《Multiversal Primal Zerg (Semi-SI)》


 Chapter 1 - Dimensional Traveler

    Starcraft Universe, Planet Zerus


    The scent of prey drifted through the hot, humid air. The young Primal Zerg''s nostrils flared, taking in the complex mixture of pheromones and blood. A pack had passed through not long ago - their scents still fresh and strong.


    The creature moved silently through the dense growth, its claws finding purchase on the rough ground as it darted between towering fungal structures. The acid pools to its left bubbled and hissed, their acrid fumes mixing with the metallic taste of blood in the air. One of the pack members was wounded - the sweet tang of their blood called to the hunter.


    Its body flowed smoothly as it tracked them, muscles coiling and stretching beneath thin scales. The wounded one had fallen behind their pack. Alone, separated, vulnerable. The hunt would be easier this way.


    The ground trembled beneath its feet - the great mountains in the distance spewing their endless fire into the sky. The hunter paid it no mind. Such things were normal here, as natural as breathing. What mattered was the prey ahead.


    It could hear it now - labored breathing, the scrape of claws on stone, the occasional soft growl of pain. The hunter''s vision sharpened as it drew closer, picking out details through the thick vegetation. The prey was larger, but its injury had weakened it. The hunter could smell the infection setting in.


    The distance closed. Thirty lengths. Twenty. Ten. The hunter''s muscles bunched, preparing for the leap that would bring it to its prey''s throat. The timing had to be perfect. It gathered itself, calculating the angle, the force needed...


    The hunter launched forward, but its claws caught on a patch of brittle growth. The snap seemed deafening in the humid air. The prey''s head whipped around, eyes widening as it spotted the hunter mid-leap. Instead of sinking its teeth into the throat, the hunter crashed through a cluster of poison-filled pods, their contents spraying everywhere.


    The hunt had just become much more complicated...


    The burning sting of poison across its scales barely registered - the hunter''s body was used to such things. The prey, though wounded, was now fully alert. It rose to its full height, nearly twice the hunter''s size, mandibles clicking as it faced its attacker. The infection in its leg wound had weakened it, but cornered prey always fought hardest.


    It lunged first, faster than its size would suggest. But the hunter was faster. It rolled beneath the strike, feeling the displacement of air as massive claws tore through where it had been. The ground trembled again, stronger this time, and the hunter used the momentary distraction to its advantage.


    As soon as the prey stumbled from the tremor, the hunter leaped onto one of the massive fungal growths, using it as a springboard. Its body twisted in mid-air, an instinct as natural as breathing. Landing on the prey''s back, its reinforced claws found purchase in the thick hide. The prey roared, trying to shake off its attacker, but the hunter had already sunk its teeth into the base of its neck.


    Venom flooded from the hunter''s glands, pumping into its prey''s bloodstream. The prey thrashed, more desperate now. It slammed backwards into a rock formation, trying to crush its attacker. But the hunter had already moved, flowing around its prey''s body like water.


    The venom began its work. The hunter could smell the change in its prey''s blood, see the sluggishness creeping into its movements. Still, it fought. They always did. The prey charged toward one of the acid pools, perhaps hoping to force a retreat. A foolish move. The hunter darted forward, its claws finding the tendons in the prey''s legs. As it stumbled, the hunter struck at its throat again - this time from below.


    The hunter''s reinforced teeth tore through the carapace like it was nothing. Hot blood flooded its mouth, rich with essence. The prey collapsed, its final roar turning into a wet gurgle. Victory. Food. Essence.


    The prey''s blood and flesh filled the hunter with strength. The essence flowed through it, but there was nothing new to adapt - this one was strong, but simple. Like itself. As it fed, the hunter''s senses remained alert. The prey''s pack could return, drawn by the scent of death. But they wouldn''t. Not with the sweet scents of easier prey carried on the wind.


    A faint movement caught the hunter''s attention. Something different. Not like the usual prey that stalked these grounds. The scent was... wrong. Strange. The hunter''s head lifted from its kill, nostrils flaring. The movement came from beyond the thick growth of toxic spores, near where the ground split and burned.


    The strange prey was more interesting than finishing the meal. The hunter left the carcass - others would find it soon enough. Following the scent was difficult. It kept disappearing, mixing with the acrid fumes from the burning ground. But the hunter knew it was there. Something new. Something different.


    The hunter stalked closer, and its vision sharpened. The prey was moving with purpose, heading toward the high cliffs where the ground was more stable. It moved oddly, not flowing like a proper hunter should. Instead, it seemed to glide over the terrain, barely touching the ground. The scent grew stronger - metallic, but not like blood. Different. Wrong.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    The hunt became easier as the hunter tracked it up the cliffs. Here, away from the burning grounds and toxic spores, the trail was clear. Perfect. Every movement, every displaced stone told where it went. How it moved. What it was.


    A deep rumble shook the ground. Stones tumbled down the cliff face. The prey paused, and the hunter saw it clearly for the first time. Its body bristled with spines - not like claws or teeth, but long, sharp protrusions that covered its back and sides. As it moved, the spines shifted and flexed. Some launched through the air, embedding themselves in a large growth of fungus.


    The hunter''s body trembled with anticipation. New. Different. Something to adapt. Something to become.


    The ground shook again. Larger rocks broke loose from the cliff, but the hunter barely noticed. All its focus was on the spine-bearer. It hadn''t noticed its stalker yet. The hunter moved closer, careful now. The last hunt had started poorly - this one must be perfect. The essence must be pure. Clean.


    The spine-bearer turned its head, sensing danger. But it was too late. The hunter was already moving.


    It launched several spines - sharp, deadly projectiles that whistled through the air. The hunter twisted, feeling them slice past its scales. One grazed its shoulder, drawing blood, but the pain was meaningless. What mattered was the hunt. The essence.


    The ground trembled again, stronger this time. The spine-bearer lost its footing for just a moment. That was all the hunter needed. It lunged forward, its reinforced claws tearing into its prey''s flank. The spine-bearer screamed - a high, piercing sound unlike anything the hunter had heard before. More spines launched, some glancing past the hunter''s scales. The pain was sharp, but manageable.


    They grappled on the cliff edge. The spine-bearer''s defenses made it difficult to find purchase, but the hunter''s venom was already working. Each bite pumped more toxins into its blood. The spine-bearer thrashed, trying to dislodge its attacker. It rolled, nearly sending them both over the edge where the ground burned far below.


    The fight was brutal but quick. Venom slowly took hold, the spine-bearer''s movements becoming sluggish. The last few spines it launched went wide. When the hunter''s teeth finally found its throat, it barely struggled. Hot blood flooded the hunter''s mouth, and with it came the essence it craved.


    This essence was different. Complex. As the hunter fed, it could feel the changes beginning. The knowledge of spine-launching seeped into its body. Its scales shifted and rippled as new growths formed beneath them. The pain was intense but welcome. This was what it meant to evolve. To adapt. To become stronger.


    The hunter continued feeding until nothing remained of the spine-bearer. The new adaptation settled into place - it could feel the spines forming beneath its scales, ready to launch at will. Twelve of them, each as sharp as its claws. They would regrow, it knew this instinctively. A new weapon. A new way to hunt.


    The ground shook again, but something was different about this tremor. There was a new sound. A new scent.


    The hunter turned toward this new disturbance, its fresh spines shifting beneath its scales, ready to be tested.


    The creature before it was unlike anything it had ever encountered. Small. Weak-looking. No claws, no proper teeth. It stood on two legs, covered in strange not-scales that rustled when it moved. But what drew the hunter''s attention most was its eyes - they glowed like the burning ground, but blue instead of red.


    The creature made loud sounds, rapid and high-pitched. The sounds meant nothing to the hunter, but there was something in its scent - fear, thick and pungent.


    The creature pulled something from its side - a small, dark object. The thing made loud cracks, four times. Each time it cracked, a small something whizzed past the hunter. Pathetic. Even the spine-bearer''s attacks had been more threatening.


    The creature''s voice got louder, more frantic. Its arms waved around as it continued making those meaningless sounds. "...dimensional traveler... greatest golden finger... Zerus of all places... fucking Primal Zerg... doesn''t matter... escape... become invincible..."


    The blue glow in its eyes intensified. Something about that glow triggered the hunter''s instincts. Prey trying to escape. It couldn''t allow that. Wouldn''t allow that.


    All four feet pushed against the ground as the hunter jumped forward. The creature tried to make its thing crack again, but it just clicked uselessly. The fear-scent spiked. The blue glow in its eyes became almost blinding.


    Too late.


    The hunter''s jaws closed around its head just as the blue light reached its peak. The creature''s strange not-scales tore like wet vegetation. Its blood tasted different - wrong, but rich with something new. As it fed, the hunter noticed something hard in what remained of its head. Something that pulsed with that same blue glow.


    The strange hard thing in its head pulsed faster as the hunter continued to feed. With each pulse, memories that weren''t its own flooded into the hunter''s mind. Strange images. Metal towers larger than the fungal growths. Creatures that moved without legs. Words. So many words, their meanings suddenly crashing into its thoughts like falling rocks.


    The blue thing detached itself from the prey''s remains. Before the hunter could react, it moved - burrowing into its own head. Pain exploded behind the hunter''s eyes. Not like the pain of adaptation. Different. Wrong. More memories flooded in. Knowledge. Understanding.


    The hunter was... it was...


    The thoughts were confusing. Scattered. It knew things it shouldn''t know. Understood things it had never seen. The prey was called... human. Adrian Thorne. This place was... Zerus. The hunter was... Primal Zerg. The blue thing in its head was... technology. Dimensional travel... special materials... energy from biomass...


    The hunter''s head throbbed. Too much. Too fast. The ground beneath its feet felt less solid. The air shimmered with that same blue glow that now pulsed behind its eyes. Everything started to blur, to shift, to change.


    The last thing the hunter saw was Zerus - its hunting grounds, its territory - dissolving into streams of blue light. Then darkness claimed it, and it fell through space that wasn''t space, through time that wasn''t time.


    When consciousness returned, the air smelled different. Wrong. The ground beneath the hunter''s claws felt wrong too. Everything was wrong.


    It opened its eyes to a world made of blocks.

 Chapter 2 - Blocky Planet

    Minecraft Universe, Blocky Planet


    The ground was divided into perfect squares, each block distinct and uniform. Trees grew in cubic segments, defying natural law. Even the clouds drifted by in rectangular chunks against a sky that seemed too blue, too structured.


    Pain lanced through the Primal Zerg''s skull as memories crashed together - the hunt, the blue-eyed prey, knowledge flooding in like a tide. Words formed meaning. Concepts aligned. The world gained names, context, understanding.


    Adrian. The name echoed in the creature''s mind. Not his name - the prey''s name - but with it came fragments of human thought. Of awareness beyond pure instinct. The creature shook his head, scales flexing as another wave of disorientation hit. The dimensional node pulsed at the base of his skull, sending sharp jolts down his spine.


    The air felt wrong. Too rigid, following rules rather than natural flow. His claws scraped against dirt blocks, testing their substance. Each block remained perfectly cubic until broken, at which point it would shrink into a smaller floating version of itself. The human memories explained this was normal here, though his instincts screamed otherwise.


    His body struggled to adjust to the world''s rigid physics. Scales contracted painfully, trying to align with the cubic environment. The spines he had claimed from his last kill shifted uncomfortably under his hide, refusing to settle properly with this world''s rules.


    Nausea caused him to shudder as his body began to destabilize. The recent adaptations wavered, threatening to collapse. He needed shelter. Needed time to rest. His head snapped up. There, he spotted a cave mouth in a nearby hill. The shadows inside registered as a light level low enough for danger, but he had little choice.


    Each movement felt wrong as he forced himself toward the cave. His organic form fought against the world''s rigid rules - claws slipping on surfaces that should provide grip, muscles working harder than they should to cover simple distances. The human memories warned that darkness meant danger, but his body needed time to adjust or it would tear itself apart.


    The cave mouth was a perfect three-by-three arrangement of block spaces. Inside, the light level dropped steadily until he could guess it reached seven, then six, then five. At these levels, he knew hostile creatures could spawn.


    He paused when he heard a sound from deeper inside - the distinct rattle of bones against bones. Through the darkness emerged a skeleton, its cubic skull turning as it registered his presence. It turned, empty eye sockets fixing on him as it raised a bow.


    The skeleton''s movements were unnaturally precise, following exact patterns. The arrow whistled through the air. The Primal Zerg tried to dodge, but his body moved wrong, fighting against the cubic space. The arrow struck his shoulder, embedding between scales. He hissed, but was more concerned how his flesh seemed to resist healing properly in this structured world.


    No choice. He needed to adapt. The skeleton drew another arrow, bones clicking as it maintained perfect distance. The Primal Zerg launched forward, his awkward movement actually working in his favor as the next arrow flew over his ducking form.


    His claws struck true, killing the skeleton. Small floating bones hovered above the ground, and he quickly ate them up. His enhanced digestive system processed the traces of material, breaking down what little essence remained in the bones.


    Essence was analyzed, and it was just enough to understand how matter existed here. His body began to change, scales shifting painfully as edges became more defined. Muscles realigned, not fully cubic but adapted to move in right angles when needed.


    The transformation hurt, but when it finished, the world felt less wrong. He could feel how to interact with blocks properly now, how to move through space that operated on fixed rules rather than organic flow. The arrow wound in his shoulder began healing correctly, his flesh now compatible with this dimension''s physics.


    He wasn''t fully creature of this world - his form remained largely natural - but he had adapted enough to survive here. Now he needed to find proper shelter before night fell and more monsters spawned in the growing darkness...


    With his body partially adapted to the cubic world, movement became more efficient. His claws found proper purchase between blocks as he explored deeper into the cave, seeking defensible space. He measured light levels instinctively now. Level 7 meant safety. Anything lower would spawn threats.


    A zombie emerged from where the light dropped to level 3, its blocky form shuffling forward in a straight line. The Primal Zerg clawed at its flesh, and the zombie disappeared with a flash of red, leaving behind rotten flesh that he quickly consumed and determined to contain no useful essence.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    More groans echoed from the depths. The cave system was too dark, too open to monster spawning. He needed somewhere else. Backing out of the cave, he looked at the biome with new understanding. The sun was falling in perfect increments across the sky. Night would arrive suddenly, not gradually, and with it monsters would appear anywhere dark enough.


    The nearest mountain rose in clear block segments. His adapted claws could break those blocks now, create shelter rather than just find it. He moved quickly across the cubic grass, each step matching the grid-like nature of the ground. A sheep wandered nearby, but food could wait. Shelter came first.


    Halfway up the mountain face, he began carving into the stone blocks. Each block broke in exactly eight hits from his claws, shrinking into a smaller version that he could collect against his scales. The process was easy now that he understood the rules - dig three blocks in, two blocks up, creating a space just large enough to defend.


    Thunder cracked overhead in sharp booms. Rain began falling in perfectly straight lines, each droplet following exact paths. He worked faster, breaking and placing blocks. The entrance was deliberately small - one block high, one block wide. Most hostile mobs wouldn''t be able to fit through, except baby zombies. But he could deal with those.


    The moment night fell, he put the final blocks in place. The den was basic but secure: three blocks deep, two blocks high, two blocks wide. A single block gap in the ceiling provided ventilation.


    From his den, he watched the monsters appear. They didn''t spawn gradually or walk in from elsewhere - they simply popped into existence wherever light levels dropped to 7 or below. Skeletons took up positions. Zombies began their gridlike patrols. Spiders spawned behind trees.


    And there, in the distance, the distinct hiss of creepers. Their cube-shaped heads swayed as they moved. None of them could reach his position easily, because the mountain face was too steep for their simple intellect to navigate.


    The night would pass in exactly ten minutes of real time. His shelter was secure, his body adapted enough to function. Now he could rest, heal, and plan his next move in this world.


    Rain struck the mountain in perfect vertical lines. Each droplet followed an exact path downward, but no water collected on the ground.


    Three zombies wandered in straight lines twelve blocks below. A skeleton positioned itself twenty-three blocks away, bow ready but unable to calculate a firing solution to his elevated position. A spider attempted to climb the cliff face but slid down when it encountered an overhang - the creature''s pathfinding unable to cope with the obstacle.


    The skeleton essence he had consumed earlier finished integrating into his system. His body settled further into this world''s rules. Muscles and tendons aligned to move in exact increments. His claws adapted to break blocks in precisely eight strikes. Even his eyes became squares.


    Through the small ventilation hole, he studied the mountain''s composition. Stone dominated the upper sections, with veins of coal blocks visible in the walls. Deeper in, iron ore sparkled. The human memories suggested these resources held value, but gathering them would require proper tools.


    His defensive position proved perfect. The single-block entrance prevented larger mobs from entering. The elevated position gave him clear sightlines while staying out of mob detection range. Even a creeper that spawned nearby simply stood still, unable to path its way up to his location.


    When morning arrived, it came instantly. Zombies and skeletons burst into flames under the square sun, dropping items that vanished after exactly five minutes, while the creeper had wandered away. The rain stopped as suddenly as it had started, the sky clearing in a single tick of time.


    Hunger drove him from his shelter. There was a group of sheep grazing eight blocks away. They moved in simple patterns, turning at exact angles, completely unaware of the predator above them.


    The hunt proved almost trivial. He dropped from the high ground, landing on the largest sheep. His claws struck its head, and the sheep vanished in a puff of red particles. Raw mutton and wool remained floating above the ground, rotating slowly. The other sheep showed no reaction.


    A strange sound drew his attention. "Moo." The noise came from a cubic cow nearby. The creature stared at him with blank eyes. The cow''s behavior pattern was simple - walk forward until blocked, turn, repeat. Yet when he approached, it didn''t flee. It simply continued its basic routine.


    He clawed at it, the cow disappearing like the sheep. The floating meat and leather vanished into his gullet. Each bite brought new fragments of memory - words, concepts, understanding. The human memories that had been forcibly integrated into his mind were slowly becoming clearer.


    A cave entrance gaped in the mountainside. The dimensional node at the base of his skull tingled, suggesting materials for attunement lay below. The human memories warned of danger underground, but also spoke of valuable ores.


    The cave mouth led to a twisting tunnel system that descended at sharp angles. Torches would make this safer, the memories suggested, but he had no way to craft them yet.


    The darkness posed no challenge to his night vision. Coal ore dotted the walls, along with specs of iron. The tunnels branched and split, some leading deeper underground. Water dripped from the ceiling in single-block sources that spread across the floor.


    A red glow caught his attention. Redstone ore. The node pulsed stronger - this material could help attune him to this world. He moved toward it, but stopped at the sound of bones clicking against stone.


    Three skeletons walked out from an adjoining tunnel, bows raised. The first arrow bounced off his scales. He spun, tail sweeping two skeletons off their feet. The third kept firing as he pounced, crushing its skull between his jaws. The bones crumbled into items.


    The remaining skeletons stood no chance. A few strikes of his claws reduced them to floating bone meal and arrows. But the sound of combat had drawn attention. A distinct hiss approached from behind.


    The creeper never got close enough to detonate. His spines pierced its head, and the green mob vanished in a puff of gunpowder. Creepers exploded, destroying blocks and creatures alike, didn¡¯t they? The human knowledge was becoming clearer with each passing moment.


    He returned to the redstone, breaking the ore with his metal-lined claws. The glowing dust would help attune him to this world. But he needed more. The node''s pulses suggested other materials deeper underground...

 Chapter 3 - Mine Craft Online

    Minecraft Universe, Blocky Planet


    The redstone dust floated into his gullet, and his eyes glowed a subtle blue as the material was taken by the node for attunement to this dimension.


    The tunnel ahead split into three paths. His enhanced hearing picked up the distinct bubble of lava from the leftmost passage, while water dripped steadily from the right. The middle path descended at a sharp angle, leading deeper underground.


    According to the integrated memories, diamonds and other valuable ores appeared most frequently between levels 5 and 12. He wasn¡¯t certain at which level he was currently, but he could guess he needed to go deeper. The middle path would take him where he needed to go.


    The passage narrowed as he descended. His claws scraped against stone blocks, breaking them when they blocked his path. The process was mind-numbing: break, move forward, break again.


    A vein of gold ore sparkled in the wall. The blue glow from his eyes deepened. Yes, this would help with attunement. His claws made short work of the blocks, the raw ore floating before him. The gold had a strange quality to it ¨C quicker to degrade than iron despite its value.


    The gold ore disappeared into his maw, and the blue glow in his eyes pulsed brighter for a moment. A zombie groaned somewhere in the darkness ahead, but the sound held no threat. These cubic undead moved in predictable ways, and their attacks barely scratched his scales.


    The tunnel opened into a larger cavern. Water flowed from the ceiling in perfect columns, spreading across the floor in exact square patterns. Lava bubbled in a pool twenty blocks away, exposing iron and coal veins embedded in the walls.


    The precious gems would be near the bottom of the world. He broke through more stone blocks, creating a path downward at a steep angle.


    The air grew warmer. More lava pools appeared, some hidden behind thin stone walls. He could smell them - that distinct scent of heat and melted rock. A skeleton''s arrow bounced off his scales. He ignored it, continuing to dig. The skeleton''s programming wouldn''t let it navigate the steep tunnel he was creating.


    The stone changed texture, becoming darker and harder. This deep underground, the blocks took an extra strike from his claws to break. Small blue crystals caught the light from his eyes - lapis lazuli. He harvested it, the fragments vanishing into his gullet.


    An odd hum made him freeze. Not a creeper this time, this was something different. Through a hole in the cave wall, he spotted the black skin of an Enderman. The tall creature teleported randomly around a cavern adjacent to his tunnel, holding a stone block in its long arms. Don¡¯t meet the eyes.


    But the Enderman''s ability to vanish and reappear would make a valuable adaptation, wouldn¡¯t it? He broke one more block, and jumped at the tall creature. His claws raked across its dark flesh, the impact sending both damage particles and purple teleport wisps into the air. The Enderman''s body flashed red as it took the hit, and with its characteristic vwoop sound, it vanished - leaving behind only a cloud of purple particles where it had stood.


    He waited in the cavern, head low and muscles tensed. The creature had to return, they always returned to fight. A minute passed. Then another. The Enderman was gone.


    The remnant memories suggested this behavior was unusual. These creatures typically fought back when damaged. Did this one have different programming? He shook his head and returned to mining downward.


    The stone turned to smooth granite, then back to regular stone.


    A glint of blue caught his eye. Diamond ore sparkled on the wall, and his eyes glowed brighter in response. He moved toward it, already anticipating whether it might be enough for-


    "Don''t move."


    The voice came from behind him. Human voice. Female. Young. His muscles tensed, but he remained still.


    "I have an enchanted bow aimed at your head. You¡¯re not completely cubic, so whatever you are, you''re not supposed to exist in Minecraft. Turn around. Slowly."


    The urge to strike made his body twitch - one quick movement and the threat would become sustenance. The remnant memories pushed back against the urge. Humans could be valuable. Could share knowledge. Could help understand this world better than basic consumption would allow.


    He turned slowly. A player stood ten blocks away, bow drawn and aimed. She wore iron armor that covered most of her cubic body, leaving only a pixelated face visible. The bow had a purple glow.


    The player''s square eyes widened. "You... you''re some kind of lizard-dinosaur hybrid?"


    The Zerg opened his mouth, working to form words with a throat and tongue not designed for human speech. "Not... dinosaur." Each word came out as a growl-tinged rumble.


    She took a step back, bow still trained on him. "You can talk? What are you doing down here?"


    "Mining." He gestured toward the diamond ore with his tail. "Need... materials."


    "With your claws? That''s impossible. You need at least an iron pickaxe for diamond ore." Her bow lowered slightly. "Unless... those aren''t normal claws, are they?"


    He flexed his metal-reinforced claws. One of his adaptations allowed him to use consumed metals to improve his teeth and claws.


    "Strong enough," he growled. "Not here to fight."


    "Right. Just a peaceful mining trip by a talking lizard monster." She snorted. "I''ve been stuck in this game for eight months, but this is new. Did they add you in an update?"


    The words ¡®stuck in this game¡¯ triggered fragments of memory. Sword Art Online. A digital world turned real. Players trapped inside their avatars. His eyes narrowed.


    "Not from here," he said. "Different world. Arrived... recently."


    Her bow finally lowered completely. "Different world? Like... you''re from outside the game too?"


    A zombie groaned nearby. The player spun, bow raising again, but one of his spines cut through the air and embedded itself in the undead before it could reach her. The zombie burst into experience orbs and rotten flesh.


    "Thanks." She stepped away from the floating items. "I''m Sarah. Or at least, that was my name before I got trapped here. Now everyone calls me IronMiner_217." She shrugged. "Not very creative with usernames."


    "No name," he rumbled. "Never needed one."


    "Well, No Name, want to explain why you''re after diamonds? Because I''m looking for them too, and maybe we can help each other out. Safety in numbers down here."


    He tilted his head. The offer made sense. She probably knew this world''s rules better than he did, despite the remnant memories. And she hadn''t shot him when she had the chance.


    "Want diamonds," he growled, "to enhance claws." He waved them in the air. "Make them stronger."


    IronMiner_217 leaned against a stone block. "Enhance them? Like enchanting?" She shook her cubic head. "Never mind, we can talk while we mine. There''s usually more diamonds in these deep areas."


    She pulled out a stone block and placed it beneath her feet, using it to reach the diamond ore. An enchanted diamond pickaxe appeared in her square hand. The ore broke quickly under the tool''s strikes, shrinking into collectible items.


