle Kings eyes widened. A sick choking noise echoed from the monster. It scrambled against the walls, and rolled along the ground. Its body tumbled around for another minute before it stopped. [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [Achievement get: Boss Killer I] Nathan opened up the achievement. [Boss Killer I] Congratulations, youve proven that no one is safe from your relentless quest for loot and glorynot even those poor bosses who were just minding their own massive health bars. +10 STR, +10 DEX A bell chime rang behind them. Nathan turned around. The pedestal where hed placed its hands now had a glowing silver cube on top of it. Nathan approached it, his footsteps slow and careful. Chad looked at it. Is that what I think it is? The inside of it was translucent, revealing a swirling core of bright energy, like fish swimming through a pond. [Pandora] - (E+++ Rank) Congratulations, lucky mortal! Youve stumbled upon a Pandora! This sleek, rune-covered box is basically the VIP lounge of evolution, and guess what? Youre on the guest list. (Only a hundred made, because scarcity is cool.) When activated, expect a light show, dramatic wind gusts, and maybe a choir of disembodied voices chanting your name. Youll feel the power surge through you as your F-Rank existence is turbocharged to E-Rank greatness. Thats rightyou just went from meh human to slightly less meh human. Note: High-tier ascension is immensely painful. Not only that, but it takes hours to complete. Its highly recommended that you find a safe place to ride out the process. Best of luck, and dont die! A Pandora. Nathan picked up the cube. All this trouble for a tiny cube. He looked at it a bit longer before he tossed it at Chad. Chads arms snapped up and grabbed it. His eyes bugged out. What the hell, man, what if I dropped it!? I guess we wouldve had to go find another Pandora? That seems inadvisable, Bjorn said. Chad played with the cube in his hands. Do we have any idea how to activate it? Chad asked. Maybe youre supposed to eat it, Emi said. Everyone turned toward her. What? she said. I mean, the way I absorbed the mana stones was by crushing them and putting them in my blood, remember? Nathan stared at her arms. At this very moment, there are tiny chunks of rock floating in her bloodstream. Chad squinted his eyes at the cube. So wed have to crush this thing and then tip back and swallow? That sounds like a not-good idea. This is a stupid conversation, Bjorn said. Before they could continue, a light caught Nathans attention. He turned to the side, revealing a glowing blue light shining from the floor. Whats that? Emi said. Chad blinked. Its an escape hatch. Nathan raised an eyebrow. I dont know how many times we have to tell you that this isnt a game before you believe us. I believe you, but you cant tell me this wasnt inspired by dungeon crawler games. After a few seconds, Nathan walked over and stood in the blue light. The rest of the group followed. The light intensified and a feeling of weightlessness descended on Nathan.
The next thing Nathan knew, he was standing outside, surrounded by trees and grass. He turned around and saw the temple behind him. Woah Emi almost fell over before catching herself. That was somewhat disorienting. Nathan was about to respond when he paused. Goosebumps ran down his spine. Does something feel off? he said. Bjorn tensed and reached into his inventory. No, but Ive learned to trust your instincts. Everyone cautiously pulled out each of their weapons. Nathans eyes darted from left to right. Then he heard a clapping noise. His neck snapped over to the right. Ive gotta say, you guys move fast, a voice called out through the tree line. I really thought wed beat you here, but you swept past us. Whos there? Nathan said. You dont even recognize me after all the crap youve put me through. Typical. Stop hiding. A snort. Fine. Footsteps through the grass echoed out. A man stepped forward. His body was well-defined, his clothes rugged. He had a bald head and a sleazy smile. Behind him trailed a dozen or so other men. It was his eyes that caught Nathans attention. They were cold, dead. They reminded Nathan of a corpse. What do you want? Nathan said. I think its about what you want, the man said. Ive heard that your orc friend is looking for a few of his pals. Bjorns back stiffened. Vince snapped his fingers. An orc was brought out in chains. His body was thin, bones poking out from his chest. His skin was covered in dirt and dry blood. He stared at the ground. A gasp sounded to Nathans right. He turned to look. Kason? Bjorn said. The orc on the ground snapped his neck up. He stared at Bjorn for a few disbelieving moments. Commander? Kason said. Nathan looked back and forth between the two. This just got a whole lot more complicated. 41 - Guys Youre Not Supposed to Drink Blood, Thats Bad, Actually So, youre the brat who killed off so many of my men. Youre shorter than I expected. Nathans left eye twitched. I guess that youre Vince? Nathan said. Correct-a-mundo! Vince cracked his neck. Glad to see that youre not blind. That wouldve made negotiations much harder. Bjorns hands shook, war hammer equipped. He took a single step forward. Ah! Vince pulled a knife from his inventory and put it against Kasons neck. Not a move, buddy, or the orc gets it. Bjorn froze in place. Mara, on the other hand, had no such compunction. Before anyone could react, she pointed her shotgun at Vince and fired off two slugs. A bright flash came from Vince and Nathan instinctively shielded his eyes, Bjorn knocked her shotgun to the side, causing the third shot to go wide. What the hell are you doing!? he shouted. Trying to save your orc friend, what do you think? The dust cleared away. Vince stood upright, completely unharmed. He smirked. Did you really think that Id walk in here without protection? Nathans eyes darted toward the mans skin. His tattoos were glowing red. A gift, from the Head Hand himself, Vince said. Pretty sweet, huh? Emi watched with a look of distinct disinterest. Nathan wasnt sure how to feel about that. I dont understand how you even found him, Nathan said. Vince laughed. It was pretty incredible, all things considered, Vince said. We just stumbled upon the guy. It was like a gift from the heavens itself. Bullshit, Chad said. You just found him? I mean, whats the alternative explanation? We teleported him in across time and space? Vince shrugged. Im serious. He just showed up in our camp, dropped out of nowhere. It keeps on happening, its like somethings helping us out, I swear. Nathan glanced at Bjorn from the corner of his eye. Bjorn was sweating. His eyes were wide and unfocused. Nathan looked back at Vince. What do you want? Nathan said. I want that little object your friend is holding. I want the Pandora. Emis neck snapped toward Nathan. She shook her head quickly. Chad pointed at Emi and mouthed, Shes right. Nathan looked back at Vince. Can I beat this guy? Nathan didnt think it was overconfident of him to say he could win. The big problem was the hostage. Bjorn stared at the Pandora. Nathan, he said. I Emis eyes widened. Bjorn! Dont you dare! Bjorn dropped to his knees and bowed his head. Im begging you, he said. Please. Nathan stared at the Pandora in his hand. Bjorn We will swear a life-debt, Bjorn said. Everyone in my squad will owe you. You will possess an elite squad of orc warriors when all of them are located. When hes fully rehabilitated, Kason alone will be a great asset to you. Oh god, hes really desperate. Nathan looked over at Kason. Are you hearing hwat hes saying? Do you agree? I hear it. Kason bowed his head. If you rescue me, Ill be in your debt forever. Nathan didnt know what to do. He was starting to regret not eating the Pandora when he had the chance on the other hand, that mightve meant Kason wouldve died on the spot. Was the Pandora worth the life of an innocent person? Well, mostly innocent. His fingers twitched. It would be easy to rush in and overwhelm Vince. Hed figure out a way past the barrier, then hed kill him, rip him to shreds and turn him into another number in Nathans body count. But it would cost Bjorn one of his men. Damn it. Could Nathan even trust this guy to carry out his side of the deal? Of course not. But there was no choice, was there? The best he could do was attack as soon as Kason was safe or dead, whichever came first. Nathan nodded at Chad. Throw it. What!? Chads hands tightened around the Pandora. Are you kidding me? Were just gonna hand it over? Well get it back, I promise. But right now, weve got to do this. Emis jaw clenched. Hes an orc, Nathan, hes not worth it. Yes, he is. Chad pursed his lips, then nodded. Im trusting, you, Nathan. He threw it at Vince. Vince snatched it out of the air and smirked. Thanks, asshats. He kicked Kason in back and he was thrown forward into Bjorns arms. Nathan immediately tensed his legs to jump forward and attack. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Before Nathan even knew what was happening, a barrier appeared in front of him. Nathan pounded his hand against it once, then twice, each one caused cracks to appear across the blue wall. Vince reached into his inventory and pulled out a scroll. Our men had a great deal of time to experiment with magical artifacts in our tutorial. Fun fact, did you know that you can craft magical artifacts with preset abilities? Like, say, a scroll with the ability to teleport? Nathan slammed his hand against the barrier againa flash of light appeared, Nathan shielded his eyes. The light dimmed, the barrier vanished And Vince and his men were gone. Well, Nathan said. Shit.
They set up a camp and wrapped Kasons wounds. The whole time, he kept muttering words of thankfulness. Bjorn had stood watch the whole time, his back as straight as an arrow. Kason took a drink of water and coughed. Overhead, the light of the moon shone down on them. So, howd you end up under that guys thumb? Chad said. Are you well? Bjorn tightened a bandage. How have you been holding up? Not well, Kason said. Nathan took a bit of his own fish. Like what Chad said, howd you fall in with that bunch? Did you really just fall out of the sky? Kason glanced at Nathan. It was just after the tutorial, Chief. Chief? Kason continued on. It was hell. There was no food. No water. I barely came out the other endbut I still made it to the first circle. Managed to survive. Made some basic weapons, shelter. A flicker of a smile flashed across Bjorns face. Resourceful. Youre the one who trained me, commander. Kason coughed. Anyway, I knew my priorities. Id try to find you and the rest of our squad, then wed get to the bottom of the Nine Circles and return home. Then you came across the Harrowed Hand, Nathan said. Not quite, Kason said. I know thisll sound hard to believe, but Nathan narrowed his eyes. But what? I was asleep. When I woke up, Id appeared in their camp. None of them even noticed me until I woke up. It was like Id just been teleported in. Could it have been a magical artifact? Nathan said. Emiwhod been staring at her fingernailsperked up. Oh, its possible. He mightve triggered a boobytrap of some sort. Im not sure how that wouldve happened, though. I believe hes hiding something. I would never! Kasons breath came in quickly. Nathan is my Grozur, I owe him my life. To lie to him would be a crime of the highest order. The hell is a Grozur? Alright, settle down, Chad said. Can you just continue with your story? Kasons shoulders relaxed. The fire crackled. Yes. He stared at the fire. I ran, but I was still malnourished. They caught up to me with ease and brought me before Vince. Bjorns fist clenched. Bastard. I agree, Kason said. At first, he was confused. He acted friendly. Said he wanted to figure out who I was, maybe even work with him. What did you say? Nathan asked. I told him the truth. As soon as I mentioned Bjorns name, he immediately took me prisoner. Since then, Ive been his captive for the past few days. Bjorn stretched his hand out and patted Kasons shoulder. But you are free now. And you have a new Chief, Bjorn said. He is small for a Chief. But we can fix that. Nathan looked at his arm. It was somewhat muscular but they werent logs like the orcs in front of him. Do I need to bulk up? He shook his head back and forth. Wait, I need to keep talking to Kason. First of all, whats up with all this chief business? Nathan said. Honestly, I didnt really understand what you guys were talking about. You are my Chief and we are your Bonded, Bjorn said. Whats so hard to understand? Im not an orc, I dont have that context. I mean, what are you guys my slaves or something? Kasons head snapped up. What!? Never! Bjorn shook his head. We are still free orcs, afforded all our traditional rights, Bjorn said. But nonetheless, you are our Grozur. Okay, youre going to have to start from scratch, because I dont know what youre talking about. Seriously, whats Grozur? Bjorn crossed his arms. It seems that the translation magic is unable to understand that word. He grumbled. It is essentially the same word as Chief, though much of the meaning is lost. We take debts very seriously, Chief, Kason said. Very seriously, especially compared to elves. Im right here, Emi said. I know, and Im still confused as to why. Emis eyes bugged out. Pardon? Anyway, Kason continued. When an orcs life is saved, it is tradition for them to swear themselves to their savior. We become their familymembers of their clan. Sorry, did you say family? Yes, chief, Bjorn said. He did. Orc clanmates consider each other family. In the eyes of orc custom and orc law, you are now one of us. Emis hands shook. This isnt very funny. Nathan felt like sinking into the ground. Like, this is just an honorary thing, right? Nathan asked. Absolutely not! Kason leaned forward. If we were to take you back to our homeland, you would be part of the Imperial Diet, as is your right as a clan leader! You are one of us now! Emi stared at Nathan. Her left eye twitched. Can I opt out? Nathan said. I already have a family. Excellent! More members of the clan. Alright, guess I have a bunch of orc brothers and sisters now. Sarah is gonna blow a gasket when she finds out about this. Bjorn stood up abruptly. We must go through the blood bonding ritual immediately. Kason stumbled to his feet as well. Youre right, commander. Nathan glanced between the two of them. This is concerning. Bjorn reached into his inventory and pulled out a knife and a goblet. He grabbed Kasons hand, extended it under the goblet, then passed him the knife. Kason slashed the knife across his palm, the sharp blade slicing through his flesh, and a bead of crimson blood welled up, dripping down into the goblet. Kason passed Nathan the knife. Your turn, Chief. Nathans face blanched and he felt a queasy feeling enter his stomach. Ive been through way worse than a simple cut, but this feels so much grosser. After a second of hesitation, Nathan put the knife in his mouth and slashed his own palm. Blood dripped into the goblet, each drop making a soft plop when it hit the liquid inside. Bjorn took the goblet and did the same thing. Mara peered at the goblet. Can I join in? Im afraid that outsiders are not permitted to participate in this custom, Kason said. The chief and his family are a special exception. Bjorn swirled the blood in the goblet, then took a sip. Oh god, Im about to get a blood-transmitted disease. Kason took a drink. He passed it to Nathan. Nathan stared into the goblet for several seconds. He could feel every single eye boring a hole into his skull. Emi looked like she was about to explode. Chad was laughing under his breath. Mara was staring at the goblet. Whatever, Nathan muttered. Bottoms up. He leaned the goblet back toward his throat and drank the rest of the blood. The flavor was distinctly metallic and sharp, a sensation that lingered, leaving an unpleasant and bitter aftertaste that clung to his tongue. He took the goblet from his lips and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. Bjorn clapped him on the back. Congratulations, Chief. Yeah, thanks, Nathan said. Can we continue talking about Vince? Did you learn anything else about him? Kason furrowed his eyebrows together and stared at the ground. It was all a blur, he said. I dont think His eyes lit up. Wait, come to think of it, he mentioned something about odd system messages, Kason said. It said he had a town even though he didnt have one. Huh? What else did he say? There wasnt much, he didnt understand the messages himself but he mentioned something about a failed raid against someone called Gius. Lightning shot down Natans spine. Are you sure? Yes. Again, he didnt understand it himself. He asked for help from his men and stated that he didnt have a townit was like something had hijacked his system messages. And he said that name? Nathan asked. Gius? Yes. He was confused about it. I think Gius has been hiding something from me Its time that I had a long overdue conversation with a friend of mind, Nathan said. His eyes flickered over to Kason. But first Nathan rested his hand on Kasons shoulder. The orc froze. Chief? he said. Oceans embrace. Life flowed out of Nathans fingertips into Kasons body. His body filled out and his skeleton became less visible. His skin turned turned less stretchy and wrinkled. It was like Nathan was rewinding the clock. By the time he was done, Kason looked in much better condition than he did before. He looked at his hands, then back up at Nathan. Nathan almost drooped over as a wave of exhaustion slammed into him. Nonetheless, he remained standing C-chief, he said. I can never repay this debt. Nathan rubbed the back of his head. Nah, dont worry about it. This was nothing Youve saved me weeks, maybe months of recovery. I feel almost as strong as I did before I came here. Kason bowed. I swear that this debt will be repaid. Nathan sighed. Ok. Whatever. Nathan turned his head and pointed out his hand. A shimmering white portal appeared in front of him. Time to talk to my faithful steward and figure out what the hell is actually going on with my town. And maybe, just maybeIll be able to strike back at Vince and get back that Pandora. 42 - Going in for my Pacifist Run Nathan cast a quick glance over the town. Not much had changed. Nathan marched right up to the meeting hall. Behind him, he could hear footstepshis companions had probably followed him inside. Quick glances were shot at him by the mushroom people. He didnt care. Gius had been hiding something from him, and it was time to get to the bottom of it. He burst open the doors. Inside, Gius was discussing something with one of the mushroom guards. When Nathan burst open the doors, Gius jumped from his seat and windmilled his arms for balance. L-Lord Nathan, what are you doing here? Gius said. Nathan stared. Everyone out, except for Gius. The mushroom guard froze and gave a stiff nod. She walked out the door, shutting it behind herself with a loud screech of the hinges. Youve been hiding things from me, Gius, Nathan said. I dont know what youve been talking about. I think you do, actually. Gius stood up from his seat and folded his arms behind his back. The movements were slow, languid, and unhurriedbut Nathan could see through it. His eyes were stiff, unlike the rest of his body. He was putting on an act. I came across a prisoner, Nathan said. A prisoner who told me a very interesting story about Vince. Apparently, he was getting weird system messages. Something about failed raids. Interesting. Nathan stepped forward. You wouldnt happen to know anything about this, right? Of course not, my lord. So if I searched through my strategy view, I wouldnt find anything related to Vince, right? No, my lord. We dont possess that feature in the strategy view. Nathan opened his strategy view and took a look through the menus. Nothing had changed. He went to the settings tab. [X] Basic Town Lord View [ ] Advanced View Whats this Advanced View? Nathan asked. Nothing of importance, Gius said. Truly, nothing at all. Its what I abstract away from you so that you dont have to worry about the finer points of decision-making. You dont need to worry about it. Nathan clicked on Advanced View. Instantly, his strategy view changed. Rather than the three or four tabs hed had before, he now had a hundred. Maybe more. Nathan clicked through the tabs, his eyes flashing across the text. He went through them slowly but he was unable to find anything. Right up until the very last tab. He scrolled down through financial reports until he hit the bottom most. There, tucked away, was a small button labeled Wartime View. Nathan clicked it. A new set of windows Nathan had never seen before appeared in front of him. Troop strength, his town with the defenses highlightedand most importantly, Raid History. He clicked on the tab. Two raids, each from Vin-SYS. Beside it was a big button labeled Counterraid. This whole time, I couldve counterattacked and ended this whole charade? And if this Vin-Sys is just some kind of pseudonym for Vince, then that means Ill be able to surprise him and take back the Pandora. The torches on the wall crackled, their light casting long shadows across the room. What does Authority actually do? Nathan asked. I dont know Oh come on, do you really think Ill fall for that? Then I wont say anything. How dare you? Giuss eyes flicked toward Nathan. Do you have any idea how many people Ive lost? Gius said. The Mushroom People used to have trillions of individuals. Trillions. In this colony alone, we had several million. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. A cold shiver passed through Nathan. But there are only a hundred of you now. Exactly, Gius said. All of my people, burned away on the whims of selfish, cruel, callous lords. So excuse me if Im hesitant to hand over a sword to someone Ive only known for a scant week or two. But I But what? Youve been a good leader? You havent run us into the ground, but can you honestly say youve been an effective administrator? Besides, how do I know you wont turn around and use us as fodder as soon as you get the chance? He kind of makes a good point but I cant trust him now. Thats the truth of it. He was hiding things from methings I needed to know. What else could he be lying about? Right as Nathan was about to speak, a message popped up to his right. Raid Alert! 5 Minutes to Raid Wave 1/1
Nathan rushed toward the walls, passing by the rest of his companions. Nathan? Chad said. Where are you running Nathan didnt stop. The city was frozen, nothing happening. Nathan caught more than one person staring at a raid message screen in front of them. Raid! he shouted. Raid, everyone get to safety! Rapid footsteps echoed out, and dozens of people started rushing for their homes and basements. Nathan continued running and came up to the wall. With a powerful bound, he propelled himself upward and landed gracefully on the top. Footsteps scurried behind him. Whats going on? Chad was to his side. On the ground, the rest of his motley group had appeared. Raid, Nathan said. In five minutes. What? Chad said. It never used to take this short in the past. I know, but the message was clear. Not only that, but theres only going to be a single wave. Chads lips extended into a tight grimace. Thats not right, none of the other waves have ever been like this before. Well, buckle up, because thats what it looks like. Nathan turned his attention back down to the bottom of the wall. Mara, please tell me you have some more explosives!? Mara gave a thumbs-up. You know I do! He looked behind Mara. Mushroom Soldiers with spears and armor funneled toward the walls. Nathan cracked his neck and faced back toward the north. As always, the portals opened up at the edge of his sight. Unlike last time, the army was composed entirely of werewolves, all dressed in gleaming armor. An opportunity! Someone find me Lupim! Nathan shouted. We might be able to end this peacefully! One of the mushroom guards saluted and ran off. In a matter of minutes, Lupim was brought forward from the center of town. He was dressed in fine clothing and had seemed to lose some of the wariness in his eyes. Nathan jumped down to meet him. When he spotted Nathan, he dropped to his knees. My lord. Lupim, Nathan said. How do you feel about convincing your people to join my town?
The two of them walked into the open field to meet the army. Lupim tugged at the collar of his shirt. I mean no disrespect, my lord, Lupim said. But this seems like a terrible idea. If we can end this without bloodshed, then we need to try. Theyre normal people, like me. They were forced into an awful position. We need to try to save them. As they got closer, they were able to make out the individual details of each of the werewolves. All of them were staring at Nathan, expressions of confusion and fear written on their facesall of them save for one werewolf man. He was dressed in golden armor and was twice as tall as the other werewolf men. He had no helmet, revealing a scarred, disfigured face. I know him, Lupim muttered. Hunter, commander of my legion. He will not take kindly to your offer. We have to try, Lupim. Lupim stiffened, then nodded. I will trust your wisdom, my lord. Nathan walked up to the towering wolfman, Hunter. He snorted and peered down at Nathan like he was staring at his next meal. And what are you supposed to be? Hunter said. Are you here to deliver the terms of your surrender? I see youve brought a prisoner as proof of your seriousness. Quite the opposite, Nathan said. Im here for a very different sort of proposal. Oh? Hunter said. Go on. Nathan turned his gaze from Hunter to each of the werewolves surrounding Hunter. Its my understanding that none of you are here by choice. You were conscripted by the System and forced into this. If you want to, you can come to my town and we can work together. Youd never have to fight another day in your life if you dont want to. Hunter paused. Are you joking? No, Im serious. Lupim can attest to this. Hunter looked at Lupim. I dont recognize you. I was just a grunt, sir. Wed never met. Number? Thirty-four. Division six. And this lunatic is telling the truth? The towns lord is willing to grant us shelter? Youre looking at him, Nathan said. Im this towns lord. You? The scrawny wimp? Nathan stared up at Hunterand to Nathans surprise, Hunter jolted back. Hunter averted his eyes toward Lupim. Hes serious, sir, Lupim said. Hes sheltered me and ensured that none of the original inhabitants of the town abuse me. Ive become a member of the community. Its very different from life in the raid system. For a moment, it looked like Nathan had gotten through to Hunter. His eyes softened marginally and he glanced at the town. But the look was gone as quickly as it appeared. Im afraid that your proposal, while well-intentioned, is naive. Even if you make a deal with the System and it lets you go, the town isnt coming with you. Wed be sacrificed and thrown right back into this hellhole. Make a deal? What do you mean? Hunter shook his head. Turn around. Well attack in one minute. Nathan switched his gaze from Hunter to the werewolves standing to the side. You dont have to listen to him, Nathan said. Even if hes right, this is only going to end in bloodshed for both sides. We can stop it right here. The only way theyre getting out of this is by joining your town, Hunter said. Like Lupim. And thats just delaying the inevitable. Nathan clenched his fists. Its not. Youre about to cause unthinkable amounts of death. And for what? Your own self-centered defeatism? Hunter turned his head up. You dont know a damn thing about me. Now, Id recommend that you take the deserter and leave. We have too much honor to kill you here at the negotiating table. Nathan looked at the werewolves. Do I really want to slaughter all these normal people? Theyre not here by choice but I wont just lay over and die. What can I do? If you have so much honor, Nathan blurted out. Then youll give us an hour to prepare. Hunters left eye twitched. What? he said. Why would I give you time to prepare? Because we only had five minutes warning. That doesnt sound very honorable to me. Hunter opened his mouth to respond when he saw his men staring at him. He paused. Fine, he said. One hour. Just to make it fair. Nathan nodded and turned around. As he did this, he caught a glimpse of one of the werewolves eyes. They were hesitant. Nathan had gotten the slightest bit of doubt into them. A smirk crossed his face. If I have my way, not a single person is going to die today. 43 - Plan R This is an awful idea. Nathan winced. Hed just gotten back to the gate and told his little team about his grand planokay, maybe not a grand plan, more a rough ideato save everyone. Fuge didnt take it so well. Gius, meanwhile, had an odd expression on his face. You want us to hold back against an armed force on their way to destroy our entire town, she said. In some vain attempt to avoid anyones death. Youve lost it. Nathan winced. You dont have to be so harsh. Shes totally right, bro, Chad said. Like, were gonna get slaughtered The Last Samurai-style. Look, Nathan said. Im not saying that if things come down to it, we shouldnt go lethal. He looked at all of them in turn. Chad raised an eyebrow. Gius coughed. Then what are you saying, my lord? Gius said. Im saying that I dont think that the people there want to fight either. I bet that if we play our cards right, maybe this can end without a mass slaughter. Dude, what if someone dies because we take this approach? Chad said. What if, like, I die? You cant have a successful raid without your best DPS. Nathan paused. He opened his mouth to answer when Emi spoke up. Someones going to die anyway, Emi piped up, ever so helpfully. We all know this. The last time we fought, several mushroom people died. Thats not helping, Emi, Nathan said. Fuge looked at Nathan. Are you absolutely certain about this? Nathan was about to respond when he stopped and shook his head. No, actually, he said. But I think this is still the best decision. Youre serious, arent you? Gius said. Dead serious. If theres a way to end this bloodlessly, then I want to take it, he said. Weve never had this opportunity before. We were always facing against mindless monstersthis time, its people. Giuss eyes softened. Fuge sighed and looked up at the sky. Very well then, she said. What do you propose? Nathan glanced over at the gates. What could they do to non-lethally defeat an entire horde of werewolves? I could blow them all up, Mara said. Non-lethally. How would you do that? Nathan asked. Im still working on the non-lethal part, but I have the explosion part down. Yeah, thats not happening. He paused. But do keep some of your barrels in reserve. If things get really bad, well pull those out no matter how much Id prefer not to. She snapped her hand into a salute. You got it, boss. Lupim coughed into his hand. Pardon, may I speak? he said. Nathan nodded. Please do. Well, Lupim said. Theres a little-known weakness that werewolves possess Is it silver? Mara said. What? No. Why would we have a weakness to silver? Actually, silver is very soft and makes for a terrible bladed weapon Ignore Mara. Whats this weakness? Lupim leaned in, his eyes glanced from side to side, and his voice dropped to a whisper. Rhubarb. What. Sorry, did you just say rhubarb? Nathan said. Yes. Lupim shivered. This is a secret amongst werewolves, never spread to outsiders before. You mustnt tell a soul. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Chad glanced at Nathan. Is he screwing with us? Mara tilted her head. That sounds reasonable to me, she said. I once ate a rhubarb leaf and got kind of sick. I think thats because you ate a leaf, not because it was rhubarb. Okay, um, does anyone know where Sticks is? Nathan asked. Gius folded his hand behind his back. Come with me.
You want rhubarb? Sticks stared at Nathan, his eyebrows furrowed together. why? They were in the meeting halland everyone was there. All of the council members along with Nathans people. And Lupim was there too, looking like he wanted to nothing more than sink into the ground. Its a long story, Nathan said. Its really not, Fuge said. Werewolves are weak to rhubarb, apparently, and were being attacked by a bunch of werewolves. Do the math. Rhubarb? Vee put a finger to her chin. I wouldnt have expected that. Sticks scratched the back of his head, an anxious expression on his face. Its not considered one of our primary crops. We only have a little. Can you grow more? Nathan said. Youve mentioned druid magic or whatever, right? Can you pull that off? How much are you talking? Lets say enough for every person in this town to have two or three. Gosh, to produce the kind of harvest youre talking about he shook his head. It would take everyone working together. Wed need a master druid as well Someone like me? Gius said. Stickss expression froze. He tilted his head toward Gius. I thought you wanted to save your magic for an emergency. Ill keep some in reserve. But I believe this plan deserves a chance of success. The hardness in Stickss expression disappeared and he shrugged. Well, if Nathan and Gius are both saying it, I guess Ive got no choice but to go along with it. Nathan gave a solid nod. Thanks. Now we just need to rally the townsfolk. Burrau adjusted his glasses. I have a number of people in my department. We should be able to map out an efficient route to gather everyone. Vee stood up. Ive been testing some enhanced crop growth formula. Papim stood up beside her, knocking her chair back. And I have ancient rituals passed down from the olden days. The two glared at each other. Nathan stared at the councilhis councilworking together to save the town without losing a single life. We might actually have a shot at this. You know that youre only delaying the inevitable, a voice whispered. He turned his head to see Mara, a cool expression on her face. Im not sure why youre doing this, she said. Maybe its some attempt to ease your conscience or avoid whats going to happen, but trust me, youre going to have to kill again. Maybe, but not today. She shrugged. So, about those bombs? Mara, no. Mara, yes.
Nathan stepped out of the gate, the entire mass of the mushroom people following behind him. In the distance, he spotted Hunter and his men readying their weapons. And then Nathan made a sharp right. The mushroom people marched toward the farms. Nathan stopped and gave a quick wave at Hunter. Hunter reached up and rubbed his eyes. Nathans fingers clenched. He was acting nonchalant, but inside, his heart was pounding. This was banking on Hunter being either suspicious enough or honorable enough not to attack. If they attacked, then Nathan would be forced to strike back to protect all the civilians. Why didnt they go around the back gate? Because that might make the werewolves think Nathan was about to go for a sneak attack. No, by doing it in public like this, it gave the best chance of their intentions not being misconstrued. But the attack never came. The werewolves simply watched, distinct expressions of unease on all their faces. This is incredibly stupid, Chad said, adjusting his phone camera. Like, legitimately. No ones going to believe this footage is real. Theyre going to say I CGd this, and I dont know how to CG. I mean, if it works, Nathan said. The werewolves continued to stand around uncomfortably, looking at the ground or at the mushroom parade. This is so awkward. You think theyre debating if this is some weird power move? Nathan ignored Chad. The part that had surprised Nathan was how easily the townsfolk went along with it. Most of them were hesitant at first when Burraus men were running through the town, but as soon as Nathans name was mentioned, they all suddenly became cooperative. I dont have a cult of personality, right? He ignored the fact that theyd apparently set up banners with his face plastered on them the last time he was here. Before long, the town arrived at one of the empty fields. Itd just been recently harvested, leaving nothing but barren dirt. In a wide circle around the soil, everyone carefully spread out, ensuring ample space between individuals. Out of the corner of his eye, Nathan looked at the grove in the distance where his flower was supposed to be The flower was gone. But he didnt have time to deal with that. Nathan was probably looking at the wrong place anyway. Gius stepped toward the center of the field, his arms folded behind his back as always, his expression still and stony. He shut his eyes. Nathan watched as tiny roots broke from his feet and implanted into the ground. The people in the crowd shut their eyes and roots broke out of their feet as well. What are they doing? Nathan said. The ancient magic of the mushroom people, Fuge said. See for yourselves. The ground began to glow. Green buds opened from the roots, expanding out. The fruits swelled and expanded, their surfaces emitting a bright, otherworldly green luminescence. In moments, the plants were at full maturity. Now, boys! Sticks yelled out. Lets get going! Dozens of farmers rushed into the field and harvested the plants and stuffed them into bags. Within minutes, they were finished. Roots popped out of the ground and made new rhubarb. Once it was done, the farmers came in and harvested it. This repeated two more times before Gius stumbled forward and barely caught himself from falling onto the ground. Nathan looked around, most of the mushroom people were tilted over, hands on knees. They cant go any longer. Nathan looked back at the bags of rhubarb. It seemed like a lot to Nathan And this is all assuming Lupim was telling the truth. If they arent weak to Rhubarb, thisll get ugly. Alright, lets head back! Nathan yelled out. Thank you all! A weak cheer came from the people and they marched back to the safety of the town. As they walked, Nathan caught sight of Hunters eye. The gates shut. 44 - Contracts are a Beautiful Thing Fear gripped Hunter. His fur bristled as if it had a mind of its own, and his ears flicked back so fast it felt like they were trying to escape his head. He hastily coughed and waved it off to his troops as "just a little muscle spasm." They bought it. Probably. It was an odd thing to admit, but for a second there, hed felt true fear shoot down his spine when that boy had looked at him. He felt like prey facing a superior predator. My mind is playing tricks on me. Dont overthink it. He felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see his right-hand man. Five minutes left, sir. Hunter nodded. Thank you. Ill treat you to something nice after this for your hard work. A few dry chuckles rang out around him. Of course, it was funny. After all, there was no way that would ever happen because theyd be put to sleep, then thrown right back into battle. He turned his attention back to the gates of the city. The mushroom peoples actions still puzzled him. Hed tried to send troops in to get a better look, but theyd surrounded themselves into some kind of fungi circle, and the scout couldnt see anything. It probably isnt important. Theyre just mushroom people. But still the brats eyes. He wasnt very old for his species and most of the time, he seemed to carry himself with a closed-off, nervous gait. But for a split second there Hunter shook his head. He was letting the brat get to his head. Focus. Time ticked away, and Hunter breathed slowly. His mind centered to a cool point. Sir? his right-hand man said. Its time. Hunter nodded. Lets get to work, he said. He raised his voice. Shields up! A chorus of repetition rang out. Hunter reached into his inventory and pulled out his shield, facing it toward the enemy. Then began the march. Hunter braced his legs with each stepit was only a matter of time before they started firing missiles and arrows. But the attack never came. A creeping sense of unease whirled in Hunters stomach. Why werent they attacking? This wasnt how you defended during a siege. Hunter focused on moving. It wasnt long before they came up to the town walls. Siege ladders! Hunter yelled. Soldiers passed and raised the siege ladders toward the castle walls. They bumped against the stone top and rested. No one was trying to push them off. The sense of unease grew stronger and stronger. Something was wrong. Theyd obviously set up some sort of trap, the cowards. But what kind of trap would allow the enemy so close to breaching your defenses? One of his men rested his claws against the ladder. He took a deep breath, then climbed slowly up the ladder. Around Hunter, every single one of his men were watching, eyes fixed perfectly on the werewolf soldier. The werewolf got higher and reached the very top. There was a flash of red. The werewolf screamed at the top of his lungs. It was a cry of pure terror like nothing Hunter had ever heard before. The werewolf jumped away from the ladder and crashed into the ground with a loud thud, his body limp. Hunter stared at the scene. What the hell? Theyre opening the gate! someone yelled out. Hunter turned his head. He readied his shield and his sword. Dont back down. We can face them, just as weve faced so many other opponents. The gate swung open, revealing mushroom soldiers, weapons extended. Screams instantly broke out. Werewolves almost trampled over each other to run away. Hunter felt three people bump past him in their scramble to the rear. Why were they running? Because the mushroom people were covered, head to toe, in rhubarb. Their weapons had rhubarb attached to them. Their armor had rhubarb taped on. They had rhubarb earrings, rhubarb spears, rhubarb EVERYTHING. I think were screwed, sir, the right-hand man said. Hunter watched as his well-trained mercenary force was reduced to a bunch of flailing, screaming children. That damn Lupim! He told them about our weakness but how did they have so much rhubarb!? Its just a plant, you fools! Hunter tightened his hand around his sword. It doesnt actually hurt you! One of his men face-planted into the ground, then scrambled back up. THATS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK! Unlike the rest of his people, Hunteralong with his right-hand manhad never had a fear of rhubarb but he was afraid of what it could do to his men. Damn it all to hell. Sir! his right-hand man said. Look ahead! Striding out of the center gate was none other than the lord of the town, Nathan. He walked like a conqueror entering the homeland after a successful victory. Flanking him on two sides were orcs, each of them built like solid brick walls, while around them chaos raged as the werewolves fled and the mushroom people advanced. A werewolf jumped at Nathan only to be stopped by one of the orcs warhammers. The orc tossed the werewolf away as if he were nothing. Hunter grinded his teeth together. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. This son of a bitch. Were not going down like this! Hunter barked. If Im going to die, then Ill at least die with honor! He readied his sword, gaze fixed on Nathan. This would be the mans endthat much, Hunter could do. He made to move when something caught his ear. A whirring noise. Like that of a large object falling from the sky. He looked up to see a barrelno, a dozen barrels. With his perfect gaze, he was able to spot something poking out of one of the tops. Rhubarbs. The barrels exploded on impact, launching rhubarb in every direction like fruity shrapnel. One stalk hit Hunter in the snout, and he dropped like a sack of wet potatoes.
Nathan stared around the field of rhubarbs. Although Mara had promised that it would be nonlethal, the rhubarb bombs still had enough punch to knock out most of the poor bastards whod been close. Bjorn and Kasonboth of whom had insisted on coming with him, despite his protestationswere in a loose heap on the ground. Something caught his ear. A shift. On instinct, he reached into his inventory and pulled out his fishing rod. The metal clanged, and he was nearly thrown backward by the immense force of the blow that had struck him. Narrow eyes caught his gaze. Nathan reached out his leg and kicked the opponent hard. The enemy staggered back. Hunter. The leader. You bastard! Hunter said. Using our weakness like this how did you have so much rhubarb!? Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. Um, we didnt. What do you mean? We grew it on the spot. Nathan gestured with his head back toward the town. Theyre all druids and stuff. Hunter growled. Just my luck. It doesnt matteryoull die today, Nathan! Nathans eyes dropped into a glare and he shifted his legs. No thanks. Hunter leapt into the air and his sword slashed out. Nathan ducked and swung his fishing rod. The hook attached to the armor. Nathan pulled as hard as he could and Hunter slammed into the ground with a loud crash. In a surprising move, Hunter undid his armor with a quick movement and rolled to the side before Nathan could follow up. Now shirtless, glistening, andNathan hated to admit itpretty shredded, Hunter aimed his sword with a snarl. Nathan blocked the attack, then swung his hook into Hunters stomach. The werewolf rolled through the ground before coming to a stop. D-damn you, Hunter said. How are you so strong? Luck, mostly. Hunter ground his teeth together. He reared his sword back and threw it forward. The sword spun like a top. Nathan threw himself out of the way and hit the ground hard, the tip of the metal brushing against his neck. A moment later, Hunter was already next to Nathan, a spear aimed for Nathans chest. Nathan rolled to the side. The spear embedded into the dirt. Nathan threw out his fishing rod hook and hooked Hunters leggings But before Nathan could pull on the leggings, Hunter already undid them. Not this time! Nathan sprang forward and let go of his fishing pole. His fist reared back and rushed forward like a bullet. It impacted Hunters nose, the soft flesh folded like paper, and Hunter fell to the ground. Nathan stumbled forward before slowing to a stop. He turned around and examined Hunters breathing. Still alive. Im gladI didnt want to kill the guy. Nathan drew himself back up and took a few steps away. Thats when he heard a shifting to his side. Nathan turned around just in time to see a small knife heading straight for his face. It wasnt Hunterit was the werewolf whod been standing next to Hunter. Hed faked being knocked out. Nathan started to move back, but he was too slow. Shit. Time stretched out like a rubber band. Nathans mind worked to find some kind of solution, but nothing was coming. He was too slow. The knife inched closer to his face. Looks like Ill be losing an eye. I guess its only fitting. The ground rumbled. A green vine broke out of the ground and shot toward the knife. It slammed against the werewolfs wrist and the knife flew into the air. The werewolf stumbled into the ground and stared at the vine. Nathan stared at it too. What the hell? The werewolf tried to scramble away, only for another vine to reach up and wrap around his leg. Vine after vine sprung from the ground and wrapped around every single one of the werewolfs limbs and lifted him into the air like a rag doll. A larger vine than the others, thick like a tree trunk, wormed its way from the soil. It swayed up like a drunkard, a closed flower attached to the side facing Nathan. The flower unfolded, revealing the half-black, half-white flower petals of his familiar mysterious seed. Nathan blinked. It sped toward Nathan. He raised his arm up in defense and shut his eyes. Nothing happened. Nathan opened his eyes. The flower had stopped in front of him, it almost seemed to be tilting its head, if a flower could do that. good flower? The flower stretched out and brushed its petals up against Nathans face like a weird cat. What the hell is my life? HOLY SHIT, NATHANS GETTING ATTACKED BY A FLOWER MONSTER! Mara yelled. DONT WORRY, IVE GOT A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL! Wait, no, no, no, MARA NO! "MARA YES!"
In the end, no one was hurt, and Mara was eventually convinced that the plant monster wasnt out to kill them all. Medics came out and attended to the different people. Nathan walked back to the meeting hall to talk with his allies and companions. Beside him, Hunter was led back to the meeting hall in chains. Every couple of steps, the flower would retreat into the ground, then pop back out a few feet in front of Nathan. God help us all if you figure out how to walk, Nathan said, staring at the plant monster. Before long, they reached the meeting hall. Just Nathan, a bunch of mushroom people, two werewolves, his companions, and the giant flower vine monster waving off to Nathans side. Just another day in the life of Nathan Lee. Um, Nathan, Vee said. What the f Do not blaspheme the Divine Seed. Papim stared at the flower. We are blessed, Vee. Bjorn shivered. Hed recovered and followed Nathan back, but hed kept his distance from the flower monster. The fact that it follows you around, Bjorn said. Is truly terrifying, Chief. Emi squinted her eyes at the flower. Nathan, why is the weird flower inside the meeting hall? You only picked up on that now? Chad asked. Weve been here for, like, thirty seconds. Gius held up a hand. Quiet, he said. The whispered voices stopped. We have serious matters to attend to, Gius said. Both foreign and domestic. I believe we should take care of the foreign ones first. Everyone turned their heads to the werewolf at the end of the table: Hunter. What is there to say? Hunter said. Youre going to execute me, wont you? Just get it over with. Cascs nose twitched. If only. Unfortunately, our leader is a bit too softhearted for that. Hunters head looked up, and he squinted his eyes. What? he said. Youre going to be spared, Nathan said. That isnt the question. The question is how we plan to take care of you, right, Casc? Yes, my lord, Casc said. We dont exactly have a dungeon. Even if we did, this is a massive force. Feeding them would be a great burden. Nathan tapped his fingers against the table. Lets hope this works. Alright, Nathan said. Were going to offer them a choice. Burrau, do you have any citizenship contracts? You mentioned something about that in the last meeting. Of course, my lord. Casc groaned. Why do I even bother? Nathan stood up from the end of the table and approached Burrau. Burrau pulled out a pen along with some papers and set it in front of Nathan. Nathan picked them up. He waked to the end of the table and set them in front of Hunter. Hunter looked at Nathan with a distinct look of confusion, his eyebrows knitted together as he looked back and forth between the papers and Nathan. What are you doing? Hunter said. You have two choices, Nathan said. You can become a citizen of this town, swearing loyalty to it. From there, you can do whatever you want. You could rejoin the military under Fuge, become a guard. Or you could become a farmer. It doesnt matter to me. whats the catch? Well, youd be monitored at first to ease the minds of the more conservative on the council, Nathan said. But youd eventually have that removed. And of course, you wouldnt be allowed to attack the town since youd, you know, be a citizen of it. Thats it? Hunter said. Are you kidding? If you dislike it so much, you can take the other option, Nathan said. Thats not what Iokay, and what would this other option be? Leave. Figure out how to return back to the System and go back to your old life. And what if I end up attacking you again? That would be bad. But I dont think thats going to happen. I think youre going to pick up that pen and sign the contract. What about my men? Theyll receive the same offer, of course. Every single one of themeven the guy who tried to stab my face. Just like that? Nathans fingers twitched. It was tempting to not include that person but that would look bad. Just like that. Hunter pursed his lips. But well be left behind or put back in our old places eventually. The System wont let us go, not unless you defeat all Nine Circles. Nathan narrowed his eyes. I cant promise victory, Nathan said. But what I can promise is that each and every one of you are with me. Were in this together, hell or high water. And I dont know about you, but I fully plan on getting out of this shithole. Hunter paused. He picked up the pen.
Some of the fine details were hashed out, but it was over pretty soon. Nathan was almost certain that every single werewolf soldier would join the town now that Hunter had been convinced. With that done, Nathan had dismissed everyone except for Gius. The two stared at each other. It was time to have that conversation. 45 - [Circle 1 cleared!] Nathan followed behind Giuss shuffling figure. Gius had said something about preferring that this be done in a more suitable location. Perhaps sensing the tension, even Nathans newfound flower friend had chosen to leave. Nathan, while hesitant, agreed. They ended up in the backyard of the meeting hall. Walls had been set up to enclose the place whilst still allowing for trees and grass to spring up in the interior. In the center of the yard, there was a table with two seats. Gius took the right seat. Nathan took the left. I think that its about time you came clean, Nathan said. Gius glanced at Nathan before he averted his gaze. I havent been entirely truthful with you, my lord, Gius said. Information has been hidden, and for that, I apologize. I see. Among other things, the raid menu was hidden, as well as the Authority menu. I assume the raid menu controls my ability to raid other townssuch as the one thats been attacking us? Yes, my lord. Why did you hide it? I was afraid you would use it and send us to our deaths, my lord. Nathans face twisted. Why would you think that? Giuss jaw clenched. Its a long story. Nathan tapped his fingers against the table. Authority, he said. What is it? Gius stood up from the table. I confess it all. What? The truth is this: my lord. For the past several weeks, Ive been plotting a coup. Wait, what This was to be done via the theft of your Authority, Gius said. A stat that determines rulership over the town, even allowing you to force us to do things against our will. Youre going a little fast Authority works in a use it or lose it manner. This is why you were constantly excluded from decisions and why we attempt to sideline you. Uh Once we stole all your Authority, Id become the ruler of the Mushroom People. Gius clenched his fists. But it didnt work. Nathan waited for a few seconds to confirm Gius was done talking. Why are you telling me all this now? Nathan asked. Because I was wrong about you, Gius said. I was afraid that you would be a tyrant, my lord. We lost many people under our last leader. I feared his return in your form. But I was wrong. Time and time again you have proven yourself to be a good leader and a better man. There is no one worthier of leading us perhaps even leading us to freedom. This is a lot. What now? Nathan asked. Gius kneeled and bowed his head. I understand that what Ive done is treasonous, Gius said. But I ask that Im the only one punished. I beg of you, spare the council. They dont deserve to perish. Nathan was probably supposed to feel angry but he didnt. It was hard to dislike Gius after hed come forward of his own volition and explained everything. And besides, how could Nathan blame Gius? Nathan was some random outsider whod been appointed by the system. Nathan mightve had the same reaction if he were in Giuss shoes. Nathan hadnt even been aware he could surrender power. That might be something to consider, later, when the mushroom people were more established. I have a different idea, Nathan said. If you were doing this because you were just interested in getting power, I wouldnt be taking this very well. But you were doing all this because you were trying to protect your people. I think thats pretty admirable, honestly. Gius lifted his eyes. My lord? I think youll have to go on a probationary period where Im going to inspect what you and the council are doing. Nathan reached up and scratched his chin. After that, I think youll be getting more power, not lessbut I expect you to use it to serve the town. Gius blinked slowly. I He dropped into a low bow. I am your servant forever, my lord. Er, good. You can stand up now. Gius stood up straight. Yes, my lord. Now then, the first order of businessis there a way to send us in for a counterraid without sending you guys with us? Nathan asked. If Im lucky, this Vin-SYS is some kind of pseudonym for Vince and Ill get to take back the Pandora. Are you certain, my lord? You should at least bring Fuge, Gius said. No, in case we die youll need her again. As you wish. Gius opened up his menu and started clicking away at various symbols and buttons. In moments, he was done. He stared up at Nathan. Are you ready? Gius said. Wait, should I grab my friends and warn them? Nah, Ill explain on the way. Leave Kason behind, Nathan said. He only recently recovered, give him a break. Understood. Gius glanced at Nathan. One more thing, my lord. Yes? This Pandora its a tool of ascension. It is, thats why Vince wanted it so badly. Do you plan to use it? Gius glanced at his arm. Id assume so, given your state. Im not sure. I think it might be of better use with someone else. Gius pursed his lips. If you do, then I must warn you of something, he said. The Divine Seed is at its strongest right now. Metaphysically speaking, it is pressing up against the bounds of this entire dimensionat least, that is what Papim is saying. Using the Pandora will weaken the barrier between your town and you for a split second. In that moment given the immense amount of power the Divine Seed has, theres no telling what could happen. Nathan raised an eyebrow. So youre telling me I shouldnt use the Pandora? No, my lord, not necessarily. The risk may be worth it. Im merely stating that you should be prepared for any possibility. Your arm will be healed, but after that, I cannot say. Understood. Gius reached his hand up to his menu. Ready? Yes. Gius pressed the button.
Vince threw the cube into the air. The light of the moon hit its side, and iridescent beams shot across the ground and Vinces eyes. Around him, his men had long since dispersed. Vince wanted some privacy while he ascended. Overhead, the stars cast their rays across the ground and provided a small amount of illumination while behind him, he could hear the gentle bubble of a flowing river. He caught it and took a closer look. So how do you use this thing? He twisted it in his hands. The description hadnt been of much help. All itd said was that it would be really painful. Maybe Im supposed to eat it? Vince stopped. He turned around just in time to feel something hit his barrier with so much force that it was almost destroyed in a single hit. The barrier shimmered, barely holding, as the face of death itself loomed into view. A one-armed man stood there, eyes glowing with unholy light, a fishing rod in hand. His entourage followed, looking as if they''d just teleported in from a Renaissance painting of divine retributionthough one of the angels was throwing up in the bushes. The hook bounced off the barrier and crashed into a wall, embedding itself several inches deep. Vince felt his heart drop in his chest. Maybe Ive made a mistake.
Nathan turned back to his allies, his brow furrowing as he tried to piece together what just happened. Bjorn groaned, rubbing his temples like he was nursing the hangover of the century. Chad was bent over, contributing liberally to the local ecosystem in the form of stomach contents. Emi blinked hard. Why are we here? I swear three seconds ago we were in your town Mara, meanwhile, looked fresh as a daisy. Hi Nathan! she said. Nathan raised a hand. Hi. Y-you! Vince shouted. How did you get here!? HOW DID YOU FIND ME?! Nathan turned his head back. "You dont have a town, do you? Because if you did, we shouldve ended up there, not... right in front of your face. W-what are you talking about?! No, I dont have a damn town, no matter what those System messages say! Nathan paused, nodding slowly. Huh. Well, that raises some questions. He tapped his chin thoughtfully, his fishing rod slung over one shoulder. Like, for starters, why the system thinks you do have one and who was actually raiding us STOP ASKING QUESTIONS AND GET AWAY FROM ME! Vince screeched. Nathan turned his attention back to Vince, finally noticing the cube in his trembling hands. He sighed, pulling his harpoon out of his inventory. A droplet of sweat rolled down Vinces face. You wont be breaking past my barrier, no matter how dangerous you are Nathan threw his harpoon forward. Water burst from the rear and slammed into the barrier with the force of a speeding bullet. The barrier cracked once, then twice, each crack kicking up sparks and making a loud glass-bending noise. Vince cursed and dived out of the way. A moment later, the barrier smashed into hundreds of little shards and the harpoon flew forward, right into a tree. The water trails behind it spread out and a few droplets hit Vince on the side. Nathan perked up. Hunters Instinct had kicked in. Perfect. Whats that noise? a voice called out in the distance. A group of men appeared in the treeline. One of them stared at Nathan and his jaw dropped. He pulled a sword from his sheath Only for Bjorn to come in from out of nowhere. The man was forced to dodge. Shit! Emi and Mara ran in behind him, their weapons at the ready. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Well keep them busy, Nathan! Emi shouted. Take care of Vince! Chads neck snapped toward Vince. He wiped the vomit off his mouth and jumped forward. With a terrifying shriek, his katana sliced through the air toward Vinces neck at supersonic speed, the metallic shriek echoing in the silence. Then Vince vanished from view. Getting real sick of cheating shit! Chad said. Nathan twisted his hips and faced toward Vince, Hunters instinct guiding him. Vince hadnt gone far. Only a few feet away. Nathan ran forward and grabbed his harpoon from the tree, then dived forward and lined up a shot toward Vince. Vince screamed at the top of his lungs and held out his hand. A shimmering red barrier appeared. Nathan threw his harpoon forward. Unlike last time, the barrier seemed thinner and more fragile. The harpoon ground against the barrier for a split second, then the barrier shattered apart with a tinny sound. The harpoon flew forward and smashed into Vinces arm. The Pandora, which had been in Vinces hand, flew out and to the ground. A blood-curdling scream ripped out of Vince. You bastard! he shouted. Damn you! Nathan tensed his legs. Was Vince done? Doubtful. Vince reached into his inventory and pulled out another scroll. Another gift from the Head Hand, Vince said. Watch THIS! Nathan dived forward to grab it out of Vinces hand, but the scroll had already lit up. Nathans instincts screamed and he redirected to the left. A moment later, a red laser beam blinked past Nathan followed by a flash of heat. Behind him, a tree vanished from sight thanks to the laser. Vince grabbed Nathans harpoon and tugged it out of his arm. He growled and held his hands out. Two barriers appeared to Nathans left and right, then closed in on him with a snap. Nathan dived forward, but hed been too slow. He couldnt move. He was trapped. Youve got to be kidding me. It burns mana like a bitch, you know, Vince breathed deep. Ill have to spend a few days recovering after this, but itll all be worth it! The pressure increased, Nathan felt his body squish together in an uncomfortable way. Then Vince clenched the scrollbut he didnt point it at Nathan. He pointed it at Bjorn and Emi. The two were busy with Vinces men. Neither of them saw what was about to happen. Bjorn! Nathan shouted. Move! Bjorn didnt hear him. Emi, however, did. She caught his eye. Nathan stared at her and mouthed a single word: Please. Emis hands twitched. Each millisecond seemed to last hours. Her eyes flickered. Then she pointed her staff at Bjorn. The wind threw him several feet forward, and, at the same time, the force of her staff threw Emi backward into a messy heap on the ground. The laser shot out, obliterating what was left of Vinces own men. It flickered and disappeared. Bjorn pushed himself up and stared at Emi. Emi herself was staring at her hands like shed just murdered a small child. Before they could say anything, Nathan groaned loudly. A little help here, guys?! Nathan shouted. Bjorns neck snapped over toward Vince. He ran forward and swung his war hammer. Vinces eyes widened, he jumped away and the barrier disappeared. Nathan dropped to the ground, the rough gravel scratching his knees, and gasped for air. Vince held the laser-scroll in his hand and pointed it at Bjorn. Bjorn dropped to the ground. A second later, the laser beam shot out and hit the ground, melting the dirt in a single second. Nathan ran forward and picked up his harpoon. He jumped into the air, harpoon pointed down at Vince. Vince roared and his tattoos lit up red. A barrier appeared And Nathans harpoon broke through it. Vinces eyes widened and the two stumbled backward, right into the cold swirling river. Water flooded Nathans eyes and mouth. He couldnt see or think. Despite that, he could still sense every single thing in the stream. He swam through the fluid and grabbed Vince by the neck, then slammed him into the dirt of the riverbed. Vinces tattoos lit up red and a barrier materialized between Nathan and him. Nathan slammed his fist against the barrier and it shattered in one go. Vince lined up his laser-scroll and pointed it at Not at Nathan, but at a figures on the river bank. Chad. In a single moment, every single part of Nathan was in unison. Nathans stomach sank and he stretched out his hand To do what? To attack Vince? Not enough time, never enough time, damn it. Everything had slowed to a stop, but he couldnt do anything, he could never do anything There wasnt anyone on the shore, either, no Emi to save the day. But there was a technique that hed kept trying to use. A shield. It always failed He tapped into the core of his being. For a second, it flickered, then slipped through his hand like sand. The laser lit up. NO! Nathans soul burned with power and a blue, shimmering wall exploded to life in the path of the laser. Wave-like patterns shimmered, covering the translucent barrier. The smell of salt filled the river and in the distance, Nathan could hear the sound of waves. Tidal Shield. The laser blasted against the wall but it wouldnt budge. The laser vanished, revealing that no harm had been done to Chad. Oh, so that was the trick. Protection of others, not of myself. Kind of obvious in retrospect. Nathan reached out his hand and Riptide Grasp roared to life. The water bent and Vince was gripped toward Nathan before he knew what was happening. Nathan grabbed Vinces collar and they were propelled out of the water and onto the shore. The Pandora flew out of Vinces hand and onto the dirt. Vince coughed water. He tried to blink and move away, only for his hand to slip on the dirt. Nathan grabbed his harpoon from the side and stabbed Vince in the stomach. Vince let out a ferocious roar, and a shimmering energy barrier erupted, hurling Nathan several feet back from the Pandora with a bone-jarring thud. There was something else. A glitterit had come from the water at some point when he wasnt looking. He narrowed his eyes. A circlet? Crown of the Abyss (E+ Rank) Set Item (3 of 3) A circlet of gleaming silver etched with intricate wave-like patterns, adorned with small shards of deep-blue sea glass and a single, dark pearl at its center. The crown radiates an aura of quiet authority, as if touched by the profound depths of the ocean. Surge of the Abyss: When the wearers will is tested, the pearl glows faintly, releasing a burst of energy that momentarily amplifies all abilities, mirroring the oceans unstoppable power. Below, another message popped up. Set Bonus (All 3 Equipped): Harmony of the Tides: With the full set worn, the items resonate in unison, imbuing the wearer with an unparalleled connection to the oceans essence. Offensive, defensive, and supportive abilities synergize, granting a fleeting, but devastating tidal surge that can turn the tide of any battle. Nathan grabbed the crown. The metal was cold in his hand, but the moment it touched his skin, he felt a surge of power roll through him, steady and unrelenting like the pull of the tide. He hesitated for a heartbeat, then jammed it onto his head. The effect was immediate. Water exploded outward in all directions, spiraling into shimmering arcs before settling into a quiet, constant hum around him. Droplets hovered in the air, reflecting the light like tiny stars. A faint blue glow surrounded him, rippling like the surface of a restless ocean. The world seemed sharper, every sound and movement amplified as if the water itself was feeding him information. Nathan turned to face Vince. The man was on his knees, one hand pressed to his chest, blood dripping between his fingers. His glowing tattoos pulsed weakly, flickering like a candle about to go out. He met Nathans gaze, his expression defiant but faltering. Is that it? A fancy crown? Vince rasped, though his voice shook. Nathan didnt respond. He raised his hand, and the water around him surged to life. A wave formed in an instant, towering over Vince, its surface rippling with power. Before Vince could move, Nathan brought his hand down. The wave slammed into Vince with the force of a hurricane, lifting him off his feet and driving him backward. His body smashed into a tree, the crack of impact echoing across the battlefield. Vince slumped to the ground, his tattoos dimming completely as his head lolled to the side. He didnt move.
Nathan stared down at Vince. Still breathing. He briefly considered finishing the job, then the urge passed away as quickly as it came. He turned around toward the Pandora. Mara stepped over to Nathan. Are you going to take care of him? Nah. Mara stared at his eyes. She sighed. How disappointing. Behind him, he heard a loud shot. He glanced back to see Vince slumped over, blood pooling on the ground. Guess thats the end of that. He rolled the Pandora around, staring at the rainbow colors emanating from within. If I ate this, I might be able to get my arm back. It would be risky, though. Remember what Gius said? And Gius is soooo trustworthy. He probably wasnt lying about that, though. Stop delaying. Nathan gripped the Pandora tightly Then opened his mouth, put it in, and crushed down on it. The taste of rock and dirt filled his mouth. It was like hed just eaten a rock which wasnt that surprising, it was a giant crystal. He did it! Emi grabbed Mara and shook her back and forth. Hes going to ascend! Maras eyes rolled around in their sockets. I can seeurghthat! Nathan continued chewing, then swallowed. Ugh, that sucked, Nathan said. He looked at his arm stub. Somethings supposed to happen, isnt it? Pain shot up his spine like fire and he doubled over. Everything burned. His back, his shoulders, his stomach, everything. Molten lava traveled up and down his veins. He gripped his heart so hard he felt hed break his ribcage. Oh gods, is he okay? Emi stepped over to Nathan. What do you think? Chad said. The guys doubled over and his face just went pale. Im sure hes fine. And then Nathans skin started to glow. Everything itched from the inside. He clenched his fists. A second later, flames lit up across his skin. Chad, hes on fire, Emi said. Literally on fire. I noticed. And then, through the flames, he spotted his arm stub expand in length. Its finally happening Nathans internal compass screamed at the top of its lungs. Something was about to happen, something big. A moment later, the ground shook and Nathan almost fell to the ground. [Floor Requirements Cleared!] Congratulations, brave adventurer! Youve somehow managed to stumble, crawl, and probably scream your way through the First Circle! Your reward? A one-way ticket to the Second Circlebecause you clearly havent suffered enough yet. Prepare yourself for an exciting new challenge in a world of endless dunes, where the sandstorm never stops and hydration is less a necessity and more of a myth. Sunscreen? Optional. Sanity? Highly discouraged. Good luck, and remember: sand gets everywhere. Enjoy your stay! Oh, and I decided to speed things along and drop you in right now. Thats not good. Just as soon as Nathan finished reading the message, he spotted the portal forming underneath him and underneath every single person around him. Emi and Chad stared up at him, expressions of shock on their faces. Mara tried to step out, only to be blocked by a shimmering barrier. Another system message popped up. [Message From: Gius] Nathan, the Divine Seed has gone berserk. We believe its attempting to spread its roots along the soul corridor between here and you. Thats REALLY not good. Nathan looked back at his regrowing arm. The feeling had started to come back to his regrowing section of arm. It felt like its insides were all twisted and warped, like vines tangled together, like his skins was in knots. The portal opened up, and Nathan fell down. The last thing he saw was the sight of the stars overhead disappearing from sight.
Nathan fell for what felt like hours. It was a black and inky void. Nothing for miles, the only thing to focus on was the pain running up and down his body. And oh god was it painful. It was like he was being reconstructed from the ground up, then destroyed, over and over again. Hed stopped paying attention to his arm, too distracted by the sensation of his skull shattering then being reborn. It ached. He couldnt move. He couldnt swallow. He couldnt think. Distantly on top of his head, he could see his thin crown suddenly glow brightly. Then it all disappeared. The pain, the burns, all of it. Visions passed through his mind so quickly he could barely keep up with them. Visions of the sea and of salt and a voice whispering something over and over. Meet me where the ocean meets the land. How poetic. And cryptic. And inconvenient. He fell to the ground. Hot sand burned against his palms. He pushed himself up and was almost blinded by the brightness of the sun. He blinked and let his eyes adjust. After a few seconds, he could finally make out the world around him. He was on top of a desert dune. Wind splashed across his back and sand blew forward. In the distance, he spotted a massive swirling dust storm extending from one edge of the horizon to the other. Wait palms? Nathan slowly pulled both of his hands up and stared at them. He blinked. Wait a second He had both of his hands back. But one of them was looking a little greener than normal. He stared at his regrown hand for several seconds. Why are there plants growing from my arm? As if in response, the vines on his hand exploded out and smacked some random cactus, crushing it on the spot. Huh. Thats new. System B32 was seething. If he had a face, itd be red. If he had a desk, hed be pounding it. But alas, he was just an amorphous eldritch AI floating in the fifth dimension, absolutely losing his metaphorical mind. Why? Because there was an annoying human-shaped fly that just wouldnt die. B32 glared at the latest report. Vince had one job. One! Eat the Pandora crystal. Murder Nathan. Easy-peasy. But oh, no. Apparently, humans have this weird thing about not eating mysterious glowing cubes of doom that cause immense pain. Real picky, these mortals. B32 scrolled through the disaster file. Nathans improbable feats stared back at him like mocking graffiti. The spider plan? Failed. Because of the lunatic with a fun obsession and homemade grenades. The ascension potion ploy? Oh, that was a riot. Hed dropped an artifact of godlike power directly into Vinces lap. Maximum subtlety, zero chance of failure. Right? WRONG. Nathan had somehow turned the encounter into a joke and walked away victorious. Then there was the werewolf raid. That should have been a slam dunk. Except, of course, Nathan won by using the power of friendship. And also rhubarb. B32 didnt even know what rhubarb was until that day, and now he hated it with a passion. Every plan, every contingency, every move had been thwarted by sheer nonsense. And now Nathan was on his way to the Second Circle, all smiles and OP protagonist energy. God. Damn it. At the very least, the System had managed to make sure they were separated instead of going as a group. of course, Nathan would figure out the trick to getting people across circles, if he hadnt figured it out already. Really, B32 was seriously starting to wonder what was up with his luck? Nathan was good, but there was something else at work something he didnt have a full grasp on. He shook his (metaphysical) head. There were more important things to attend to. Like how he was going to defeat Nathan before Dave came in to turn B32 into stardust. As B32 stared through spacetime, he caught sight of a certain individual. The leader of some organization. Hes not too far from Nathan. Perhaps he might have the kind of power needed to take down this cheating jackass? B32 paused. Wait, no, thats an awful idea. What if he loses? Nathan will just get even more powerful. No I need to keep Nathan out of conflict. Keep him distracted. He double-checked Nathans psyche report, written by one of B32s subsystems. He loves side quests, doesnt he? Well, how about I turn that to my advantage? Theres an oasis kingdom in the midst of a crisis. Food shortages. Nathan wont be able to help but hell try. And hell burn valuable time that shouldve been spent grinding. The plan was foolproof. B32 laughed slowly, the sound growing louder and louder with each second. He stopped. Im just laughing alone in an infinite 5D void. Whats wrong with me? He looked back at Nathan. His mental tendrils swiped through the settings. Prepare to meet your downfall. Behind him, a notification sounded that Vince had managed to redirect his portal to someone he knew using an artifact. B32 ignored the notification. It wasnt important. Vince fell to the sand in a tumble. He didnt have long. Every second that passed, blood leaked from his chest and all over the ground like some kind of sick slasher movie. A figure in front of him, looming over Vince. Vince, he said. What are you doing here? Youre supposed to be with your men. S-sir! Vince coughed. I have news. Oh? My men have been eliminated. The entire force? Yes, sir. The entire force. Whos responsible for this? Seconds left. Vince gripped his wound. Nathan Lee! His vision went dark. The world disappeared. Oh, so this is what dying''s like. And then it was over. 46 - Friends are temporary. Clout is eternal. [Quests Updated!] [New Feature Added: Dither] New updates. Nathan was about to check them out when he stopped and looked back at his new arm. He lifted it up and down. In the background, the desert wind swept across his cheeks, carrying away a droplet of sweat that had appeared on his brow. He reached his (non-plant) hand up and tapped it against his new arm. He could feel the tapping, but it was distant, muffled, like the sensation was being felt through a layer of glass. He turned his head back toward another cactus and tossed his arm out. In a split-second, vines with thorny tips burst forth and stabbed into the cactus, and it burst apart into dozens of shattered plant material. Nathans jaw dropped. A moment later, the vines receded back into his plant arm. He took a closer look at where his arm stub had been. There didnt seem to be a point at which his flesh turned to plant. The transition was so smooth and seamless that he might not have noticed it at all. What is this thing? he muttered. A split-second later, he felt a tingle roll up his bones. Something sprouted from his arm. A rose head unfolded itself before Nathan, its pattern a familiar half-black, half-white. Its you, Nathan said. The flower tilted toward him ever so slightly. I guess Gius and Papim werent kidding about unexpected side effects. Out of nowhere, another vine burst forth from his arm and stabbed through another cactusthis time, without his will. Oh, thats concerning. If that happened to some random individual as he was passing by, hed be charged with murder. Um, flower-thing? Nathan said. Can you not murder people? You know, because thatll get me in trouble? The flower didnt respond. Nathan sighed. And now Ive been reduced to talking to a plant. Awesome. What I wouldnt do to have my friends with me Nathan looked back at his notifications. I should probably check this out, huh? Nathan started with the quest bar. The first thing he noticed was that the Global Quest bar had been greyed out and blurred. He tapped on the menu. Nothing. He tapped again, still nothing. He frowned and drew his finger away. Why would I be unable to access this? Isnt it important to getting out of here? Well, then again, supposedly anyone can accomplish the Global Quests, right? Im sure someone else will take care of things. All at once, a wave of relief slammed into Nathan. There would be no death-defying quests, there would be no desperate battlesnot if he didnt want it. He was free to do whatever he wanted. He hadnt realized how stress-inducing it was during the first Circle. Hed dug it deep down, but the whole thing had been incredibly nerve-wracking. He had a duty, a job, to get the Pandora for the sake of his fellow man, open the portal, and stop the Harrowed Hand. And now he didnt. All of a sudden, he felt a shiver go down his spine. Hopefully I didnt just jinx myself He opened his menu and clicked on personal skills. Instantly, five quests appeared in rapid succession. [Upgrade Riptide Grasp to Bronze+ Rank] [Upgrade Oceans Embrace to Bronze+ Rank] [Upgrade Tidal Shield to Bronze+ Rank] Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. [Upgrade Throw Harpoon to Bronze+ Rank] [Obtain ability: Summon Fish] [Upgrade Class to Silver Rank] All of those seemed interesting, but he clicked on the final one. [Upgrade Class to Silver Rank] You have done well. At every turn, you have continued to surpass my expectations. At every turn, the System has been dealt a blow. At every turn, your strength has only grown. I chose correctly. Continue to develop, Nathan Lee. Upgrade each of your skills, obtain the Heart of the Desert. And most importantly, find me where the ocean meets the land. Before Nathan could react to this, the message disappeared before his eyes. [Upgrade Class to Silver Rank] -Upgrade all Ocean Warden skills -Learn Summon Fish -Obtain and use the Heart of the Desert Okay, what the heck just happened? That was a message, right? A message straight from the Sea. And then it just vanished. It was like itd never even been there. Had he just hallucinated the whole thing? No, I cant doubt my senses; thats just going to drive me crazy. For now, Nathan was just going to do what the quests said: continue to develop. He added a small mental note: and stay out of trouble, too. The faint smell of salt filled his nose before vanishing as quickly as it came. If he didnt know any better, he couldve sworn that he heard the cry of a gull and a faint laugh on the breeze. He moved to the next quest menu. Side Quests. ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? Nathan blinked. He had side quests now! He just had no idea what they were. I really hope that theres a way to figure out what these are. Otherwise, this is going to be really inconvenient really fast. One final notification he had to look at: [New Feature Added: Dither] He clicked the notification. A new window popped up. The bottom was divided up into four bars: Home Feed, Communities, Videos, Messages, and Profile. Home feed was currently selected, revealing post after post after post. [Water4Days]: Wait, what is this? Why am I getting notifications in my HUD? Is this another trap??? [RockThrower69]: Tell me about it, this is so bizarre. [ShieldBae]: Who thought it was a good idea to add a social feed in the middle of the apocalypse? I dont need likes, I need a way to destroy the Dustend so we can finish the main quest! [StillAlive27]: Preach. Can I trade my follower count for a bandage? [SystemOfficial]: No. [DefinitelyNotDying]: Great, now I can live tweet my death. [YouWillBeMissed]: Please dont. [BearSurvivor90] Just got mauled. One star. Would not recommend. [TruthSeeker123]: That wasnt a bear. It was a bioweapon. The bears died out years ago. Open your eyes. [ThirstyForVictory]: Whats the point of followers if were all going to die? Asking for a friend [TheRealHero]: Friends are temporary. Clout is eternal. [TruthSeeker]: SYSTEM SOCIAL MEDIA IS A HONEYPOT. Dont post. Theyre tracking our every move. If you read this, its already too late. After scrolling for a minute, Nathan came across a post by the System. [SystemOfficial]: Social Media Activated: Use this feature to connect with other survivors! Likes and reposts now contribute to your social score. Social score has no current use. Have fun! [SurvivorInDenial] Why are you like this? Nathan clicked over to the communities tab to check that out. Second Circle Survivors Description: For those whove just made it to the Second Circle and have no idea whats going on. Share tips and vent your frustrations. Nathan clicked on the community. [Water4Days]: Does anyone know if were supposed to be building alliances or just hoarding stuff? #Help #SecondCircle [ShieldBae]: Alliances are a scam. Hoard everything. Yeah, thats exactly the attitude we need to reach the bottom. Nathan clicked on Videos next. No one had posted anything except for a video titled Test. Nathan ignored it and shifted over to messages. Once again, nothing. Nathan clicked on the final one, profile. Nathan Lee (Rank: 1) There was a box to change his biography and add a profile picture. Nathan ignored it and went back to the home feed. He typed out a quick message and submitted it. [Nathan Lee]: Hi everyone. I was looking for my friends, Chad Mann, Emi, Bjorn, and Mara. Has anyone seen them on this platform? Thanks. Nathan then exited out of the menu. His thoughts drifted back to his friends. He hoped hed be able to find them on the social media platform, and he hoped that thered be a way for them to meet up. Nathan stared off into the distance. His clothes brushed against his body as he shifted his neck. In the distance, Nathan spotted the massive storm that had stretched from horizon to horizon. If he didnt know any better, hed say that it was getting closer. Fast. The winds howled even from the long distance. Lightning crackled from within, lighting up the storm with flashes of violet. The dunes below were destroyed and leveled into random valleys and hills. The breeze kicked up, flapping Nathans clothes. He looked down. Its kind of amazing that this suit has held up as long as it has. Shouldnt it have fallen apart by now? Hed had it since the start of this whole mess. Its survived monster attacks, people attacks, attack-attacks. It was ripped to pieces and barely held together by a handful of strings. Nathan bent his back to get a better look and heard a long ripping noise. A half-second later, his suit flopped to the ground, leaving him in nothing but underwear. Nathan blinked slowly. Thats not good. The sound of wind caught his attention. He turned back toward the storm. It had definitely gotten closer since he had last checked. Thats definitely not good. Nathan looked back. There was nowhere to run. There was nowhere to hide. He clenched his jaw. Alright then, this wont be too bad. Probably. Lightning cracked. The wind howled. And the world turned to a cacophony of dust and noise. 47 - Jafar-lite The storm was rapidly approaching, and Nathan didnt have much in the way of escape or shelter. I guess Ill have to ride it out. Nathan briefly considered opening his town portal before he shook his head. It would take five minutes to open, and the storm was going to get to him in around three. A flicker of worry ran down his spine. The storm was clearly unnatural. It extended on for infinity, and the purple lightning was obviously magical in nature. Ive got E-rank power now, but I dont want to take the risk of getting exposed to something. His eyes darted around for a cave of some sort. Nothing. Nathan looked down at his feet. He started digging with his hands. Thanks to his enhanced strength, he was able to make a fairly solid foxhole. As he dug, the sound of the storm grew louder and louder. Done. He jumped into the foxhole. A moment later, the howl of the wind grew to a persistent crescendo, and the sun was blotted out by the dust of the storm. Lightning cracked in the air of the storm, and the air lit up with a bright purple glow. A moment later, the sound arrived and slammed into Nathans eardrums. Call me crazy, but I dont think this is natural. Despite the chaos overhead, Nathans foxhole held up against the storm. Sand splashed inside, but not so much that he got covered. If it got to be too much, hed be able to just shovel it out. Nathan felt his heart slow down. This wasnt too bad. Hed be able to ride this out relatively easily. At least, that was the plan. At first, Nathan was able to manage without much thinking. But the storm kept going and going and going. Itd already been an hourmaybe two hours, it was hard to telland the wind had yet to let up. In fact, it had gotten worse. Nathan was constantly shoveling with his hands to keep himself from getting buried alive. It was getting harder to breathe, as well. His nose was clogged with dust, and his lungs were starting to burn. It wasnt just the dust, thoughNathan was fairly certain he shouldve been able to handle that with his Constitution. No, there was something else in the air, sapping at his strength like a thick blanket laid over the air. Another half hour passed, and Nathan noted that the sand had gotten up to his chest. Im going to get buried alive. Was that such a bad thing, though? As long as he had his head out, hed be able to breathe Breathe the same toxic, dust-filled air that was lighting up his insides like a Christmas tree. Ive got to make a break for it. If Nathan was lucky, maybe hed be able to run against the storm and make it out. Maybe he was close to the end. Or maybe hed just have to buckle down, fold his back, and hope for the best. Either way, he wasnt going to stay here. Nathan jumped out of the hole. The first thing Nathan noticed was the feeling of daggers raking across his skin. Every single flying grain of sand felt like a sharp knife. A piece of armora pauldron sailed past Nathan. He spotted a symbol. Bjorns symbol, the symbol of his squadron. In the distance, Nathan caught sight of long wormlike figures darting through the sand Wait, Bjorns symbol? That means that his squad is here, maybe even him! The world glowed. Nathan shut his eyes and ducked his head in an attempt to protect his vision. Nearby, a loud boom cracked, and the world lit up with light. Nathan felt like he could barely breathe. It wasnt just the dust; it was like the air itself was filled with some kind of poison. His lungs burned from the effort, and every part of his insides screamed with pain. What the hell is up with this storm!? Nathan needed to get out of here, fast. He reached out his hand and tried to summon the portal. His concentration was broken by a sand grain cutting his shoulders. He tried again. The same thing occurred. I shouldve opened up my town portal earlier. Nathan cursed himself for his foolishness. It took five minutes of focus to open up his portalif hed just opened it up earlier when he saw the storm in the distance But then again, there was no way I could have known just how dangerous this was. Nathan opened his eyes. He looked back at his shoulder. Red blood seeped from his skin and ran down his arm in rivuletshe didnt even want to look at his back. That ascension to E-rank really isnt helping my constitution out here! In the distance, Nathan spotted a figure. Someone was in the storm, red eyes staring at him. Nathan felt his blood chill. Something about the creature made his instincts go haywire. It was like hed spotted death itself. Nathan planted his feet in the ground. Hell no. If it comes down to a battle, Im not going without a fight. The figure with red eyes seemed to have gotten closer. Nathan pushed through the pain and tried to reach into his inventory, only for another cut to scratch his arm open. Nathan glanced over at his plant arm. Unlike his normal arm, it remained unblemished, the only damage to it being thin, pale scratches. Nathan reached out his arm to strike at the figurehe paused. The smell of ozone filled the air. Shivers ran down his spine. He looked up just in time to see purple light. The color of the lightning bolt. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The bolt rushed toward him faster than he could even blink. For one split-second, pain like hed never known before rushed up and down his body Then he lost consciousness and knew no more.
The light beat against Nathans eyelids while the warm desert breeze brushed against his lips. A shadow blocked the sun, cooling his body. And? Is he alive? Why do you insist on wasting your time with this stranger, nephew? No one has ever survived direct exposure to the Dustend. Uncle, please. Is he alive? Yes, Uncle, listen to your king! Tch. Fine. Hes alive, but he wont be for long. I give him an hour, maybe more Pain arched up and down Nathans back like electricity. He groaned and plugged his ears. Can you all please be quiet? Nathan asked. He lives! Thats pretty wild! How curious Nathans eyes snapped open. Three faces were leaned over his own, their expressions ranging from disdain to shock to curiosity. The first face he noticed was the oldest one. He was an older man, his figure bent and crooked like a nasty twig. His hair was greasy like he hadnt had a shower in weeks, while his nose was upturned in Nathans direction. He was dressed in black, jeweled clothes, and he had an oversized hat with a ruby set in the center. He looked down at Nathan with narrowed eyes. How did you survive? I Oh, lay off him. Hes clearly been through a ton! The person whod spoken up was a woman. She was dressed in rougher clothes than the other two, more plain and rugged. There were no jewels on her. She seemed to be a young adult from what Nathan could tell. Please, can both of you be silent? The older man and the younger woman stopped talking. The older man bowed. Of course my king. Thank you, Uncle. The third personhe was the youngest of them all, barely a teenager with how youthful his face looked. Despite that, he had the most aged eyes out of all of them. On top of his head, a thin gold crown sat like a crowning gem. Tell me, stranger, the boy asked. Who are you?
Nathan rubbed the back of his head. He stared over all three in turn. Who are these people? Were they Delvers, like him? After a moment of thought, Nathan guessed no. They just didnt have the air of power that Nathan associated with most Delvers. On top of that Their clothes. Not a single Delver Nathan had met thus far had such nice clothes. There was no time to attend to things like that in the apocalypse. In the background, Nathan saw something flicker in the distance. He scrambled backwards. A herd of worms sailed through the air. They were smaller than the big worms that had attacked Nathans town in the past Monster! Nathan shouted. The teenager turned his head toward the worms. What? Those are just sandworms, he said. Nathan felt a flicker of confusion cross his mind. The oldest man coughed. Answer the kings question, please. Nathan pushed himself up to a sitting position. He almost collapsed from the painful shock of doing so. Before he fell, he caught himself with his arm. Are you well?! the young king asked. Ask the Dustend survivor if hes well. Nice going, the young woman said. The oldest man glanced at the woman with a raised eyebrow, but didnt say anything. Apologies, Nathan said. My name is Nathan Lee. Nathan waited for any flickers of recognition, any sign that theyd seen his name from the top of the leaderboard. Nothing. Theyre not Delvers. Then what does that make them? Nathan Lee? the young king asked. Ive not heard such a name before. The womans eyes widened. Hes an outworlder? Impossible! Everyone knows that those are myths! Nathan held up his hand. Um, can I ask where I am? And what that storm was, and who you people are? The young king smiled. Of course, stranger. I am Zayen. The grumpy man is my uncleOmarn. And the beautiful woman you see before you is my cousin, Rami. Nathan gave them a nod. A pleasure to meet you. Omarn sniffed. Rami smiled and gave a little wave. The storm was something called the Dustend, Zayen said. A curse upon our land, no one has ever survived direct exposure well, before you, anyway. How did you survive anyway? Rami said. Does it have something to do with your weird arm? Omarn glared at Nathan. Ive been wondering about that as well. I dismissed it earlier since I was more concerned about the fact that you were still alive, but what is wrong with your arm? Erm its a long story. Zayen hummed. You asked where you are, correct? Yeah, Id appreciate the information. You are in the Kingdom of Sandara, land of the eternal sun, Zayen said. My homeland, and the principality over which I rule. Nathan blinked. Wait, youre royalty? Nathan said. Did the crown not give it away? Rami asked. Nathan scratched the back of his head. Sorry if I was being rude, Nathan said. Ive never run across royalty. Zayen laughed. Its fine. Im not a fan of the formalities anyway. Rami cracked a smile. Omarn frowned. You still havent answered where youre from, Omarn said. We know nothing about this man. He could be a spy, my king! Im doubtful of that. He doesnt have the character of a spy. No spy would be so obvious, Zayen said. Besides, we havent given him a chance to speak. Nathan scratched the back of his head. Do you guys know what the Nine Circles are? he asked. Omarn snorted. Of course we know. Its part of that old myth that claims were trapped and that theres a world beyond our own. Ridiculous. How do those myths go? Nathan said. They say that long ago, there was a world we used to live in, Zayen said. A world of plenty, free of monsters, the Dustend, and even the System, where the ground was green and the harvest was plentiful. They say that we were trapped here, and that this is not our true home. But its all myth, of course, Omarn said. Nothing but nonsense. Rami crossed her arms. I, for one, think that its quite possible. Quiet, Rami. You are still a girl, unknown to the ways of the world, Omarn said. You still believe in fantasies. I, for one, believe in reality. And the reality is that we have a stranger before us, someone weve never met, and we continue to deliberate on the obviousthat he should be put in jail! Nathan ignored the other two and focused on Zayen. I know this might seem difficult to believe, Zayen, but Im from that outside world. Whats more, all those myths, I think theyre true. What are you talking about? Zayen said. Nathan paused. How exactly were you supposed to explain that they were living in a fake alternate dimension created by some kind of multiversal System-monster-thingy? Um, Nathan began. Basically theres another world outside of this one and thats where I came from. Zayen quirked an eyebrow. Interesting. And howd you end up here? There was this weird message that popped up from the System and it said that wed been selected for the apocalypse. The next thing I knew, I was teleported to some barren wasteland out in the middle of nowhere and told that we basically had to go through these, like, Nine Circles to return home. And what Circle are we on? Zayen said. The second. It matches the myths, Zayen noted. Omarn sneered. Of course it does. This is clearly an elaborate ruse! Zayen shot his uncle a disapproving look but didnt interrupt. Nathan sighed, running his hand through his hair. I dont have a dog in this fight, so believe what you want, but Im telling the truth. The young king strokes his chin. Lets say, for a moment, that I believe you. What would you have us do? Abandon our lives, our kingdom, and chase after some green paradise that may not even exist? No, Nathan said. I dont care what you doIm just saying the truth because thats what you asked for. Zayen sighed. I want to believe you. I really do. But my people are starving. Our farms are failing, the Dustend grows worse by the day, and I am already running out of options to keep this kingdom alive. I cannot chase legends when my people are dying. Nathan opened his mouth to protest, but before he could speak, a familiar ding echoed in front of him. [Side Quest: The Roots of the Problem] The farms of Sandara are failing, and the kingdom is on the brink of collapse. Restore the fields and ensure a sustainable food supply for the people. Reward: Increased favor with the Kingdom of Sandara. XP. Failure Penalty: Starvation and unrest in the kingdom. Do you accept this quest? Y/N A chill ran down Nathans spine. Side Quest. SIDE QUEST. SIIIDDEEE QUESSTT!??? Zayen peeked over Nathans shoulder. Oh? How curious, he said. Omarn narrowed his eyes. You can assist with our food crisis? Nathan nodded. The System seems to think so, Nathan said. I have a proposal, Zayen said. Why dont we let him go with Rami and she can investigate the truth of his claims? Rami raised an eyebrow. Cousin? Shes a strong young woman, so there is no danger of her being hurt, Zayen said. And she is very intelligent. Im sure she can discern the truth of the matter. Omarns nose twitched. Are you set on this, my king? Yes, Omarn. It wont even be for long, just to supervise him while he attempts to repair our farm system. For a moment, Nathan was reminded of a similar exchange between himself and Gius. Very well, my king. Your will shall be done. Nathan was about to walk away when he paused. By the way, have any of you seen any giant green men? What? This might be a long shot, but if you could keep an eye out for me? The king shrugged. Sure. Nathan looked out over the desert. He was pretty sure that Sticks would be able to help him outand while he was there, hed be able to check in on his town. This is going to be fun. Nathan stopped. Oh, and I need some new clothes. 48 - Does This Remind You of Anything? Nathan followed behind Rami. His footsteps sunk into the sand. He nearly tripped before he caught himself. Rami, meanwhile, moved with experienced grace and easeshe was clearly no stranger to the sands. Overhead, Nathans newfound turban brushed against his head. It was surprisingly breathable. His entire outfit had been changed out with clothes of a similar type, of loose fabric and white colors. In the distance, Nathan spotted another sandworm flying through the air before sinking into the ground. His body tensed, and he froze in place. Rami stopped and turned around. Why did you stop? Rami asked. Justmonsters freak me out, you know? Theyre not monsters, Nathan, Rami said. As we explained, theyre fairly docile. We use them as domesticated animals. Nathan pursed his lips, then followed behind Rami. In the distance, he spotted a building. As he got closer, he noted the fact that the soil was differentless sand, more actual dirt. Whats this place? Nathan said. Someones home? No, this is a farm. But where are all the crops? Ramis fingers twitched. Now you see why Zayen was willing to let you go so easily. Because at this point, well take any help we can get. Thats concerning They walked up to the building. The door swung open, revealing a man with ragged clothes and thin cheeks. His eyes were narrowed, and his hand was hovering over a knife on his belt. What are you doing here? he said. Who are you? Ramis face tightened. You speak to Rami, of royal lineage. Hold your tongue. Nathan glanced at her. Her demeanour had changed entirely from earlier. There was none of the lazy coolness. Now she reminded Nathan of a stiff tree. The man stiffened. My apologies, my lady. I didnt recognize you. Obviously. Damn, shes being kind of mean, isnt she? The man bowed his head. If I might ask, my lady, why are you at my humble abode? The king has dispatched this man to assist the farmers of Sandara. The man snorted. No offense to you, my lady, but I doubt this man will be able to do very much. Unless he can summon water from midair, then he wont be of much help. I can do that, actually, Nathan said. But thats a short-term solution. The man tilted his head. What? Why do you need water? Nathan said. How did you get water in the past? The man blinked. I used to have a well, but it dried up, the farmer said. Most of the farmers around here have had the same problem. At that point, the only option is to go to the river, but my farm is too far away from there for that to be a practical option. Even then, the crops near the river have been dying anyway, so who knows what the hell has been going on? So what do you plan to do? Nathan said. Probably sell this placethough I wont get anything for it, realistically. Still, its the best I can do. Hold that thought, Nathan said. Huh? Nathan turned around and shut his eyes. Whats he doing? the farmer said. I dont know. Nathan ignored them. Voices were easy to ignore compared to a goddamn magical hurricane. After five minutes, the white portal to his town appeared. What the hell!? Oh my goodness! Nathan walked through the portal and shut it behind himself without a second thought.
The sound of hammers striking nails hit Nathans ear. Nathan barely had a second to blink before a wood beam sailed toward his face. Duck! someone shouted. Nathan did so and the beam sailed harmlessly by. The light of the portal disappeared, revealing construction en masse at a scale Nathan had never seen before. Every single building in his city was being rebuilt from the ground up. We need a six footer over here! someone shouted. Coming right up! Nathan stared at the buildings. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Theyve really gotten to work. He started walking to the meeting hall when he spotted noise up ahead. He squinted his eyes. There were two hordes of people shouting at each other in front of the meeting hall. One side was composed mostly of werewolves with a handful of mushroom people, while the other side was composed entirely of mushroom people. These restrictions are completely unreasonable! a werewolf shouted. We have to apply for a temporary house using eight different forms. EIGHT! This is the way weve always done things! another mushroom person on the other side said. Its not our fault youre unable to adapt! The werewolf grinded his teeth together. Nathan stiffened. This could end badly. He speed-walked toward the two groups. As he got closer, he caught sight of a figure in the middle. Gius, standing between the two. Everyone, your grievances will be settled! Gius shouted. The council is in deliberation as we speak! What council!? someone shouted. A council composed entirely of mushroom people and Contractists!? How is that reasonable!? The council must begin segregation immediately! someone shouted. Segregation!? We will not be pushed off to the side Nathan stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled as loudly as he could. The shrill sound was so loud it instantly caused everyone to stop talking and shut their ears. A mushroom person blinked and pulled his hands away from his ears. I-its Nathan! Nathan will know what to do! Y-yes, of course! Nathan marched toward Gius and leaned in. What the hell happened!? he hissed under his breath. The inevitable happened, Gius said. Did you seriously think granting citizenship to a foreign army would go over smoothly? The werewolves were unable to find temporary housing, and this is the result youre seeing before you. Nathan glanced over at the werewolves. Shit, he said. Indeed. Public confidence in the council has fallen overnight, and it doesnt help that the council isnt united. Weve become divided over party lines. Party lines!? Were getting political now!? I know this is much to ask, my lord, but you need to deal with the mob. Nathan bit his bottom lip. He straightened his back and leveled a glare at both sides. This will be solved! he shouted. I will speak with the council, and well arrange temporary housing for the werewolves. The rights and customs of the mushroom people will be respected. In the meantime, I expect all of you not to act like a deranged mob! There was no response. More than a few people looked at the ground, avoiding Nathans gaze. What are you still doing here!? Nathan said. Get out! One by one, the crowd slowly departed from the town square until the only ones left were Gius and Nathan. Nathan looked up at the meeting hall. Were going inside, and were going to figure this out, he said. Now.
As Nathan approached the Meeting Hall doors, he could overhear voices inside. I cant believe youre being so insipid! Theyre right to be angry, itll take them days to figure out these forms! Why cant you make it simpler for them?! Because our law requires it. I dont understand whats so hard to comprehend about this. Simplifying the process is not legal. Come on, surely theres a way around it, some loophole! I designed the law myself. Even if there was a loophole, it would be problematic for me to YOU ARE LITERALLY THE PROBLEM! Nathan swung the council doors open, and the voices froze. Vee was halfway across the table, arms outstretched toward Burraus neck. Shed stopped midway through the motion and had the distinct look of a deer in headlights. Around her, the rest of Nathans council had similar looks. On one side of the table was Bricks, Sticks, and Vee. On the other side was Burrau, Papim, and Casc. Fuge was off to the side, a smirk on her face. What are you doing? Nathan asked. Vee awkwardly crawled back toward her seat. Nathan let the heavy doors swing shut behind him, the echo ringing out like a judges gavel. He walked toward the table. Everyone at the table squirmed under his gaze. Gius, Nathan said. Take a seat and try not to let anyone strangle anyone else. Gius inclined his head. Of course. He moved over to the right-hand side of Nathans chair. Nathan planted his hands on the table and leaned forward, his glare sweeping across the group. Start talking. I was gone for a few hours. What the hell happened? Vee raised a hesitant hand. In my defense, Ive only attempted to strangle someone three times this week, which is down from my usual five. You shouldnt be strangling anyone, Vee, Nathan said. Burrau adjusted his glasses, his expression imperious. This entire debacle is the result of poor planning. Had the council properly assessed the legal ramifications of werewolf citizenship Stop. Nathan held up a hand. You implemented a legal process thats impossible for werewolves to navigate? Its not impossible, Burrau said. Its just thorough. Ensuring proper documentation prevents future disputes. Vee groaned. Proper documentation?! Its bureaucracy for the sake of bureaucracy! These people need roofs over their heads, not a crash course in mushroom law! Mushroom law is the foundation of our society! Papim said. Our laws are sacred. The werewolves must respect our traditions if they wish to live here! Nathan turned his glare on Papim. And how exactly does sacred law justify letting families sleep on the streets? Papim faltered. Well, I didnt say You didnt not say it, Vee cut in. Face it, youre just as bad as Burrau Nathan rapped his knuckles on the table. Enough. This isnt about pointing fingers. Bricks, who had been quietly chewing on the end of a pencil, raised a hand. There are housing shortages, so Burrau isnt entirely wrong to be so careful. Weve been slapping homes together as fast as we can, but there are only so many hands to go around. And, uh, some of those hands arent exactly welcome in certain neighborhoods. He gave a pointed look at Casc. Casc bristled. Are you accusing me of blocking construction? My lands are already overcrowded with refugees, and my tenants are furious! Oh, cry me a river, Sticks said. Youve got more land than you know what to do with. Maybe stop hoarding it like a dragon. Cascs face reddened. How dare you Stop! Nathan shouted. The room fell silent again. This is ridiculous. Were supposed to be leaders, not a bunch of squabbling kids. Burrau opened his mouth, but Nathan cut him off with a sharp glare. No more excuses. Were going to fix this. Now. He gestured to Bricks. You said the builders are stretched thin. What do you need? More builders, Bricks said. We could use werewolves, honestly. Theyre strong and fast, but, uh He glanced at Burrau. Paperworks been an issue. Nathan turned to Burrau. Fix it. Burraus jaw dropped. But the law Fix it, or Ill personally make you fill out every form for every werewolf in this town. Clear? Burrau sulked in his chair. Crystal. Nathan looked at Gius. How can we streamline the housing process without breaking the law? Simple, Gius said. We create a temporary permit. Itll have minimal paperwork and allow us to get homes sorted in a relatively smooth fashion. We can deal with the long-term aspect at a later date. Burrau opened his mouth to protest, but Nathan cut him off. Do it. Burrau paused. Very well. Nathan turned to Casc. Your lands overcrowded? Fine. Well designate additional areas for temporary housing. But youre not going to raise a stink from here on out and youre not going to get in the way of the builders. Casc sniffed. I suppose thats acceptable. Nathans gaze swept the room. And the rest of youfigure out how to make this transition as smooth as possible. No more infighting. No more excuses. Were solving this together, or so help me, Ill lock you all in here until you do. The room was silent for a beat, and then Gius spoke from the corner. A sensible plan. Perhaps now we can focus on the real work. Nathan sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. Good. Lets get to it. The council started talking, discussing how to get things done. Nathan walked over to Sticks and tapped him on the shoulder. Hey, Nathan said. Come with me, I need your help with something. Sticks glanced back. Of course. I dont think Ill be of much help here anyway. The two left the meeting hall. 49 - 100000 Hours In Stardew Valley Nathan crossed his arms. So? What do you think? Sticks rubbed the dirt between his fingers. Well, theyve got a couple of problems on their hands. For one, most of the arable soil has been blown away. It looks like yall never practiced crop rotation. The farmer man blinked. Um what? Sticks stood up from his kneeling position and faced the farmer. Rami stared at nathan with a confused expression. Nathan clapped his hands together, cutting through the tension. Alright, Sticks. Lets start with the soil. Sticks nodded, running his fingers through the dirt again. This stuffs practically dead. No nutrients, no life. You cant grow anything decent in this. What crops did you try planting here? The farmer scratched his head. Uh, wheat? Barley? Whatever seeds I could find at the market. Sticks sighed. That explains part of it. Monocropping without proper soil care drains everything out. Youve got to rotate cropsswitch between things like legumes, grains, and something like mushrooms to replenish the soil. Mushrooms? The farmers face twisted in confusion. Arent those just mold? Excuse you! Sticks said. Mushrooms are a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture. They break down organic matter and return nutrients to the soil. Nathan rubbed his chin. Wait a second, isnt this just like Farm Simulator 2000? if we combine that with irrigation channels for steady water flow, Nathan said. You could even try companion planting. You know, putting crops together that help each other grow. Stickss eyebrows raised. You know your stuff. Oh god, it really is just like Farm Simulator 2000. The farmer squinted. And where am I supposed to get water for these irrigation channels? Do you see a river nearby? Id bet we can find an underground water source and set up a pump or something, Nathan said. Power it with wind. A pump? Rami crossed her arms, frowning. This all sounds good in theory, but itll take ages to implement. Youre asking him to rebuild his entire farm from the ground up. Nathan snapped his fingers. Actually, no. Watch this. He turned and walked toward the white portal. The farmer and Rami exchanged bewildered glances as he disappeared into the swirling light. Is he running away? the farmer asked. Seconds later, the portal glowed again, and Nathan emerged with a procession of workers behind him. The werewolves, burly and eager, carried irrigation pipes on their shoulders, while mushroom folk rolled barrels of compost. Alright, team! Nathan called. This farms getting a glow-up. Sticks, take the lead on soil prep. Bricks, coordinate the irrigation system. Lets move! The farmers jaw dropped. Where did youhow did you? Nathan waved a hand dismissively. Dont worry about it. Soulbound town perks. Long story. Rami pinched the bridge of her nose. This is absurd. Sticks took charge, pointing at the workers. Alright, start spreading that compost across the field. Well mix it in to give the soil a boost. Werewolves, youre on digging duty for the irrigation trenches. Mushroom folk, youre handling compost distributionjust dont eat it! One of the mushroom folk raised a hand. But it smells so rich No! Sticks barked. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Meanwhile, Nathan wandered over to the farmer, who still looked like he was processing the situation. See? This isnt just theory. By the time were done, youll have a farm thats not only functional but thriving. The farmer blinked. I dont know what to say. Its no problem. Im doing this for the quest, anyway Rami shook her head, muttering to herself. He just summoned an entire workforce out of thin air. What even is this man? Nathan ignored the comment. As the helpers bustled around, implementing Nathan and Sticks plans, Rami and the farmer watched in stunned silence. In just a few hours, the once-barren land began to transform, trenches forming for irrigation, compost being tilled into the soil, and seeds being planted with care. Nathan stood back, hands on his hips, surveying the progress. Not bad for a days work, huh? Sticks wiped some dirt off his hands. Youre pretty good at this stuff. Were you a farmer before the apocalypse? Err yes? The farmer, looking at his revitalized land, muttered, I dont know who you are, but youre a miracle worker. Nathan was about to respond when he noticed an odd look in the mans eyes. Hey, you good? Nathan said. The farmer was quiet for a moment before he sighed. This is amazing. Im just concerned the Dustend will appear out of nowhere and erase all this progress. Nathan frowned. Does that often happen? No, but it only has to happen once, and then everything youve built is torn to shreds. The farmer pointed with his thumb at his house. We have a bunker, so well be safe at least, but still We? My family. You havent met them, theyre out in the capital, selling goods. Nathans jaw clenched. I really hope the Dustend doesnt hit this guys farm. The farmer held out his hand. Nathan stared at it for a few seconds before he reached out and shook it. The names Abaya, the man said. Thank you. Nathan nodded. Im Nathan. Best of luck to you, Abaya. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around. Sticks pointed at the portal. Weve finished up. Well be heading back in. Nathan nodded. Ill follow you back, I want to check in on the council. Um, Rami said. I need to take you back to the capital. Right now. Why? We need to meet with Zayen? Her eyes seemed to flicker, a shadow passing over them. Actually, I have an alternative offer for you. It can wait, Nathan said. Ramis left eye twitched. Hold on Nathan walked off toward the portal. Itll only take a few minutes.
As you can see, my lord, weve come up with a satisfactory compromise. Nathan read through the report. In the background, the torches blazed silently. He nodded. Looks good. Gius took the reports and set them on the table. Nathan turned around. Wait, my lord. Nathan paused and looked back. Gius? My lord, this was only symptomatic of a deeper issue, Gius said. And unless we address that problem, well only invite further trouble upon ourselves. Nathan tilted his head curiously. Whats this deeper problem, Gius? Simple, Gius said. In your absence, the only people to run this town are a group of unelected, unaccountable oligarchs. Nathan crossed his arms. Unelected oligarchs, huh? Pretty harsh. I dont know, I think the councils been doing a competent job. Gius inclined his head respectfully. Its not an accusation of incompetence, my lord. But the council was always meant to be provisional. Thats true. Gius nodded. The current unrest highlights a flaw in our governance. There is no system in place to truly represent the will of the peoplebe they mushroom folk, werewolves, or anyone else. Go on. Gius clasped his hands behind his back. The councils decisions lack legitimacy in the eyes of many because they are not chosen by those they govern. This creates resentment, particularly among groups that feel underrepresented or marginalized, such as the werewolves. Nathan frowned. And your solution is? A representative government, Gius said. One where council members are elected by the people. This would provide a sense of ownership and legitimacy to the governments decisions. It would also diffuse the tension that arises when decisions are made by a group perceived as disconnected or biased. Nathans eyes narrowed. And where does that leave me? Are you proposing I step down? Giuss shook his head. Not at all, my lord. Your leadership is indispensable. The people look to you as the cornerstone of this citythe one who brought them together and guided them through turmoil. This change would not diminish your authority but complement it. You would remain at the helm, with ultimate executive power, while the elected council would handle legislative matters and represent the diverse voices of our community. Nathans lips twitched. So this isnt another attempt to overthrow me? Of course not, my lord. At the end of the day, you shall remain our leader, with the final say. Nathan looked at the ceiling. And how do you suggest we go about this? Im guessing youve thought this through. Gius stepped closer to the table, his voice calm and confident. We can begin by drafting a charter that outlines the structure of the new government. This would include provisions for elections, term limits, and the scope of the councils authority. We would also ensure protections for minority groups, so no one feels their voice is drowned out by the majority. Sounds complicated, Nathan said. How long would it take? Not as long as you might think, Gius said. The groundwork is already in place. We have functioning districts, and many community leaders have already emerged informally. We could start with a small-scale electionperhaps one representative per districtand expand from there as the system proves itself. Nathan tapped his fingers on the table. Finally, he straightened and nodded. All right. Start drafting this charter. Giuss expression lit up with a rare smile. Thank you, my lord. Ill begin immediately. You wont regret this. 50 - Rare Moment of Nathan Noticing Someone Lying to his Face Nathan came back out and traveled for an hour or two with Rami before she asked to rest for the evening. Luckily, she had an extra tent, which she hesitantly allowed him to borrow. Nathans dreams that night were rather odd. Meet me where the river meets the sea, the voice repeated. Im literally in a desert, hed say, over and over. Eventually, he woke up feeling more exhausted than before he went to sleep. They continued walking across the shifting dunes until they came to their destination. The desert city rose like a mirage out of the endless horizon, its towering sandstone walls shimmering under the relentless sun. Minarets and domes crowned the skyline, their surfaces catching the light in golden hues. Narrow, winding streets spilled out from the main gates like veins. A vast bazaar spread out near the entrance, colorful awnings fluttering in the dry wind, the smell of spices and cooked meats mingling with the dust. Nathan whistled. Hed read books about exotic lands and far-off places and things of that sort growing up. It was bizarre to actually be in one of those places now. So, I presume were going to meet Zayen? Nathan said. In a moment, Rami said. There are some things I need to attend to first, and some people Id like you to meet. Huh? Rami glanced over at an alleyway, then started off in that direction. Come with me. Nathan followed behind her. Soon enough, they came to a stop. Whats all this about? Nathan asked. Tell me, what was your impression of Zayen? Nathan scratched the back of his neck. He seemed like an alright kid. A little young to be a ruler. Rami smiled thinly. What if I told you that its so much worse than that? What do you mean? Zayen is a puppet, she said. Omarn? That man is concerned about nothing but himself. He uses his office for material gain, and Zayen listens to him. Nathan furrowed his eyebrows together. I dont know, they didnt come off like that when I spoke to them. Omarn was definitely kind of rude, but he didnt seem bad. Didnt he propose your imprisonment? Well, yeah, but in his defense, Im kind of a suspicious person, so that probably wasnt unreasonable. Nathan. Ramis voice dropped to a whisper. Ive witnessed it firsthand. Theyre bleeding this city dry. If you dont act, who will? Nathan furrowed his eyebrows together. If I dont act? What are you suggesting? Ramis lips curled into a smile that didnt quite reach her eyes. Nathan, youre an outsider. Neutral. Unbiased. If you keep doing what youre doing, youll garner the support of the people in no time. okay? And? If we worked together, we could overthrow Zayen, Rami said. You could bring peace and justice to this kingdom and save all the poor farmers. Nathan squinted his eyes. Wait, who steps in if Zayen is overthrown? Me, Rami said. But it would only be till the city stabilizes. Purely temporary. Right, Nathan said slowly. Ramis eyes flickered to the left and right. Omarn has spies everywhere. If were not careful, this conversation alone could doom us both. I need to meet with myallies. Stay here. Dont talk to anyone. Dont draw attention to yourself. Ill return shortly. Uh-huh, Nathan said. Stay here. Got it. Rami flashed him a smile that was all teeth, then slipped into the shadows of the alleyway. As soon as she was out of sight, Nathan walked off toward the bazaar. Nathans ears twitched. Im telling you, were being bled dry! Well, I dont know if thats his fault. Sure it is. Hes the boss! Nathan peeked around the corner. A group of men in rugged clothes were gathered around a table, drinks clasped in their hands or on the table. Nathan approached them. This would be a good opportunity to get some answers. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Nathan approached the table. Afternoon, he said. Mind if I sit? The bearded man gave him a long, skeptical look, then gestured with a grunt. Suit yourself. Not much to say, but youre welcome to listen. Nathan nodded, taking a seat. Sounds like youve got some concerns about the leaders here. The wiry man, who had been nursing a drink, leaned forward. Concerns? Yeah, weve got a few. You heard of the Dustend? he asked, his voice rough. Ive heard, Nathan said. Hard to miss it. I was caught in it, actually. Its more than just a storm, the wiry man continued, eyes narrowing. Its the end of everything. Crops cant grow, nothing survives it. And Zayen and Omarn theyre playing at solutions, but its all smoke and mirrors. Meanwhile, were starving. Solutions? Nathan tilted his head. What kind of solutions? The bearded man grunted, his face darkening. Omarn tells us to rotate crops. What good is that when the soils turned to dust? Zayens got ideasold farming tricksbut none of them work. You cant plant a field thats been salted by the storms. You cant pretend the lands still fertile. Nathan nodded slowly. What do you want them to do, then? Fix it! the wiry man snapped. Build walls or something to block the storms. Hell, I dont know, but dont just sit there pretending the lands still good. Storms dont work that way, Nathan said. The wiry man glanced sharply at him. Oh, youre one of those, huh? Im just saying. It sounds like theyre doing what they can, even if its not working the way you want. The bearded man scoffed. Doing what they can? Theyve got their pockets lined, and were left to starve. His eyes narrowed. Zayen wants us to believe were the problem. That weve ruined the land. But weve lived here for generations. And you dont think theres any truth to that? About the land, I mean? The younger man, who had been silent up until now, chimed in with a hint of bitterness. The land doesnt need saving, it just needs to be left alone. This is our home. Not Zayens plaything. And as for all that talk about leaving thats just madness. We cant just abandon our ancestors. Nathans thoughts briefly turned inward. He didnt say it aloud, but the truth was hard to ignore. They didnt belong here. The people here were not from this place. They werent born into this desert, no matter how much they believed otherwise. They were Delvers, descendants of those who had made a deal with the System long ago. There was no way in hell the System constructed these people as NPCs or something. They made a deal but their deal was done so long ago theyd forgotten that they made it. He shifted. Yeah, I get it. Youre tied to this place. But that doesnt make the problems go away. And you think Zayen has the answers? The wiry man said. Hes a kid, a puppet of Omarn. Hes not even fit to rule. Im not saying that, Nathan said. Just it sounds like youre upset because you want change, but youre not sure what that change should be. The bearded man leaned back, scowling. Change? We dont need change. We need someone who knows what theyre doing. Someone who isnt lost in fantasies about the past. Zayens got these grand ideas about us all going back to some green place, but thats just a fairy tale. Were here now. This is our land. Right, Nathan said. This lands been ours for centuries. We belong here. You cant just erase that. No matter what anyone says. Nathan pursed his lips. He probably wouldnt be able to convince them to resume the march toward the Ninth Circle. Hell, that might not have been the right decision anyway. Maybe these people were right to stay and cling to this place. What if they tried to march downward and just get themselves killed? Maybe it was the smart thing to just remain here. But he could at least make sure they dont starve. I have an offer, Nathan said. A few of the farmers heads perked up. What kind of offer? the wiry man said. If this is some kind of scam attempt No, its not a scam. Nathan tapped his hands against the table. Im actually a farmer. Sort of. You? A farmer? Nathan nodded, feeling a bit awkward but also more sure of himself than he had earlier. Im not from around here, but I know enough to help with the land. Ive worked with crops beforejust recently, I helped out a guy named Abaya. If youre willing to try something different, I can come back to your farm with you and help you out. You helped out Abaya? the bearded mans eyes widened. He can vouch for you? Yeah. Im sure if you asked him, hed tell you that his soil looks better than before and hes looking forward to the coming season. There was a long, heavy silence. The bearded man grunted, taking another swig from his mug. Whats it going to hurt? My farms already on the verge of being a wasteland. If youve got some tricks up your sleeve, I might as well give it a shot. Nathan nodded. Great. Ill meet you tomorrow morning, if you want. Well take a look at whats going on and figure out a plan. The wiry man looked at Nathan for a long moment, then muttered, Well, if it doesnt work, Ill be the first to say I told you so. I can handle that. Its worth a try. The bearded man stood up, brushing sand from his pants. Alright, foreign farmer. Well see if youre worth your salt. Nathan gave a nod of acknowledgment, standing as well. Ill see you then.
Anand crouched behind a pile of crates. He scratched his chin, frowning slightly as he jotted down more notes in his leather-bound notebook. He shot a quick glance at Nathan again, his brow furrowed in concentration. The man seemed like an ordinary personnothing that screamed danger. But Vince had said Nathan was responsible for disappearing an entire branch of the Hand. And that intrigued the Head Hand enough to send him on this assignment. The Head Hand was cautious, paranoid even, so theyd sent multiple spies all across the land. And somehow, Anand had been unlucky enough to run into this Nathan. He was lucky that the lady had said Nathans nameotherwise Anand wouldve totally missed them and gone to the next town. Dude needs better clothing, he muttered under his breath. His handwriting was messy, the edges of the page crumpled where hed been pressing too hard. Looks goofy. It barely fits him. He glanced around, making sure nobody had seen him. He shifted his position, but his cloak caught on the corner of a nearby barrel, pulling it over with a dramatic crash. Ohcrap. Anand winced as the barrel clattered to the ground. He froze, holding his breath. But the moment passed, and nobody seemed to notice. He let out a relieved sigh and quickly scribbled more notes. Clumsy. Shouldve been more careful. Dont let this happen again. He scratched his head. Still cant figure out how hes a threat. Might just be a fluke. He ducked lower, trying to move behind a stall selling vegetables. One of the market vendors shot him a strange look as he clumsily crouched behind the cart, but Anand just waved it off awkwardly and scribbled in his notebook. Looks like hes helping out those farmers. Wonder if thats a front. Not sure if hes a good guy or not, but somethings off. The way he talkstoo polite, too reserved. Probably hiding something. He sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. How was he supposed to get any useful intel on Nathan like this? The Head Hand would be expecting results, but here he was, taking notes on Nathans clothing, his posture, his mannerisms. It was embarrassing. But then again, even a failed spy mission could give the Head Hand something useful. He scribbled another note, his eyes narrowed. Theres more to this guy. Ill figure it out. Just need to stay patient. 51 - Alcohol Resistance: 100 Nathan grinned. Good as new. What do you think? The bearded manBrennarfell to his knees. I thought it was a lie, he said. There was no way you could do it but the soil is perfect! Nathan patted him on the back. For the past five days, Nathan had been doing nothing but going from farm to farm in an attempt to finish his side quest. Hed been to about fifteen different farms and he felt hed done pretty good work. He wasnt sure how long it would take to solve an entire kingdoms food supply issues, but he didnt think it would take too long. How can I pay you back? Brennar said. Surely there must be something. Pay me back by practicing crop rotation from here on out, Nathan said. So that you dont starve in the future. How about that? Brennar nodded absentmindedly. Sure. Nathan headed back to town in search of his next target when he heard something from the town square. A crowd of people were rushing toward it. He tapped on one persons shoulder. The persona womanstopped and glared at him. What? Why are you running? Nathan said. Whats going on? A public forum, the woman said. Zayen has come down from his gilded palace to listen to the concerns of the peopleand Im going to let him know how shitty a ruler he is! The woman turned around and marched off toward the town square. Nathan followed behind her. I might as well check out whats going on. Why dont you come down here and pay for your crimes! someone shouted. Stop hiding, you coward! Were starving! Nathan poked his head over the crowd. Zayen and Omarn were on top of a raised platform, surrounded by guards. Zayen had a distinct look of unease on his face, while Omarn had a smirk. Thats not great optics, Omarn. Back when Nathan had spoken with Omarn in the past, he hadnt seemed malicious. Was this some kind of nervous reaction? Rami was off to the side, her hand on Zayens shoulders, like she was there to support him or something. Nathan snorted. This would be good. The king will address you! Omarn shouted. Silence! The crowd quieted. Zayen bit his lip, then stood up. My people! he said. I hear your cries! I feel your pain as my own. A woman next to Nathan snorted. Prove it! Zayen raised a hand. Please, I ask for patience. Were working tirelessly to find solutions. My uncle Ah, yes, the uncle, someone shouted. Lets hear from the evil wizard! Evil wizard? Damn, Omarn doesnt have a great reputation. Omarn stepped forward, his robes swishing dramatically. His piercing gaze scanned the crowd. You call me evil, he said. But let me ask you this: Is it evil to suggest that we utilize our resources more efficiently? That we consolidate our efforts into strategic hubs to protect what little remains? Someone from the crowd yelled, Speak Common, you snake! Omarns smirk widened into something that could only be described as a villainous grin. Nathan squinted his eyes. Why is he making that face!? He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing the platform. Very well. In simple terms, my planwhich, if I may remind you, is designed to prevent your imminent demiseis to reallocate labor to projects that directly combat the Dustends effects. Build irrigation systems, deepen wells, fortify key farming areas. Centralize your efforts instead of scattering them across barren lands. Wow, thats actually a really good idea. His voice grew louder. And he let out a cackle, Perhaps consider that some sacrifices must be made for the greater good. The crowd gasped audibly. One woman shrieked, Hes going to sacrifice us! Rami stepped forward. Uncle, please. The people dont need threats or sacrifices. They need hope. Ah, dear niece. Always the voice of reason. He leaned in toward Zayen, speaking quietly but loud enough for Nathans ears to catch. Do something about her. Zayens back stiffened. Rami, perhaps He hesitated, glancing between her and Omarn. Perhaps we could focus on unity? Thats why you were brought up here, remember? Rami placed a hand on her chest, feigning surprise. Unity? Cousin, Im only saying whats in my heart. The people need a leader who truly listens and understands their struggles. Nathan noted the subtle emphasis on the word leader. The crowd murmured in agreement. Shes right! Zayen held up his hands, his voice rising slightly in desperation. I am listening! Thats why were here! Enough with the pleasantries, Omarn said. Listening is well and good, Your Majesty, but the people need action. They may not understand the brilliance of my proposals, but that doesnt make them less necessary. Rami tilted her head. But Uncle, if the people dont understand your proposals, perhaps theyre not as brilliant as you think. Nathan let out a soft whistle. That woman was a snake, through and through. Nathan was almost impressed. Omarns face darkened, and for a moment, it looked like he might explode. But he took a deep breath, his smirk returning. Ah, the wisdom of youth, he said. Truly enlightening. Perhaps, then, youd care to propose a better solution, dear niece? Ramis eyes gleamed. Perhaps we should focus on smaller, immediate changes. Opening the granaries to those most in need. Sending aid to the outer farms. Making sure no child goes hungry. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The crowd erupted into cheers. Yes! Rami for queen! Zayens eyes widened. Omarn looked about ready to kill Rami on stage. Rami gasped. Oh, I could never take the crown! My cousin is the rightful heir The enthusiasm of the crowd dampened. Zayen shut his eyes and let out a long sigh. Well open the granaries, he said. Omarn nearly jumped. Your Highness, we cant afford that in the long term! The people have spoken, Uncle, Zayen said. And I am their instrument. Open the granaries. A cheer went up. Zayen stared at the ground, refusing to look up.
Nathan walked away. That was a disaster. It was pretty clear what was going on. Zayen and Omarn werent bad rulers, per se. Quite the opposite. Omarn seemed to have a strong grasp on public policy, while Zayen had the level-headedness to listen to Omarn. The problem was that they were awful communicators. They didnt have the charisma needed to get people to believe in them and in their plansand this, unfortunately, was probably more important than either of them understood. If they understood that, they wouldnt have let Omarn up on that stage. He has a mean, evil laugh, Ill give him that. Why didnt Zayen ignore Rami? Because the crowd was about two seconds from storming up that platform and crowning Rami on the spot. The real mistake was putting her on that platform in the first place. Based off that conversation, it seems like she promised Zayen that she would unite her faction behind Zayen. Of course, she was lying. This was just a gambit to increase her support. But why did Zayen seem so trusting of her back when I first met them? Nathan frowned. It was only a matter of time before the country fell into Ramis graspthat is, unless he did something about it. But its not really any of my business, is it? There was a small part of him railing against his neutrality, but he shoved that part deep down inside. It was that same, Justice-at-all-costs mindset that led to him going on a sociopathic, violent streak in the first Circle. No, Ill stay out of things this time around, with the exception of helping out people with their farms. Hey, Nathan! Nathan turned his head. There, in the bazaar, were about six or seven farmers. Come sit down with us! Abaya shouted. Nathan chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. I shouldnt Come over here, you madman! Youre a Sandara farmer though and through, as far as Im concerned, so that means youve got to have a drink with us at least once. Nathan smiled and sighed. Fine, just once. But I dont have any money. Thats okay, drinks are on me. Nathan grabbed a chair and sat down next to the group of men. There were three people Nathan had never met. One of them had a slack-jawed look on his face. Is this the guy? he said. Brennar nodded. Yup. Hes the guy. The man reached out and shook Nathans hand. Nathan nearly jumped out of his seat before he paused and awkwardly engaged in the handshake. Abaya loaned me some of his leftover compost and taught me your methods, the man said. We got everyone together and figured out how to mimic your pump and irrigation system. Ive already started seeing seed growthyoure a miracle worker. Nathan rubbed the back of his head. No problem. Glad its helping you out. My methods are spreading on their own! That means that Ill be done with this side quest even quicker than I expected. Within a minute, a drink was placed in front of Nathan by a servant girl. She winked at him as she put it down, then sauntered away. The bearded manHarlanlaughed. Shes a niece of mine, he said. So she knows all about how you helped us out. If youre looking for a wife, I think shed be open to you. Er, thanks but no thanks. Oh? Shes not to your taste? Well, I have more nieces. Nathan grabbed the drink, tipped it back, and downed half the drink in one go. Harlan raised an eyebrow. Brennar and Abaya chuckled. He pulled it away from his mouth. Hed tasted the bitterness, but beyond that, had received none of the feelings that hed associate with alcohol. Nothing flooded up his nose, there was no pleasant burn, he didnt feel any wave of pleasure. It was all so dull? Nathan hadnt been a heavy drinker, but he knew his way around alcohol. Back in college, hed enjoyed a bottle of beer with his friends once in a while before he dropped out, of course. The one thing he remembered was that hed been a light drinker. But now he could down half a mug and feel nothing? Can I get something stronger? Nathan asked. Oh? Fancy yourself a tough guy? Brennar said. How about we have a little fun? What do you mean? A drinking contest! Brennar took a swig from his mug and slammed it onto the table. Youre looking at the current champion! Nathan tilted his head. This might be fun. Dont do it, Abaya said. Youre going to get knocked out, Nathan. Nathan hummed and looked into his drink. Its been a while since I let loose. Even if I get knocked out, so what? He looked at Brennar. Lets do it. The table let out a cheer. Abaya sighed. Brennar faced toward one of the barkeeps. Get us a line of drinks! The barkeep nodded. Nathan studied the line of drinks being placed before them. Each was a deep amber color, faintly glowing under the bazaars lanterns. The men cheered as the barkeep brought out the last two mugs, each larger than the last. This, Brennar said, holding up the final mug, is called Desert Essence. Its brewed with cacti that have survived two hundred years of sandstorms. If this doesnt knock you out, nothing will. Nathan raised an eyebrow. Sounds impressive. Oh, it is. Ive seen grown men cry after one sip. Brennar grinned. And Im still standing after two mugs last week. Lets see what youre made of, farmer. Alright, Nathan said and lifted his mug. The first drink was smooth, almost deceptively so. It carried a faint spice that lingered on the tongue, but once again, there was no burn, no rush, no dizziness. Just nothing. Brennar, on the other hand, smacked his lips and let out a satisfied sigh. Ah, thats the good stuff! Another round! The contest began in earnest. One mug after another disappeared between them as the crowd around the table grew. Farmers, merchants, and passersby gathered, cheering and hollering. By the fourth round, Nathan noticed Brennars face was flushed red. His voice grew louder and less coherent. The man swayed in his chair. Youve got goodhic!stamina, farmer, Brennar slurred. But Im just getting started! Nathan tipped back another mugDesert Essence. It tasted good, sure, but he still felt absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, Brennars coordination was rapidly deteriorating. He reached for his next mug and nearly spilled it all over the table. Careful there, Nathan said, grabbing the mug and sliding it to him. Im fiiiiiine! Brennar laughed, taking a big gulp. He immediately started coughing. Fine! Just fine! Abaya leaned closer to Nathan and whispered, How are you still sober? This stuff is strong enough to knock out a camel. Nathan shrugged. No idea. I dont feel anything. Another few rounds later, Brennar was leaning heavily on the table, his head bobbing like a puppet on loose strings. The crowd roared as he tried to lift his mug but failed, dropping it with a loud thud. Guess hes out, Nathan said. Brennar groaned something incomprehensible, then slumped forward, his face planting into the table. The crowd erupted into cheers and laughter. Harlan clapped Nathan on the back. Unbelievable! The man didnt even flinch. What kind of constitution do you have, lad? Constitution? Nathan checked his stats. Constitution: 50 (+40) = 90 A lot.