    "So what''s your story?" she asked, storing the diamonds in her inventory. "You said you''re from another world?"


    "Yes." He moved to the next vein of diamonds, collecting them as well against his scales in their miniature form. "Arrived here... recently. Everything different. Cubic."


    "Tell me about it." She laughed, but the sound held little humor. "One day I''m playing Minecraft on my computer, next thing I know I''m actually inside the game. Woke up in a village with a bunch of other players. All of us trapped in these blocky bodies."


    A creeper''s hiss disturbed them. The Zerg spun and launched another spine. The green mob flashed red and disappeared before it could explode.


    "Nice shot." IronMiner_217 mined another diamond. "We''ve got whole communities now. Players working together to survive. Some try to find a way back home, others have just... accepted this as their new reality."


    "How many?"


    "In our region? Maybe three hundred players spread across different settlements. I''m from New Haven - it''s built into a mountain about two thousand blocks from here." She paused. "The bigger cities have thousands. But travel between them can be dangerous without proper gear, especially with the rare modded mobs¡­"This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The mention of proper gear sparked more remnant memories. Enchanted armor. Potions. Methods of improving tools and weapons beyond their base capabilities.


    "You live alone?" he asked.


    "Nah, came down here with my mining team. We split up to cover more ground." She checked her coordinates. "They''re probably a couple hundred blocks east of us."


    More diamond ore sparkled in the wall ahead. The blue glow in his eyes brightened slightly.


    "More players mean more questions," he rumbled.


    "Yeah, they''ll definitely freak out when they see you." She grinned. "But don''t worry. After eight months here, we''ve seen some weird stuff. As long as you don''t try to eat anyone, they''ll probably accept you."


    A skeletal skull reached through a gap in the wall. IronMiner_217 casually shot an arrow through its skull, and the mob collapsed into items.


    "Nice bow," the Zerg said, the words coming easier now. The remnant memories helped shape the sounds more naturally.


    "Thanks. I got lucky with one of the enchantments." IronMiner_217 examined her weapon. "Power II and Infinity. Never runs out of arrows."


    A distant explosion echoed through the caves. IronMiner_217 pulled out a map, checking the red dots that marked her teammates'' positions.


    "That came from near Jason''s location." She stuffed the map away. "Probably just a creeper, but we should check."


    The tunnel branched ahead. One path led upward, while the other went toward bedrock. More diamond ore glinted in the lower passage.


    "Your friends first," the Zerg rumbled. "Diamonds can wait."


    They took the ascending path. IronMiner_217 placed torches every few blocks, keeping the light level above seven. The Zerg''s night vision made the torches unnecessary for him, but he understood why humans needed them.


    "So what should I call you?" she asked as they climbed. "Can''t just keep saying ''hey you'' all the time."


    He considered this. Names held meaning to humans. Humans used them to form connections and build trust. What name should he use? Just ¡®Primal Zerg¡¯ felt inaccurate since that was just his species. Maybe he could use the name of the human from whom he got the Dimensional Travel Node (DTN)?


    "Adrian," he said. "That is who I am."


    "Adrian it is then." She stopped at an intersection. "Jason should be... wait, you hear that?"


    Multiple zombies groaned ahead, and he could hear the skittering of multiple spiders.


    "Jason!" IronMiner_217 called out. "Where are you?"


    "Over here!" A male voice yelled back. "Cave spider nest! Could use some help!"


    "This way." Adrian moved toward the sounds, his claws finding purchase on the stone blocks as he climbed. The tunnel opened into a larger cavern where wooden support beams supported an abandoned mineshaft.


    A player in diamond armor swung his sword at three cave spiders while two zombies approached from behind. Cobwebs covered the floor and walls, slowing movement. More spiders appeared out of thin air from a spawner block tucked between support beams.


    IronMiner_217 fired arrows at the zombies. The enchanted bow made quick work of them, but more spiders kept spawning.


    "The spawner!" Jason yelled, backing away from a spider. "Break the spawner!"


    Adrian ran forward. The cobwebs that slowed players had little effect on him, his greater speed meant he could navigate the sticky blocks efficiently. He reached the spawner and struck it with his claws.


    The block cracked but didn''t break. Cave spiders swarmed toward him. He spun, tail sweeping two away while his claws caught a third. The spiders were fast but predictable in their movements. Each one followed the same attack pattern - jump, bite, retreat.


    "What is that thing?" Jason shouted between sword swings.


    "Friend!" IronMiner_217 answered. "Adrian, the spawner needs more hits!"


    Adrian struck the spawner again. More cracks appeared. A spider landed on his back, fangs seeking purchase between his scales. He rolled, crushing it against the stone floor. The spider burst into string and spider eyes.


    The spawner broke after six more claw strikes, disappearing in a puff of particles. Without new spiders spawning, they could focus on the remaining ones. Jason''s sword cut through two while IronMiner_217''s arrows found their marks. Adrian''s claws eliminated the rest.


    "That''s the last one." Jason leaned against a support beam, pulling out bread from his inventory to restore his health. "Now, anyone want to explain why we''re working with a... whatever that is?"


    "Adrian," IronMiner_217 said. "He''s from another world. Like us, sort of."


    Jason studied Adrian through his diamond helmet. "Another world? You mean like Earth?"


    "No," Adrian said. "It¡¯s a different place. Called Zerus."


    "It talks!" Jason stepped back. "Sarah, are you sure about this? Remember what happened with those ''friendly'' pillagers?"


    "He saved my life from a creeper," IronMiner_217 said. "And just helped clear this spider nest. I''d say he''s earned some trust."


    More groans from deeper in the mineshaft interrupted their discussion. The spawner might be gone, but abandoned mineshafts always contained multiple monster spawning points.


    "Where''s Marcus?" IronMiner_217 asked.


    "We split up when I found the diamonds." Jason pointed down a side tunnel. "He went to check out some redstone deposits."


    "How long ago?" Adrian asked. The words came easier now, less growl and more speech.


    "Maybe twenty minutes?" Jason pulled out his map. "He should be right... huh." He tapped the map. "No marker. His signal''s gone."


    IronMiner_217 grabbed the map. "That''s impossible. These maps have that modded enchantment. They only stop tracking if someone..." She didn''t finish the sentence.


    "Dies," Jason said. "Or loses connection to the server. But we know that¡¯s not the case¡­"


    Adrian sniffed the air. The cubic environment made scents behave differently, but he could still detect traces of redstone dust. "I can track him."


    "You can smell him?" Jason asked.


    "The redstone. Fresh marks where he mined." Adrian moved toward the side tunnel. "This way."


    The tunnel descended sharply. Water dripped from the ceiling in perfect columns, spreading across the stone floor. Redstone dust glowed on the ground, marking a clear trail.


    "Marcus!" IronMiner_217 called out. "Can you hear us?"


    No response. Just the bubble of lava somewhere below and the endless drip of water.


    "Look." Jason pointed at broken blocks. "Signs of mining, but..." He picked up a dropped miniature iron pickaxe. "He wouldn''t leave this behind."


    Adrian examined the walls. Holes showed where redstone had been mined, but not everything had been taken. A two-block wide hole gaped in the floor.


    "He fell?" IronMiner_217 peered down the hole.


    Jason readied his sword. "Sarah, are you thinking what I¡¯m thinking?"


    "Yes." IronMiner_217 nocked an arrow. "Those players we banned from New Haven? The ones who kept stealing?"


    "Raiders." Jason spat the word. "They''ve been getting bolder lately."


    Adrian stuck his head through the hole. The shaft dropped straight down into darkness. His night vision revealed more broken blocks and scattered redstone dust.


    "I''ll go first," he said. "My scales can take more damage from falling."


    "Wait." IronMiner_217 pulled water buckets from her inventory. "We''ll make a water elevator. Safer that way."


    She poured water down the hole. The liquid formed a perfect column that would slow their descent. Jason went first, then IronMiner_217. Adrian followed, his body sliding smoothly through the water stream.


    They were now in a larger cavern. More mineshaft supports criss-crossed the space, and rails ran along the floor in different directions.


    The ground rumbled.


    Jason picked up a scattered iron ingot from the ground. "Marcus''s stuff is everywhere. But where''s-"


    The floor blew up twenty blocks away. A massive cubic worm burst through the stone, segments of its body covered in what looked like wooden planks and cobwebs. The creature''s head split into four parts, revealing grinding mandibles that processed blocks into different resources.


    "What is that?" IronMiner_217 fired an arrow. The projectile bounced off the creature''s armored hide.


    "Run!" Jason grabbed her arm. "That''s an Architect Leviathan! The admins warned us about these back when we were in the real world!"


    The worm slammed into the ceiling, depositing fresh support beams from specialized glands. Rails sprouted from its underside as it moved, laying down track.


    Adrian launched three spines at the creature''s exposed segments. Two bounced off minecart plating after penetrating through multiple blocks, but one penetrated deep into its flesh, causing it to flash red. The Leviathan roared in pain.


    "My arrows aren''t doing anything!" IronMiner_217 backed away. "The mod creator made these things nearly invulnerable!"


    Jason charged forward, diamond sword glowing with enchantments. The blade struck the worm''s hide, leaving a small red damage indicator. The Leviathan responded by slamming Jason into a wall. His health dropped to half.


    Adrian circled around, looking for weak points. The creature moved in straight lines, creating perfect tunnels as it went. Each segment produced different materials - wood, rails, support beams. The head contained the grinding mechanism.


    "The joints!" He called out. "Attack between segments!"


    IronMiner_217 adjusted her aim, arrows finding gaps in the plating. The Leviathan shrieked.


    Jason recovered, eating golden apples to restore health. "We need to get some space! The underbelly might be weaker!"


    The worm dove into the floor again. The ground shook as it moved beneath them, creating new tunnel systems. Adrian tracked its movement through vibrations in the stone.


    "There!" He shoved IronMiner_217 aside as the Leviathan burst up through the floor. His claws raked across its side, tearing free a wooden plate.


    The massive worm sprayed hardening resin from its mouth. The liquid turned to cobwebs, trapping Jason. His health ticked down as he struggled to break free.


    "Sarah!" Jason called out. "Use the TNT!"


    IronMiner_217 pulled TNT blocks from her inventory, placing them near the Leviathan''s path. The worm''s predictable movement meant it would pass right over them.


    Adrian had four spines left. He launched two at the TNT as the creature approached. The explosions rocked the cavern, breaking the Leviathan''s momentum.


    The worm thrashed, mandibles grinding random blocks. Its armored segments showed cracks from the blast. Jason finally broke free from the cobwebs.


    "The head!" Adrian launched another spine into the creature''s grinding mouth. "While it''s stunned!"


    IronMiner_217 fired arrows into the same spot. Jason''s sword found gaps in the damaged plating. The Leviathan''s health dropped steadily.


    But it wasn''t enough. The creature recovered, body coiling to strike. Jason was nearly dead, and out of healing items. IronMiner_217 wasn¡¯t of much use. The worm lunged forward, mandibles open to grind them into resources.


    Adrian''s last spine flew true, striking deep into the exposed mouth. The Leviathan froze. Red damage particles erupted from its body. The massive form shuddered, then burst into items.


    Wooden planks, rails, cobwebs, and various ores scattered across the floor. Among them lay Marcus''s diamond armor and tools, along with half a stack of redstone dust.


    "That''s why we couldn''t find a body," Jason said quietly, collecting his friend''s items. "The Leviathan processed him into resources."


    IronMiner_217 leaned against a wall, drinking healing potions. "I''ve never seen one up close before. They usually stay in the deep caves, building these tunnel networks."


    "Now I understand why the mineshafts exist," Adrian muttered, remembering the confusion from the original Adrian in the remnant memories. "These creatures create them naturally."


    "Yeah." Jason stored Marcus''s items in his inventory. "The mod creator wanted to explain Minecraft''s abandoned mineshafts. Didn''t expect the monsters to be so deadly when the game became real."


    Adrian examined the Leviathan''s drops. His eyes widened slightly when he spotted a dark-brown round item he didn¡¯t recognize. Glancing at his new allies, he quickly gulped it down when they weren¡¯t looking.


    "We should head back," IronMiner_217 said. "The council needs to know these things are coming closer to the settlement."


    "What about the diamonds?" Jason asked. "We barely filled half our quota."


    "I can help," Adrian offered. "I still need some for myself anyway."


    IronMiner_217 smiled. "Thanks. But first we need more healing potions. That fight took everything we had. It¡¯s just too bad that Marcus died, he will have to wait a month to respawn."

 Chapter 4 - New Haven

    Minecraft Universe, Blocky Planet


    "We should head back to the surface," Jason said, collecting the last of Marcus''s items. "The Trading Post might still have some healing potions in stock."


    The water elevator carried them back up through the stone layers. Adrian''s claws found easy purchase on the blocks as they climbed, while the humans placed temporary blocks beneath their feet when needed. The deep rumble of lava faded behind them.


    "So Adrian," IronMiner_217 asked as they ascended, "what''s your world like? You mentioned it was called Zerus?"


    "It''s a primal world. Harsh. Everything there evolves and fights to survive." Adrian broke through a block of granite blocking their path. "My kind lives there."


    "Your kind?" Jason pulled himself up onto a stone ledge. "There are more like you?"


    "Yes. The older ones can speak and think like I do. The young ones are more... basic. They need time to grow into awareness." Adrian paused at an intersection, sniffing the air. "This way leads up."


    "How did you learn to talk then?" IronMiner_217 placed a torch on the wall. "English, I mean?"


    Adrian considered his answer carefully. "I encountered something strange. It gave me memories - knowledge of Earth, humans, languages. Most of it is unclear, like trying to remember a dream. But it was enough to wake up my mind." He broke through another block. "Then I ended up here."


    "Just like that?" Jason asked. "One moment in your world, next moment here?"


    "More or less." Adrian didn''t mention the pain of the transfer, or how his body had fought against the cubic nature of this reality.


    The tunnel opened into a larger cavern. Sunbeams shone down through holes in the ceiling. They had reached the upper layers.


    "We''ve got company," IronMiner_217 warned, pointing at three creepers blocking their path to the surface.


    IronMiner_217 drew her enchanted bow. "Stay back. I''ve got this."


    The first arrow made the nearest green mob flash red and stagger backward. A second arrow finished it off before it could start its explosion animation. The other two creepers turned toward the sound.


    "These things used to terrify me," IronMiner_217 said, taking aim again. "Now they''re just target practice."


    Two more arrows whistled through the air, eliminating the second creeper. The third one got within five blocks before an arrow caught it in the head, turning it into experience orbs and gunpowder.


    "Nice shooting," Jason said, collecting the drops. "We could use the gunpowder for TNT if we run into another Leviathan."


    Adrian moved toward the sunshaft piercing down from above. The cave opened into a ravine that cut through several biomes. Oak trees grew along one edge while there was a desert on the other side.


    "The Trading Post is that way." IronMiner_217 pointed toward some buildings in the distance. "About five hundred blocks."


    "What''s with your eyes?" Jason asked Adrian. "They keep glowing blue."


    "Side effect of what brought me here," Adrian replied. The less said about that, the better.


    A skeleton took aim at them from the shadows of an overhang. The arrow struck Jason, causing him to flash red and stumble backward, but his diamond chestplate absorbed the damage.


    "Let''s move," IronMiner_217 suggested. "The sun''s going down soon, and we don''t want to be out here when all the mobs spawn."


    They reached the Trading Post just as the sun dipped below the horizon. The wooden structure stood three stories tall, surrounded by a wall of cobblestone with iron golems patrolling the perimeter. Players moved between market stalls, exchanging emeralds and items.


    "You two get the potions," Adrian said. "I need to rest for a bit."


    "Sure." IronMiner_217 pointed to a quiet corner near some hay bales. "We''ll meet you there after we restock."


    Adrian settled down in the suggested spot, away from the other players. The Leviathan''s essence burned inside him, demanding attention. He closed his eyes and focused inward.


    The genetic information revealed itself to his instincts. Three distinct paths of adaptation presented themselves. The first would create segmented armor plating, offering protection similar to the Leviathan''s wooden shell. The second would give him grinding mandibles capable of making instant tunnels.


    But the third option... Adrian''s eyes narrowed as he felt out the Essence. The Architect Leviathan hadn''t just created tunnels - it had processed and transformed materials. Inside its body, a specialized organ had acted as a biological crafting system.


    He directed his body to begin the adaptation. The essence flowed through him, reorganizing cells and creating new structures. A crystalline pearl formed in his chest cavity, surrounded by specialized tissue. The integration exceeded his expectations, the essence meshing perfectly with his biology.


    The organ could store and combine materials according to specific rules, namely the same rules that governed crafting in this world. Items would be miniaturized, just like when players stored them in their inventories. He could even sense empty slots waiting to be filled.


    His first Major Adaptation settled into place, one out of five. He picked up a nearby stick and brought it near his snout, causing it to disappear in a pop. The item appeared in one of the slots inside him, ready to be brought out or combined with other materials.


    "Got the potions!" IronMiner_217 called out, walking over with Jason. "You okay?"


    "I''m fine," Adrian replied. "Just processing some changes." He would need time to experiment with this new ability, but for now, it was better to keep it hidden. "Did you get everything you need?"


    "Yeah, got everything," Jason pulled out several healing potions. "Cost us most of our emeralds, but better safe than sorry."


    They waited in the Trading Post as night passed. Other players huddled around crafting tables and furnaces, some trading items while others discussed recent events. A group near the entrance talked about a raid on one of the smaller settlements.


    The sun rose within 5 minutes. Zombies and skeletons caught in the open burst into flames.


    "We should head to New Haven," Jason said, checking his map. "The council needs to know about the Leviathan, and..." He glanced at Adrian. "Well, people are going to have questions about you."


    "What kind of questions?" Adrian asked.


    "The usual stuff. Where you came from, what you want, if you''re dangerous." Jason shrugged. "Don''t worry too much about it. We''ve gotten better at telling friend from foe. The troublemakers got kicked out months ago."


    "Now they''re raiders," IronMiner_217 added bitterly. "Stealing supplies, killing isolated players. They even have a fortress somewhere in the mountains."


    "What happened when everyone first arrived?" Adrian asked as they walked toward the city.


    "Chaos," Jason replied. "Three hundred confused players spawning in the same area? It was a mess. Some panicked, others tried to take charge. A few just started attacking everyone."


    "The players who knew the most about the game eventually restored order," IronMiner_217 explained. "They organized us into groups, and created laws to keep everyone in check."Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Not everyone liked those laws," Jason said. "The griefers and trolls formed their own group. They raid outposts, destroy farms, kill players for fun. We had to build thick obsidian walls just to give us time to respond."


    "How many players ended up in this world?" Adrian asked, jumping over a small stream.


    "No one knows," IronMiner_217 said. "Every time we send exploration teams out, they find more settlements. Some tiny, some massive. The world seems endless."


    "The biggest city we know of is Imperial Diamond," Jason added. "About fourty thousand blocks east. They''ve got nearly ten thousand players living there."


    A burning skeleton died ahead of them. The morning sun lit up the plains biome, revealing herds of sheep and cows grazing on grass blocks.


    "Some think everyone on Earth got transported here," IronMiner_217 said. "Not just Minecraft players, but everyone. We met a group last month who''d never even heard of the game before waking up here."


    "Makes sense," Jason said. "The raiders we kicked out? They keep finding new members. Either they''re convincing established players to join them, or they''re running into more people out there."


    Adrian watched a chicken pop out an egg. "So no one knows what caused this?"


    "Nope." IronMiner_217 shook her head. "One day everything''s normal, next day we''re all blocks. The really weird part is how the game mechanics work now. Health bars, inventories, crafting - it''s all real."


    "Some players tried breaking the rules early on," Jason sighed. "You know, building floating bases, making infinite water sources. Everything works exactly like in the game."


    A creeper spawned in a dark cave entrance nearby. IronMiner_217 casually shot it with two arrows before it could approach.


    "The respawn mechanic is different though," she continued. "Used to be instant in the game. Now it takes a month, and you spawn randomly within ten thousand blocks of your death point."


    "That''s why the raiders are so dangerous," Jason explained. "A month without your gear, spawning in who knows where, it can be rough. Most players stick to safe areas now."


    They walked up a hill, and New Haven came into view. The town was built into the natural terrain of a mountainside. Obsidian walls that were thirty blocks high, with guard towers spaced evenly along the perimeter. Iron golems patrolled between farms that extended out from the main gates.


    "Home sweet home," IronMiner_217 said. "Population is nearly four hundred now. We''ve got everything - farms, forges, enchanting rooms. Even built a proper marketplace last month."


    Players worked the wheat fields while others transported items between buildings. Someone rode past on a horse, carrying messages between guard posts.


    "Council meets in the central tower," Jason pointed to a tall structure made of stone bricks. "We should report the Architect Leviathan situation first. They''ll want to send warning messages to the other settlements in case of any other modded mobs this close."


    "What about me?" Adrian asked.


    "Yeah, about that..." Jason scratched his blocky head. "The guards might freak out when they see you. Let me do the talking."


    They approached the main gate. Two players in full diamond armor stood watch, crossbows ready.


    "Hold up," one guard called out. "What is that thing with you?"


    "StoneBreaker, it''s us," Jason - or rather DiamondSlayer_332 - stepped forward. "This is Adrian. He helped us fight an Architect Leviathan in the deep caves."


    The guard, StoneBreaker, kept his crossbow ready. "Never seen anything like it. Could be another mod creature."


    "He can talk," IronMiner_217 said. "And he saved our lives. We need to speak with the council about the Leviathan anyway."


    The second guard, RedstoneKing95, lowered his weapon. "Wait, where''s NetherWalker?"


    "Marcus is dead," DiamondSlayer_332 replied. "The Leviathan got him. He''ll respawn in a month."


    StoneBreaker cursed. "That''s the third death this week. First WolfHunter gets killed by raiders, then Dragon888 falls into lava, and now this."


    Other players noticed the commotion at the gate. Some backed away while others drew closer, curious about the new arrival. A player in diamond armor with glowing enchantments pushed through the crowd.


    "What''s going on here?" The new arrival asked. The name tag above his head read ¡®Obsidian_Lord¡¯.


    "Sir," StoneBreaker straightened. "DiamondSlayer and IronMiner returned with... something."


    "Something that speaks and fights alongside us," IronMiner_217 added. "We need to warn the council about modded mobs appearing near our territory."


    Obsidian_Lord looked down at Adrian. "You''re not like any mob I''ve seen before. Where did you come from?"


    "Another world," Adrian replied. "I arrived here recently."


    Obsidian_Lord studied Adrian for a moment. "Another world? Like Earth, or somewhere else?"


    "Somewhere else," Adrian said. "A place called Zerus."


    More players gathered around the gates. A player in leather armor ran toward the central tower, probably to alert the council.


    "The Architect Leviathan is the bigger concern right now," IronMiner_217, or rather, Sarah said. "It was way too close to our mining routes."


    Obsidian_Lord nodded. "Follow me to the council chamber. StoneBreaker, return to your post. Everyone else, back to work."


    The crowd dispersed reluctantly. Adrian followed the group through New Haven''s streets. Players worked at crafting tables outside wooden houses, while others traded items in front of market stalls. Furnaces glowed from inside blacksmith shops, processing ores into ingots.


    The central tower was not far. Built from stone bricks and decorated with quartz blocks, it served as both a meeting hall and a last-defense point during raids. Iron golems guarded the entrance, stepping aside as Obsidian_Lord approached.


    Inside, redstone lamps lit the circular chamber. Five players sat around a table made of dark oak wood. The one in the center wore netherite armor.


    "Council members," Obsidian_Lord announced. "We have a situation."


    The player in netherite armor stood up. The name Witcherqueen01 floated above her head. "Report."


    Sarah stepped forward. "We encountered an Architect Leviathan in the eastern mining system. It killed NetherWalker. Without Adrian''s help, we would have died too."


    The council members exchanged glances. A player named Blazing420 leaned forward. "Adrian? You mean this creature?"


    "Yes," Jason stepped forward. "He''s not from Earth. He came from another world called Zerus."


    The room went silent. Witcherqueen01 gripped the edge of the table. "Another world? Not Earth?"


    "That means there could be more," a council member named Snapp said. "More beings from other worlds appearing here."


    "Exactly what we need," grumbled Honeystinger. "As if raiders and modded mobs weren''t enough trouble."


    The fifth council member, Bluemage2000, raised her hand. "Let''s focus on the immediate threat. An Architect Leviathan this close to our mining routes puts all our resource gathering at risk if there¡¯s other modded mobs nearby."


    "Agreed," Witcherqueen01 stood up. "All mining teams must carry ender pearls for emergency teleports for the next two weeks. Bluemage2000, send runners to warn the nearest settlements."


    "What about him?" Snapp pointed at Adrian. "We can''t ignore a creature from another world showing up at our doorstep."


    "I''m not here to cause trouble," Adrian said. "I helped kill the Leviathan because it threatened Sarah and Jason."


    "It speaks perfect English," Honeystinger muttered. "And it uses their real names."


    Snapp stood up. "How do we know there aren''t more of your kind out there? Maybe planning to-"


    "Enough," Witcherqueen01 cut him off. "He saved two of our best miners. That earns him the benefit of doubt."


    The council voted to let Adrian stay. They provided him with a small cave near the eastern wall, which he modified into a comfortable den. The first few days brought curious onlookers, but the novelty wore off as Adrian proved to be more helpful than threatening.


    Two weeks passed quickly. Adrian spent most days helping the mining teams, his natural abilities making him excellent at fighting off hostile mobs. The players appreciated having someone who could mine without worrying about the durability of tools, and his night vision meant fewer torch placements.


    The mining expeditions also gave Adrian opportunities to gather Essence from various creatures. Cave spiders proved particularly useful, and after consuming several, he developed the ability to spray sticky webs from specialized glands in his mouth. The webbing worked just like cobwebs, slowing down anything caught in them.


    Other creatures yielded less impressive results. Sheep, cows, and chickens contained no useful genetic information. He even tried consuming an ender pearl, but the crystallized item held no viable Essence. A fresh sample directly from an Enderman might work better, but he hadn''t encountered another one since that first meeting.


    The diamonds proved more valuable. Each one brought him closer to attuning with this world - he estimated about ninety-five percent completion. Only one material remained, and based on what he''d seen of the equipment hierarchy, netherite seemed the logical choice.


    "Another successful run," Sarah said, climbing out of a mineshaft. She dropped several diamond ores into a portable chest. "We''re getting spoiled having you around, Adrian. No torches needed, no pickaxes breaking..."


    "The spiderwebs help too," Jason added, pulling himself up. "That ability would have been useful against the Leviathan."


    Adrian watched the diamonds disappear into the chest. The blue glow in his eyes remained dormant - he''d learned to suppress it when he wasn¡¯t examining potential attunement materials. No need to make the players suspicious of his true goals.


    "Speaking of abilities," Sarah said, "the council wants to know if you''ve seen any others like yourself out there."


    "No," Adrian replied. "Just the usual mobs."


    A bell rang from New Haven''s central tower, the signal for sunset. Time to head back before the hostile mobs started spawning.


    The group walked back toward New Haven. Adrian mentally checked his stored items - the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl inside him held plenty of valuable resources. One hundred thirty-one diamonds might be enough to trade for a netherite ingot, but the material was incredibly rare. Only a handful of players owned any, mostly the settlement''s leader and elite guards.


    The alternative was exploring the Nether, but from what he''d learned, that hellish dimension was even more dangerous than the deep caves. Still, he could gather useful Essence there as well...


    Sarah hummed as they approached the gates. "I¡¯ll probably use some of the excess diamonds to craft some diamond armor, I lost my last set when I died a while ago."


    StoneBreaker waved them through. "Just in time. Sun''s almost-"


    Three sharp rings cut through the evening air. The warning bell.


    "Raiders!" Someone shouted from a guard tower.


    The peaceful atmosphere shattered. Players rushed to arm themselves, while others herded animals into protected pens. Iron golems moved to defensive positions along the walls.


    "How many?" Jason pulled out his diamond sword.


    "At least thirty!" StoneBreaker called down. "They''ve got TNT cannons!"


    Another bell rang - this one from the eastern tower.


    "Two groups," Sarah nocked an arrow. "They''re attacking from both sides."

 Chapter 5 - PvP Loot

    Minecraft Universe, Blocky Planet


    "Two groups," Sarah nocked an arrow. "They''re attacking from both sides."


    A massive explosion rocked the eastern wall. Cobblestone blocks disappeared in an instant as TNT detonated. Raiders covered with enchanted diamond armor poured through the breach.


    "Get the animals!" A raider screamed, swinging his sword at the nearest sheep. "Burn everything!"


    Adrian sprinted toward the breach. Three raiders spotted him and backed away, raising their bows. Arrows whistled past his head as he zigzagged between blocks. Opening his mouth, he sprayed thick webs in an arc, catching two of them.


    "What the hell?" One raider struggled against the sticky strands. "Since when do mobs spray cobwebs?"


    The third raider pulled out an ender pearl. Adrian lunged forward, teeth sinking into the raider''s hand before he could throw it. The venom worked quickly, the player''s movements became sluggish within a couple of seconds.


    "I can''t... my health bar..." The raider managed to throw the ender pearl just before Adrian¡¯s claws swiped through his head.


    More explosions thundered from the western side. Players in diamond armor clashed with raiders near the farms. Someone dumped lava from a bucket, setting the wheat field ablaze.


    "Look what we found!" A female raider stood on the wall. "A nice cozy town full of carebears!" She placed TNT blocks along the ramparts.


    Sarah''s arrow caught her in the chest. The raider stumbled backward, falling into her own TNT as it exploded. Her items scattered across the ground.


    "They''re breaking into the storage house!" Jason shouted, blocking a sword strike with his shield. "Someone stop them!"


    Adrian ran across the courtyard. Two raiders were destroying chests with diamond pickaxes while others grabbed the spilling items. He sprayed webs to block the doorway, trapping them inside.


    "Drink milk!" One raider tossed bottles to his companions. "This thing''s got poison!"


    A crossbow bolt struck Adrian''s shoulder. He spun around to face a raider in full netherite armor, wielding an enchanted netherite sword that glowed with purple energy.


    "So you''re the new pet everyone''s been talking about," The raider''s nameplate read Bloodychibi. "Let''s see how tough you really are."


    Bloodychibi charged forward, his netherite boots carrying him at sprinting speed. The sword slashed across Adrian''s scales, cutting deep despite his natural armor.


    Adrian snapped at the raider''s arm, but his teeth barely scratched the full netherite protection. He tried to circle around for a better angle, only to receive another slash that nearly severed his front leg.


    "Having trouble?" Bloodychibi laughed, biting into a golden apple. His health bar instantly regenerated. "Maybe you should have stayed in whatever world you came from."


    Adrian opened his jaw and an ender pearl shot out from the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl behind a nearby house. The teleport gave him precious seconds to assess the situation. Blood dripped from the deep gash in his leg.


    "Running away?" Bloodychibi sprinted around the corner, shield raised. "What happened to all that confidence?"


    Sarah''s voice called out from above. "Adrian, catch!"


    Two golden apples fell from the guard tower. Adrian snapped them up, the healing magic spreading through his body. The wound on his leg sealed shut.


    "Hey!" Bloodychibi blocked another arrow from Sarah. "No fair giving the mob golden apples!"


    More raiders breached the western wall. Some carried buckets of lava while others placed TNT. The iron golems rushed to intercept them but got knocked back by shields and crossbow bolts.


    "The storage house is empty!" A raider shouted. "Check the other buildings!"


    Adrian launched three spines at a group trying to burn down the library. Two raiders fell, but the third blocked with his shield and threw an ender pearl onto the roof.


    Bloodychibi charged again, swinging his netherite sword in quick strikes. Adrian barely dodged the first slash but caught the second one across his face. The enchanted blade took out his right eye.


    "Not so tough now, are you?" Bloodychibi raised his shield to block Adrian''s retaliatory bite. "I''ve killed sheep tougher than you!"


    Jason and three other players in diamond armor surrounded Bloodychibi. Their swords glowed with enchantments as they struck from different angles.


    "About time you cowards showed up!" Bloodychibi drank a Potion of Strength. The purple particles swirled around him as he knocked two players back.


    Adrian sprayed webs to limit Bloodychibi''s movement. The raider leader cut through them with his sword, but the delay let Jason land a solid hit.


    "You''re outnumbered," Jason said. "Your raiders are dying. Give up."


    "Giving up is for weaklings!" Bloodychibi ate another golden apple. "Death just means a month-long vacation anyway!"


    Bloodychibi''s health dropped to half as Jason landed another hit. The raider leader pulled out an ender pearl and threw it over the wall.


    Adrian grabbed one of his own pearls. The crystalline orb shattered against a tree, teleporting him right behind Bloodychibi. His claws raked across the netherite leggings, leaving deep scratches.


    "Get off me!" Bloodychibi threw another pearl toward the desert biome.


    Adrian followed with his second pearl, materializing next to a cactus. He sprayed sticky webs in a wide arc, catching Bloodychibi mid-sprint. The raider struggled against the cobwebs as Adrian''s claws struck twice more at the weakened leg armor.


    "Fine, you want to play?" Bloodychibi broke free and pulled out another ender pearl. "Catch me if you can!"


    Adrian spat cobblestone blocks from his storage, creating a wall that intercepted the pearl''s trajectory. The orb bounced off harmlessly as Bloodychibi stumbled backward.


    "No no no-"


    Nine spines shot out in rapid succession. The first three were blocked by the shield, but the rest hit the netherite armor. Bloodychibi''s health bar dropped to zero. His body disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving behind piles of items.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Adrian quickly stored everything - the netherite armor, enchanted weapons, golden apples, potions, and various valuable materials. He left the dirt and cobblestone blocks behind.


    The sounds of fighting had died down back at New Haven. Adrian ran toward the settlement, passing griefed areas where raiders had built towers of cobblestone covered in lava. Several buildings were still burning, while others had been reduced to scattered blocks.


    Sarah and Jason stood near the broken eastern wall, helping put out fires with water buckets.


    "Adrian!" Sarah waved him over. "What happened to Bloodychibi?"


    "He pearled away," Adrian moved his remaining eye between them. "Used up all my pearls trying to catch him."


    "Damn," Jason kicked a burnt fence post. "He''ll be back with more raiders in a month."


    The damage to New Haven looked bad, but Adrian knew it would only take a day or two to rebuild. The real problem was all the stolen items from the storage house.


    "We should help clean up," Adrian suggested, hoping to change the subject. He didn''t want anyone asking too many questions about what happened during the chase.


    Sarah gasped when she noticed the wound where Adrian''s eye used to be. "Your eye! Wait, I have a golden apple left-"


    "Don''t waste it," Adrian shook his reptilian head. "I can regenerate it within a day. My kind heals quickly."


    "Are you sure?" Sarah reached toward the injury. "That looks really bad."


    "We have bigger problems," Jason pointed at the central tower. "Council''s calling an emergency meeting."


    Players gathered in the tower''s main chamber. The air smelled like smoke from the fires outside. Council members sat around the dark oak table, faces grim.


    "Twenty-three dead," Witcherqueen01 announced. "Plus everything stolen from the storage house. Diamonds, emeralds, enchanted gear - all gone."


    "Those bastards even took our netherite reserves," Blazing420 slammed a fist on the table. "Two ingots we spent months gathering!"


    Snapp stood up. "And where were our guards during all this? How did they breach both walls?"


    "The TNT cannons were automated," StoneBreaker spoke from the crowd. "They fired simultaneously. We couldn''t reach them in time."


    "What about our spy network?" Honeystinger demanded. "Nobody saw this coming?"


    Bluemage2000 shook her head. "The raiders must have found our observation posts. Three of our scouts never reported back this week."


    "And what about him?" Snapp pointed at Adrian. "The creature that was supposed to be so helpful? Bloodychibi got away!"


    "I saw Adrian fighting," Jason stepped forward. "He saved multiple lives today. Without him, we would have lost more than just items."


    Witcherqueen01 raised a hand for silence. "The blame game won''t help us rebuild. We need solutions. Ideas?"


    "Imperial Diamond might help," Sarah suggested. "They''ve fought raiders before."


    "They''re too far," Honeystinger replied. "By the time they respond, the raiders will have hidden everything in their mountain base."


    Adrian listened quietly. He wasn''t going to tell them about the netherite supplies from Bloodychibi. He needed that netherite so he could attune himself to this world and teleport to a new one. Once that was done, he would always have an escape plan in case they turned against him, because he could teleport back and forth between attuned worlds. The only cost would be some energy gathered from Essence.


    "We should focus on fortifying the walls," Bluemage2000 said. "Maybe obsidian this time, not just the gate."


    "With what resources?" Snapp demanded. "The raiders took everything!"


    The meeting devolved into arguments about resource allocation and defensive strategies. Adrian noticed Sarah watching him with concern. The wound where his eye had been must have looked worse to humans than it was.


    The council meeting ended without any clear solutions. Adrian returned to his cave den near the eastern wall, glad to be away from all the arguing. He pulled out the netherite leggings from his storage and placed them under his body. The metal felt cold against his scales.


    The dimensional node in his head began analyzing the material. Numbers flickered in his mind as the attunement percentage rose steadily. 96%. 97%. 98%. 99%...


    100%.


    Adrian felt a slight buzz as the connection stabilized. This world was now properly attuned - he could leave and come back whenever he wanted. The blue glow in his remaining eye dimmed.


    He checked the contents stored within the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl. The inventory slots filled most of his awareness:


    131 diamonds and 15 emeralds sat in the first slots. Various materials took up several more - 19 iron blocks, 28 coal blocks, 210 cobblestone, and 82 oak blocks.


    Food supplies looked good. 40 steaks and 44 golden apples would last a while. The combat gear impressed him most - a full set of netherite armor with Protection IV enchantments, plus an enchanted netherite sword with Sharpness V and Fire Aspect II. The bow had Power V and Infinity.


    More useful items filled the remaining slots. 11 ender pearls, water and lava buckets, 55 bone meal, 61 leather. Basic supplies like furnaces, torches, and arrows. The potions would come in handy too - health, strength, fire resistance, and speed.


    Adrian curled up in his den. The eye wound throbbed, but he could feel it slowly regenerating. By tomorrow it would be fully healed. Then he could make his excuses about wanting to explore the world.


    New Haven would make a good waypoint to return to. The players trusted him now, especially after helping defend against the raiders. As long as he maintained that trust, he would always have a safe place to rest between dimensional jumps.


    He heard footsteps approaching the den entrance. Sarah''s voice called out, "Adrian? Are you awake?"


    "Come in," Adrian shifted to face the entrance. The netherite leggings disappeared into his storage just as Sarah ducked through the doorway.


    "I brought you some steak," Sarah placed three cooked beef on the ground. "Jason wanted to come too, but he''s helping rebuild the storage house."


    "Thanks." Adrian ate one of the steaks, feeling his hunger dull slightly.


    Sarah sat down on a wooden stair block. "That council meeting was a mess. Everyone''s scared about what happens when Bloodychibi comes back next time with all of his raiders having respawned."


    "A month is plenty of time to prepare," Adrian said between bites.


    "Maybe." Sarah pulled out a torch and placed it on the wall. "But we lost most of our resources. The raiders even took our diamonds from the deep mining expedition."


    Adrian kept his expression neutral. His own diamonds sat safely in his storage, along with everything else from Bloodychibi.


    "I''ve been thinking," Adrian spoke carefully. "Once my eye heals, I want to explore more of this world. Maybe find other settlements, learn about what''s out there."


    "Really?" Sarah looked surprised. "It''s dangerous to travel alone. The raiders control most of the territory between settlements."


    "I can handle myself," Adrian ate another steak. "And I''ll come back to New Haven to rest once in a while."


    "Well..." Sarah stood up. "I¡¯ll inform the others, just be careful out there. We''ve lost enough friends already."


    The sound of breaking blocks echoed from outside. Players were removing the grief towers of cobblestone and lava.


    "I should go help with cleanup," Sarah walked toward the entrance. "Get some rest, okay? That eye needs to heal."


    Adrian settled down to sleep, and eight hours later when the sun rose over New Haven, he blinked both eyes, testing his restored vision. The regenerated eye worked perfectly. He stepped out of his den to watch players rebuilding the damaged sections of wall with obsidian.


    He needed to leave soon. While this world offered many opportunities, staying too long was dangerous.


    What if Imperial Diamond learned about him and decided he needed to be killed for rare drops or something like that? Tens of players in enchanted armor could overwhelm him through sheer numbers, let alone more. Even with his combat adaptations, healing items and more, he couldn''t fight an army. He needed a safe point in another world first.


    He saw Sarah approaching with Jason.


    "Your eye!" Sarah smiled. "It really did heal overnight."


    "Told you," Adrian stretched his legs. "Listen, I''m heading out today. Going to explore the world like we discussed."


    "Already?" Jason frowned. "We could use your help defending against the raiders."


    "The walls will hold," Adrian said. "And I won''t be gone forever. New Haven can be my... home base."


    Sarah crossed her arms. "You sure about this? The raiders are still out there."


    "I need to understand this world better," Adrian replied. The lie came easily. "Maybe find answers about why I ended up here."


    "At least take some supplies," Jason pulled out a stack of torches.


    "Thanks, but I have enough." Adrian moved toward the gate. "I''ll return when I can."


    He didn¡¯t need to deceive them, but survival came first. Once he established safe points in another world, he could always come back.


    StoneBreaker opened the gate. "Good hunting out there."


    Adrian walked past the iron golems and headed toward a distant hill. The morning sun cast long shadows across the plains biome as sheep meandered between oak trees. Once he moved behind the hill, blocking any view from New Haven''s walls, he stopped.


    The dimensional node activated. Blue light blazed from his eyes as energy coursed through his body.


    Reality twisted after five seconds. The blocky world dissolved around him as he jumped between dimensions. When the world reformed, he found himself in a plume of smoke on a grassy field.


    Adrian tried to move but his body fought against itself. The Minecraft Physics Integration adaptation clashed with this new non-blocky reality. He focused inward, slowly suppressing the semi-cubic nature of his body. The adaptation would remain in his essence, ready to be used again, but no longer forcing his body into rigid patterns.


    The smoke cleared, and he saw dozens of teenagers in black cloaks standing in front of a large stone wall.


    A young girl with bright pink hair stepped toward him with a smile on her face.

 Chapter 6 - Unexpected Summoning

    Familiar of Zero, Tristaine


    The young girl with bright pink hair stepped toward Adrian with pride shining in her eyes. A balding person in dark robes stood nearby, adjusting his glasses while he studied Adrian''s reptilian form. The man stroked his chin thoughtfully.


    "I''ve never seen a creature quite like this one before," he said, gripping his wooden staff. "What an unusual familiar you''ve summoned, Miss Valli¨¨re."


    The other students whispered among themselves. A tall red-haired girl snickered. "Who would have thought Louise the Zero could actually summon anything at all? But I suppose even a broken clock is right twice a day..."


    Adrian was still suppressing the adaptation that allowed him to function in Minecraft. The dimensional jump had left him disoriented, and now he found himself surrounded by teenagers in black cloaks. None of their words made sense to him, they spoke in a language he''d never heard before.


    The man nodded to the pink-haired girl. "Well, go ahead with the ceremony, Miss Valli¨¨re. Complete the contract."


    "Shut up Kirche!" Louise snapped at the red-haired girl. "My familiar looks way cooler than your stupid salamander!"


    Kirche rolled her eyes. "At least my familiar isn''t just lying there like a confused lizard."


    Louise stepped forward with determination on her face. She raised her wand toward Adrian, who watched the small human with mild curiosity. The girl took a deep breath and spoke in a clear voice.


    "My name is Louise Fran?oise Le Blanc de La Valli¨¨re. Pentagon of the five elemental powers; bless this humble being, and make him my familiar."


    She leaned down and planted a quick kiss on Adrian''s snout. He blinked in surprise at the contact but remained still, his body still adjusting from the cubic nature of Minecraft.


    He could feel something odd in his mind. Something was probing his memories, searching deeper and deeper. The force seemed disappointed, ready to reject him, when it discovered the memories of the original Adrian - the human he had consumed on Zerus.


    Bright light shone from Adrian''s scales. His entire body lifted off the ground as the magic reshaped him. Bones shifted and reformed while his muscles redistributed themselves. His perspective rose higher and higher until he towered over the students and even who he guessed was their teacher.


    Steam rose from his newly formed human skin. His adaptations remained, but changed to fit in his new body. He could feel his spines beneath his wrists, his strength now contained in human muscles. Different, but still deadly.


    A burning sensation stabbed into his right hand. Adrian lifted it to examine the strange symbols carving themselves into his flesh. He had experienced far worse pain during his hunts on Zerus.


    Louise''s triumphant laughter cut off abruptly. Her face turned bright red as she stared up at his naked body.


    "I want a handsome familiar too!" Kirche complained. "Why does Zero get such a tall drink of water?"


    The teacher cleared his throat. "Miss Valli¨¨re, please get your familiar some proper clothes. You''re fortunate to have summoned such a unique magical creature, but you must take care of it appropriately." He moved closer to study the runes on Adrian''s hand for a moment before waving his staff. The man rose into the air and flew toward the castle in the distance.


    Louise grabbed Adrian''s hand, her small fingers barely wrapping around some of his hand. "Come on," she mumbled, face still flushed. The other students raised their wands and took to the sky.


    Adrian followed the pink-haired girl, trying to make sense of what had happened. The ability to transform between forms rested in the back of his mind like a switch waiting to be flipped. At least he hadn''t lost his true body, this was simply another kind of adaptation.


    "Can you understand me?" he asked in English. "What just happened?"


    Louise turned around and, still blushing bright-red, scowled at him. The small girl raised her wand with an annoyed expression. "Comply to my order by silence!"


    Adrian tensed at the pointed wand. His instincts proved correct as an explosion blew up the air right in front of him. The blast wasn''t particularly strong, but the surprise made him react. He darted through the smoke and grabbed Louise by her throat, lifting her into the air.


    "Put me down this instant!" Louise screamed, kicking her legs. "How dare you manhandle your master!"


    Adrian slowly loosened his grip, but frowned immediately. He hadn''t decided to let her go, so why were his fingers relaxing? Was his new human body affecting him? Wait.


    ¡­a grassy field, a small pink-haired girl, magical runes... The original Adrian''s remnant memories had him recall an anime called Familiar of Zero. A Japanese boy summoned to serve as a familiar, bound by runes that allowed him to master any weapon he held.


    Louise continued to flail in his grasp. "I said put me down, you stupid familiar!"


    Were the runes already affecting him? He wasn¡¯t clear whether they had any such influence over the mind, but he needed to counter this quickly just in case. His free hand moved and a distinctly cubic bucket of milk that he had looted from Bloodychibi spawned from the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl. The bucket vanished as he held it towards his mouth, hopefully nullifying whatever influencing magic was tied to the runes. It should work, considering a bucket of milk could dispel negative status effects.


    Then, he paid attention to the gasping Louise, and stared at her with narrowed eyes. Her words made perfect sense now. Had she cast a translation spell that involved an explosion?  The original Adrian''s memories came in handy again, and they reminded him that she could only cast explosions, something about being a void mage.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    He lowered Louise back to the ground. "Don''t cast explosions at me again. I don''t appreciate being attacked."


    Louise rubbed her throat and glared up at him. "How dare you speak to me like that! I am a noble, and you are my familiar! You should be grateful I summoned you!"


    "Grateful for being blown up?" Adrian crossed his arms.


    "That was... that was an accident!" Louise stomped her foot, mumbling under her breath, "It was supposed to be a silence spell..." She raised her voice again. "And you can understand me now, can''t you? See? I can cast spells!"


    "You blew up my face."


    "W-well..." Louise turned away, face reddening. "We need to get you clothes first. Come on, the servants should have something that fits."


    Adrian glanced at the massive stone castle. Students flew through the air on their way back, some pointing and whispering about him. The original Adrian''s memories suggested this was some kind of magic academy, but the details were fuzzy.


    "You haven''t told me your name yet," Louise mumbled as they walked. She kept her eyes firmly ahead, refusing to look at him.


    "Adrian."


    "That''s... actually a proper name." Louise sounded surprised. "I thought you''d have some weird beast name. What kind of creature are you anyway? And how did you turn human?"


    "You don¡¯t need to know my species," Adrian watched a group of students land near the castle entrance. "Your spell changed my form, but I can switch back whenever I want."


    Louise spun around to face him, and then accidentally glanced down before quickly turning away again with bright red cheeks. "You can transform at will? Show me!"


    "After I get clothes." Adrian eyed the castle walls. The stone blocks reminded him of Minecraft, but these were carved with actual detail rather than simple cubes. "I''d rather not be naked in human form."


    "R-right." Louise hurried toward a side entrance. "The servant quarters are this way. We''ll find something that fits you."


    They passed through wooden doors into cool stone corridors lit by torches. A few maids carrying baskets of laundry stopped to stare at them. One dropped her basket, scattering clothes across the floor.


    "Don''t just stand there gawking!" Louise snapped at the maids. "My familiar needs clothes immediately!"


    A black-haired maid rushed forward with a bundle of fabric. "Here, these belonged to a guard who left last month. They should fit..."


    Adrian accepted the clothes ¨C simple brown trousers, a white shirt, and leather boots. The maid kept her eyes firmly on the floor as she handed them over.


    "What''s your name?" Adrian asked while pulling on the trousers.


    "S-Siesta, my lord." The maid bowed slightly.


    "I''m not a lord. Just call me Adrian."


    "Stop wasting time with servants!" Louise grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the maids. Her lacking strength struggled to budge him until he allowed himself to be led through the castle corridors.


    She dragged him up several flights of stairs to what seemed to be student quarters. The room she brought him to was small but well-furnished, with a large bed taking up most of the space.


    "This is my room," Louise released his arm. "You''ll sleep there." She pointed to a pile of hay in the corner.


    Adrian didn¡¯t really care about that, and sat down on a wooden chair near a small table. "Tell me about the world. Where are we?"


    Louise perched on the edge of her bed and straightened her back proudly. "This is the Tristain Academy of Magic in the kingdom of Tristain. We nobles are blessed by the Founder Brimir with magical abilities..."


    The next hour passed as Louise explained the basics about the five elements of magic (Wind, Fire, Earth, Water and the sacred Void), the social structure between nobles and commoners, and the surrounding nations. She seemed very eager to emphasize the importance of nobility, specifically her own family.


    "And what about familiars?" Adrian interrupted her explanation about the current royal family. "What purpose do they serve?"