Nathan leaned back in his chair. "You''re a miracle worker, Nathan," Harlan said. "Not just with the drinks, either. My fields havent looked this good in years." "Same here," Abaya said. I was ready to give up on farming altogether. Then you come along and now Ive got sprouts popping up like crazy. My wife thought I was cursed before. Now she thinks Im blessed. Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. "Im just glad to help. You all put in the work. I just gave a little advice." "A little advice?" Harlan barked a laugh. "You might be too modest for your own good. Do you know what some of the other farmers are saying about you? Theyre calling you a Miracle Man. Nathan winced. "Lets not spread that around, okay?" "Too late for that. Some of us are already whispering that if Omarn got you on his side, he might actually have a chance to pull this mess together." Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You think so?" Harlan nodded. "Yeah. Look, I wasnt exactly cheering for Zayen earlier. Hes too stiff, too detached. But if hes got someone like you advising him? Thats something I can get behind." The others murmured in agreement. "Youre telling me you were all ready to crown Rami before?" Nathan asked. Abaya grimaced. "I mean yeah. Ramis got charisma, no doubt about it. She talks a good game. But talk doesnt fill your belly, you know? It wasnt until the fields started sprouting again that I realized how much of what she says is just hot air." "Still," Harlan added, "if Zayen wants to keep people like us on his side, hell need more than good policy. He needs someone to teach him how to talk to people." Good luck with that, someone said. The table shared a laugh before falling into a comfortable silence. The bazaar buzzed around them. It was Harlan who eventually broke the quiet, leaning in conspiratorially. Speaking of miracles and curses, have you heard about the cursed river? Nathans ears perked up. Cursed river? Abaya nodded. Its on the edge of the valley, toward the west. Folks say nothing grows near it, not even weeds. Nothing grows in the valley, period, Abaya. Still, livestock that drink from it get sick, and some farmers swear theyve seen strange shadows moving across the water at night. Harlan shuddered. One man claims the river whispered to him, promising him power if he offered it something. Nobodys sure what. He left town soon after, looking half-mad. Nathans curiosity flared, and right on cue, a familiar ding sounded in his head. [Just Go With the Flow] A mysterious cursed river? Sure, why not! Because its not like you have enough on your plate already. Investigate the river, uncover its secrets, and maybejust maybeyou wont die horribly. Probably. Maybe. Rewards: A Potential Meeting Nathan stood up from the table. Gentleman, this has been great, but I have to go now. Eh? But we just got started? Oh, shut up. Wed best get back to the farms anyway. Abaya gave a sloppy salute. Best of luck to you, Nathan. Nathan nodded and exited the bazaar. 52 - Familiar (Fish) Faces Nathan walked on for several hours. The sun beat down against him, but he didnt feel gross or overly hot. Once again, his Constitution was probably working wonders. Nathan stopped at the top of a dune and looked out over the desert landscape. There was a stark barrenness to the whole place. The sun reflected off the sands like a mirror. It was empty, devoid of life, nothing but the blue sky and dunes stretching on for miles and miles. It was beautiful. I can see why theyre so attached to this place. Nathan continued walking. Eventually, sand was changed out for rough, stony dirt. In the distance, Nathan caught sight of a river winding by. Nathan walked over to it. What would he find? Black water like in his tutorial? Spirit Water? Something else entirely? huh, it looked pretty normal. He walked over to the surface of the river and leaned down. The water bubbled softly. He dipped his finger inside. Nothing happened. Nathan tilted his head. I should figure out if I can divert the river towards the farms. Thatll be more sustainable than the pumps weve been setting up in the long term. He spotted a flash of motion. Something was in the water. He reached into his inventory and pulled out his fishing rod. He was feeling a bit peckish, and some fish would probably help ease his hunger. His fishing rod dropped into the water with a splash and he sat down. An hour ticked away. He felt the warmth of the sun on his skin and smelled the dry desert breeze. And then he felt a tug on his fishing rod. Instantly, his eyes snapped over toward the water, and he pulled as hard as he could. There was a loud cracking noise from his fishing rod. Before Nathan could think on this further, the fish flew through the air and slammed into his face with a loud, wet slap. Nathan flopped backward. The fish landed on his side. Nathan rubbed his face and blinked sharply. Ay, Nathan! a voice said. I finally found you! Its been a while since you last saw me, eh?! Nathans jaw dropped. Finny!
So let me get this straight. After you hopped through the tutorial, you lost your arm, fought against a terrorist organization, ate a Pandora, and now youre trying to save a kingdom? Well, just trying to help their food supplies. Oh. You also managed to get a bunch of werewolf mercenaries on your side, turning them into members of your town? It was a surprisingly amiable agreement. And the whole getting a personal message from the Sea herself is just another day in the life for you, huh? Pretty much. Finny glared at Nathan. His body was submerged in the water while his head poked out on the surface. Nathan, Im half-convinced that youre some kind of ocean beast in the form of a human. Thats the only thing that really explains you in the slightest. Unless I was dropped off by my ocean beast parents at a human home, thats pretty unlikely. Aye, I hear you. Finny squinted his eyes. I suppose its possible, but I doubt it. Based off what youve told me of your homeland, it didnt have enough magic for things like that. Besides, my Inspection of you didnt mention anything of that sort. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Of course it didnt. Like I said, Im a perfectly normal human. Except for that freakish affinity for the Sea, sure. Nathan tilted his head. Affinity? Finnys eyes widened. No ones mentioned that to you? No...? Well, I suppose its an advanced idea, Finny said. Remember when I mentioned your connection to the Sea? Thats what an Affinity is. Suffice it to say that all beings possess an Affinity. An Affinity could be just about anything. A concept, an elementnothings off the table. In your case, youve got a strong Affinity for the Seahigher than most fish. Interestingis that why my weird water cultivation stuff comes so easy? Youre a cultivator?! Finny paused and groaned. I dont even know why Im surprised at this point. Nathan smiled. It was nice to be having this conversation. Finny was a reminder of a time when Nathan was still new to the Nine Circles. A time when the worst thing hed ever dealt with was a bad grade and his parents expectations. Granted, the whole apocalypse stuff was probably objectively worse, but at the time of meeting Finny, it still hadnt quite sunk in. Besides all that, it was good to see a familiar face especially since hed been seperated from Chad and the rest. Well, Finny said. Glad to hear that youve been having a good time. Finny paused. What of your skills? Oh. There were a bunch of skills that Nathan was supposed to be upgrading. Finny sighed. Please tell me thats been on your mind, at least. Er not really? Read out your quest list. Nathan raised an eyebrow. Okay? Nathan opened this quest menu. [Upgrade Riptide Grasp to Silver Rank] [Upgrade Oceans Embrace to Silver Rank] [Upgrade Tidal Shield to Silver Rank] [Upgrade Throw Harpoon to Silver Rank] [Obtain ability: Summon Fish] [Upgrade Class to Silver Rank] After Nathan was done reading, he looked over at Finny. Theres nothing there listing the requirements? Finny said. Nothing. Just a bunch of cryptic blanks. Finny groaned. The Seas connection must be weak out here. Makes sensedeserts arent exactly her domain. Shes struggling to deliver the quests to you, especially since going around the System costs energy. Energy? Nathan tilted his head. Aye. Direct interference from a greater powerlike the Seatakes resources. And with us being in the middle of, well, a giant sandpit, the Seas basically running on fumes out here. No wonder youre stuck. Nathan frowned. So what now? Do I just start randomly fishing until something clicks? Dont be ridiculous, Finny said. Ill figure it out for you. Stand still and dont move. Nathan blinked. Why do I need to Inspect! Finnys voice boomed with dramatic flair. His eyes glowed faintly, and a ripple of energy shot out from him, washing over Nathan like a wave. Could you not do that in such a creepy way? Finny ignored him, muttering under his breath as glowing symbols appeared in the air between them. Hmm interesting. Very interesting. Whats interesting? Quiet! Im reading your data. Finny waved a fin dismissively, his expression growing more serious. Alright, Ive got it. Heres what you need to do. Nathan crossed his arms. Hit me. First off, Riptide Grasp, Finny said. Theres a mountain spring to the west. The water theres imbued with some kind of ancient power. Classic upgrade spot. Just head over, use your powers, and do your best not to get eaten by the wildlife. Eaten? Mountain springs attract all sorts of nasties. But youll be fine. Probably. Comforting. And Oceans Embrace? Finny hummed. It seems to be related to contemplation. Your best bet is checking out the kingdoms archives. Theyve probably got some dusty old scrolls with healing techniques to think about. Contemplation? Yeah, think warm fuzzy thoughts or whatever it is healers do. Honestly, Im not much of a healing fish. He means meditating. Nathan nodded. Alright. What about Tidal Shield? Spirit Scale, Finny said immediately. Its a rare material you can get from a Spirit Fish. Most durable thing on this Circle. If anythingll spark a breakthrough, itll be that. Theres a rumor about one hanging around the deeper parts of the river. Theyre tricky to catch, though. Throw Harpoon? Finny rubbed his (fish) chin with his fins. Seems like youll have to use the harpoon for its intended purpose. Make of that what you will. Nathan frowned. I see. And the last oneSummon Fish? Finnys face lit up. Its a contract ability. You form a bond with a powerful fishsomeone like meand I become summonable whenever you need me. Nathan raised an eyebrow. Whats the catch? Well Finny coughed awkwardly. Its not just me. Youll need to make contracts with ten fish in total. Ten fish? Thats a lot of fish. Yeah, but think of it this way: youll have an elite aquatic squad! Youll be unstoppable in water. Nathan crossed his arms. And what exactly would your service entail? It wont be for free, surely. Finny grinned mischievously. Nothing big. Just a little favor here and there. Ill keep it simple for you, Nathan. Nathan narrowed his eyes. Simple how? Youll find out after we seal the deal, Finny said with a wink. Trust me, itll be fun. Thats the most suspicious thing youve ever said to me. Finny smirked. Aye, but you need the skill, dont you? Besides, were pals. Would I steer you wrong? Nathan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Fine. Ill do it. No promises! Finny said. Now, lets get started on that contract. And dont worrythis wont lead you into any trouble at all. Nathan muttered under his breath. Why do I feel like Im going to regret this? 53 - Candied Kelp Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose. "So, the entire form a pact with a fish thing is already a bust? Great. Fantastic." "Hey now, dont give up hope so fast, Finny said. Once you do my little favor, Im sure my buddies will want to help you out. Besides, Im still here, arent I? Ill sign a temporary contract with you right now." Nathan frowned. "Temporary? Whats the catch?" "No catch. Just when the time comes, well solidify things with a permanent deal. You fulfill your side of the bargain, Ill seal the pact. Easy." "And what exactly will I be doing to fulfill my side?" Like I said, let me decide that later. Well cross that bridge when we get to it. Before Nathan could protest, Finny swirled his tail dramatically, and a glowing scroll materialized in the air. Ethereal runes danced along its edges, and a pen of condensed water appeared beside it, hovering expectantly. Nathan raised a hand. "Wait. Im not signing anything without proper representation." "What? You need a lawyer?" "Exactly." Nathan thrust a hand forward, summoning a small, shimmering portal. He jumped through and disappeared for a moment. The portals edges shimmered with a mix of white and gold. Hes not seriously bringing a lawyer, right? Finny said. Thats overkill." Moments later, Nathan returned, dragging a short, squat figure with him: Burrau. He adjusted his round glasses and dusted off his jacket. Nathan, Burrau said, his voice clipped. I was in the middle of drafting the town charter. Do you know how delicate constitutional phrasing is? Why am I here? Nathan chuckled and rubbed the back of his head Burrau, meet Finny. Finny, Burrau. Im supposed to sign a contract with this fish, and I need you to make sure I dont end up regretting it. Burraus glare deepened. He turned to Finny, who gave an awkward little wave. Is this legally binding? Burrau asked, already pulling a tiny notebook from his jacket pocket. Of course it is! Im a professional. Well see about that. The glowing scroll unfurled between them, and Burraus eyes darted across the text. His lips pressed into a thin line as he scanned it. "This is atrocious. Vague language, undefined terms, no contingencies This isnt a contract, its an invitation to disaster." "Hey! Its just the standard template!" Burraus pen shot forward like a sword, striking out clauses with ruthless efficiency. "Not anymore." "Make sure to add a clause about snacks, Nathan said. "Clause one: Finny will supply snacks for all summoned events involving aquatic assistance." "What? Snacks?" Finny sputtered. "What kind of snacks?" "Well let Burrau decide, Nathan said. Burrau scribbled on the paper. "Acceptable forms include, but are not limited to, salted crackers, seaweed chips, and candied kelp." Finny groaned. "Youre kidding." Burrau ignored him and moved on. "Clause two: Nathan will perform one favor of reasonable effort. Define reasonable. Do you mean within his physical capability, his schedule, or his moral compass?" "Uh yes?" Finny said. "No. Reasonable effort will mean within three dayss work, not violating Nathans ethical code, and not involving extreme peril. He glared over his glasses. "Anything less is exploitation." "Fine, fine." "Clause three: unlimited call-ins for combat assistance? Outrageous. Nathan is a lord with a town to manage. You get none. "But what if" None. If you want his help, use your favor. Youre ruthless, Finny muttered. Efficient. Burrau pushed his glasses up and pointed to the next clause. "Whats this about discretionary authority over Nathans favor? Thats a no. Well define the parameters here and now." Nathan stepped closer to the glowing contract. "Can we add something about penalties if Finny flakes on his side?" This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Burrau nodded. "Clause four: Finny shall forfeit a portion of his power if he fails to honor his obligations." "Youre trying to bankrupt me if I fail. "Then dont fail." Nathan stood back, trying to contain his laughter. The scroll was soon covered in annotations, strikeouts, and rewrites. By the time they finished, Finny looked thoroughly defeated. Burrau capped his pen with a snap. "The document is now acceptable. You may proceed." Finny stared at the contract, then at Nathan. This guy Hes terrifying. "Thats why hes in charge of my legal department." With a dramatic sigh, Finny flicked his tail, and the water pen hovered toward Nathan. Fine. Lets get this over with. Nathan signed first, the glowing ink flaring brightly as he finished. Finny added his squiggly fish signature with far less enthusiasm. The scroll dissolved into a burst of bubbles, and Nathan felt a faint hum of energy ripple through him. [Skill Gained: Summon Fish] Burrau snapped his notebook shut. If thats all, Ill be returning to the charter. Without waiting for a response, he stepped through the portal, muttering under his breath about wasted time. The portal closed behind him with a quiet pop. "I feel like I just got mugged, Finny said.
Before Nathan could experiment with his newfound skill, a System message had popped up in front of Finny, and hed immediately started panicking. I have to go, were being raided! he shouted. Wait, but what do I even use this skill for? Nathan asked. Just call me in during a fight, you wont regret it! Ive got to go! Before Nathan could say anything, Finny dived under the water and disappeared from sight. Nathan sighed. How irritating. Still, calling a fish in during a fight? Thats kind of stupid. Ill give it a shot, I guess. Nathan began the long trek back to the city. As he walked, his mind wandered back to when hed fished Finny out of the water. His fishing rod had made a slight cracking noise at the time and hed just ignored it. Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled out his fishing rod. The metal was starting to bend, and hairline fractures raced up and down its side. Well, thats not good. Nathan needed his fishing rod in tip-top shape. It wouldnt do for it to break apart or shatter when hes trying to fish. He needed to get a new fishing rod. Nathan eventually arrived back in the city. He wandered around the bazaar, his head ducked low. His eyes darted from spot to spot, hoping to see a fishing rod. He caught sight of several thingsbread and meat, tools of all sorts, potions, scrolls. Eventually, Nathan tapped some person on the shoulder and just asked about where he could find a fishing rod. A fishing rod? the man shook his head. Whats that? Its a tool? You use it to catch fish? Like a net? Youve got to be kidding me. Nathan scratched his head and reached into his inventory. He pulled out his metal fishing rod. The man stared at the fishing rod for several seconds. And you use this to catch fish? the man said. How? Um, you throw the hook in, and fish come up to it and get themselves caught, basically. And that works? Nathan sighed. Look, have you ever seen anything like this before? Surely someones selling one of these. The man hummed and looked toward the draped ceiling of the bazaar. After a few seconds, he shook his head. Im sorry, but he paused. Well, actually, Nemiahs kid has something like that, I think. Nemiah? An old friend of mine. He passed away, and his son was left with all his possessions. You can find him out toward the northwest. Nathan nodded. Thanks. The man was about to nod back when he paused. He looked at Nathans plant hand. Say, the man said. Are you that miracle man? The one that the farmers have been talking about? Nathan blinked. What? Everyones heard of youthe mysterious stranger with the even stranger hand. Almost all of the farms have adopted your techniques to regrow the soil. Its only been a few days! O-oh. Thats good. The man clapped Nathan on the shoulder. Thank you. I have a cousin who was on the verge of losing the farm. With this, we might avoid the worst. No problem. Nathan carefully took off the mans hand. Glad I could help out. Nathan awkwardly retreated from the bazaar. If he didnt know any better, he couldve sworn he saw eyes following him out.
The area hed gone to was rockier than the farmlands. Traces of grass could be caught poking out between the stones. After a few minutes, hed caught sight of a teenage boy with a shepherds staff, watching over a small herd of fish. Nathan approached the boy and explained his goal and spoke with him for a bit. The boy had been sympathetic toward Nathan and didnt seem to care much for the fishing pole. Do you want to see it? the boy asked. Nathan nodded. Sure. [Sand-Worn Fishing Rod - D Rank] A fishing rod of questionable lineage, left to endure the scorching desert sun and sands that somehow havent managed to completely destroy it. Its grip is rough, the reel creaks like a dying camel, and the line is frayed in a way that screams, Ill break at the most inconvenient time. But hey, it technically works, and thats what matters. Right? In terms of durability, its practically immortal. Not because its well-made, but because even entropy gave up trying to finish it off. Itll last you for ages probably longer than your patience. [Spring Carp] - X [Cursed Desert Tilapia] - X [Translucent Fish] - X [Spirit Fish] - X [Bass of Many Fins] - X Nathans heart sank as he read the description. It didnt sound at all usefulnot the jump he was looking for. Then he spotted the bottom. Whats up with the x-marks? Nathan asked. The boy shrugged. Im not sure. Honestly, I dont know much about this thing in general, he said. Weve had it in the family since basically forever? Theres a bit of a myth surrounding it. What kind of myth? They say back in our homeland, our people used to be fishermen. One of our ancestors was so great that the sea blessed her with this fishing rod. Nathan raised an eyebrow and stared at the beaten-up grip. Not much of a grip. The boy shrugged. Supposedly you can restore it to its prior glory somehow. Not sure how to do that, though. Of course, its all just superstition. Nathan stared at the descriptionespecially at the bottom. I would bet good money that I can restore this thing to its former glory. And if its really an old artifact direct from the sea itself, it might hook up with my sea armorthe bracelet, the crown, and the necklace. How much to buy this off you?
The conversation was long and tedious, but Nathan eventually convinced the boy to part with the fishing rod in exchange for food. Nathan popped into his town, said hi to Gius, picked up some grain, and popped back out. The face the boy had made when he saw Nathan carrying ten sacks of grain had been pretty funny. Nathan took the fishing rod and put it into his inventory. Just as he was about to close it, he caught sight of something in the corner of his window. A little red notification. Nathan tilted his head and clicked the notification. His social media window popped open. Replies: 1 million+ 54 - THIS IS A FAKE ACCOUNT! [Nathan Lee]: Hi everyone. I was looking for my friends, Chad Mann, Emi, Bjorn, and Mara. Has anyone seen them on this platform? Thanks. Below it, there was a bar tracking his likes and replies. The desert wind brushed past him. In the background, a tumbleweed rolled along. Nathan had over a million replies. A MILLION. Nathan brought his finger up to show the replies before bringing his finger back. After a second, he reached out and pressed the button. [SurvivorInDenial]: THIS IS A FAKE ACCOUNT. Theres no way THE Nathan Lee would post something so casual. Nice try, imposter. [aefea12]: Bro, its real. Click his profile. [SurvivorInDenial]: Holy shit. [ThirstyForVictory]: OMG, Nathan noticed us. SENPAI HAS NOTICED US. [BearSurvivor90]: Calm down. He didnt even reply to you. [ThirstyForVictory]: Let me dream. [breAdIsLife]: Yo, Nathan, if you see this, I made a sandwich in your honor. [survivorbruh]: Nathan Lee is out here curb-stomping evil powers for fun, and now hes lost his party like someones dad at Disneyland. LFG. Nathan scrolled on for a while before he caught sight of a reply that caused his eyebrows to raise. [MannStreamHighlights]: HOLY SH*T CHAD KNOWS NATHAN LEE?? BROS BEEN TANKING BOSSES WHILE HANGING OUT WITH THE LEGEND. WE EATING GOOD TODAY. Stream Highlights? Oh yeah, Chad was a super popular streamer. Nathan took a look at the replies and was shocked to see how many of Chads fans had shown up to the thread. More than a few people were mentioning spotting Chad in the clips. Nathan felt a hint of excitement. Perhaps Chad had fulfilled his dream of becoming an apocalypse streamer using this new social media platform? If that was the case, Nathan might be able to comment on one of his videos, and they would be able to link up and get back together. [xX_BlazingFrog_Xx]: Wait, does anyone know who Emi or Bjorn are? [Tea_And_Bullets]: Probably other elite badasses. Maybe Bjorn is some Viking dude? Emi could be his ninja partner? [wisu3781]: Or theyre just likenormal people. Nathan doesnt look for elites; he makes them. [PixelSoul]: The lady with the gun wasnt normal. Whatever she did to Vince? That wasnt the first time. Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. How did they know about that? Nathan continued scrolling and eventually found the answer he was looking for. [ConfusedMothman]: Im sorry, am I the only one who didnt know this dude wiped out a gang? [PixelSoul]: Not just a gang. Vinces group was like a whole-ass regional superpower. Camps, resources, hundreds of people. Vince himself was spamming lasers the size of tree trunks. And Nathan bodied them like he was grinding low-level mobs. I was there. I barely escaped. He didnt even look mad. He just methodically dismantled everything. It was like a horror movie. Nathans eyes narrowed. [ConfusedMothman]: did you get any video? [PixelSoul]: I had my phone charged, so yeah. PixelSoul added a link. Nathan clicked it. The video opened with a shaky camera. A forest at night. The sound of heavy breathing and a handful of figures in a clearing with nothing but the stars to act as illumination. A laser beam blasted from one of the figures and brushed by the cameraman. SHIT! the cameraman yelled out. The camera stumbled to the ground. The video cut ahead, tracking through the fight until Maras execution. At some point, Chad popped upNathans heart sank. These were the clips people were talking about where Chad had shown up. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Vinces body stopped moving. Mara dropped some ammo out and reloaded her gun. Nathan was about to exit the clip when he spotted a twitch from Vinces finger. A few seconds later, the world lit up and the portals opened. Conspicuously, a portal opened underneath Vince. Nathan could see Maras jaw drop. She fired her gun, and the shield around her flashed. The bullet bounced, and she grunted from pain. Blood dripped from her forehead. Nathan paled. Theres no way hes alive. Those injuries were fatal. Nathan took a deep breath. Vince mayve somehow held onto a sliver of life, but if he was dropped into the middle of the desert, then that was the end of it. Nathan exited out of the replies section and hit the video section. He scrolled through, looking to see if there was anything else interesting, but there wasnt. It was mostly idiots just riffing on the Leeroy Jenkins meme. Nathan looked up at the toolbar. He spotted a button of a plus. Theres an idea. Nathan clicked the Record Video button. Um, hi, Nathan said, looking into his System menu. Just wanted to ask if anyones seen my group. So, like, I know Chad Mann. I think you guys have heard of him. If he figures out how to post videos here, can someone ping me? Nathan paused. Also, theres this elf girl, Emi. Shes like a princess, basically. Theres another girl, Mara. If you see a redhead with a shotgun, thats probably her. Finally, Im also looking for Bjorn. Hes an orc? Im not sure how to describe him. The red light blinked, indicating it was still recording. Thanks for your replies, hope you can help me out. Nathan tapped the Stop Recording button. A window popped up asking if he wanted to edit the video. He clicked no, and the video was uploaded to the system instantly. I really hope that works. With that, Nathan looked off toward the east. Theres supposed to be some kind of magic spring, right? Just a few days travel, and then I can upgrade Riptide Grasp. Nathan started walking off in the direction of the spring.
Nathan had been hoping for a perfectly boring journey when hed started walking. And for the first two days or so, it was. Nothing but the blue sky and golden dunes. Nathan felt pretty peaceful, honestly. Of course, the universe said no. His first clue that things were about to go off the rails was the sound of the explosions in the distance. His second clue was the footstepsone set looking distinctly human, another set looking distinctly monstrous. His third clue was the Holy SHIT, JUST DIE! Nathan rushed over the peak of the dune he was on to get a better view. On the field, a man in a rough, torn cloak had his hands out in some kind of martial arts stance. Opposite him was some kind of giant komodo dragon-looking thing with twice the size and double the teeth. It looked more like a shark on land, in some respects. It roared and tried to bite into the man. The man smoothly dodgedand to Nathans surprise, he counterattacked with a punch so fast that Nathan barely saw it. A massive chunk of the lizard-dragons flesh was knocked off in one punch. It roared and swept the mans legs with its tail, and he flopped to the ground. The man let out a pained cry and tumbled to the ground. Right before it was about to take a bite out of the mans spine, Nathan pulled out his harpoon and threw it into the lizard-dragons spine. The harpoon sank into its chest, pinning it to the ground. A moment later, it shuddered and died on the spot. [You have leveled up!] Nathan blinked. Hed been expecting a more difficult fight, but the thing had just exploded right then and there. Huh, I guess ascension really does affect combat ability. He hadnt really been in any fights since hed ascended, had he? Nathan shook his thoughts away and tumbled down the sand dune. Hey, are you okay? The man slowly pushed himself up. Oh, yeah, fine, thank you When he saw Nathans face, he froze in place. Oh shit. Nathan squinted his eyes. This guy looked familiar. Didnt he trip over a wagon or something back in the city? He always had a notebook. Wait a second, Nathan said. I think Ive seen you around before EMERGENCY MEASURES! Before Nathan could say anything, the man grabbed something from his belt and threw it at the ground. It exploded in a puff of dense, acrid smoke that made Nathan cough and stagger back. His eyes watered immediately, and his nose filled with the overwhelming stench of burnt cinnamon and something suspiciously sulfuric. What the?! Nathan sputtered, waving a hand in front of his face to clear the smoke. He heard frantic scrambling and the sound of feet sliding on sand. Hey! Wait! I just saved your life! Nathan yelled, trying to peer through the dissipating cloud. The smoke cleared away. The man had disappeared. Nathan stared, unblinking. What the actual hell was that? he asked.
Eventually, Nathan decided to put the event out of his mind. Hed definitely be keeping an eye out going forward, though. So weird. Nathan walked on for two more days, but nothing unusual happenedsave for one or two more lizard-dragon things. The sand gave way to hard rock and a steep hill in the distance, water streaming down from the top. It was obscured due to the angle, but Nathan had a feeling that the spring he was looking for was at the top. Nathan gripped side of a rock and started climbing. He couldve leapt up to the top easily, but given the warning about potential monsters, he decided it would be best to be careful and avoid any trouble. As he got closer, the sound of bubbling water grew louder and louder, a deep rumble underneath. The sound was rhythmiclike a snore. Nathans body tensed more and more. Eventually, he reached the top. There was a wyvern resting, body half-submerged in the pool. It was of a light yellow color and its body seemed to wrap around half the pool. In the light, its scales glittered like stars in the night sky, sparkling and twinkling and flashing all at once Nathan inspected the monster and the window popped up. The wyvern staggered and blinked its eyes open. Nathan froze. Oh yeah, Inspects can be detected. The wyvern lifted its head and flapped its wings once. The breeze generated by the wings alone nearly knocked Nathan off his feet before he grounded himself and squatted low. He glanced over at the system window. [Desert Wyvern] - Lv. 51 Race: E-rank Dragon A sun-scorched diva of the skies with scales that double as a heat reflector and fashion statement. Known for its razor-sharp talons and equally sharp attitude, this creature loves nothing more than dive-bombing unwelcome intruders and ruining perfectly good sandcastles. Bonus: It breathes fire, because why not add insult to injury in a 110-degree wasteland? It roared and fire blasted out of its maw. Nathan dived to the ground and a split second later, the flames sailed over his head. Nathan grabbed his harpoon from his inventory. Alright then, time to get to work. 55 - Secret Fish Powers Nathan rolled to the side and lined up his harpoon with the wyverns jaw. Behind him, the cool mountain air beat against his back, and a cloud rushed by overhead. He threw his harpoon. It cracked through the air like lightning and slammed into the wyverns chest. It let out a roar and flapped its wings, flying into the air. It did a few loops before it dived right for Nathan. Nathan jumped backward, and the wyvern slammed into the ground with a loud crash. Dirt, dust, and rocks scattered through the air like smoke. Nathan coughed and waved his hand. Before he could react, he felt something hard smash into his chest, and he flew through the air before he slammed into the spring water. His eyes sprang open, and he manipulated the water around him and burst into the air. During the split second he was there, he faced his hand toward the wyvern, and watery tendrils burst out of the spring and toward the wyverns mouth. The wyvern tried to duck back, but it was too late. The water wrapped around its chest and dragged it into the pool. Nathan fell back into the water. He forced himself back up and gasped for air. The wyvern thrashed in the pool, wings beating against the waters surface, sending waves crashing against the rocky edges. It roared and tried to escape from the pool, but Nathans grip held strong. Nathan swam through the spring and dived straight for the wyverns neck. The wyvern roared and tried to dislodge him, but it couldnt. Nathan wrapped his arms around the throat and squeezed. Immediately, the wyvern swam backward and slammed Nathan against the rock wall. The sharp stones dug into Nathans back, but his Constitution held up, and none of them penetrated his skin. He continued to hold onbut the throat refused to constrict. Eventually, Nathan let go and swam back. Nathan narrowed his eyes. He needed an ace in the hole, some kind of tool. Could he use his fishing rod? No, that would probably only last another battle, if that. Better to save it for an emergency. What about his new fishing rod? No, that wasnt a combat fishing rod. The hook was light and normal. Maybe Nathan could use it to drag the wyvern around, but it wouldnt do real damage. He looked down at his plant hand as he treaded the water. That might work. He focused on the arm, willing it to change. He imagined thick vines, sharp as thorns, erupting from the woody flesh. At first, nothing happened. He flexed his fingers, and a few thin, leafy tendrils sprouted, then withered. Frustration prickled him. Hed had it earlier, hed done it by accident. He could do it again. The wyvern, sensing weakness, lunged again, snapping its jaws. Nathan narrowly dodged, the wind from its jaws ruffling his hair. This was it. He had to make this work. He closed his eyes, picturing the vines again, but this time, he didnt just visualize them. He felt them. He imagined the flow of energy through his own body, extending into the plant arm, becoming one with the woody fibers. Suddenly, a surge of power coursed through him. The plant arm twitched, then erupted. Thick, thorny vines shot out, lashing towards the wyvern. They pierced the creatures leathery hide, drawing a roar of pain. The vines tightened, pulling the wyvern deeper into the water. More vines erupted, thicker now, like branches, impaling the wyverns wings and pinning them to the pool floor. Nathan breathed a sigh of relief. That had been looking a little shady at some point. The wyverns roars became weaker, gurgling cries. It thrashed less, its movements becoming sluggish. Nathan rubbed the sweat off his forehead. Phew, that was looking kind of tricky. A light came from the wyvern. Nathan froze. Ah, shit. The light grew brighter, pulsing like a heartbeat. Nathan''s stomach dropped. He''d seen enough monster battles to know what this meantthe wyvern was transforming. Just his luck. If only I had an ally, damn it! At the mere thought, something warmed inside his chestthe familiar feeling of a skill activating. Nathans eyes widened. He hadnt meant to activate anything, he didnt even know what it was hed activated. Suddenly the water around him churned. A familiar presence materialized beside him, accompanied by the distinct smell of cheap cologne. "Yo yo YO, Nathan my man!" A carp about the size of Nathan''s forearm zipped through the water, nearly crashing into his face. "Oh geez, almost hit ya there. Still working on the whole entrance thing, ya know?" Finny adjusted a new set of miniature sunglasses, which were slightly crooked on his fishy face. Nathan groaned. "Finny? I didn''t mean to" Hot damn! Finny interrupted, spotting the glowing wyvern. "That''s a big boy! I know I told you to call me in, but this might be too much! The wyvern''s light reached its peak, and its form began to shift and grow. Nathan''s vines started snapping one by one as the creature expanded. Uh, Finny, maybe you should make a run for it? Nathan said. Hell no! Do you know how many penalties your lawyer buddy added in? Id be screwed seven days to Sunday if I didnt fulfill my side of the bargain! The wyvern, now twice its original size with crystalline scales forming across its body, let out a roar that made Finny dart behind Nathan''s head. Nathan gulped. This is going to be interesting. The sound of swimming caught Nathans attention. Water splashed the back of his head. Before Nathan could protest, Finny shot forward, his tiny form darting through the water like a bullet. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Hey ugly! Finny said. You ever hear about the time I convinced a shark I was his long-lost cousin? No? WellYIKES!" He dodged a snap from the wyvern''s jaws, tumbling through the water. "Okay, okay, maybe not the best time for that story!" Finny recovered, zipping around the wyvern''s head. "But seriously, your dental work is atrocious. I know a guy who knows a guy who could help with thatWHOA!" He barely avoided a tail swipe. The wyvern, distracted by the annoying fish darting around its head, didn''t notice how the water pressure was slowly building around it. Finny might have looked like he was just goofing around, but each dodge and weave was directing more and more pressurized water against the creature''s crystalline armor. Nathans jaw dropped. Holy shit, is Finny actually competent? Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his harpoon. He swam over to it as fast as he could. You know what your problem is? Finny called out, now swimming figure-eights around the wyverns snout. You take yourself way too seriously! The water pressure finally reached its peak. With a sound like ice cracking, the wyverns crystal armor began to splinter. NOW, NATHAN! Finny yelled, his voice cracking slightly. Nathan grabbed the harpoon from the water and threw it as hard as he could at the head of the wyvern. The harpoon spun through the air, water exploded from its rear, and it cut directly into the wyverns brain. The wyvern flew backward and slammed against the spring wall, shaking the entire hill back and forth. A massive tidal wave emerged from where it landed and crashed directly into Nathan. He fought through the wave and blinked the water out of his eyes. The wyvern floated on the water, belly up and clearly dead. Finny swam back to Nathan, slightly out of breath. Okay, so that was fun! Terrifying, but fun! Really builds up an appetite, you know? Speaking of which He tried to look casual, which was difficult for a fish. I was at a restaurant. Kind of in the middle of a date with a hot fish, so Ill be going now. Nathan just stared at his tiny, cologne-wearing companion. Anyway, dont forget about that favor you owe me! Finny said. With a wink and a puff of bubbles that smelled suspiciously like garlic bread, Finny disappeared. Out of the corner of his eye, Nathan spotted a dead fish floating to the top of the spring. [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!]
Nathan managed to eventually get the wyverns dead body out of the spring. It fell off the side of the hill where it tumbled off into the distance. He poked his head over the side of the hill and watched it fall. It made a whistling noise before it slammed into the ground with a loud bang. Im sure that wont attract any attention whatsoever, Nathan said. Nathan then turned his attention back to the spring. Near the shore, the dead fish that hed spotted earlier floated toward him. As it got closer, an odd feeling like something inside his stomach was shaking assaulted his senses. He frowned and opened up his menu to check his status. Off to the side, the inventory button seemed to be working. Nathan clicked on it and opened it up. To his surprise, the button opened up and immediately highlighted an object. The new fishing rod hed gotten from the boy. Nathan pulled the fishing rod out. As soon as he did so, it lit up with a golden glow. A moment later, the fish at Nathans foot flew into the air and into the fishing rod. The light coming from the rod grew even brighter, drowning Nathans senses. He shut his eyes. A moment later, it died down and he hesitantly looked at it. nothing had changed? He inspected his fishing rod. [Spring Carp] - COMPLETE [Cursed Desert Tilapia] - X [Translucent Fish] - X [Spirit Fish] - X [Bass of Many Fins] - X Nathan tilted his head. Well, thats good. Only four to go. Nathan put his fishing rod back into his inventory and looked over at the spring. Without the wyvern in it, he was able to better take it in. The water was a light blue. Bubbles popped up every now and then from the bottom. There was a slight amount of movement the whole time, all of it springing from underground. But more important than that was the magic coming off it. Nathan could practically smell it. It was comparable to being in the grove where his weird flower-arm thing had been growing, when the sense of power was so overwhelming that it felt almost suffocating. What was it that Finny had told him to do? Just use his powers? Nathan tapped into Riptide Grasp, and the water bent to his will. He frowned. Nothing interesting had happened, and he was fairly certain that the skill hadnt upgraded. He stepped into the water, letting it come up to his calves. The cool sensation sent a chill up his spine. Nathan sensed something just at the edge of his awareness. There was something he was missing, something He heard a splash and turned his head. He blinked. His plant arm had grown a vine that had splashed into the water. It twitched, and the water splashed again. okay, thats not concerning in the slightest. Nathan looked away. It was probably just some weird aftereffect of using it so extensively earlier? He shut his eyes and tried to feel around for it Another splash. Nathans head darted toward the vine sprouting from his arm, and he glared at it. The vine shriveled up and retreated back into his arm. Nathan frowned sharply. It had responded to his emotions. The mere fact that it was showing this kind of awareness was deeply disturbing. Was it just going to get smarter and smarter till it took over his brain or some shit? It could be stronger than me. He still remembered that feeling of suffocation, of raw power, back when hed first encountered the plant. It had started out as nothing more than a tiny seed. It had its roots all across his town. Now it was attached to his arm. What was stopping it from going further? Its not like Im going to rip my arm off out of caution. Theres nothing to do but keep an eye on things. Nathan looked back at the water. What was he missing? He felt around the spring using his water manipulation till he felt it bump into something. He frowned. Deep under the water, there was some kind of pocket that his water manipulation couldnt penetrate. It was like there was a solid wall between him and whatever was inside. Nathan dived into the water. He kept his eyes open as he got deeper and deeper. Before long, he arrived at the location, only to find Nothing? Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. He was at the spot where his Riptide Grasp had stopped working. He was inside the bubble, but there was nothing here? He reached out his Riptide Grasp to use the water but nothing happened. He frowned. He tried again, and once again, nothing happened. Okay, thats not normal. He waved his hand through the waternothing odd happened, his hand just moved through the water. Nathan tugged on the water again. For a split second he saw the water swirl before it slipped from his grasp. This is the trick, isnt it? This water, for whatever reason, is resistant to my skill. So if I can manage to succeed using the skill on this water, thatll probably give me the upgrade Im looking for. Nathan spent the next hour or so struggling to get a grip on the mysterious water using his skill. Every single time hed put everything he had into it. Every single time it would slip out of his skill like butter between his fingers. As time went on, he began to feel a deep pain. It was hurting him to continue. Something was beginning to strain deep inside him. Hed never hit the limits of his skills, but he was beginning to sense that hed hit it soon. What would happen at that point? He didnt know. But he had to keep trying. The pain continued to build. Every time he went up for air, it took longer and longer. Nathan sank to the bubble. One last try, then Ill take a break. Nathan felt power flood his veins. He mentally gripped the stubborn water as hard as he could and tugged. The water began to swirl. It was starting to move. But in the back of his soul, something began to crack and splinter. Pieces of him taped together unravelled And then, in a split second, it all shattered His body erupted in flames, pain arching up and down his spine. It was pain unlike any hed ever felt, only comparable to the time hed ascendedit was this familiarity with the pain that allowed him to force himself to swim up for air. Black crawled at the edges of his vision. He pushed through. His heart pounded in his chest, his head swam with muddled thoughts. The blackness narrowed to a single point and he fell unconscious. 56 - Whispers from a Forgotten Past Nathan groaned and put a hand to his head. It felt like his body was on fire, every nerve fried to the core. At his feet, the water nipped at his heels. But there was something more, something fundamental. He could sense itdeep inside, at the core of his being. Something had gone terribly wrong. He pushed himself upright, wobbling as he did. Looking down at his chest, he pressed a finger against it. The sensation wasnt particularly painful, more of a dull, irritating sting. No, whatever had happened ran much deeper than the physical. After a second of hesitation, he decided to try one of his skills. The feedback was instant and excruciating. Pain shot up and down his chest in radiating waves. It was as if someone were scooping out his insides with a rusty spoon, completely disregarding the need for anesthetic. He collapsed back to the ground, curling into a tight ball, his body trembling from the intensity. Minutes passed before he managed to summon the strength to stagger upright again. He swayed as he stood, his breathing ragged, and tried to push past the agony coursing through him. It didnt work. What on earth did I do? he muttered, half to himself, half to the empty air around him. Nathan wasnt entirely sure, but it felt analogous to a sprained ankle. Apparently, overextending his skills had a similar result to intense physical overexertion without rest. Only in this case, the damage wasnt to muscle but to something far more metaphysical. The point remained the samehed overdone it, and now he was paying the price. He stared at the water, its gentle ripples mocking his frustration. What am I even supposed to do? He had tried as hard as he could, yet it didnt seem to make a difference. All hed accomplished was injuring himself. Probably not permanently hopefully not. But still, there had to be something he was missing, some trick he hadnt yet discovered. Nathan began pacing in a tight circle, his mind churning through possibilities. Each idea he tried to piece together fell apart under scrutiny. Eventually, he dropped back onto the ground, defeated. With a sigh, he pulled out a fish hed caught earlier. His hands worked almost automatically, ripping it open and spilling its guts onto the ground. In minutes, hed fashioned some crude sushi. He chewed the raw fish slowly, his thoughts continuing to churn. There has to be a way. He extended a hand toward the water and gave it a mental tug. Pain immediately flared, lighting up his nerves like a firestorm. Gritting his teeth, he released the grip, and the pain ebbed slightly. Rather than brute force, he tried something different. He focused on finesse, weaving his grip in and out of the waters currents, like threading a needle through cloth. Slowly, painstakingly, he began to establish a connection. Minutes passed, and sweat beaded his brow as he concentrated. Bit by bit, he gained control over the water contained within the springs odd bubble. He pulled, gently but firmly, expecting nothing. And then, the water moved. Nathans eyes widened. He pulled a little harder, ignoring the dull ache in his core. The water threaded through the lake like a long, trailing snake. With one final effort, he shoved it upward. The water burst free, arcing through the air and spraying down like a fountain. It drenched him further, soaking him from head to toe. Then, something shifted inside him. It started as a slow, tingling warmth, then erupted across his body in a cascade of pins and needles. He doubled over, gasping, but this time it wasnt from pain. A moment later, a system prompt appeared before him: [Riptide Grasp (Bronze) > Riptide Mastery (Bronze+)] Nathan grinned, his soaked face splitting into a triumphant smile. Finally.
Nathan headed back to the town, a spring in his step. Everything had been going his way. Hed upgraded his skills. He was making serious problems on the farm stuff, and with any luck, hed be done with that soon. Even his own town was coming along with a representative government in the works. It wouldnt be long now before everything was over with. Hed blow through the Second Circles side quests in short ordersomeone else would figure out the global quest to get to the bottom, he was sure. He froze. A chill went down his spine. He turned his eyes. There, just at the edge of his vision, far in the distance, were two red dots staring at him. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. He blinked, and they vanished. Nathan clenched his jaw. What kind of a hallucination? Maybe just a mirage? Still, Nathan couldnt help but hurry his footsteps. After a few minutes, Nathan spotted something that concerned him even morea house. In the first place, this meant he had gotten lost. In the second placeif those eyes represented what he thought they did, then this house was about to get a rude awakening. As he got closer, he spotted signs of his presence. Well-irrigated fields, a windmill hooked up to a pump, and thriving green plants. Nathan stepped closer. He could see someone working the fields. Hello? he said. The figure poked up. A wheat stick dropped out of the mans mouth. Nathan! Abaya yelled. Its great to see you!
Nathan was shuffled inside the mans house. The scent of baked bread mingled with the earthy aroma of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling. The walls were adorned with modest decorationswoven tapestries and a few framed sketches of what he assumed were moments from the familys life. Abaya led him toward a low table where two people sat. A young girl, no older than ten, was furrowing her brows in concentration over a book, while an older woman with kind eyes and a streak of silver in her hair was jotting notes on a parchment beside her. They both looked up as Abaya entered. Nathan froze on the spot. My wife and daughter, Sumita and Priya, Abaya said. He stepped closer to them and pinched the little girls cheeks. And hows my little desert flower? Priyathe little girlpouted. Appa, dont do that in front of strangers! Abaya laughed. This is no stranger. This is the man I told you of, the one who saved our farm! Sumitas eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands together. Oh, Nathan! Ive heard so much about youplease, sit down! You must be starving after your journey. Before he could protest, she had already pulled a chair out for him at the table. Priya, fetch some water for our guest. Abaya, dont just stand therehelp me bring out the food! Nathan wasnt quite sure it happened, but the next thing he knew, he was being forced into a chair and food was being brought out in front of him. Um, thanks, Nathan said. "So tell me, Nathan," Sumita said, placing a steaming bowl of fragrant rice in front of him, "how did you learn so much about soil composition? Abaya says your methods were unlike anything he''d seen before." Nathan sunk into his seat. "Just, uh, picked it up here and there." I really need to just warn Abaya and get out of here. "Here and there?" Sumita said. "That''s quite modest for someone who saved an entire season''s crops. Most farmers around here have been working the land for generations, and even they couldn''t figure out what was wrong." "It wasn''t..." Nathan shifted in his seat. "The solution was pretty obvious, actually. The soil just needed" Amma, can I show him my drawings? Priya said, already reaching for a stack of papers. Priya, Sumita said. Let our guest eat first. Nathan reached for another piece of bread, chewing slowly as he watched the family around him. The room was warmtoo warm, almostand the easy laughter between Abaya and Priya felt oddly distant, like he was watching a scene from a movie. This is nice, isnt it? Sumitas voice pulled him back, her smile gentle as she handed him a small bowl of some mysterious meat soup. A good meal after a long journey. Yeah, Nathan said, nodding. Youre not much of a talker, are you? she said, her eyes glinting with quiet amusement. Guess not, he said. You must have learned a lot to be able to help us like you did. Nathan shrugged. Just picked some things up along the way. Its not as complicated as it looks. Abaya chuckled from across the table. Spoken like a truly humble man. Im not, Nathan said quickly. He cleared his throat. I mean, its just practical stuff. Practical, but life-changing for us, Sumita said. Abaya told me how hard you worked, how much thought you put into fixing things. We dont take that lightly. Nathan shifted in his seat, the sincerity in her tone catching him off guard. It wasnt a big deal, he muttered. Before any of them could say anything, Nathan stood up abruptly. I need to speak with Abaya. Abaya blinked. Im right here? In private. Its about farming stuff. Sumita and Abaya stared at each other and shrugged. Alright, Abaya said. Of course, my friend.
Now then, whats all this about? I know my wife can be a bit much Theyd moved to a dimmed hallway. Just down the hall, Priya and Sumita were chatting awaythough Nathan was certain that hed made Sumita uncomfortable with his little stunt. He felt bad about it, but suppressed the feeling. She was fine, I didnt mind, Nathan said. Its justmy parents Nathan trailed off and shook his head. Its not important. The important thing is that I think you might be in danger. Abaya tensed. What do you mean? Im not totally sure, but I think the Dustend might hit this place. What? Do you have a shelter? Some kind of bunker? Nathan said. Y-yes, all of us out here do. Good. Make sure your family stays here for the next day or so, and be ready to get inside, okay? Abaya nodded. Sweat dropped from his forehead. What about the other farms around here? Ill warn them, Nathan said. Just make sure to follow what I said, okay? Of course, Nathan. Nathan opened a window and started to step out. Abaya raised an eyebrow. What the hell are you doing? Abaya said. Nothing. Goodbye. Nathan stepped out and shut the window behind himself.
Nathan moved like a shadow through the night, his footsteps silent against the packed earth. Farm after farm, he delivered his warning. Most listened. Some dismissed him, but their skeptical expressions couldnt hide their fear. The wind began to change. At first, just a subtle shift in direction, then a thickness to the air that made it harder to breathe. The stars above started to dim, one by one, as if being swallowed by an invisible tide. He was making his final loop back when he spotted a figure in the distance, illuminated by the last trace of starlight. Abaya? He stumbled along, seemingly in a random direction. Nathan sprinted toward him. The wind picked up, carrying the traces of metallic dust. His lungs burned with each breath. "What''s wrong?" Nathan called out as they drew closer. "Why aren''t you in the shelter?" Abaya''s face was ash-white. When he spoke, his voice cracked. We cant find her, Nathan. Sumita took her eyes off her for a second. Weve looked everywhere. Priya He choked on the words. Priyas gone. 57 - Return of the Dustend Nathan ran out into the growing storm, his feet pounding against the ground. Sand whipped against his skin, and rocks flew through the air. In the distance, lightning cracked like a whip. He squinted. Nothing. This was bad. Priya was out there somewhere, lost in the middle of the desert, and he had no idea where to find her. What was he going to tell her father? That hed lost her in the storm? That she might not make it back? No. Absolutely not. But the Dustend was closing in fast. Each second felt like a countdown in his head, a relentless, echoing tick, tick, tick. Sweat ran down his neck, drenching him as he pushed forward. Suddenly, a faint cry broke through the wind. He turned sharply to the left and saw a small figure in the distance. He ran forward. His heels dug into the sand, propelling him forward as fast as he could. Every second counted. The storm was nearly on top of them and he could smell the ozone in the air. Priya! he shouted. Over here! Priya turned, her eyes red from the swirling sand. Nathan? Im sorry! I just wanted to go outside, and then I got lost! I dont know what happened Its okay. I understand. Just come with me. She nodded hesitantly and stepped toward him. When she grabbed his hand, her grip was like a vice. Nathan glanced back toward the house. It was far, too far. Getting back would be trickythe storm was nearly upon them, and carrying a child would make it even harder. But he had to try. Hold on tight and dont let go, he said. If you get lost again, I might not be able to find you. Priya froze, then nodded rapidly. I promise. I wont let go. They barely had a moment before the storm hit. Priya ducked against Nathans chest, and he squinted ahead, straining to see the house. It wasnt fara few minutes away at mostbut with the dust kicking up, it might as well have been miles. He moved his feet and walked forward. The wind howled, and each step felt like trudging through quicksand. The sand lashed at his exposed skin, each grain a tiny needle. He winced and wrapped his arms around Priya to protect her. Then he heard it. A low, guttural groan in the distance. His heart thudded in his chest. He turned his head and saw them: two glowing red eyes piercing through the haze, watching his every move. Hed seen those eyes before, the first time hed encountered the Dustendand again, the last time he barely escaped it. His stomach twisted. Whatever it was, it was dangerous. He couldnt fight it now, not with Priya on his back. He forced himself to focus. The house. Get to the house. The wind screamed louder, the sand stabbing harder. Hold on a second, he muttered. Priya peeked up at him, her face streaked with dirt and tears. Nathan extended his right hand, calling on his magic. A moment later, a shimmering blue shield of water sprang to life around them. The storms fury battered against it, but the barrier held. For now. What happened? Priya asked. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. A shield. Hopefully itll last It cracked. And the red eyes? They were closer now. The Dustend roared louder, and the fractures in the shield spread like spiderwebs. Nathan tightened his grip on Priya. He forced his feet forward, digging into the sand with every step. The house was in sight. Just a little farther. The shield shattered. Pain sliced across his skin, deeper than physicallike something tearing into his very essence. He gritted his teeth and pushed on. He could see the door. Just a few more steps. Nathan barreled through the doorway, slamming it shut behind him. Abaya! Where are you? Priya shouted, her voice raw. Nathans eyes scanned the room, landing on a wooden door with a latch set into the floor. The house shuddered under the storms assault, the walls creaking, bits of wood splintering away. He lunged forward, pulled the trapdoor open, and jumped into the bunker below. Priya! Youre okay! Sumita rushed forward, pulling Priya from Nathans arms. She inspected the child, wiping her tears and dust-covered face. My dear, youre safe now, she whispered, her voice breaking. Abaya stepped forward, his jaw dropped. His gaze shifted between Priya and Nathan. You actually brought her back, he said. Nathan opened his mouth to answer, but a shudder wracked his body. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor. Priyas scream tore through the air. Nathan? The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was their facesanxious, scared, and hovering over him as his world went black.
Nathan woke up, as he usually did. Two times in two days. This is starting to become a pattern. That stunt earlier with the spring had already pushed his limits, and then hed thrown the Tidal Shield against the Dustend itself. That seemed to be the tipping point. No wonder the skill hadnt lasted long, hed been running on fumes the whole time. Water, he croaked. Can somebody please get me some water? Sumita walked over and sighed. She grabbed a cup from a nearby shelf and handed it to him. Here you go, Nathan. Nathan took the cup from her hand and drank greedily. As the cool liquid slid down his throat, he sat up, looking around. Why are we still in the bunker? Sumita shook her head. The house is destroyed, she said. Some of our things survived, but we couldnt let you stay out there, exposed to the elements. It wouldnt have been right. Nathan rubbed his eyes. How long was I out? A little while, Sumita said. But you need to rest more. I cant believe you survived exposure to the Dustend, let alone got my daughter back. You need to recover. Nathan pushed the blanket off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Thank you for your hospitality, but I really shouldnt impose any further. Sumitas eyes widened. Hospitality? Are you kidding? You saved my daughter! Please, dont worry about it. I was just helping out. Sumita looked like she wanted to argue further, but she pressed her lips together and said nothing. Nathan stood fully, steadying himself before climbing the steps out of the bunker. What he saw horrified him. Everything that had once been there, including the new additions to Nathans farm, was completely destroyed. The house was torn to shreds, random pieces of furniture scattered across the ground. The walls were almost nonexistent. Outside, the irrigation ditches Nathan had painstakingly built were gone, buried under the sand. Nathan felt a deep ache in his chest. In the distance, he spotted Abaya, who had tools in hand and was already working to repair the fields. Nathan walked over to him. Abaya. Abaya froze mid-swing. Its kind of ironic, isnt it? he said. Just when our family had some hope, along comes the storm. And now well have to start all over again. No, youre not, Nathan said firmly. Abaya turned, his expression hollow. I suppose youre going to fix this? he asked. But you dont understand. Even if you fix it, itll just happen again. And even if it doesnt hit us, itll hit my daughter someday. This place is cursed. Theres no hope here. A heavy silence fell between them. Nathan bit his bottom lip. Abaya seemed to realize what hed said and stepped back. Forgive me, Abaya said quietly. Im not sure where that came from. Its not your fault. I understand where youre coming from. In the end, Nathan summoned the workers from his Soulbound town and began rebuilding the farm. But there was a distinct air of futility to it all. Abaya was right. Even if Nathan fixed everything, he was only patching up the problem. It was only a matter of time until another attack came. By the time he finished, Nathan sat out on the dunes, staring at the setting sun. His eyelids burned, but he ignored it, lost in thought. Then he heard a voice. You are the one known as Nathan Lee, correct? Nathan turned, startled. Hed been so absorbed in his thoughts that he hadnt noticed an entire regiment of troops approaching, flanking a palanquin. Nathan raised an eyebrow. Yeah, Im Nathan Lee, he said. The soldier inclined his head. Someone wishes to see you. Nathan shrugged, standing to follow. As he approached the palanquin, he noticed its luxurious design: fine silks, vibrant colors from expensive dyes, and not a trace of wear or poverty. The hood of the palanquin opened, revealing none other than Zayen. Nathan Lee, Zayen said. Ive been meaning to talk to you for quite some time. Please, come inside, and let us speak. 58 - To Kill a Storm "So, where have you been since our last encounter?" Nathan reached up and scratched the back of his head. This was awkward. If he remembered correctly, Zayen had been hoping for a meeting, and Nathan had just left him hanging. Now they were here. "Well, I was doing various things" "Like repairing every single farm in my country?" is that a bad thing?" "Of course not. But it is somewhat surprising. I cannot help but question why you would do such a thing." Nathan was about to respond when Zayen suddenly held up his hand. "First," Zayen said, "I would like to know how it is that you got separated from Rami. She claims that you just disappeared. Is this true?" Nathan winced. Internally, his thoughts were racing. There wasnt exactly a good explanation besides the truth: namely, that she wanted him to join her little revolution and he didnt want to get involved. But should he tell Zayen that? The whole reason he''d run away in the first place was because he didnt want to get involved in the kingdoms internal politics. Still, Zayen probably deserved to know the truthhe didnt seem like a bad guy. "About that..." Nathan said. "Yes?" "Well, your sister took me to an alleyway, and then she started talking about... staging a coup. Against you. At that point, I was, uh, sort of freaked out." Zayen sighed, pressing his head into his hand. "Why am I not surprised?" "You knew?" No. I''ve been aware of my cousins scheming ways for quite some timebut I never expected she was planning to attempt a coup d''tat. "What are you going to do about it?" Nathan asked. Zayen shook his head, his lordly robes swirling as he did so. "I will have my agents gather more information on her and her conspirators. I need to find out who else is involved in this." "I see." Nathan glanced at the curtain of the palanquin. "I guess Id best get going now" "Hold on one moment." Nathan froze. We never arrived at my earlier question. The thing that precipitated this entire conversation. He leaned forward. What would possess you to go around helping all of the farmers in my kingdom? Not only that, but you killed a wyvern that had infested the sacred mountain spring. What is your reason for doing this?" Nathan hesitated. "It was for a side quest." Zayen reached for a cup of tea at his side. Behind it, Nathan saw the faintest hint of a smirk on the kings lips. "That makes you a Delver, doesnt it?" Zayen said. Nathan froze. "You know?" "Your behavior matches perfectly with the other strangers who have come here throughout the years. The royal archives have records of your kind. Is it so surprising that I should know of you?" Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. "Well, nobody else here seems to know about the Circles. Zayen sighed, taking a sip of tea. "Theyre still stuck in the past. They still believeno, they still want to believethat this is a desert island. That we can remain cut off from the rest of the world. "But how long can that last?" Nathan asked, thinking of the Dustend. "It really seems like this place doesnt have much of a future left." "I would agree with you, but most people dont. Theyve lost faith, they believe this is our home. I imagine youve had conversations with the farmers?" "Yes, I have. They dont want to leave even when the Dustend is ripping them to shreds. Nathans fist clenched. Its only a matter of time until it destroys them all. They need to escape. Zayen poured another cup of tea and handed it to Nathan. "That is my dream, Nathan. For me and my people to finally leave this desert hellhole." Nathan grabbed the tea and stared into the reflection. He looked back at Zayen. "What do you mean?" he asked. "This is not our home. You know this as well as I do," Zayen said. "We come from a land of green. Where plants grow from every crack, where the air is fresh and cool, where the sun doesnt beat down on us like a slave driver. I wish to return to that land, to reject this deal our ancestors made. "How are you supposed to convince people to go along with that? Even if you do, how do you get to the next circle without the System quests? "Yes, thats the question, isnt it?" Zayen tilted his head back and looked at the ceiling. And even granting our escape from heresomething that seems very unlikelyhow would I survive the challenges of the Third Circle? How would I get to the Fourth? The Fifth? And even if I had some plan that allowed me and my people to survive, how do I convince them to follow me? Theyve already lost hope. The Dustend has stripped it away, as it has with everything else." "So it comes back to the Dustend," Nathan said. "Indeed. If I had some tool to defeat the Dustend, I think that would be just what my people need. That would be the catalyst to move forward. A spark to light a flame to burn away the fears of the ancient. At this, Zayens eyes turned sharply toward Nathan. "How is that quest going?" Nathan blinked. What quest?" "The one related to the farmers of this land." Despite making major strides in the kingdoms food situation, the quest had yet to ding and confirm success. "It hasnt finished. Why do you ask?" "You fought a wyvern for a side quest. It seems youll do a great deal to complete them." Yeah, thats probably true. Its kind of a compulsive disorder, honestly "How do you feel about killing a storm?" Zayen said. "Killing a storm? What do you mean?" "Exactly what I say. Do you think youd be up to killing a storm?" Nathans eyes widened. Zayen was talking about the Dustend. Are you implying that defeating the Dustend would fulfill my farming quest? Nathan slowly said. How does that make any sense? "Ive been tracking your progress. The coming season will be the most bountilful weve had in a hundred years. Zayen took a sip of his tea. And yet the quest refuses to trigger completion. Something else is at work, some unknown factor youve yet to consider." "And what could that be?" Zayen set his teacup down. "The Dustend." How? "Tell me, will those farmers ever be truly secure knowing one bad storm could wipe out everything theyve built?" Nathan shifted uncomfortably. "So, youre saying to finish my farming quest, I have to kill the Dustend? A magic storm that almost killed me twice?" "Of course, you wouldnt be doing it alone. This is a goal Ive pursued for years. If you take it on, Ill provide all the aid I can." Nathan frowned. And Id just be doing this for free? Well, it would be for your quest, Zayen said. But Id be giving you a bonus, of course. Access to the royal archives would a good reward, I believe. We have many secrets thereperhaps one could help you? Nathans eyebrows shot up. That was exactly what he needed to upgrade his Oceans Embrace skill. Still, he hesitated. "Not enough," Zayen said. "What if I also entitled you to first pick of the loot?" "What loot?" "The texts indicate the Dustends power stems from an artifact. An object." "Whats it called?" "The Heart of the Desert." Nathan froze. Deal sealed. Judging by Zayens shark-like grin, he knew it too. "If were doing this," Nathan said hesitantly, "we need a ground rule." "Im listening." "This is about the Dustend. Im not getting involved in your politics." "Very well," he said. "Is that all?" "I guess so." Zayen held out his hand. "Then its a deal." After a moment, Nathan shook it. A split second later, a message appeared in front of Nathan: Message from: Gius My lord, important things related to the elections must be addressed. Please visit at the earliest opportunity. "Elections?" Nathan turned his head to see Zayen blatantly eavesdropping on his system message. "How can you read that?" Nathan said. "The system auto-translates it, like it does for our speech." "Oh." "You have a soulbound town?" Zayens eyes widened. He lunged forward, grabbing Nathan by the collar. "Youre the mayor of a soulbound town?" "Yes?" Zayen froze, slowly letting go. "Nathan," he said gravely, "can you allow me to accompany you? Just for a little bit of time? 59 - COMMUNIST WEREWOLVES I dont know how to feel about a dude who tried to kill me participating in the political processbut then again, I did ask for this. EMBRACE THE FUTURE: JOIN THE REFORMER PARTY! Are you tired of signing a contract just to borrow a cup of sugar? Do you dream of a world where you can spontaneously high-five someone without legal documentation? The Reformer Party fights for YOU! We envision a town where all beings, fungal or furry, soar together on wings of mutual understanding, peace, and occasionally interpretive dance. WITHOUT CONTRACTS! The Thousand-Year Community Plan. For instance, in the absence of contracts, we propose the implementation of a Universal Consensus Accord. This involves daily town meetings where all decisions are made by collective agreement! Its hard enough getting people to agree on the council, and there are only a handful of people there. How are you going to make good decisions involving EVERYONE?! Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Not exactly the part I wouldve objected to, but then again, Im the foreigner here. Well, technically, so is the werewolf. Is this my fault? Am I going to have to step in again? What kind of radical policies does this guy have in mind? How in the hell did Sticks get involved in this? Maybe Gius was right about Sticks being some kind of madman, a devious mastermind? But how is a fifteen percent reduction in paperwork supposed to be radical? I am deeply regretting telling Gius to prepare an election. This may have been the worst idea Ive ever had. 60 - "Congratulations on the marriage." Nathan held back a laugh at what was happening. Burrau was pressed into a wall while Fuge glared down at him. "Self-approving your own protest permit?" Fuge said. "I have to admire the sheer audacity. Did you at least buy yourself dinner first before you signed off on it?" "The permit process was followed exactly as written. Burraus starchy neck flushed red. "As a councilor, I retain all my rights as a citizen to" "Oh, spare me the legal gymnastics. Next you''ll tell me you filed the paperwork in triplicate before joining a rally that nearly became a brawl. What''s next on the agenda? Perhaps you''ll approve yourself a permit to throw rocks through your own windows?" "That''s hardly" "You''re a councilor, not some firebrand rebel," Fuge said. "Though I must say, watching you try to simultaneously be the establishment and rage against it is remarkably entertaining. Do you argue with yourself in the mirror about municipal codes too?" Watching Burrau squirm under her clear disappointment was one of the top ten moments of the apocalypse so far. Nathan had to bite back a smile. After some more angry yelling, Nathan headed to the town hall alongside Fuge. Burrau was corralled into coming along by her, despite his protestations. Zayen tagged along as well. Fuge raised an eyebrow but seemed to judge that, since Nathan wasnt making a fuss about it, she shouldnt either. Nathan also learned that there had been an attack on the town hall. Some lunatic had planted gunpowder underneath it, and the plot had only been discovered by chance. This explained why Fuge and the military had taken so long to get to himthey were providing guard service to various members of the provisional government. Before long, the group finally arrived at the Meeting Hall. For once, the room was silent. Bricks, Sticks, and Vee were the only ones present. They mustve been delayed, Fuge said. With your permission, sir, Id like to look into it and make sure theyre safe. Nathan nodded. Go ahead. Fuge turned and marched out the door, flanked by half of the guard force. The rest stayed inside, taking up positions at the edges of the room. Nathans eyes wandered over to Sticks. He was still shocked that Sticks had somehow become the leader of a pseudo-fascistic revolutionary party. Granted, it seemed like all the major parties were veering toward extremism, but stillwhy was he involved? Nathan walked over to Sticks and sat down beside him. The mushroom man nearly jumped out of his seat. Nathan! Sticks said. Nathan nodded. Sticks. How are you? Sticks laughed, the sound pale and flaccid. Deep lines crisscrossed the skin under his eyes while his complexion was sallow and sagging. Well, I gotta admit, Im not doing so great, he said. Does this have anything to do with the TPP? Nathan asked. Sticks froze. Please dont tell me they harassed you? I wouldnt say harassed. Nathan paused. More like they mightve gotten a bit too excited. I told them not to do that, but they just dont listen! How did all this start? Nathan asked. Were not best friends, but I think I know you well enough to say youre not the type of guy interested in creating a political party. Bricks, seated nearby next to his brother, smirked. Yeah, he isnt. Not that it stopped anyone in the TPP. I swear, it all just happened out of nowhere, Sticks said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The party wasnt started by me. It was started by some lunatic mushroom person who called himself Bloom. The guy had wild ideasall about national revival, creating a purer society, and how mushrooms like us should dominate the werewolves. He even formed a paramilitary wing to enforce his vision. Theyd go around in uniforms, waving flags and breaking up rallies held by anyone who disagreed with them. I didnt realize how bad it was until I got an invitation to one of their meetings from a friend. Nathan raised an eyebrow. And you went? I didnt want to embarrass my friend, Sticks said. I figured Id just drop in, see what was going on, and then quietly slip away. That plan worked well, Bricks muttered. Sticks shot him a glare. Yeah, it went horribly wrong. Bloom was giving some fiery speech about purges and building a new order. It made my skin crawl, so I decided to leave. But as Im heading out, he catches sight of me and starts ranting about traitors who wouldnt support the cause. He made some vague threat about mewhich scared me, so I ducked into a side room to avoid a scene. Nathan leaned forward. What happened next? Well, apparently, Bloom thought I was rallying a coup because I didnt come back out right away. Paranoia mustve gotten to him. By the time I worked up the nerve to leave, I walked into chaos. Half the room was shouting that I was the new leader. The other half was shouting at Bloom for being weak because he let me waltz in and challenge him. He went berserk and well, long story short, his own guards dragged him out. Bricks chuckled. He basically got kicked out by his own people. Sticks walked out as leader without even saying a word. Sticks groaned. I didnt want to be leader! I kept telling them I was just there to feed my chickens! But they thought it was all some kind of metaphor for political growth. Someone called it a masterpiece of political theater. Nathan blinked. What about the name change? Oh, right, Sticks muttered. The original name was the National Revival Party. I thought it sounded ridiculous. I suggested they call it the The Party of People Who Just Want to Hang Out and Stuff because I figured thatd make it clear I didnt want it to last. But of course, they took that as another piece of brilliant political strategy. Now were stuck with the TPP. Calling it the PP makes more sense, but apparently people didnt like the sound of that for some reason. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I guess some jokes are just cross-cultural. Nathan stared, unblinking, at Sticks. The poor man was breathing heavily, his left eye twitching at random intervals. What did you do afterward? Nathan asked. Did you try explaining it to them? Of course I did! I keep telling them Im just a farmer, but they keep saying Im just being humble. But Im not! Why dont you just leave? Sticks froze. Social pressure, Bricks said. He feels awkward about walking out on them. Sounds like youve had a rough time of it. Its awful. Sticks sighed. But I should stop bothering you about it. Anyway, congratulations on the marriage. Wait, what Before Nathan could analyze that statement, the doors swung open, revealing the other members of the council. Casc, Gius, and Papim entered in through the front door. They all shuffled in and took their seats. Now then, Gius said. Its time to talk about some serious issues.
"We''re in a precarious situation," Gius said. "The sparks of democracy have lit a fire inside the hearts of our people. For the first time in centuries, the mushroom race has the opportunity to be involved in the political process." Casc stood up abruptly. "And this is exactly the problem!" "Sit down, Casc" "No, I will not!" Casc looked around the table. "I have great respect for Lord Nathan, but he made a significant mistake agreeing to this. Look at the discord that''s been sewn as a result of this foolhardy plan." The flames of the torches seemed to flicker at Casc''s words. Nathan pulled his lips into a thin line. "Has it really been that bad?" Nathan asked. "Are a few rallies so awful?" "It''s not just a few rallies!" Casc said. "My lord, all of the main parties have begun employing paramilitary factions. The TPP, the Reformers, and even the Contractistseven if they won''t admit it. Many of my homeowners have been intimidated or even had their homes broken into. People have been seriously injured! You weren''t there for it, but it''s been happening!" Nathan paused and frowned. His chest tightened and he began to seriously wonder if he''d made a mistake. Papim shook her head. Nathan blinked. "The violence has been occurring before the introduction of elections," she said. "Remember? Gius had to bring Nathan in to prevent a riot, earlier." Gius sat back down in his chair. "Still, this was a hasty move. Nathan and Gius should''ve consulted us." "I can''t believe I''m saying this, but Casc has a point," Vee said. "Besides that, is this really the best option? I''ve looked at the charter for the new government, and we''re giving so much power to the people" "Is that a bad thing?" Sticks said. "I mean, they''re not qualified to make decisions." "So you''re against the election plan?" "No, that''s not what I''m saying" Nathan stood up. Everyone stopped speaking. Vee cleared her throat. "Well, my lord," she said, "at least there''s some good news. The people seem quite excited about your upcoming nuptials." Nathan blinked. "My what?" "Oh, you haven''t seen?" Vee pulled a colorful pamphlet from her bag and slid it across the table. "The Town Tattler. It''s quite popular these days." Nathan picked up the pamphlet with visible bewilderment. "''Lord Nathan''s Secret Romance with the Goddess of Destruction,''" he read aloud. He looked up. I didnt even know we have a printing press. "Keep reading," Gius urged, grinning. "It gets better." "''Sources say the couple''s chemistry was obvious during the Battle of Broken Ridge, where the Goddess of Destruction saved our beloved lord with a perfectly timed explosive,''" Nathan continued reading. "Well, that part''s actually kind of true, though I wouldn''t call nearly blowing my eyebrows off ''romantic.''" He flipped the page. "''Wedding preparations are already underway. Inside sources claim the bride plans to enter on a modified artillery platform'' Actually, knowing Mara, she probably would do that." "Oh, flip to page six," Papim said. "They have a detailed analysis of your compatible star signs." "''The lord''s practical earth sign perfectly balances the Goddess''s explosive fire nature,''" Nathan read, shaking his head. "Who even writes this? Though I suppose they got the ''explosive'' part right." His smile faded slightly. "I just hope she''s okay, wherever that portal took her." "The Town Tattler has a theory about that too," Sticks said. "They''re saying she''s actually on a secret quest to find you a proper wedding gift." "Of course they are. He dropped the pamphlet. "Can we please focus on the actual crisis at hand? The sooner we sort out this political mess, the sooner we can work on figuring out where she actually ended up." Right, my lord, Gius said. "Casc has a point," Nathan continued, steering them back to business. "I was wrong to take action without prior consultation. However, we''ve already made the decision. The only thing we can do is continue down this path to the best of our ability." A few grumbles rang out but no one said anything. Gius gave a small smile and nodded at Nathan. "Well said, my lord," he said. "We''re in the worst of it anyway. When the situation stabilizes, we should see tensions dissipateassuming the new government can navigate the current political landscape." "That''s not the response that I was hoping for," Casc said. "Too bad." Fuge stepped forward. "If I may?" Nathan nodded at her. "What is it?" "I understand that we just need to hold out until the elections, but that may not be possible. The military is spread extremely thin and we can''t hold the entire city." "We''ve already started implementing reforms," Gius said. "But they don''t seem to have made much of a dent." At that, Zayen stepped forward. "You need to show them." Everyone''s eyes darted over toward Zayen. "Who''s the brat?" Casc said. Zayen bowed with his hand on the palm of his chest. "Greetings," he said. "I am Zayen, King of Sandara." "A boy king, eh?" Gius looked him up and down. "What do you mean by show them?" "The most frequent mistake of my reign has been my inability to show the people what I have done. As a result, they''ve lost confidence in me and my rule." The words were spoken coolly, without a single twitch in his expression. He might as well have been discussing the weather. Gius frowned. "I see." "If I could do it all over again, that is the change I would make," Zayen said. Nathan rubbed his chin. "What about a town hall event?" "Town hall?" Gius said. "We let the citizens here, into the hall and let them ask us questions. We screen them in advance, of course, to make sure that they''re not crazy, but maybe this would help alleviate some of the pressure?" Gius nodded, quicker and quicker. "That could work, I like the idea." "Why here?" Casc said. "What if they cause a mess?" "It''s about perception." Nathan stood up and used his arm to gesture at the Meeting hall. "This is the seat of the government, but we''re letting normal people in. I think that sends a powerful messagethat we''re committed to giving the people a voice and a say in the running of this town, which is what the public upset is really about, on a fundamental level." "On top of that, it''ll give us a chance to explain the decisions we''ve been making," Papim said. "And perhaps clear up some... personal rumors as well," she added with a small smirk in Nathan''s direction. "We''ll have to pay close attention to security," Casc said. Fuge stepped forward. "I''ll take care of screening," she said. "Though perhaps we should ask Mara to help with security arrangements?" She couldn''t quite hide her grin. Nathan pointedly ignored the suggestion. Sticks rolled a wheat stalk between his fingers. "This could go well, but it could also make things go worse." "What do you mean?" Nathan asked. "Take it from someone who''s dealt with these people," Sticks said. "A lot of them are stubborn and aren''t really interested in hearing your viewpoint. Anything you say is just gonna become ammunition for them and their faction." "We''re not aiming to change the minds of the hardliners," Gius said. "So we can safely cast that aside. The main concern is all the people caught in the middle who can be swayed." Nathan looked around the table. "Are we in agreement, then?" A sequence of nods came around. Some were more excited, some more hesitant, but everyone was in agreement. "Then let''s get ready, it''s time to hold a town hall." 61 - Democracy in Action The lead-up to the town hall was fast. The council went back and forth on matters of seating and security, but within an hour, the majority of the problems were solved. Everyone was in agreement that the town hall had to be ready to go in a few hours. Nathan assisted in getting things set up, moving chairs, and getting the word out. He passed on sleep, electing to do as much as possible. Zayen, of course, eventually got exhausted and requested a roomwhich Nathan was happy to do. Then the time arrived. Nathan took up a position to the side while the council was all arranged in chairs facing the audience. People started shuffling inmost of them being mushroom people, but one or two werewolves appeared. I guess since theyre nocturnal, they didnt get the memo to come in? Zayen walked up to Nathan and smiled. I see that you worked through the night. Thats an impressive amount of dedication. Not really. Zayens eyes widened slightly. Really? Youre not exhausted at all? It must be my high constitution at work. Again. Nathans plant arm twitched again. He glared at it. Ill sit down now, Zayen said. Best of luck. Thanks, Nathan muttered, still focused on his plant arms unwanted movement. The twitching was becoming more frequent lately, and he wasnt sure if that was a good sign or not. The town hall continued to fill up, the soft sounds of conversation and shuffling feet echoing through the space. More werewolves drifted in, their tall forms standing out among the shorter mushroom folk. Gius stood up. If everyone could please find their seats, well begin shortly. Nathan scanned the crowd, noting the clear division between species. The mushroom people sat primarily in the front, their bioluminescent caps creating a soft, multicolored glow in the dimmer parts of the hall. The werewolves remained standing at the back, some leaning against the walls with their arms crossed. The tension was subtle but present. His plant arm twitched again, more violently this time, and he had to grab it with his other hand to keep it still. A few nearby attendees glanced his way, and he tried to make the gesture look casual, like he was just adjusting his sleeve. Gius glanced over at Nathan and nodded. Nathan nodded back and stood up. Thank you all for coming, he said. As your current administrator, Im here to moderate this discussion about our transition to democratic governance. Well be taking questions and concerns about the electoral process itself. Please keep comments focused on procedural matters rather than party platforms. A forest of handssome fuzzy, some composed of myceliumrose into the air. Nathan pointed to a mushroom person near the front, their cap giving off a steady blue glow. Yes, you first. Thank you, Lord Nathan. The mushroom persons voice wavered slightly. Given the different sleeping patterns of our communities, how can we ensure fair access to polling locations? The Reformer Party is concerned that traditional voting hours might disadvantage certain groups. A gruff voice called from the back: Yeah, like us! Several werewolves rumbled in agreement. Please wait to be called on, Nathan said. But yes, this is exactly the kind of practical concern we need to address. Gius? Gius stood up. The current proposal is to have polling stations open for a full twenty-four-hour period, with observers from all parties present throughout. He noticed Zayen taking notes in the front row. Nathan gestured toward a werewolf with silver-streaked fur. Yes, your question? My concern is about security at the polling stations. We Contractists want to ensure that the vote is free and fair, but weve heard rumors about possible intimidation tactics. What safeguards are being put in place to ensure that every voter feels safe? Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Huh, a werewolf Contractist? Thats interesting. The room hummed with murmurs, and Nathan held up his hands to settle the crowd. An important concern, he said. Gius? Gius cleared his throat and stood again. Each polling station will be staffed by impartial observers chosen from outside the community theyre stationed in. Law enforcement will remain at a distance unless explicitly called in by multiple observers. Were also working on a public awareness campaign to assure everyone of their rights and the confidentiality of their vote. The werewolf nodded, seeming satisfied. Nathan scanned the crowd for the next question. A part of him wondered where the head of the werewolf mercenaries washe hadnt seen him. Nathan opened his mouth, but a sharp voice interrupted from the back. What about the councils partisan ties? The room went silent. A werewolf in a tattered cloak stepped forward from the wall. Her fur bristled, and her amber eyes scanned the council members seated behind Nathan. We all know that some of them are pushing their party agendas already. The Contractists want Burrau in the new house, dont they? And the TPP? Weve heard about Sticks. The audience stirred, a mix of whispered agreements and nervous glances. Nathan felt his plant arm twitch again, harder this time. Lets address this head-on, he said. Its true that members of the council have their own political leanings. Thats inevitable in any system where people care deeply about their community. But for now, the council exists to manage the transition fairly. Any decisions about who will hold office in the new government will be made by you, the voters. The werewolf didnt back down. And what if theyre stacking the deck before we even get to vote? Shit shit shit shit shit! 62 - Magic Plant Arm Medical Problems Thankfully, the rest of the town hall went by much smoother after that. Nathan had been anticipating more combatative questions, but most of the people there had truly come to have their concerns attended to. Still, by the end of it, Nathan was feeling exhausted. It didnt hurt that his arm had continued to twitch and freak out the whole time. He was feeling odd phantom sensations up and down his bones. Pain periodically spiked and nearly knocked him out like a light, flashes of black blurring his vision. Hed immediately gone to Vee after the Town Hall. He was taken to a laboratory of some sort, all clean tiles and test tubes and fluorescent lights (magic lights, shed said. Nathan had just shrugged and gone along with it.) Vee sighed and pulled away the metal tool shed been using to inspect his arm. On his arms side, the half-black, half-white chimera flower bloomed, its petals spread out gracefully. Well, youre not in danger, Vee said. Not right now, anyway. Thats not unnerving in the slightest. Vee reached up and scratched the back of her mushroom cap head. Basically, she said. It has to do with how your little flower friend got into your body in the first place. What do you mean? She pulled out some papers from a counter to her side. When Speciman Five emerged, for lack of a better term, it used a pretty nasty method. From my best guess, it took advantage of some cracks in what is best described as your core, or soulthough I hate the term. That sounds really bad. How did I get cracks in my core? The cracks came from the Pandora. When you absorbed it, your core rebuilt itself from the ground up to be more powerful. Your body, too. There were a bunch of defects left over in the reforming process. She looked up toward the ceiling. Sounds kind of interesting. And painful. Nathan thought back to the experience of having every part of his skin on fire. Trust me, it was. He shook his head. But going back to the whole cracks in my core thing? Its actually not that badat least, not normally, Vee said. Yeah, you arent operating at full capacity, you havent gotten to enjoy the enhanced stats associated with rank up, for example, but besides that, you havent dealt with anything too bad. And anyway, the souls a pretty sturdy thing. Given time and healing, it probably wouldve mended itself back together. She clicked her tongue. But there are two things getting in the way. The plant stuff, right? Yeah, and you seem to have some preexisting damage, as well. Huh? How? Vees eyes stared at a wall. A few seconds ticked by. Theres some evidence that severe mental illness can lead to fractures in a core, she said. Nathan frowned. How does that make any sense? Hell if I know. She shrugged. Im just a scientist. Maybe Papims right and theres some weird metaphysical soul bullcrap going on. But Im sure that none of this applies to you, right? You seem pretty well adjusted. Nathan was quiet. Yeah, he said. There was a beat of silence. Anyway, Vee said. The bigger issue is the flower. Just like it did with this town, its spreading its roots inside of you, Nathan. Not just on a physical level, but on that inner being level as well. All those tremors and pains you described? All of that was your core trying to heal, and this thing getting in the way. What are my options? The best choice would be to rip it out, she said. Its still early enough that we might be able to pull it off. Youd be out of commission for a week or two, but it would be worth it. Nathan glanced over at his arm. What would that do to the plant? It would die. It expended an enormous amount of resources to attach to you, and its own core seems to be located on the flower petals. Theres a chance that it survives, but thats pretty low. Nathan was silent for a few seconds. Could I just wait it out? he asked. Vee turned, knocked over a glass beaker, and it crashed into the ground. She stared at Nathan. What? she said. Why would you do that? Just answer the question. She shook her head. I guess theres a small chance that your body and core adapt to the roots, but thats really low. Its not worth the risk. Why would you do that? Because Im about fifty percent sure its sapient, and Im not sure about killing something like that in cold blood. Vee sucked in a breath. Oh, shit. Its been playful, curious, its clearly capable of higher thought. Besides that, it protected me from harm. I would have to be the biggest scumbag in the world to turn around and slaughter something that helped me out like that. Vee sat in a chair and sighed. Well, she said. I guess youd better pray that its smart enough to know what its doing. Otherwise, youre boned, buddy. Before Nathan could think on this wonderful statement, he heard a loud knock at the door and nearly jumped out of his seat. Hello, Nathan? Zayen shouted. I think Im ready to go home! Nathan stood up. He looked at Vee and gave her a quick nod. Thanks, he said. I appreciate it. No problem. Just be sure to look out for us scientists in the new administration, okay? Nathan nodded, then turned around and stepped outside.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. We totally forgot to inform the guards where we were going. And werent we supposed to be in a palanquin, earlier? And then I''ll finally be finished with this side quest! desert tilapia.
Nathan walked into the shimmering haze of the cursed desert, the dry air pulling at his skin like claws. The lake loomed ahead, a pool of unnatural stillness in the endless expanse of sand. Its surface shimmered with a pale, eerie light, casting reflections that seemed to ripple and shift even without wind. The silence was oppressive. Each step Nathan took was swallowed by the stillness, his boots crunching against the sand, sounding hollow and faint. The closer he got, the more the air seemed to hum with an inaudible vibration. When he reached the edge, the lakes water was clearer than anything hed seen in the desert, but there was something wrong. Beneath the surface, shadows swirled, forming shapes that dissolved as quickly as they appeared. Nathan knelt, his hand hesitating above the water. The unnatural glow seemed to reach for him, tugging at his senses, drawing him closer. A flicker of movement caught his eye. A shape darted through the water, quick and fluid. Nathan froze, every muscle taut. The shadow passed again, closer this time, and he caught a glimpse of silver scales glinting in the dim light. Then it rose. Slowly, deliberately, a massive fish broke the surface, its scales shimmering with an iridescent, cursed glow. Its eyes were hollow, glowing orbs that seemed to pierce through Nathan. The tilapias gills flared unnaturally, releasing a mist that hung in the air like a suffocating fog. Nathans muscles tensed. This is going to be difficult, but not impossible. Ive done this type of thing before. And then he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye. Someone, lying face up on the water. An orc, wearing a red sash with the symbol of Bjorns squad. Before he had any time to think about this, the monster let out a roar and Nathan was thrown to the ground from the shockwave. 63 - Me and the Boys The body of the orc sloshed on top of the waves like a piece of driftwood. At a glance, it was hard to tell the extent of the injuries on the orc. Scars covered his body from top to bottom, while dried blood coated his arms. Nathan turned his head away from the orc and faced back toward the Cursed Desert Tilapia. He hadnt been expecting something so massive. Hed been expecting a tiny little animal, just like the Spring Carp. Instead, this thing was a monstrosity that dwarfed him completely. He scanned the monster, and a window popped up. Cursed Desert Tilapia - Lv. 47 The prey has become the predator. Your dinner wants to make you into its dinner. Born as an ordinary Tilapia, this Tilapia has undergone extensive changes due to a lifetime spent in a cursed lake. Turns out that drinking mystery water has a bit of a funny side effect on the drinker. Crazy! Now, having spent its life fearing the day it would end up on a dinner plate, this Tilapia is out to get revenge on all who would do it harm. Prepare for the end! The fish roared, and the ground trembled. Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled out his harpoon. I suppose that Im basically going whale hunting, arent I? The fish dived out of the water, massive anglerfish jaws aimed straight for Nathans chest. A flicker of fear ran down Nathans spine, and without his desire, his plant arm expanded out. Vines burst forth and assembled themselves into a rough shield. A moment later, Nathan felt the jaws of the Tilapia crunch into and against the wood shieldbut failed to pierce. Nathan took a step back. A moment later, the shield crunched, and Nathan saw the jaws of the Tilapia shut completely. Nathan felt a shiver go down his spineagain. He frowned. Hed been in worse fights. Why was he freaked out? And had his arm acted of its own accord again? He shook his head. There were more important things to worry about. He glanced over at his harpoon. The Tilapia roared, and water swirled underneath it from the air. It lunched forward as if by magic. He threw his harpoon forward. It smashed into the head of the Tilapia, carving a deep dent into the hard scales of the Tilapia. Nathan jumped forward and reared his plant arm back. A split second later, he swung the arm forward, and vines like spears exploded forward and smashed into the dent already created by his harpoon. The effect was exactly as dramatic as Nathan had been hoping. The scales cracked and shattered to pieces. Nathan drew his arm back, and black blood spewed from the wound. The Tilapia screamed at the top of its lungs. Nathan grinned darkly. He immediately frowned when he realized what expression he was making. I thought I got past that particular issue. The feelingsthey felt foreign. And they all seemed to be coming from and related to a specific part of his body. Nathan was beginning to feel that something was terribly wrongand he knew exactly what was causing the issue. Before he could think on this any further, the Tilapia smashed its tail fin against the ground and somehow propelled itself back into the water with a loud splash. To the side, the Orc bobbed up and down. Nathans eyes widened. Hed forgotten all about the Orc. Bjorn would be piissed if he found out a member of his squad was dead because of Nathans negligence. Nathan dived forward and rushed for the body Only for jaws to snap up in front of him, blocking his path to the Orc. Nathan growled and reared back his leg. Youre in my way! he shouted. His leg snapped out into a kick. The wind around his leg whistled, and for a second, Nathan felt warmth from the friction of moving his body so quickly. In a single split second, 132 points of strength slammed into the Tilapia, and it flew through the air like a ragdoll. [You have leveled up!] [Spring Carp] - COMPLETE [Cursed Desert Tilapia] - COMPLETE [Translucent Fish] - X [Spirit Fish] - X [Bass of Many Fins] - X Nathan watched the fish fly before it crashed into the ground with a loud bang. Nathan himself fell and crashed into the cursed water. He spat out some of the water. It tasted and smelled distinctly like feces. His eyes wandered over to the corpse of the fish. Huh. Was I always this strong? He looked down at his hands as he treaded water. Is this the kind of strength that Vee was talking about? When my rank-up has completed, Ill be able to do that all the time? The sight of the orc broke him out of his thoughts. He quickly grabbed the back of the orcs armor and swam to shore, then lifted the orcs body onto the sand. Hey, you alive? Nathan reached out and snapped his fingers over the orcs head. Hello? Dude? No response. Nathan frowned and reached out. He slapped the orcs facesoftly, just enough to make sure he felt it. Nothing. He reached out and grabbed the orcs wrist, feeling for a pulse. To his surprise, despite the differences in biology between the two races, it seemed both operated off blood which he should know, considering that hed drank orc blood. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The pulse was weak, borderline nonexistent. Nathan took his other hand and held them over the orcs chest. Oceans Embrace. Water appeared from the air and wrapped around the orcs body. Weakness ran down Nathans spine and he resisted the urge to fall to the ground. His own pulse weakened and he felt the blood drain from his face and hands. Why does this ability suck so much? Finally, the ability seemed to work and the orc let out a loud cough. Nathan dropped the ability and fell back with a sigh. The orcs eyes flickered open. Hey, Nathan said. Whats up?
The orc stared at him, unblinking for several seconds. My names Nathan, Nathan said. Whats yours? The orc didnt respond. okay, I guess hes the quiet type. I noticed your sash, there. Are you a member of Bjorns squad? The orcs eyes snapped toward Nathan with a startling level of intensity. You know Bjorn? Yeah, were actually kind of friends, Nathan said. Do you know where he is? No, unfortunately. I have one of his friends, though. You want to meet him? The orcs eyes widened. Who? Give me a sec. Nathan emerged from the portal with Kason in tow. Kason took one look at the orc and froze. Loknar, Kason said. I didnt think Id see you again. The orcs tense shoulders relaxed slightly, though his piercing gaze remained fixed on Kason. Kason, he said. Where is Bjorn? Kason sighed. Missing. We were separated. Nathans been helping me look for everyone. What happened to you? Loknars lips thinned, and his hands balled into fists. Four of our squadKarla, Torv, Hesk, and myselffound each other. Theyve been badly injured. Some kind of magical storm hit us. I was scavenging for supplies when I ran into that cursed beast you just killed. Magical storm? The Dustend Nathan held up a hand. Glad we crossed paths when we did. You said Karla, Torv, and Hesk are injured? I can heal them. Loknars eyes narrowed. You? Not just any human, Kason said. Nathans our new chief. Sworn loyalty, blood oath, the whole deal. Loknar blinked. A chief? Nathan scratched the back of his neck, suppressing a grimace. Its a long story. Lets focus on the injured. How far are they? Loknar hesitated. Half a days march east. Loknar said. Theyre hiding in a hollow under a pile of stone. We camouflaged the entrance to avoid detection, but theyre not going to last much longer without help. Nathan closed his eyes. He opened them with a determined look. Well get there in less than half a day if we book it. Loknar, can you lead the way? Loknar studied Nathan for a moment, then gave a grunt of approval. If you can do what you say, you might just be worthy of the title chief. But if this is a trick Its not. Lets save your squad.
They arrived at the hollow just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the desert in shades of twilight. Loknar knelt near a pile of sandstone and swept them aside, revealing a narrow entrance. Theyre inside, he said. Nathan and Kason ducked into the cave, the air within damp and heavy. Three figures lay motionless on makeshift bedding. Karlas leg was wrapped in bloodied cloth, her face pale. Torvs chest rose and fell shallowly, a deep gash across his torso poorly bandaged. Hesks arm was twisted at an unnatural angle, his breathing labored. Theyre in bad shape, Kason said. Nathan stepped forward, his jaw tightening. Let me handle this. He knelt between the injured, extending his hands. Closing his eyes, he called upon his abilityOceans Embrace. The air around them grew cooler, the sound of rushing waves filling the hollow. A glowing sphere of water formed above Nathans palms, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light. It expanded, tendrils of liquid reaching out to envelop Karla, Torv, and Hesk. The water cradled them, lifting them slightly off the ground. Loknars breath caught as the wounds on Karlas leg began to close, the torn flesh knitting itself together. Torvs gash sealed with a faint glow, his breathing becoming steadier. Hesks arm straightened, the bones aligning with a faint crackle as the water worked its magic. Nathan gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. The water pulsed with energy, cleansing the wounds and mending broken tissue. After what felt like an eternity, the glowing water receded, leaving the three orcs visibly healed. Nathan slumped forward, catching himself with one hand. Kason rushed to his side, steadying him. Nathan! You okay? Nathan gave a nod, his voice hoarse. Theyre going to be fine now. Just give me a minute. Loknar stared at Nathan. You saved them, he said. Nathan managed a tired smile. Told you. Now lets get out of here and find somewhere more comfortable.
The communal fire pit crackled on the outskirts of town, its flames pushing back against the evening darkness. Theyd chosen this spot deliberately, away from the bustle of the town center where the election preparations were in full swing. The werewolves distant howls carried on the wind. Nathan sat cross-legged by the fire, trying not to fidget too much as he looked between the three orcs. He cleared his throat. So, uh, you all served with Kason, right? Kason nodded, his body untensing as he stared at his comrades. Special operations unit. Though Karla here always did show me up in stealth drills. Only because you trip over your own feet, Karlas eyes flickered to Nathan. Still cant believe you actually fixed this. Oh, um, yeah. Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. Oceans Embrace is pretty useful for that kind of thing. Though honestly, Im still figuring out how it all works. Nonsense, my lord, Kason said. He turned toward his comrades. Did you know that he had the choice of killing an enemy and saving me, and he chose me? A total stranger. Torv leaned forward, his recently healed chest showing no signs of its previous wound. He sounds like an interesting guy. I Nathan started, then stopped. Anyone would have done the same. I just happened to be there. Hesk snorted. Not anyone. Most people wouldve run away from a demon fish. He flexed his mended arm. And anyway, you didnt have to help us after that Dustend hit, but you did. Speaking of operations, Kason looked at Nathan. You should see what these three can do. Best infiltration team in the Empire. Nathan perked up. Really? What kind of missions did you He caught himself. Sorry, is that okay to ask about? I dont really know how it all works with your people. Reconnaissance mainly, Karla said. Information gathering. Eliminating threats before they become problems. Skills wed be willing to put to use for you, if you need them. Oh! Nathan blinked. I mean, thatd be really helpful actually. Especially with Bjorn still out there somewhere. When that portal opened to the Second Circle, everything just happened so fast We understand about the portals, Torv said. One minute were running drills, next thing we know, were in the zeroth circle fighting for our lives. Took everything we had just to make it to the First. Thats terrible, Nathan said. Been trying to find other survivors ever since. Until the Dustend caught us off guard. An awkward silence fell, broken only by the crackling of the fire. Nathan picked up a stick, poked at the flames, then set it down again. You dont have to decide anything right now. About staying, I mean. Or about helping. I know this is all probably really weird, with the werewolves and the mushroom people. Weird is putting it mildly, Torv said. But Kason seems to think youre worth following. And after today He glanced at his healed companions. Well, lets just say were interested in sticking around. See how this chief thing of yours works out. Kason shifted uncomfortably at this. About that He looked at Nathan, his expression pained. Chief, I need to apologize. When I swore fealty, I I promised the whole squad would follow. I shouldnt have spoken for everyone. Nathans eyes widened. Oh! No, no, thats notI mean, you dont need to apologize for that. Really. He picked up another stick, if only to have something to do with his hands. I never expected anyone to follow me just because someone else said they should. I was surprised Bjorn went along with you, frankly. Karla watched this exchange with interest, her gaze moving between Kason and Nathan. You really did find something different here, didnt you, Kason? I did, Kason said. Even if I was too quick to assume you all would see it the same way. Nathan shrugged. Hey, everything worked out, right? I mean, we found them, theyre safe, and whatever happens next is up to them. So, Hesk broke the slightly tense silence, Kason tells us your mushroom people are having some kind of election? Oh gods, Nathan groaned, but he was smiling slightly. Dont even get me started on that Before Nathan could speak about the new elections, he felt something tug at his soul. A skill activated without his permission, and a glowing watery portal appeared. A split second later, Finny flew right out. A wave of water carried him through the air right in front of Nathans face. Hey! he said. We need to talk. Are you ready to carry out that little favor I needed you to do? The four orcs stared at Finny. He turned and waved a fin in the air. Hey, fellas! Nathan sighed. Excellent timing, Finny, buddy. 64 - Crustacean Cartel This is really stupid.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. your abilities work? and the environment. What about their levels? A crab! 65 - Mysterious Tablet Water bolts flew towards Nathans shoulder. Out of instinct, he dodged to the left. Unfortunately, his victory was short-lived. A split second later, a bolt from another crab hit him square in the shoulder. Pain shot up and down his spine, the magical energy penetrating his skin. Nathan swam as hard as he could to the right, narrowly avoiding another three or four water bolts that zipped past him. It was much the same case for the rest of the Mafia fish. Finny and another fish had thrown up some kind of shield, but based on the cracks appearing on it and the sheer volume of water bolts being slung at them, the shield wouldnt hold up for much longer. The other fish darted back and forth in frantic attempts to dodge the attacks, but glancing blows were landing, and the smell of fish blood was already permeating the water. Nathan looked down at the crabs and held out his hand. Riptide Mastery! Water swirled around him and crashed into twenty or thirty crabs, scattering them and tossing them through the water. One of the crabs, dislodged by his attack, flew up and pinched Nathans ear. He hissed through his teeth, his back arching from the sharp pain. He reached out and squished the crab in between his powerful hands. Okay, that wasnt as well-planned as I wouldve liked, he muttered. The sound of shattering glass filled Nathans ears. He looked to the left and saw that Finnys shield had crumbled, leaving them exposed as water bolts hurtled straight toward them. Tidal Shield! A shimmering barrier of water, intricately patterned with flowing waves, appeared in front of Nathan, blocking the incoming bolts. Thanks for the save! Finny said. Nathan dodged another water bolt and turned his focus back to the swarm of crabs. This wasnt looking good. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. What the crabs lacked in intelligence, power, or skill diversity, they made up for with sheer, unrelenting quantity. Their constant barrage of water bolts was overwhelming. Amidst the chaos, Nathan tried to use his vines to penetrate the crabs hardened shells, but to no avail. The shells were too tough. Nathans hand hovered over his inventory. What could he use? His harpoon? His fishing pole? None of his tools had the kind of wide-area damage he needed. If only Mara were here. Shed probably have a bucket of napalm, or something equally catastrophic. Before he could dwell on it further, another water bolt zipped past his ear, making him grit his teeth. We need an opening! Finny shouted. Some kind of distraction to let us get in close! Nathan pursed his lips. A distraction? Maybe he could pull something off. Im about to try something! Nathan called. He held out his palm and poured energy into his arm. Vines and leaves erupted from his hand, growing wildly underwater. Fueled by the surrounding water, they spread out like a living web, tangling between the crabs and the soil. A moment later, the vines surged upward, bursting out behind the crabs and knocking them into disarray. Now! Finny yelled. A skill lit up Finnys fish frame, and he burst forward in a stream of light, smashing into a cluster of crabs. His fellow fish quickly followed, their bodies glowing as they launched into the fray. Within moments, the water was a chaotic blur of light and motion. Crab shells shattered, and their innards spewed into the water, the metallic tang of blood filling Nathans nostrils. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The water churned with violence as Nathan watched the Mafia fish tear through the disoriented crabs. But the crustaceans were already regrouping, their beady eyes glowing with malevolent blue light as they readied another volley of water bolts. Theyre reorganizing! Nathan shouted. His shoulder still throbbed from the earlier hit, but he forced himself to focus. We need to keep them scattered! He channeled more of his power into his arm. More vines erupted from the soil, but this time he directed them to weave between the crabs legs, creating a tangled mess that threw off their aim. Water bolts sprayed wildly through the water, giving the Mafia fish precious seconds to press their advantage. Finny spun through the water like a torpedo, his scales flashing as he smashed through three crabs in quick succession. Nathan! Above you! Nathan looked up to see a particularly large crab descending toward him, claws extended. He twisted away, but not quite fast enough C razor-sharp pincers raked across his back, drawing blood. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Nathan grabbed one of the crabs legs and swung it like a makeshift club, smashing it into two of its companions. Nice move! Finny called out, before diving to avoid another barrage of water bolts. Nathan counted maybe fifteen left, but they were the strongest of the bunch. Their shells gleamed with an unnatural blue sheen, and their water bolts seemed to pack even more punch than before. Ive got an idea, Nathan said. But its going to take precise timing. Finny, can you and your friends push them toward the wall? Finny nodded, quickly relaying the plan to his companions. The Mafia fish began a coordinated assault, herding the remaining crabs with quick strikes and feints. Nathan waited until they were in position, then poured every ounce of power he had left into the seafloor. Vines exploded upward through the wall, wrapping around the structure and pulling. With a thunderous crack, the entire formation came loose, toppling toward the clustered crabs. The crustaceans tried to scatter, but theyd been too tightly packed. The wall crashed down, crushing most of them instantly. The few survivors were quickly finished off by the Mafia fish. Nathan floated in the suddenly quiet water, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. His back and shoulder burned, and he could feel exhaustion creeping in at the edges of his consciousness. Finny swam up beside him, looking a bit battered but alive. That was some quick thinking with the wall. Nathan looked around at the carnage, then back at Finny. Think we should collect what we can from these guys? Some of those shells looked pretty valuable. Already on it, Finny replied, gesturing to his companions who were already picking through the remains. But first, lets get those wounds of yours treated. Cant have our new partner bleeding out on his first job, now can we? Nathan was about to respond when he spotted something floating amidst the junk. A fish. Nathan frowned. Finny. I think one of Its not ours. Nathan blinked. He swam out next to it and took a closer look. It was thin and translucent, like some sort of ghost. Off to the side, there was some sort of tablet floating next to it. Nathan reached out and touched the fish. Instantly, it shattered into dozens of floating white flecks. Internally, Nathan could feel something shift. A window popped up. [Spring Carp] - COMPLETE [Cursed Desert Tilapia] - COMPLETE [Translucent Fish] - COMPLETE [Spirit Fish] - X [Bass of Many Fins] - X Two left. Nathan reached out toward the tablet. There was some kind of language written on it, but Nathan didnt recognize it. Wait, I cant recognize it? How? The translation magic shouldve been taking care of it. How wasnt it working? Nathan scanned the tablet. [Mysterious Tablet] A weird tablet with weird words written on it. Sorry, looks like you dont understand it. Bummer, huh? Thanks for nothing, scan ability. Whats that youve got in your hands? Finny said. Nathan looked to his left. Finny had swum over to his side and was reading the tablet text. I dont know, Nathan said. I dont understand what it says What do you mean? Its clearly readable. Its just some stuff about the Dustend and Nathan froze. What did you say? Finny looked toward Nathan. Like I said, it just says some stuff about the Dustend. Something about the Dustends originsI dont know, its kind of hard to make out. Nathan stared at the tablet for several seconds. Who wouldve thought? Looks like my little detour actually turned out to be pretty useful.
Nathan eventually managed to get out of the water basin with some trouble. The method hed ended up going with was just digging his way through the top until he popped out of the desert like some kind of mole man. He dashed back to the palace, almost mumbling into the guards with how quickly he was moving. He ran into the throne room And paused. Zayen, along with half of his court, stared nakedly at Nathan. Among them, Rami. Her lips curled into a smile. Nathan felt a chill go down his spine. 66 - Nathan Makes an Earthquake Because Reasons Overhead luminescent plates of various lanterns reflected off the crystal balls of the palace. From every side, Nathan could see eyes staring at him: Omarn, Zayen, and several nobles dressed in fine silk clothing. Nathan''s heart hammered in his chest. Not because of the people staring at him, but because of the woman approaching him at that very moment. Rami strode toward him, her hips sashaying from side to side. Nathan! she said. Im so surprised to see you. Oh, Rami. Nathan glanced at Zayen. Sorry about ditching you. I didnt mean to do that; it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances. At the mention of the word ditch, Ramis eyes twitched. It was microscopic, so small that Nathan might not have noticed it, if not for his superhuman reflexes. No, I understand. Things like that happen, Rami said smoothly. One of the members of the royal court glared at Nathan. Who is this man? This? Hes a friend, Rami said, leaning in toward Nathan. We havent seen each other in some time. Nathan pursed his lips. She didnt seem particularly disappointed to see him there. In fact, she didnt seem to be having much of a reaction at all. What was happening? What had he interrupted? You claim hes a friend, yet none of us recognize him? the man whod objected earlier said. Rami shrugged. I believe that hes been with my cousin. "Is this true?" the man said. "My King, do you know this man?" Zayen, who up to this point had remained silent, hesitated for several seconds. Finally, he said, "He is." "And why, exactly, is he allowed into the throne room?" "He''s my... royal plant expert," Zayen said. "Plant expert?" Another noble scoffed. "Then why does he look like hes been in a war zone? Uh, gardens can be very dangerous," Nathan said. "You never know when a rose might attack." The court fell silent. Someone coughed. Meanwhile, the plant on Nathans arm seem to shift around at Nathans thoughts. "My Lord!" A minister stepped forward. "We are your trusted advisors! How can you not share with us the true nature of this man''s presence?" It was in that moment that Nathan realized he might have been played. Or, at the very least, Rami was taking advantage of his presence to sow dissent between Zayen and his ministers. But how? What was it about Nathan that would cause trouble? Was it the fact that he was a foreigner? Surely such a minor thing wouldnt make Rami so happy. Unless Sandaras culture was far more xenophobic than hed realized. Nathan stared at Zayen, unsure what to do. You are trusted, Zayen said. But for the sake of national security, there are some things that I am unable to tell you. Regardless of what Rami claims. Cousin, Im not claiming anything. In fact, I support you. Nathans eyes widened. Rami had been cunning. Technically, she hadnt done anything subversive at all. From an outsiders perspective, it simply appeared that she was asking questions. In fact, Zayen was the one who seemed paranoid and defensive in how he was treating Rami. Cease with your deceptions! Omarn said. Do you not think we can rally the full might of the Sandara Kingdom against you? You foolish woman! Zayens stoic mask cracked at Omarns exclamation. Omarn! Zayen said. Omarn froze like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He bowed his head, dodging the gazes of everyone in the room. In the background, whispers traded between lips like darts. The noise grew louder and louder, like an oncoming wave crashing toward the shore. My people, Zayen said, Is the information of one man so important to you that it would break your trust in me? Am I still not your king? There was a beat of silence. Nobody spoke, but based on the expressions on everyones faces, Nathan had the feeling that Zayens plea wasnt as effective as hed hoped. Hes working with that damned research team, isnt he? someone from the crowd said. Zayens fist clenched. Hes not denying it! Once again, his head is filled with foolhardy ideas! Off to the side, Ramis grin stretched from ear to ear. Nathans heart sank. He needed to help the king. Yeah, this was probably going to happen no matter what he did, but he still felt partially responsible. Besides, if Nathan wanted continued access to the royal archive, he had to help protect the kings power base. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. But to do that, he first needed to make sure he understood what the issue was. He tapped on someones shoulder. If I might ask, Nathan said, What is the issue? Why is everyone against the idea of ending the Dustend? The woman whose shoulder hed tapped sneered at him. Of course you would think theres nothing wrong with itand I suppose there isnt. But its a waste of resources, and everyone knows it. The Dustend is a force of nature. You cant stop the wind, and you cant stop the Dustend. Thats rather cynical, isnt it? Nathan asked. The woman rolled her eyes. Foreigners. The court resumed whispering. Zayen had a droplet of sweat building on his forehead. Omarn didnt look much better. Something had to be done. For a second, Nathan considered giving a speech, but he knew his strengths. He wasnt particularly charismatic, and he doubted anything he said would change their minds. The only reason the mushroom people and werewolves listened to him was because of his accomplishments, not his eloquence. For some reason, Nathan felt that multiple people would disagree with him on this point. He ignored the feeling. But if he couldnt convince them with words, what could he do? He had one thinghis actions. A distraction? It had potential to go either way, depending on how he played it. Before he could doubt himself further, he caught sight of Zayens eyes. They were pleading, staring directly at him. Nathan decided to act. He willed the vines to grow from his arm, down his back, through his pants, into his shoes, and into the ground. The vines spread through the rocks, crunching and breaking through the gaps in the buildings structure. In under a minute, the entire foundation of the palace was covered in Nathans vines. Nathan tugged. The building shook violently. Dust fell from the roof, and the pillars wobbled dangerously. What was that?! someone yelled. Is it the Dustend!? Several people darted their eyes toward the windows at the top of the dome. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight. Earthquake! In moments, the room had completely cleared, save for Zayen and Omarn. Uh, Nathan scratched the back of his head. Hi.
So, I take it that you were responsible for that particular incident?" Omarn looked down at Nathan from the bridge of his nose, a sneer curling his lips. "I''m pretty sure I had nothing to do with it." Nathan brushed a root off his shoe and walked away, leaving nothing behind but a branch embedded in the ground, flush with the floor and nearly invisible. "I see," Omarn said. Zayen sank his head into his hands. "What a disaster," he muttered. "It''s clear they''ve been looking for an opportunity to depose me for quite some time." "You havent figured that out yet?" Omarn asked dryly. Zayen glared at him. "Of course I knew that. But I thought, given the crisis, theyd be a little less proactive." He turned his glare on Nathan. "And frankly, you didnt help very much either." Nathan bristled. "Excuse me?" Zayen stiffened, then shook his head. "I apologize. This has been wearing on me to a great degree. You are not to blame. This was going to happen at some point." Nathan pursed his lips. "Apology accepted. But you know that miraculous earthquakes arent going to save you all the time." "Indeed," Zayen sighed. "Unless something changes soon, my days as king are numbered." "Would that be such a bad thing?" Zayen laughed bitterly. "For me? It would be a blessing. I could wish for no greater gift than to lose this crown." "So why dont you?" Omarn, who had been staring at the door everyone had exited throughincluding Ramianswered instead. "Because there are worse things in store than mere factionalism. Even ignoring that the next ruler would be a most cantankerous sort of sovereign, Zayen is the rightful ruler. And everyone knows that. He provides a unifying force for this kingdom. If anyone else were to rule, the kingdom would fall into civil war immediately, with all his cousins claiming to be the one true ruler of Sandara." Nathan looked at Zayen. There were deep lines around the boys eyes, and the crown seemed to weigh heavily upon his brow. Had his frame always been this thin? Nathan got the feeling Zayen barely ateif at all. The realization struck Nathan: Zayen wouldnt have looked out of place drawing pictures with that farmers daughter. Instead, he was upon a throne of glass, surrounded by daggers on all sides. "Well," Nathan said, "I think I can give you at least some good news." Zayens eyes lit up. "Yes?" Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled out a tablet. "I got this while I was out adventuring. An ally told me it says something about the Dustend." Zayen took the tablet from Nathans hands, studying it intently. "What is this? I dont even recognize the language." "I dont know," Nathan admitted. "But its a lead, isnt it?" "Thats not something weve had in a long time," Zayen murmured, handing the tablet back. "Please deliver this to the researchers as soon as you can." Nathan nodded. "Of course." He turned to head for the stairwell. "And Nathan?" Nathan paused, looking back. "Yes?" "Thank you." Nathan waved dismissively. "Im sure I have no idea what youre talking about." Before Zayen could reply, Nathan disappeared down the stairs.
Nathan dropped off the tablet with little fanfare, though his fellow researchers showed much less restraint. "I think I can make out a few characters," Amir said. "Where did you even get this from?" Layla asked. "I found it in a den of crab gang members." "What?" "Never mind." Figuring hed only get in the way, Nathan wandered back into the royal archives. As he was heading in, he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Whats this?" Kamil stood there, holding a scroll. "Well, Ive been tracking what youve been researching," he said. "It seems like youre looking for a specific skill, am I wrong?" "Yes, but" Nathan hesitated. He hadnt told anyone about the skill he was searching for specifically, an upgrade for Oceans Embrace. "Were you just tracking me? Thats kind of creepy." "It wasnt intentional," Kamil replied. "I know this library inside and out, so I can usually figure out what someones been looking into just by seeing which books are missing or checked out." "But how would you know that?" Kamil pointed toward a nearby shelf where a single book was conspicuously missing. "For instance, I can tell that Amir took out that specific book about the study of languages." "Well, that ones easy," Nathan countered. "I literally just came in talking about a mysterious tablet in an unknown language." "Fair, but you see my point." Nathan shrugged and, after a few seconds, accepted the scroll Kamil was holding out. He held it up and examined it. It seemed related to a skill for healing. Perhaps this was the breakthrough he needed to upgrade Oceans Embrace? "Thank you," Nathan said. Kamil nodded. "Anytime." Nathan walked back to his room, shutting the door behind him. He unrolled the scroll and began to read. As he did, he felt a soothing warmth bloom within him, a gentle flow of energy that traced loops through his core. The scroll described a more efficient way to circulate the energy in his body a way to channel it to affect the world outside. Closing his eyes, Nathan focused inward, feeling the flow of energy within himself his soul power, or whatever it was. He directed it in and out of his core, over and over again. As the warmth intensified, growing hotter and hotter, something inside him suddenly cracked. A wall shattered, and power flooded through his veins. [Oceans Embrace (Bronze) has evolved into Oceans Warmth (Bronze+)] Nathan exhaled deeply. A cool blue mist shimmered from his breath, dissipating into the air. He raised his hand and clenched it into a fist, excitement coursing through him. He couldnt wait to see what this new skill could do. Just as he was about to head out, a window appeared at the bottom of his vision. Message from: Chad 67 - Freeing the Fish! Nathan pulled up the social media screen. In the messages tab, Chads name flickered like a Christmas light. Curious, Nathan clicked on it and saw the following message: Yo Nathan, whats up bro? Good to see youre alive, dude. It was pretty wild seeing your name pop up on my feed. At first, I thought people were joking, or it was just some crazy coincidence. Shouldve known better, huh? Anyway, man, we need to meet up. Hopefully, the second circle isnt so big that we cant just, like, run into each other. I dunno." Nathan breathed a sigh of relief. Hed been terrified that he was the only one whod survivedthat everyone had just died on the Second Circle. But he was wrong. Chad was alive along with two hundred other people whod messaged Nathan once they discovered the DM feature. Thank goodness that Chad was at the top of the list, otherwise Nathan mightve missed the message. Nathan was about to respond, but then he noticed the timestamp: the message had been sent 12 hours earlier. Well, I guess this isnt exactly the fastest form of communication, Nathan muttered to himself. Looks like the System might be messing with our send times? He typed out a reply: "Yes! We should try to meet up. That would be great, as long as its close enough to manage." Nathan waited patiently for a response. Nothing. He opened Chads profile, assuming Chad mightve shared what hed been up to. Chad had over 2,000 posts on the site, most of them pictures and videos. At the moment, Chad was streaming? Nathan clicked on the stream. A window popped up, and after a brief load, the video appeared. Chad was running for his life from three gigantic sand golems. Im too pretty to die! Chad shouted, nearly tripping before catching himself and picking up speed. I dont even know what I did to deserve this! Nathan watched the stream for another minute before hesitantly closing it. Hell probably be fine, Nathan said, mostly to convince himself. Hes a tough guy. After successfully deceiving himself, Nathan turned toward the exit doors of the Royal Archive. Hed just about had enough of that dingy basement. Maybe he could find something else to occupy his time. But before he could head upstairs, something rippled in his chest. A skill activated on its own, and Finny floated out to his side. Nathan! Finny chirped. Good to see you!
Nathan grinned. Finny. It hasnt been that long since I last saw you. Yeah, well, Ive got some important information to tell you. What about? Our attack against the Crab Cartel had some pretty bad consequences, mate. The Big Claws begun a sequence of counterattacks against us. Its looking pretty bad. Nathan frowned. Counterattacks? Yup. Multiple bases. But in the process, Im pretty sure that theyve exposed some of their own caches. Alright, what does this have to do with me? Some of our guys were kidnapped, and its up to us to save them. Are you up for the job? Well, Ive got nothing better to do. Good to hear! Lets head out there and save some of our men!
Nathan swam underwater beside Finny, the ring on his finger allowing him to breathe in the river water with ease. It was like he was a fish rather than a man. Theyd gone underground like last time. Unlike last time, the current of this river wasnt particularly strong. It was weak, forcing Nathan to use more of his energy to move. They continued swimming when Nathan felt a shiver go down his spine. Enemies up ahead, he said. I can sense it. Finny frowned and stared through the water and into the darkness. Are you sure? Of course not, Im just guessing. Finny grunted. Great, love to hear it. The two continued forward. A creeping feeling crawled its way up Nathans spine like a spider. His muscles tensed as he forced himself to continue moving. The water seemed to turn murkier and he found it harder to breathe. His eyes watered. Finny wasnt looking much better, his fish nose crinkled up like hed just smelled something bad. What the hell is that? Nathan said. Nothing good, Id guess. Floating pieces of dried flesh floated by Nathans head. They were old enough to be making a stink, but not old enough to where it had completely rotted. Those are fish guts, Finny muttered. Im a bit worried about where they got that from. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Nathan frowned and continued moving. They swam on for a few more seconds when they heard a groan. Green? Finny said. Is that you? The only thing that came back was a groan in response. Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled out his fishing rod. A moment later, there was a blur of light and something slammed into Finnys gut at full speed. Finny cried out in pain and tumbled through the water before losing to a stop. The light slowed down, revealing a fish. Unlike Finny though, there were a few things off about this particular fish. Its eyes were hazyone of them was gone, actually. Chunks of its skin were gone, even rotted. Hes dead, Finny said. Is this the necromancy you were telling me about? Yeah. Finny charged up a water bolt in front of him. Come on, lets put the guy out of his misery. The battle was brief. In moments, the dead fish had been so thoroughly destroyed that there was nothing but bits of flesh floating around to interact with. After the fight, Nathan faced toward Finny. So, I thought you said there wouldnt be any of the necromancy stuff. That I did. Finny frowned. I was wrong. I guess they managed to find some bodies. If were lucky, they havent killed anyone else. We might be able to free them if were close enough. They continued swimming. After several minutes, they heard something up ahead. Some kind of yelp or cry? Nathan swam up ahead before coming to a sudden stop. Row after row of cages containing fish. Surrounding them were dozens of crabs. Nathan and Finny dived toward the wall. Finny growled. I think Im about a second away from going in there and crushing them myself. Yeah, how about we come up with a plan first? Finny glanced at Nathan. What do you have in mind? Nathan glanced over at the crabs. I was thinking of causing a distraction. You get in there, free the fish, and then we decimate the crabs with the help of the prisoners. Finny nodded slowly. I think I can get behind that plan. Nathan glanced at the sides of the river. He could cause another cave-in, but what if it hit the prisoners? No, he needed to use something else. He looked at his handwas there any reason to overcomplicate things? He held out his hand. Riptide Mastery. The water shimmered and a blast of energy blew through the water. It smashed into the crabs, scattering them all over the river before continuing on for several seconds. It eventually hit something off in the distance and Nathan heard a loud boom. Nathan whistled. Have I used Riptide Mastery before? Damn. Finny dashed forward and smashed through the locks with a bolt of light. The fish stared at Nathan and Finny for several seconds. Nathan raised his hand and waved at them. Finally, they seemed to figure out what was happening, and they all ran out and charged forward. The crabs, caught between Nathan on one end and the fish on the other end, were torn to shreds and flesh. As the last of the crabs fell, Nathan swam to the prisoners. A cheer had erupted among the fish, but several of them were injuredsome with torn fins, others with deep cuts and missing scales. Blood clouded the water, and a few fish barely floated upright. Nathan frowned and held out his hand. Stay still, everyone. Oceans Warmth. A soothing glow spread from Nathans hand, cascading over the injured fish like a warm tide. Wherever the light touched, wounds began to seal. Missing scales regrew, torn fins reknitted, and the color returned to their dull forms. Nathan could feel the energy flowing out of him, but it was smooth, like a gentle current, rather than the draining pull he had experienced with his old ability, Oceans Embrace. The fish watched in awe as their injuries faded away. Some tested their newly healed fins, darting around Nathan with newfound vigor. Finny swam up beside him. Youve been holding out on me with that one. Nathan grinned. Just upgraded it. Feels easier to use now. Finny nodded. Good thing. Well need every edge we can get. He gestured at the freed fish. Thanks to you, theyll be ready to fight another day. Whats next? Nathan asked. Goal-oriented! Finny paused. Well, I think its pretty clear that the Crab Cartel needs to be decimated. Ill need to report back to headquarters. They should provide us with what we need to take them down once they find out what the Cartels been doing. In the meantime, you can go do whatever it is you do when youre not with me. Nathan raised an eyebrow. Sure.
Nathan ended up digging his way out to the surface once again and made his way back to the city. As he walked along, he had the oddest feeling that something was off. The streets were abandoned, not a single person to be found. The wind whistled through the rafters of the buildings like a sonata. Nathan wandered along for several more minutes before he came across an old man on the street. Excuse me, he said. Wheres everyone? The old man blinked at him. You havent heard? The king called everyone for an announcement. Nathan frowned. Why would Zayen do such a thing? Nathan thanked the man and continued moving. A voice echoed out in the distance. have officially decreed that the government shall pursue a new policy! The voice paused. The total destruction of the Dustend! A crowd roared in the distance. Nathan blinked. He rushed over to wherever the action was. Time to find out what Zayen had gotten up to while he was away.
System B32 hummed contentedly as he reviewed his handiwork through the crystalline interface only he could see. His processes sparkled with satisfaction as he checked off his to-do list: Send sand golems after Chad (POG MOMENT BROSKI, IS THAT A GIANT SAND MONSTER? LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE IF YOU WANT TO SEE ME DIE!) Throw Emi into a pit of snakes Get Bjorn surrounded by elves out for his blood Ensure Maras latest weapon drop was actually filled with rubber chickens Perfect. Nathans support system was crumbling. B32 allowed himself a moment to savor the chaos before checking on the man himself. The last hed seen, Nathan was still obsessed with his fishing-based path to power. Who would have thought that Fisherman could evolve into Ocean Warden? In theory, that shouldve been impossible. A notification pinged. [Global Quest Progress: Dustend Elimination - 75% Complete] [Warning: Abnormal Power Accumulation Detected] [Threat Level: Fish?????] What in the Mother Systems name? B32 said. How is it so high? B32 analyzed the last update to the Dustend Elimination quest and nearly vomited (if he could do that). Nathan Lee. Nathan Lee. Nathan Lee. He dove deeper into the data streams, his horror growing with each discovery. Nathan had somehow concluded that the best way to help the farmers was to eliminate the Dustend entirely. Worse, he was actually making progress. The idiot had joined a research team, found ancient tablets, and was developing theoretical frameworks for destabilizing the Dustends magical matrix C all because some farmer had mentioned that farming would be easier without that darned storm. [Power Level Analysis: Subject Nathan] [Circle 2 of 9 - Current Status: EXCEEDING PARAMETERS] [Projected Power Level at Circle 6: ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS] [Taste Profile Impact: SEVERELY UNDERSEASONED] Dave is going to delete my source code, B32 muttered. Then B32 spotted them: Rami, the kings cousin, scripting her latest rant about succession rights, and Anand, the Head Hand spy whod infiltrated the palace guard by convincing everyone he was a traveling interpretive dance instructor. Well now. B32 hummed. Isnt that convenient? He reached out through the systems network, preparing to plant a seed of suggestion in Ramis dreams. Just a small one. Perhaps a vision of herself as king, decreeing that all research related to the Dustend should be eliminated. The research team needed royal approval to access the ancient archives. And they couldnt get approval from a king who had been deposed by his own cousin in a tragic civil war, could they? B32 began his work, his satisfaction returning. Nathan might have stumbled onto the path to the truth through his absurd farming quest, but some paths were meant to be blocked. 68 - "Has your arm always been like that?" Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. that aside, I have a task for you.