    "Familiars are a mage''s lifelong companion!" Louise closed her eyes and raised a finger in a lecturing pose. "They protect and serve their masters, helping them with magic and daily tasks. The familiar ritual is a sacred tradition that goes back 6000 years-"


    Adrian stood up from the chair and walked toward her. Louise opened her eyes and squeaked when she found him inches from her, but he moved past her to the mirror mounted on the wall.


    The reflection showed a six-foot-four man in his early twenties. Dark auburn hair fell around a face that looked similar to the original Adrian, yet different in subtle ways. The blue eyes remained the same, but the jawline was sharper, the nose slightly different. The athletic build stretched the borrowed white shirt across broad shoulders.


    "Is something wrong?" Louise asked from behind him.


    "No." Adrian touched the mirror. The fair-skinned human face copied his movement. "Just checking what I look like."


    Louise continued explaining about familiars and nobles behind him, but Adrian focused on his next moves. Playing along as her familiar could work well. The academy would provide shelter and information while he learned about this world. He could always return to Minecraft if needed, but leaving now would mean abandoning this dimension unless he randomly teleported back here again.


    Magic interested him most. The problem was acquiring it, because consuming random humans felt wrong now. The original Adrian''s remnant memories made him hesitate at the thought. Enemies were one thing, but eating innocent humans for their Essence left a bad taste in his mouth. Still, if he remembered correctly, the academy would face attacks soon enough. Those enemies would make perfect targets.


    The sun had begun to set outside the window. Louise walked to the closet next to the mirror and removed her black cloak, hanging it inside. She closed the closet door, turned around, and let her black skirt drop to the floor. Her fingers moved to the buttons of her uniform, undoing them one by one before letting that fall as well.


    Adrian raised his eyebrows. Humans usually cared about nudity - that was why Louise had rushed to get him clothes earlier. But now she undressed right in front of him wearing only a very thin and see-through shirt. Did this world have different customs than Earth?


    His new human body reacted strangely, a large bulge growing in his borrowed trousers. He had never experienced anything like this before. Was this human arousal?


    Louise gathered up her discarded clothes and threw them at him. He caught them easily.


    "Wash these," she ordered.


    Louise pulled off her thin shirt and panties, tossing them on top of the pile in his hands. She stood there completely naked, apparently unconcerned.


    Adrian dropped the clothes back on the floor. "I''m not doing your laundry."


    "What?" Louise stomped her foot. "You have to! Familiars serve their masters!"


    "I''ll protect you if needed. But I won''t act as your servant."


    Louise puffed up her cheeks. "Fine! Then you won''t get any food!"


    "I can find my own food." Adrian turned toward the door.


    "Wait!" Louise scampered to the side of her bed and pulled out something. She held up a metal collar attached to a chain bolted into the wall. "Come here and lean down."


    Adrian stared at the collar. "You actually think I''ll let you chain me up?"


    "But... but familiars are supposed to be obedient!" Louise waved the collar. "How else will I train you?"


    Adrian rolled his eyes. "I''m not going to act like a slave. I''ll protect you if needed, but that''s it."


    "You have to obey me! I''m your master!"


    "Am I a normal familiar?" Adrian crossed his arms. "You said yourself that familiars with human forms are extremely rare. I''m not some mindless animal you can order around."


    Louise opened her mouth to argue, but her eyes dropped lower and widened at the obvious bulge in his pants. She squeaked and covered her face with both hands, dropping the collar. "F-familiars shouldn''t do that!"


    "Then get dressed, or call another servant to wash your clothes." Adrian stepped toward the door. "I''m going to explore the academy."


    "Wait!" Louise peeked through her fingers. "You can''t just leave!"


    "Watch me." Adrian pulled open the door.


    "At least tell me where you''re going!"


    "To find food." Adrian stepped into the hallway. "And don''t try exploding me again."


    The door closed behind him, leaving a frustrated and very red-faced Louise alone in her room.

 Chapter 7 - Primal Nature Tested

    Familiar of Zero, Tristaine


    Adrian¡¯s stomach growled. He was hungry, but he didn¡¯t really want to waste any of his supply in the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl¡­ Maybe he could ask one of the servants for directions to the kitchen?


    He followed the stairs down, and spotted a girl with black hair standing close to a boy with blonde hair in the hallway. The boy held a red rose in his hand.


    "I''m good at making souffle," the girl said shyly.


    The boy gestured out with his free hand. "I''d love to have a taste of that."


    "Really?" The girl''s eyes lit up as she clasped her hands together.


    "Of course, Katie. I would never lie to your eyes." The boy''s gentle smile seemed rehearsed.


    "Guiche..." Katie''s voice was filled with adoration.


    "There''s never a hidden side of my affection for you-" The boy cut himself off as Adrian approached. "Oh, it''s the tall plebeian that Louise summoned."


    "Right, at today''s ceremony." Katie nodded, then blushed bright red as her eyes drifted downward.


    Guiche noticed her reaction and frowned deeply. "Hold it."


    "What?" Adrian glanced back, already walking past them.


    "As a plebeian who caused trouble for an aristocrat, shouldn''t you say a word of thanks that our academy provided you with clothing?"


    Adrian scoffed and kept walking.


    A flick of Guiche''s rose sent Adrian floating into the air. His body went rigid as he fought against the magical restraint, but he was stuck like this as Guiche dragged him back and forth through the air.


    "I told you to apologize, didn''t I? Plebeian."


    "Put. Me. Down." Each word came out as a barely controlled snarl, Adrian''s eyes blazing with murderous intent.


    Guiche smirked and pulled Katie closer. "See how uncivilized these plebeians are..."


    Adrian''s free hand snapped up toward Guiche, trembling with rage as he fought the urge to impale the smug bastard right there. His breath came in sharp, angry bursts. Before he could give in to the killing impulse, Louise ran down the stairway and paused at what she saw.


    "What''s going on here?" she demanded.


    Guiche shrugged. "Your familiar acted uncouthly. He''s just like his master, it seems."


    Louise let out a small growl. "Put him down!"


    He let out an exaggerated sigh and released the spell. Adrian crashed to the floor.


    "Come with me," Louise ordered. "I have something to say."


    Adrian slowly stood up, his heart pounding with rage. Every instinct screamed at him to tear Guiche apart, to consume his Essence and gain his magic. But once again¡­ the original Adrian''s memories held him back.


    Murder would have consequences on his stay here...


    "Lead the way," he told Louise, keeping his eyes locked on Guiche until they turned the corner.


    Louise led him through the hallways, slammed her door shut behind them, and spun around to face Adrian. Her pink hair whipped through the air as she jabbed a finger at his chest.


    "What do you think you''re doing? Running around the academy like some... some wild animal! Do you have any idea how this makes me look?¡±


    Adrian just stood there with a blank look on his face, massaging his wrists where the spines strained against his skin.


    "Everyone already thinks I''m a failure!" Louise paced back and forth. "The Zero who can''t cast proper spells! And now my familiar won''t even listen to basic commands!"


    She stomped her foot. "Are you even paying attention to me?"


    Adrian kept rubbing his wrists, pressing harder as memories of being helplessly floated through the air made his blood boil.


    "Look at me when I''m talking to you!" Louise marched to her bed and yanked two items from underneath, a long black whip with metal spikes pierced into the leather, and a silver collar covered in glowing runes. "Take off your shirt. Now!"


    Adrian''s fingers dug deeper into his wrists.


    "You need to be disciplined as my familiar! You need to listen to your master!" Louise cracked the whip against the floor, leaving a mark in the stone. She held up the collar with her other hand. "This is a magical restraining device used to tame wild creatures. It''s even got water and wind spells on it. At the master''s signal, it gives out electric shocks. I think this will work perfectly after you''ve been disciplined!"


    The spines under Adrian''s skin pulsed with each heartbeat. His hands moved in slow circles, massaging harder and harder until his knuckles turned white.


    Louise''s voice faded into background noise as Adrian struggled with two very different mindsets warring inside him. The original Adrian''s memories had changed him in ways he never expected. Before consuming that human on Zerus, he had been pure instinct.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Hunt, kill, adapt, survive.


    Now? Now he questioned everything.


    The human part of him understood patience and long-term planning. It whispered that he could gain more by playing along, by letting these ¡®nobles¡¯ think they had power over him.


    He hadn¡¯t cared that much about the raiders in Minecraft, because they respawned after death, and that made them fair game. But these people?


    One wrong move and they would be gone forever.


    At the same time, his Primal Zerg nature screamed at the indignity of being floated through the air like a helpless prey animal. On Zerus, such a challenge demanded immediate response. Show weakness, and competitors would press their advantage until you lost everything.


    Territory. Resources. Life itself.


    The human perspective suggested gathering allies, learning the rules of this society, and finding opportunities to grow stronger without drawing attention. It was the smarter path, the optimal path.


    But it felt wrong. Every second he stood here, letting this small pink-haired human wave a whip and collar at him, felt like submission. The Primal Zerg didn''t submit to those weaker than themselves.


    He couldn¡¯t submit to anyone. He didn¡¯t want to.


    The memories of the original Adrian showed him countless human cultures and societies. They built incredible things through cooperation. Through accepting hierarchies and working within systems. Through strategic thinking rather than pure instinct.


    And yet...


    Adrian''s fingers pressed harder into his wrists where the spines were poking just the slightest bit out of his skin. The human part of him might understand patience, but it also understood pride. It understood anger at being treated as lesser. The original Adrian had memories of bullies, of people who abused power simply because they could.


    Both mindsets agreed on one thing.


    This treatment was unacceptable.


    "Listen to me when I''m speaking!" Louise yelled, swinging the spiked whip toward Adrian''s face.


    His body shifted in an instant. Bones cracked and reformed as scales replaced human skin. The borrowed clothes seemed to magically disappear as he shrank down to his true size, eight feet long and three feet tall, a mass of Primal Zerg muscle.


    The whip cracked harmlessly above him. Four spines launched from his back in rapid succession - two pierced Louise''s eyes, one penetrated her throat, and the final spine went straight through her forehead.


    The pink-haired girl was forcibly slammed against the wall with a wet thud. The spines pinned her upright like a puppet, blood running down the stone from all four points of impact.


    Adrian felt... satisfied.


    His instinctual side nearly purred at the swift execution of a threat. He wouldn''t tolerate being treated as lesser, wouldn''t accept being someone''s pet to be disciplined.


    It didn¡¯t matter that it might be the optimal path.


    It wasn¡¯t his path.


    He approached Louise''s corpse, stored her wand into his Crystalline Minecraft Pearl, and tore into the flesh. The meat was still warm as he swallowed it down. She had to contain useful Essence, right? The original Adrian''s remnant memories spoke of her importance as a ''Void Mage'', whatever that meant. It wasn¡¯t long before nothing remained of Louise except bloodstains on the wall. Adrian''s stomach churned as it began breaking down the biomass.


    But he couldn''t stay here. The encounter with Guiche proved that even a single student could render him helpless with magic. An entire academy of mages?


    He had to escape. Now.


    Adrian crashed through Louise''s window, glass shattering around him as he fell three stories to the ground. His claws dug into the grass, and he sprinted toward the academy walls. He knew that it was possible to initiate an emergency jump towards a new world, and that it would activate quicker than the standard teleport. His only option in that regard was Minecraft, but he hoped to stay in this world a little longer. It would always be better to have more options available.


    Most students were heading to the dining hall for dinner, paying little attention to the gardens where Adrian ran. His reptilian form blended in well with the growing darkness as he moved beside the green hedges.


    The wall proved no obstacle. His claws found purchase in the stone, and he scaled it in seconds. The surrounding forest seemed to go for miles in every direction until it passed over the horizon.


    Adrian dropped to the ground on the other side and disappeared into the trees. The thick canopy blocked most of the sunlight, creating deep shadows perfect for staying hidden. He maintained his sprint for several miles, putting significant distance between himself and the academy.


    No sounds of pursuit reached his ears. No magical lights lit up the sky.


    They probably hadn''t discovered Louise''s body yet. It would make sense, the students seemed to have individual rooms, and servants wouldn''t enter without permission.


    He slowed his pace and began searching for suitable shelter. It felt odd to be in nature without any other Primal Zerg around. Whether it be prey or predators, there was always danger present. Here the only sounds were birds and small animals scurrying through the underbrush.


    A steep hillside caught his attention. Water had carved out a small cave near the base, partially hidden by hanging vines. Adrian cleared out the rotting leaves inside and widened the entrance enough for his body to fit comfortably. The cave extended about fifteen feet back, with solid rock walls that would be easy to defend. He dragged fallen branches across the entrance, creating natural-looking cover.


    From outside, it looked like just another section of hillside. The cave would serve as a good base while he figured out his next move.


    Adrian curled up in the back of the cave and closed his eyes. He needed to focus on processing Louise¡¯s Essence while staying alert for any signs of pursuit from the academy.


    The moon rose higher in the sky as Adrian¡¯s digestive system fully absorbed Louise''s Essence.


    The first discovery surprised him. The Dimensional Travel Node informed him that his attunement to this world suddenly reached 100%. It seemed consuming someone deeply connected to the world bypassed the need to gather specific materials. That could be useful information for future worlds.


    A tingling feeling drew his attention to the back of his front leg. The familiar runes that had engraved themselves onto his body during the summoning ceremony had disappeared. Without Louise alive to anchor them, the familiar bond had broken. Adrian flexed his claws. The Gand¨¢lfr runes might have been useful in human form, instantly mastering any weapon he held, but his true body relied more on natural weapons than tools.


    It wouldn¡¯t have been that useful anyway.


    The most interesting discovery came as his brain began incorporating a new adaptation from Louise''s Essence. A new structure started forming, spreading tendrils of specialized neurons through his brain. But something felt... incomplete. The connections reached out in three different directions, as if searching for matching pieces that weren''t there.


    Adrian focused on this.


    The structure seemed designed to interface with something larger, like one part of a greater whole. He knew she could cast some kind of Explosion, Illusion and Teleport spell, but not much else. Whatever this new adaptation was, it was unable to reach its full potential without the missing pieces it sought.


    Wait.


    Wasn''t there supposed to be something within Tristain that could give him knowledge on Void Magic? He wasn''t sure exactly what it was, but maybe it could give him a hint on this neural structure.


    The sound of wings overhead made Adrian press deeper into the shadows of his cave. A griffin flew past, barely visible through the branches covering the entrance. Probably just a regular patrol, not searching for him specifically.


    The best move might be to explore the capital of Tristain while he wasn''t widely known, and see if he could gather any useful Essence or information. He felt it wouldn''t be long before his human face became infamous...

 Chapter 8 - Manhunt Begins

    Familiar of Zero, Tristaine


    He opened his eyes and stared at the cave wall. What should he do next? The academy would discover Louise''s body soon enough. Maybe they already had. Either way, he couldn''t stay in this forest forever.


    The capital seemed like his best option. He remembered bits and pieces about it from the remnant memories of the anime and whatever random facts he had absorbed. A magic-absorbing sword in some sword shop. Unknown items related to Void Magic and Brimir. A princess who would end up leading during some kind of war.


    He needed information. Real, concrete details rather than these vague fragments floating around in his head.


    Adrian stretched his limbs one by one, working out the stiffness from lying still so long. The plan formed in his mind as he moved:


    Find the main road. Look for travelers he could question about directions. Make his way to the capital. Track down that sword shop. And most importantly, learn everything he could about Void Magic and the Founder''s items.


    Simple enough in theory. But this world ran on different rules than Minecraft. Actions had permanent consequences here. If he got caught...


    Adrian shook his head. No point dwelling on that. He''d already killed Louise, there was no going back now. Besides, he refused to regret defending himself. Being treated like property, threatened with whips and shock collars?


    Never again.


    He peered out through the branches. The sky had begun to lighten in the east, so dawn wasn''t far off.


    Perfect timing to start moving, most travelers would be setting out for the day soon.


    Adrian carefully pushed aside the branches covering his cave entrance. Cool air filled his lungs as he took a careful look around his surroundings.


    Now... which direction had he come from? He turned in a slow circle, scenting the air. Faint traces of smoke from the academy''s chimneys wafted into his nose.


    The main road would have to run somewhere between here and there.


    oo0ooOoo0oo


    Professor Jean Colbert walked through the quiet halls of the academy, a thick book tucked under his arm. His research last night had kept him awake for a long time. The familiar runes he''d seen on Louise''s summon... they matched perfectly with ancient texts describing the legendary Gand¨¢lfr.


    But that should be impossible.


    He needed to speak with Old Osmond immediately. The implications were too significant to ignore.


    Colbert reached the large wooden door to the Headmaster''s office and knocked twice.


    "Enter," came Osmond''s voice from inside.


    The office smelled of tobacco smoke, as usual. Old Osmond sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, while Miss Longueville organized papers nearby.


    "Ah, Professor Colbert. What brings you here so early?" Osmond asked.


    Colbert placed the book on Osmond''s desk and opened it to the marked page. "Headmaster, I''ve been researching the runes that appeared on Miss Valli¨¨re''s familiar yesterday."


    "And?"


    "They match exactly with historical records of Gand¨¢lfr, the Left Hand of God." Colbert pointed to the ancient text. "These symbols haven''t been seen in many years."


    Osmond''s eyes narrowed. He set down his pipe and took the book to study the runes. "Are you certain?"


    "Without doubt. And given that Miss Valli¨¨re summoned him..."


    "The lost element," Osmond muttered. "The Void."


    Miss Longueville stopped sorting papers, watching them with sharp interest.


    "Headmaster, if Louise truly has the power of Void magic-"


    "This information cannot leave this room." Osmond rubbed his mouse familiar¡¯s head in thought. "The political implications alone could destabilize the entire kingdom. Miss Longueville, you understand the need for absolute secrecy?"


    She nodded quickly. "Of course, Headmaster."


    "Professor Colbert, I want you to continue your research quietly. Document everything, but tell no one else what you''ve discovered. We must be absolutely certain before-"


    The door burst open with a crash. A servant stumbled in, face pale and hands shaking.


    "Headmaster! There''s been a murder! Miss Valli¨¨re... she''s... she''s dead!"


    Colbert''s blood ran cold. "What did you say?"


    "In her room... blood everywhere..." The servant''s legs gave out and he slumped against the doorframe.


    "Miss Longueville, get the guards," Osmond ordered, already standing up from behind his desk. "Professor Colbert, with me."


    They ran through the halls, students peeking out of doorways as they passed. News traveled fast in the academy.


    Whispers and frightened faces followed them up the stairs.


    Colbert saw the crowd before they reached Louise''s room. Students packed the hallway, craning their necks to see inside. Many wore their nightclothes, drawn out of bed by the commotion.


    "Everyone back to your rooms!" Colbert raised his staff. "Now!"


    The students scattered, leaving only Kirche and Tabitha standing near the door. Tabitha gripped her staff tight while Kirche''s face had lost all color.


    "Professor..." Kirche started.


    "Go. Please."


    They left without argument. Colbert stepped into the room and froze.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Blood covered the wall in long streaks. Shattered glass from the window littered the floor. But what turned Colbert''s stomach was the complete absence of Louise''s body. Only dark stains remained where she should have been.


    "Founder preserve us." Osmond moved to examine the wall. "These holes... something pierced straight through the stone."


    Colbert touched one of the holes. Clean edges, as if drilled through the rock. "Some kind of earth magic?"


    "But where is her body?"


    Colbert''s eyes caught something dark and wet in the corner. He stepped closer, holding up his staff for light.


    "Founder..." The word came out as barely a whisper.


    Bits of flesh lay scattered across the floor. A piece that might have been lung tissue. Something pink and grey that made him turn away. The copper smell of blood filled the room.


    "Headmaster." Colbert pointed to a silver object near the bed. "That''s a familiar''s restraining collar."


    Osmond picked up the collar, running a finger over the runes. Next to it lay a spiked whip.


    "She was going to discipline her familiar." Colbert closed his eyes.


    How many times had he seen noble children treat their familiars like property? Like tools to be beaten into submission? It was a valid approach for unruly beasts, but¡­


    "It fought back."


    "Familiars turning on their masters is rare," Osmond said. "But not unheard of. Especially if the familiar possesses intelligence close to human levels."


    "The runes should have prevented this." Colbert examined the blood-stained wall again. "Unless... unless Louise truly got unlucky with her familiar¡¯s temperament."


    Miss Longueville walked into the room with two guards. She covered her mouth at the sight. "I''ve sent a pigeon to the capital. They''ll dispatch riders to inform the Valli¨¨re family."


    The blood drained from Colbert''s face. "Karin..."


    "The Heavy Wind." Osmond gripped his staff tighter. "When she learns what happened to her daughter..."


    Colbert remembered stories of Karin''s wrath. The duchess who could level entire armies with wind magic. Who earned her title through countless battles.


    And now her youngest daughter lay in small pieces across her bedroom.


    "We must find this creature," Osmond declared. "Before Karin arrives. If we can present her with her daughter''s killer already dealt with..."


    A glint of broken glass caught Colbert''s eye before he could respond. He stepped toward the shattered window, careful to avoid the larger shards scattered across the floor.


    The academy grounds were below. Fresh dew sparkled on the grass, but something wasn''t right about the way it lay flattened in one spot.


    "Headmaster." Colbert pointed down. "Look at this depression in the ground."


    Osmond joined him at the window. Three stories below, deep claw marks tore through the grass and soil. Whatever made them had landed hard before sprinting toward the outer wall.


    "Those aren''t human tracks," Miss Longueville whispered.


    "No." Colbert gripped the window frame. "The familiar must have reverted to its true form after... after killing her."


    The guards shifted uncomfortably behind them. One whispered a prayer to the Founder.


    Osmond placed a hand on Colbert''s shoulder. "Jean. I need someone I can trust to track this creature down. The students are frightened, and rumors will spread fast. I must stay here to maintain order and prepare for Karin''s arrival."


    Colbert turned to face Osmond. "Yes¡­ I¡¯ll need permission to use lethal force when I find it."


    "Granted." Osmond''s eyes hardened. "But be careful, old friend. We don''t know what else this beast is capable of."


    "I''ll take two griffin knights with me," Colbert said. "We''ll start at the wall and work our way out. It can''t have gotten too far since last night."


    Unless it could still change forms. A human-shaped killer would blend in easily with travelers on the road. Colbert pushed that thought aside. He needed to focus on tracking the monster¡¯s traces first.


    "I''ll send word if we find anything." He headed for the door, then paused. "Headmaster... what should we tell the students about Louise?"


    Osmond sighed heavily. "The truth. That her familiar turned violent and killed her. They need to understand the danger. Miss Longueville, please inform the staff to keep all students inside the academy walls until further notice."


    Colbert left the blood-stained room behind him. He had a beast to hunt.


    oo0ooOoo0oo


    "So you''ve never seen Albion?" The old merchant asked, adjusting his position on the wooden seat of the caravan.


    Adrian shook his head. "No, sir. I''ve barely left my village before now." He kept his voice humble, playing the role of an ignorant commoner. "A floating island sounds impossible."


    "Ha! That''s what everyone says at first." The merchant''s eyes lit up. "But it''s the windstones, you see. Massive deposits under the whole landmass. Keeps the entire country floating in the sky."


    "Windstones?" Adrian raised an eyebrow at that.


    "Magic rocks that float. Worth a fortune if you can mine them." The merchant waved his hand. "But that''s nothing compared to Germania. Now there''s a country that''ll surprise you."


    "What''s Germania like?"


    "Biggest military in Halkeginia. But barbaric!" The merchant spat off the side of the caravan. "No proper manners like we have in Tristain. They let anyone buy noble titles with gold! Can you imagine?"


    Adrian made an appropriately scandalized face. "That''s terrible."


    "Better than Gallia these days. Fifteen million people living under a mad king." The merchant shook his head. "At least the Holy Empire of Romalia keeps some order in the south."


    "The holy empire..." Adrian pretended to remember something told to him by Louise. "That''s where the Pope lives, right? The first emperor was Brimir''s apprentice?"


    "Good to see a young man who knows his faith!" The merchant smiled. "The first Emperor was Brimir''s Gravekeeper too."


    Adrian nodded along. The merchant seemed happy to talk, and Adrian was happy to listen. Every bit of information could be useful later.


    The horses pulled the caravan over a hill, and Adrian saw the capital not far away. Stone walls surrounded the city, but the gates stood wide open. Merchants and travelers flowed in and out without any guards checking papers or collecting tolls.


    "Well, this is where I get off." Adrian stood up and bowed to the merchant. "Thank you for the ride and the conversation."


    "May Brimir guide your path, young man."


    Adrian waved goodbye and joined the crowd entering the city. No one gave him a second glance. Just another commoner come to seek his fortune in the capital.


    He walked down the busy street, thinking about his next move. The magic-absorbing sword had to be somewhere in this city. Finding it would be easy enough once he asked for directions, but obtaining it...


    Stealing it during daylight hours was going to attract attention. He needed money first. Real money.


    An empty alley caught his eye. Adrian slipped between two buildings and found a secluded spot behind some wooden crates. He sat down and concentrated on his Crystalline Minecraft Pearl.


    A diamond appeared in his palm. The perfectly cubic shape would raise questions immediately. No jeweler would believe it was natural. He made it disappear and pulled out Louise''s wand instead. The wooden stick appeared, but now it too had become cubic, conforming to Minecraft''s rigid rules.


    "So anything I put in becomes Minecraft-like," Adrian muttered. "But can I reverse it?"


    He focused on the diamond again. The Crystalline Minecraft Pearl wasn''t just storage, it could craft items too. Maybe if he treated the conversion process like crafting...


    Adrian placed the diamond back into storage, then concentrated on "uncrafting" it.