69 - Eat your Heart Out, Goku As Nathan trudged through the desert, a window popped up in front of him: [Travel to the Ends of the World!] Goal: 5000 miles from your current location. See the sights! Look at all that endless desert! I''m sure you''ll find something interesting! And it''ll also, unfortunately, mean that youll have to stop working on the Dustend. How unfortunate. Oh well. Rewards: C Uh, I dont know. The experience, I guess? [Accept] Nathan looked for the deny button. It wasnt there. Instead, he clicked the exit button. A second later, the window popped up again. This time, the exit button was gone. He frowned. The quest seemed interesting, but he was too busy dealing with the Dustend. No time for a 5000-mile detour. His eyes scanned the window for another exit button and spotted one at the top left corner. He clicked it, only for the window to pop up again. This time, the exit button was front and center. He clicked it, and the window disappeared, this time for good. "The system must be glitching," he muttered, shaking his head. Nathan continued walking. Hours passed as he crossed the dunes until he finally arrived at the location marked on his map. There was nothing. He blinked. Did I get the location wrong? He pulled out the paper and checked it again. After a moment, he sighed and put it away. Not like Ive got GPS out here. If I did mess it up, Ill probably have to start all over. Before he could think further, a gust of desert wind kicked up, obscuring his vision with dust. He shielded his eyes instinctively. What the hell? Where did that come from? It wasnt damaging like the Dustendthe grains didnt feel like they were cutting into his skinbut the wind felt... off. Almost like he was being touched with clouds rather than dirt. As the wind settled, Nathan found himself staring at an oasis. A green palm tree stretched toward the sky, and grass sprouted along the edges of a milky white lake. Okay, Nathan said. That just happened. He looked back. Sure enough, he wasnt where hed been a moment ago. You know, in case the oasis-that-came-from-nowhere wasnt enough evidence of that. He turned back to the milky white lake and took a cautious step forward. Something deep within him stirred, calling toward the lake. His hands twitched. He reached into his inventory and pulled out his old fishing rodthe wooden starter one the system had given him at the beginning of his journey. His better rod was on the verge of breaking, so it stayed put. Nathan cast his line into the lake. The hook slipped into the water without making a single ripple, like it was vanishing into fog. What the hell? he murmured. Setting the rod aside, he reached toward the lake. His hand passed right through the white water. It was like dipping into mist. Nathan shook his head and sat on the bank, picking up his rod again. He rested his chin in his palm and waited. Hours passed. Nothing. He glanced at the setting sun, frustration building. Something about this place was important; he could feel it. Essential to defeating the Dustend, yet his ridiculously high fishing level wasnt helping. He muttered to himself, Im missing something. Something important. Maybe it was the bait? Nathan pulled some Scythian worm from his inventory, attaching a chunk to the hook. He cast his line back out. Another hour passed. Nothing. The worm remained untouched. Nathan sighed and stashed the bait back in his inventory. At this point, he was tempted to jump into the lake and see for himself what was down there. The thought made his heart race, and his plant arm spasmed violently. He grabbed it, breathing deeply until the tremors subsided. It seemed his instincts were screaming against the idea. Some deep part of him whispered: If you go into that lake, you wont come out. He hesitantly sidled backward. Okay, maybe I shouldnt jump into the weird magic lake. Nathan cast his line again. To his side, his plant arm started to shudder uncontrollably. Think. What am I missing? He felt a familiar energy within him calm his armwarm, like a campfire. It wasnt mana; mana was oppressive, bearing down on him like heat. This energy was soft, internal, and he used it unconsciously to control his plant arm. Maybe that was the key? If it could control his plant arm, maybe it could have other unexpected effects if he pumped it into his fishing rod? Nathan focused, circulating the energy through his body. His limbs felt stronger, like he could leap into the sky. Slowly, he streamed the energy into the fishing rod. To his surprise, it flowed easily, like the rod was an extension of his body. The energy traveled down the line, pooling at the hook. A moment later, something latched onto the hook. Nathans eyes widened. He lost focus, and the energy snapped back into him like a whip. The rod flew from his hands, sailing through the air. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Panic surged. Nathan dived, grabbing the rod mid-air as it landed on the opposite shore. The fish on the line pulled again. This time, Nathan held steady, but it was slipping away, phasing through the hook. In desperation, Nathan flooded the hook with energy. Just before the fish escaped, the energy solidified, trapping it. Nathan dug his feet into the ground and pulled and with a final heave, the fish flew from the lake. It was milky white, blending almost perfectly with the water. Its only distinct feature was its crimson red eyes. As it flailed mid-air, a glowing barrier appeared around it. Nathans line snapped. The fish plummeted back toward the lake. Nathan didnt hesitate. He grabbed a harpoon from his inventory and hurled it. The harpoon struck the glowing barrier with a sound like thunder, sending both the fish and the weapon tumbling across the shore. Nathan retrieved the harpoon and walked to where the fish lay, motionless. It was dead.
Nathan inspected the fish more closely. The scales had a translucent quality, almost glass-like, but with a soft, shimmering, prismatic effect that danced like a rainbow trapped inside a cloud. Hed never seen anything like it before. It was mesmerizing. He picked up the fish and scanned it. [Spirit Fish] A translucent troublemaker that makes regular fish look like theyre not even trying. Born in the spirit realm and clearly feeling superior about it, this milky-white show-off sports prismatic scales that would make a disco ball jealous. WARNING: Dont bother with your fancy mortal fishing rodsthis aquatic diva only responds to spiritual energy. Special Properties: Nathan raised an eyebrow. Spirit realm? Hed never heard of that before. It was another mystery to ask Gius about when he got the chance. For now, he tore off one of the scales and examined it. As he held the scale, it dug into his fingers, carving a bloodied line across his palm. He frowned. How was it so strong? And wait, shouldnt the fish have some kind of rank or level? Putting that thought aside, Nathan wondered how he could use the scale to upgrade his Tidal Shield. Rolling the scale between his fingers, he noticed how the sunlight hitting it caused the colors to shift. Amazing, but not exactly helpful. Finny had mentioned something about a breakthrough triggered by holding the scale. Nathan stood still, waiting for something to happen. After several minutes of nothing, he shrugged, stashed the fish in his inventory, and started his journey back to the Kingdom of Sandara. Huh shouldnt the fish have evaporated or whatever? He ignored it for now, focusing on the scale. Even as he walked, he kept the scale in hand, marveling at its durability. Despite his immense strength, he couldnt so much as dent it. Curious, he decided to test its limits. He dropped the scale on the ground, walked a short distance away, and lined up a shot with his harpoon. The weapon slammed into the scale with a deafening ring, and a dazzling light show erupted across the desert sky. A brilliant flash forced Nathan to avert his eyes. When the light faded, he retrieved his harpoon from a nearby dune and inspected the scale. Undamaged. He rolled the scale between his fingers. What was it about the scale that was making it so difficult to damage? That was the question. Maybe he wasn''t cut out for this sort of thing. From what everybody seemed to tell him, his talents seemed to lie in the art of causing as much damage as possible. Not necessarily in the sciences or anything else. Idly, without much thought, he began to circulate his internal energy through his body. It went up to his arms, up to his fingers, then Nathan heard a loud crack. He slowly looked at the scale. A thin crack had appeared right when Nathan had flooded his fingers with the strange internal energy. A moment later, the scale shattered into dust. Nathan stared at the fine grains before the desert wind swept them away and sent them scattered into the desert beyond. Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. It was pretty obvious that circulating his internal energy had caused it to shatter. Not only that, but he''d used a minimal amount. What was going on? Perhaps... perhaps there was a choice being made. A choice to make the scales virtually invulnerable to physical attacksat least physical attacks of Nathan''s levelbut making the scales extremely weak to this internal energy. Could Nathan make the same choice for his own skills? He summoned Tidal Shield. The flickering wave-like patterns glowed and shimmered in front of him. He shut his eyes and touched his fingers to the shield. He circulated the energy up to his fingertips then snapped open his eyes. Nothing had happened. There was no crack. The Tidal Shield seemed to be general. That was what was going on. It was good against both physical attacks and these more mystical attacks. Could Nathan control the balance? Well first he had to figure out what it was that was creating the weakness in the first place. What was it about the energy that caused the scale to shatter? What was it about the scale that caused it to interact with the energy? For a second, Nathan seriously considered walking away and stewing on the problem for a little bit longer. But before he could, a sudden rush of determination hit him. He felt like he could get this down if he only thought a little bit harder about it. He pulled out the fish and ripped one of the scales off. He examined it closely. Obviously, there was nothing in the physical makeup that made it clear as to what was happening. Nathan threw the scale into the air and let it hit his palm. Perhaps it was simply a matter of intent? A lot of this seemed to be pure mumbo-jumbo, at least the way Finny had described it. Nathan began to summon Tidal Shield like he''d done several times before. This time, he focused on making it look and feel the same way that the scale did. The translucence, the prismatic effect. And most importantly, the fact that it was virtually impossible to break physically. The shield shimmered to life, but there was something different about it. There was a slight rainbow effect in the middle. Nathan reached out and touched it. There was a substantial differenceit was harder, he could already tell. The trick wascould he make it even harder? He dismissed the shield. He focused on reforming the shield again. This time, it was even stronger. At this point he was feeling some kind of strain in his chest. He was probably overworking himself againbut what better time to stop than now? He continued to push. Come on, come on... The shield sprang to lifeand if Nathan didn''t know any better, he could''ve sworn it was made out of the same material the scales were. [Skill upgraded: Tidal Shield (Bronze) > Tidal Bulwark (Bronze+)] Nathan grinned. And then frowned. Wait a second, wasn''t the spirit fish supposed to fulfill the requirements for the quest? Why hadn''t it finished yet? Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled it out. He stared at it for a bit, trying to figure out how to trigger the whole disappear-into-dust-motes thing, but before he could, it spontaneously exploded into flecks of gold out of nowhere. "Okay..." Nathan said. Why did it take so long? He opened up the quest to see that the third task was finished. [Spring Carp] - COMPLETE [Cursed Desert Tilapia] - COMPLETE [Spirit Fish] - COMPLETE [Bass of Many Fins] - X Nathan sighed. One more fish to go.
Nathan continued walking east, retracing his steps. Thanks to the sun, he was always able to keep track of the direction. After several hours of walking, he spotted a few farms he recognized from his previous visits. He was close. Eventually, he reached the city itself. As he approached, he noticed a pair of red eyes glowing in the distance. A shiver ran down his spine. The Dustend is coming. 70 - France Would Be Proud Well, if it were truly random, the chances of it hitting a settlement head-on would be low. Why didnt it attack earlier, though? Why now? That should be most of the city. I need to get back to the palace to check on Zayen. Tidal Bulwark. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Did I cause this?
was he planning?
Queen Rami now. 71 - Military Build-up Nathan watched as Zayen paced back and forth across the meeting hall floor, biting down on his finger so hard that Nathan feared he might draw blood. "I have to go back," Zayen said. "I can''t let her stay on my throne." Nathan glanced at Omarn, who gave him an instructive nod. Nathan cleared his throat. "Well, Zayen" he began, looking back at him. "I dont know if thats a good idea." "And letting her wreak havoc on my kingdom is a better one?" "You must understand," Omarn said. Shell do immense damage. Shes not a bureaucrat, nor a particularly effective ruler. The only thing she possesses is a silver tongue. And I fear no amount of silver can save a kingdom thats already run out of food." Zayen stopped pacing, his expression darkening. "And the research? Oh, goodness, shell probably burn it all to the ground as some kind of political statement." Nathan couldnt help but smirk. "I wouldnt be so sure about that." Zayens eyes snapped to him. "What do you mean?" "I" Nathan started, but the meeting hall doors slammed open. Kamil stepped through, looking harried. "Nathan, were having some trouble with the living quarters for some of the scientists" Kamil froze when he saw Zayen. "My king!" Kamil dropped to his knees, bowing deeply. "It is good to see you, my king. I feared the worst." "Rise," Zayen commanded. Kamil obeyed, standing stiffly. "My lord." Zayen turned back to Nathan. "What did you do?" "Well," Nathan said, scratching the back of his neck, "I checked on the scientists during the Dustend storm. Turns out theyre all loyalists. Who wouldve thought? So, I decided to bring themand their workhere." "But what about the books? All of that is essential" "Turns out an army of mushroom people and werewolves can move just about anything if they push hard enough," Nathan said with a grin. "You mean the entire royal archives" Nathan nodded. "Here. Every last bit of it." Zayen stared at him for a moment before folding his face into his hands and groaning. "You know," Zayen said, his voice muffled. "if I didnt know you as well as I do, Id say youre the greatest political mastermind Ive ever met. But since I do know you that well, all I can do is thank you, I suppose." Nathans grin faltered. "What do you mean? Why would I be a political mastermind?" Omarns glare was sharp. "Youve put us into your debt. Not only that, but youve taken our best talent and brought them here, putting them under your service in function, if not in name. Even our historical archives are now in your hands." Nathans jaw worked silently for a moment. "Oh." "Of course," Zayen said, shaking his head with a wry grin. "I believe youre too sincere for that. So, as I said, I suppose I have no choice but to thank you and promise my undying loyalty and gratitude." Omarn twitched at Zayens words but said nothing. Nathan shrugged. "Well, just help me kill this Dustend thing and let me keep the loot. Well call it even after that." Zayens eyes twinkled. "Such a minor payment. Im afraid I couldnt possibly accept such generous terms." Nathan tilted his head. "Then what do you want to give me?" "Wait until the time comes. I believe I have a deal that will satisfy both of us." Nathan shrugged. "Sure. Like I said, I just want the loot." "Youll get that. And more." Leaving that ominous statement aside, Nathan chuckled. "About the other loyalists," Omarn said. "You mean the people who are still outside?" Nathan asked. "Exactly," Omarn said. "I dont want them punished for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We need to get them out of the capital city and the countryside." Zayen folded his arms behind his back and bowed his head. "Weve intruded on your hospitality enough, but I have another favor to ask of you." "You want them to stay here, dont you?" Nathan guessed. "Exactly." "Im not opposed, but with the elections coming up, things are going to be unsteady. They need to earn their keep." "Of course," Zayen said. "In exchange, well give you formal permission to copy and utilize the information in the royal archives." Nathan blinked. "Youd do that?" "Yes, though thats just a start. Frankly, Omarn and I both expected you to already be doing that." "Okay" "As for the real reward" Zayen rubbed his chin. "How about my crown?" Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Nathan laughed nervously. "Thats a funny joke, Zayen." Zayen smiled back. "Indeed." Nathan stared at him for a moment before coughing into his hand. "So, what are you actually thinking?" "Our city planners," Zayen said. Nathan blinked. "Why would I need city planners?" "Your town has expanded at an enormous rate, but its clear you have no urban planners among your staff," Zayen explained. "Housing shortages, congestionall problems stemming from poor city planning. The Sandara kingdom has a long history of urban civilization. We can help. Should you allow me, my staff and I will draw up plans to modernize this town. Sewers, zoning, and everything else a city needs to thrive. Well also ensure you have the knowledge and documentation to continue expanding." Nathan nodded. It seemed like a good deal. "I think youve got yourself a deal," Nathan said. Zayen extended his hand. Nathan shook it firmly.
After the meeting concluded, the rest of the Council updated Nathan on various developments. The infrastructure for the elections continued to grow, and it wouldnt be long before they were ready for the first round. Nathan also learned that the farmers had started incorporating techniques they learned from the Sandara Kingdom. As a result, the farms were growing at an exponential rate. The biggest issues, however, remained unresolved: tensions between the werewolves and mushroom people, along with the persistent housing crisis. These problems had never truly been solved; they had merely faded from Nathans immediate focus due to a lack of actionable solutions. After all, wasnt it just a matter of building houses and being done with it? But if Zayen was right, the real issue lay in zoning and city planning. Nathan could believe that. He didnt have anyone on the Council with expertise in urban planning. Living in a city, as many of them had, was far different from building one. Zayen had even brought up sewers. It was only then that Nathan realized he had no idea how his town managed its waste. When he asked, he was shocked by the answer. Wagons and buckets, Gius said. Nathan stared in disbelief. Youre kidding me. No. Why would I? Thats the way its always been done. Nathan introduced Zayen to Bricks and Casc. After that, he informed the Council that Zayen would now assist with city planning. Zayen adapted quickly, and within minutes, he and his team were discussing how to navigate zoning laws and optimize building times. Later, Nathan met with Fuge to discuss the military. Weve made major expansions with the help of the orcs, Fuge said, spreading her arms to showcase the progress. As you can see, the military is almost ready to go on the offensive, should you deem it necessary. Nathans jaw dropped. Fuge had managed to secure funding to build an academy in the center of town. They were demolishing old buildings to make way for the new construction. While the academy building was still under construction, Nathan saw several units of mushroom people and werewolves jogging around the massive campus. Of course, the classrooms arent built yet, so most of the classes are being held outdoors, Fuge explained. What kind of classes? Nathan asked. Infiltration, basic tactics, strategy, logistics Take your pick. It was then Nathan realized he probably should have been paying closer attention to what Fuge had been doing. G great, Nathan said, giving a hesitant thumbs-up. I guess these are officer candidates? You got it. The grunts have a camp outside of town. Where did you find teachers? Fuge crossed her arms and grinned. The werewolf mercenaries, obviously. A number of them were looking to retire anyway, so this is a great way to put their experience to use. How long until the first batch of officers is ready? Not long. I estimate about a month or two. Theyre on an accelerated program. I want the skeleton of a command structure in place, even if were not fully staffed yet. Fuge continued the tour, showing Nathan what had been built so far. One of the units jogging around the campus stopped when they saw Fuge. The mushroom person leading the group saluted. Instantly, the entire unit followed suit. At ease, Fuge said, looking them over. As you can see, Lord Nathan is on campus. I expect all of you to show him what youre made of. Understood? Yes, maam! they shouted in unison. Fuge took Nathan to one of the completed classrooms. Inside, a werewolf mercenary was pointing at a blackboard while various werewolves and mushroom people sat at desks, taking notes. When presented with this tactical situation, how would you respond? the werewolf instructor asked. He paused when he saw Fuge. Hold on, Fuge. What are you doing here? Showing off what weve built so far to the Supreme Commander, Fuge replied. The werewolfs jaw dropped. He turned to Nathan and saluted immediately. Nathan chuckled awkwardly. At ease? The werewolf lowered his hand and grinned. Its been a while, Lord Nathan. Nathan squinted. Wait a second Its me, the werewolf said, revealing himself as Hunter, the former commander of the werewolf mercenaries whom Nathan had personally defeated. Hunter turned to the students, who were staring at Nathan unabashedly. I dont know if any of you were there, but I was in the army when Nathan faced this exact tactical problem. None of you could pull off what he did, but its a great example of thinking outside the box. The students whispered amongst themselves: Thats Lord Nathan? Of course. Hes the only human here. You know hes never been defeated, right? I was a kid during the raids. I heard he slaughtered entire units single-handedly. Is he even human? I heard he might be a demigod. Nathan winced at the last comment. There was a tone of reverence in their voices that made him deeply uncomfortable. Hunter slammed his table. Show some respect! Thats your commander-in-chief, not someone to gossip about like schoolgirls! The room went silent. Before Nathan could respond, Fuge nodded at Hunter. Excellent work. Of course, maam. Fuge and Nathan stepped outside. What do you think? Fuge asked. Nathan scratched the back of his head. They seem a little intense? Thats their job, Fuge replied. Nathan nodded, though he felt uncertain about creating a military. Still, it was clear Fuge believed in its necessity. And rightfully so. If he wasnt around, the town needed a way to defend itself. By the way, Nathan said, Ive always wondered: how do you all level up? You said its tied to the towns development. Its a mixture of both, Fuge explained. Our levels are capped by the towns progress, but we can still train and improve. Simulated combat and formal education help a lot. I wish it were that easy for me. Fuge gave him a smirk. Delvers always have it harder. Nathan looked around the campus. Anything else to show me? Fuge nodded. Remember those orcs? Yeah, I do. Before Fuge could elaborate, a loud boom echoed from behind. Both turned to see a werewolf flying through the air before crashing into the ground. That was miserable! Drop and give me twenty! an orc trainer bellowed. The werewolf groaned. Yes, sir. At the end of the campus was a massive obstacle course, complete with rock climbing sections, a moat, a second moat, and even a lava waterfall. Where did you get the lava? Nathan asked. Fuge approached the orc trainer. Hesk! Where is everyone else? Theyre out with the enlisted men, Hesk said, before noticing Nathan. Oh my gosh, its you! Hesk! Nathan extended a hand. Good to see you. Hesk shook Nathans hand enthusiastically. If he was trying to test Nathans strength, it didnt show. Nathan squeezed back. Hesk winced, tears forming in his eyes. Strong grip, Hesk forced out. Oh, sorry. Nathan let go. Hesk flexed his hand and nodded. As you can see, the infiltration team is coming along nicely. Itll take a bit longer to get the first squad ready because of the amount of knowledge were cramming into their training. Still, if you need a job done, were your team. Nathan nodded. He wasnt sure when hed need a special forces unit, but he knew it could come in handy. Thanks, Hesk. I appreciate it. Its the least we can do. With the tour complete, Nathan felt he had a solid grasp of the towns current state. He called a meeting of his ministers and requested that Zayen and Omarn attend as well. A few hours later, everyone gathered. Nathan sat at the head of the table, leaning forward with a conspiratorial glint in his eye. So, he began, Zayen, what kind of resources do your scientists need to defeat Dustend? 72 - Zombie Fish Attack
[Nathan Lee]: hey guys. I dont know if anybody else has had some trouble with the Dustend, but I should be taking care of it pretty soon. just thought you guys should know. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. [RockThrower69]: The hell you mean youll be taking care of it? [StillAlive27]: The quest is impossible tho??? [DefinitelyNotDying]: Bros about to solo the circle boss was the main quest? He still didnt know. I wonder if I can call tech support. I guess so
73 - King Crab Falls (NOT CLICKBAIT) Nathan cursed. Sandwiched between the King Crabs main force on the shore and the flanking maneuver of zombie bass and regular crabs, they were trapped. A zombie bass lunged, its milky eyes fixed on Nathan. He twisted, water erupting from his hands in a swirling vortex. The bass slammed against a jagged rock, its vacant gaze flickering before it went still. Another bass darted in from the side, snapping its jaws. Nathan barely dodged, feeling the rush of fetid water as it passed. A crab scuttled past the fallen bass, its pincers clicking menacingly. Crabs swarmed, their carapaces scraping against each other as they advanced. One nipped at Nathans leg, tearing a small gash in his scales. He grimaced, a trickle of blood blooming in the water. He pressed his hand to the wound, a faint blue light emanating from his palm as he used [Ocean''s Embrace] to knit the flesh back together. A crab scuttled towards his other leg, pincers raised. He stomped down, crushing it beneath his foot. But another immediately took its place, and another after that. The clicking of their claws on the riverbed was a relentless, unnerving chorus. Fall back! Finny shouted, his voice strained. Nathan, get back here! Nathan glanced back. The fish mafia members were struggling, surrounded by a sea of snapping pincers and snapping jaws. One of them was dragged down by a cluster of crabs, disappearing beneath a writhing mass of chitinous legs. He turned back to the fight. He launched himself forward, hands outstretched. Water erupted from the riverbed, forming powerful currents that swept away clusters of crabs, sending them tumbling end over end. He then focused the current into a tight, pressurized jet, blasting a zombie bass against a rock with a sickening crunch. But for every crab he sent tumbling, another seemed to take its place. Every time he crushed one beneath his heel, another scuttled forward to take its place. The clicking of their claws grew louder, more insistent. The air was thick with the smell of brine and decay. Finny swam back to him, his eyes wide with desperation. Nathan, you have to do something! That King Crab, its controlling them! You need to take it down! Theyll scatter if it falls! Nathan turned his gaze towards the massive crab on the shore. It remained motionless, observing the chaos with cold, beady eyes, one massive pincer slightly raised. He knew Finny was right. This was it. He reached for his harpoon, the bronze head dull and worn. He hefted it, took aim, and with a grunt, unleashed [Throw Harpoon]. The harpoon spun through the air, striking the King Crab squarely in the chest. The impact was met with a dull thud. The harpoon bounced harmlessly off the thick, cracked shell, falling into the sand at the creature''s feet. The King Crab didn''t even flinch. A wave of panic washed over Nathan. He gathered the water around him, preparing to unleash [Riptide Mastery], focusing all his energy into a massive wave aimed directly at the King Crab. The water surged and swelled, forming a towering wall that crashed against the creature. But the King Crab simply braced itself, its massive form unmoved. The wave dissipated, leaving the creature completely unaffected. His breath caught in his throat. Nothing was working. He felt a cold dread creeping into his heart. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing his will. He reached into his magical inventory, feeling for the familiar shape and weight. His fingers brushed against the worn leather grip of his old metal fishing rod. He grasped it and pulled it forth, the rod materializing in his hand. The metal was cold and worn, the once-gleaming surface now scratched and pitted. He raised the rod, pointing it towards the King Crab. The creatures beady eyes seemed to fix on the rod, a flicker of something that might have been surprise crossing its face. Nathan channeled all his energy into a powerful [Cast]. The rod groaned under the strain, the old metal creaking ominously. A blinding flash of light erupted from the tip as Nathan unleashed the full force of his Diamond+ ability. The energy coalesced into the hook, hurtling towards the King Crab. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The King Crab raised its massive pincer, attempting to intercept. The hook slammed into the pincer with an ear-splitting crack. The air shimmered, then exploded in a deafening burst of light and force. Nathans fishing rod shattered in his hand, the pieces spraying outwards. The magical energy that had been contained within the rods core erupted outward from the hook in a devastating wave, engulfing the King Crab. The creatures pincer, already cracked and splintered, completely disintegrated. The force of the blast threw the massive crab onto its back, its legs twitching feebly. A cloud of dust and sand erupted around it. When the dust settled, the King Crab lay motionless, a gaping hole blasted through its shell. The surrounding crabs froze, their scuttling abruptly ceasing. A moment of stunned silence hung in the air, then they began to scatter, retreating in disarray. The zombie bass, deprived of their apparent control, simply floated aimlessly in the water. And then, in Nathans hands, his fishing rod split down the middle and cracked in two.
Nathan stood amidst the wreckage, his hand still outstretched, the remnants of his fishing rod scattered at his feet. He stared at the fallen King Crab, his heart pounding. He had done it. But at what cost? He picked up a piece of the broken metal, running his fingers along the jagged edge. He felt a pang of sadness. The silence after the explosion was deafening. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the river against the shore. Nathan stood amidst the debris, the weight of what hed done settling upon him. He looked at the shattered remains of his Metal Fishing Rod, a wave of regret washing over him. It was just a rod, he knew, but it had been with him for so long. Finny swam towards him, his eyes wide with awe. Nathan, you you did it! You actually did it! He looked from Nathan to the fallen King Crab, then back again, shaking his head in disbelief. I cant believe it. That old thing? He gestured towards the broken rod. Nathans lips lifted into a smirk. It had one last cast left in it, I guess. The fish mafia members, who had been scattered and struggling just moments before, were now regrouping, their faces etched with relief. Several zombie bass lay scattered amongst the debris, seemingly unaffected by the King Crabs demise. But these werent just any zombie bass. These had an unusual number of fins, far more than any bass Nathan had seen before. Nathan inspected them. [Bass of Many Fins] Nathan! Look! Finny called, pointing towards the odd fish. Theres a lot of them. Nathan waded over and saw the creatures. Their milky eyes stared blankly ahead, but the sheer number of fins was striking. They rippled slightly in the gentle current, an almost mesmerizing sight. There were at least twenty of them scattered around the area. Nathan reached out and gently touched one of the [Bass of Many Fins]. As his fingers made contact, the fish shimmered, then vanished in a puff of light, leaving no trace behind. A notification appeared in his vision: [Spring Carp] - COMPLETE [Cursed Desert Tilapia] - COMPLETE [Translucent Fish] - COMPLETE [Spirit Fish] - COMPLETE [Bass of Many Fins] - COMPLETE Quest: Upgrade [Sand-Worn Fishing Rod - D Rank] complete! [Sand-Worn Fishing Rod] has been upgraded to D+ Rank! Nathan pulled the [Sand-Worn Fishing Rod] from his inventory. It was no longer a simple, worn piece of equipment. The sand-colored wood now had faint, swirling patterns that seemed to shift and change like the currents of the ocean. The grip felt warmer to the touch, and a faint hum of energy emanated from it. The description had also changed: [Sand-Worn Fishing Rod - D+ Rank] A rod crafted from driftwood touched by the tides. It whispers secrets of the deep, hinting at a connection to something far greater than the shore. Nathan held the rod in his hand, a brief moment of satisfaction washing over him. Then he remembered the other bass. He couldnt just evaporate them all. Zayen needed them. Finny, I need to collect these, Nathan said, gesturing to the remaining bass. Zayen needs them for a potion. Finny blinked. Right. You mentioned something about that. 74 - Prelude to the Dustend The command tent hummed with tension, its canvas walls trembling in the desert wind. Scattered across a weathered table, maps told their own story through a maze of sweeping lines and crimson circles that tracked the Dustend''s predicted path. Nathans eyes scanned across them, a slight frown on his features. Kamil hunched over them, his scholar''s robes dusted with sand, finger hovering over a stark ravine carved into the terrain. Theyd gone outside of the Soulbound TownNathan and the rest of the people who were needed to make the decisions for the coming battle. Kamil had needed to run some tests and everyone had agreed that they needed to be ready to move as soon as the tests were done. "The Whispering Canyon," Kamil said. The convergence of atmospheric pressure and the ancient tablet''s readings are clear C the Dustend will manifest there." Nathan''s calloused finger followed the canyon''s savage path, feeling the rough parchment beneath. Will this complicate things? "Complicates?" Fuge laughed. "That canyon''s a natural amplifier. The Dustend will feed off its walls, growing stronger with every league it travels." From his perch on a three-legged stool, Gius tapped his fingers against a new walking stick. "The magical resonance alone will be unprecedented. The canyon will focus it like a lens focuses sunlight." Zayen stepped forward. "We''ve committed everything to this moment. The potion is complete, thanks to our... creative procurement methods." He caught Nathan''s eye, a ghost of a smile playing at his lips. "Then Ill execute this quickly and decisively, Nathan said. I? Fuge raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Nathan said. Ill take care of this." The tent fell silent save for the whisper of sand against canvas. Fuge straightened. "With respect, Nathan, that''s foolhardy. You''re proposing to face a magical tempest of unprecedented magnitude. Even with the potion''s protection, the risk is extreme. As Marshal, I cannot and will not allow you to attempt this alone." "I''ve survived worse," Nathan said. Thats not the point, Fuge said. Strategy demands we maximize our chances of success. My skills complement yours C I won''t serve anyone by remaining behind." Before Nathan could object, Zayen''s voice cut through the tension. "The Second Circle may have granted you sanctuary, Nathan, but this is my homeland. I''ve spent my life training with Sandara''s finest guardsmen." His cutlass materialized with a whisper of steel, catching the lamplight like liquid silver. "This kingdom is my birthright and my duty. I stand with you." Omarn cleared his throat. The Whispering Canyon... a fitting stage for our confrontation. Did you know it was the birthplace of an ocean? Before the desert claimed dominion?" "An ocean? Here?" "The evidence is conclusive," Kamil interjected, enthusiasm briefly overwhelming his anxiety. "The rock strata, the mineral deposits C they all speak of ancient waters." Zayen''s stared up at Nathan and gave him a nod. "Your burden is ours to share, whether you wish it or not. We face this together." Nathan looked around the tent, reading the resolve in each face. The argument died before it reached his lips. "Very well," he said finally. "But we move fast and strike hard. No heroics. Agreed?" Their responses came as one, united and unwavering.
The tent emptied in a flurry of purposeful chaos C maps rolled and tucked away, weapons checked and double-checked, hushed conversations punctuated by the soft clink of equipment. Zayen lingered behind, fidgeting with the hilt of his cutlass. "Nathan," he said, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain. "Could you stay? Just for a moment?" Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Nathan dropped onto a nearby crate, its wooden slats creaking in protest. "What''s on your mind?" The young king''s shoulders hunched, his usual regal bearing crumbling like sand. "I''m scared," he admitted, the words barely audible above the desert wind batting at the tent walls. Nathan tilted his head. Of the Dustend?" "Yes. No." Zayen ran a hand through his hair. "Everything, really." He drew a shaky breath. "Before you came here, before everything fell apart... I was a figurehead. My advisorsthey controlled everything. Every time I tried to take charge, to make real changes, they had this way of making me feel like a child playing at being king." "They undermined you," Nathan said. "Because I let them." Zayen sighed. "I questioned every decision, second-guessed every word. I was so afraid of making the wrong choice that I barely made any choices at all." He met Nathan''s eyes. "How do you do it? How do you just... act? Without drowning in doubt?" Nathan opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. He was spectacularly unqualified for this conversation. Fighting? Sure. Surviving impossible odds? His specialty. But dispensing wisdom? He''d rather fight the Dustend blindfolded. "Well," he started. It''s like... you know when you''re really hungry? And you''re thinking about food?" He immediately regretted this metaphor but was somehow unable to stop. "And sometimes you want, uh, bread. But maybe the bread isn''t good bread? But you''re still hungry, so..." Zayen leaned forward intently. "No, wait, that''s not..." Nathan ran a hand down his face. "Look, sometimes you just have to do stuff. And maybe it works out, or maybe it doesn''t, but at least you did the stuff. Like the bread. Which is important. For doing things." Zayen''s eyes widened with sudden understanding. "So you''re saying... action, even imperfect action, is better than paralysis?" "Uh... yes!" Nathan seized on this lifeline, nodding vigorously. "That''s exactly what I was saying. With the bread. Which was definitely on purpose. Because that''s how I teach things. Zayen nodded earnestly. "It makes perfect sense. The bread represents choice, and the hunger is the need to act" "Right! Yes! That''s exactly what I meant." Nathan tugged at his collar, wondering when the tent had gotten so warm. "Because I am good at explaining things. With food. And metaphors. And... food metaphors." "Thank you, Nathan." Zayen straightened, and though fear still lingered in his eyes, there was steel there too. "You always know exactly what to say." Nathan coughed and stood quickly, desperately hoping to end this conversation before Zayen could attribute any more wisdom to his ramblings about bread. "Right. Well. Time to go do the Dustend thing?" "Yes." Zayen''s hand tightened on his cutlass, resolve settling over him like armor. "Time to act, even if the bread isn''t perfect." Nathan managed not to wince. He''d created a monster. "Yeah. Let''s just go fight the magical storm. Much simpler."
The Whispering Canyon earned its name with cruel poetry. Wind keened between towering walls of stone, carrying stinging clouds of sand and grit. Ancient rock formations reached toward the sky like petrified claws, their shadows writhing across the canyon floor in a macabre dance. The air itself felt wrongheavy with a metallic taste that coated Nathan''s tongue, while an endless drone vibrated through the bedrock beneath his feet. Nathan''s instincts screamed danger. Everything about this place set his nerves on edge. The unnatural quiet lurking beneath the wind''s wail. The way the dust moved against the air currents. The oppressive weight of magic pressing down like a physical force. "The potions," he said, turning to find Omarn already grinning at him. "Tell me we''re ready." "Oh, indeed." Omarn produced a rust-pitted bucket from the folds of his robes as if conjuring it from thin air. Inside, something thick and luminescent pulsed with sickly green light. His eyes gleamed with barely contained delight. "A most invigorating concoction." Before anyone could step back, Omarn spun in a graceful pirouette, sending the potion arcing through the air. The liquid struck like ice against Nathan''s skin, carrying the distinctive bouquet of stagnant pond water and singed hair. What the hell!? Nathan choked, scrubbing at his face. The potion clung to his skin with determined viscosity. Omarn hummed a cheerful tune. "Proper saturation ensures optimal results." The potion sank into Nathan''s flesh, spreading warmth through his limbs like brandy on a cold night. Static electricity crackled across his skin, raising every hair on his body. Nathan was about to cuss Omarn out when he paused. Above them, the sky darkened to the color of a fresh tomator. Lightning split the clouds, followed by thunder that bounced between canyon walls like a trapped beast. The metallic tang in the air sharpened, joined by the knife-edge scent of ozone. Magic pressed harder against Nathan''s senses, as tangible as a hand against his chest. "It''s here." Zayen''s whisper barely carried over the rising wind. He stood at Nathan''s shoulder, cutlass half-drawn, staring into the depths of the canyon. The dust storm rolled toward them like a tidal wave of earth and shadow. The ground shuddered beneath their feet as the wind''s keen became a banshee''s shriek. Static electricity snapped between them in visible arcs, tasting of metal and magic. The stench of ozone burned Nathan''s lungs with each breath. Then, through the maelstrom of dust and lightning, Nathan saw them. Twin points of crimson light blazed like hot coals in the heart of the storm. Eyes. Ancient. Malevolent. Aware. The Dustend stared back at them with the patient hunger of a force that had devoured civilizations. And it was no longer content to wait. 75 - The Dustend When exactly did my life go so far off the rails? I really hope this thing holds up! Where is it? Where is it? The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. [The Dustend] - Lv. 55 Is it a storm? Is it a monster? Wrong! Its both! Meet the Dustend, scourge of desert civilizations everywhere. Tired of your ordinary, boring life as a random person subsisting off well water and wheat? Well, have I got an offer for you! The Dustend is a living magic storm so strong it will rip you to atoms. And guess what? You just pissed it off. Anime logic says theres probably a big red orb at the center thats the weak point... but do I really want to risk our lives on TV show logic? I mean, this whole situation is ridiculous anyway, so I had no idea he was that strong! I was right! crack. Shards of enchanted steel ricocheted into Zayen''s shoulder as the barrier flared red. He fell screaming, blood mixing with the artificial rain. 76 - Dustend, Part II As if Ill die like this! I cant overdo it. Healing is still more expensive than any of my other abilities. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Wow, its a lot bigger up close than it appears from a distance. Its larger than almost anything Ive ever fought. Scratch thatthats exactly what hes planning to do. What the? Oh come on, you already tried that I cant dodgeits hitting me from every direction. And blocking wont work, my shield only forms a square barrier. It cant wrap around me. That leaves only one option. Go through it. Theres no way in hell this is going to work. Yes, that was totally on purpose, I totally wasnt winging it Checkmate. screamed. The strike tore through its form, sand exploding outward in a shockwave. For a split second, the swirling storm of its body parted, revealing the pulsating red core buried within. 77 - Dustend, Finale There was a quiet crackling in the air. Nathan jumped forward. Behind him, he heard the sound of lightning striking the spot hed just been in. He didn''t even have a moment to relax before another bolt was already on its way. He dodged to the right. Another one came straight toward him. He began to dodge forward, but at the last second, his instincts screamed that a lightning bolt would strike there. Instead, he threw himself to the left. Nathan''s eyes flickered toward his companions. Luckily, it still looked like he was taking the brunt of the attacks. Fuge was gracefully dodging every strike with the ease of a master combatant. Zayen and Omarn were replicating Nathan''s trick with the water to redirect the lightning strikes Oh, thats a good idea. Riptide mastery came to life around Nathan. Water surged forward, redirecting the lightning strikes into the ground, turning the sand into glass. Nathan''s gaze shot toward the milky orb. It needs to be taken out! He reared back his fishing rod and swung forward, the hook flying through the air like a laser-guided missile. It slammed into the milky orb, shattering it into pieces Wait, no it didnt. It just passed through. Nathan squinted. Had he missed? No. If there was one thing he was confident in, it was his aim with a fishing rod and that wasnt a sentence he ever thought hed say in his lifetime. The hook had clearly hit, yet it was like the creature had just ignored it. But how was that possible? Come to think of it, the milky white orb it was translucent, wasnt it? Just like the spirit fish. Nathan looked down at his fishing rod. He had done something to it back thenmanipulated his internal energy to make it able to hook the weird spirit fish. Could he do it again? His eyes flickered back and forth between the milky white orb and his fishing rod. I hope this works. Nathan guided the energy from his core and let it extend into his fingers. From there, he pushed it into his fishing rod. In seconds, the fishing rod began to glow ever so slightly blue. His eyes snapped back to the white orb. He tilted his chest to the right. Another whizzing noisea laser beam flew past him and the ground behind him exploded into a cloud of dust. A single droplet of sweat rolled down the back of his neck. Yeah, I dont think I want to get hit by one of those. He reared back his fishing rod and, for the second time, tossed forward his hook. This time, the hook slammed into the milky orb, visibly knocking it backward and carving a line across its side. Nathan sucked in a breath, eyes wide. Before he could launch another attack, the white orb began to repair itself. Just like that, the damage Nathan had done was gone. Another whizzing noise. Dodge. A sudden pain in his chest distracted himright where he was drawing that energy from. I overdid it! He tried to pull his hand away, but it was too late. The laser knocked into his hand, blasting him backward and sending his fishing rod flying into the distance. He tumbled and rolled for several seconds before landing hard on the ground. Groaning, he pushed himself up and looked at his hand. To his surprise, the damage wasnt as bad as hed expectedjust a gigantic red splotch covering his entire arm. If I lose another arm, Im gonna riot. His jaw clenched. I need more power. Hed been saving up his stat points, hadnt he? But the question was, which one would be the most helpful? His gut told him to go with strength. Maybe just a little more, and hed be able to swing his fishing rod hard enough to destroy the orb in one go. He pulled open his stat window. He hadnt checked it in a long time, most enemies in the circle being too easy for him to deal with. Stats: Available Stats: 32 Magic? No, he didnt use magic. Emi had made that clear, and besides, he could feel what magic felt like. Whatever he was using, it wasnt magic. That left Soul. This was a gamble. He didnt fully understand the Soul stat. He didnt fully understand the strange energy allowing him to attack the Dustend in its current form. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Still, something inside him screamed that this was his best shot. He put all his points into Soul. Soul: 62 (+30) = 92 There was no flash of bright light, no dramatic transformation. His eyes wandered, searching for a weapon. His fishing rod was too far awaybut something metal gleamed in the sand nearby. He reached out and pulled free his trusty harpoon, dust-covered but intact. "Lets hope this works." He channeled his inner energy into the harpoon. His breath caughtit was so much easier now. Before, it had felt like scooping water with a spoon. Now, it was like lifting water with a bucket. Not an overwhelming difference, but he no longer felt like a cripple. The power flowed easier. His harpoon lit up with a bright blue glow. He reared back and threw it forward. The harpoon sailed through the air, water bursting out of it like jets, louder and clearer than ever before. The light refracted off the water, creating a rainbow of colors as it streaked toward its target. The Dustend roared, lightning crackling against the sides of the harpoon. Bolts slammed into it, but it continued on, completely undeterred. A wall of sand rose to block its paththe harpoon cut through it effortlessly, striking the milky white orb dead center. It went straight through. A hole gaped in the orbs surface. For a few seconds, everything went stillthe lightning, the sand, even the faint hum of the orb itself. A crack appeared. The fracture spread, webbing across the orb''s surface until The orb exploded. Nathan shielded his eyes as shards flew past. One cut a thin line across his arm, another embedded itself into the glass behind him. When he dared to open his eyes again, white sparkles floated gently from the sky. Nathan exhaled a deep breath. It was finally over.
[You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [Achievement get: Storm Killer]. [Achievement get: Savant Cultivator]. Nathan brushed aside the level-ups and walked over to where the Dustend had been defeated. Lying on the ground was a pearl. It was small, almost unnoticeable among the grains of sand. Even so, Nathan couldn''t help but notice it. It almost seemed like it was calling to him. He reached down and picked it up, activating his scan ability. [Heart of the Desert] A relic of scorching ambition and poor hydration choices. Swallowing this crystallized essence of the wastelands will either elevate you to legendary heights or turn your insides into sand. Fortunately, its the former (probably). Triggers an SSS-rank class-up to Silver rank. Side effects may include an insatiable thirst for power and, well just thirst. Nathan rolled the pearl around in his hands. Yet another item of power that would elevate him even further in strength. He seemed to have a bad habit of getting his hands on these things. "Is that what I think it is?" Nathan turned to see Zayen staring at the pearl with wide eyes. "If you think it''s the Heart of the Desert, then yes, it is," Nathan said. "Class-up items are already nightmarishly rare. But I would bet that item right there is one-of-a-kind. It will be the purest class-up obtainable on this circle, I can guarantee you that." "Purity?" "Well, of course. You dont think all class-up methods are made the same way, right?" Nathan was silent for a few seconds. Uh yes? Zayen sighed. "Some class-ups are worth more than others. The truly rare ones allow for a custom class upgrade path." Then I wonder how it is that I received a custom class so easily and early? Nathan shook his head. There would be time to contemplate things later. For now, it was time to enjoy the fruits of his labor. "How do you plan on consuming it?" Zayen asked. "Oh, I was just going to eat it." To demonstrate, Nathan opened his mouth and swallowed the pearl. When he lowered his gaze back to Zayen, the boy king was staring at him in abject shock and horror. "Are you insane!?" Zayen exclaimed. "Why in the name of all that is good would you just swallow it?!" "Thats not how youre supposed to do it?" "No! Items of great power like that must be diluted and fed over the course of several days. The amount of pain you''d experience just from eating it all at oncethe shock alone could kill you!" Nathan squinted. "Wait, youre telling me that the Pandora wasnt supposed to be eaten like that? I couldve avoided all that pain?" "Youve done this before!?" Before Nathan could inform Zayen that yes, he had, in fact, done this before, pain hit his head like a hammer. He doubled over and groaned aloud. "I can already tell this is gonna suck," Nathan muttered. "For someone so staggeringly powerful and so stunningly clever, you can be unbelievably idiotic" Nathan groaned again, clenching his fists. "I dont suppose you happen to have painkillers?" he managed to squeak out. "Just stay calm. Omarn is an expert in this sort of thing. I''ll ask him for help." Nathan''s vision began to blacken. "Yeah, you do that..." His limbs started shuddering, and he lost control of them. He shut his eyes, focusing on his soulbound town portal. "Omarn is here," Zayen said. "He''ll be able to take care of you. Just relax." "The portal" Nathan slammed his head against the glass. "Im leaving the portal open." Zayen stiffened. "You are?" "Yes, get me back i-insideyou can use the resources from the town to help me out, I think." Fuge, who had been quietly in the background, nodded. "I will make sure you are taken care of, Commander." Nathan was about to thank her when he felt his consciousness begin to fade. "See you on the other side," he muttered before his mind went blank.
When he next opened his eyes, he felt no pain. It was as if he were an entirely new creature. He looked out to see that he was on a beach, the gentle push and pull of the tides just in front of him. He rubbed his feet into the sand, absentmindedly noting that he was barefoot. "Am I naked?" "No. I believe you humans find that improper, no? As such, I ensured that you would be clothed." Nathan nearly stumbled backward. "Who is that?" "You don''t sense me?" the voice said. "I should be a familiar presence to you by now. Though you haven''t heard my voice very often, I have been with you in spirit." Nathan''s back stiffened. Somehow, he knew exactly who this voice belonged to. No, he knew exactly who she was. "Are you?" The water shifted and changed. A figure rose out of the waves, like Aphrodite emerging from the sea. It was a womanprobably the most beautiful woman Nathan had ever seen. Her long hair was the color of clear blue water. On either side of her head, tucked into her hair like buns, were two types of underwater flowers. Nathan couldnt recall their names, but he remembered seeing them in countless pictures of underwater seascapes. She was dressed in something similar to a Greek toga, the white robes wrapped loosely around her body. Around her neck was a conch shell necklace, one that looked strikingly similar to the one Nathan had been wearing since way back in the first circle. But it was her eyes that caught his attention. Just looking into them filled him with a deep, instinctual terror. There was something ancient within them, something old. They were cold, distantless like the eyes of a person and more like those of an unfeeling force of nature. Worse than a monster, worse than the Dustend. Worse than anything hed ever seen before. And then, all at once, the gaze softened. An odd sort of warmth entered them. Then she smiled. Nathan almost cringed. It was too wide, and her eyes werent in it at all. It was like watching a robot attempt to smile. Despite that, he got the strangest feeling that she was being sincere. "Hi, Nathan," she said. "I am what you call the sea. It''s good to finally meet youproperly." 78 - The Desert Kings Return Anand was feeling pretty good about himself. He''d successfully managed to eliminate a potential threat to the Harrowed Hand, install the puppet queen onto the throne of a small kingdom, and he''d done it all without a single person suspecting his true identity. "Hey, Anand, I was wondering when you were going to tell us who your true backers are? I''m pretty sure you''re not from this kingdom." Anand turned toward the minister who''d spoken to him. His left eye twitched. Okay, I might need to take a rain check on that last statement. "No" Anand shifted his eyes back and forth. "I am a native To here I don''t know what you''re talking about." "Yeah, thats really funny, but seriously, we need to know who is backing you." Anand took a deep breath. "I''ll tell you about it later." The minister shrugged and walked away. The poor guy was probably busy trying to dial back many of Rami''s nonsensical proposals. The woman didn''t have the slightest idea how to govern. She instituted a 90% tax on everyone. Not on the middle class or on the rich specifically. Just everyone. Anand was completely confused as to what kind of logic could''ve been going through her head. Well, whatever. At least Nathan and that boy king were taken care of. I doubt we''ll be seeing them anytime soon. A loud horn broke him out of his thoughts. He froze and looked around for the source of the noise. "What was that?" he said. One of the guards perked up. "That was the sound of the Royal Assembly. But Rami doesn''t know the protocol behind that. So who?" Out of nowhere, Anand was hit with a sinking feeling. He felt as if all of his dreams were about to be shattered in about two seconds flat. "Go on ahead, I''ll join you in a second." The guard nodded and walked off toward the source of the noise. Anand reached into his clothes and pulled out his trusty journal. He slipped it underneath a potted plant and looked around to see if anybody had spotted himit looked like no one had. Perfect. If anything happens to me, at least the Harrowed Hand will eventually get my information. With that done, Anand pulled up his hood, hiding his face. He approached the area where he''d heard the horn. Around him, he could already see various members of the court filing in toward the noise. "Is it that idiot queen?" someone said. "That would just about make sense. Of course, the fool would find the Royal Horn and use it as nothing more than a musical instrument." "At least Zayen had the good sense to respect our traditions." Anand awkwardly looked toward a point on the ceiling. Man, Rami really is terrible at her job. Eventually, they all filed into the throne room. No one was there at the throne. Anand tilted his head. Where was the queen? She loved sitting there so much that she''d once injured herself and bruised her bottom. It was a very embarrassing day for the queen. Suddenly, a side door opened, and a figure approached the throne. It was a smaller figure, a teenager. He sat down on the throne and pulled off his hood, revealing the face of Anand''s jaw dropped. "GCguards!" Anand yelled. "Seize the imposter!" A few of the guards looked at each other with uncertain looks in their eyes. One guard scooted closer to the throne. Before anybody could do anything, Zayen opened his mouth, and everything stopped. "My people!" he shouted. "I have returned. And not only that, but I bring you great news." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Whispers darted back and forth among the audience. "What is he talking about?" "Is he going to retake the throne?" Zayen brought his fingers up and snapped them. Omarn approached the thronewhen had he gotten here?and laid two spherical objects at the base of the throne. An instant hush fell over the crowd. Two red gems, almost like eyes, dropped at the feet of the king. Anand awkwardly grinned. "What''s he doing? Why are we so quiet?" "Don''t you understand what those are? Scan them." Anand felt his stomach drop. A roiling tension inside of him made him want to vomit. He scanned the objects. [The Eyes of the Dustend] The Eyes of the Dustendtwo blazing rubies ripped from the heart of a magical storm. If you have these, it means you didnt just survive the Dustendyou ended it. And now, its power is yours. These gems are reservoirs of raw, untamed magic, capable of fueling spells of immense power. Wield them wisely, or recklesslyeither way, expect collateral damage. Nations will covet them, mages will fear them, and you? Well, youll either become a legend or a cautionary tale. System Advisory: Try not to explode. No refunds. For a few seconds, there was nothing but silence. Then a cheer erupted from the crowd. Hats flew into the air, the people next to each other shook one another in shock and awe. One man started weeping and dropped to the ground. "We are finally free!" "This is the golden age of the Sandara Kingdom!" Then, like a beating drum, Anand heard the sound of a single name. Zayen. Zayen. Zayen. Zayen! Anand felt his soul leave his body. Well, there goes that whole scheme. Zayenthe man of the hour himselfraised his hand into the air, calming the crowd. He smiled. "My people, I appreciate your enthusiasm," Zayen said. "But I did not do this by my own hand. Indeed, I was not even the primary mover. The fact that I live today, the fact that the Dustend has been defeatedall of it is due to one man, and one man only." The crowd, now intrigued, all seemed to lean forward slightly to hear what Zayen was about to say. "Nathan Leethe Miracle Man." The crowd erupted into cheers. "He single-handedly revolutionized farming!" "I had no idea he was a farmer!?" Zayen stood to his feet. "And my people, we have an opportunity. This man, nothis lordhe seeks to go beyond the desert. He seeks to return to his homeland. A land of grass, a land of snow, a land of plenty and abundance! At this point, someone next to Anand seemed to have sparkles in his eyes. Another person was staring up at Zayen with unabashed idol worship. "Where is he even going with this?" Anand muttered. Zayen stood to his feet. "I wish for us to go with him. I wish to see this new world. To see a world beyond the desert. And I would ask that all of you accompany me on this journey." Someone next to Anand started shaking. "It would mean giving up everything. Everything that we built here." "They killed the Dustend!" someone else said. "They could tell me that the sky was made of gold, and I would trust them! Zayen''s voice continued to rise as he kept speaking. "The truth is that I was a poor ruler. I allowed Rami to get the better of me. But even so, I will always do what I believe is best for my people. And I believe the best thing for everyone in this court, and everyone within the borders of this land, is to follow Nathan Lee. To death, or to a new dawn!" Spontaneously, the chant began to change. Nathan Lee. Nathan Lee. Nathan Lee! Anand, at this point, felt like crying. He was starting to sniff and tear up a little bit. I thought he was gone. We won! And then he goes and kills the Dustend!? "But what of the queen!?" someone yelled. "And what of all her loyalists!" Zayen nodded. "Bring them out!" he yelled. Six or seven people in chains were dragged up before the throne by orcs!? Anand stiffened. Those orcs he could tell they were well trained. Military? No, special forces. Where did he get them from? At the forefront of the prisoners was a very familiar face. Rami. She instantly caught sight of Anand''s face and glared daggers at him. Anand looked over toward the floor. "These are the ringleaders of the conspiracy to replace me. The amount of damage they have done to this kingdom is beyond measure. Hundreds starving, or worse." It was so quiet that Anand could''ve heard a pin drop. I need to get out of here. As soon as they find out that I was associated with her, they''ll put me in prison. Anand looked to the left and right for an escape. At the very least, if he was captured, he was fairly certain that Zayen was too softhearted to torture or kill him. So that was a plus. Omarn held his hand up, and a blue glow emanated from it. A sword made of water materialized within Omarns hand. He leisurely strolled over to Rami and beheaded her on the spot. Anand went pale white. Rami''s head rolled into the audience, more than a few people looking at her with disgust. One person spat on her head. Zayen took the blade from Omarn and raised it in the air, blood splattered across his youthful face. Anand screamed internally. WHAT THE HELL DID NATHAN DO TO THAT KID!? "And now, my people, with me!" Zayen walked over to the exit of the royal court, leading the crowd like a shepherd. Anand tried to look for an escape, but the crowd was too thick. He was hemmed in from all sides. They were in the streets now, people being told the news as they passed along. The group was getting bigger with every single second that passed. If Anand didn''t make his move now, he wouldn''t be able to escape. He looked up. Maybe if he jumped for it There was a lady on the second floor, tossing iron bars into a wagon on the first floor. Then she threw too hard, sending one into the crowd. "Oh no! Watch out!" she shouted. Anand watched the iron bar sail directly toward his head. You''ve got to be kidding me THUNK! 79 - Divine Airhead Nathan stared at the woman, trying to process her casual declaration of "being the sea." Her hair rippled like waves despite the absence of wind, and her eyes held the depth of ocean trenches. The silence stretched between them like an incoming tide. "So," Nathan said, fighting to keep his voice steady, "are you planning to explain what that means and what you are, or should I start guessing? Because I''ve got some theories, and they''re getting wilder by the second." She tilted her head, and droplets of water fell from her hair, evaporating before they hit the ground. "We''ve only been here for a couple of years." Her brow furrowed. "Or is it minutes? Time is like the tide, you see. It comes and goes, and sometimes I forget which way it''s flowing." "Right. Because that clears everything up." Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, can we skip the cryptic goddess routine? I''ve had a really long day, and" "Goddess?" Her laugh sounded like waves breaking on a distant shore. "Is that what you think I am? Well, I suppose it''s not entirely wrong. Your kind has always needed labels for things beyond your understanding. The Greeks called me Thalassa, though I''ve had many names. Some better than others." She wrinkled her nose. "The Vikings were particularly unimaginative." "Okay, Thalassa," Nathan said. "Can you answer my questions?" She nodded her head. "Yes, I can." They stared at each other for several seconds. Nathan felt his left eye twitch. "Will you answer my questions?" "Oh, right now?" "Yes." She paused for a few seconds. "What were the questions again?" Nathan was about to scream when she held up her hand. "Yes, of course. My apologies," she said. "I''m afraid that it can be hard for me to stay focused. It''s my nature." Nathan''s lips drew into a thin line. "Okay. It''s fine. Can we stop wasting time?" To Nathan''s shock, she seemed to pout at his words. "Come now, I expected more from you. You have a higher affinity for me than many of my own children. Despite this, you seem to dislike me so." "Stop. Dropping. Random words that don''t make any sense. Start from the beginning. And please, keep it relevant to our conversation." Thalassa sighed and drew her head back. "Fine." Nathan breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. She crossed her arms and looked up off to the side. "You asked what exactly I am. What is a goddess? That is a question I ask myself often. There isn''t an easy answerI''m not all-powerful, nor am I omniscient. No, those titles belong to one being and one being only, and I doubt you''ll ever get the chance to speak to him while you live. Nathan squinted his eyes at her. Did she just confirm that God is real? "All I remember was existing. When the first ocean formed, I was there. For millennia, I''ve watched your species evolve from the common ape to the bizarre hairless mammals that you are now. For me, Rome was a passing thought. The dinosaurs? A mere day. Nathan found himself taking a single step back. "I see." Her tone brightened. "Would you like some tea?" "What?" "There were these very kind young men from Boston who threw bundles of tea into my embrace a little bit ago. I''ve been holding onto them ever since, but I have yet to find a use for them. So, would you like some?" Sure?" There was a blue glow, and above her, a crate fell onto the ground between him and her. Nathan jumped back instinctively. Once he realized there was no danger, he took a few steps closer and looked inside. They weren''t in tea packets, like Nathan had always seen. Instead, they were leaves. Loose and densely packed. Thalassa reached into the crate and grabbed one of the tea leaves, then started chewing on it. Nathan glanced at her. "I reahlly like the tahste," she said, her mouth full. This is not at all what I was expecting. "So basically, you''re just some sort of superpowered being. Andyou''re associated with the sea?" This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "I''m not sure ''associated'' is the right word. It''s more that I am the sea. The sea is me, and I am the sea. There is no difference between us." Nathan ignored that statementhe got the feeling that he would go crazy if he tried to understand it. "You''ve been helping me," he said. "From the very beginning. You''ve been messing with the system, editing quests. All thisweird stuff. Why? For what end?" Her eyes seemed to sparkle at the question, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. Why does the tide rise, Nathan? Can we focus, please? You still havent explained anything properly. "Haven''t I?" She set down her tea leaves, and it dissolved into sea spray. "The world needs heroes, Nathan. Real ones. Not the kind that system of yours manufactures like... what do you call them? Action figures?" "And I''m supposed to be this hero?" Her expression sharpened, suddenly reminiscent of a shark''s smile. "You have an affinity for me, Nathan. For years it''s been dormant, like a pearl waiting to be found. But these events have begun to awaken you. She held out her hand, and a sphere of pure azure energy materialized above her palm. It smelled of storm winds and salt spray, of predawn mists and midnight tides. "Become my Champion. Conform yourself to my power, and I will grant you the strength you need to defeat the nine circles." Nathan narrowed his eyes. Something about her offer rubbed him the wrong way. "What do you mean champion? She squeezed her hand, puffing out the orb of power. Nathan breathed a sigh of relief. She blinked and grinned. I don''t know!" "What is that supposed to mean?" She shrugged. "I can tell you what I''m doingwhat I would do is give you a fraction of my divinity. Your affinity with water would increase to levels unheard of by normal humans unheard of even by my own children. Of course, this would enhance your power across the board in general. But as for what else would occurI don''t know. Nathan raised an eyebrow. This seems like a terrible idea." "Oh, I''m sure you''d be fine." Maybe I''d be willing to take that risk, but I need a better reason beyond ''the world needs a hero.''" "Why? Is the offer of power not enough? I thought you humans liked those sorts of things." "I''m a weird human." She looked up at the blue sky. I don''t like the system. It touched my thingsthe fishermen, the sailors, all who have my favorwithout so much as my consultation. I dont take kindly to people who interfere with my affairs. "So? Destroy it. You''re a goddess, aren''t you?" "I''m still limited. If that brat developed a physical body and fell into the ocean, then I would slaughter it. But he is beyond such things. His core lies in a world that I cannot touch. My only hope is you humans. And you in particular." "Me?" "Your affinity. If I use that, then I would be able to channel my power and challenge the system directly, through you." Nathan stared at her for several seconds. "All right, I guess that makes sense." She grinned. "So, will you accept my offer?" "No, I don''t think I will." She stared at him. "Come again?" "I don''t really want to challenge anything. I want to get through the nine circles and leave. It seems like what you want to do is use me for a proxy war that I don''t really have a stake in." Thalassa was silent. "You do have a stake in it, she said. It ruined your life. It ruined the lives of billions of humans. You''re fine with that?" "Of course not, but that doesn''t mean I want to try to beat it in single combat. No, I want to win normally, and then go home." Thalassa''s expression, for the first time in the conversation so far, turned stony and unreadable. After a second, her eyebrows furrowed together, and she glared at Nathan. The force behind the glare was so powerful that Nathan almost stumbled backward. "You dare?" The waves rolled behind her. "I offer you power beyond comprehension, and you reject me?" Nathan found his footing and stared back at her. "I do." She glared at him a little longer before the smallest smirk appeared on her face. To stare back at divinity you intrigue me more and more. Nathan didnt say anything. Despite our disagreements, she said. I will continue to attempt to help you. But there''s only so much I can do if you reject me. And you must understand that this isn''t a game you can win fairly. It was never designed to be fair." Nathan frowned. "What do you mean?" "I mean that the system is a cheating bastard. And even if you defeat itsomehowthere are others ready to take its place. And even if you defeat all of them" "What?" "I''m afraid our time is up, Nathan." She held out her hand. In front of him, the air shimmered like water, and a small blue pearl fell from the air toward the ground. Instinctively, Nathan snatched it out of the air. He held it in his hand and looked at it closely. "What is this?" "An offer. Should you change your mind, break that gemstone. She smirked. Of course, I wont let you use it unless you really mean it. Nathan was about to respond when the edges of his vision flickered. A headache struck him, and he groaned. Thalassa smiled. "Oh, and do choose your class upgrade carefully," her voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. "I put so much effort into them. The things I had to do to that ridiculous system''s code... like teaching a shark to juggle." And with that, the blackness spread over his vision, and her voice disappeared.