    Nothing happened.


    He tried visualizing the diamond being broken down into raw materials. Still nothing.


    Wait. What if...


    The Crystalline Minecraft Pearl worked like a crafting table. Nine slots, arranged in a square. Each slot could hold one item at a time.


    But what would happen if he tried to put the same item in all nine slots simultaneously?


    Adrian visualized the crafting grid, focusing on placing the single diamond into every slot at once.


    Pain shot through his head. The Pearl resisted, trying to follow Minecraft''s rules while Adrian forced it to break them.


    His nose started bleeding.


    The diamond flickered between slots, existing in multiple places at once. The paradox grew stronger as Adrian pushed harder.


    Blood vessels burst in his left eye.


    The Pearl couldn''t handle it. Minecraft''s rigid system demanded order, but Adrian kept forcing chaos into it.


    Something had to give.


    With a mental snap that felt like getting stabbed in the brain, the diamond shot out of the Pearl. It landed in Adrian''s palm, no longer cubic. The edges were smooth, the faces naturally formed. A real diamond.


    Adrian''s vision blurred as he slumped against the wall, blood trickling from his nose and eye


    "That... hurt..." He wiped his face with a sleeve. "But it worked."


    He turned the diamond over in his hand. Any jeweler would accept this as genuine now. But converting more would have to wait until he recovered.


    The headache felt like someone had driven spikes into his skull. His left eye wouldn''t focus properly.


    Adrian closed his eyes and focused on healing. The regeneration would take time, but at least he had proof of concept.


    He could turn Minecraft items back into their real-world equivalents. It just came with a cost.


    Worth it.


    Now he just needed to rest until the bleeding stopped. Then he could find a jeweler and get some proper money.


    After that... time to look for that sword shop.

 Chapter 9 - Diamond Run

    Familiar of Zero, Tristaine


    Ten minutes passed before Adrian''s left eye could focus properly again. The throbbing in his head had dulled to a manageable ache. He touched his nose gingerly, the bleeding had stopped as well.


    He glanced down at the diamond in his palm. The light caught its facets, sending tiny rainbows dancing across the alley walls.


    Beautiful, but also dangerous to carry around so openly. Any thief with half a brain would try to rob him. Adrian frowned. The Netherite armor in his Pearl would offer better protection than walking around unarmored, but after what happened with the diamond...


    No.


    The strain might knock him unconscious or worse. He needed something simpler.


    Iron? But that might injure him too much, and he still had nearly a stack of leather in the Pearl, so that could work just fine.


    He pulled leather from his storage and crafted it into four basic armor pieces. They looked ridiculous at first glance, and absolutely no one would believe they were real. Taking a deep breath, Adrian focused on the boots first. He visualized the crafting grid, then pushed the leather boots to occupy all slots simultaneously.


    A sharp pain stabbed behind his eyes, but nothing like the diamond''s conversion.


    The cubic boots warped and twisted in the Pearl until they were spat out as natural-looking leather boots in his hands. They even had proper stitching and soles.


    Adrian smiled and repeated the process with the rest of the armor. Each piece caused less strain than the last. Soon he had put on a complete set of leather armor that could have come from any tanner''s shop.


    The chest piece even had useful pouches sewn into it!


    He tucked the diamond into one of the pouches and stepped out of the alley.


    A middle-aged man in worker''s clothes walked past. "Excuse me," Adrian called out. "Could you direct me to a jeweler?"


    The man looked up... and up... and up. His eyes widened at Adrian''s height. Most people here barely reached Adrian''s shoulders.


    After a moment of startled silence, the man rattled off directions: "Head down this street until you reach the fountain, then turn left at the bakery. Take the second right after that, and you''ll find Madame Laurent''s shop. Can''t miss it, it¡¯s got a big purple sun shade out front."


    Adrian thanked the man and followed the directions through the busy streets. He could smell fresh bread from a nearby bakery, and his stomach immediately growled loudly in response.


    He''d need to find more food soon...


    The purple sun shade came into view exactly where the man said it would be. Madame Laurent''s shop occupied most of the building''s first floor, with large windows displaying necklaces and rings on velvet cushions.


    Two guards in matching blue uniforms stood at attention by the entrance. They watched Adrian carefully as he approached, hands resting on their sword hilts.


    The inside of the shop was a lot more busy than he expected. Noble women chatted as they looked at jewelry cases and well-dressed merchants haggled with employees at various counters. Adrian counted six more guards positioned around the room. Makes sense for a place dealing with precious gems and metals.


    A young woman in an expensive-looking dress approached him. "Welcome to Madame Laurent''s. How may I assist you today?"


    "I''d like to speak with someone about selling a diamond."


    She gave his leather armor a skeptical look but maintained her professional smile. "Of course. Please follow me to the assessment counter."


    She led him to a desk where an older man sat examining gems through a magnifying glass. Jeweler¡¯s tools and scales were scattered on the desk.


    "Master Renard, this gentleman wishes to sell a diamond."


    The appraiser looked up from his work, eyes narrowing slightly at Adrian''s appearance. "Very well. Please, show me what you have."


    Adrian reached into his chest pouch and pulled out the diamond. The moment it caught the light, all conversation in the nearby area stopped.


    Master Renard''s magnifying glass clattered to the desk. The young woman gasped.


    "W-Where..." Master Renard cleared his throat. "Where did you get this from?"


    Two guards moved closer, hands on their weapons.


    "It''s a family heirloom," Adrian said calmly. "I''ve fallen on hard times and need to sell it."


    The appraiser stared at him. "Please wait here."


    He stood up and hurried through a door behind the counter, taking the diamond with him.


    The guards didn''t move from their positions. The young woman wrung her hands nervously.


    Five minutes later, an elderly woman in an long purple dress walked out from the back room.


    "I am Madame Laurent. Please, come with me to my office. We have much to discuss."


    Adrian followed Madame Laurent through a side door into a well-furnished office, and the entire time he was scolding himself internally. How could he have been so ignorant? A diamond this size would raise every red flag imaginable. He should have broken it into smaller pieces first, at least that way people wouldn¡¯t question why had had such a big diamond.


    I really need to consult the human memories more carefully before I make such big decisions¡­


    Bookshelves lined the walls, and Master Renard hunched over a large desk, still examining the diamond. Adrian''s enhanced hearing picked up the man''s excited muttering.


    "Please, sit." Madame Laurent gestured to a cushioned chair.


    Adrian sat down, cringing slightly as the chair creaked under his weight. Two guards positioned themselves by the door. Great. Just great. He was boxed in, and if things went wrong, he''d have to fight his way out. Not ideal in the middle of the capital.


    "Would you care for some tea?" She asked, taking her seat behind the desk.


    "No, thank you." The last thing he needed was to accidentally break one of their fancy cups with his strength.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "Very well." She folded her hands on the desk. "I must admit, in my forty years of business, I''ve never seen a diamond of this size and quality. Master Renard tells me it''s completely flawless."


    Of course it was flawless. It came from a video game. Adrian wanted to bash his head against the wall. He should have deliberately damaged it first somehow, made it look more natural. But no, he just had to walk in here with a literally perfect gem.


    "Yes, I believe so," he said, somehow managing to keep his voice steady.


    "May I ask where you acquired such a rare diamond?"


    "Family heirloom," Adrian repeated his earlier story, knowing how weak it sounded. "My grandfather left it to me."


    "I see." She was clearly skeptical but looked deeply into his eyes. Adrian maintained eye contact, grateful that at least his blue eyes looked human enough. "And your grandfather was...?"


    "A merchant. He traveled extensively." The lie felt pathetically transparent. What kind of merchant would leave such a valuable diamond to gather dust instead of selling it? He really needed a better story, but he had absolutely no idea what non-nobility family could possibly own such a diamond and not want to sell it. Changing it now would only make him look more suspicious anyhow.


    "Hmm." She stared out of the office¡¯s windows. "You''re not nobility, I assume?"


    "No. I work as a mercenary."


    "A mercenary." She raised an eyebrow. "With a diamond worth more than most noble estates?"


    Master Renard cleared his throat. "Madame, the crystal structure is unlike anything I''ve ever seen. The clarity... it shouldn''t be possible."


    "What are you implying?" He asked, while mentally preparing escape routes. The window was three stories up, but he could easily survive the fall. The door had two guards, but they were hopefully only normal humans...


    Madame Laurent clasped her hands together. "Young man, a diamond of this size and quality has never been recorded in Tristain''s history. Not in any kingdom''s history, as far as I''m aware. Do you understand my position?"


    "You think I stole it?"


    "Did you?"


    "No."


    She sighed. "Then you won''t mind if we verify your story? The guard captain can send someone to contact your family-"


    "That won''t be possible," Adrian cut in, seizing the only excuse that might work. "They''re dead. All of them."


    A moment of silence filled the room. Adrian could pick up increased heartbeats from the guards. They were getting nervous too.


    "I see." Madame Laurent''s expression softened slightly. "I apologize for your loss. But surely you understand my caution? This diamond... it raises questions."


    Adrian opened his mouth to respond, but paused when he heard multiple sets of boots rushing up the stairs and voices discussing "suspicious individual" and "manticore support".


    "The diamond," a woman''s voice said from the stairwell. "Captain, he brought in a diamond larger than any recorded in-"


    Time was up.


    "I''ll be taking this back." He snatched the diamond from Master Renard''s hands, and his bones shifted, scales replaced skin, and suddenly an eight-foot long reptilian monster filled the office.


    Madame Laurent screamed. The guards drew their swords. Master Renard fell backwards over his chair.


    Too late.


    Adrian''s tail smashed through the window, sending glass everywhere as he dove through with a miniature bucket in claw.


    A cubic block of water appeared beneath him just before impact. The Minecraft physics kicked in, completely negating his fall damage. He sprinted on all four feet down the street as people scattered in terror, and above him, five Manticore Knights took flight from the rooftops. The beasts roared, lion-like faces snarling as their bat wings spread wide.


    "Stop right there!" A knight raised his wand.


    Adrian darted sideways and crashed through the nearest door. A young woman stood frozen in her kitchen, bread hanging from her mouth. The bread dropped as Adrian barreled past her dining table.


    "Sorry about the door!" He called back, smashing through her back wall into an alley.


    "IT TALKS?" Someone screamed.


    More shouts from above. Adrian zigzagged between buildings, crashing through walls whenever he needed to break line of sight. He burst into a nobleman''s study, scattered papers everywhere, and kept running.


    "My research!" The nobleman wailed.


    "Sorry!" Adrian yelled, already smashing through the next wall.


    A burst of explosive air whizzed past his head. Too close. He needed better cover.


    Adrian jumped through a bakery¡¯s open windows, sending flour everywhere. The white cloud provided perfect cover as he changed direction and burst into the adjacent house.


    An elderly couple sat at breakfast. The husband dropped his tea cup.


    "Fuck!" Adrian smashed through their back door.


    He kept running, ducking into narrower alleys where the Manticores couldn''t follow easily. After several minutes of this, the sounds of pursuit grew distant.


    Adrian transformed back to human form and caught his breath. A mercenary stood nearby, staring at him with wide eyes.


    "Excuse me," Adrian asked casually. "Would you happen to know where I could find an old sword shop? Run by an elderly gentleman?"


    The mercenary pointed shakily down the street. "T-two blocks that way. Look for the rusty sword sign."


    "Thanks!"


    Adrian transformed back into his true body right as the Manticore Knights spotted him from the skies.


    "THERE IT IS!"


    "Sorry about this too!" Adrian called to the stunned mercenary before going through another home.


    A mother was reading to her children in the living room. They all froze as Adrian burst in.


    "Don''t mind me, just passing through!" He smashed out through their kitchen.


    The kids started cheering. "Do it again!"


    "Maybe later!" Adrian yelled back.


    Two blocks to go. He could make it.


    A blast of wind magic tore chunks from the street behind him. The Manticore Knights were getting better at predicting his movements. Adrian needed to end this chase soon.


    He spotted the rusty sword sign ahead, swinging in the morning breeze.


    But five Manticores circled overhead, and more guards were overflowing the streets. He couldn''t just crash through the shop''s front door, they''d box him in immediately.


    Adrian ducked into a side alley and transformed back to human form. The knights would be looking for a monster, not a tall man in leather armor.


    Maybe they¡¯d miss him like this? He walked out onto the main street, acting like he belonged there.


    "It went that way!" He shouted, pointing down a different street.


    The Manticores banked hard, following the false lead. Adrian smiled. Now he just needed to-


    "You there! Stop!"


    Adrian turned. A squad of guards approached from behind, led by a balding man in blue robes. The man carried a wooden staff that crackled with fire magic.


    Professor Colbert. Of course the academy would send him.


    "Hands where I can see them," Colbert commanded.


    Adrian raised his hands slowly, watching the professor''s staff. If Colbert recognized him...


    The rusty sword sign creaked in the wind. Just twenty feet away.


    Colbert stepped closer, studying Adrian''s face. The professor''s eyes narrowed in recognition.


    "You..." Colbert''s staff burst into flames. "MURDERER!"


    Adrian dove left as a stream of fire scorched the cobblestones where he stood. His body shifted mid-roll to his true form. The guards stumbled back at the sight of his transformation.


    "Kill it!" Colbert roared.


    Adrian sprayed webbing from his mouth glands before they could react. The sticky strands crystallized as they hit the guards, trapping them in Minecraft cobwebs. The men struggled uselessly against the blocks, moving in slow motion.


    But Colbert had jumped clear. The professor''s staff glowed bright red as he channeled more fire magic.


    "For Louise!"


    A massive fiery snake rushed toward Adrian. He spun and smashed through the sword shop''s door, wood splintering around him. The fire blast followed him inside.


    An old man behind the counter yelped and ducked as Adrian crashed into a weapon rack. Swords clattered to the floor around him.


    "Where''s the talking sword?" Adrian demanded.


    "What?" The old man peeked up from behind the counter.


    "Derflinger! The magic-eating sword!"


    More flames poured through the doorway. Adrian jumped behind a shelf as fire consumed half the shop.


    The old man pointed to a barrel of rusty blades in the corner. "In there! Take it and leave!"


    Adrian knocked the barrel over with his tail. Dozens of old swords spilled across the floor.


    "Hey! Who''s making all this noise?" A muffled voice came from one of the blades. "I was napping!"


    Found it.


    Adrian grabbed the talking sword and shifted back to human form. The blade felt warm in his hand, almost alive.


    "Hey, what''s the big idea?" Derflinger spoke from the rusty metal. "I was having such a nice- wait, why are you glowing?"


    Adrian could hear the Manticore Knights landing outside, and Colbert''s fire magic was spreading through the shop. He needed to leave NOW. It was regrettable that he didn¡¯t get information related to Void Magic, but he could always return to this world in the future since he was fully attuned.


    An emergency dimensional jump would surely have a cost compared to the standard jump that took five seconds, but staying meant near-certain death. He triggered the emergency protocol.


    Massive amounts of blue light poured from his eyes, seeming to consume them entirely. The Dimensional Travel Node burned in his head like molten metal.


    "DIE!" Colbert appeared through the flames with his staff raised high in the air.


    Another fire snake split the air as it rushed toward them.


    "What in Brimir¡¯s name is happening?" Derflinger yelled. "Why are your eyes doing that? And why is everything getting all weird and- WAAAAAH!"


    Reality twisted, and Adrian''s consciousness instantly winked out. The fire snake dissipated inches from his face as space itself bent around his unconscious body, pulling them through dimensions.

 Chapter 10 - Closed Store

    ??? ????????, ???? ?????


    The first thing Adrian heard was an annoying voice. It had been talking for what seemed like hours, drilling into his unconscious mind until he couldn''t ignore it anymore.


    "...and then the idiot tried to use me as a backscratcher! Can you believe it? Me! The legendary Derflinger! Used as a common backscratcher! I showed him though, gave him such a rash he couldn''t sit for weeks. That''ll teach him to respect ancient magical artifacts..."


    Adrian''s head throbbed as consciousness returned. The emergency dimensional jump had taken more out of him than expected. He blinked against harsh fluorescent lights, pushing himself up from cold tile flooring to sit.


    "Oh hey, you''re finally awake! I was starting to wonder if you''d died. That would''ve been awkward, being stuck next to a corpse and all."


    Adrian looked down at the rusty sword lying beside him. "How long was I out?"


    "About an hour or so? Hard to tell in this strange place. Speaking of which, where exactly are we? And who are you anyway? Not that I''m complaining about the rescue from that dusty shop, mind you, but it''s customary to introduce yourself before kidnapping someone."


    Adrian rubbed his temples. "I''m Adrian."


    "Just Adrian? No fancy titles or anything?"


    "No titles."


    Derflinger made a sound like a metallic snort. "Well, you might not have titles, but you''ve got something more interesting, don¡¯t you? Void magic. I can sense it in you clear as day."


    Adrian stared at the sword. "How can you tell?"


    "Kid, I''ve been around for six thousand years. You pick up a few tricks after that long. The void element has a certain... flavor to it. Can''t mistake it for anything else."


    "But what did you do anyway?" Derflinger asked curiously. "And where are we?"


    Adrian looked around the space. Long aisles filled with modern furniture displays in every direction. Beds, couches, and dining sets were arranged in perfect little scenes, like frozen moments from thousands of different homes. Signs hung from the ceiling with strange words and numbers.


    The entire place felt like one of those big stores from Earth.


    "I jumped worlds to escape that fire mage," Adrian explained.


    "Jumped worlds?" Derflinger paused. "Wait, you already know Void spells?"


    Adrian shook his head. "Not magic. Different method."


    "Huh. How''d you know about me anyway? And why were they trying to kill you back there?"


    Before Adrian could answer, he spotted a figure in yellow and blue clothing pushing a cart down one of the aisles. Adrian blinked several times, unsure if the emergency jump had damaged his vision.


    The person stood at least seven feet tall with arms that hung down past their knees. Their legs looked comically short in comparison, but what really made Adrian pause was their complete lack of facial features. Just smooth, blank skin where a face should be.


    "Hey!" Adrian called out. "Could you tell us where the exit is?"


    The figure continued pushing their cart, showing no sign they''d heard him.


    "Well, that''s not creepy at all," Derflinger muttered. "Maybe they''re just shy? You know, I once knew this knight who was so shy he wore his helmet backwards and-"


    The fluorescent lights above them clicked off with a sharp sound. It was instantly dark, broken only by red emergency lighting in various corners.


    At least he had very good night vision, so it wasn¡¯t a big problem.


    "Oh come on," Derflinger grumbled. "I was just getting to the good part of my story!"


    The faceless figure stopped pushing the cart. In the soft red emergency lighting, Adrian watched as it turned towards them with jerky movements.


    "THE STORE IS NOW CLOSED." The voice boomed from where a mouth should have been.


    "PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING."


    Adrian stood up slowly, gripping Derflinger''s handle. "I''d love to exit, if you''d point me to the-"


    The ¡®employee¡¯ charged at them, arms stretched out like claws. More of them came from behind furniture displays, all identical faceless staff members running straight for them.


    "PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING."


    "PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING."


    "PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING."


    The voices overlapped into a droning shout.


    "Adrian," Derflinger spoke quickly, "I think now would be a good time to run!"


    "No need to worry," Adrian set Derflinger down against one of the shelves. "I can handle this."


    His body shifted and changed, bones cracking as scales grew from his skin. In seconds, an eight-foot-long reptilian creature stood where the human had been.Stolen novel; please report.


    "BY MY RUSTY POMMEL!" Derflinger yelled. "WHAT ARE YOU?"


    Adrian didn''t answer. He charged forward on all fours and launched himself at the nearest faceless employee. His jaws clamped around the creature''s head, teeth piercing through with ease.


    One quick twist and the head popped off like a bottle cap.


    The body crumpled, but another employee swung at him. Adrian turned to dodge - and the blow hammered his side, scales splintering from the force. The force sent him sliding across the floor into a display of coffee tables.


    "That actually hurt," Adrian growled, pushing himself up. These things were far stronger than they looked.


    The faceless monsters rushed forward as a group.


    "PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING."


    Adrian''s mouth opened wide, spraying sticky strands that crystallized into blocky webs. The employees became tangled in the Minecraft cobwebs, moving in slow motion as they struggled against the blocks.


    "What kind of magic is that?" Derflinger asked as Adrian pounced on the trapped creatures one by one, tearing them apart with teeth and claws.


    "Again, it¡¯s not really magic," Adrian grabbed another employee by the leg and slammed it into a shelf of decorative pillows. "Just something I picked up."


    More employees appeared from different aisles, all moving with those same jerky motions.


    "THE STORE IS NOW CLOSED."


    "Yeah yeah, I heard you the first time." Adrian spat another wave of webs. He needed to conserve his limited supply of spines for real emergencies.


    His side throbbed where the creature had struck him. The scales were already mending, but not fast enough. Adrian pulled a blocky Golden Apple from his Pearl and it vanished the moment he held it near his mouth. Regenerative energy spread through his body, knitting together damaged tissue and reinforcing cracked scales.


    More faceless staff members fell to his attacks. He tore through limbs and crushed torsos, leaving broken bodies scattered across the furniture displays. The fighting continued until finally, the area grew quiet except for the sound of Adrian''s breathing.


    A pile of monster employee corpses lay around him, some still twitching. The red emergency lights lit up their broken faceless heads.


    "Well," Derflinger broke the silence from his spot against the shelf. "That was... different. You''re full of surprises, aren''t you? First the void magic, then turning into whatever you are, and now you''re eating golden fruit that heals wounds?"


    Adrian shifted back to human form and retrieved the sword. "The fruit is from another world. Like I said, not magic."


    "Right, right. Not magic." Derflinger sounded unconvinced. "So what exactly are you? Because I''m pretty sure you''re not human."


    Adrian considered what to tell the sword. The human memories suggested caution, but what did it matter? Derflinger had already seen him transform and fight. Besides, the sword was probably more accepting of the unusual considering its age, and having an ally who understood the situation might help, especially one who knew about Void Magic.


    "I''m a Primal Zerg," Adrian explained. "I teleported to your world during some kind of student summoning ceremony. They assumed I was a summoned familiar and tried to bind me."


    "Tried to?"


    "The girl who claimed to be my master wanted complete obedience. She humiliated me, tried chaining me to a wall, even brought out a spiked whip and magic shock collar." Adrian''s voice grew cold. "I had an item that cleared mental influences, so nothing stopped me from killing her and escaping."


    "And it turned out she was a Void Mage. I had the Gand¨¢lfr runes before they faded away, but one of my¡­ abilities let me take her Void Magic when I killed her."


    "YOU WHAT?" Derflinger nearly fell over in his hand. "You can''t just TAKE someone''s Void Magic! That''s impossible! They¡¯re tied to bloodlines-" The sword stopped mid-sentence. "Well... I suppose you did. I can sense it in you clear as day. But how?"


    "Like I said, not magic. Just something I can do."


    "Huh." Derflinger went quiet for a moment. "¡­you know, my maker was Gand¨¢lfr too. Brimir''s familiar. She ended up killing him with me."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah. Sometimes masters need killing when they go too far. Not proud of it, but it happens." The sword paused. "So where are we now? Some strange shop?"


    "No idea. Emergency teleport to a new world. We''re stuck here for at least two weeks before I can jump again."


    "TWO WEEKS?" Derflinger shouted. "In this place? With those faceless things trying to kill us?"


    "Could be worse," Adrian shrugged. "They only became aggressive when the lights go out. Maybe they¡¯ll ignore us when the lights turn back on?"


    "Oh, that makes me feel so much better! We''ll only get murdered at night!" Derflinger''s voice dripped with sarcasm. "And what happens when you run out of food? I don''t see any restaurants around here."


    Adrian tapped the center of his chest. "I have enough stored food to last a while. Golden Apples, steaks, even some potions."


    "Stored... where exactly?"


    "In here." Adrian pulled out a blocky steak from his Crystalline Minecraft Pearl, showing how it appeared from thin air. "Another trait I picked up. I can store and create items following specific rules."


    "Create items? Like what?"


    "Basic tools, weapons, armor. Nothing too advanced." Adrian looked around at the scattered bodies. "We should find somewhere defensible before more show up. Somewhere we can block off the entrances."


    A distant shout of "PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING" spread through the store.


    "Good idea," Derflinger agreed quickly. "Very good idea. Any thoughts on which direction?"


    Adrian sniffed the air. "I smell humans that way." He pointed down an aisle. "Living ones. Maybe they know more about this place."


    "Or maybe they''re all crazy murderers who''ll try to kill us!"


    "Then I''ll eat them." Adrian started walking.


    "Wait, what do you mean ''eat them''? Was that a joke? Please tell me that was a joke! Adrian? ADRIAN!"


    Adrian ignored Derflinger''s protests as he followed the human scents through the maze of furniture displays. Every so often they passed more faceless staff members lying broken on the ground.


    A flicker of light caught his attention. Not the red emergency lighting, but something brighter.


    They rounded another corner of shelving units, and Adrian saw it - a massive wall built from furniture going up toward the ceiling. Flood lights mounted along the top illuminated the area, and he could make out people moving along walkways near the top.


    "Would you look at that," Derflinger whispered. "They''ve built themselves a fortress out of furniture!"


    Two figures stood at an open gate in the wall, waving frantically at Adrian.


    "Hey!" One of them shouted. "Quick, get inside before more Staff show up!"


    Adrian walked toward the gate, studying the construction. Beds and tables had been stacked and secured together to form surprisingly sturdy barriers. Power cables ran up the walls to the lights above.


    "You''re lucky," the other guard said as Adrian stepped through. "Most people don''t survive long out there at night."


    The gate closed behind him with a heavy thud. Adrian found himself in what looked like a small town. Makeshift buildings filled the space, constructed from various pieces of furniture. People were carrying supplies or huddled around portable heaters.


    A sign hung from the ceiling far above: "Exchange and Returns"


    "Welcome to Exchange," the first guard smiled. "I''m Sandra, and this is Jerry. You''re safe now."


    "THE STORE IS NOW CLOSED," echoed from outside the walls.


    "Yeah yeah, we know!" Jerry yelled back. "Damn Staff never shut up about it."


    "How many people are here?" Adrian asked, looking around at the settlement.


    "About fifty right now," Sandra replied. "Other towns have more. Some less. How long were you out there?"


    "I just arrived."


    Jerry''s eyes widened. "Just arrived? Like, you just appeared here?"


    "Something like that."


    "Well, you''re gonna want to talk to Chris then," Sandra pointed toward a building made from office furniture. "He''s been here the longest, knows more about this place than anyone."


    "PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING."


    The voice outside was joined by others, and they steadily grew louder.


    "Sounds like they''re gathering again," Jerry sighed. "Better get inside. They''ll lose interest eventually."


    Adrian nodded and headed toward the office building, while Derflinger muttered quietly:


    "At least these humans seem normal. You''re not really going to eat them, right? Right?"

 Chapter 11 - IKEA Worship

    ??? Universe, IKEA Store


    Adrian shot Derflinger a warning look. "Stay quiet around others for now. We don''t need the attention."


    "Fine, fine," the sword grumbled. "But we''re having a long talk later about your dietary habits."


    He paused when he noticed several couples heading toward an area filled with beds. To his surprise, they started stripping and having sex right there in the open. No one else seemed to care.


    A few people even waved casual greetings as they passed by.


    Adrian was a bit confused now. The remnant memories suggested this was unusual behavior, but maybe this place had different social norms? He shook his head and kept walking.


    The ''office'' turned out to be a bizarre structure cobbled together from desks and filing cabinets. Every surface was covered in aluminum foil that crinkled softly in the artificial breeze from nearby vents.


    A crooked sign reading "Chris¡¯s Place ¨C Knock First!" hung above the door.


    He knocked on the makeshift door.


    "Come in!" called a raspy voice.


    Adrian pushed it open, stepping into a room that looked like a conspiracy theorist''s fever dream. Maps and diagrams covered the walls, connected by red string that formed large webs.


    Even more aluminum foil lined the ceiling.


    Behind a thin desk sat an elderly man with a wild gray beard that reached his chest. He wore what appeared to be a pointed hat crafted entirely from foil.


    "Welcome, welcome to my humble domain!" The old man''s voice was surprisingly warm. "I''m Christopher Wellington the Third, but everyone calls me Chris. Please, have a seat! Would you like some meatballs? They''re quite fresh!"


    "No thank you," Adrian replied carefully, lowering himself into a chair. "I was told you could explain this place?"


    Chris had a massive grin on his face. "Ah yes, you''re new here aren''t you? The Great Store has chosen another!"


    "The Great Store?"


    "The Infinite IKEA!" Chris spread his arms wide. "A retail space that extends forever in all directions! No exits, no windows, just endless aisles of affordable Swedish furniture!" He paused, expression growing serious. "And of course, the Staff who hunt at night."


    Adrian stared at the crazy old man and wondered if he was literally insane.


    "¡­how can a store be infinite?"


    "That''s the beauty of it!" Chris¡¯ eyes seemed to nearly bug out from excitement. "This place goes on forever in every direction. The walls keep going, the shelves keep going, everything just keeps going! We''ve had expeditions travel for weeks without finding an exit."


    He pulled out an old notebook. "Some think it''s a parallel dimension. Others say it''s an anomaly in space-time. Me?" He tapped his foil hat. "I think it''s IKEA themselves. They finally achieved their dream of the perfect store - one that never ends!"


    "But that''s impossible," Adrian said. "Nothing can be truly infinite."


    "Impossible?" Chris laughed. "My boy, you''re sitting in a furniture store bigger than our entire planet! The laws of physics don''t apply here. The only constants are the Staff, the layout, and the closing time."


    "The Staff¡­ those faceless creatures?"


    "Exactly!" Chris pulled out a sketch pad showing crude drawings of the employees. "They only attack at night when the lights go out. During the day they just stock shelves and walk around. We think they''re some kind of automated security system."


    He flipped through more pages. "The store has different sections: furniture displays, warehouses, pharmacies and more. Sometimes you find other survivors who''ve built settlements like ours. But travel between areas is dangerous. The layout shifts randomly, and the Staff become more aggressive the further you go from populated zones."


    Adrian kept quiet while studying the maps on the walls. They showed various "known areas" connected by dotted lines, with large sections marked as "unexplored."


    "But here''s what really interests me," Chris glanced around the empty room, and started whispering. "I think everyone here comes from different dimensions. Different versions of Earth."


    "What makes you say that?"


    "Think about it! If hundreds of people were disappearing into an infinite IKEA, there''d be investigations, news coverage, panic! But when I talk to people here, their worlds all have subtle differences. Different historical events, different technology, different cultural touchstones."


    Chris shook his little notebook in the air. "Sarah remembers a world without the Statue of Liberty. Wasim''s Earth never launched the International Space Station. Little changes that suggest parallel realities!"


    His eyes gleamed with excitement. "This place isn''t just infinite in space - it''s a nexus point between dimensions! A cosmic warehouse where reality itself comes to shop for furniture!"


    "THE STORE IS NOW CLOSED," boomed from outside.


    "Yes yes, we know!" Chris shouted at the ceiling. He turned back to Adrian. "Don''t mind them. They''re just doing their jobs, praising the eternal IKEA as they should!"


    Adrian was starting to understand why this man wore a foil hat. Although given the circumstances...


    "Do you know any way out?" he asked.


    Chris''s expression turned serious. "No. The ceiling is unbreakable, and any doors or windows just lead to another section of the Great Store."


    He sighed. "Most folks eventually stop trying to escape. We''ve built a life here. We have food from the restaurants, power from the emergency generators, plenty of furniture obviously. It''s not so bad once you accept it."


    "Praise be to IKEA," he added with a slight bow.


    Adrian nodded slowly. "Thank you for the information."


    He hesitated before standing up. "One more question. About the... public displays outside?"


    "Ah!" Chris smiled. "The free love movement! Yes, that¡¯s been part of the culture for a long time. You see, being trapped in an endless furniture store changes people."


    He leaned back in his chair, scratching his beard. "At first everyone tried to maintain their old social norms. Privacy, modesty, all that nonsense. But after years of living on top of each other, seeing the same faces day after day..."


    "People got bored?"This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Exactly! What is there to do here besides break furniture, build with furniture, or play cards? Some folks started hooking up. Others joined in. Eventually everyone just stopped caring about privacy."


    Chris shrugged. "When you spend every day wondering if faceless monsters will break through the walls and kill you, social taboos start feeling pretty meaningless."


    "The Great IKEA chose us all," he added with religious reverence. "We are one community now. One family. Why hide what brings comfort and joy?"


    A loud moan drifted through the thin walls.


    Chris didn''t even blink. "Besides, testing the durability of IKEA beds is practically a public service!"


    Adrian stared at the old man.


    "So everyone just... accepts it?"


    "Most do. Those who don''t usually move to other settlements. We have a few ''traditional'' communities scattered around, though they¡¯re usually composed entirely of new people." Chris waved his hand dismissively. "But here in Exchange, we embrace freedom in all forms!"


    He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. "The couples'' section has some very comfortable mattresses if you''re interested. Memory foam!"


    "I''ll pass," Adrian replied flatly.


    He needed time to process everything he''d learned. An infinite IKEA store that connected different dimensions? It sounded insane, but he''d seen enough strange things by now to keep an open mind.


    "Suit yourself!" Chris pulled out a small notebook. "Now, where did you say you were from? I''m documenting all the dimensional variations-"


    "I should go find somewhere to sleep," Adrian cut him off, moving toward the door. The less this man knew about him, the better.


    "Of course, of course! Sandra can help you find a spot. Just remember - praise be to IKEA!"


    Adrian stepped outside into the artificial lighting, and sat down on a random filing cabinet.


    "Well, that was educational," Derflinger muttered. "So we''re trapped in some kind of cosmic furniture warehouse? With perverts?"


    "For now." Adrian got up and walked away from the noise, looking for a quieter corner. "We only need to survive two weeks."


    "And then what? Jump to another crazy dimension? Maybe next time we''ll end up in an infinite church!"


    Adrian ignored the sword''s complaints. He found an isolated spot behind some storage crates and sat down to think.


    This reminded him too much of Minecraft. Another infinite world filled with trapped people trying to survive. At least the Staff weren''t as dangerous as the mobs, they moved at normal human speeds and could be easily outrun.


    The only concerning thing was how strong they were. That first hit had actually damaged his scales.


    Still, it was nothing he couldn''t handle.


    "Hey Derflinger," Adrian spoke quietly. "What do you know about using Void Magic?"


    The sword hummed thoughtfully. "Not much about the mechanics, to be honest. But I know there are four Void Items that could help you learn."


    "What kind of items?"


    "Well, Tristain has the Founder''s Prayer Book. It''s supposed to contain records of all the Void spells Brimir ever created."


    Adrian perked up at this information. "A book of Void spells? Where exactly-"


    Footsteps interrupted them. Adrian went silent as someone walked around the storage crates.


    It was Sandra, the guard from earlier.


    She smiled when she saw him, brushing back strands of brown hair from her face.


    "There you are! I''ve been looking all over." She walked closer, hips swaying slightly. "Chris said you might need help finding a place to sleep."


    Adrian stayed seated as she approached. Even sitting down, he was nearly at eye level with her.


    "I''m fine here."


    "Oh come on, you can''t sleep behind boxes!" She leaned against one of the crates, looking down at him. "We have much more comfortable spots. I could show you around..."


    Adrian shifted uncomfortably. Yes, his body responded to her advances, these human instincts were quite insistent on that. But something felt wrong about it. The remnant memories spoke of deep emotional connections. Of building trust and affection over time. Of sharing more than just physical pleasure.


    This felt... empty.


    "¡­I appreciate the offer," he said carefully. "But I prefer to be alone right now."


    Sandra pouted playfully. "Are you sure? Nobody should be alone in the Great Store." She reached out to touch his arm. "Especially not someone as handsome as you."


    Adrian stood up, moving away from her touch. At his full height, she had to crane her head up to look him in the eyes.


    "I''m sure."


    She blinked, taken aback by his firm rejection. "Well... if you change your mind..."


    "I won''t."


    Sandra''s expression hardened slightly. "Fine. Be weird about it." She turned and walked away, muttering under her breath.


    Adrian sat back down with a sigh.


    "You know," Derflinger spoke up after she left, "most men wouldn''t turn down an offer like that."


    "I''m not most men." Adrian closed his eyes. "I''m not even human."


    He needed something to focus on. The Staff bodies outside might have useful essence to consume. But first, sleep.


    Adrian found an empty bed that smelled clean enough and lay down.


    "Keep watch," he told Derflinger.


    "Sure, sure. I''ll warn you if any more amorous locals come sniffing around."


    Adrian ignored the jab and closed his eyes.


    Eight hours later, he woke feeling refreshed. He grabbed some Swedish meatballs from the food area, finding them surprisingly tasty.


    "Ready to explore?" Derflinger asked as Adrian approached the gates.


    No one guarded them during daylight hours. The occasional Staff he spotted seemed docile, mindlessly organizing shelves and pushing carts. Adrian walked straight to the pile of bodies from last night''s fight and crouched down next to one of the more damaged ones, examining the internal structure.


    "This is strange." He poked at the exposed flesh. "No organs, no bones, no muscles. Just layers of skin-like tissue all the way through."


    "What do you mean?"


    Adrian transformed into his true form and cut deeper into the corpse. "Look. The outer layer is normal skin, but underneath... more skin. Different densities and textures, but still just skin."


    He frowned. "Yet they moved like they had bones. And they hit with incredible force."


    The tissue felt odd under his claws. Dense in some places, elastic in others. Somehow this layered skin-tissue generated massive strength without any conventional muscle structure. But these beings moved clumsily, lacking the precision and dexterity of real muscles. The tissue seemed optimized purely for raw strength at the cost of fine motor control¡­


    Interesting.


    Adrian bit into the corpse, tearing off chunks of the layered tissue. His advanced digestive system began breaking down the material immediately.


    "Ugh, that''s disgusting," Derflinger commented. "What are you even looking for?"


    Adrian didn''t answer right away, focusing on what his body was telling him about the consumed material. The genetic structure was bizarre, completely corrupted and twisted in ways that defied normal biology. No circulatory system, no nervous system, no way to process energy or nutrients.


    How did they even function? How could they see without eyes or speak without vocal cords?


    He found fragments of useful data in the muscle-mimicking skin tissue. The layered structure somehow generated tremendous force through some kind of bio-mechanical process he didn''t fully understand because the DNA was too warped to properly integrate.


    "Need more samples," he muttered, moving to another corpse.


    The second body yielded similar results - more corrupted genetic material that he struggled to understand. The third corpse showed him how the skin-layers contracted and expanded, but not how they connected to each other.


    It wasn''t until the fourth body that he finally gathered enough stable genetic information to begin adapting.


    His scales swelled as new tissue formed underneath. Bands of dense, layered ¡®skin¡¯ grew around his limbs and torso, integrating with his existing musculature. The process was slow, each new band placed to work in harmony with his natural muscle groups. He flexed one of his legs, and the muscle-like skin immediately contracted in sync with his movements. When he pushed against a nearby shelf, the metal bent slightly under his paw.


    "Impressive," he said. "And it makes no sense. My body had to specially connect this skin to my nervous system, but these creatures shouldn''t be able to move at all, let alone generate such power. No energy source, no control system..."


    "Maybe they run on IKEA magic," Derflinger suggested.


    Adrian transformed back into human form and snorted. "You might be right. This place must do something to keep them functioning." He glanced down at his now-enhanced human muscles. "At least I got something useful from them."


    He looked around and stood there quietly for a moment. His adaptations¡­ Some changes came easily - improving senses, regulating body temperature, reinforcing natural weapons with consumed metals. These¡­ Minor Adaptations barely taxed his Essence at all.


    But then came the more substantial changes.


    His rapid healing required dedicated organ systems. The poison and webbing glands needed specialized tissue. The spine launcher demanded precise biological mechanisms. His advanced digestive system that allowed him to process and extract essence at a fast rate. The Void Magic Fragment that caused him to develop a specialized set of neurons. And naturally, the currently suppressed Minecraft Physics Integration that required unnatural adjustments to his body so he could function in the blocky world of Minecraft.


    He could feel how each of these Medium Adaptations occupied space within his Essence, and ten seemed to be his current limit for changes of this scale.


    And then there was the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl.


    Just thinking about the organ made him aware of its presence in his chest. The way it bent reality to store and transform items... it consumed an enormous amount of space within his Essence.


    He could theoretically handle five such Major Adaptations, but even one felt like it filled a significant portion of his being. With time and experience, he might learn to compress these changes, combine compatible ones, optimize the space they occupied within his Essence. The limitations weren''t permanent, more just temporary restrictions while he grew up.


    "What are you thinking about?" Derflinger asked. "You''ve been staring at nothing for a while now."


    "Just considering my capabilities." Adrian smiled. "And what I might become."

 Chapter 12 - Netherite Sword

    ??? Universe, IKEA Store


    He spent the next few days talking with other residents of Exchange, confirming Chris''s claims about the infinite store. Everyone shared similar stories: they''d gotten stuck in IKEA, found no exits, and eventually joined one of the scattered communities. Most disturbing was how they validated the old man''s claims about their different Earths. Some remembered a world where Kennedy survived, others where the Soviet Union never fell.


    Small changes that added up to paint a picture of countless parallel realities.


    Adrian found the community''s... casual approach to intimacy increasingly uncomfortable. Public displays grew more frequent as night approached, turning the furniture displays into impromptu gathering spots.


    "This place changes people," Jerry had told him over breakfast. "First you go mad from the endless aisles. Then you go sane again, but different. The old rules stop mattering."


    He''d left shortly after, seeking isolation in a distant corner of the store. Using his Minecraft blocks, he built a simple iron enclosure - just enough space to work in private.


    "What exactly are you planning?" Derflinger asked as Adrian sat down on the ground.


    "Converting Minecraft items into real versions," Adrian explained. "I managed it with a diamond before. The process hurts, but..."


    "You''re going to force reality to bend again? You told me that it wasn¡¯t safe, and you could injure yourself heavily."


    Adrian shrugged. "I''ve got Golden Apples and my own innate regeneration. I can handle it."


    He placed the boots into the crafting grid, filling all slots with one item. Immediately he felt the strain build up in his head as reality tried to reconcile the impossibility.


    "ARGH!" Adrian screamed as his right arm twisted unnaturally. Bones cracked and muscles tore, but he maintained focus. The boots flickered in and out of existence, transformed, and became real.


    "Stop this!" Derflinger shouted. "You''re going to tear yourself apart!"


    Adrian grabbed a Golden Apple with his good arm, biting into it. Golden light spread through his body, mending the damage completely over the next several seconds.


    "I''m fine." He picked up the helmet next. "Just need to power through."


    The second paradox hit harder. His left arm shattered, fingers bending backward. Blood poured from his nose as he forced the conversion.


    Another apple. More healing.


    The leggings caused his right eye to explode and his stomach to rupture. He barely noticed, focused entirely on maintaining the paradox until the armor piece became real.


    "Adrian..." Derflinger''s voice was quiet now.


    "Almost done." Adrian''s words came out garbled through a mouthful of blood. He ate two more apples, watching his wounds close.


    The chestplate was worst. Both eyes burst, legs snapped, fingers turned to pulp. He screamed until his throat tore, but didn''t stop until the transformation finished.


    Nine Golden Apples later, Adrian could see again. He stared at the Netherite armor pieces scattered around him.


    "That wasn''t so bad."


    "You''re insane," Derflinger muttered.


    The armor looked different now. No longer cubic, it had become an elegant set of plate mail with a dark metallic sheen. Purple enchantment runes were inscribed all over the material.


    "How do I put this on?" Adrian picked up the boots and leggings. They clicked together magnetically, forming a seamless whole. The chest and helmet did the same.


    "Maybe..." He stepped toward the armor, willing it to equip like a player would do in Minecraft.


    The plates shifted and opened, wrapping around his body. Each piece sealed perfectly, leaving only minimal gaps for vision and breathing. Adrian flexed his armored hands. "Not bad. Just missing the Unbreaking enchantment, but I can fix that the next time I¡¯m in Minecraft. I do wonder¡­"


    He looked at his old leather armor. "Can I store this without it converting back?"


    He tried placing it in the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl while focusing on maintaining its realistic form. When he pulled it out, the leather had reverted to Minecraft style.


    "Guess not. I''ll need to convert everything before leaving Minecraft in the future."


    "If you survive that long," Derflinger grumbled. "You do realize you shouldn¡¯t casually mutilate yourself for better equipment?"


    Adrian smiled behind his helmet. "Why not? There was no lasting harm done."


    "Whatever you say." Derflinger sighed. "Just try not to get us both killed with these experiments."


    Adrian shifted into his Primal Zerg true form, the Netherite armor fading away as his body changed. He quickly broke down the iron blocks surrounding them, storing each piece back in his Crystalline Pearl. Once finished, he returned to human form.


    "Time to explore," Adrian announced. "I want to see more of this place."


    They walked through endless aisles of furniture. Beds, couches, and tables everywhere they went under the harsh fluorescent lighting.


    The occasional Staff member shuffled past, paying them no attention.


    "Hey Derflinger, I''ve been meaning to ask about your magic absorption."


    "What about it?"


    Adrian grabbed a plate of Swedish meatballs from a food court they passed. He lifted his helmet just enough to eat while they talked. "The remnant memories I got suggest you can absorb spells, but what are the limits?"


    "Dot and Line magic? Easy. Triangle spells can take a bit more effort," Derflinger explained. "Square-class magic needs time to absorb. The more powerful the spell, the longer I need."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Adrian finished the last meatball. "What else can you do?"


    The sword went quiet for several seconds.


    "Well... if this body gets damaged beyond repair, I can transfer myself to another sword."


    Adrian stopped walking. "Really? In that case..." He pulled out his enchanted Netherite sword from the Crystalline Pearl.


    "Want an upgrade? You look pretty worn down."


    "Are you sure?" Derflinger hesitated. "You just went through quite an ordeal with the armor..."


    "A sword uses far less material than a full set of armor. The strain should be minimal." Adrian smiled. "Besides, I still have plenty of Golden Apples."


    "Well, if you''re certain..."


    Adrian focused on the paradox, placing the same Minecraft sword in all nine crafting slots. He grunted in pain when his eardrums burst, but compared to the armor conversion this felt like a minor headache. The sword fell to the ground with a metallic clang, purple runes glowing along its length.


    He picked up the blade, admiring how the cubic design had transformed into an elegant weapon. The edge looked impossibly sharp.


    "So what now? Do I just break your current blade?"


    "Yes, but it isn¡¯t required." Derflinger sounded nervous. "Just place me next to the new sword and I''ll handle the transfer. But... are you absolutely sure about this?"


    "The new one is better in every way. Stronger metal, magic-enhanced, and not corroded to the point of near uselessness."


    "True enough." Derflinger sighed. "Alright, lay me down next to it."


    Adrian placed both swords on the ground. For several seconds nothing happened.


    Then cracks spread across the old blade until it shattered into rust-colored fragments. At the same moment, the Netherite sword pulsed with purple light.


    "Whoa..." Derflinger''s voice came from the new weapon. "This is... incredible! The metal responds perfectly to my consciousness. And these enchantments... I can feel how they enhance my abilities!"


    Adrian picked up the sword, and the purple runes brightened a bit at his touch. "Better than steel?"


    "Much better! Regular metals always felt restrictive, like wearing clothes that are too tight. But this..." The sword vibrated with excitement. "I can channel magic so much more efficiently now. The sharpness enchantment even amplifies my cutting power!"


    "Want to test it out?"


    "Absolutely!"


    Adrian walked over to a metal shelf and swung Derflinger in a casual arc. The blade sliced through the steel like butter, leaving a clean cut with barely any resistance.


    "Amazing!" Derflinger laughed. "I''ve never cut anything so easily before. What did you say this material was called?"


    "Netherite. It''s supposed to be the strongest material in the Minecraft world."


    "No wonder it feels so good. Hey, try absorbing some magic with me! I bet I can handle much stronger spells now."


    Adrian smiled at his companion''s enthusiasm. "We''ll have to wait until we''re back in Tristain or some other magic world for that. Speaking of which..."


    He checked his dimensional travel node. Still charging as he expected, but getting closer.


    "One more week here should do it. Want to explore more of the store while we wait?"


    "Lead the way, partner! Just try not to get us killed by those faceless things."


    A Staff member rounded the corner, pushing an empty cart. Adrian grinned and rushed forward, swinging Derflinger in wild arcs. The blade cut through the creature''s torso easily, but...


    "No, no, NO!" Derflinger protested. "What are you doing? You''re swinging me around like a club! I''m a sword, not a baseball bat!"


    Adrian paused mid-swing. "Does it matter? The cuts work fine."


    "It matters because you''ll get yourself killed fighting anyone who actually knows how to use a sword! Here, let me teach you the basics at least."


    Over the next several days, they found a quiet section of the store with enough space to practice. Derflinger guided Adrian through proper stances and basic guards.


    "Keep your feet shoulder-width apart," Derflinger instructed. "The sword should feel like an extension of your arm, not a separate tool."


    Adrian adjusted his grip, moving through the positions Derflinger described. High guard, middle guard, low guard.


    Each stance flowed into attacks and defenses.


    "Better! Now practice these cuts. Start from your shoulder, not your wrist. Let the weight of the blade do the work."


    They spent hours working on fundamental strikes.


    Derflinger explained how to read an opponent''s body language, when to press forward and when to create distance.


    "Swordplay isn''t about wild swinging," Derflinger explained. "It''s about control and timing. Knowing when to strike and how to protect yourself."


    Adrian practiced ripostes against imaginary attacks, learning to transition smoothly between defense and offense. The movements felt awkward at first, but gradually became more natural.


    "We can''t do proper sparring without a partner," Derflinger admitted. "But at least now you aren¡¯t flailing around like a drunk peasant."


    Adrian smiled as he moved through another practice sequence. The sword techniques might prove useful if he ever needed to fight in human form. Especially against mages, they¡¯d get very surprised if he absorbed their spells with Derflinger right before he cut them apart.


    "Ready to try those cuts again?" Derflinger asked. "This time with proper form?"


    Another Staff member appeared in the distance.


    "Good timing." Adrian settled into a proper guard stance, blade raised and ready.


    The Staff member fell in three clean cuts - not perfect, but much better than his earlier wild swings.


    "Well, at least you won''t embarrass me anymore," Derflinger sighed. "But you''ll need a real teacher if you want to improve further than a novice. Someone who can actually spar with you and correct your form in real-time."


    Adrian nodded, placing Derflinger against his armor where the sword stuck magnetically to the Netherite plate. "Better than nothing. And the basics might come in handy."


    They continued walking through the endless aisles until Adrian spotted something unusual.