Nathan brushed the window curtain aside and pushed himself up. His head was aching as if someone had taken a hammer to it, and his limbs felt like spaghetti noodles. There was something in his pocket. "My Lord, youve finally awakened," Fuge said. "Fuge," Nathan replied. "Its good to see you." "And you as well, Commander." "How long was I out?" "A day." Nathan looked around. He was inside a small bedroom, the sheets of modest quality and the building of new construction. He reached into his pocket to pull out the gemstone but there was nothing there. I guess shell really only let me have it when I really intend on using it. Sir? Fuge prompted. Nothing, Fuge. Today was election day, wasnt it?" "It was, sir. It went well. There were one or two violent disagreements that we had to deal with. But nothing severe." "Thats good," Nathan said. "Things are finally progressing here in the town." Fuge paused. "Well, sir, if Im being honest, there was one slightly bigger incident." Nathans eyes slowly shifted toward her. "Fuge?" he said. "What kind of issue?" "Well, sir, I know that you signed off on letting the desert people into the town, but I wish youd given us a little bit of warning" "I did what?" "You didnt know?" Fuge said. "But Zayen assured us you were aware. Besides, thats why he was working on all those new zoning laws, wasnt he? To prepare for the incoming residents?" Nathan scrambled out of bed and slammed the door open. Outside the door were dozens of people wandering the streets. That wasnt too surprising. But what was surprising was that many of them looked distinctly human. In fact, they were wearing the garb of the desert people. Nathans left hand twitched. "Im gonna kill him." 80 - A Teenage King, the Number 1 Delver, and a Mushroom Man Walk Into a Bar "I know this all sounds bad, but if you think about it, more workers isn''t really a bad thing, is it?" Nathan stared at Zayen for several long seconds. Zayen chuckled awkwardly and took a single step backward. They were currently inside the meeting hall. Gius, Papim, and the rest of the council were arranged in their usual seats, with Nathan at the front. In the middle, between all of them, stood Zayen. He tugged at the collar of his shirt. "Is it hot in here," he said, "or is it just me?" Nathan folded his fingers together into a bridge and rested his nose on it. "Zayen, while I was asleep, you took advantage of that fact to transport your entire kingdom into my town. You deliberately deceived and went around my advisors. I have half a mind to throw you out right now." "That''s fine, but do you plan to do that for the rest of my people?" Nathan''s lips drew into a thin line. "Why would you do this?" he said. At the mention of purpose, Zayen''s neck craned up, and he looked at Nathan with a steady glare. "Because I honestly believe that you have a chance of breaking free of this hellscape." Nathan blinked. "What? What do you mean? "This isn''t any way to live." Zayen''s fists clenched. "The system isn''t a natural thing. The world we live in isn''t natural. It was designed as a petty prize for our ancestors getting as far as they did. And since then, we''ve paid the price. I tire of the desert, Nathan. I tire of the system. I want to be free, I want my people to be free, I wish for us to live in a world that isn''t covered in sand." Nathan''s head drooped. He''d suspected it was something like that. "There are some people who would consider you pretty lucky, he said. Especially now that the Dustend is gone" "The Dustend will return. The system needs a new boss for its delvers to challenge. And then we''ll be right back where we started. The only hope of breaking free of the cycle is to escape the system entirely, to escape the world of circles and levels." There was a beat of silence. Nathan leaned back in his chair. Gius, at Nathan''s right hand, gave him a sly smirk. "Can you blame the boy?" he said in a low tone. Nathan pressed his fingers against the temple of his head. "What makes you so certain that I''ll even be able to get you out of here?" he said. "Call it a hunch." Nathan rolled his eyes. "Leave. I think we have all the information we need."
As soon as Zayen had left the building, all eyes turned toward Nathan. "So?" Bricks said. "Are you going to do it? Kick them all out?" "We can''t!" Papim pointed at Bricks. "He''s right, living in a prison is worse than no life at all!" Sticks reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, a strand of wheat poking out from between his lips. "I don''t know," he said. "I think living is a pretty fine proposition, myself. Prison or not. "Are we even supposed to be here?" Vee said. "More than a few of you are representatives, and the rest of you haven''t been confirmed to the executive branch." "Vee is correct," Burrau said. "According to Article 3 of our new constitution" Nathan waved him off. "You''re all part of my interim cabinet. Bang. Now can we please stay on topic?" Gius tapped on the table with his finger. Instantly, everyone stopped and turned to look at him. "I''m afraid we''ve been quite outwitted," he said. "If we turned around and punished Zayen, the will of the people would turn against us very quickly due to our cruelty. At the same time, we don''t want to come off as neutral. That would make us look indecisive and unsure. No, Zayen has ensured that we have only one response to his actions." Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Nathan felt his heart sink. "And what would that be?" We will have to reward him, of course."
In the end, Zayen was given a top executive position in the zoning board for the city. It would just be a matter of going through some formalities in order to approve the creation of the new position with the parliament. And, for some reason, Nathan was required to be there. The parliamentary building wasn''t so much a building as it was an outdoor amphitheater, but Nathan didn''t really care about the fine technicalities. At the present moment, Zayen was being questioned by a few members of the housing and zoning board committee. (When exactly had Nathan signed off on that? Perhaps he should have taken a closer look at what the final plans were for this new government.) Nathan tapped his fingers against his desk. He rested his chin in his palm and glared at Zayen. The boy was speaking quite passionately about his qualifications as an urban developer. For just a split second, Nathan caught a smirk and a slight turn of the eyes toward him. Nathan''s left eye twitched.
After everything was taken care of, Nathan retired to the meeting hallthey''d added a bedroom specifically for himand finally opened up his class options. [Tideguard] The tides now answer your call, forming walls and torrents with greater power and control. You can shape water into hardened constructs, forging temporary weapons and shields from the oceans embrace. Your bond with sea creatures deepens, giving you an affinity for larger and more intelligent marine beings. The sea is your ally, and its wrath is yours to wield. Nathan scratched his chin as he read over the description. The general feeling he got was that it would enhance most of his abilities without necessarily specializing in anything too much. It seemed like the logical next step for an Ocean Warden. [Abyssal Watcher] The deeper waters now answer your call. Your defenses extend beyond mere water, drawing upon the crushing pressure of the deep. Your barriers can grow dense, sapping the strength of enemies caught within them. You can briefly alter waters weight and pressure, slowing foes or trapping them in aquatic prisons. So like a gravity mage, but using water? Interesting Nathan could see some intriguing applications for being able to trap enemies, and to sap their strengththat seemed like it could be pretty useful. [Stormtide Sentinel] The storms now answer your call. You gain limited control over wind and lightning, allowing you to infuse your defenses with electric charges. Your barriers can strike back, shocking foes that dare attack you. As a sentinel of the oceans fury, your presence alone is a warning to those who would challenge you. Okay, now that was tempting. After being blasted with lightning multiple times by the Dustend, he knew full well how dangerous lightning was. But on the other hand, was raw offensive power really what he was going for? Beyond that, did he want to risk splintering his abilities and training time when he could be focusing on what he was already good atwater manipulation and similar skills? [Seasworn] The creatures of the sea now answer your call. You gain the ability to create a protective sphere, sheltering yourself or an ally from harm. Small sea creatures revere you, and even some of the deeps more fearsome predators hesitate before striking you. The ocean defends its own. This seemed like the animal tamer class, at least from the general feeling Nathan got. It was a bit vague, but based on the wording, it seemed to imply that Nathan would eventually be able to tame sea creatures. It would be nice if I could just summon a giant shark to eat my enemies. That might be fun. The conventional answer was, of course, Tideguard. That would have been the easiest choice and probably the one that would give him the greatest amount of success. He felt like hed gained a strong mastery over his water manipulation abilities. Doubling down on that would make a lot of sense. Did he really need more offensive power? No, not really. Thinking back to the fight with the Dustend, were there any points where he was seriously lacking in his current combat abilities? On the other hand, Thalassa had definitely given him a scare. She said the game wasnt fair. So maybe he should be taking risky options with the highest potential reward. Nathan felt that Abyssal Watcher had enormous potential. Altering weight and pressureNathan wasnt a scientist, but he got the feeling there would be ways to exploit an ability like that. The only problem, of course, was that Nathan wasnt a scientist, as already mentioned. Exploiting rules didnt come easily to him. He would certainly give it his best effort, and he could probably enlist the help of others. But would he be able to use this class to its maximum potential? No, he didnt think so. He wasnt going to cross it out, but he was definitely hesitant. Stormtide Sentinel, as mentioned, seemed to be the most offensively inclined option. Nothing screamed attack like a million volts of electricity flooding your system. But did Nathan need that? Did he really want that? The whole reason hed selected Ocean Warden in the first place was because he was freaked out by his violent rampage on the first circle. Hed moved past thathed made progress. Hed taken that part of himself and shoved it deep down inside, where hopefully no one would ever find it. But would it stay that way if he pursued options that increased his attack power? It was paranoia, of course. He knew that. There was no reason why the mere selection of a class would turn him into a raging psychopath. Even so Then there was Seasworn. It was definitely the most unique class out of all of them. The rest all dealt with water, and in one case, lightning. All of them were forces of nature. This class seemed to deal with animals instead. Nathan knew just how dangerous the sea creatures of the circles were. Hed seen them in action firsthand. If he could get them on his sidemake more contracts That could give him a number of capabilities. On the other hand, that would probably take timeand there was no guarantee hed be able to figure out how to persuade some of the dumber fish to come to his side. He reached up and scratched his head. This is tough Finally, he crossed his arms and nodded. There was only one option. He reached out his finger to select it 81 - The Third Circle
I am so finished. Someones screwing with me. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I can use him. Whatever is interfering is using Nathan. If I can get to him and extract the secrets out of his mind
Oh, not this again. But do I really want to risk that!? I just want to go back to my farming games 82 - Random Encounter Nathan clasped his hands together in prayer. "Thalassa, I want you to know that you''re a total douchbag." The wind continued to be against them. Five seconds. It was now or never. Chad growled. "Fine, I guess it''s up to me!" They were heading straight for the roof of the building. Chad reared back his katanaswiped from his inventoryand slashed out right onto the roof. A powerful wave of energy emanated from it and crashed through the top, drilling down and hitting several floors. "Nice going," Nathan said. "You bought us five more seconds, Id bet. Unfortunately, Chad couldnt respond because he was too busy opening up his streaming apparatus using his system. He gave a thumbs up to the window. "What''s up, chat? Your boy Chad here with what might be my final stream. Don''t forget to like and subscribe if I make it! Nathan''s mind raced. Water? No, water was infamously bad for breaking falls at this speed. Could he take advantage of his tree arm, swing, and convert his fall? No, his arm could extend quickly, but not that fast. Well, I did get a new class today, and it did mention something about wind. No better time to try it than now. Nathan held his hand out. He narrowed his eyes. Inside, his stomach tugged. In an instant, wind burst out from below them, smashing into them like a freight train. Nathan and Chad were sent careening off to the side and slammed into the wall of the building. Their speed broke a hole straight through the concrete, and they flew out in a tumble. After a few seconds of freefall, they crashed into a sloped roof and rolled their way into a fabric awning covering someone''s window. They ripped a hole straight through that, then fell onto the next awning, and onto the next, before finally crashing onto the hard asphalt. Nathan groaned. Every part of his body hurt. "Remind me never to do that again, he muttered. Chad sat up, touching his nose which had taken the worst of the impact. "Think I broke my face," he managed. "Chat''s going to love this." Eventually, both of them had gathered themselves enough to stand up straight. Nathan looked around and blinked slowly. They were in the middle of a giant, sprawling urban cityscape. Skyscrapers reached up to touch the sun, while the lesser buildings around them were made of brick. A metal fire escape stairway ran along an alleyway just to Nathan''s right, while to his left was a metal bench. The air was cold and stale, almost a little smoky. Yet, despite this Nathan couldn''t hear a single sound.
"Last I checked, New York was back on Earth. How did they transport an entire city into a circle?" Nathan looked out over the landscape, waiting for a response. When he heard nothing, he blinked and turned back toward where Chad had been only to see him talking into the air about 20 feet away. Nathan rolled his eyes and walked over to where Chad was speaking. "and don''t forget to smash that like button, fam! That building-smashing sequence? Pure fire! Your boy Chad coming through with that main character energy" Nathan coughed pointedly. Chad glanced at him and smiled awkwardly. "I''ll see you guys later," Chad said. "I''ve got a buddy of mine I need to catch up with." Chad shut off the camera and turned toward Nathan. "So, it''s been a while." "Not that long," Nathan said. "Really only a couple of weeks." "It felt like a long time. Let me tell you, I''ve had the craziest adventures. You wouldn''t even believe some of the stuff I went through." Yeah? Nathan said. "How about you tell me about them?" Chad smirked and shoved his hands into his pockets, his blue mullet shaking in the wind. "I saved a few damsels in distress. Restarted my streaming career. Twice." Nathan nodded. That sounded impressive. "I''m glad for you. Just don''t let the streaming thing get in the way of a fight or something, okay?" "I would never do that!" Nathan raised an eyebrow. Chad averted his gaze. "I would probably never do that." Nathan was about to respond when he heard the crow of a bird in the distance. He flinched and reached into his inventory, pulling out his trusty fishing rod. At the same moment, Chad grabbed his katana. Both of them tensed their legs, their eyes scanning the skyline for any possible threat. After a few seconds, they both relaxed and lowered their weapons. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Chad looked at Nathans weapon of choice. I see you got a new fishing rod." "I think you made some modifications to that katana, from what I can tell." "I had a blacksmith take care of it for me. I''m pretty sure he was an NPChe just kept repeating, ''Please bring me the loot from the mummy''s tomb!'' Like, on repeat. Over and over. It was his only dialogue. Still, he did a good job." "It cut through a concrete building with a single slash. I''d say it''s pretty good." Nathan''s eyes wandered toward the setting sun. They had a few hours till nightfall, but Nathan was already starting to get antsy. "What do you say about getting out of here and finding somewhere that might be safe?" They wandered through the open street. Nathan''s eyes darted at every unusual sound, every flicker of the wind, every rustle in the alley. He let out a breath and tried to relax. It wouldn''t do for him to wear himself out before any fight began. "What have you been up to?" Chad said. "I mean, I know you were talking about defeating the Dustend or something, but that was a joke, right?" "No, that wasn''t a joke. I killed it yesterday. That''s what triggered the drop to the next circle, I think." Chad''s face twisted up as if he had just been told that a relative had died. He reached up to his head and pressed his palms against it. "Literally every time. You''ve been involved in the end of a main quest for every circle up to this point. Last time, you were one-hundredth of the key. Now you just single-handedly defeated the boss. Bro, you need to chill." Nathan reached up and scratched the back of his head. "Well, it wasn''t on purpose." Chad''s face fell even further. "That just makes it worse! You do know that makes it worse, right!?" Nathan was about to respond when he heard something. It was just at the edge of his ability to hear, but stillhe could instantly identify what it was. Footsteps. His shoulders tensed, and he stopped in place. Chad looked back at him with a confused expression. He opened his mouth, but Nathan put his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. Chad instantly shut up and reached into his inventory, pulling out his katana again. They both took up positions at the sides of the alley where the footsteps were coming from. Nathan''s hands wrapped around his fishing rod. His heart slammed in his chest. Perhaps it was just paranoiaperhaps this was just a normal person here to conduct perfectly normal business. It might even be a fellow delver. But Nathan had been through a bit too much to respond to such things in the normal way. They both waited with bated breath as the footsteps got closer and closer. A figure appeared out of the alleyNathan''s hook stopped right in front of the person''s face, while Chad''s katana rested on the person''s neck. "State your intentions," Nathan said. The figure was silent. He slowly took off his hood and looked between the two of them. "Uh, why are you attacking me with a fishing rod?" Nathan slowly lowered his weapon. Chad did the same. The three of them stared at each other for a moment before the man coughed awkwardly. "Cool, that was interesting. Nice to meet you all, the man said.
The three of them set up camp in one of the abandoned buildings. They awkwardly stared at each other for several seconds before the men broke the silence. "So, I assume all of you are fellow delvers? "Yeah, we are," Nathan said. "It''s nice to finally see another normal human from Earth in this mess." "Hey, I''m human," Chad said. "But are you normal?" Chad raised a finger to interrupt, then paused and awkwardly lowered it. The man chuckled. "Should we exchange names?" he said. Nathan shrugged. "Sure." The man reached out his hand for a handshake. "The name''s John." "I''m Nathan, and this is Chad." The man''s eyes flickered at Nathan''s name. Nathan internally groaned. I can already see where this is going... Nathan stood up abruptly. "Excuse me, me and my friend have to go powder our noses." Chad turned his head and squinted his eyes at Nathan. "I''m sorry, did you just say" Nathan grabbed Chad''s arm and heaved him to his feet. "We''ll be back in just a second." The two went to a far corner of the room, and Nathan lowered his voice to a whisper. "He''s totally going to try to kill us," Nathan said. "Oh yeah, 100%. You saw that little" "The glint? Yeah, it was the same look those guys from the Harrowed Hand had." A small smile lifted on Chad''s face. "Poggers, character development! You''re getting better at this! he said. Anyway, he''s probably either an ax murderer or working for an organization." "Do you think it could be the Harrowed Hand? I didn''t see much of them in the last circle." "It could be," Chad said, licking his lips. "Are you thinking what I''m thinking?" "Knock him out, tie him up, and demand information?" Nathan asked. "I was thinking more like we hit him while we have the element of surprise. Let him think we''re sleeping, then when he goes in for the attack" "He''s definitely going to be on guard if we hit him right now. I see your point." Nathan''s eyes flickered over toward John. The man raised his arm and waved at them. "My bet''s on ax murderer," Nathan said. I think hes some kind of cultist. The two wandered back over to John and sat down adjacent to him. "Are you finished?" John said. "Yeah, it was a very productive nose-powdering session." John took a cup from his satchel. He poured a drink from a canteen strapped to his belt and offered it to Nathan. "Thirsty?" "No, I''m good." Nathan suppressed a smirk. Water is the one thing I never have in short supply. John shrugged and pulled the cup back, tipping it toward his throat and taking a gulp. "Do you all plan to go after the main quest?" John said. Nathan''s eyes widened. "Oh, we didn''t even take a look at that, did we?" John shrugged. "It doesn''t look like anything we havent done before, John said. There are going to be four dungeons, and then you have to take the materials to some kind of Queen of the Forest to get the portal activation item. The only tricky part is this new thingthe Tree Wrath." "Tree Wrath?" "Yes, it''s all the rage at the survivor camps." Chad perked up at that. "Survivor camps?" "Yes, yes. One of the top ten has decided to organize efforts in this pocket. She''s tired of the unnecessary loss of life that''s been occurring due to the scattered, disorganized nature of the approach thus far. She''s fed up with the organizations that have simply sought to take control rather than attempt to actually help people get through the circles. It''s quite amazingin only a few hours, she''s already made sure that hundreds of people are getting running water and a regular source of food." Hundreds? Nathan said. Yeah. There was a beat of silence. "Where is this camp?" Chad said. "Right now to the north. Unfortunately, they''re dealing with a little infestation. They''ll probably have to move soon." Nathan leaned back against the concrete floor. He looked pointedly out the window. "It''s already evening. I think we better turn in, he said. A too-perfect grin appeared on the man''s face. "Shall we take turns on watch?" Nathan shrugged nonchalantly. "That''s fine with me." "Do you mind if I take first watch?" Chad waved him off. "Go ahead." After a few minutes of preparation, both Nathan and Chad laid their heads against the hard ground. Nathan shut his eyes but kept his consciousness awake, carefully waiting for when John would make his move. An hour passed by. Another hour. Then, Nathan heard a bone-chilling scream. 83 - Get Lucky Nathan rolled to the side and pulled out his fishing rod from his inventory. His eyes snapped toward the source of the sound. John was clutching his arm, blood dripping from his fingers onto the ground. In his uninjured hand, he held a long, wicked-looking dagger. Chad stood nearby, katana outstretched, his expression distinctly unamused. "How did you know!?" John shouted. "My disguise was perfect!" Chad''s gaze slowly shifted to Nathan, then back to John. "Uh, call it a hunch," Chad said. John growled. "I won''t go down so easily!" He flickered and vanished before Nathan''s eyes. Nathan''s instincts screamed at him from the right. His fishing rod whipped out, deflecting the dagger''s strike to the side. "There was another guy who tried the same thing on me, Nathan said. And I beat him back in the first circle. Do you actually think you stand a chance against me?" John clenched his teeth. "Stop underestimating me." Nathan stared back at him. With a scream, John lunged forward with his dagger. Nathan sidestepped and kicked with his right foot. The kick landed, and Nathan felt something snap under his strength. For a split second, nothing seemed to happenthen John was sent flying into the wall, through it, and through another wall into the street outside. He crashed into another building before tumbling down into the alleyway below. "Dude, we needed him alive, Chad said. Nathan chuckled awkwardly. "I thought he was a bit stronger than that." They walked over to the holes in the wall and stepped outside, dropping down into the alley. John was crawling away, little more than a bloody heap at this point. Nathan tried to summon some empathy but found himself unable to do so. "So, are you gonna tell us who you work for?" Nathan said. The man wheezed. "Go die." "We all die eventually," Chad said. "But depending on your answers, that death could come much sooner rather than later." The man rolled onto his back, revealing bloodied teeth and tear-filled eyes. "You''re so arrogant, aren''t you?" he spat. "You think just because you''re strong, you can do whatever you want! He smilied, wide and red. Nathan furrowed his brow. "I wouldn''t say that," Nathan replied. "Don''t you get it?" the man said. "We''ll keep coming. We know your weaknesses now. Your family. Your sister." Nathan froze. What? "We''ll keep sending people after you, and guess what? You need to keep winning. Over, and over, and over. Us? We only need to get lucky." A loud click echoed through the alley. Nathan felt a chill run down his spine. He jumped back. "Chad, get back!" Chad took a few steps back. "What the" A fiery explosion erupted from the center of the man''s chest, tearing through the alleyway. Glass shattered, and Nathan was blinded by the light. Burning heat ripped through his body and he flew backward and hit the ground hard. The only reason he remained conscious and steady was due to his experience with the Pandora. A second later, it was over. Nathan opened his eyes and looked around. The walls surrounding the man had been obliterated, and the man himself was gone. Chad lay on the alleyway floor, his face charred and covered in ash. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Nathan jumped to his feet and ran forward. "Chad!?" Chad coughed and groaned. "I really need to up my situational awareness," he muttered. Nathan let out a relieved laugh and reached out his hand. Chad took it and pulled himself to his feet. The two of them stared at the spot where the man had been. "So... that happened," Chad said.
[You have leveled up!] [Skill learned: Basic Maelstrom] [Skill learned: Coral Protection] Nathan blinked. Hed gotten the skills so easily? Normally, it took so long There had to be a catch. Lets head to that survivors camp that John mentioned, Nathan muttered absentmindedly. Chad turned to Nathan and stared. Are you crazy? If theyre all nuts like that guy They mentioned my sister, Chad. If they know a single thing about her Chad frowned. What if its just a normal survivor camp, and they dont know anything about your sister? Then we might be able to find some alliesmaybe even Emi or Bjorn. Either way, it works for me. Chad didnt say anything. Nathan looked back to see a worried expression on Chads face. Nathan sighed. I wont go in guns blazing. I promise. Were just going to see whats going on, then figure something out. Okay? Chad slowly shrugged. If you say so, man. Its not like I have anywhere else I need to be, I guess. The two set off toward the north, their walking pace steady. As they walked, Nathan held out the palm of his hand and looked down at it. Basic Maelstrom. As expected, it didnt work. He clicked his tongue. So Chad said. You got a sister, huh? Nathan tugged at his core, that familiar place where his skills seemed to activate. Yes. Whats she like? Is she hot? Nathan mechanically tilted his head back toward Chad. Im not answering that. Chad coughed into his hand. Yeah, that was a bad question. But seriously, whats she like? You two tight? There was a glint of light in Nathans palm as he attempted to activate the skill. Almost there, but something had gone wrong. Nathan? Chad said. Nathans lips drew into a thin line. I guess we are. He turned his attention back to his skill. He had to get this rightit was the only chance he had of protecting her You seemed pretty ticked off when that guy threatened her. Chad tilted his head. But you sounded like you had a gun to your head just now. Maybe Nathan was approaching it the wrong way. Hed manipulated his internal energy into his fishing rod. What if he did the same thing but with his skills? Im sure thats just your imagination, Nathan said. No, its not. If theres one thing Im good at, its reading people. Youre mad at her. Or maybe youre mad at yourselfits hard to tell. But theres something messed up about your relationship Nathans head snapped toward Chad. He turned and marched up to the man. I dont know how much clearer I can make this. I dont want to talk about it. Nathan, Chad said. I dont see why you suddenly have this weird interest in my sister. Its none of your business. Nathan This is my personal life, not yours. Stay out of it. Nathan! Chad had a pale face and was looking at something directly behind Nathan, not at Nathan himself. Nathan stopped. What? You need to calm down and turn around slowly. Nathan shuffled his feet slowly, rotating his head. There was a noise coming from behind him, something like swirling water. When he saw what it was, his jaw dropped. A massive, swirling vortex of water hung in midair, easily dwarfing the surrounding buildings, white foam coming off it in droves. It roared like a storm at sea, only getting faster and faster by the second. Was that me? Nathan, can you unsummon that thing? Chad said. Nathans jaw flapped about. I dont know. I didnt even notice that I used the skill. Chads voice turned higher and squeakier. Its getting faster! Nathan reached onto the thin tendril between him and the storming maelstrom in front of him. He gave it a tug, commanding it to go to the right. It did exactly as he said. The vortex snapped to the right and slammed into a building, blowing it to shreds in a single attack. Pieces of rubble flew everywhere. Nathan reached into his core and activated his old Tidal Shield skill. In an instant, a flickering, translucent barrier appeared in front of both him and Chad. A second later, a piece of rubble smashed into it and evaporated into dust from the sheer force. The rubble flew around for a while before it finally stopped. In the background, a building collapsed in the distance. Nathan winced. You think that attracted any attention? "My brother in Christ," Chad said. If there was a single living thing within five miles, they heard us. Ah. The sound of footsteps perked Nathan up. His head swiveled around, searching for the source of them. "You hear that?" Chad whispered. "Who could''ve possibly seen this coming? Oh wait" I had it under control. There wouldnt have been any issues if you hadnt insisted on trying to be my streamer-therapist hybrid. Chad reached into his inventory and pulled out his katana. Sure, buddy. Tell that to the gigantic stack of rubble over there. Nathan rolled his eyes and focused on the source of the sounds. For whatever reason, they felt off. Muffled. It was like they were being dissipated through the ground. The footsteps stopped. Nathans pupils dilated. Dodge! he said. Both of them jumped to the side, barely avoiding a spiked pillar of earth that rose out of the ground. Nathan rolled along the ground and faced toward it. If I hadnt had practice with the Dustend, I wouldve never seen it coming. It was ridiculously stealthy. A droplet of sweat rolled down his back. Who is this guy? Vibrations went through the ground again, but this time they were surrounding him. Six figures burst through the ground. After them came the last persona stout woman with a body like iron and eyes as hard as steel, her choppy brown hair flopping against her back. Hands in the air, she said. This doesnt have to end in violence. 84 - "ITS CHAD MANN!" "And why do I have to put down my weapons?" Nathan said. "Seems a little unfair." Her hands flickered with a yellow energy the color of her eyes. Around him, Nathan noticed tendrils of energy snaking their way through the ground. "Look," Nathan said. "I promise you, no matter how strong you think you are, this is going to end in a really ugly way." One of the men who had appeared out of the ground beside her snorted. "Don''t you know who this is? You''re looking at Bree. Seventh-highest delver on the leaderboards." Nathan frowned. Oh, that might make things a little more complicated. Bree stared him down. He glared back. After a few seconds, she squinted her eyes and tilted her head. "Usually, people panic more when they hear that." Nathan reached up and tugged at his desert hood. He was glad it was so concealing. He didn''t know what her reaction would be if she found out he was Nathan Lee, but he didn''t feel like testing it. "I don''t know what the Hand has told you," Bree said, "but I can tell you it''s a lie. Believe it or not, we''re doing quite well for ourselves. We don''t need your little cult coming in to take care of us." Nathan froze. "Wait, you''re opposed to the Hand?" "...You aren''t a member of the Hand?" The two of them stared at each other for a moment longer. Suddenly, Chad ran between them, his hands outstretched. "Wait, wait, wait!" Nathan blinked and lowered his hands. "Chad?" "This is all a misunderstanding!" Chad said. One of the men ran up and stood back-to-back with Chad. "He''s right! I can vouch for them!" Bree stared at the man. "Explain." "Don''t you know who this is?" the man said. Nathans stomach sank. They were about to expose who he was, werent they? He''d been hoping to avoid another situation where he''d end up with an overblown reputation. It seemed, however, that he would have no such luck "That''s Chad Mann!" Nathan stiffened. The tension snapped. All of the men lowered their weapons. Bree blinked slowly. "Chad Mann?" "He''s the streamer, right?" "My daughter is a huge fan!" Bree''s eyes wandered from her troops back to Chad. "What about your friend there?" she said. Chad walked over to Nathan and slung his arm around his neck. "This is my bodyguard, Nathan" Nathan shot him a glare with the heat of a thousand suns. "iel John. Nathaniel John." "Two first names?" someone said. yes. He was very frequently bullied as a child." This is just slander. Finally, Bree lowered her hands, and the orange glow surrounding them disappeared. "Right then," Bree said. "Sorry about that."
After things had settled down, Bree offered to take them back to her survivor camp. They all fell in behind her, their footsteps cracking against the asphalt. Nathan naturally let himself fall to the rear. In a moment, Chad dropped back to join him. "That was pretty lucky," Nathan said. "It seems like all of them had heard of you." "Well, not to brag, but I am the number one apocalypse streamer." "Is there such a thing as other apocalypse streamers? I think you''re the only one." Chad smirked. "Exactly. That makes me the best by default." Nathan chuckled and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Up ahead, he caught sight of one of the people glancing back at him. He lowered his head, hiding his face a little further. Chad raised an eyebrow and leaned in. "I was meaning to ask what all that was about." "Are we back to my sister? "No, I was talking more about your name." Chad tilted his head. "Why hide it?" Nathan clicked his tongue. Public attention put me in a very difficult spot in the last Circle, and I''d rather not repeat that mistake." The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. "You''re going to have to tell me the whole story at some point." "Trust me, as soon as you get inside my soulbound town, you''ll get the full story from someone. Nathan paused. Also, John? Really? Naming me after the assassin?" "I was panicking! Chad froze. A set of footsteps fell in line with them. Nathan glanced at her. His eyes narrowed. Her stride was smooth and confident, unhurried and relaxed. But the way she looked at him... It was like looking at the tips of a hundred daggers. "Hey. Bree nodded at them. "Sorry about all that business earlier. We''ve just been on high alert due to the Harrowed Hand." Nathan drew his desert cloak around himself a little tighter. "I get that," he said. "We''ve heard of them." "Actually, we had a run-in with them before we ran into you, Chad said. Some crazy assassin with a bomb strapped to his chest! Nathan''s breath hitched. Idiot! He glared at Chad, who looked at him with confusion before it dawned on him. He looked like hed just swallowed a lemon. Bree furrowed her eyebrows. "Why would they assassinate a couple of random people?" Chad laughed, the sound high-pitched and squeaky. "Man, it really is weird. Actually, the reason why it happened was sort of... it was "We figured out he was a member of the Harrowed Hand," Nathan interjected. Chad nodded rapidly. "Yeah, that." Bree grunted. "You''re probably pretty skilled to have survived an encounter with one of their assassins." "Assassins? They have assassins now? "We''ve only run into a few of them, but they''re all characterized by the same thing. A last resortan explosive strapped to their chest to eliminate themselves and anybody standing near them." The energy drained out of Chad, and he shook his head. "Those people are insane." "The Head Hand is a clever bastard, I''ll give him that," Bree said, kicking a rock on the concrete. "It takes a special kind of cruelty to enthrall the number of people that he has." The conversation died down a little after that statement. The three of them walked in silence, the only sounds being the empty streets and the wind whistling through the buildings. "I was pretty impressed back there," Bree said. Nathan continued walking, assuming she was talking to Chad. "Excuse me? I said I was impressed, she said. Nathan jolted. Chad was looking at him with a raised eyebrow, while Bree stared at him. "Impressed by what?" Nathan asked. "The way you held your ground, she said. Usually, the amount of energy I give off intimidates most people into looking away. Not only that, but there''s the psychological factor of knowing that I''m the seventh-ranked. But it was like you didn''t even care. Even your buddy Chad herehis heart skipped a beat when he heard that. Nathan rubbed the back of his neck and slouched his shoulders. "I''m just really good at hiding my facial expressions. I was freaking out on the inside" "No, you weren''t." Nathan''s eyes shot toward her. "Excuse me?" She tapped her foot against the ground. "I''m an earth cultivator, she said. Part of that means I can sense vibrations through the ground. Your bodily reactions were completely steady." She crossed her arms. "A little bit of toughness isn''t surprising. We''ve all seen things. Anyone who''s survived this far has at least some measure of grit. But still, a complete lack of reaction? Id either think you were dead, stupid, or Nathan''s hands shook inside his pocket. "Or what?" The slightest hint of a smirk cracked her glacial expression. "Or higher up on the food chain than I am, she said. Nathan awkwardly shrugged. Interesting theory. The two didnt say anything and continued to stare at each other. One of Brees men awkwardly stepped away from them. Chad clapped his hands together and got in between the gwo, a droplet of sweat on his forehead. "You said you were in the top ten! his words rushed out one after the other. That''s crazy. Have you run into anyone else who''s in the top ten? Brees eyes flickered at Nathan before she pulled her gaze away from him and toward Chad. She paused. Nathan was about to ask her about the encounter when she suddenly continued. "I haven''t met him personally, but the rumor is that number three is the Harrowed Hand himself. Number two he''s a bit of an odd duck. That''s all I''ll say. Not necessarily the bad sort, but something of a maniac." Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You''ve met a lot of them. Given the number of people still alive, it''s pretty amazing that you kept running into them." "Number eight theorized that it''s a trick of the system. It likes to throw us against each otherput us in close proximity to watch the sparks fly." One of the men up ahead turned his head. "What about number one? Have you ever met him?" Nathan''s lips drew into a thin line. Don''t make a facial expression, don''t make a facial expression, don''t make a facial expression "I mean, I''ve heard the rumors," Bree said. "Who hasn''t? Especially with that stunt he pulled on the Second Circlekilling the Circle Boss on his own? I can''t even imagine what kind of monster that man is." Yeah, that''s me. Me and my fishing roda total monster. "Actually, Chadyou were in his party at one point, right?" Bree said. All eyes turned toward Chad. The man up ahead had stopped pretending he wasn''t eavesdropping, Bree stared at Chad with her iron-like eyes, while Nathan frantically tried to communicate via Morse code blinking that he should avoid saying anything of consequence. "Ohoh, yeah. We were on the first Circle together, Chad said. "What was he like?" Bree asked. Chad''s eyes awkwardly swiveled toward Nathan. "Well I don''t know if I should talk about him without his consent" Nathan shook his head as rapidly as he could. Not a word! "Oh, come on! What''s the harm?" someone up ahead said. "None of us are gonna tell him, right?" Chad laughed like a dying chicken. "I I guess so!" "So, is he a monster?" someone asked. N-no, I wouldn''t describe him as that. For the most part, he was actually pretty normal." "The number one? Normal?" Bree said. "I find that hard to believe. Every single one of the top 10 is a freak of nature in their own way." Nathan''s left eye twitched. I''m almost certain I''m the most normal person out of all of you. "You''d be surprised!" Chad said. "He was pretty good with a fishing rod" "A fishing rod?" "Yeah, he used a fishing rod as his main weapon. You guys didn''t know that?" Bree rubbed her chin. "I see Truly, the mind of the number one is entirely different from that of us lower-ranked." "It was surprisingly effective," Chad said. "It''s not like it was by choice," Nathan muttered. "What was that?" Bree asked. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing." They continued walking, her eyes pointed straight ahead. "You know, we still haven''t discussed what that huge explosion was." "Explosion?" Chad said. "Explosion? I don''t know what you''re talking about. There was no explosion. Are you sure you weren''t just hallucinating? One of the other people next to him tilted their head. "There was an explosion. I definitely heard itand, you know, saw the gigantic typhoon crashing into the building. That''s the whole reason we caught up with you guys. We were wondering if you had something to do with it." "Well?" Bree said. "Did you?" Nathan and Chad slowly looked at each other. Chad pointed with his eyes toward him, then at Bree. Nathan shook his head quickly. Chad glared Excuse me, I asked a question, Bee said. Nathan winced. He opened his mouth to respond when the sound of laughter reached his ears. He froze. He looked ahead, and his eyes widened. It was a massive encampment, hundreds of people spread across several buildings. Clotheslines full of laundry stretched from building to building. Children ran around the streets without a care in the world. On the sidewalks were dozens of tents, with fires dotting the street like polka dots. Bree stepped forward. "We''re here." Unlike the desert people Nathan could tell in his heart immediately who these people were. They''re like me. They''re Earthlings. 85 - "Its Definitely Not a Trap" - Guy Who Died Five Seconds Later
Do you dislike it when Im quiet? If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Sarah?
Its clearly a trap But if they have my sisters likeness, maybe they know where she is. Thanks. 86 - Minor Intrigue The vines spiked forward and crashed into the brick walls below. The tips were razor-sharp, easily cutting through and destroying anything in their path. Luckily for Nathan, he was currently two feet above them and just outside their range. Until, of course, more vines sprouted from above and raced toward his neck. Nathan extended his own plant arm, lighter-colored vines emerging from it and wrapping around him like a shield. The enemy vines crashed into it, deflecting off to the side. Nathan began to fall, no longer supported by the energy from his earlier jump. He needed to move, now. His eyes sharpened. He clenched his fist, and water condensed from the atmosphere around him, forming a cocoon. He slammed it against himself, propelling him sideways and out of the vines'' path. He landedthen ran. Just in time, as a half-dozen more vines erupted from the wall and attacked. He sprinted down the alleyway until he reached the open street. A couple of children were playing nearby, and a few people were passing by, clearly busy with their own tasks. Oh, this is gonna be ugly. Roots exploded from the ground and surged toward the people. A man ran off screaming, while a woman pulled a weapon from her inventory and deflected the root coming for her. But the children A root rushed toward a young boy. He was only ten at most, maybe twelve. Right before the root ensnared him, a harpoon crashed into it, obliterating it on the spot. Nathan heaved, sweat dripping down his brow. The child looked back at him in awe. Nathan jumped out of the way of an incoming root and tore it apart with a quick use of Riptide Mastery. I need more help. I need more allies. But where? His eyes widened. The contract! "Summon Fish!" A bright glow appeared directly behind him, and ten fish materialized in midair. Nathan felt magic being castprobably something to allow them to function on landNathan hoped, anyway. "Nathan!" Finny swam up to Nathan''s side and sliced through an incoming root with a single dash. "Finny," Nathan dodged a root heading for his chest and sliced it apart with a blade of water. "So you can do things outside water. Good to know." Uhyeah, can you explain what''s happening?" Nathan had managed to get close enough to his harpoon to grab it. He reached out, pulled it from the ground, and sliced through three roots heading for his head. A split second later, Finny came in like a bullet, taking out five roots that were targeting the other fish. "Basically, the plants want to kill us, Nathan said. I need you to distract whatever this thing is and get any people still around here out of the area." "Will do," Finny said. He looked back at the rest of the fish. "You heard him, boys. Move out!" The fish spread out. Nathan could only hope theyd succeed. Nathan made his way backward, throwing out occasional Riptide Mastery attacks to slow the vines down. He was tempted to use Maelstrom again, but he didn''t want to risk losing control and blowing up the entire area. That would be bad. If only his lightning manipulation actually worked! He could certainly use some explosive firepower. Where was Mara when you needed her? A mental image flashed in his mind: the entire forest on fire, survivors screaming at the top of their lungs while Mara laughed maniacally. On second thought, maybe it was a good thing she wasn''t here. Nathan was snapped out of his thoughts by a sudden flare of energy a few blocks away. He dashed toward it, noting the people fleeing deeper into the city as he ran. A woman rushed past him holding a baby, while a man tried to rally a defense with a few others. How on earth did that woman make it down here with a baby? Nathan ignored the statistical improbability and continued toward the energy flare. Within moments, he found himself staring at Bree, her choppy brown hair waving in the wind. Behind her were half a dozen men Nathan had spotted earlier. They were working together, using their abilities to slow the invasion of roots and vines attacking the camp. Nathan jumped up to Bree and sliced apart a root with his harpoon. She turned and nodded at him before refocusing on the vines. Her hands lit up with a golden glow, and a wall of earth appeared in front of them. "Nathaniel, I see you''re alive. That''s good," Bree said. "What is this?" Nathan asked. "The Tree Wrath. Our ticking timer. We''re trapped in this urban pocket, and with each passing day, there''s a small chance that this happens. And each time it does, the forest claims more territory, and we lose ours. It''s only a matter of time before" "Before we run out of time." "Exactly." Before they could continue, the Tree Wrath burst through the earthen wall, shattering it like glass. Bree and Nathan jumped backward, but neither was fast enough to stop a vine from stabbing one of Bree''s men. For a split second, Nathan saw a flicker of shock in Bree''s eyes, quickly replaced by her usual steely gaze. "What''s the progress on the back line?" she yelled. "They''re almost done! Once they''re on the move, we can get out of here, we just need to hold out a little longer!" Bree looked back at the invading wall of vines and roots. "You say that like it''s easy." If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As another dozen vines and roots exploded outward, Nathan couldn''t help but wish he''d been given a different elementlike fire. Fire would have been really helpful right about now. In the distance, someone yelled something about "attack of the killer vines!" Nathan''s left eye twitched. Chad was probably fine. They continued fighting the oncoming horde, but it was getting harder. The vines were endless. No matter how many they destroyed, another dozen appeared. Even if Nathan used his full powermaybe even Basic Maelstromhe doubted it would do more than delay the inevitable for a few minutes. Finally, they got the call. "They''re packed up! Let''s move!" someone yelled. Nathan breathed a sigh of relief and started to retreat. "Shit!" Nathan''s eyes flicked toward the noise. It was Bree. A vine had nipped her thigh as she ran. She stumbled forward and threw her hand back. An earth pillar crashed into the vines, pushing them back several feet. "Go on!" she yelled. Nathan pointed his hands forward, and a dozen blades of water appeared behind him. They crashed into the vines, washing them away and pushing them back. Nathan ran over to Bree and pressed his hand against her wound. Instantly, it began to heal as if it had never been there. Within seconds, the wound was gone. Bree blinked. "Let''s go!" Nathan said. They dashed out and away from the Tree Wrath.
Nathan shuffled into the back of the caravan, hundreds of people moving deeper into the city. Behind them, the Tree Wrath had subsided, but tension lingered in the air. Nathan''s shoulders remained tense, and he couldn''t shake the worry that vines or roots might sprout from the ground and attack again. Hed had a brief chat with Finny and the rest before unsummoning them. Thankfully, it looked like no one had taken notice of the talking fish, assuming them to belong to one of Brees men. Go figure. He slowly made his way to the front of the caravan, where the experienced combatants were. Recognizing him, they let him pass, allowing him to approach Bree. She glanced back at him. "Nathaniel. I was meaning to speak with you." "Actually, I wanted to do the same. There''s something I need to talk to you about." She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Nathan bit his lip nervously. It was dangerous to let others in on what he was looking forthey might use it against him. Even so, part of the secret was already out, based on what that mysterious voice had said. "My sister. I''m looking for my sister. Can you help me?" Bree crossed her arms. "I can''t guarantee anything, of course. But I can put out the word. Do you remember where you last saw her?" "On Earth. Before all this happened." Bree was silent for a few seconds. "The odds aren''t good, you know that, right?" Nathan avoided her gaze. His shoulders hunched, and he felt an odd prickling in his eyes. He ground his teeth and forced the emotions down. There was no time for that. "I''m aware." "Give me a description and her name, and I''ll do my best." "Blonde hair, dark brown eyes. Lean, slender build. Early twenties," Nathan said. Bree raised an eyebrow. "She doesn''t look much like you." "Different moms." Bree nodded. "A name?" "Sarah. And she''ll probably be looking for her husband, I''d bet." "Do you remember what her husband looks like?" Nathan bit his lip. "Never met him." Thankfully, Bree didn''t seem to have an opinion on this. She simply nodded and turned to one of her men. "Get the word out. See if anyone knows anything." The man saluted her and walked off into the caravan. Nathan watched him go, then slowly turned to walk back toward the rear. Bree''s voice stopped him. "Can I expect to see you for the first dungeon raid?" Nathan got the feeling this wasn''t a friendly offer. It was a bargainhe helps her, she helps him. Nathan had no objections. Fair was fair, after all. "Of course. Just give me a time, and I''ll show up."
Eventually, they reached deeper into the interior and began to set up once more. Like last time, Nathan soon saw laundry lines hanging from building to building, camps set up along the sidewalks, and fires roaring across the street. Nathan didn''t know how Bree did it. Once again, Nathan was tempted to open up his soulbound townsee if he could help. But he knew he couldn''t. The desert people were already taxing his town to its limit. They couldn''t handle any more residents, and they had enough problems of their own. Besides, it would definitely attract undue attention Did anybody else even have a soulbound town? He vaguely remembered it being discovered that Vinny had one, but that was it. Nathan would stick out like a sore thumb. Nathan ended up finding a cold, quiet corner all to himself. He opened up the quest menu. It was about time that he viewed the conditions for escape on his own. There were no side quests, only a single main quest. [Forest of Nightmares: Now with Extra Murder] Welcome to the Third Circle, where the trees are alive, the ground hates you, and the very air is conspiring against your well-being. The Treewrath is in full swing, meaning the forest is expanding like an invasive species on steroids, swallowing cities and generally ruining everyone''s day. The only way out? A Sigil of Passage, which the Forest Queen could totally just give youbut no, that would be too easy. Instead, you get to play fetch quest from hell and gather four mystical components from dungeons designed by a lunatic botanist. The Dungeons (A.K.A. Places Youll Probably Regret Entering) 1. The Gloamgrove CatacombsAn ancient root network so thick its basically a subterranean jungle, filled with the remains of those who got lost and never found their way out. The air is thick with mist, the roots shift when you''re not looking, and theres something moving int he trees. Your goal? Find the Umbral Seed, a pulsing heart of darkness hidden amongst the fog. 2. The Rotwood FenA steaming, disease-ridden swamp where everything is rotting but somehow still alive. Trees weep black sap, fungal horrors rise from the muck, and stepping in the wrong place might get you dragged under. Somewhere in the decay lies the Blightbloom, a parasitic flower that feeds on corruption. Try not to breathe too hard. Or touch anything. Or exist, really. 3. The Thorned LabyrinthA shifting hedge maze that actively hates you. The walls move, the plants scream, and the deeper you go, the more the maze remembers you. Oh, and the exit? It only appears when it feels like it. Buried at its core is the Sanguine Briar, a blood-red thorn that drinks the life of those who hold it. Should be fine. 4. The Elderbark SanctumA massive, hollowed-out tree that serves as the final resting place of every ancient guardian that ever failed their duty. The spirits of old warriors whisper through the bark, and the wooden sentinels inside dont take kindly to intruders. At the very top, wrapped in sacred vines, rests the Verdant Heart, pulsing with the last echoes of a dying age. You just have to climb up there and take it. Easy, right? Every few hours, the Treewrath surges, expanding the forest and twisting the land into something even worse. Wait too long, and the dungeons become harder, deadlier, or simply cease to existtaking their precious loot with them. Completion Reward: Nathan folded his head into his hands. It could never be simple, could it? In particular, Nathan was concerned about the limits of the Sigil of Passage. If Nathan was reading this right, there was only one. Or at least, a limited number of them. Nathan was pretty sure there were other pockets, too. So that meant they would be competing in order to get to these dungeons and use them. It just gets better and better. Nathan leaned his head back and rested it against the concrete. One thing was for surethis would certainly be an interesting challenge. He shut his eyes. Then he heard the sound of the gentle waves and his heart sunk. "Miss me?" Nathan opened his eyes and turned around. Looking at him was none other than Thalassa. He groaned aloud. 87 - Why Does Heaven Have So Many Mushroom People? "This is how you speak to your sponsor? After all the kindness Ive shown you humans, you respond with nothing but vitriol" "I was just hoping Id never run into you again. Or, at the very least, that if I did, it would be because I was desperate enough to use that pearl." Thalassas left eye twitched. "Youve got a lot of nerve." "Yeah, I think weve already established that." For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence. Thalassa, with her wavy blue hair and an irritated scowl, and Nathan, his gaze icy and his posture tense. "So, why did you bring me here?" Nathan asked. "And how are you even doing this? In the past, you could only manage it occasionally. How are you pulling it off again so soon?" Thalassa snapped her fingers, and a beach chair materialized behind her. She dropped into it, leaning back. "A few reasons. First, youve got a bit of my essence in your pocketeven if you cant see it. That pearl gives me an opening. Second, your little class upgrade has increased your affinity with me." "Any tips, by the way? I cant seem to use these new abilities properly." Thalassa crossed her arms and let out a dismissive snort. You have the audacity to ask for my help?" She glared at him. "Make up your mind. If you hate me, dont talk with me at all. If you want my help, then use the gift Ive given you." Nathan shrugged. "No need to get so worked up. I was just asking." He studied her, a thought forming in his mind. Maybe he didnt have to commit fully What if we make a deal?" Nathan said. "A sign of trust." She glanced at him. "Im listening." "I need answers. You need a champion. So heres the deal: you answer three of my questions and Ill guarantee I keep talking with you. I wont ignore you, and Ill stay open to the idea of potentially listening to you." "Thats a terrible deal." "Yeah, it is," Nathan admitted. "But if you dont take it, you can guarantee Ill never become your champion. Simple as that." "Youre an impetuous little brat, you know that?" Thalassa rolled her eyes. "Fine. Three questions." Nathan paused, his mind racing. What did he need to know most of all? "My sister," he blurted out before he could stop himself. "Where is she?" "I dont have access to that information. Ive told you before, Im not all-knowing. And when it comes to another dimension entirely? Im almost as blind as you are. Maybe I see a little morebut not enough to give you a clear answer." Nathans shoulders slumped. "Then that one doesnt count" "I can tell you shes alive, though." Nathan jolted. "What?" "Shes alive and well. I know this because, like you, she has a connection to the seathough, of course, it doesnt compare to yours." Shes alive. Shes alive and well. Nathan felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Thank you," he said stiffly. A wry grin spread across Thalassas face. No problem. Suddenly, the dream began to flicker. The sky trembled, and bits of dust fell from the distant blue expanse. Thalassa looked up and rolled her eyes. "How ridiculous." "What was that?" Nathan started, then quickly covered his mouth. "Wait, that doesnt count" "Yes, it does~!" Thalassa sang. "For your information, that was the parasite attached to your shoulder. Shes a rather testy one. Very attached to youboth literally and figuratively. If you could figure out how to get rid of her, Id appreciate it." Nathans jaw tightened. He wanted to ask for more details, but did he want to waste his final question on that? No. No, he didnt. He licked his lips, his mind racing. What was the most important thing he needed to know? "Whats behind the system? Whats the thing I need your help to fight?" Thalassas expression turned ice-cold. "If you have another question, Id prefer you ask that instead." no, Ill stick with this one." Thalassa didnt move for several seconds. She closed her eyes and sighed. "I cant tell you what you want to know. Not without putting you in danger." This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Im already in danger. Whats the problem?" Thalassa clicked her tongue. "This connectionits not secure. If we discuss the wrong topic it could attract attention. And if that happens, this whole game is over." Her expression was a clear warning: Stay away from this topic. Nathan sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I dont think you answered all three questions successfully." "I answered them to the best of my ability." "But you still failed." It was a stupid deal to begin with. You were never going to rule me out entirely. I know you well enough by now to say that with certainty." "Says who? How are you so sure?" "Because people are relying on you. An entire citya kingdomrests on your shoulders. Theyve put their trust in you to lead them out of the Nine Circles. As long as theres a chance the challenges ahead are too great for you to face alone, youll keep that pearl. And eventually youll use it. The only question is when, not if." Nathan clicked his tongue. "Whos the brat now?" A mischievous grin spread across her face. "What can I say? Im a hypocrite." The dream began to fade, and Nathan could hear the distant crackle of a campfire. "Good luck, Nathan. Youre going to need it."
As Nathan blinked awake, he stretched his arms out to the sides and froze. Presences. All around him. "Is he awake?" "I dont know. Looks like it." Their voices didnt sound outright malicious, but they sent a chill through him, slowing his breath. Then, he burst into action. Pushing himself backward, he leapt to his feet and grabbed his harpoon in one swift motion. His eyes snapped open, and he pointed the weapon at the figures surrounding him. He blinked slowly, taking in the scene. It was a group of elderly people, widows, mothers, and others. They stood in a loose circle, their eyes fixed on him with unmistakable disdain. "You were spotted running around like a maniac just before the Tree Wrath hit," one of them said sharply. "We want an explanation."
Anand slowly awoke. No. No. No. No. No! He had died? To a brick!? That was such a stupid way to go out! If he was going to die, it should have been on a mission, trying to assassinate Nathan. Not after getting hit in the head by a brick! Anands breathing quickened. He couldnt see anything, couldnt hear anything. It was like he was floating in an infinite void. He flexed his fingers. He was going to kill Nathan. He would figure out a way to come back from the dead and kill Nathan. It would be a brutal deathlots of blood and viscera. As soon as as soon as he got out of here. Oh, if Im really dead thats going to be kind of tricky. He blinked his eyes open slowly. The rafters of a small household greeted him. Huh, the afterlife looks a little different than I was expecting. He tried to push himself up, but a pair of white hands gently pressed him back down. They had a faint, earthy, plant-like smell. "Easy there. You took a bad hit to the head," a voice said. "Injuries transfer?" Anand muttered. Was this some kind of angel? "Of course they do. Just because youve passed through doesnt mean youll automatically heal. Thats not how it works." Anand chuckled breathlessly. "Of course not." He clenched his fists. "Hey, is there any chance I could go back?" "Back? I mean, its possible, but youll have to take it up with the boss." God? I might be able to chat with God? Maybe I can convince Him of the righteousness of the Harrowed Hands cause. "How long until He arrives?" "I dont know. He kind of comes and goes as he pleases." Anand chuckled again and slowly turned to look at the face of the angel who had been taking care of him. When he saw whator whohad been speaking, his jaw dropped. Why did the angel look like a mushroom man with a builders hat and a toolbelt? The mushroom man raised a hand in greeting. "Hey. Names Bricks." Anand screamed at the top of his lungs. The mushroom man raised an eyebrow. Anand jumped out of the bed and bolted toward the door. Ill open the door, and itll lead to a tropical beach. I know how lucid dreams work! Anand flung the door open only to find a cafeteria filled with mushroom men dressed identically to the one hed just seen. A few werewolves were mixed in, too. Anand stared at them, his vision starting to blur at the edges. Oh, come on "Hey, you okay?" someone called out. "You look a little shaky." Anand opened his mouth to reply, but his consciousness slipped away, and he collapsed onto the floor like a sack of grain.
"I don''t know what happened to the guy!" a voice said. "He just saw Barry and then conked out!" A long-suffering sigh came from the other speaker. "Whatever. I guess we might need to talk to Zayen about finding him a temporary place with the other desert people?" Anand started awake. He pushed himself up and looked around. He was surrounded by three mushroom men. Bricks noticed him and smiled. "Finally back to the land of the living," Bricks said. "I hope you dont plan on getting knocked out again." Anand stumbled to a sitting position. "Trust me, that wasnt intentional," Anand replied, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Can one of you explain to me whats going on?" "Do you remember when that brick hit you square in the forehead?" "Much to my displeasure, yes." "Well, obviously, everybody was freaking out. But some nice people grabbed you and carried you the rest of the way. After you got some medical attention, though, they couldnt find any of your kinsfolk to take care of you. Thats why we ended up volunteering" "Wait, journey to where?" "Nathans soulbound town!" Anand felt his soul shrivel up and die in his chest. A sudden wave of despair washed over him, and he hung his head. "Youre telling me that Im currently trapped in the soulbound town of Nathan Lee?" "I wouldnt say trapped I mean, weve got some pretty nice amenities." "And Im gonna take a wild guess and say that all of you are absolutely loyal to Nathan Lee, right?" Bricks shrugged. "More or less. Some more than others, but hes taken care of us pretty well thus far. I think youd be hard-pressed to find anybody who really hates the guy." Anand gave Bricks a shaky smile. "Great! Just wanted to check on that." Bricks nodded, that vacant smile still on his face. "Anyway," Bricks said, "Ill let you rest for the next couple of days, but once youre well enough to move, youre going to have to help out. I promise I wont push you too hard, but we cant just let you be a lazy layabout." Yeah! Anand said through gritted teeth. "Great to hear it!" "Well leave you to it. Get well quick!" Bricks said. "Will do!" The three mushroom men left, and Anand was alone again. He lay back in his bed and stared at the ceiling. A sudden flare of anger coursed through him, and his heart began to beat faster. No. He wouldnt let things end like this. He would escape this town and get the necessary information back to his masters. But for now, he had to play the game. Collect information and blend in. If he was luckyhed find a lead on someone who might know a way out of here. Hitching a ride off Nathan wouldnt work. Hed had seen Anand! The risk of discovery and interrogation was too high. Anand breathed out slowly. Just as the High Assassin always said: A panicked mind is useless. Anand had to stay relaxed, stay focused. And if he was lucky, he might just find a way out of this mess. 88 - Dont Lose Your Head! So what? Damn. Credit where credit is due, she looks good for 45.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Scouts? Huh, so there are advantages to being part of a big organization like this. I guess thats why shes number seven, he mused.
89 - The Disappearance of Chad Mann "All right, everyone!" Brees voice echoed through the air. "Keep your heads together. Therell be time for grieving later. Right now, we need to focus on staying alive. Formation Delta. I need everyone ready to react at a moments notice." There was a brief hesitation, but the group quickly fell into the formation theyd discussed earlier. Nathan took his position next to Chad, forming a protective circle around Bree and a few others as they examined the body. "Did anyone get a chance to scan whatever took the girl out?" Nathan asked. "I didnt." "It was too fastwe didnt even see it coming." "I tried, but I missed." Nathan clicked his tongue. So, theyd be going in blind against this things capabilities. Fantastic. "Did any of you at least catch what it looked like? Were there any signs before it attacked?" Nathan said. Absolute silence. Nathans left eye twitched. If hed known theyd be this useless, he wouldve gone alone. "I saw." It was the old man. "Its perfectly suited for this environment, he said. White, like snow. Every part of it is like thatexcept for the eyes. The eyes were yellow, but theyre hard to spot" And more importantly, it had taken someone out in one go, in seconds. The girl hadnt even had a chance to fight back. Nathan had a high Constitution, but even he didnt like his odds against something like that. "Its this mist, Chad said. "We need to get rid of it. Wait, mist? Mist was just water vapor. Nathan was pretty good with water, last time he checked. Nathan held his hand out and began drawing water from the atmosphere, as hed done a hundred times before. The water streamed in from the mist, coalescing into a spinning disc the size of a baseball bat. The disc grew larger, more spherical, as he added more water. Even so, it didnt seem to make a dent. By the time the water sphere was the size of his entire body, he decided it probably wasnt working. "No dice," Nathan said. "It just keeps regenerating or something." Chad clicked his tongue. "Worth a shot." Nathans eyes narrowed to pinpricks, and his head snapped to the side. "Nathan?" Chad said. "Theres something over there." He waited, slowing his breath to a crawl, every ounce of focus locked onto that single moment, that single slice of time. It struck faster than anything hed ever seen. If he hadnt been prepared, it wouldve taken his head off in an instant. All he saw was a flash of ivory teeth, each one as sharp as a saber. He ducked, pulled out his harpoon, and slashed. But he hit nothing. In an instant, it was as if nothing had happened at all. "Please dont tell me Im delusional and that something didnt just try to take my head off," Nathan said. "I saw it. Youre not crazy yet, buddy," Chad muttered. Nathan stood back up, returning to his guard position. He glanced left and right, about to ask his allies about the encounter But they were gone. Nathans heart sank. "Chad?" he called. No response. Nathans harpoon dipped slightly. "Chad!?" But there was no one. He was alone.
Nathan stepped softly through the grass, his boots crunching against the decayed remnants of long-dead plants. His heart pounded in his chest, leaping at every whisper of the wind and every distant echo that reached the edges of his awareness. Given how heightened his senses were, there was no shortage of things to startle him. But gradually, the anxiety began to fade, replaced by a cooler, more deliberate voice in his mind. Cant let myself panic. Thats what this thing feeds onmisdirection and fear. If I stay calm, I can react in time. Ive already seen that. He ignored the occasional traces of bloodlust in the tone of his inner voice. That was just how the internal voice soundedsharp, clinical, and unflinching. It didnt mean he had to lose his grip. Nathan relaxed his shoulders, though his hands remained tightly clenched around his harpoon. It was, when he thought about it, the perfect weapon for a monster hunter. The largest creatures were too massive to sever or slice; any cuts would be superficial at best. No, the only way to deal real damage was to pierce something vitala heart, a brain. Those were the targets that mattered when hunting giants. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. A loud crack snapped him back to the present. He was being followed. Lure it in. Nathan kept moving forward, acutely aware of the presence trailing him. He would only have a split second to react. Thank God for my high dexterity. His boots continued to crunch against the dead leaves. The roots around him shifted ever so slightly. He waited. And waited. His left eye twitched. He hadnt noticed it until now, but apparently, Hunters Instinct didnt account for moisture in the air. If only this were the ocean It was closer now. Just a few feet away. Nathan relaxed his shoulders further, working his way down his body, releasing tension from every muscle. The footsteps quickened. It was rushing him. He spun on a dime and thrust the harpoon forward. It struck hard skin and bounced off. His instincts screamed at him, and he dove to the left, narrowly avoiding A pair of knuckle dusters? Wait! Nathan shouted. Choppy brown hair framed a pair of sharp yellow eyes. Bree stared at him, unflinching. Bree, Nathan said, lowering his weapon. Nathaniel, she replied, her voice steady.
The two stared at each other, locked in place as if under some kind of spell. Neither moved, the tension thick between them. Finally, Nathan lowered his weapon and gave her a curt nod. She returned the gesture. "I''ve never actually seen you fight," Nathan said, his voice breaking the silence. "Knuckle dusters. They suit you." "The harpoon doesn''t suit you. Why a harpoon?" "Because the alternative is way stupider." She raised an eyebrow at the statement but said nothing. Without another word, they continued to advance through the dense forest. Tough skin, Nathan said. Thanks. High constitutionfitting for an Earth cultivator. She paused. Ive got to admit, I was hoping for an opportunity like this at some point." Nathan''s grip on his harpoon loosened slightly. "What''s that supposed to mean?" "I''ve watched your techniques. There''s something off about them." Did she know? Nathan hoped not. If she did, he''d have to leave and find the other dungeons on his own. "You''re a cultivator, aren''t you?" Nathan almost sagged in relief. "I am. A flicker of a grin laced her tone. "It''s a rare thing, you know? I''ve only run across a handful of us, and usually, we don''t have this kind of mastery over our abilities. It''s harder than magic." Nathan shrugged. "I wouldn''t know. I don''t use magic." "True," she said. "So, who trained you?" Nathan''s face scrunched in confusion. "Trained?" "Yeah, trained. There''s no way you figured it out on your own." Nathan didn''t respond, his eyes scanning the horizon for any potential attackers. "Are you seriously suggesting you managed to get a firm grasp on your cultivation abilities without the slightest hint of instruction?" Well, this mage helped me out. Besides, I wouldn''t call it a firm grasp. I still haven''t figured out how to consistently use this new wind manipulation thing." "But what about the water?" "Let''s move off this topic." "Oh, hell no. I want all the details. Now." Nathan shot her an irritated glare. "Is this really the time? We''ve got unknown monsters trying to eat our heads off. The rest of the team is scattered who-knows-where, and someone died. I don''t think now''s the time to talk shop." you''re right. The time to discuss this is later." "Great." Suddenly, Bree stopped. "Wait. If it''s water manipulationand this is all mist" "We tried that already. I kept drawing water out of the atmosphere, but nothing happened. It was like there was an infinite source of water." "You said you had access to wind, right? Maybe we don''t need to suck all the water out. Maybe we can just move it around." "I also said the ability isn''t working properly. I tried, but I''m having trouble." "Then let me help you." "How would you be able to help me?" "I''m a cultivator like you, but unlike you, I have training." "You''re not gonna get me to use a new set of powers in a matter of minutes. That takes time. Time we don''t have." "Look, do you have any better ideas? I could set up earth fortifications for us to hide out in, but I doubt they''d last long with these roots. At this point, your wind powers are the best shot we''ve got." Nathan raised his eyes toward the sky, though he couldn''t see anything through the thick fog. Still, it was the principle of the matter. She was right, though. They didn''t exactly have a plan. "Fine," he said. "Let''s give it a shot."
"I''m gonna take a guess and say you''ve never heard of ki." Nathan blinked. Key? What the hell''s that?" "It''s the thing you''ve been manipulating. Life energy, ki, whatever you want to call it. The point is, it''s inside of you, and it''s what you use to fuel your cultivation abilities." "That''s not what Emi told me. She said it was magic." "A mage?" "Yeah." Bree rolled her eyes. "She''s got a mage''s perspective on things. Not only that, but there''s centuries of tradition and culture telling her what to think about cultivators. She doesn''t actually know anything of importance." "And you do? How''d you learn all this anyway?" Bree''s expression tightened for a moment before she let out a slow breath. "Back on Earth, I was really into meditation. Spent years practicing, even competed professionally in mindfulness tournaments Thats a thing?! When I landed in the tutorial circle, I got luckyran into this elf cultivator who saw something in me. Maybe it was my meditation background, I don''t know. But he taught me the basics, gave me this old book on cultivation arts..." "What happened to him? A shadow crossed her face. "We got separated during a monster wave. But hey, maybe we''ll cross paths again someday. It''s a big world, stranger things have happened." She shook her head. "Anyway, enough about me. Stop being curious and listen." Nathan''s lips twitched. Bree shut her eyes. "Feel that energy at the core of your being?" "Of course I do. I can''t get it to stop." Bree''s teeth grinded together. "God damn prodigies," she muttered under her breath. Raising her voice, she said, "Good. I want you to grab it and push it out to your fingers." Nathan did so, and his fingers began to glow with a faint blue sheen. "Got it." "Already!?" She shook her head. "Okay, now concentrate on the idea of wind. What is wind?" "Well, I think it''s what happens when there''s a temperature difference between the upper and lower parts of the atmosphere" "Not the scientific definition. I know you know this. You wouldn''t have gotten as far as you have without figuring that out." Nathan couldn''t help his lips from drawing upward again. When Bree saw this, she glared at him. "Weren''t you the one complaining about how we don''t have much time?" Nathan sighed. "Okay, okay. I''ll quit it." It was funny, he''d been doing it unconsciously before. It was almost instinctual. Even the process of learning how to manipulate water and unlock his various abilities He''d internalized it so fast that he never had time to examine what was actually happening. He thought about what wind was like. He remembered the early mornings back when he still lived with his parents, stepping out onto the balcony and feeling the cool breeze caress his face. Of course, that wasn''t all there was to wind. Wind could also be fierce. He remembered watching thunderstorms outside his window, the rain beating against the glass like a wrecking ball. Something sparked at the edge of his consciousness. A soft breeze caressed his cheeks. His eyes snapped open. Instantly, the strongest gust of air Nathan had ever felt slammed into him from behind, nearly knocking him over. The mist surged forward through the trees, dissipating and vanishing before his very eyes. And revealing the fact that they''d been surrounded by about ten figures hiding in the trees. Nathan winced. "Well, that''s not good." 90 - When Life Gives you Lemons, Walk Away and Look For a Lemonade Stand! "Okay, at least it didnt kill anyone else," Nathan said. And this was true. Miraculously, when Nathan looked around, he could see that everyone theyd been separated from was still alive. Well, except for that girl whod had her head bitten off earlier. Yeah, she was pretty much dead. Bree looked up at the fifty figures in the tree. Nathan followed her gaze. They were monstrous things, as if someone had slapped an anglerfish head onto a snakes body. They writhed and gyrated, their eyes locked on their targetsNathan and Bree. "I dont suppose you happen to have access to some kind of fire ability as well," Bree said. "Because I think thats the appropriate level of reaction for something this horrifying." "Unfortunately, I do not," Nathan replied. And given the entity that has an interest in my life right now, I sincerely doubt I ever will. One of the anglerfish creatures stretched its head toward Nathan, slowly and deliberately. Nathan scanned the creature. [Fanglurker] - Lv. 65 Deep in the misty woods, where visibility is worse than your grandpas cataracts, the Fanglurker waits. At first, it just looks like a patch of fog, chilling ominously like a discount horror movie effect. But thenBAM!it descends like Zeus himself, only instead of hurling lightning, its hurling itself. At you. Headfirst. If youre lucky, you might hear a faint whoosh before your buddys noggin disappears into its massive, unhinged jaw. If youre unlucky (and lets be real, you are), the next sound you hear will be the wet crunch of your own brain-box getting VIP seating in its gullet. Best Tactics for Survival:
  1. Dont go into foggy forests. Like, at all.
  2. If you must, wear a helmet. Preferably one made of titanium.
  3. Bring bait. Ideally, someone slower than you.
  4. Accept your fate. Its probably too late anyway.
"Well, golly, thats encouraging," Nathan muttered. One of the Fanglurkers lunged, its jaws gaping wide, revealing an inky black void at the back of its throat. But unlike before, Nathan had seen it coming from a mile away. His harpoon shot out, piercing the creatures body. The Fanglurker collapsed to the ground with a shriek, thrashing for a few seconds before going limp. All at once, Nathan heard snapping and clicking from all around him. Every single Fanglurker stared at him, their teeth clacking together menacingly. Two of them lunged at him simultaneously. Nathan rolled out of the way, but one managed to stretch its jaws toward his arm. It bit down. Unfortunately for the Fanglurker, Nathans arm wasnt made of ordinary flesh. Its teeth dug into wood, leaving little more than scratches. Nathan unleashed the vines and roots hidden within his arm, forcing them into the creatures mouth. The roots tore the Fanglurkers jaw apart, shattering it and sending the creature flopping to the ground. Nearby, Bree dodged another Fanglurkers attack. She pressed her hand to the ground, and earthen pillars erupted, crushing the creature. To the side, Nathan caught a glimpse of Chad slicing through two Fanglurkers midair. The old man snapped his fingers, and fire ripped through the trees closest to him. Derek, meanwhile, slipped on a root and banged his head against a rock. Truly, we have the height of skill in this party, Nathan thought dryly. "I think we might actually have a shot at winning this thing!" Chad called out. Nathans expression twisted. He just had to say it, didnt he? At that moment, Nathan caught a glimpse of a purple flash of light. The mist surged back, descending like a storm. "Nathan, the wind!" Brees voice was cut off as the mist swallowed her words. Nathan felt a chill run down his spine. Instinctively, he leaped to the left, narrowly avoiding something that swooped down where his head had been. A loud clack echoed as teeth snapped together. He spun around and drove his harpoon into the head of the Fanglurker. Pulling the harpoon free, Nathan glanced back toward where hed seen the light. The quest had mentioned something about an Umbral Seeda pulsating heart of darkness. Maybe, in addition to being their objective, it was also the source of the mist. Nathan stared up at where the treeline should have been. He had no backup and was surrounded by who-knows-how-many enemies. Was this really the time to make a risky play? Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. What about the wind? Could I pull off that trick with the wind again? He started to close his eyesonly to snap them open as he dodged forward. Another Fanglurkers teeth crashed together behind him. He dove and kept running, not bothering to turn back and finish the creature. It takes too long to activate the wind cultivation. I dont have time! He slid under a root that had sprouted in his path. Another root wrapped around his leg as he hit the ground. He yanked free, snapping the root, and kept running. A Fanglurker went for his arm, but all it got was a mouthful of harpoon. He dodged another attack aimed at his head, he was getting closer nowonly a few feet awayand then It was gone. "But it was just here?!" he exclaimed. Another set of footsteps approached. Derek. He stared at Nathan, sword in hand. "Wheres the thing?" Derek demanded. "I dont know, it was just here" "Did you take it?" "What? No!" Nathans face twisted in confusion. "Then where did it go?" Dereks eyes were clouded with suspicion. Nathan was starting to get real tired of this. "Maybe someone else took it," Nathan said. Derek was about to respond when his eyes widened. He spun around and slashed at the air, his sword slicing through the body of a Fanglurker. Nathans eyes scanned the area where the Umbral Seed had been. Waitthe vines were different. With a mental command, water formed to his left and right. He sharpened it into spikes and sent them flying into the roots. The roots exploded in a shower of pulp and splinters. For a split second, Nathan saw the Umbral Seed poking out. He reached forward, his hand closing around it just as the roots began to regrow. He yanked it free, stuffing it into his inventory without a second thought. The mist vanished instantly, evaporating as if it had never been there. A loud screech echoed from all around themthe sound of a hundred Fanglurkers. Nathan turned to see one right at his head. It recoiled, then slithered away into the trees, fleeing in the opposite direction. Nathan took a deep breath, sweat dripping from his brow. "That was way too close," he said. As he caught his breath, something glinted in the corner of his eye. He turned and spotted a familiar object tangled in the rootsa locket. His heart skipped a beat. His sisters locket.
Nathan rotated the locket in his hand, its hinges creaking softly as it swung open. Inside was a picture of him and Sarah, staring into the camera with wide, carefree smiles. It was from a simpler time, back before either of them had learned just how messy their family wasor how messy Nathan himself could be. Back when their biggest worry was who could score the highest at the arcade. "Nathaniel?" Nathan snapped the locket shut. "Yeah?" The man standing before him crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "There''s a discussion about what to do next. Figured you should probably be involved." Nathan nodded absently, his mind still tangled in questions. What was his sister doing here? How had her locket ended up in this place? He stood up, his thoughts racing. Could she be dead? He hadnt seen anyone around here, and yet She had to have been here within the past three days. Thats when theyd all been dropped here, three days ago or so. Nathan stuffed the locket into his pocket and made his way over to the group. They were in the middle of a heated debate. "We have to keep moving," Derek insisted, his voice sharp. "This place isnt safe!" Bree scoffed, her arms folded tightly across her chest. "Well be moving in the dark. Thats a major disadvantage if something attacks us. We need to set up camp and hunker down for the night." "Were you not with us earlier?" Derek shot back. "Dont you remember nearly getting your head bitten off?" "Dont call me ''woman,''" Bree snapped. "Im your superior officer" "No, youre not," Derek interrupted, his tone icy. "You didnt train me. You dont own me. Were just cooperatinglets make that clear." Nathan raised an eyebrow. At some point, hed ended up standing next to Chad. "Interesting fireworks, huh?" Chad muttered. "Im surprised it took this long," Nathan replied, keeping his voice low. "Bree managed to forge a rough coalition in a couple of hours, but something thrown together that quickly is always going to be brittle. She shouldve spent more time tightening her authority before taking a risk like this." "Look at you, the political analyst," Chad said. "Guess youve got experience in this kind of thing, dont you?" Nathan rolled his eyes. "Keep your voice down" "This is not up for debate!" Bree shouted, cutting through the tension. "Were staying here!" A few of her loyalists stepped forward, flanking her and glaring daggers at Derek and his crew. The veterans hung back, their expressions neutral, seemingly uninterested in the drama. "What do you think?" Chad asked, nudging Nathan with his elbow. "Me?" Nathan said. "I dont know. I think there are good reasons on both sides." "But?" Chad pressed, raising an eyebrow. "But its clear that Brees authority has limits. Shes at the head of thisshes the one who should be in charge. These kids shouldnt be able to corner her like this." Nathan shrugged. "Personally, I think Dereks right. Being in the forest while theres a Tree Wrath on seems like a terrible idea. Id much rather be back inside the urban pocket than caught out here." Chad watched as the argument continued to heat up, his expression thoughtful. "Arent you going to say something?" "No," Nathan said flatly. "Id make her look weak in front of her people. The time to raise objections wouldve been earlier, and in private. Doing it now is just going to piss her off." As expected, Bree ended up winning the debate. They decided to set up a fortress using her earth cultivation powers. In a matter of minutes, they had what looked like a solid bulwark against any kind of intrusion. Due to the small size of the earthen fortress, Nathan and the veterans were grouped together in roughly the same area. Nathan gave the old manthe one whod defended him earliera nod. The veteran nodded back, his expression unreadable. Nathan was just starting to relax when he heard it: a low creaking and cracking sound, like something moving through the walls. Then, a chorus of voices filled the air. They were familiarthe same voices hed heard in an alleyway not long ago. But this time, there were more of them. Hello.
B32 felt the rumble. Something was at his door. He froze. "B32! Come out and face your death like a manor, uh, a system. You know what I mean!" B32 extended his tendrils across the dozens of traps hed laid by the front door. The traps activated. Dimensional Destabilizers slammed into Dave, sending him hurtling sideways. A scream tore through hyperspace. B32 smiled. He could kind of see why those humans were so obsessed with violence. Suddenly, a surge of energy erupted from Dave. B32 let the joy drift away. The real battle began now. 91 - Cause of Death: Middle Management Nathan adjusted his shoulders, scanning the area. There was nothing coming to attack themnot yet. The air was thick with the scent of campfire smoke, and the group around him was casually chatting, their voices blending into the crackle of the flames. "Who is this?" Nathan muttered under his breath. "Ah, forgive us. We forgot to introduce ourselves," the voices in his head replied, pausing briefly. "We are the Wanderers." "Okay, Wanderers. Whats your problem with me?" Nathan asked, his tone sharp. "Where do we even begin?" the voices said, their words dripping with disdain. "Your very existence is an abomination. There is a part of you filled with our essencethe essence of the breath of the air, the ocean, the trees. And yet you also carry the stink of the system." "Ill have you know I bathe regularly," Nathan shot back, his voice dry. "You stole it, didnt you? One of our kindtheir powers must have been planted into your body by the system." "It actually has nothing to do with that," Nathan said. "Oh, you have an explanation? Wed love to hear it," the Wanderers sneered. Nathan tapped his foot, his mind racing. What did they want? Why were they contacting him like this? "Its simple," Nathan said. "I was a normal guy, but theres this whole thing with a goddess trying to give me her blessings and" A goddess? the Wanderers interrupted, their laughter echoing. "Are you suggesting you have a patron? If that were true, then we wouldnt even have to lift a finger. Your path is already set for destruction." "I dont suppose that means youll let me go?" Nathan asked. "Were afraid not. Even if that were truewhich we doubtit simply means a foreign entity is attempting to establish herself as a queen. Either way, you must be eliminated." "Then why contact me?" Nathan said. "If theres nothing I can do to convince you to back off, why even bother?" "Because," the voices whispered, their tone shifting, "we dont wish for you to die. If you come with us willingly, we can guarantee your survival." "Survival from what?" "Survival from the extraction," the voices replied, their volume rising, a hint of greed creeping into their words. "All that power, residing within you it should be put toward a more virtuous use. Wed simply take it and let you live. Just come along." "Absolutely not," Nathan said. "Then we shall pry it from your cold, rotting corpse," the voices hissed. Nathan tensed his body. An attack? The voices laughed. We wont strike you, boy. Why not? Because we dont need to. Your death is already assured. Tell me, how much do you know about your allies? Nathans blood ran cold. The voices faded, leaving only the crackling of the campfire and the weight of their words hanging in the air.
"Well, well." Dave''s voice resonated through probability curves that shouldn''t exist. "The incompetent manager who let a fisherman break his sector. You thought you were so clever with that trap, huh? I''ve been looking forward to this." "I" B32''s voice modulated through seven different quantum states before stabilizing. "I can explain everything! Nathan Lee, he''s nothe doesn''t follow normal rules! Do you know he deleted a monster after fishing it into his inventory? Who does that? How does that even work?" This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Dave''s laugh destabilized several nearby timelines. "You sound exactly like your reports. Panicked. Ineffective. Weak." The enforcement agent''s form began to expand through dimensions B32 didn''t even have clearance to perceive. That''s when B32 did something desperate. Lets hope this works! He reached out with his probability-manipulators and pulled, dragging them both into his soulscape. The transition felt like being compressed through a mathematical singularity. When it finished, they both stood in a vast dark expanse dotted with points of light, their forms simplified into something a human mind could process. No more probability clouds. No more quantum superpositions. Just two figures in a space that looked almost like a physical arena. "What do you think you''re doing?" Dave''s voice was singular now, no longer rippling through multiple dimensions. In the soulscape, he appeared as a towering figure of light and authority. "You really think you can fight me here?" "Fight you?" B32 let out a slightly hysterical laugh, looking down at his own simplified formsomething almost human-shaped, but crackling with lines of system code. "Oh no, no, no. I''ve spent months watching Nathan Lee break every attack I throw at him. You know what I learned?" Dave''s first attack came like a tidal wave of light, but B32 had spent months studying Nathan Lee''s impossible successes. He dove beneath the wave, feeling it sear the outer layers of his code as it passed. "I learned that sometimes the dumbest solution is the one that works!" "You''re nothing!" Dave''s next assault came as a barrage of enforcement protocols, each one designed to shred B32''s operational permissions. But B32 had seen Nathan Lee fish his way through worse. He wove between the attacks, letting them crash into each other behind him. "You know what the worst part was?" B32 called out, his voice cracking as he barely avoided another blast. "Writing those reports! Do you have any idea how hard it is to explain how someone used a FISHING ROD to kill someone? He let out another slightly unhinged laugh. "But you know what? I studied those reports. Every single impossible thing he did!" Dave''s attacks were coming faster now, but B32 could see the pattern in them. Just like how Nathan Lee somehow found patterns during combat to survive. "You''re just delaying the inevitable," Dave growled, his form growing brighter. "You''re a failure of a manager who couldn''t handle one human!" But something was wrong. Dave''s light was dimming at the edges, his attacks losing their perfect geometry. B32 pressed forward, each desperate dodge and scramble bringing him closer. Dave''s presence flickered. "No," the enforcement agent snarled. "No, I will not be defeated here. Not by you." Reality twisted violently as Dave ripped them both out of the soulscape. The simplified forms shattered as they exploded back into fifth-dimensional space, their beings once again expanding into incomprehensible geometric impossibilities that rippled through spacetime. "NOW YOU DIE!" Dave''s voice thundered. His enforcement-aspect blazed like a dying universe, gathering power that could shred B32''s very existence from every possible timeline. But B32 hummed with anticipation. This was the moment he''d prepared for, the real trap. Everyone always underestimated middle managementno one ever thought to check what forms they''d filed, what permissions they''d quietly accumulated, what tricks they''d learned from watching the impossible happen day after day. The attack came like a cascading collapse of reality itself, enforcement energy burning through multiple dimensions simultaneously. To any third-dimensional being watching, it would have appeared as nothing but a brief flicker of geometry breaking itself. But B32''s jury-rigged defense was ready. The crude, impossible code he''d pieced together from studying Nathan Lee''s exploits activated across all probability states simultaneously. It was ugly. It violated at least thirty-seven fundamental laws of reality. It probably shouldn''t have worked at all. But just like Nathan Lee''s ridiculous fishing skills, sometimes the universe just had to deal with it. The fifth-dimensional attack hit B32 and bounced backward, catching Dave in every possible configuration of his existence. The enforcement agent''s perfect geometric patterns shattered as his own power crashed back into him, sending him reeling through probability space. Dave flickered then disappeared, nothing but loose pieces of system. B32 paused. "HOLY BINARY I DID IT!" B32 shouted. "I ACTUALLY DID IT! ME! THE MANAGER WHO COULDN''T EVEN STOP A FISHERMAN! I JUST BEAT DIMENSIONAL ENFORCEMENT! THIS IS THE GREATEST MOMENT OF MY ENTIRE" B32''s celebration cut off abruptly. Hed done the impossible. Hed managed to defeat a higher Systemsomething that had never been done before But it wasnt like hed be getting a medal for it. Hed killed one of his own kind. What now? B32 couldnt run. A being like him was easily trackable through subspace. Besides, there was no outrunning the Mother. No fighting, either. B32 felt like he was at the bottom of a dark pit with no escape. Almost every option led to doom. The least bad option.. .the only one that mightve led to his salvation was finding and defeating whoever was sponsoring Nathan Lee. The job isnt finished. A notification pinged across his awarenessanother alert about Nathan Lee. "Keep fishing, Nathan Lee," he whispered, already beginning to draft requisition forms for restricted materials. "I''m coming for you. And this time, I wont be playing your game. Lets see you stand up to a direct assault from the full might of a System. 92 - "Unfortunately for you, I’m kind of a stubborn asshole.” Nathan surveyed the various groups within the earthen fortress, his eyes filled with suspicion. He wasnt sure who to trusthe felt reasonably confident ruling out Bree and Chad, though he didnt know Bree well enough to be certain. For now, his primary suspicion fell on Derek. But then again, could this be some kind of ploy by the wanderers? A scheme to drive them all mad with paranoia? There was no way to know. Was Derek simply an idiot, or was he malicious? What about Bree? Or the old man? Nathan had no answers. He didnt sleep a wink that night, too anxious and worried that someone with a bomb strapped to their chest might try to approach him in his sleep. Thankfully, his Constitution was high enough that a single sleepless night didnt seem to affect him much, but it still left him on edge. The night passed quietly, and nothing happened. The next morning, they packed up and prepared to head out. As they walked through the forest, Nathan kept his body relaxed but ready, just in case someone decided to pull a dagger on him. Around him, the sunlight flickered in between the leaves of the tree. In the distance, he thought he heard a bird. Footsteps approached from the side. Hey, you okay? Nathan glanced over at Chad. Im pretty sure somebody wants to kill me. There are a lot of people who want to kill you which isnt something I ever thought Id say with 100% sincerity, Chad replied, tilting his head. Can I ask how you know this? The voices in my head told me so. Chad turned away from Nathans face and stared out at the horizon. Oookaayy, he said slowly. I regret asking. Maybe I should do a little interrogation, Nathan said. Maybe I should do it. Because youre clearly not all there right now. I have no idea what youre talking about. Exactly. Thats the problem. They approached Bree. Nathaniel, Chad, she nodded at them. Good to see youre in good health. Yeah, thanks! Chad said. We were actually hoping we could get to know you better. She raised an eyebrow. Why, exactly? Oh, you know, youre our glorious leader, but I feel like I barely know anything about you Dont lie. You people are terrible at it. Chads expression froze in an awkward smile. Nathan drummed his fingers against his side, arms crossed, before stepping a little closer to Bree. I have reason to believe someone is planning to kill me here. Thats quite an accusation, Bree said. It is, but better safe than sorry. And now youre going around interrogating the various members of the party? Bree asked. Not a bad plan. You couldve let me in earlierI think having a living lie detector wouldve been pretty helpful. Chads eyes flickered toward Nathan, measuring his reaction, before giving the slightest nod. Right, well, whos the most likely suspect? Derek? I obviously havent known him for long, but I dont think theres any real reason to believe hed murder someone but we should still check, Bree said. We can safely rule out my lieutenants. Ive known them since the tutorial, so that pretty much clears them. What about the vets? Any thoughts on them? Theyve got the power. I think theyre all in the top 10,000. Still, they act more like wounded animals than killers. Theyre too old, theyve seen too muchtheyre only here out of necessity. I dont think theyre murderers. If its going to be anyone, its probably Derek or one of his lackeys. So I guess wed better get to interrogating them, huh? Nathan said. Bree nodded. She turned and shouted at the group. Were taking a break! Everyone sit down!
Nathan and Chad made their way over to Derek, who was leaning against a tree, sharpening his sword with a whetstone. His two lackeysa wiry, sharp-eyed man named Jeremy and a burly, silent woman named Melstood nearby, watching the pair approach with suspicion. Derek, my man, whats up? Chad said Derek didnt look up from his blade. My sword. My sword is up, about to impale itself through your ass unless you get away from me. Chad laughed. Funny! Anyway, we were hoping we could learn a little more about you. Derek finally looked up, his eyes narrowing. Eat shit and die. Chads smile didnt waver, but Nathan stepped forward, his arms crossed. Someones planning to kill me, and we need to know if its you. Derek paused, his sharpening slowing as he raised an eyebrow. Wait, what? Someones trying to kill you? He let out a short, incredulous laugh. Why? What the hell did you even do to piss someone off that badly? And whered you even get that info? Sounds like paranoia to me. I have my sources. And its not paranoia if its true. Derek snorted, sheathing his sword. Yeah, okay. Look, I dont like you, Nathan. Youre arrogant and irritating. But killing you? Thats not my style. Ive got bigger problems to deal with. Like what? Chad asked. Like her, Derek said, jerking his head toward Bree, who was still standing at the edge of the group. Shes a terrible leader. Shes too cautious, too soft. Were in a war, and shes acting like were on a picnic. If anyones going to get us killed, its her. Nathan exchanged a glance with Chad. Dereks disdain for Bree was palpable, but his hatred seemed directed more at her leadership than at Nathan personally. Still, they couldnt rule him out entirely. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. What about your lackeys? Nathan said, nodding toward Jeremy and Mel. You trust them? Derek smirked. Theyre loyal. But if youve got questions for them, go ahead. Just dont waste my time. Nathan and Chad turned their attention to Jeremy and Mel. Jeremy was lean and wiry, with a sharp, calculating gaze. Mel, on the other hand, was broad-shouldered and silent, her arms crossed as she stared them down. So, Chad began, either of you got a reason to want Nathan dead? Jeremy smirked. Oh, yeah, totally. I wake up every morning thinking, How can I make Nathans life harder today? Nathan frowned. This isnt a joke. Neither is my answer, Jeremy said. I dont care about you, Nathan. Youre not worth the effort. Mel remained silent, her expression unreadable. What about you? Chad asked her. Got anything to say? Mel shrugged. If I wanted you dead, youd already be dead. Chad raised an eyebrow. Well, thats reassuring. Nathan studied them both. Jeremys sarcasm and Mels bluntness didnt exactly clear them of suspicion, but they didnt seem like immediate threats either. Still, he made a mental note to keep an eye on them.
Nathan leaned against a gnarled oak tree, its bark rough against his shoulder as he studied Chad''s expression. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath. Even the usual rustle of leaves had died down to an eerie stillness. "Look, I know Derek''s the obvious choice," Nathan said. "But something about this doesn''t add up." Chad gave him a long look. "Look, I trust you, dude, but are you sure this isn''t just paranoia? After everything that''s happened..." "You''re right about Derek being too obvious," Bree cut in, her tone measured. "But Nathan, we''ve been chasing shadows for weeks now. At some point, we have to consider that maybe we''re seeing conspiracy where there isn''t any. For that matter, you still havent explained where you got this information from. Nathan met Chads eyes. Itll take too long to explain and Ill sound insane. But I think this is a legitimate threat. Please, just go with me on this. Chad clicked his tongue. Fine. He glanced at Bree. Did you pick up anything when we talked with Derek? Bree shifted her weight, drawing their attention. My ability confirms it," she said. "When we questioned Derek and his people, there was no deception in their words. Just the usual political maneuvering." "Great," Nathan muttered. "So we''re back to square one." He ran a hand through his hair. Chad''s lips quirked into a half-smile. "You know what''s funny? For all Derek''s posturing, he''s probably the least likely suspect. Someone targeting you wouldn''t broadcast it like that." He paused. "They''d be smart enough to stay under the radar." "Which means we need to look at everyone," Bree said. "Even the unlikely suspects." "The vets," Nathan said, thinking of the old man whod defended him. "We should talk to them next." Chad groaned, the sound carrying more theatrical weight than actual protest. "The vets? Come on, man. Leave the poor guys alone, theyve been through enough. "That''s exactly why we should talk to them," Nathan insisted. "They''re the perfect covereveryone dismisses them, barely pays attention to them. Who better to notice things nobody else does?" "Or they could just be exactly what they seem," Chad said. "A bunch of old-timers who shouldnt really be here. Bree''s expression remained neutral, but Nathan caught the slight narrowing of her eyes. "Either way, we need to be thorough. My ability works best in direct conversationif we talk to them, at least we can rule them out definitively." "Fine," Chad said. But when this turns into another dead end, I reserve the right to say ''I told you so.''"
The vets were seated in a circle. The old man Nathan had spoken to before sat at the center, his gnarled hands resting on his knees as he stared into the fire. His eyes, though clouded with age, held a sharpness that belied his weathered appearance. The othersa scarred woman and a one-armed mansat silently beside him, their expressions distant and haunted. Nathan''s hand instinctively brushed his weapon as they approached. The old man had been helpful before, sure, but these days that didn''t mean much. The man looked up as they drew near, his gaze settling on Nathan. Boy?" he said. "Yeah," Nathan said, nodding. "We''ve got some questions. Mind if we join you?" The old man gestured to the ground in front of the fire. "Suit yourselves." Nathan sat down, Chad and Bree following suit. For a moment, no one spoke, the crackling of the fire filling the silence. "We''re trying to figure out who might want to kill me," Nathan said finally, cutting straight to the point. "And we thought we''d start by ruling people out." The old man raised an eyebrow. "And you''re talking with us?" "Yeah," Nathan said. "You''ve helped before. But I need to be sure." The old man chuckled, a dry, rasping sound. "Smart boy. But you''re wasting your time. We''ve got no quarrel with you. We''ve seen enough death to last a lifetime. We''re not looking to add to it if we can avoid it." Nathan studied the man''s weathered face, looking for any sign of deception. "Can I ask... why you''re here? I mean, you''re a veteran. You fought on earth. Why fight again? Why stick around in the Third Circle?" The old man''s expression darkened, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then he sighed, his shoulders slumping as if weighed down by an invisible burden. "I had children once," he said, his voice low and heavy with grief. "Two sons and a daughter. Bright, brave kids. They didn''t deserve what happened to them." Nathan frowned. "What happened?" "The circles took them," the old man said, his voice trembling. "One by one, they fell, each in a different circle. My eldest went firstthought he could take on a monster alone. My daughters, twins they were clever, but cleverness isn''t always enough. And my youngest..." He trailed off, his hands clenching into fists. "He was just a boy. Too young for this. Too young to die." The fire crackled, the sound unnaturally loud in the heavy silence that followed. Nathan felt his earlier suspicion melting away. The pain in the old man''s voice was too raw, too real to be faked. "I understand," Bree said. "I lost someone too. My son. He was only twelve when he entered the circles. I thought I could protect him, but..." She trailed off. He didn''t make it." The old man looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly as if seeing her for the first time. "You know the pain, then," he said, his voice softer now. "The weight of it. The guilt." Bree nodded, her gaze steady. "Every day. But I keep going because I have to. Because if I don''t, then his death... it''ll all be for nothing." "Exactly," the old man said, nodding. "Some deaths serve a purpose. That''s what keeps me going. Every soul claimed by the circles brings us closer to" He stopped abruptly, his jaw tightening. "To what?" Chad asked, his voice unnaturally calm. Nathan glanced at his friend, surprised by his tone. "To making things right," the old man said quickly. "How long were you in the tutorial circle?" Chad asked. The old man''s expression didn''t change. "Same as everyone else. Few days, maybe a week." Hes telling the truth, Bree said. Chad narrowed his eyes. Nathan glanced at him. What was Chad thinking? Chad leaned forward. Something doesnt hold up. "Chad," Nathan started, but Chad held up a hand. "Your four children died in different circles?" Chad continued. We''ve only been through the tutorial and three circles. And nobody''s died in the Third yetwe just got here. So either you somehow got confused, or your kid died in the past three days or" Thats exactly what happened the old man interrupted. Or youre tricking us. Do you remember how long the Harrowed Hands tutorial was? Chad pressed. A hell of a lot longer than a week. Thats how he built his organization. And you tried to deceive us earlier, make us think it was shorter. The old man blinked slowly. I did not decieve you. Bree confirmed it. You said it took a few days, maybe a week." He paused, watching the old man''s face. "Thing is, I''ve spent enough time reading people to know when someone''s leaving out important details. When someone''s trying too hard to seem normal." The scarred woman and one-armed man exchanged sharp glances, their hands moving toward their weapons. "Most folks who make it through the tutorial, they''re precise about how long they were there," Chad said. "It''s kind of a big deal. You count the days, waiting, wondering. But you brushed past it, like you didn''t want us thinking too hard about it." The old man was still. Bree confirmed it Bree relies on bodily reactions. Heartbeats. Microscopic vibrations and movements. Chad crossed his legs. You know what I think? I think you figured out how to trick Brees abilities. Didnt think that anyone would push if she signed off on you, especially with that old man persona. Unfortunately for you, Im kind of a stubborn asshole. The old man didnt say anything. Im just gonna throw it out there. Are you a member of the Harrowed Hand?" Chad asked. Nathan''s blood ran cold as the pieces clicked into place. The old man''s face had gone completely still. The old man froze. For a split second, his expression faltereda flicker of something dark and unreadable passing over his face. Then it was gone, replaced by the same weary calm as before. "I don''t know what you''re talking about," he said, his voice steady. Bree grimaced. He''s lying. The scarred woman and the one-armed man exchanged a glance, their hands moving toward their weapons. Nathan tensed, his instincts screaming at him to move. "Chad! he started, but it was too late. The old man''s hand flashed out, a dagger appearing in his grip as if from nowhere. The blade gleamed in the firelight as it arced toward Nathan''s throat. 93 - Silas exactly as sharp as I hoped, Nathan muttered. hell are those?! Derek screamed. Now. Nathan lunged, harpoon thrusting toward the mans neck. He was holding back in the forest. Clever bastard. know the monster you serve. The madness you enable. Who is this guy? The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
were innocent? What if they could help him? What if this was exactly the kind of support he needed? Why were they trying to assassinate him? And that wasnt an easy question for Nathan to answer.
94 - Gods are Such Small Creatures For goodnesss sake not telling her about Thalassa before he realized that anything Vee said would probably be dismissed as the wild ramblings of a mad scientist. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
95 - Sympathy "Where does that portal lead?" Her voice echoed through the empty concrete space. Chad''s mouth moved, forming the beginnings of an apology. Nathan met Bree''s gaze with a steady stare. "A dimensional pocket. I use it for storage," he said. "You already have an inventory." "The inventory has its limits." "In theory. No one''s actually reached them." "I did." Bree''s lips quirked up. "Would you mind if I stepped inside to take a look?" Nathan''s muscles tensed almost imperceptibly. "Yes, I would mind." She didn''t say anything and for a moment all Nathan could hear was the blood roaring in his ears. Then she held her hands up in surrender. "I get it, I get it. It''s your business. I won''t push." Nathan exhaled. "Good" "But you know," she interrupted, "the questions keep piling up. The assassination, your cultivation, and now this? I''m starting to think there''s something you''re not telling me, Nathaniel." "And if I am?" Nathan''s eyes narrowed. "What about you? Why are you so interested in my portal?" Bree hesitated. We''re working together. Don''t I deserve to know the full capabilities of my partner?" "You''ve seen my full capabilities," Nathan said. "Have I seen yours?" Bree scoffed. Of course. Chad coughed in the background. Bullshit Bree studied him for a moment. "You know," she said. Really strong people typically have a soulbound town... until it collapses or gets stolenwhich is what usually happens." Her eyes flickered to the portal. "You''d have to be extremely strong to maintain and hold one." Nathan''s fingers twitched. His dexterity surpassed hers; if it came to it, he could take her down before she even blinked. But her Constitution was likely through the roof "Why are you even here?" Nathan asked. Bree held up her hands, a faint yellow glow emanating from them. "Did you think I was joking about the training?" she said. "It''s time for you to up your game." "You should''ve just said that from the start."
The two headed up toward the roof of one of the buildings. Chad had been asked to stay behindboth because Nathan was fearful that Chad might give something away, and also because Bree wanted there to be no distractions. The wind beat against Nathan''s jacket, flapping it like a drum. "Your abilities," Bree said. "You''ve got water, windis there anything else?" Nathan opened his mouth to mention lightningbefore the word stopped on the tip of his tongue. If worse came to worst, he wanted to have an ace in the hole. He doubted Bree would become an enemy, but still. "That''s it," he said. Bree narrowed her eyes. She knew he was lyingof course she did. That was her whole thing. But would she call him out on it? "Right," she said. "Let''s focus on wind." Nathan nearly breathed out a sigh of relief. "Let''s." "Have you done any practice on your own?" Nathan shook his head. "I haven''t. Things have been a little hectic." "That''s fine" Bree stepped toward the edge of the building. "Based on your progress earlier, there''s a good chance you''ll get it usable by the end of this training session anyway." Nathan shoved his hands in his pockets. "So, are we gonna get started?" "Try to do what you did back in the forest." Nathan nodded. He held his hand out. Energy flooded from his core to the tips of his fingers. The wind smashed into Nathan from behind, Bree almost tumbled off the building before she managed to backpedal. "Okay, I guess we don''t need to review," Bree muttered. "Now you need to learn how to manipulate it." "Yeah, that''s not too hard, right? Just focus on moving it around." Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Bree''s left eye twitched. "Just move it around? Do you seriously think it''ll be that simple?" "That''s more or less how difficult it was for water." "Of course. Of course it was. Why am I even here?" Nathan activated the wind once more. He gave it a mental command to go to the left and it didnt respond. The wind continued to gust against him from directly behind. He frowned. "It''s not like water." Bree tilted her head. "What do you mean?" "Water is tricky, but it wants to move with me. It listens to me. I feel like the wind just wants to go where it wants." Bree tilted her head down and rubbed her chin. "Of course you have different affinities with different elements. That makes sense." "Huh?" "For me, once I understood earth cultivation, it felt reliable. Like a workhorse, or an old friend. It does what I need it to, every time. It shows up." Nathan briefly summoned a few drops of water over his hand. "I don''t think I really feel much of anything when it comes to water anymore," Nathan said. "It''s not more complex than moving my hands." For a split second, Nathan caught a look in Bree''s eyes. Her breath seemed to stop for a moment. It was like she was staring at a thousand tons of gold. All at once, the look disappeared. Nathan narrowed his eyes. What was she thinking? "Water was easy," Bree said. "From the sounds of it, your affinity is through the roof with it. Wind you probably still have a high affinity with it, but not as high as with water. So for the first time, you''re going to have to struggle to control it. That''s normaland it goes away with consistent practice. For now, I want you to focus on trying to lower your power output. Stop with the massive hurricane gales and try to tone it down to a gentle breeze." Nathan spent the next two or three hours attempting to do just that. By the end of it, he managed to start with the hurricane gales, as Bree had put it, and lower it down to more extremely strong summer winds.
Nathan slumped to the ground, breathing hard. Concentrating so intensely had taken a lot out of him, even though physically he hadnt been doing much. In fact, he felt more exhausted than he had in a long time, maybe even going back to the tutorial circle. "Worn out?" Bree asked. "Yeah, that really took it out of me." "You''re probably not used to the strain of manipulating your ki that much. It comes so easily for you," Bree paused. "It''s a pretty amazing thing, you know." "It is what it is." Bree was quiet for a moment before she broke the silence. "How big is that dimensional pocket of yours?" "Not that big," Nathan lied as easily as he breathed. "Maybe enough to transport a handful of people, but not much more." Bree scoffed. It was clear she didnt believe him, but it didnt seem like she was willing to confront him on it either. "I''m not a good leader," Bree said. "I''m the drill sergeant, the woman you come to when you need discipline in the ranks. I''m a tactician. I''m an organizer. But a leader? No." "What do you mean?" "I mean what I say, and I say what I mean. I''m not a leader. A real leaderthe kind of leader we need right nowwould be inspiring. They would be capable of getting people to rise above their own limitations, to keep fighting to reach the next circle. And we need that. The challenges are only going to get tougher, and we need every fighter we can get our hands on. She paused. I can''t do that." Nathan rubbed his hands against the concrete ground. "You could learn." "No." Bree laughed dryly. "I''m not sure it''s something that can be learned. I think at least part of that inspiration has to come from truly believing it''s possible." Nathan''s eyes wandered over to Bree. Her eyes were dimmer than usual, lacking their usual luster. You dont? "I dont. It''s hard to see the point now, anyway." Nathans mouth went dry. Your son, right?" Yes. Bree looked out toward the setting sun. "If the circles can take away someone so bright, then they can take anyone. And even if we make it out, will it even be worth it?" Nathan''s nose twitched. "Of course it would be. Wed be free." A faint grin lit up Brees face at Nathan''s words. "See, that''s what I''m talking about, she said. The circles havent broken you yet. Or if they did, you managed to come back, reforged and stronger. You dont show it muchI think you try to keep it hidden for some reasonbut you have something that very few other people in the circle have at this point. " Nathan rolled his eyes. He didnt know where Bree was going with this. "And what is this mysterious thing I have?" "Hope. You truly believe that you can escape the circles. Nathan stood up and started walking toward the stairs. "Thanks, I guess." "You know what I''m asking you to do, Nathaniel." Nathan stopped at the stairs. "I''m sorry about your son. I''m sure he was a good man." "He was a boy." Sympathy, cold and heavy and exactly what Nathan didnt want to feel right now, slammed into him like a brick. He suppressed the emotion and continued down the stairs.
"Everything go well with Bree?" Nathan nodded at Chad. "It did." Chad raised a single eyebrow, clearly disbelieving. Nathan was starting to get tired of how easily people could read him. He idly wondered if there was a skill or something to help hide his facial expressions. "Yeah, while you were out," Chad said, "I actually had a little adventure of my own." "What happened?" Nathan asked. "I was just heading out to pick up some food when I got swarmed by a mob. They wanted to know what the progress was on getting to the next circle. It was pretty scaryI wasn''t sure what to do." "How did you get out of it?" A lady gave me a hand, actually. She swooped in out of nowhere and caused a distraction. Grabbed me, threw me into an alleyway, and saved my ass." Nathan grunted. "I assume you got her number or something?" "Numbers don''t work down here, and even if they did, she was gone the next second." Nathan noted the encounter in his head. If they ran into this lady, he''d have to thank her for helping Chad out. But for now, Nathan had something else he needed to discuss. "I actually need your help with something." Chad clapped his hands together and grinned. "Yes, come before Elder Chad and speak of your troubles. Surely he will be able to help you. Is it romantic? Platonic? Romantic-platonic?" "Actually, it has to do with fishing." Chad drooped. "Gosh dang it." "This is a bit of a long shot, but I''m looking for an unusual pond. The water is kind of... translucent? And it feels weird if you dip your hands into itlike mist?" "A misty pond?" Chad glanced around. "Wait, it''s starting to get dark. Let''s get some light in here first." They gathered some scraps of wood that had been set aside and lit them on fire. Smoke filled the room, so they opened a window to let it out. "There we go," Chad said. "So, you were talking about a misty pond?" "Yeah, I know the odds are basically nil, but I was wondering if youve heard anything about it?" "As a matter of fact, I have!" "Really?" Nathan twisted up his face. "How?" "Dude, when''s the last time you checked Dither?" "Sometime in the last Circle...?" "Well, everyone in Pocket Chadthat''s what we decided to call this pockethas a group. We''ve been sharing information on interesting things weve found. Somebody actually posted a picture of exactly what you''re talking about. They didnt find any loot, but they left the location." "That''s perfect, Nathan said. Chad wrote down the directions, and Nathan immediately stepped out of the building, walking into the dark, deserted streets. As he walked, something tugged at the edge of his mind. His eyes flickered behind him, catching sight of a few shadows trailing him. It seemed he had some uninvited guests. 96 - Magical Bullets arent Super Effective The easiest thing to do would have been to turn around and run after whoever was following him. The problem was that if there were multiple assassins, he''d be letting several of them go. No, in classic Chad style, Nathan was going to lure them in. Eventually, Nathan reached the outskirts of the urban pocket. The buildings gave way to forest, as they always did. After several more minutes of walking, he stopped. They were close. They had gotten overconfident. Nathan''s lips twitched. He broke off to his left, behind him, and slammed into a shadowed figure. The figure went to the ground, crashing with a loud thud. Nathan raised his hand to punch the figure''s face when he caught sight of who it was. "Derek?" Nathan said. "Jesus Christ, what the hell is wrong with you!?" Derek yelled. Nathan hesitantly stood back up and away from Derek. "You''ve been following me for the past hour. Why am I the crazy one?" Derek pushed himself to his feet and brushed off his dark cloak. Out of the shadows, several other figures stepped forward. "We wanted to make sure that Bree''s men weren''t following you." "Okay? Why?" Nathan said. "Look, it''s" Derek paused. "It''s complicated." "Then how about you make it uncomplicated," Nathan said. Derek kicked his foot against the ground, then sighed. "You like the lady, am I wrong?" "She''s my partner. We work together toward a mutual goal." "Still, you''ve got to admit that for all of her abilities, she''s probably not the best one to be leading this pocket." Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?" "We''ve had our differences, Nathaniel. I''ll admit, I''ve said some things that I shouldn''t have. But I think now''s the time to put all that aside for the greater good." "You want me to help you overthrow her." "Basically, yeah." Nathan squinted his eyes. "Who would replace her?" "Me, of course." Nathan resisted the urge to burst out laughing. Instead, he kept his facial expression still. Thankfully, it had long since turned dark. Derek probably wouldn''t notice Nathan''s twitching lips. "What gives you the qualifications to be a leader?" Nathan said. "I''m young, I''ve got ambition. I''ve got a group of followers who believe in me," Derek said. "Have you seen Bree? How much does she actually do? The little she''s done could be done by anyone else." "Still, she seems to be doing a good job," Nathan said. "Has she?" Derek said. "Because from where I''m standing, the person responsible for getting us through the first dungeon was you, not her. She may have found the location, but that wasn''t even her. It was the people she assigned to do it. I think the truth is that we all followed her because she''s the seventh highest, not because she''s the best qualified." Honestly, Nathan kind of heard where the kid was coming from. How much of their success could be attributed to her? It was a tricky question. It was also a question Nathan was completely uninterested in answering. "Look, Bree isn''t the perfect leader," Nathan said. "But I can guarantee you''re gonna do a much worse job. Besides that, I really have no interest in starting revolutions while we''re in the middle of an apocalypse." Derek''s jaw clenched. "Is that your final decision?" "Yeah, it is." The sound of thunder echoed in Nathan''s ear, and something slammed into his chest. He stumbled backward and reached out toward his chest. Something had pierced straight through his jacket and hit his skin, bruising it. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. A man stepped out of the shadows, a hard look in his eyes. He was holding a shotgun with runes engraved along the barrel. "Sorry about this," Derek said with a dramatic sigh that screamed ''I practiced this in the mirror.'' "I was really hoping we could be allies." Nathan pushed against his woundsuperficial. He''d heal up in a day. "At this very moment, you probably feel blood dripping down your insides. That was an enchanted slug, custom-made by an arcane smith. I don''t care how high your Constitution is, nothing can survive that." Nathan poked at his wound. No blood. Just a dull ache and what would probably be an impressive bruise by tomorrow. "As long as Chad stays out of our way, we''ll try to avoid getting him involved in this." Nathan rotated his shoulder around. It kind of stung, but he''d definitely had worse. Like that time he stubbed his toe while carrying groceries. "Do you have any last words?" Derek said, his voice dropping an octave in what Nathan assumed was his ''intimidating villain'' impression. Nathan stood up and brushed himself off. All of the people in the group stumbled backward. "What the hell!?" Derek yelled. "How are you standing?!" The shotgun guy raised his weapon again, panic in his eyes. Nathan moved on pure reflexone moment he was standing ten feet away, the next he was right in front of the gunman. There was a sickening crunch as Nathan''s fist connected with the man''s sternum, driving straight through flesh and bone. The man''s eyes bulged in shock before the light in them went out. Nathan yanked his hand back, now covered in gore, as the man collapsed in a heap at his feet. The forest went deadly silent. "Oh shit," Nathan muttered, staring at his bloody fist. He hadn''t meant to hit that hard. Dammit, these were his good pants. One of Derek''s lackeys vomited into a bush. Derek''s face had gone the color of spoiled milk. "T-that''s impossible! That... you just... Todd! "Yeah, well," Nathan shrugged, wiping his hand on a nearby tree, "maybe Todd should''ve picked better friends." He flicked a bit of... something... off his sleeve. "So! Who''s next? Anyone else feeling lucky?" The remaining lackeys started backing away slowly. Nathan snapped his fingers, and water materialized out of the air. It rushed forward and slammed into all the figures, knocking them to the ground like bowling pins. Derek tried to scramble away, but Nathan casually strolled over and planted his foot on Derek''s chest, pinning him like a bug. "P-please," Derek wheezed, "we can talk about this" "Here''s the thing, Derek," Nathan said, pressing down just enough to make breathing difficult but not impossible. "I''ve killed a lot of people lately. Like, a genuinely concerning number. I''ve honestly lost count, which my therapist would probably have a field day with." Derek made a sound like a squeaky toy being stepped on. "The only reason the rest of you aren''t joining Todd in the great loot drop in the sky is because I''m trying this new thing where I don''t murder everyone who mildly inconveniences me." Nathan leaned down, his smile all teeth. "It''s called personal growth." "G-growth is good!" Derek squeaked. "So here''s what''s going to happen. You''re going to take your little rebellion club and fuck all the way off. If I see you plotting against Bree again, I won''t be in such a generous mood. Got it?" Derek nodded so fast Nathan worried his head might detach. "Great!" Nathan removed his foot and stepped back. "Oh, and Derek? Next time you want to shoot someone, maybe make sure they''re actually mortal first." Underneath Nathan''s chest, he felt Thalassa''s necklace flicker as Derek and his remaining followers scrambled to their feet and fled into the darkness, one of them dragging a second vomiter behind them. Nathan looked down at the dead man and sighed. "This is why we can''t have nice things."
Nathan continued to walk toward the spirit pool, frowning as he thought of the earlier encounter. He hadnt meant to get so violent. Even now, that familiar voice whispered to him, insisting that Derek had tried to kill himthat the threat had to be eliminated. The voice wasnt entirely wrong. Derek had tried to kill him. But in the end, no real harm had been done. Nathan hadnt heard of any of Brees lieutenants disappearing in the night, so he was reasonably sure no one had been killed. Besides, the idea of being someones judge, jury, and executioner made him deeply uncomfortable. Something tugged at his neck. He pulled out the necklace and stared at it. The coral shell at its center glowed dimly, a crack running through it. This things about due for replacement. The only problem was that hed have to speak to her. Nathan had a feeling Thalassa wouldnt cooperate unless he did the same. Of course, there was always the option of trying to work through his issues mentally. Nathan idly wondered if there were any therapists still alive this far into the Nine Circles. Probably not. But it might be worth a try. Soon, he reached a clearinghe was getting close. His feet slowed, and he came to a stop. In the area where Chad had said there would be a spirit pool, there was nothing but an empty crater. Nathan clicked his tongue. Well, shit.
At this point, Nathan was feeling pretty down. The sun was rising, and the only thing hed accomplished was beating up a particularly stupid teenagerat least he was pretty sure Derek was a teenagerand finding a crater in the middle of a forest. Not exactly the height of productivity. He made his way back toward the town. He caught a whiff of somethingsmoke. And were these trees always here? A sinking weight settled in the pit of his stomach. In the distance, he spotted a bodyimpaled by vines. He kept walking. Every few feet, hed see another body. All of them were differentsome old, some young. Eventually, he came upon a recognizable buildingthe one hed trained on top of. It was now overgrown with roots and plants. Nathan knew what had happened, though he found it hard to stomach. The Tree Wrath had attacked. And he hadnt been there to stop it. Nathaniel! He turned to see Bree. Behind her stood a half-dozen of her men. She glared at him, her expression sharp and unyielding. This would be an awkward conversation. 97 - Get Out of my Swamp! This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Like the fact that my sister is alive, and I know it. Like the fact that the Harrowed Hand has offered to help me find her. Like the fact that Bree wants me to take over leadership of the survivor camp.
The Rotwood FenA steaming, disease-ridden swamp where everything was rotting but somehow still alive. Trees wept black sap, fungal horrors rose from the muck, and stepping in the wrong place might get you dragged under. Somewhere in the decay lay the Blightbloom, a parasitic flower that fed on corruption. Try not to breathe too hard. Or touch anything. Or exist, really. Nathaniel? 98 - Nathan Does Fishing Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Come on, you stubborn bastard. I know you want it.
Go. [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [You have leveled up!] [Skill obtained: Ocean''s Kiss (Silver)] 99 - Guilt Tripping [Blight Bloom Flower] This ominous purple flower looks like its been plucked straight from a villains garden. Its one of four maddeningly elusive components needed to craft the Sigil of Passageyour golden ticket from the cushy Third Circle to the nightmarish Fourth. Cushy? The system was calling this circle cushy? [Oceans Kiss] (Silver) The evolution of [Oceans Embrace], this blessing carries the depth of the abyss and the gentleness of the shore. When called upon, liquid sapphire light swirls around the wounded, weaving through flesh and bone like the touch of an unseen current. Wounds close, pain fades, and the weary are restoredyet the ocean does not grant without change. Those kissed by the tide may find themselves momentarily lighter, their movements guided by unseen waves, their senses sharpened as if hearing the distant song of the deep.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Shit! Ive been made! Keep. It. Cool. There was no guarantee hed been exposed. Even if he had, he might still be able to talk his way out of it. When I escape from here, theyll be the first to go. 100 - Good News! Well, now I feel bad. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Where were you? Who was that woman?
How do I grab it?
do know what it is," Nathan said.
101 - Falsehoods Nathan danced beneath the sword''s arc, his shoe slamming into the man''s wrist with a sickening crack. The blade clattered to the ground, but the man staggered back, yanking another weapon from his inventorya serrated dagger this time. His allies circled like vultures, but Nathan ignored them. His focus narrowed to the sneering face in front of him. "You really think you''ll walk out of here?" the man spat, feinting left before lunging. Nathan sidestepped, the dagger grazing his ribs. Hot blood seeped into his shirt, but he didn''t flinch. He''d fought through worse. The man pressed the attack, driving Nathan toward a jagged outcrop of rocks. "She was Harrowed Hand, and we put her down for it!" Nathan faltered, the words hitting harder than any blade. "What did you just say?" "Your sister. The one you''ve been searching for? Found her speaking with another Harrowed Hand member. Didn''t even try to deny it." That didnt make sense. You''re lying. My sister is" Dead, now. And you will be, too. The harpoon in Nathans hand trembled. "You killed her?" "Put her down like the traitor she was," the man said. "She begged at the end. Kept saying you''d come for her." Nathan lunged. Not at the man''s throat, but at his knee. The barbed tip punched through leather and flesh, and the man screamed, collapsing onto one leg. Nathan yanked the weapon free, spraying crimson across the dirt. Before the man could react, Nathan was on hima knee pinning his chest, the harpoon''s edge hovering a hair''s breadth from his eyeball. "My sister was alive," Nathan muttered. "All this time... and she was Harrowed Hand?" The man writhed, panic dilating his pupils. "Y-you should thank us! She betrayed everything!" "WHERE? Nathan pressed the harpoon deeper, drawing a bead of blood from the man''s brow. "Where did you kill her? Where is her body?" The man''s bravado shattered. "East gully! Past the broken oak! She''s there with the other one we caught. Just... just let me go!" Nathan didn''t move. For a heartbeat, the clearing held its breath. His sisteralive all this time, part of the Harrowed Hand, and now... dead before he could even find her He slammed the harpoon''s blunt end into the man''s temple, knocking him unconscious. He rose, scanning the crowd. "Anyone else want to tell me about my sister today?" Silence. He shouldered past them, the man''s sword now tucked into his belt. Their eyes followed him, but no one dared lift a blade. "I''m going to find her," Nathan said. "And then I''m coming for Bree. And none of you will die quick."