    A phone mounted on the wall. The beige plastic looked old but well-maintained.


    "What''s that doing here?" Derflinger asked.


    Adrian picked up the receiver. A voice immediately came through, speaking in disjointed words:


    "Blue carpet folding yesterday inside breakfast quantum differential expanding marketplace swimming pool..."


    "Hello?" Adrian tried.


    "...doorknob butterfly quantum expanding differential marketplace inside yesterday blue carpet folding..."


    The voice kept rambling, ignoring his attempts to communicate. Adrian hung up the phone with a frown.


    "That was strange."


    "What did it say?"


    "Nothing that made sense. Just random words strung together." Adrian stared at the phone. "I wonder if¡­"


    A blue glow lit up Adrian''s eyes. He stared at the phone intently.


    "Partner? What''s happening?"


    Adrian just grabbed the phone and yanked it off the wall, wires snapping with a sharp crack. He held the device in both hands as the blue glow intensified. Dimensional Energy flowed from the phone into the node, and numbers flickered in his mind: 1%, 3%, 7%...


    The attunement settled at 10% and stopped.


    "This phone... it''s one of the materials I need to attune to this dimension." Adrian turned the device over in his hands. "Just like the metals in Minecraft or the Void Magic Fragment in Tristain."


    "So we need to find more phones?"


    "Probably." Adrian stored the phone in his Crystalline Minecraft Pearl.


    He looked down the endless aisle. "It¡¯s just a matter of going out there and getting them..."


    Adrian kept up a good running pace, following the aisles of identical furniture. Two more phones added another 20% to his attunement level, but the distances between them grew larger each time.


    "We must be at least 500 miles from Exchange by now," Derflinger noted as they passed yet another bedroom display.


    "Probably more." Adrian slowed down as he spotted lights ahead. Another settlement.


    But something felt wrong.


    The walls were plain metal shelving units, no decorations or personal touches. Guards stood at fixed points, staring blankly ahead without speaking or moving.


    Adrian approached the entrance, and one guard turned mechanically to face him.


    "Welcome to Point Suitcase," the man spoke in a monotone voice. "Please enter and follow community guidelines."


    Inside, people shuffled between identical metal tables. They ate meatballs in complete silence.


    No one spoke. No one smiled.


    Empty eyes stared at nothing as they repeated the same actions over and over.


    "This is... disturbing," Derflinger whispered.


    A woman walked past Adrian, not even glancing at his distinctive armor. She sat down, picked up a fork, and began eating.


    "What happened to these people?" Adrian watched as more residents performed their routines like wind-up toys. People finished eating, stood up, walked to designated spots, and just... stood there. Staring at walls or into empty space.


    Even when the Staff attacked at night, the defenders moved to their positions without urgency or emotion. They fought back but showed no fear, no anger, no satisfaction in victory.


    "We should leave," Derflinger muttered. "This place feels wrong."


    Adrian nodded. These people hadn''t grown lustful like the hedonistic Exchange. They''d done something worse.


    They''d given up completely.

 Chapter 13 - Hopeless Empathy

    ??? Universe, IKEA Store


    Adrian walked away from Point Suitcase, his armored boots clicking against the linoleum floor. The emptiness in those people''s eyes¡­ disturbed him. He''d seen death before, and had caused plenty of it himself. But this was different. These weren''t corpses walking around. They were something worse.


    "I don''t understand," he said quietly. "How does someone become... that?"


    "Sometimes breaking isn''t dramatic," Derflinger replied from his hip. "It''s not always screaming or crying. Sometimes people just... fade away."


    Adrian stopped walking and leaned against a shelf of kitchen utensils. He thought about the woman he''d seen eating. The lifeless way she''d lifted her fork. The absolute void where personality should have been. He clenched his fist, wanting to tear into something. To fight.


    To prove he was still alive.


    "Back on Zerus, everything made sense," Adrian said. "You hunt. You kill. You evolve. But this..." He gestured back toward the settlement. "What''s the point of surviving if you lose yourself in the process?"


    "That''s the real challenge, isn''t it?" Derflinger''s voice was uncharacteristically gentle. "Keeping your mind intact when reality stops making sense."


    A Staff member shuffled past their aisle, pushing an empty cart. Adrian watched it go, remembering how the defenders at Point Suitcase had fought without any real self-preservation.


    Just going through the motions...


    "Exchange might be weird with their... activities," Adrian said. "But at least they''re still human. Still feeling something."


    He pushed off from the shelf and started walking again, faster now. As if he could outpace the hollow feeling in his chest.


    "You know what''s strange?" he asked after several minutes of silence. "I killed the slaver girl without hesitation. Consumed her Essence like any other prey. But seeing those people back there..." He shook his head. "It feels wrong in a way that killing a weak human didn¡¯t."


    "Because there''s nothing natural about it," Derflinger said. "Death is part of life. But whatever happened to those people? That''s something else entirely."


    Adrian spotted another phone mounted on a wall ahead. But instead of rushing to claim it, he paused.


    "What if that happens to us?" he asked quietly. "What if we stay here too long and end up like them?"


    Would he notice it happening? Would he feel himself slipping away piece by piece until nothing remained but empty routines?


    The thought made his skin crawl.


    "Partner," Derflinger''s voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. "We should keep moving. Find those phones and get out of here. And don¡¯t forget you can jump dimensions, we won¡¯t get stuck no matter what, right?"


    Adrian nodded at Derflinger''s words. "You''re right. Let''s keep moving."


    Over the next several days, they traveled deeper into the store. Each community they found showed different ways humans coped with their imprisonment. Some settlements mirrored Point Suitcase, filled with empty shells going through daily routines. Others embraced pleasure like Exchange, turning their prison into an endless party.


    The phones became harder to find. Adrian had collected five so far, each one bringing him closer to attuning to this dimension. But the cost of seeing humanity break in so many ways weighed on him.


    "Another settlement ahead," Derflinger announced.


    Adrian had already smelled them, but looked up from his thoughts. The fluorescent lights illuminated something different this time. Hundreds of office desks had been stacked and arranged into towering spires. Cubicle walls formed makeshift flying buttresses between the towers. The whole structure resembled a massive cathedral.


    Signs covered every surface:


    "PRAISE BE TO THE INFINITE"


    "IKEA PROVIDES"


    "ALL HAIL THE ENDLESS AISLES"


    People in robes made from curtain fabric walked between the towers, heads bowed in prayer. Some carried clipboards, taking inventory of nearby shelves with religious dedication.


    "Well, this is new," Adrian muttered.


    A group of robed figures approached him. The leader, wearing a crown fashioned from coat hangers, spread his arms wide.


    "Welcome, lost soul! Have you come to embrace the Truth of IKEA?"


    Adrian stared at the man. The zealot''s eyes burned with absolute conviction.


    "I''m just passing through," Adrian replied carefully.


    "Nonsense!" The crowned man stepped closer. "The Store has guided you here for a purpose. Come, let me show you the path to enlightenment!"


    Adrian glanced at the zealots surrounding him. These humans posed no real threat, and he''d already seen two different ways communities survived here. Why not see a third?


    "Sure," Adrian shrugged. "Show me your... enlightenment."


    "Excellent!" The crowned man beamed. "I am High Priest Marcus. Welcome to The Cathedral of Infinite Wisdom."


    "Partner..." Derflinger whispered. "Something feels off about these people."


    Adrian ignored the sword''s warning and followed Marcus through the desk-structures. Robed humans bowed as they passed, muttering prayers about "blessed inventory" and "sacred stock numbers."


    Marcus led them to a raised platform made from stacked coffee tables. "This is where we conduct our daily readings from the Sacred Catalog!"


    A plastic IKEA catalog sat on a pillow, pages yellowed with age. People gathered around it, writing down product codes like they were ancient scriptures.


    "The Store provides everything we need," Marcus explained, eyes shining with fervor. "Food, shelter, purpose! We simply must understand what it wants from us."


    "And what does it want?" Adrian asked.


    Marcus smiled. "Order! Organization! Perfect inventory management!" He gestured at the clipboard-carrying ¡®priests¡¯. "We count every item, track every shelf. The Store rewards those who maintain proper stock levels."


    "Rewards how?"


    "By keeping the Staff at bay, of course! They only attack those who displease the Store." Marcus lowered his voice. "But sometimes sacrifices must be made to maintain balance..."


    "What kind of sacrifices?" Adrian asked, already suspecting the answer.


    Marcus gestured for Adrian to follow him deeper into the cathedral. They walked through layers of desks and shelving until reaching a basement level lit by strings of Christmas lights.


    The smell hit Adrian first. Blood. Fear. Death.


    Three Staff members stood chained to support pillars. Metal collars around their necks connected to thick chains bolted into the concrete floor. Unlike the mindless ones wandering the store, these Staff members writhed and pulled at their restraints.


    "The Store demands order," Marcus explained, walking between the captive Staff. "When someone disrupts that order - stealing, breaking merchandise, refusing to help with inventory..." He smiled. "Well, the Store must be appeased."


    Adrian noticed dark stains on the floor. Drag marks led to a metal door.


    "You feed people to them."


    "We give the unworthy to the Store''s servants!" Marcus spread his arms wide. "It''s beautiful, really. The Staff take the chaos-bringers, and in return they leave our community in peace."


    There was a loud scream from behind the metal door. Marcus didn''t even flinch.


    "That would be tonight''s offering. A new woman we caught trying to take more than the allowed amount of meatballs from the shelves. Such selfish behavior cannot be tolerated."


    Adrian watched the High Priest''s face. No guilt. No hesitation. Just absolute conviction that he was doing the right thing.


    "Would you like to watch the ceremony?" Marcus asked. "It''s quite inspiring. The way the Store''s servants cleanse the impure..."


    "Partner," Derflinger whispered. "These people are completely insane."


    Adrian nodded slightly. The Exchange residents might have embraced hedonism, but at least they helped each other survive. And the empty shells at Point Suitcase had simply given up.


    But this...


    This was active evil masquerading as faith.


    "Actually," Adrian replied. "I think I''ll pass on the ceremony."


    "Oh?" Marcus frowned. "But surely you want to witness the Store''s divine justice? Unless..." His eyes narrowed. "You question the Store''s wisdom?"


    Robed figures walked out from the shadows, holding makeshift weapons. Adrian noticed they all wore pendants made from price tags.


    "The Store guided you here for a reason," Marcus declared. "If you reject its teachings, then perhaps you too need cleansing."If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Adrian looked at the cultists with a raised eyebrow. "Do you really think you can hurt me? I''m wearing full plate armor."


    Marcus raised a kitchen knife. "The Store will protect us! Get him!"


    Adrian shoved the High Priest aside, sending him sprawling into a desk. A red Strength Potion appeared in Adrian''s hand, and it disappeared when he held it to his mouth. His muscles immediately began to squirm and twist as the amount of power he could exert was greatly enhanced.


    The metal door didn''t stand a chance. Adrian slammed into it shoulder-first, ripping it clean off its hinges. Inside, a cultist held a terrified woman over a pit. Injured Staff members reached up from below, long arms reaching for her dangling feet.


    "The Store demands-" the cultist started.


    Derflinger cut him in half mid-sentence.


    Adrian grabbed the woman before she could fall, pulling her away from the edge. She shook like a leaf as she clung to his armored arm.


    "Stay behind me," Adrian told her.


    The cultists poured through the doorway, screaming about heretics and divine punishment. They waved chair legs and kitchen tools like holy weapons.


    "You dare interfere with the Store''s justice?" Marcus appeared at the front of the mob. "Kill them both! Feed them to the blessed Staff!"


    "Ready for some practice, partner?" Derflinger asked.


    Adrian stepped forward, sword raised in a proper guard stance. "Just remember what you taught me about control."


    The first cultist swung a metal rod. Adrian deflected it and countered with a clean slash across the chest.


    Two more rushed him from different angles. He spun between them, Derflinger''s enchanted blade leaving trails of red from flying heads.


    "Your form still needs work," Derflinger commented as Adrian blocked another attack. "But you¡¯re passable for a novice."


    "The Store will punish you!" Marcus screamed from the back of the crowd. "You cannot stop divine will!"


    "Watch me," Adrian growled.


    Adrian cut through them like paper. The Strength Potion combined with his Netherite armor and sword made him unstoppable. Weapons bounced harmlessly off his plate mail while Derflinger carved bloody paths through flesh and bone.


    "FOR IKEA!" A cultist rushed forward with a chair leg.


    Adrian separated his head from his shoulders.


    "CLEANSE THE HERETIC!" Three more charged.


    Three more bodies hit the floor.


    The cultists kept coming, climbing over their dead companions in a religious frenzy.


    Adrian just kept slashing his sword.


    These weren''t even real prey, just insane humans who''d forgotten their humanity.


    Ten minutes later, Adrian walked out of the cathedral. Behind him lay piles of cultist bodies, men and women who''d chosen false faith over sanity. The final count was around two hundred.


    The woman he''d saved followed quietly.


    "IKEA will punish you for this sacrilege!" Marcus screamed from where he was bleeding out on the ground. "You cannot escape divine judgment!"


    Adrian turned back to look at the self-proclaimed High Priest. "Your ''Store'' isn''t divine. It''s just a prison that broke your mind."


    He walked away from the cathedral, the woman following close behind. She kept glancing back, as if expecting the cultists to rise up and chase them.


    "T-thank you," she whispered. "I was just looking for a new coffee table, and then... everything changed. The exits disappeared, and those people grabbed me..."


    Adrian noticed she wore clean clothes, jeans and a sweater. No signs of wear or dirt. She must have arrived very recently.


    "What''s your name?"


    "Emma. Emma Mitchell." She wiped tears from her face. "I don''t understand what''s happening. One minute I was shopping, the next these crazy people in robes were dragging me away, talking about sacrifices and some divine store..."


    She stumbled, and Adrian caught her arm before she fell.


    "Sorry, I just..." Emma started shaking again. "Those things in the pit. The faceless ones. They were going to..." She broke down completely, wrapping her arms around herself.


    "You''re safe now," Adrian said.


    Emma stared at Adrian with wide eyes, blood splattered across her face and clothes. Her hands shook as she tried to wipe it away, only managing to smear it more.


    "I... I was shopping for a coffee table." She started laughing, a high-pitched hysterical sound. "Just a coffee table! And now..." She looked down at her bloody hands. "Oh god. Oh god, there''s so much blood."


    She fell to her knees and vomited.


    Adrian stood awkwardly nearby as she emptied her stomach. The woman alternated between dry heaving and sobbing.


    "You killed them all," Emma whispered. "Just... cut through them like they were nothing. Heads and arms flying everywhere..." She retched again. "But they were going to feed me to those things. Those monsters in the pit..."


    She looked up at Adrian, tears streaming down her face. "What kind of place is this? What happened to those people to make them so... wrong?"


    "The Store breaks people in different ways," Derflinger spoke up.


    Emma screamed and scrambled backward. "The sword talks! Why does the sword talk?!"


    "My name is Derflinger," the sword said gently. "And yes, I talk."


    Emma pressed her hands against her head. "This isn''t real. None of this is real. I''m having a mental breakdown in IKEA. That''s all this is."


    "Emma." Adrian crouched down to her level. "How long have you been here?"


    "Two hours?" She wiped her mouth. "I got lost looking for the exit. Then those robed freaks grabbed me, started talking about divine punishment and proper inventory management." Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "They killed three other people while I watched. Had those... those things tear them apart."


    She grabbed Adrian''s armored hand. "Please. You have to help me get out of here. I can''t... I can''t end up like them. Like those empty-eyed people I saw, or those insane cultists, or..." She shuddered. "Those faceless monsters."


    Adrian looked at the terrified woman. She was already cracking, the horror of what she''d witnessed fighting with her desperate need to believe in her savior.


    Even if that savior had just butchered two hundred people in front of her.


    "The exits are gone," Adrian explained. "But I might be able to help you-"


    Emma screamed. Adrian spun around, Derflinger ready.


    A Staff member stood not far away, staring at them. Someone seemed to have embedded a price tag scanner in its head.


    Emma let out a small whimper and pressed against Adrian''s back. "Please don''t let it take me. Please don''t let it take me..."


    Adrian hesitated, not entirely sure what to do. The woman behind him shook uncontrollably, and the remnant memories gave him the impression that human women could be very¡­ fragile, and needed protection and comfort. He turned around slowly and wrapped his arms around Emma, patting her back awkwardly.


    "Shh..." Adrian spoke softly. "The Staff won''t attack while the lights are on. As long as we don''t provoke them, they''ll leave us alone."


    Emma buried her face in his armored chest, sobbing her eyes out. "I want to go home. I just wanted a coffee table..."


    The Staff member shuffled past them, pushing an empty cart. The price tag scanner in its head beeped occasionally as it moved.


    "See?" Adrian kept patting her back. "It''s ignoring us."


    Emma peeked out from his chest, watching the creature disappear around a corner. She pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes.


    "I don''t understand any of this." She looked up at Adrian. "First those cultists, then you killing everyone, and now..." She gestured at his armor. "Where did you even get that? The medieval section?"


    "It''s... complicated." Adrian released her gently. "But right now we need to move. The lights won''t stay on forever."


    Emma grabbed his arm. "What happens when they go out?"


    "The Staff become aggressive," Adrian explained. "We should find shelter before that happens."


    "There''s no way out?" Emma asked in a small voice. "No emergency exits or staff doors or..."


    Adrian shook his head. "The Store goes on forever. But I might be able to help you leave another way."


    "How?"


    "First we need somewhere safe." Adrian looked around. "Somewhere defensible where we can talk properly."


    Emma nodded, still holding his arm. "Okay. Okay... lead the way."


    They walked through the endless aisles. Emma flinched every time they passed a Staff member, pressing closer to Adrian.


    "Why do you think this happened?" she asked quietly. "Why trap people in a furniture store?"


    "I don''t know," Adrian replied. "But I''ve seen what it does to people who stay too long."


    Emma shuddered. "Those cultists... they seemed so convinced. Like they actually believed this place was divine."


    "The Store breaks minds in different ways," Adrian said. "Some become empty shells. Some embrace madness. Some create new beliefs to cope."


    "And some become monsters," Emma whispered, remembering the faceless Staff in the pit.


    Adrian stopped walking. "We can rest here."


    They''d reached a display of bedroom furniture. He moved some tall wardrobes to create natural walls around a collection of beds and nightstands.


    "The wardrobes will slow down any Staff that try to get in," Adrian explained. "And there are multiple escape routes if needed."


    Emma sat on one of the beds, hands clasped tightly in her lap. "Now what?"


    Adrian sat down on a nearby bed, looking at Emma. He understood her fear, remembered how lost he''d felt when first arriving in the Minecraft world. At least he''d had the advantage of being a predator.


    "The Store pulls people from different versions of Earth," Adrian explained. "Some come from worlds where small things changed. Others from worlds with major differences."


    Emma frowned. "Different versions?"


    "In one world, the International Space Station was never built. In another, the Soviet Union still exists." Adrian pulled off his helmet and rested it next to him. "What year was it in your world?"


    "2025," Emma replied while staring at his exposed face.


    "And I assume you came from America, so who was the president?"


    "Donald Trump. He won the recent election." Emma rubbed her arms. "Why?"


    "I''ve met people from 2007 who only arrived here last year. Some from 2020, 2022..." Adrian shook his head. "You''re actually the most recent arrival I''ve seen. Everyone else came from 2024 at most."


    Emma wrapped her arms around herself. "This is insane. Parallel worlds? Time differences?"


    She took a deep breath. "But you said you might be able to help me leave?"


    "Yes. I can travel between dimensions," Adrian explained. "In a few days when my power recharges, I''ll be able to leave this place. But..." He paused. "I can''t reach your original world."


    Emma stared at him for a long moment. Then she started laughing, a broken sound that echoed through the makeshift shelter.


    "Dimensional travel. Of course." She wiped tears from her eyes. "Why not? I just watched you kill two hundred people like they were nothing. Your sword talks. There are faceless monsters wearing blank name tags pushing shopping carts through an endless furniture store..."


    Her laughter died. "But you can''t get me home?"


    Adrian shook his head. "The only world I have access to that humans can survive in is... well, it''s medieval. Only nobles can use magic there, and I''m wanted for killing a noble who tried to enslave me. Not exactly safe."


    Emma''s shoulders slumped. "So I''m trapped here? Going to end up like those cultists or those empty shells walking around?"


    "No," Adrian leaned against a cabinet. "We can find you a safe community here in the Store. One of the¡­ normal ones. Then when I find a better world, I''ll come back for you."


    "You''d do that?" Emma looked up. "Come back for me?"


    "Yes."


    "Why?" She gestured at the blood still covering her clothes. "You don''t know me. And after what I saw you do to those cultists..." She shuddered. "What are you? Really?"


    Adrian considered how to answer. The woman was already traumatized. Telling her he was an alien predator who consumed Essence might push her over the edge.


    "I''m someone who can help," he said finally. "That''s all you need to know for now."


    Emma nodded slowly. "I guess after everything I''ve seen today, I shouldn''t question help when it''s offered." She rubbed her arms. "Even if that help comes from someone who can cut through crowds of people like a hot knife through butter."


    "One of the communities like the Exchange is probably your best option," Adrian muttered. "They''re... unusual, but they look after each other. No cultists or empty shells there."


    "Unusual how?"


    "You''ll see." Adrian stood up. "We should rest here until the next light cycle starts. Then I''ll take you there."


    Emma grabbed his arm. "Don''t leave me alone. Please."


    "I won''t," Adrian promised. "Get some sleep. I''ll keep watch."


    She laid down on the bed, still fully clothed and covered in blood. Within minutes exhaustion overtook her and she fell into an uneasy sleep.


    "That was almost gentle of you, partner," Derflinger whispered. "Not telling her what you really are."


    Adrian watched Emma toss and turn. "She''s seen enough horror for one day."


    "Those hedonistic communities might not be the best place for her," Derflinger noted. "You know how they get."


    "She doesn¡¯t have to participate in it." Adrian sat on the edge of the bed. "And I meant what I said. When we find a better world, I''ll come back for her."


    "Why? You''ve not really cared about humans before, have you?"


    Adrian frowned. "I don''t know. Maybe because she reminds me of how lost I felt when first arriving in Minecraft."


    The more he thought about it, the more sense it made. Why shouldn''t he help these trapped humans? The ones who hadn''t gone utterly insane deserved a chance at a real life.


    "You know," Adrian spoke quietly. "I could probably save most of the sane ones. Get them all to hold hands or grab onto each other, and I could transport dozens, maybe even hundreds at once."


    "That''s... surprisingly compassionate of you," Derflinger whispered.


    Adrian watched Emma sleep. "I''ve been thinking about what I saw in these communities. The cultists, the empty shells at Point Suitcase... that''s what happens when hope dies." He clenched his fist. "But I could give them hope. A real chance at survival."


    "The Exchange has about fifty people," Derflinger mused. "Most of them are still... relatively normal, despite their quirks."


    "And there are many other communities like them scattered throughout the Store." Adrian smiled slightly. "Once I find a safe world, I could come back. Gather all the survivors who want to leave. Give them a fresh start."


    "You''re changing, partner," Derflinger said softly. "You didn¡¯t seem the type to have cared about saving anyone."


    "Maybe that''s not such a bad thing." Adrian glanced at his armored hands. "I''m still a Primal Zerg. Still who I was in Zerus. But I can be something more than just a predator."


    Emma whimpered in her sleep, caught in what was likely a nightmare about cultists and faceless monsters.


    Adrian awkwardly patted her shoulder until she calmed down.


    "Get some rest yourself," Derflinger suggested. "I''ll wake you if anything approaches."

 Chapter 14 - Plague Doctor

    SCP Universe, IKEA Store


    Two days later...


    "...and then Lisa tried teaching her cat to fetch," Emma said, managing a small laugh. "But it just looked at her like she was insane and went back to sleep."


    Adrian nodded, letting her chatter fill the silence as they walked through the endless aisles. She''d been telling him stories about her life before the Store, probably to keep her mind off their current situation. The blood had been cleaned from her clothes, but dark circles under her eyes showed she wasn''t sleeping well.


    "Do you have any pets?" she asked.


    "No." Adrian paused. "Unless you count Derflinger."


    "I am NOT a pet," the sword grumbled.


    Emma smiled slightly. It was good to see her recovering some of her spirit, even if she still flinched whenever they passed Staff members.


    They turned down another aisle and Adrian froze. The scent hit him first, hundreds of humans, along with something... different.


    Medical supplies. Herbs. Death.


    "What''s wrong?" Emma asked.


    Adrian pointed ahead. In the distance, massive walls rose up, built from shelving units and furniture. But unlike the previous settlements, these walls were covered in artwork. Hundreds of paintings and drawings showed someone in long black robes and a beaked mask.


    "Is that... are those plague doctor masks?" Emma squinted at the artwork.


    When they got closer, Adrian noticed more details. The walls went for nearly half a mile in each direction. Guards in modified IKEA uniforms patrolled the top, carrying spears with price scanners attached to the ends.


    A guard spotted them and raised a hand. "Halt! State your business!"


    Emma stepped closer to Adrian as more guards gathered at the wall. Unlike the empty-eyed survivors or frenzied cultists they''d encountered before, these people moved with a lot more energy.


    "We''re looking for shelter," Adrian called back.


    The guards looked at each other, then one yelled back. "Wait there! We''ll send someone to check you."


    A section of the wall opened, revealing a makeshift gate. Four people in white coats emerged, carrying clipboards and wearing surgical masks. Behind them walked someone much taller, dressed in dark robes with a distinctive plague doctor mask.