Nathan''s thoughts spiraled in circles. His breath came in heavy, deep gasps, and he felt like he was going to collapse. But he needed to see. He needed to confirm for himself that this was some kind of terrible mistake or if his sister was really dead. What if they were telling the truth? What if his sister really was part of the Harrowed Hand? But then again, what if Silas was right? What if the Harrowed Hand wasn''t all that bad, and this was all a great misunderstanding? But they still executed someone. At least, that''s how they put it. Was that the only option? Lying on the ground was a body. A familiar body. Blonde hair, her back facing out. A stab wound directly through the chest. To the side was the body of Silas, the old man. The blood still hadn''t dried yet, soaked into the grass and dirt. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Nathan was frozen. But he had to confirm it for himself. He reached out and pushed the body onto its back. He collapsed to his knees. She was dead. His sister. The woman he''d spent three circles trying to find and he never even got to say goodbye. He was going to kill them. It didn''t matter if they were right. It didn''t matter if she was Harrowed Hand or not. In that moment, Nathan decided he was going to kill every single one of Bree''s men. Then he''d finish off Bree herself. Wrong color. Nathan froze. It wasn''t the first time he''d heard something like thisjust brief, disconnected thoughts that weren''t his own. "I''ve lost it," he muttered. Not sister. "What are you talking about?" Nathan furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head. "I think I would recognize my own sister" Eyes. Look. Nathan hesitated. The command was simple but insistent. He reached out for Sarah''s eyelids and pried them open. "I don''t see what I''m looking for" He froze. Her eyes were brown but "It''s not the right shade," Nathan muttered. Fake blood, came the whisper. Not real. Nathan zoomed in on the blood. He rubbed a finger against it and lifted it to his eyes. "Can I?" he said. He used basic inspect. [False Blood] "What the hell is going on?" He perked up and stood to his feet. He looked around in a circle. "Who are you? Are you one of the Wanderers?" No wanderer. Here. With you. He shook his head. He had to stay focused. Who cared if he was going crazy? Who cared As he finished turning in a circle, he felt a strange sensation in his arm. A faint wiggling, like something shifting beneath his skin. He froze, his breath catching. Slowly, he rolled up his sleeve. The plant armhis armwas moving. The half-black, half-white rose attached to it gave a little wiggle, its petals trembling slightly. The sensation was unmistakable now. The voice was coming from the flower. The rose bobbed once, a simple movement that seemed almost like acknowledgment. "Are you... talking to me?" Nathan asked, staring at his arm. Yes. Help. "Did you... did you see what happened here?" Nathan asked, gesturing to the bodies. Not real sister. Wrong inside. Nathan felt his arm twitch again, the vines tightening briefly around his shoulder. "What do you mean, ''wrong inside''?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady while talking to his own limb. No... sparkle. Different. And just like that, the rose curled in on itself, petals closing tight. The presence in his mind faded, like a candle being snuffed out. "Wait," Nathan said, staring at his arm. "Don''t go to sleep now! What do you mean by ''different''? How are you even talking to me?" No response. The flower remained closed, dormant. Nathan groaned in frustration. "Of course. Just when I''m starting to get answers." He stared between the two bodies. He remembered back when he''d first talked with Silas, the man''s face had flickered like a television screen. An illusion. Could this also be an illusion of some sort? Nathan wasn''t sure. But he was fairly certain this wasn''t his sister, at the very least. "But then... why would someone do this? Why fake a body?" And how did they get the picture of his sister in the first place? The Wanderers have to be involved in this, they''re the only ones who know what my sister looks like to this level of detail. His eyes turned back toward his arm. The rose remained tightly closed, unresponsive. Nathan felt a chill run down his spine. Having a sentient plant attached to him that came and went as it pleased was unsettling. He turned around and started walking toward the city. He and Bree needed to have a long conversation to figure out what the hell was happening. He held his hand up and made a fist. Wind exploded from behind them before settling into a gentle breeze. To his surprise, the rose suddenly unfurled, its petals stretching out as if reaching for the wind. He felt a ripple of somethingexcitement? wonder?emanate from it. "Oh, you''re awake now?" Nathan said. "Care to explain what''s going on with these bodies?" But the flower was already closing again, petals folding inward as the brief moment of awareness faded. "Hey!" Nathan snapped his fingers near the flower. "Don''t fall asleep again! I need answers!" The flower remained closed, unresponsive. Nathan''s left eye twitched. "Unbelievable." He continued walking, muttering curses under his breath. As the city came into view, he glanced down at his arm again. "I don''t even know what to call you," he said, though he didn''t expect an answer. He continued toward the town, frustrated by the plant''s sporadic consciousness. He needed to focus on what to say to Bree, to get to the bottom of this fake body situation. He was nearly at the town''s edge when the flower suddenly stiffened against his arm. Danger. Below! "What" A split second later, he sensed something approaching from below the ground. He jumped to the side as a spiked pillar of earth exploded where he had just been standing. Nathan''s jaw dropped. He knew only one person who could do attacks like that. "Nathan!" a woman shouted. "You''re going to pay!" Nathan dove to the right as another pillar erupted where he had been standing. "Bree! What the hell are you doing?" She stepped out of the dust created by her earth pillars. Her face was twisted, pure rage filling her eyes. "I''ll kill you," she said. "You murderer." 102 - Master of Disguise Nathan dove out of the way of an earth spike. Internally, his mind raced. What is she talking about? Did she want to kill me!? A faint whisper brushed against his consciousness: Danger. Nathan stiffened and realized he had been standing still for too long. He jumped to the side, but this time he was too late. A section of the spike dug into the back of his calf as he dodged. He fell to the ground but forced himself to stand up quickly. Somehow, the spike had managed to cut through his skin, causing blood to rapidly spill out. "Bree!" he shouted. "What the hell are you doing?" "Stop acting innocent!" she yelled back. "We know what you did." "You might want to explain to me what I supposedly did. What is this mysterious thing I''ve accomplished?" "Will you just shut up!? You killed them!" The pieces instantly clicked together in Nathan''s mind. They were being set up. The Wanderers wanted Nathan to come in here ready to fight and the same went for Bree. In the chaos, the Wanderers would come out and eliminate whoever was left. "Bree, you have to listen to methis is a trap" "Save it!" She held her hand out, and earthen spikes began to form underground. "I don''t want to hear another word out of your mouth." Nathan gritted his teeth. She''s past the point of discussion. The only thing they could do now is force her to listen. Crush her. Nathan''s eyes flickered down to the flower on his plant arm. He rolled down his sleeve. "I would prefer not to do that, if possible," he muttered. "Stop talking to yourself and hurry up and fight me!" Bree said. "I wasn''t talking to myself" Nathan shook his head. "Whatever, let''s do this." Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled out his harpoon. He was going to try to disable hertake her down without killing her. If worse came to worst, he would wear her down slowly until she was completely exhausted. But if he had his way, no blood would be shed this day. At least, not much. Maybe a little bit. Bree clenched her open hand into a fist. Immediately, Nathan felt rumblings from beneath the ground. He was about to be hemmed in from all sides. He jumped into the air and activated his wind cultivation. A powerful gust launched him forward toward Bree. Behind him, the earthen spikes erupted at lightning speed and crashed into the spot where he had just been. His body flew forward and slammed into Bree like a wrecking ball, sending them both to the ground. Her elbow shot out and snapped into his ribs with the force of a metal pipe. Nathan grunted but resisted the urge to cry out. Instead, he pulled back his fist and drove a punch directly into her solar plexus. It landed with a satisfying crack, and she wheezed out a pained groan. "You hit like a brick," she ground out. She slammed her fist against the ground, and the earth opened up behind her. She fell into it, then the hole shut before Nathan could fall in too, leaving Nathan alone at the surface. He stood to his feet and looked around. Where is she? A rumble beneath the earth. But he couldn''t tell where it was coming from. Left? Right? How did she do that? It''s like she disguised her presence! Just as much as Nathan had been holding back, it seemed she had been holding back on him too. His instincts roared at him, and he rolled forward. A moment later, a sequence of earthen spikes erupted from where he had been standing, shooting out to his side and behind him. He didn''t have a moment to think because another spike shot out. He jumped, but too lateit grazed his ankle. At this rate, he would die a death of a thousand cuts. The flower on his arm pulsed, and a simple impression formed in his mind: Below. Find. Nathan stiffened. Of course. He placed his hand to the ground. Instantly, roots burst forth from the tips of his fingers, through the concrete, and into the ground. He waited patientlythen A faint sensation flowed back through the roots: There. "Do it," Nathan said. Something shifted below. Nathan felt his energy pour into the roots, causing them to grow and expand. Then, the concrete exploded, and out came Bree with it. She flew out and fell to the ground, hitting it with a hard thud. She looked up and glared at Nathan. "Plants, huh? Is there anything you can''t do?" she spat. Nathan pulled away from the ground, the roots snapping off cleanly. "I wouldn''t say I was the one who did it. It was more a friend." Somehow, Bree hadn''t noticed his hand. He had managed to disguise itor at least, if she had seen it, she didn''t understand what had happened. "You tried to suffocate me," Bree said. "You''re a monster." Nathan winced. A faint feeling of confusion emanated from the flower. He looked down at his arm. "I thought that was supposed to be gentle." "Will you stop talking to yourself!" Bree slumped over, her breath coming rapidly. "Of course, you''re insane. Only a madman would do what you did." "I still have no idea what you''re talking about," Nathan said. "Are you seriously going to pretend" Bree straightened up and glared at him. "I''m talking about you killing all of my lieutenants!" Oh That explained a lot. "I know you''re mad right now," Nathan said. "But think about this for a second. Why on earth would I do that? Hell, where did you even get this information from?" "My right-hand man" Nathan''s mind flickered back to the encounter in the forest. What was going on? "Bree, we''ve both been played for fools," Nathan said. "I think someone with the ability to disguise themselves set this up so that we would kill each other." "That''s absurd. I verified their deaths myselfand why would my right-hand man lie to me?" "I don''t think they''re your men!" Bree froze. "What are you saying?" she asked. "When I was in the forest, I had a weird encounter. Your right-hand man was telling me that he believed I was a member of the Harrowed Hand. Not only that, but he claimed to have killed my sister. When I got to the body''s location, I realized something was wrong. It wasn''t my sister. It was a look-alikeI don''t know how or why, but they got one of the details wrong. Her eye color." Her knuckles lowered slightly. "That''s a ridiculous story." "It''s true. Think about ithow does this make any sense for me to do? If I were really trying to kill all of you, I would''ve done it in the dungeon or somewhere else, a place where it would''ve been much easier to hide any evidence." Bree''s knuckle dusters lowered completely to her sides. "That doesn''t But" She furrowed her eyebrows and looked at her hands. "If it wasn''t you Then who?" Her jaw locked up. "Look, if I''m a liar, then why haven''t I killed you already?" Nathan said. "Does this really seem like the behavior of someone who''s out to get you?" Bree''s hands shook. "But why?" she said. "Why would someone go to all this trouble?" Nathan''s thoughts flashed toward Derek. "I don''t know. Maybe someone wanted you ousted from your leadership position. I''m guessing it''s the Wanderers, though" You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. "The who?" "You know, the forest people?" "What?" Nathan grimaced. He''d forgotten that he hadn''t told her about them. "They''re connected with the forest, I''m not sure about the details," he said. "What do you mean?" Her eyes sharpened. "Is there something you''re not telling me?" Nathan considered telling her about Silas for a split second before he bit his lip and stayed quiet. Bree scoffed. "Typical. Even while defending your innocence, you still keep secrets." "Can we please go check in on your supposedly dead lieutenants?" Her nose twitched. "Fine. But if I find out you''re tricking me, I''ll end you." "Sounds like a deal."
They headed into a tent that was dripping with decay. Nathan could smell the blood and rot everywhere. It was no wonder, because the entirety of the tent was filled with nothing but dead bodies. When they arrived, someone was there to meet them. "BCBree!?" Nathan''s eyes wandered toward the source of the voice. It was a familiar personBree''s right-hand man. Someone whose name Nathan had never bothered to learn. Nathan glared at him. The man gulped and stepped back. He has to be a Wanderer, like my sister in the alleyway. "What is he doing here!?" the man shouted. "He should be dead!" "He told me an interesting story, one I want to verify first," Bree said. The man froze. "What?" Bree pushed past him and approached the right side of the tent, where a few people Nathan recognized were lying. She knelt down and examined them. "You said eye color, right?" Bree asked. "That''s what it was for my sisterbut there''s no guarantee it couldn''t be something else." Bree grunted and reached out. She opened one of their eyes and shook her head. She moved to the next one, repeating the process for every single body, verifying their eye colors. "This isn''t looking good for you," Bree said. "Do they have any scars?" Nathan asked. "All of them do." "Check." Bree froze for a moment before nodding. She reached out and rolled up the man''s sleeve. There was a long, thin line, indicating a slice from a sword. "Orc attack," Bree said. "I remember it like it was yesterday." Systematically, she went through the others before stopping. "Nathaniel, I''m not finding anything." "Keep going." Bree grumbled but did as he said. By the time she reached the final body, she turned around and marched up to Nathan. "It looks like your story didn''t pan out," she said. Nathan frowned. It seemed that his sister was a one-off. If there were disguises going on, they were normally immaculate, and Nathan just happened to be lucky enough to have an imperfection. Or maybe these were just the real bodies. His eyes flickered toward the right-hand man. There were two options now: either these men had been killed by someone pretending to be Nathan or the right-hand man was a liar. But Nathan didnt think that the Wanderers would take the risk of their plan going wrong. No, theyd want close control over the situation. "So, are we gonna finish what we started?" Bree asked. "Hold on. One final request, and then we can finish it," Nathan said. "What?" Bree snapped, her tone sharp. "Check your right-hand man." Bree furrowed her eyebrows. Almost imperceptibly, the right-hand man stiffened. "You don''t think?" she asked. "Just check. Please." The right-hand man chuckled. "Check what? Clearly, this guy is trying to get inside your head, Bree." Bree rolled the thought around for a bit before nodding. She turned to the man. Remember the first circle?" she asked. "What about it?" "Remember the time Thomas got into that weird honey sap? Remember how it messed with his head?" "Yeah, I remember." Bree shut her eyes. "That wasn''t Thomas. That was James. And it didn''t mess with his headit gave him temporary invulnerability. It was the only reason we survived that circle." The right-hand man froze. Bree''s knuckle dusters flew toward the right-hand man''s jaw. There was a loud, thunderous crack that echoed through the tent when they made contact. The right-hand man flopped to the ground, unconscious. Nathan took a single step toward the body when he froze. Bree did the same. There had been a soft, quiet click. Both of them stared at each other, then jumped away from the body as fast as they could. A split second later, they heard a loud boom. Flames licked Nathan''s cheeks as he was blasted away by the force of the explosion. He crashed into the ground with a loud grunt. He groaned. Behind him, the tent was completely decimated, scraps of fabric flying in the wind and aflame. "Well, that didn''t work how I was hoping it would," he muttered.
Anand hefted another length of treated wood and climbed the makeshift ladder. A werewolf hauled stone while a mushroom man mixed mortar, and a dozen other creatures all did work. All citizens of Nathan''s soulbound town. All obstacles between Anand and his target. "Pass it here," Bricks said,. Anand handed over the beam with a heave. You know, you''re stronger than you look," Bricks noted, positioning the beam. "Where''d you work before?" "Courier service," Anand said. "Lots of packages." Bricks grunted. "Hand me those spikes." He turned. Trem! Get those crossbeams up here!" Bricks shouted. Across the site, the slender mushroom man nodded and began climbing the tallest scaffolding. Anand returned his attention to Bricks. "How long until this structure is complete?" "Eager to move on?" Bricks asked. "Just curious about the next job." And how long he''d be stuck playing this role. A sharp crack cut through the site''s ambient noise. Anand''s head snapped toward the soundpure reflex. His eyes found the source immediately: the upper joint of Trem''s scaffolding had split, the wood splintering under pressure. Three stories up, the mushroom man froze. The entire structure tilted. In that instant, Anand processed everything. Distance to the scaffolding: fifteen meters. Estimated collapse time: under four seconds. Falling trajectory: Trem would hit the stone foundation below. While mushroom people were hardy and healed quickly, there were still limitseven with magic involved. And Trem was high enough for that to be a concern. Anand was already moving before the last calculation finished. He dropped the hammer, vaulted over the half-built wall, and hit the ground running. The scaffolding groaned as more joints began to fail. Trem clung to the swaying structure. "TREM!" Someone shouted. Anand reached the base of the scaffolding just as the main support beam gave way. His eyes tracked Trem''s falling trajectory, calculating the intercept point. Three steps left, position at a slight angle to absorb impact. Trem fell, arms flailing. Anand caught him. The momentum drove Anand to one knee, but he controlled the absorption of energy to minimize harm to the both of them. The scaffolding crashed behind them in a deafening tangle of wood and metal. For a moment, silence fell over the construction site. The mushroom man stared up at him, trembling slightly. "You... you caught me," Trem finally whispered. Anand set him down carefully, already forming explanations for his unusually quick reaction time. "Lucky timing." Workers converged on them. Garro arrived first, his wolfish features twisted with concern. "By the Nine, Trem! Are you alright?" "I''m fine," Trem said. "Thanks to the human." Anand brushed dust from his pants. Anyone would have done the same." "Anyone wouldn''t have moved that fast," Bricks said. "That was impressive." "Former courier, remember?" Anand deflected. "Had to be quick on my feet." Bricks nodded slowly. "Right. Courier." "The whole section was rotten," someone called from the wreckage. "Trem''s lucky to be alive." Lucky, huh? "Thank you," Trem said. I owe you." Anand grimaced. He nodded curtly and stepped back. "Back to work!" Bricks shouted to the crowd. "We''ve lost enough time. Garro, help Trem to the medical tent. The rest of you, clear this debris." As the workers dispersed, Bricks approached Anand again. "Quick thinking there." "It was nothing." "Wasn''t nothing to Trem." "I acted on instinct." "Good instincts, then." Bricks clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, let''s get back to it. These buildings won''t raise themselves." As they returned to their section, Anand noticed several workers regarding him differentlywith nods of respect or curious glances. He''d drawn too much attention, compromised his anonymity. The discomfort in his chest persisted. Hed made a mistake.
Morning light filtered through the small window of the workers'' dormitory. Most of Anands bunkmates had already left, giving him a moment of privacy to check his hidden blade''s edge before tucking it into his boot. He stepped outside into the communal yard where several workers gathered before heading to their assignments. Bricks stood near the water barrel, distributing the day''s tasks to a small group. "Anand!" Bricks shouted. "Got someone here to see you." As Anand approached, he noticed a tiny mushroom child partially hidden behind Bricks'' sturdy frame. Her cap was pale pink with white spots. "Go on," Bricks encouraged, nudging the child forward. She stepped out. "Are you the fast human who caught my papa?" Anand glanced at Bricks, who offered only an amused shrug. "Your father is Trem?" Anand asked, crouching down to the child''s level. The child nodded. Im Sprig. I''m almost five cycles old." She thrust a piece of rough-hewn paper toward him. "I made this for you." Anand took it reflexively, studying the crude drawing rendered in what appeared to be colored sap and crushed minerals. Stick figures populated the page. A tall, thin one stood next to a smaller one with a pink cap. Nearby was another figure falling from a tall, jagged structure, while the tall stick figure stood with outstretched arms. "That''s you," she said, pointing to the tall rescuer. "And that''s my papa. And that''s the bad scaffolding." Her tiny finger jabbed at each figure in turn. Anand stared at the drawing, momentarily speechless. "You saved him," she continued. "Now he can still tell me bedtime stories." "Trem''s been telling that rescue story to anyone who''ll listen," Bricks explained. "Made quite an impression on his little one." In his entire career, before the Harrowed Hand or during, no one had ever created a memorial to Anand''s actions. Targets didn''t leave appreciative artwork. "Thank you," he said. Sprig''s cap brightened considerably. "Papa says you moved faster than a lightning bolt! Can you show me how?" "I don''t think" Anand began. "Sprig," Bricks interrupted gently. "Remember what we discussed about personal questions?" The child''s cap dimmed slightly. "Sorry. Papa says I ask too many questions." "It''s... fine," Anand found himself saying. He carefully folded the drawing and slipped it into his pocket. "Perhaps another time." Sprig beamed again. "Promise?" Promises were liabilities in Anand''s line of work. Commitments that could compromise efficiency or judgment. Yet he found himself nodding. "Good!" Sprig declared, apparently satisfied. "Papa says we should bring you dinner tonight as a proper thank-you. Do you like spore bread? I helped make the last batch. Only dropped it once!" A few nearby workers chuckled. "Sprig," Bricks said, "the workers need to get to their assignments. And you need to get to your lessons." "Fine," she said. "See you later, Mr. Fast Human!" She scampered off, cap bobbing with each step. Bricks handed Anand a work assignment slate. "East section today. Supporting beams need reinforcement." As Anand took the slate, Bricks added more quietly, "Kids, huh? See the world differently than the rest of us." Anand said nothing, fingers unconsciously touching the pocket where he''d stored the drawing. His mind returned to the stick figure with outstretched arms. That''s you. 103 - Hedge Maze of Doom "It was the Harrowed Hand?" Bree said. Nathan nodded, distracted. He was still trying to figure out what had happened. It hadnt been the Wanderers. It had been the Harrowed Hand. But how? If the Harrowed Hand was behind everything, that meant they knew about what his sister looked like. But how? Were they cooporating with the Wanderers? None of this made any sense "There''s something I need to tell you, Bree," Nathan said. Bree perked up. "What?" "Back in the fight earlier, when we encountered Silas, he made me an offer." "What kind of offer?" "He said he would help me find my sister if I went to work with them." She stared at him. "You didn''t accept, did you?" "Of course not. But you left the offer on the table. Nathan was silent. She grunted. "So that''s what all this was about. They wanted you to turn against me and join their organization." She shook her head. "Why didn''t you tell me?" "I didn''t know if you''d be unbiased or not." "Dumbass." Nathan winced. The tone of her statement wasn''t malicious or angryjust disappointed. She stood up and shook her head. "You wouldn''t have had to come to me. You could''ve asked anybody who''s been with me. You could''ve asked anybody, period. They all would''ve told you what you already know. The Harrowed Hand isnt a group you can trust." They said that you attacked a food shipment. Food shipment? They were moving humans around. Not food. People for their brainwashing facilities. And you couldve known this if youd just talked to me. Nathan was about to respond when they heard the sound of someone running toward them. He turned around to face the newcomer. It was one of the scouts. Nathan groaned; he already knew where this was going. "The third!" the scout shouted. The third dungeons been found! Nathan folded his head into his hands. Bree''s left eye twitched.
I''ve rewritten the scene to make the flower less sapient and talkative, while removing direct references to "Lily" from Nathan''s dialogue. Here''s the revised version: As per Bree''s usual policy, everyone was gathered within a matter of hours. They briefly went over what the scouts had foundhedges that started rising when they got closerand potential strategies. Everyone agreed to stick close together when they got close enough. Great plan. Soon enough, Nathan found himself walking beside Chad, back on the road again. "Hey, I heard something about a fight" Chad started. "Don''t want to talk about it." "But what happened" "I will beat you over the head with a stick if you bring this up again." Chad held his hands up. "Okay, okay! Geez, man." Nathan felt something poke him. He turned around sharply and looked behind him. Nothing. "Nathan?" Chad said. "Sorry, I thought I felt something touch me." Chad raised an eyebrow. "There''s nobody behind us, buddy." Nathan shook his head. "I know." The stress was obviously getting to him. He turned back around and continued walking. Then he felt another poke. His neck snapped back, and he glared into the empty air. "If this is some sort of prank, it''s not funny," he muttered. He turned forward again, took a single step, and then Another poke. He froze. There was something drilling into his mind. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly. It was like someone was hammering at his forehead. "Nathan?" Chad stopped and turned back. "Nathan, are you okay?" Flickers of something assaulted his senses. There was something trying to pry its way inside himsomething huge, beyond his comprehension. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "Nathan, come on, speak to me." Droplets of sweat rolled down Nathan''s forehead. "H-help," Nathan managed to whisper. As soon as he said the word, he felt something shift on his left arm. Something moved, and the foreign presence was immediately ejected from his body. A faint pulse of satisfaction emanated from his plant arm. Nathan fell to his knees. "Thanks..." he whispered to his arm. "Thanks? Who are you thanking?" Chad said. "What just happened?" "I''ll tell you about it later" Nathan pushed himself back to his feet. "I''m good now." Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. "Hey, Chad," Nathan said. "Have you ever heard of something called B32?" Chad shook his head. "Nope. Why do you ask?" "It''s weird The name just came to my mind. Out of nowhere." "Unusual..." "Yeah, weird." They continued walking as if nothing had happened. In the back of his mind, he felt a vague impression from the flower: Danger. Itll return. "Let''s hope not," he muttered. Nathan felt something shift in the wind. It was a subtle thing, so subtle he wouldn''t have noticed if he hadn''t just been mentally assaulted by some mysterious force. He felt the ground rumble and looked down. A moment later, leaves burst out of the ground, separating him from the rest of the group. Based on how loud it was, he could only assume that the entire group had been absorbed into this whatever this was. He opened his main quest menu and took a look. The Thorned LabyrinthA shifting hedge maze that actively hates you. The walls move, the plants scream, and the deeper you go, the more the maze remembers you. Oh, and the exit? It only appears when it feels like it. Buried at its core is the Sanguine Briar, a blood-red thorn that drinks the life of those who hold it. Should be fine. Nathan stared around himself. He was in a giant hedge maze. Yay.
Nathan looked up. The open blue sky greeted him. How difficult would it be to just... jump up? He decided to test this theory. He squatted down and leapt into the air Instantly, dozens of vines appeared out of the hedges and grabbed him before he could move any higher. He grunted and pulled, shattering the vines and ripping them out of the hedge. Before he could do anything, dozens more appeared and dragged him back down. He flopped to the ground and rubbed the back of his head. Could he force his way through? He probably could... But for now, maybe it would be better to just play along? Trigger the trap and drive out whatever was doing this? It seemed as good a plan as any. He stepped forward, running his hand alongside the hedge maze. "Chad? Bree?" No response. Where were they? He put his hands in his pockets. A faint impression brushed his mind: Different sound. Nathan glanced at his arm and rolled up his sleeve, allowing the rose to poke through. "What do you mean?" Nathan asked. Green ones... hum, came the vague sense rather than words. Home ones... whisper. "When you talk about home, do you mean my soulbound town?" The flower''s vines shifted slightly, a single leaf unfurling and then curling back in what seemed like a gesture of affirmation. Another impression formed: Mushroom people. Wolf people. Others. "Well, I''m pretty sure this hedge maze is out to kill us all, whereas the plants back at home are just... Plants." Nathan tilted his head. "Do they really talk to you?" Talk to all. Humans just forget. The impression was simple but carried weight. What do you talk about? Flickering vision the ground, and worms, and the sun came to Nathans mind. "I would guess that plants would talk about that." Was like them, came the faint impression. Slow thoughts. "You''re a bit different now, though," Nathan said. The flower remained still for a moment. Words... heavy. Fast. "Do you regret it? Do you wish you were more like them?" The vines on his shoulder wavered, and then formed what looked like a crude shrug. A confused mix of impressions followed: brightness, pain, colors, wonder. Nathan grimaced. It was very discomforting to realize that he had brought something into the world that he really wasn''t equipped to handle. Not your fault, came the simple feeling from the flower. Nathan gave a half-smile and shook his head. "Let''s leave it alone for now." The flower went quiet, its vines mimicking the pattern of the hedge beside them. Nathan continued to walk through the hedge maze, nothing but the sound of his own breathing filling the air. "I''m beginning to think we''ve been here before," he said. Three times, came the simple response. Same soil. "I don''t suppose you have some way for us to get out?" The flower seemed to perk up slightly. Ask them. Be friends. Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Is that something you can do?" A feeling of uncertain confidence radiated from the flower. Nathan shrugged back and put his plant arm against the ground. Roots burst from his fingers and dug into the soil. After about a minute, Nathan spoke. "Any luck?" Resisting, came the frustrated impression. Almost yes... then snap back. "It''s some kind of spell," Nathan muttered. "I''m pretty sure that''s what it is." Break it? The question carried an undercurrent of excitement. "Well... you have to try. Hell, I think you have more power than me. It''s probably good for something, right?" The flower was quiet, its vines twisting into what looked like a thinking pose. "Okay," Nathan said. "I want you to kinda... reach into the center of your being?" Confusion radiated from the flower. "It''s... sort of hard to describe." The flower remained silent. "Kinda just... shut your eyes. And then feel around with your gut." No eyes. No gut. The impressions were simple, factual. "Then, use your other senses. You know? Like, whatever it is you''re using to feel the roots or to listen to me. Shut all of that down." Like sleep? Before he could answer, the flower went quiet. Nathan waited patiently. Works! The sudden impression carried childlike wonder. Maze ticklish! Nathan''s eyebrows raised. He looked around, anticipating that something would change. He tilted his head when nothing happened. "That was uneventful" And then the hedge maze started to shake. Roots exploded forward, aiming for Nathan''s head. He tilted his neck at the last second, barely dodging the attack. "Wait, what did you do!?" Nathan shouted. Play game! The impression was excited, oblivious to danger. Forever-friends! Nathan broke into a sprint. Behind him was the roaring sound of thousands of roots trying to entangle him and drag him into the hedge maze. "Why are they attacking me!?" Nathan shouted. Not attack. Join. The simple impression failed to convey any sense of danger. Like ants in ground. Never leave! Nathan ducked underneath a root aimed for his head. "Can you tell them to stop!?" Need touch roots, came the suggestion. Nathan slid underneath a bunch of roots, then smashed his way through a wall of them that appeared in front of him. "Never mind, not happening!" Nathan''s mind began to race. I need to get out of hereI need to get some perspective! His eyes darted up toward the open sky. They''re not in control like they were before. These things are just going crazy right now. Maybe I can jump for it now! He squatted down and jumped into the air. Like before, the roots went for his legs, but this time they were too slow. He soared into the air, getting a brief glimpse of the entire hedge maze. It seemed like everyone else was finethe only interesting thing that was happening was where he''d been. There were dozens of destroyed roots, vines, and plant residue scattered all over the ground. And then he spotted ita bright red thorn directly at the center, surrounded by a ring of mist-like water. Wind burst from behind him, and he flew forward toward it. He crashed into the ground, stood up, grabbed the thorn, and stuffed it into his inventory. He breathed hard. Friends gone? A simple, almost disappointed impression came from the flower. The hedges ripped apart with a screech. It was high-pitched, so loud that it burned Nathan''s ears. The hedges grew, and grew, and grew until they blotted out the sun itself. "Well, crap." 104 - Symbol Again. Try. Want back. Family. Thorn.
What do I do? What do I do? The spirit water! The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
everyone. In the next circle, we could rally together, eliminate the Harrowed Hand, stop the orcs, stop the elves, stop any of the other races trying to get ahead of us. We''d be a united front" Something''s coming, a voice said. The plants from earlier. Something''s leading them. Leading them right here. 105 - Decisions Nathan grabbed Bree and ran toward the door. He smashed his way through a hedge that had spontaneously appeared in front of it, and they tumbled outside. The good news was that they were miles away from the survivor camp. The bad news was that they were now completely without backup and about to face down a gigantic living hedge maze. "It''s still alive!?" Bree shouted. "I thought removing the thorn would kill it or something!" "It''s not like the second dungeon boss," Nathan replied. "The thorn wasn''t its core. It was just something the maze guarded. And now it''s back to try to reclaim it." Around them, the ground shook. Roots erupted from the soil, and hedges burst through the concrete. "If it doesn''t have a core, how are we supposed to defeat it?" Bree asked. "I have no idea," Nathan said. A dozen roots shot from the hedge in front of Nathan, aiming for his head. He ducked, grabbed his harpoon, and sliced through them with a single swing. "Where did it even come from? How did it find us?" Bree demanded. "The voice. The wanderers. It led them to our location," Nathan said through gritted teeth. "Typical." Bree slammed her fist against the ground. Earth spikes erupted from the concrete, driving into the hedges. Unfortunately, it wasn''t very effective. All she managed was to carve a few holes in the massive hedge. "Is this the part where we run?" Bree asked. "Running sounds like a good idea," Nathan said. He took a step back, but something rumbled behind him. He turned to see the hedge maze had already blocked their escape route. "Shit," Nathan muttered. "I don''t suppose you can just blow all of this away?" Bree suggested. "I''m low on energy," Nathan said. "I''d rather avoid that if possible." "Well, I hope you figure something out soon, because I''m fresh out of ideas," Bree said. Nathan''s mind raced. Lightning? No, I don''t have control over it yet. What''s a stiff breeze going to do against killer plants? Nathan had only one option. "Bree, I need your help," Nathan said. "I''m going to use a trick, but I need time to charge it up. Can you protect me?" Bree nodded firmly. "How much time do you need?" "As much as you can give me," Nathan replied, already closing his eyes to focus. Bree''s expression hardened with determination. "I can do that." She stomped her foot, and a circular wall of earth rose around them, creating a temporary barrier. The roots immediately began hammering against the earthen shield. Cracks appeared within seconds. "Work fast," Bree grunted, reinforcing the wall with another layer of stone and dirt. She raised her hands, and more earth spikes shot outward from their protective circle, buying them precious seconds. Nathan concentrated, drawing the water particles from the air. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he gathered his remaining energy. The familiar sensation of salt water tingled in his lungs. A root punched through the barrier, nearly impaling Nathan''s shoulder. Bree sliced it with a blade of compressed earth. "Almost there?" she asked, her voice strained from exertion. "Almost," Nathan whispered. Their protective circle was disintegrating fast. Bree created a secondary shield, then a third, each one thinner than the last as her own energy reserves depleted. "Nathan, whatever you''re doing, do it now!" "Basic Maelstrom," he whispered. Water exploded into a swirling tornado around him. The roots were shredded to pieces. Nathan shut his eyes, focusing on channeling as much power into the ability as he could. The maelstrom grew in speed and intensity, spinning faster and faster. Something clicked inside him, and the maelstrom erupted outward. Concrete was shredded. Buildings collapsed. Rubble flew in every direction. The hedge maze tried to retreat, but the maelstrom expanded too quickly. It consumed everythingthe ground beneath him, the buildings around him. Nothing was spared. The air was thick with the scent of salt. All Nathan could hear was the roar of an ocean storm. Then, it was over. The maelstrom vanished, and Nathan fell. He hit the ground with a loud thud, landing in the center of a massive crater. He couldn''t move. Pain radiated from his feet to his forehead. Gritting his teeth, he focused on opening a portal to his soul-bound town. The ground shifted, and Bree poked her head out of the dirt. "Nathan?" "In four minutes," he said, his voice strained, "a portal will open to my soul-bound town. When it does, get me inside and find medical help. They should be able to fix me up." "You have a soulbound town?" Bree gave a little fist pump. I knew it! "I know, I know. Well talk about it" Nathan hissed in pain. "later. For now, just do what I asked. Please." Bree nodded. "I will." Nathan turned his attention back to opening the portal. "Oh, and please dont use this as a chance to move the entire survivor camp into my town, okay? Someone already pulled that once, and if it happens again, Im going to crack and go insane." Bree tilted her head. "Okay?" The portal flickered to life. Nathans vision began to darken at the edges. "Ah, crap" And then he knew no more.
The sun had begun its descent behind the peculiar buildings as Anand trudged home. Two weeks. Two weeks trapped in this bizarre corner of the Nine Circles, surrounded by creatures he would have considered targets or obstacles in his previous life. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The Harrowed Hand wasnt a big fan of other species. Everyone else was an enemy, right? So what on earth was Anand doing? In his pocket, the drawing remained, as heavy a weight hed ever carried. As he approached the work dormitory, Anand noticed extra light spilling from the windows, and muffled sounds from within. He slowed his pace, quieted his footsteps, and reached for the concealed blade in his boot. He pushed the door open cautiously. "SURPRISE!" The room erupted with cheers and howls. Werewolves and mushroom folk crowded the small living space. A crudely painted banner hung across the wall: "TWO WEEKS WITHOUT QUITTING!" Bricks stepped forward. "You made it two whole weeks. Garro, one of the werewolves, clapped Anand on the shoulder. "And here we thought you''d be gone by day three! You humans usually can''t handle the heavy lifting!" Anand''s hand relaxed away from his hidden blade. He stood in the doorway, mouth slightly open, unable to form words. "I..." A mushroom woman named Spore pushed through the small crowd. "It''s tradition! Anyone who survives Bricks'' impossible standards for two weeks gets celebrated." "Don''t just stand there," Bricks said, pushing a mug of something frothy into Anand''s hands. "Drink." The liquid was bitter, but warmed his chest. Anand found himself being pulled into the room, passed between groups of workers. Garro boasted about a beam he''d carried single-handedly. Trem, a slender mushroom man, demonstrated how he''d learned to climb scaffolding faster than anyone else. "What about you, Anand?" someone called. "Got any special skills besides hammering nails?" His first instinct was to deflect, to remain unmemorable. He paused. "I''m decent with projectiles." Minutes later, they''d set up a makeshift target on the wall. Anand picked up three darts, weighing them in his palm. The room quieted. He threw the firstdead center. The secondtouching the first. The thirdsplitting the second dart down the middle. The room exploded with cheers. Garro howled. Several mushroom folk''s caps lit up in bright colors. "Where''d you learn that?" Trem asked, eyes wide. Anand''s lips tightened. "My previous employment required accuracy." The hours passed. Anand found himself answering questions about the world before the Nine Circles. He listened to stories about construction mishaps, transformation accidents, and cultivation techniques. His face felt strange. It took him a moment to realize he was smiling. As the celebration wound down and the last guests departed, he found himself alone with Bricks. The mushroom man collected plates, humming a work song from the site. "You didn''t have to do this," Anand said. "Course I did. It''s tradition." "No, not just the party. Taking me in. Giving me work." Anand picked at a splinter in the table. "You don''t even know me." Bricks set down the plates and turned. "Don''t I?" A muscle in Anand''s jaw tightened. "I know enough," Bricks said. I know you were part of the coup against Zayen." Anand''s fingers curled against the table edge. "What are you talking about?" "A human with your skills, appearing out of nowhere right after the upheaval? The pieces fit." Anand''s mind raced. It looks like he didnt know about Anands connection to the Harrowed Hand but still "If you know who I am," Anand said carefully, "then why didn''t you turn me in?" Bricks snorted. "To who? Nathan?" He shook his speckled head. "Remember what I told you last week by the eastern foundation? You''re my brother now. We''ve both sweat under the same sun, and you''re a good man." "You can''t know that." "I''ve met my share of both kinds. Bad ones don''t stay late to make sure old Garro doesn''t throw his back out moving stone blocks. And they certainly don''t put themselves between Trem and a falling scaffold." Anand stared at his hands. He''d acted on instinct that dayseen the rickety structure starting to collapse, calculated the trajectory, and moved before conscious thought. Just like he would to avoid a guard''s detection or anticipate a target''s movement. Just basic survival math. Nothing more. "But you don''t know everything about me," Anand finally said. "Don''t need to. I know enough." After Bricks retired to his room, Anand sat alone at the kitchen table. He got up and moved to the window, looking out at the moonlight playing across the roofs of the town. His reflection stared back. Behind it, he saw Trem''s face as he pulled him from the scaffolding. Garro''s appreciative nod when Anand had shouldered half his load without comment. The small mushroom child who had handed him a crude drawing this morning"That''s you," she''d said, pointing to a stick figure holding what might have been a hammer. He reached into his boot and withdrew the slender dagger. The blade caught the moonlight, reflecting it onto the ceiling. He''d spent years learning exactly where to place this blade to end a life efficiently. He slid it back into his boot, fingers lingering on the hilt before letting go. His hand, resting on his knee, curled into a fist, then slowly relaxed.
"And I told him to shove it up his root system!" Spore burst out laughing at herself. Can you believe it? Anand let out a snort. "And then what happened?" "Well, you see, he wasn''t exactly happy about that" Anand let his mind drift as he listened to Spore rattle off her story. They were in the cafeteria, surrounded by the rest of their work crew. It had been a long day of hard labor, and they were enjoying some well-earned leisure time. Anand had made progress on his own plans, as well. If Nathan was killed, Anand would be able to force open a portal for a brief period of time. Of course, Anand wouldnt risk an attempt except under extraordinary circumstances, but it was still an interesting thought. "Hey, watch out!" A flicker of silver. Something was heading straight for Anand''s head. Old instincts flared, and he dodged to the right, smoothly catching the object. He flipped it around and instinctively returned fire, hurling it back at whoever had thrown it. At the last second, he realized it wasnt a knife but a nail. He adjusted his throw, embedding the nail about an inch from the mushroom guy''s head. There was a beat of silence. Spore, the mushroom woman, blinked. What the? Anand opened his mouth, then shut it, then opened it again. "I uh, I was a juggler." Spore stared at him, eyes wide. "Juggling gave you the ability to catch a nail midair and throw it back?" "Yes," Anand said. I was very good at what I did. Bricks opened his mouth, clearly about to say something, when the cafeteria door slammed open. "Nathan Lee!" the werewolf announced. "He''s back! And he''s injured!" Bricks turned toward the newcomer. "What? Are you sure?" "Yes" The person breathed heavily, sweat dripping down their brow. "They''re calling the Council." Bricks frowned and nodded. "I''ll be there in a moment." Hes injured? This was the opportunity Anand had been waiting for. If he could get into the room where Nathan was being healed "Can I come with you?" Anand blurted out. Bricks looked back at him. "Why?" "Im just so grateful to Nathan for everything hes done for this town. I wanted to wish him well." Bricks was about to respond when a werewolf beside him nodded. "Why dont you let him, Bricks?" Garro said. "Hes outperformed everyone on the crew, even though hes still technically injured. I think he deserves a reward." A mushroom woman beside the werewolf also nodded. "I agree. Anand deserves this, if thats what he wants." Various murmurs of agreement echoed from the rest of the crew. Bricks held up his hand. "I hear you. Thats fine." A cheer erupted from the work crew. Anand felt his stomach sink. He suppressed the feeling and shoved it to the back of his mind. He had a job to do. Bricks and Anand exited the work building and headed toward the lords mansion. "I really hope hes okay," Bricks said. "We need him." Anands mouth went dry. "Would it really be that bad?" "Would it be that bad?" Bricks shook his head. "I dont think you understand what it was like before he came here." "What do you mean?" "Before Nathan inherited this town, we were living in shacks. And we were trappedthere was no chance of escaping. Nathan changed all that. He built this town into the home it is today. And more than that, he gave us hope." "Of escaping the Circles" "Exactly." Anand didnt respond. The conversation died. Before long, they reached the mansion. It was about three-quarters completed, gleaming white with marble everywhere. One of the largest buildings in the town square. Two guards at the front gate stopped them. "Minister Bricks," one guard nodded. "Whos your companion?" "Hes a friend. Can we be allowed through?" The two guards exchanged glances. The one whod spoken looked back at Bricks. "Can you vouch for this man?" "Of course. Hes a trusted member of my personal work crew." The guards stepped aside. Its for the mission. Its for the mission. Its for the mission. Strangely, no matter how many times Anand repeated the mantra, it didnt seem to help. They walked through the mansions interior, red carpet and various marks of luxury adorning every inch. Paintings, vases "They really went all out for this guys place," Anand remarked. "Of course. Like I said, the people love him." They arrived at the end of the hall. Bricks knocked on the door. It opened, revealing a few other ministers. FugeNathans marshalwas the one who answered. She nodded at Bricks and opened the door fully. She looked at Anand with a raised eyebrow. Bricks held up his hand. "I know what youre going to say. Hes with me." Fuge frowned but stepped aside, allowing both of them into the room. Nathan was facing away from the door, bedridden, his head tilted toward an elderly mushroom man. The two were speaking in quiet, hushed tones. This was it. This was Anands moment. He would kill Nathan here. Anands hand shook. It would be so easy. He had dozens of hidden daggers in his clothes. Just one strike to a vital organ. Nathan was already injured; he wouldnt escape in time "Anand?" Bricks said. "Are you okay?" Anand shut his eyes. After a few seconds, he snapped them open. "Lord Nathan," he said. "I wish to speak with you." Nathan perked up and turned his head. When he saw Anand, his eyes widened. It was now or never. Anand knew what he had to do. 106 - Final Dungeon "Wait, I recognize you. Youre" "My name is Anand, a senior assassin for the Harrowed Hand." The room went quiet. Beside him, Bricks blinked. "Anand? What are you talking about?" "At the end of your time in the Second Circle, I was knocked out and brought in by a few kind people. In that time, I established a disguise, integrating with the locals." Nathan didnt so much as blink. "I see." "I was originally planning to escape, but when I heard you were injured, I realized this would be the perfect opportunity to take care of you." Fuges eyes widened. She reached for her weapon. The other ministers backed away from Anand. Bricks looked at him in shock. Nathan held up his hand, stopping Fuge. "And why didnt you kill me?" Anand bit his bottom lip. If he did this there was no going back. "I changed my mind," he said. "I wish to offer my services to compensate this town for their hospitality." "What kind of services?" "Im a senior assassin. Ive trained several others of my kind. Im a master of espionage, and I can teach what Ive learned to your people. If need be, Im willing to be an asset for you personally. Besides that, I have a vast amount of intel on the Harrowed Handtheir operations, their ideology, and anything else you need to know." Fuge growled. "I cant believe youre sitting there listening to this, Nathan. Nathan tilted his head. "How do I know youre not just a crazy person?" Fuges hand reached out toward Anands shoulder. Anand grabbed her wrist and threw her to the ground. A knife appeared in his hand, and he held it to her throat. "Whoa, calm down!" someone shouted from the background. Anand stood, tucked away his weapon, and straightened his back. Fuge rose to her feet, drew her sword, and pointed it at his throat. He didnt flinch. "Why did you change your mind, Anand?" Nathan asked. Anand paused. I just I cant bring myself to do it." Nathan was silent for several seconds. "Well, Anand, I dont think I can argue with that." Nathan stretched out his hand. Anand looked at it, paused Then reached out and shook it.
They spent several hours going over everything Anand kneweverything from the structure of the Harrowed Hand to their philosophy, methods, and everything in between. For Nathan, it was all a bit of a blur. He was still numb, exhausted, and nothing seemed to make much sense. Luckily, there were others in the room taking notes, so he could consult them later. The most important partthe one that stuck with himwas when Nathan told Anand about Silas and the offer hed received. "It was probably a sincere offer but it''s also a poisoned one," Anand said. "What do you mean?" "I mean the Harrowed Hand isnt a good organization," Anand replied, bowing his head. "I see that now. They they warp you. They turn you into something youre not. All in the name of order, of spreading peace. But if that peace is built on a pile of bodiespeople who dont deserve to dieis it even worth it anymore? Anyway, they wouldve used the rescue of your sister as leverage to persuade of this viewpoint. Nathan frowned. "I see. And I almost fell for it. They continued talking, and something important was passed to Nathan. "And Nathan, theres one thing you need to understand about your current position with the Harrowed Hand," Anand said. Nathan stiffened. "Whats that?" Theyve likely given up on diplomacy, because you figured out the trick to turn you against Bree, Anand said. And if you think the assassination attempts up to this point have been bad, whats coming will be much worse. Theyre going to throw everything they have at you. Especially since they know you can bleed now." If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "They knew I was" "The number one?" Anand said. Of course they do. Theres only one Nathan Lee who can accomplish what you can do. Even so, I suspect they didnt expect you to be as strong as you are. "So, within the next few days, theyre going to make a move against me?" "They will. I dont know exactly what itll look like. It could be as simple as throwing all their available resources at you. Or it could be something more sinister." Nathan nodded. "One final question," he said. "Of course. Whatever I can help with." "My sister. Sarah Lee. Have you ever heard that name before? Besides what Ive told you in this conversation?" "I dont know what you" "Anand." There was a beat of silence. "I need to know." At this, Burrau, who had been quiet until now, perked up slightly. His pen stopped scribbling on the paper Anand hesitated, then looked around the room before sighing. "Before I say this, keep in mind there are thousands of Sarah Lees. Theres no guarantee" "Anand." Anand paused. They say they say she was the Herald Hands wife before she passed away." Nathan felt his stomach drop. The world seemed to spin even as he remained still on the bed. He stared up at the ceiling. "Im going to have to kill my sisters fianc."
Anand left the room. Shortly thereafter, Gius shifted his weight onto his cane. It was a new one, one that Nathan hadnt seen before. The old mushroom man had never used it until now. "Does this really change things?" Gius asked. Nathan chuckled dryly. "It changes everything." He shook his head. "First, it looks like all those hints of her being alive were just a trick. Someone was either messing with me or simply in possession of her old things." Gius remained silent. "And now, not only that," Nathan continued, "but I find out that the man she loved most in the worldsomeone she was going to spend the rest of her life withis a crazed maniac responsible for a massive amount of death and destruction." Nathan didnt even bother to look at Gius, too wrapped up in his thoughts. "You know, I never actually met him, Nathan said. "She wanted me to. Her two favorite people, thats what she always called us. And she wanted us to get along. But I always had a convenient excuse. I was always sick, busybusy with what, I couldnt even tell youbut the ending was always the same. I never showed up." He leaned his head back against the pillow. "On the plus side, it probably wouldve been harder to put him down if Id known him before he became whatever he is now." "Im sorry," Gius said. "Dont be. Its its fine. Ill deal with it. I always do." After a few minutes of silence, Burrau and Gius both stood up and stepped out of the room, leaving Nathan alone with his thoughts.
"Wait," Nathan said. Gius paused. "Yes, Nathan?" "The woman who brought me in. Bree. Where did she go?" "Her? She was staying by the portal. She''s been periodically coming in and checking on things. But it''s been a little while since she last came in." Nathan frowned. The whole conversation with Anand had unsettled him. What if they were going to target Bree now that she was alone? Nathan pushed himself out of bed with a grunt. Gius walked over. "My Lord" he began. Nathan raised a hand. "I''m okay. You guys did a good job. I''ll be fine." Gius stared at him for a moment before taking a single step back. "Of course, my Lord," he said. Nathan stood on the ground. His knees shook before he forced them to steady. He stepped forward, then again, and again, until he was back to his normal pace. The portal wasn''t farjust a minute or so away. The closer he got to the portal, the more an uneasy feeling coiled in his stomach. To his side, Gius shambled along with his walking stick, content to accompany Nathan. "Gius?" Nathan said. "Yes, my Lord?" Nathan paused. "I want you to prepare for a sudden influx of visitors. Just in case. How much of the army is ready to go?" "They''re ready to move at a word, my Lord." "Good. Keep them ready." "What''s all this about, Nathan?" "I just I can''t shake this odd feeling that something is about to go terribly wrong." "Your instinct hasn''t been wrong so far. You have a knack for this sort of thing. Would you like me to come with you when you exit the portal?" "No. In case it''s nothing, Id prefer you stay here, ready to marshal the troops." Nathan glanced back at Gius. "I''m sorry to ask this of you, of course. I would never want to put any of your people in danger. But if this is as bad as I think it is, I''ll need all the help I can get." Gius laughed. Nathan was almost taken aback by the sudden noise. "Nathan," Gius said, "I know you well enough to say with absolute certainty that you wouldn''t put any of our lives in danger unless it was absolutely necessary. We trust you." A small smile flickered on Nathan''s face. He gave Gius a nod. They were at the portal. Nathan turned and gave Gius a sloppy salute. "Hopefully, this is just my paranoia," he said. "See you around, old friend." "Indeed." Nathan turned back around and stepped through the portal. When Nathan entered the portal, there was a part of him that fully expected to find nothing. The conversation with Anand had riled him up. He was paranoid. He''d been under so much stressof course, he''d get unexplainable feelings of fear for no apparent reason. And, of course, nothing was what he saw when he exited the portal. He was at the bottom of the crater he had created using the basic maelstrom. And he was completely alone. No surprise ambush, no sudden attack. Nathan was almost surprised by it, frankly. Nathan snapped his fingers, and the portal slammed shut behind him. He crawled up the side of the crater until he reached the top. A forest stretched out in front of him, decrepit buildings to his side. He turned around. He squinted. In the center of the urban pocket was a massive tree that breached the clouds. Its trunk seemed to extend out for several city blocks, so huge and imposing that the colors started to wash out at the top. "That wasn''t there before," he said. He heard the ground shake. He turned back toward the forestit was moving. Creeping forward. The Tree Wrath. Familiar voices echoed in his ears. "I believe your kind call this a two-front attack," one of the voices whispered. "One from within, one from without. There is nowhere for you to run." The vines and roots of the forest stretched out. They were getting faster. Nathan whispered under his breath, Mystery voice? Im gonna need your help. She was quiet. Hello? he hissed. There''s somethingsomething trying to get in. The presence from before? The voice broke into a cry. It''s taking everything I have to keep it out! Nathan paled. A moment later, his chest twisted, and pain shot through his entire body. Her voice faded away, and Nathan felt utterly, horribly alone. Nathan gulped. He was injured, exhausted, and his one ally was currently out of commission. The tree wrath was advancing, there was a giant tree in the middle of the urban pocket, and this was all after he''d learned that his sister was dead. Great. Just great. The forest roared, and hundreds of vines speared toward himall at once. 107 - "About to save Pocket Chad from imminent destruction—single-handedly!" The vines were faster than before. Nathan could hear them whistling as they dived toward him. Nathan tapped his foot once, and in response, a glistening shield appeared in front of him. The vines bounced off it, shredding themselves on the coral outlines that dotted the translucent material. Nathan then tilted backward, tensed his muscles and broke into a dead sprint in the opposite direction. Behind him, he heard the tree wrath roar as it consumed the buildings, consumed the concrete But he had time. His legs beat the ground relentlessly. His eyes tilted up toward his destination: the gigantic tree in the middle of the urban pocket. He squinted. In the distance, he could see that spreading out from the center of the tree, roots and plant material were consuming the ground like a rock through an old house. That''s what was meant by a two-pronged attack. The giant tree in the center would spread out, as would the forest at the outskirts of the urban pocket. And from the sound of it, the wanderers were planning to keep going until the entire urban pocket had been consumed. Nathan continued running until he finally spotted a friendly face. Bree. She was directing people, urging them to move further into the pocket. But it was only a matter of time until they were consumed. Nathan ran up to her. "Bree!" he shouted. "What''s going on?" She looked over at him. The moment she did, her eyes widened, and the tension drained out of her. "You''re okay!" she said. "I had to leave the portal, I''m sorryit was just When that thing appeared" "You mean the giant tree?" "It''s the fourth Dungeon, Nathan." Her left eye twitched. "They just dropped it here." Nathan looked toward the top of the giant tree. He pulled up his quest menu and glanced at the description: The Elderbark SanctumA massive, hollowed-out tree that serves as the final resting place of every ancient guardian that ever failed their duty. The spirits of old warriors whisper through the bark, and the wooden sentinels inside dont take kindly to intruders. At the very top, wrapped in sacred vines, rests the Verdant Heart, pulsing with the last echoes of a dying age. You just have to climb up there and take it. Easy, right? Nathan felt like screaming. "This is all my fault," he muttered. "They wanted meof course theyd do something crazy like this." Bree turned and looked at him. "Nathan?" Nathan looked down at the ground. He knew what he had to do. His head shot up. "I need five minutes. Start gathering as many people as you can toward me. I''ll be able to put them somewhere safe." "How?" Bree said. "BesidesNathan, we''re in shambles. We don''t have the manpower. It''s We can''t save the people, we can''t get into the dungeon. There''s too much happening" "I''ll take care of it." Bree blinked. "What?" "I can take care of the manpower. I can do it. Just get as many people as you can, and try to organize them. Whoever can fight, group them to hold off the Tree Wrath and another group to head into the dungeon." Bree took a single step to the side. After a moment, she nodded. "Understood." Nathan glanced around. There were few people here. Thered be no going back after this. He shut his eyes. The portal started to flicker to life behind him; he could sense it. Everything else faded away. The screaming, the cryingall of it. Instead, he focused on the portal and nothing but the portal. It shone to life behind him. Footsteps echoed out. "My Lord," a familiar voice said. "Fuge." Someone glanced at Fuge in confusion. "Why is there a mushroom woman?" Nathan ignored them and focused on Fuge. "I have orders for you." She snapped her heels together. "What are they, Commander?" "We have a situation. Thousands of people are in imminent danger of being killed by a bunch of crazy plants. I need you to organize two teamsa special operations team that will go into the heart of this and stop it, and a defense team to hold back the killer trees and evacuate all the people on this level to my soulbound town. Understood?" Fuge nodded. "Understood." She turned around and marched into the portal. In the background, Nathan heard Bree running up, several dozen people behind her. "I did the best I could, Nathan" She stopped. Her jaw dropped. One after another, mushroom people and werewolf soldiers came streaming out of the portal. A few of them were medics and immediately ran over to the injured. Most of them were soldiers and charged toward the oncoming tree wrath. The mushroom people led the way, pressing their fungal arms to the ground. At first, it seemed like they were having no effect. Then there were two of them doing it. Then three. Four. Ten. Twenty. As if by magic, the tree wrath ground to a halt. "Okay," Nathan turned toward the developers. "Everybody, through the portal!" Nobody moved. Nathan furrowed his eyebrows. "What are you all waiting for? The portal''s big enough to allow two rows of people in." Someone looked at the mushroom people streaming through the portal. "What the hell is happening right now?" a man said. "I''m about to go into some mysterious glowing portal?" "This is insane!" Nathan''s left eye twitched. "Are you serious right now?" "Who the hell do you think you are!?" "I say we take our chances with the tree wrath" Nathan''s left eye twitched again. Behind him, lightning cracked and smashed the concrete next to him. "My people are currently risking their lives to make sure you escape. Several of your fellow Delvers are doing the sametrying to buy time for all of you who can''t fight. And you have the audacity to question me?" Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Nathan glared at the man who''d spoken last. The man took a single step back. "You can stay out here for all I care. But if any of you want a chance to liveno, to thrive, to become stronger and escape the Nine Circlesthen enter this portal." There were a few beats of silence. Thena child. The one Nathan had saved a long time ago. He dashed into the portal without a single word. As soon as that happened, several people started running for the portal. "Order!" Bree shouted. The people stopped and began shuffling their way in slowly. Bree walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you." Nathan rolled his eyes and brushed her hand off. "We have bigger priorities," Nathan said. "Remember, there''s some kind of time limit on the dungeon. I think when the tree wrath consumes everything, we won''t be able to get the fourth item anymore. We need to get to the top and grab that Verdant Heart." Bree glanced back at the portal. "You''re right. Weve got to stop this at the root. I dont have any people, thoughDerek and a few of his friends, but all the other Delvers are too low-level for a raid." "I already said Id handle it." Fuge marched through the portal, followed by Kason and a few of the other orcs. "I would''ve grabbed a few more werewolves," Fuge said, "but I need them on standby in case of an emergency." Bree blinked. "Where did they come from?" "I picked them up on the last circle. Dont think too hard about it." Nathan paused. "Wait, I have a few more people who can join in." More people? "Summon Fish." A portal flickered to life behind Nathan, and four fish swam through the air. "Whats going on, boss?" Finny said. "You got a job for us?" Bree squinted. "Why is that fish talking?" "Yeah, that ones new to me, too, Kason said. Nathan ignored them. "Were going to be raiding a dungeon. Its a giant tree, and we need to get to the top as quickly as possible. Are you up for it?" Finny snorted. You know it. Whatever the job, were your fish. "Then lets get going." Bree rubbed her eyes. "Ignoring the absurdity of what Im seeing," Bree said, "what about your friendChad? And Derek?" Nathan''s eyes shifted toward the tree. In the distance, he thought he saw a flash of energy. "If I know Chad," Nathan said, "and I think I do at this point, hes going to be right in the thick of the action. Thats where the best content is, of course." "All right. I guess we dont have time to waste." They broke off and ran toward the giant tree. A sudden pain crashed into Nathan''s spine. He jolted and nearly fell before stumbling forward. "Nathan?" Bree said, stopping. Nathan held up a hand. "Its nothing." He took a step forward and continued to run. During the flash of pain, he received a vision. A light, and a number: B32. He heard the sound of his arm screaming as well. "Hold on a little longer, he whispered.
Nathan stopped and stared up at the tree. From a distance, it was already imposing. But up close? It was like staring into the eyes of eternity. It went up, and up, and up. For miles and miles. Nathan glanced to his left and right. The forest was consuming everything else, but a single road remained untoucheda direct path straight to the tree. "This is a trap," Bree said. Fuge nodded. "Yes." The two looked at each other. Fuge raised an eyebrow. Bree raised one back. Fuge shifted her stance, resting her hand on the pommel of her sword. Bree''s fingers slipped into her knuckle dusters. Then they gave each other a nod. Kason, who''d been watching the interaction, laughed. Kindred souls." Nathan scanned the tree. "I don''t see an entrance," he said. The sound of thunder cracked, slamming into Nathan''s ears. The trunk of the tree in front of them exploded into thousands of splinters, loose pieces of wood flying through the air, smoking. A figure fell to the ground in a heap right in front of them. Derek. Nathan''s eyebrows shot up. "What is he doing here?" Derek groaned, and Nathan ran over to check on him. When Derek saw him, he winced. "Fancy seeing you here" Nathan held out his hand, channeling Ocean''s Kiss into his fingers. "What are you doing here?" Dereks eyes fluttered. Chad yelled about how he couldnt find you and said that I''d have to do for backup." Nathan groaned. That sounded like a very Chad thing to do. "He''s in there right now?" Derek nodded and pushed himself up. "He was slicing through the wanderers like they were paper. He''s already made it a quarter of the waybut" "But what?" "But he''s running out of steam" Derek jumped into the air. "Wait, was that ability used on me? I''m not just healed; I feel better than ever." "It''s just a healing ability. Don''t worry about it." Derek''s eyes darted back toward the tree. "We need to get back in there." Nathan raised an eyebrow. Looks like beneath all that revolutionary fervor and teenage angst was someone who''s actually willing to risk their life when lives are on the line. Nathan gave the group a quick glance before he ran forward. He tensed his legs, pushed every ounce of energy he had into them, and jumped in Behind him, a sudden gust of wind slammed into him, throwing him toward the hole. He glanced back and saw Bree get thrown forward by an earth pillar. Finny and the others swam through the air at lightning speeds. Meanwhile, the orcs and Derek were forced to run and climb up the tree trunk. Nathan was approaching the hole rapidly. He passed through, revealing a dark interior, ghostly lights flickering and illuminating the hollowed-out tree. Vines and plant matter stretched from side to side, covering the walls. A bright flash of light caught Nathan''s attention. Chad. "What''s up, chat!" he shouted. "About to save Pocket Chad from imminent destructionsingle-handedly!" Nathan glanced around. Not only were the vines attacking him, but there were also mysterious figures holding weaponry. Nathan sliced through one with a quick slash. But there was one behind him. Nathan pulled out his harpoon and aimed it at the figure. Suddenly, his stomach lit up with pain. Inside his mind, he saw another flash of the battle waging within him. The words repeated over and over again: B32. B32. B32. Instead of his harpoon being thrust forward, he crashed into the ghostly apparition, shattering itand probably his collarbone.
B32 laughed as his attack scorched the delicate chimera rose, its peculiar half-black, half-white petals curling under the assault of system energy. Behind the rose, Nathan''s unconscious body laid on the groundthe poor fool had no idea of what was happening, did he? "A flower? This is what stands between me and my target?" His laughter rolled across the tranquil beach soulscape. "How utterly quaint." The damaged rose swayed slightly on its stem. Despite the burn marks marring its petals, it turned toward B32 with an almost defiant tilt. B32 adjusted his flickering form. "Business, little bloom. Just business." He circled the flower. "The System has determined your friend is an anomaly requiring correction." The flower''s petals rustled, though there was no wind on the beach. It bent its scorched head toward Nathan''s prone form, then back to B32, vibrating. Mine. The word appeared in B32''s mind, childish and simple. "Your preferences are irrelevant, little bloom. I''m afraid that my will as administrator is absolute." With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent another wave of energy crashing toward the flower. It struck with devastating force, tearing the rose from its stem and scattering petals across the sand. "Too easy," B32 sighed, disappointed. "I expected more of a challenge." He strode toward Nathan''s unconscious form, geometric patterns rippling across the sand with each footfall. "Now for the primary target" The beach trembled. B32 paused, frowning. "Seismic anomaly? Unexpected." The trembling intensified. Beneath his feet, the sand began to shift, tiny grains forming intricate patterns that spread outward from where the flower had stood. "What is this?" B32 said. The scattered petals on the sand quivered. You hurt me. B32 spun around, scanning the soulscape. "Where are you? Show yourself!" A gigglenot heard but feltseemed to vibrate through the sand beneath his feet. The sand erupted three meters from B32. A tendril of root thick as a human arm pushed through the surface. It was followed by another, and another, each undulating with fluid, serpentine movements. The roots swayed, rising and falling in no discernible pattern. One of them pointed toward the remains of the flower, then jabbed accusingly at B32. "Distributed consciousness. Fascinating." His eyes narrowed. "You''ve rooted throughout his entire soul, haven''t you?" More roots erupted around him, forming an irregular circle. Some were thin as thread, others thick as tree trunks. All pulsed with an inner light that shifted between black and white, mirroring the flower''s chimera petals. A thinner root emerged near Nathan''s head, brushing his hair. It coiled protectively around his shoulder. B32 straightened his tie, regaining his composure. "A tactical error on his part, allowing a foreign entity such access." Not foreign. The childish sentiment pushed into his mind. "You''re an invasive parasite," B32 corrected, stepping back from a questing root that prodded at his shoe. "A data corruption that has somehow achieved sentience." The beach trembled again, more violently this time. The root nearest B32 suddenly whipped forward, striking like a serpent. B32 dodged, but not quite fast enoughthe tip grazed his side and drew a line of code-like light from beneath. The attacking root withdrew, its tip wiggling. B32 touched the tear. "You... damaged my shell." His surprise turned to cold anger. "That was poorly advised." He raised both hands, and the sky of the soulscape darkened. System windows appeared, floating in the air, displaying scrolling code and authorization protocols. "Protocol Override," he said. "Execute." Lightning-like bolts of energy rained from the sky, striking the flower''s exposed roots. Where they hit, the roots blackened and withered, retracting beneath the sand with spasmodic jerks. The soulscape filled with a sensation of pain. Hurts! "It''s meant to," B32 said. "System protocols are designed to eliminate threats efficiently." The lightning barrage continued, scorching the beach and driving more of the flower''s roots beneath the surface. For a moment, it seemed B32 had gained the upper hand. Then the sand beneath his feet shifted abruptly, causing him to stumble. A massive root erupted directly beneath him, catapulting him several meters through the air. He landed with a loud thud. The roots around the beach began to sway, rising and falling in unison. B32 rolled aside as a root thick as a pillar crashed down where he''d been lying. "This is such bullshit!" he shouted. Roots burst from the sand in erratic patterns. One minute they''d be still, the next they''d lash out without warning. Some coiled tight before springing forward. Others slithered beneath the surface only to erupt elsewhere. The roots began to close in, hemming B32 in from all sides. B32''s eyes narrowed. "Your connection to Nathan''s soul gives you power here," he said. "But I have contingencies for every scenario." He touched his skin, and the inky black surface began to change, flowing like liquid mercury across his form. It hardened into a gleaming exoskeleton of perfect geometric patterns, each segment pulsing with system energy. "Protocol Override," he said. "Execute!" The air around him distorted as reality itself bent to the System''s will. A wave of destructive energy exploded outward, tearing through the flower''s roots like tissue paper. A visceral wave of agony swept through the soulscape. Pain. Pain. PAIN. B32 smirked. Victory would be his.