    Emma grabbed Adrian''s arm. "What''s with the costumes?"


    "Those aren''t costumes," Derflinger whispered.


    The plague doctor ran towards them, examining both Adrian and Emma from a distance. The white-coated assistants scribbled notes frantically.


    "The female carries the Pestilence, as expected. But you..." He pointed at Adrian. "You are completely clean - the first one I''ve encountered in centuries! Well¡­ besides that fellow." Plague Doctor clasped his gloved hands together.


    "The what?" Emma stepped back. "I''m not sick!"


    "My dear, you are very ill. All living beings carry the Great Dying within them." The plague doctor bowed slightly. "I am known as SCP-049, though you may call me Plague Doctor. I have dedicated my existence to curing this terrible affliction."


    "You said I''m... clean?" Adrian asked carefully.


    "Yes!¡± Plague Doctor nodded his beaked head. "Tell me, what makes you different? Why are you free of the Pestilence while all others suffer?"


    Adrian stared at the strange man, unsure how to respond. "I don''t know what Pestilence you''re talking about."


    "Ah, of course! You must be one of Dr. Clef''s agents." Plague Doctor stepped closer. "The Foundation has finally sent someone to assist with my research."


    Emma looked between them in confusion. "What Foundation? What''s going on?"


    "My dear, there is no need for concern." Plague Doctor waved at his assistants. "Please, escort this young lady to the medical wing for examination. I must speak with our Foundation contact privately."


    Emma grabbed Adrian''s arm. "Don''t leave me alone with them!"


    "She stays with me," Adrian said firmly.


    The plague doctor tilted his head. "As you wish. Come, both of you. We have much to discuss, and the Staff are particularly active in this section today."


    They followed him through the gate into a massive settlement. Unlike the previous communities, he didn¡¯t see any odd behaviour. A lot of people were chatting without any care in the world, and while there were some people in white coats rushing around carrying clipboards and medical supplies, it seemed like a normal community overall.


    He did spot some dead Staff members being dragged toward large medical tents.


    "Welcome to my laboratory," Plague Doctor announced proudly. "Here, we work tirelessly to cure the advanced Pestilence infecting these poor Store attendants."


    Adrian watched as a group of people strapped a Staff member to a table. The creature lay motionless while someone in surgical gear prepared various instruments.


    "You... operate on the Staff?" Adrian asked.


    "Indeed! They suffer from the most severe cases I''ve ever encountered." Plague Doctor pulled a massive microscope from his small medical bag. "See for yourself!"


    Emma stared at the impossibly large device. "How did that fit in there?"


    "Science, my dear. Now then..." The plague doctor turned to Adrian. "Dr. Clef must¡¯ve sent you to assist with my research. Tell me, what are you specialized in?"


    Adrian chose his words carefully. "I think there''s been a misunderstanding. I don''t know any Dr. Clef."


    The plague doctor froze. "But... you''re free of the Pestilence. How is that possible unless..." He straightened up. "Unless you''ve already discovered a cure!"


    Before Adrian could respond, alarms blared throughout the settlement. Red lights flashed as people started running.


    "Doctor!" Someone shouted from the wall. "The lights are going out in Section 7!"


    The plague doctor grabbed medical supplies from his endless bag. "Duty calls! Come, you must show me your cure in action!"


    Adrian glanced at Emma, who looked terrified.


    He''d have to play along for now, at least until he understood what was happening in this strange community.


    "Stay here," Adrian told Emma, pushing her toward a group of medical assistants. "Keep her safe."


    A horde of Staff members ran toward the settlement walls, and Adrian counted at least thirty of them at first glance.


    Plague Doctor leapt from the wall. He landed among the Staff and touched the nearest one with a gloved hand. The creature dropped instantly, no struggle, no resistance.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Just... dead.


    Adrian watched in disbelief as this Plague Doctor moved through the horde. Each touch brought instant death. No visible wounds. The Staff simply collapsed wherever those gloved fingers made contact.


    "Come! Show me your cure!" Plague Doctor called out while casually killing three more Staff with quick taps. "We must compare methods!"


    Adrian drew Derflinger but kept his distance. Something about this masked figure set off every survival instinct he had. The casual way he dispensed death with a mere touch...


    "Partner," Derflinger whispered. "Be careful. Whatever he is, he''s not human."


    "I noticed." Adrian watched another Staff member fall to Plague Doctor''s touch. "What kind of power lets someone kill that easily?"


    Plague Doctor turned toward him. "Why do you hesitate? Surely Dr. Clef informed you of my work!"


    Five more Staff rushed the walls.


    Adrian intercepted them with Derflinger, cutting them down the old-fashioned way.


    "Hmm." Plague Doctor tilted his head. "A crude method, but effective. Tell me, does dismemberment play a role in your cure?"


    Adrian backed away slightly. "I don''t have a cure. I just kill them."


    "Nonsense! You must have something special. The Pestilence doesn''t exist in you!" Plague Doctor stepped closer. "Perhaps... perhaps I should examine you more closely..."


    Those gloved hands reached toward Adrian, and he immediately jumped back. Would that death-touch work on him too?


    He wasn''t going to find out.


    "Stop!" Adrian backed away from those reaching hands. "If you must know, I''m not human. I''m not from this dimension at all."


    Plague Doctor paused. "Not from this dimension?"


    "I come from a world called Zerus. Maybe that''s why I don''t have this Pestilence you keep talking about - it doesn''t exist where I''m from."


    "A different dimension!" Plague Doctor pulled an enormous scanning device from his medical bag. "This explains everything! We must study you immediately. A full dissection should-"


    "Wait!" Adrian dodged another grab while he thought on what to do.


    He needed something to distract this persistent doctor.


    His head throbbed slightly as he forced a paradox onto his Crystalline Minecraft Pearl. A real steak appeared out of thin air in his hand, and he waved it in front of the Plague Doctor.


    "Why don''t you examine this instead?" Adrian held out the steak. "It''s from another dimension too. Should be free of your Pestilence, right?"


    Plague Doctor stopped reaching for Adrian and stared at the meat. "From another dimension, you say?" He pulled out a magnifying glass the size of a dinner plate. "Most intriguing! And you can produce more samples?"


    "Yes, but they take time to create." Adrian relaxed slightly as the doctor''s attention shifted away from dissecting him. "I have other items too, all free of any disease."


    "Wonders abound!" Plague Doctor pulled more equipment from his bag. "Come, we must study this in my laboratory. Perhaps comparing clean tissue to infected specimens will yield new insights!"


    Adrian followed at a safe distance as Plague Doctor led him through the settlement. People stepped aside respectfully, bowing to the masked figure. Some carried dead Staff members toward a large building marked ''Research Wing''.


    "Tell me," Plague Doctor spoke while walking. "In this other dimension of yours, what methods do they use to combat disease?"


    "We don''t get sick," Adrian explained. "My species adapts and evolves."


    "Evolution! Yes, yes, great men of science spoke of such things." Plague Doctor pulled out a notebook and scribbled frantically. "Does the cure not lie in direct treatment, but rather in transformation? We must explore this avenue thoroughly!"


    They entered a massive laboratory filled with equipment that couldn''t possibly exist in a furniture store. Advanced microscopes lined the walls, and strange machines beeped and whirred. Operating tables filled the center of the room, each spotlessly clean.


    "Welcome to my humble workspace!" Plague Doctor spread his arms wide. "Here we shall unlock the secrets of your dimensional specimens. My assistants will handle the preliminary tests while we discuss theory."


    Adrian watched the doctor place the steak into a containment chamber. "What exactly is this Pestilence you keep talking about?"


    "Ah, the Great Dying! The Scourge that infects all living things!" Plague Doctor tapped his mask excitedly. "It manifests differently in each host, but the symptoms are unmistakable to one who knows what to look for."


    "And what symptoms are those?"


    "Why, the very essence of mortality itself!" Plague Doctor pulled out more equipment from his endless bag. "Life and death, sickness and health - these are amateur terms. The Pestilence transcends such simple concepts."


    Adrian frowned. This doctor wasn''t making any sense. But he seemed content to study the steak instead of trying to dissect Adrian, so that was an improvement.


    "Partner," Derflinger whispered. "This guy is completely insane."


    "I noticed," Adrian muttered back. "But as long as he''s focused on the meat instead of me..."


    "Indeed!" Plague Doctor exclaimed, making them both jump. "The molecular structure is fascinating! Not a trace of the Pestilence anywhere!"


    Adrian watched the doctor work for a few minutes before speaking. "Earlier you called yourself SCP-049. What does that mean?"


    "Ah, merely a designation given by the Foundation." Plague Doctor adjusted several dials on his equipment. "They insisted on categorizing everything with numbers."


    "And this Foundation... they study unusual things?"


    "Yes! Great men of science, working to contain and understand the unexplainable." Plague Doctor pulled out more tools. "Dr. Clef was particularly interested in my research. A brilliant mind, if somewhat... unpredictable."


    Adrian remembered the dead Staff members being carried to the research wing. "And these ¡®cured¡¯ patients... what happened to them?"


    "Unfortunately, none survived the treatment process." Plague Doctor sighed. "The cure works! The Pestilence is removed! But the subjects... expire shortly after. A minor setback that will be resolved with further experimentation."


    "So they threw you in here?"


    "Dr. Clef personally escorted me to this facility." Plague Doctor resumed his work. "He said I would find plenty of test subjects among the Staff. And he was right! Such advanced cases of the Pestilence, perfect for refining my methods."


    Adrian glanced at the laboratory door. He could hear Emma talking with some of the medical assistants outside.


    "Tell me more about this Foundation," Adrian said while watching the doctor work. "What does SCP stand for?"


    "Secure, Contain, Protect!" Plague Doctor adjusted a microscope. "A noble mission, studying the unexplainable to protect humanity. Even if they don''t understand the true threat of the Pestilence."


    "And there are others like you? Other SCPs?"


    "Oh yes! Many wonderful specimens." Plague Doctor pulled out more equipment. "A statue that moves when unobserved. A reptile that cannot die. Even a machine that produces infinite pizza! The Foundation keeps careful records of each anomaly."


    Adrian leaned against a table. "How many?"


    "Thousands! Each given a number for cataloging. I am 049, but the list grows ever longer." The doctor peered through his microscope. "Dr. Bright once mentioned they had passed 6000 entries."


    "What happens to these anomalies?"


    "The Foundation contains them in special facilities. Studies them. Tries to understand how they work." Plague Doctor looked up. "Some, like myself, assist with research. Others are too dangerous to allow any freedom."


    Adrian remembered the cultists, the empty shells, the hedonistic communities. "And this place? This endless store? Is it one of these SCPs?"


    "This facility?" Plague Doctor waved dismissively. "Merely a research space provided by Dr. Clef. The Staff make excellent test subjects, and my assistants are eager to learn."


    So the doctor was¡­ naive. Interesting. This Dr. Clef clearly took advantage of the Infinite IKEA to get rid of ¡®SCP-049¡¯.


    "And what exactly does the Foundation do with all this research?"


    "Protect humanity from threats they don''t understand! Although..." Plague Doctor sighed. "They refuse to acknowledge the Pestilence. Focus on lesser concerns while the Great Dying spreads."


    Adrian watched the doctor mutter to himself while adjusting equipment. This ''SCP Foundation'' sounded dangerous. If they could contain beings like Plague Doctor, what else were they capable of?


    "What''s the most dangerous anomaly you''ve encountered?" Adrian asked, watching the doctor examine another slice of steak.


    Plague Doctor looked up from his work. "Dangerous? Many pose significant threats. The shy guy that kills whoever sees his face, even if it was through a picture. A jug of milk that kills anyone who tries to open it. But the most concerning..." He lowered his voice. "SCP-343."


    "What makes that one so dangerous?"


    "He claims to be God." Plague Doctor adjusted his mask. "The Foundation treats him with great respect. Allows him to roam freely. But I saw no trace of the Pestilence in him - just like you! Most peculiar."


    Adrian frowned. "God? As in..."


    "The Abrahamic deity, yes. He creates matter from nothing, walks through walls, knows things he shouldn''t." Plague Doctor pulled out more tools. "The Foundation can''t contain him. He simply exists wherever he wishes."


    "And you believe he''s really God?"


    "I am a man of science! Such claims require proof." Plague Doctor gestured at his equipment. "But his powers are... considerable. Dr. Clef once told me 343 turned his coffee into a live penguin during a meeting."


    Adrian blinked at that.


    A being powerful enough that even this mysterious Foundation couldn''t control it. And according to the doctor, this god-like entity shared Adrian''s immunity to the "Pestilence."


    "Did you ever try to... cure him?" Adrian asked carefully.


    "Heavens no!" Plague Doctor shook his head vigorously. "Even I know better than to attempt treatment on one such as him. The Foundation would never allow it anyway."


    A loud crash echoed from outside the laboratory. Plague Doctor straightened up.


    "Ah! More specimens for study. Shall we examine them together? I would love to compare our methods!"


    Adrian glanced toward the door. "Actually, I should check on my companion. Make sure she''s safe."


    "Of course, of course! We can continue our research later." Plague Doctor focused on his equipment again. "This tissue sample will keep me occupied for many days!"


    Adrian backed away slowly, keeping his eyes on the doctor until he reached the door. Only when he was outside did he let out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding.


    "Partner," Derflinger whispered. "We need to be very careful around that one."


    "Agreed." Adrian headed toward where he''d left Emma. "A being that kills with a touch, claiming to cure some disease only he can see... and now talk of actual gods?"


    "This Foundation place sounds scary too. If they can contain creatures like him..."


    Adrian nodded. "We should gather information while we can. But the moment that doctor shows too much interest in dissecting me again..."


    "We run?"


    "We run."

 Chapter 15 - Black Cross

    SCP Universe, IKEA Store


    "You sure you''ll be okay here?" Adrian asked Emma.


    Emma nodded, brushing her brown hair behind her ear. "Yeah. The people here are nice, and that doctor keeps us safe from the Staff. Even if he''s..." She shuddered. "Really creepy sometimes."


    "He''s not so bad once you get used to him." Adrian glanced toward the laboratory where Plague Doctor was still examining samples. "Just don''t let him try to ''cure'' you."


    "I won''t." Emma smiled weakly. "The medical assistants already warned me about that. They said as long as we don''t show signs of severe ''Pestilence'' like the Staff, he leaves us alone."


    Adrian leaned against the wall, watching the community go about their day. Unlike the other settlements, these people still had hope.


    They hadn''t been here long enough to break.


    "I''ll come back," he said quietly. "Once I find somewhere safe, I''ll help evacuate as many people as possible."


    Emma looked down at her hands. "What if you don''t find anywhere better?"


    "I will." Adrian straightened up. "There are surely worlds out there that don¡¯t have any major supernatural dangers."


    "And if there aren''t?"


    Adrian didn''t answer immediately. The dimensional travel node had fully recovered from the emergency jump that brought them here. He could leave whenever he wanted, but...


    But he couldn''t just abandon these people forever.


    "Listen." Adrian put a hand on Emma''s shoulder. "The doctor keeps everyone safe here. You''ve seen how organized they are, how they help new survivors. This place gives people hope."


    Emma kicked at the floor. "I just don''t want to be trapped here."


    "You won''t be." Adrian smiled. "Once I find somewhere better, I''ll come back for everyone..."


    He trailed off as Plague Doctor left his laboratory, carrying a scanning device.


    "Ah! There you are!" The masked figure walked toward them. "I must thank you again for those fascinating specimens. The leather samples show good resistance to the Great Dying!"


    Adrian stared at the beaked mask, and fell into deep thought regarding everything he''d learned about the SCP Foundation over the past two days. The organization contained things that could kill you just by thinking about them. Information that could rewrite reality. Ideas that could spread like viruses through entire populations.


    Cognitohazards, infohazards, antimemes, memetic kill agents¡­


    He needed more time to prepare before daring to go into that world. The Store might be endless and filled with murderous Staff, but at least the threats here were straightforward - they tried to kill you with their hands, not with reality-bending concepts.


    "Actually, Doctor." Adrian cleared his throat. "I wanted to discuss something with you. I''m planning to leave this dimension soon."


    The plague doctor tilted his head. "Leave? But we''ve barely begun our research!"


    "I know, I know." Adrian raised his hands. "But I was thinking... some of your lab assistants might benefit from a vacation in another dimension once I find a safe world. One completely free of the Pestilence! And while I''m there, I could collect more samples for your studies."


    Emma shot him a confused look, but stayed quiet.


    "More samples?" Plague Doctor pulled out a notebook. "From different dimensions? Yes... yes! The comparison potential would be invaluable! But how will you ensure they remain uncontaminated during transport?"


    "I have special storage methods," Adrian assured him. "The same way I preserved those leather samples."


    "Excellent!" Plague Doctor scribbled in his notebook. "And you''ll ensure the samples remain untainted by the Pestilence during transit?"


    "Of course." Adrian nodded. "My storage system keeps everything in perfect condition."


    The doctor pulled more equipment from his endless medical bag. "We must establish proper documentation protocols. Perhaps a classification system based on dimensional origin..."


    Emma tugged at Adrian''s sleeve. "Can we talk? Privately?"


    "Doctor, if you''ll excuse us?" Adrian gestured to Emma. "My companion needs to discuss travel arrangements."


    "Yes, yes." Plague Doctor waved them away, absorbed in his notes. "Return when you''re ready to establish proper sampling procedures."


    They walked to a quiet corner near the medical wing. Emma crossed her arms and frowned at Adrian.


    "You''re really leaving?"


    "I have to." Adrian leaned against the wall. "There are a couple of things I need to do in this Store. Alone. Once I¡¯m done with that, I''ll be ready."


    "And then what? You''ll just... go?"


    "Not forever." Adrian shook his head. "Look, I meant what I said about finding somewhere safe. But I need to understand what''s out there first."


    Emma kicked at the floor. "What if something happens while you''re gone? What if the Staff break through, or the doctor decides we''re all sick?"


    "The settlement is growing stronger every day." Adrian pointed toward the walls where new defenses were being built. "More survivors arrive constantly. They have good leadership, proper organization. The doctor might be obsessed with his cure, but he keeps everyone safe. Not even one person has died here in months."


    "I guess..." Emma sighed. "Just... promise you''ll come back?"


    "I promise." Adrian smiled. "Besides, I told the doctor I''d bring him samples. Can''t disappoint my biggest fan, right?"


    Emma managed a small laugh. "I guess not."


    "If it''ll make you feel better..." Adrian looked toward the central meeting area where the settlement''s council gathered. "I can help make this place even safer before I go."


    He walked toward the collection of makeshift offices where Emil and Zachariah coordinated Black Cross¡¯ defense. The name had gained traction because of the Plague Doctor..


    Emil looked up from a stack of inventory reports as Adrian entered. "Need something?"


    "Actually, I wanted to offer something." Adrian gestured to the walls visible through the window. "You know I''m not exactly normal, right? Like the doctor?"


    Zachariah set down his coffee. "We figured as much. The way you fight, how you can produce food from nowhere..."


    Adrian pulled out a cobblestone block from his storage, setting it on the desk. Emil tried to pick it up but struggled with its weight.


    "Stone barriers," Adrian explained. "Much stronger than furniture. I have enough to fortify all your vulnerable sections."


    "The northwest corner needs it most." Zachariah ran his hand over the block''s smooth surface. "The shelving units there are getting unstable."


    "I can start now if you''d like."


    Emil nodded and gathered a construction team. Over the next few hours, Adrian worked alongside the builders, teaching them how to place the blocks.


    "What kind of stone is this?" Marcus knocked on the wall, producing an odd sound. "It fits together like puzzle pieces."


    Adrian placed another block, watching their faces as it clicked into position. The Minecraft physics made construction simple, even if the blocks looked odd next to the Store''s furniture walls. By mid-day, they had reinforced three major sections.


    "Amazing progress!" Emil walked along the new walls. "The Staff won''t break through these!"If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Adrian stared at the stone barriers, deep in thought. Then his eyes widened dramatically as he remembered his other materials. Oak blocks. Coal blocks. 28 coal blocks and 82 oak blocks...


    "Hey." Adrian turned to Emil and Zachariah. "I might have another way to help."


    "Better than these walls?" Emil raised an eyebrow.


    "Maybe even more important." Adrian quickly crafted a torch and pulled it out from his storage. "In this other dimension, these prevent monsters from spawning nearby. They never burn out."


    Zachariah stepped closer to stare at the odd-looking torch. "And you think they''ll work on the Staff?"


    "We''ve all seen how Staff just appear out of nowhere each day, right?" Adrian created another torch. "With my materials, I can make about a thousand of these."


    Emil''s eyes widened. "A thousand? That could cover the entire settlement, right?!"


    "Wait." Zachariah grabbed Adrian''s arm. "If the Staff can''t spawn, how will the Store restock? We need supplies."


    "We''ll avoid placing torches near the food sections." Adrian smiled. "But imagine never having to worry about Staff appearing near the settlement."


    Emil started pacing, running his hands through his hair. "Do you understand what this means? We could expand! Take over whole sections of the Store! Create safe zones where people can actually sleep without worrying about Staff breaking in!"


    "Get the council." Zachariah was already heading toward the offices. "Everyone needs to hear this. Now!"


    Within minutes, the settlement''s leaders gathered around a table where Adrian demonstrated the torches. People talked over each other, pointing at maps and arguing about placement strategies.


    "This changes everything," John, the head of security, slammed his hand on the table. "We''ve all seen the corpses of new arrivals outside of our walls. If we can prevent that..."


    "First, we need to test if they work," Adrian interrupted, placing a stack of torches on the table. "We should verify they affect the Staff before making big plans."


    John nodded and selected an area near the northwest corner. "This spot gets at least three to four new Staff every day. We''ll know quickly if something changes."


    Someone led Adrian to the northwest corner, and he started placing twenty torches in a grid pattern while guards watched from the walls. The council had people take shifts observing the test area while Adrian spent the time chatting with Emma.


    Every few hours, someone would update him on the results.


    "Six hours - no Staff."


    "Twelve hours - still clear."


    "Eighteen hours - one Staff walked through from an unlit area, but none appeared inside the torch grid."


    By the next morning, the council had reached a decision. The torches worked. Now they just needed to decide where to place them without disrupting the Store''s restocking mechanics.


    Six hours later, Adrian sat on top of the stone wall watching people celebrate below. They had gathered in the central area, sharing drinks they''d found in one of the caf¨¦ sections.


    "To Adrian!" John raised a cup of coffee. "And to never finding hordes of Staff at our walls again!"


    People cheered and clapped.


    Even Emma smiled genuinely for the first time since Adrian had met her.


    "Most impressive." Plague Doctor walked on top of the rampart towards Adrian. "The Staff will simply come from elsewhere, of course. The Pestilence drives them to spread, to infect, to multiply. But your barriers will redirect their flow. Yes... most efficient."


    Adrian just had a strained smile on his face as the Plague Doctor kept ranting about the Pestilence.


    Okay. It was time.


    He''d done what he could to make Black Cross safer. The stone walls would hold, and the torches would prevent Staff from spawning near the settlement in great numbers. There wasn¡¯t much more he could do at this point.


    He gathered everyone to say goodbye. Emma hugged him tightly, making him promise three more times that he''d return. John and the other council members gave him maps they''d drawn of nearby sections. Even Plague Doctor offered him an empty specimen jar "for collecting samples."


    "Remember," Adrian told Emil. "Just keep them protected from damage and they''ll serve you well."


    "We will do our best." Emil clasped his shoulder. "Good luck out there."


    Adrian waved goodbye and started sprinting down the torch-lit path leading away from Black Cross.


    "Finally!" Derflinger spoke up once they were far enough away. "I was getting tired of pretending to be a normal sword around that doctor."


    "You didn''t like him?" Adrian jumped over a fallen shelf.


    "Partner, he kills people by touching them. And did you see how many Staff corpses were in that research wing? He creeps me out!"


    "At least he keeps the people there safe."


    "True." Derflinger sighed. "So where are we heading? These phones could be anywhere in this endless place."


    Adrian slowed to check a map. "One of their scouts had seen a phone, so I¡¯ll go there first. It shouldn¡¯t take too long to find the rest."


    The next three days passed quickly as Adrian kept running through the Infinite IKEA. He passed abandoned camps, cut through Staff that attacked from once the lights went out, and chatted with Derflinger. The next two phones he collected had brought him to 90% attunement with this dimension.


    But now¡­ he grabbed the final phone from a service desk. Three hundred miles of running through endless aisles had paid off - he now had the last piece needed for full dimensional attunement.


    That was when a faint buzzing sound made him freeze in place.


    The noise grew louder. Adrian looked up to see a quad copter drone far in the distance flying his way. A camera swiveled on its underside, and the letters ''SCP'' were clearly engraved on the metal frame.


    Adrian dove under some desks, pressing himself against the floor.


    "Partner?" Derflinger whispered. "What''s wrong?"


    "Quiet!" Adrian watched the drone come closer. "That''s Foundation technology."


    "The people who contain anomalies?"


    "Yes." Adrian remembered what Plague Doctor had told him about the Foundation''s capabilities. "We need to stay hidden from them at all costs."


    The drone paused near the service desk.


    "Can''t you just destroy it?" Derflinger said quietly.


    "And alert them something unusual is here? No." Adrian stayed completely still. "Better they think this section is empty."


    The drone continued its sweep, buzzing growing fainter as it moved away.


    Adrian waited five more minutes before crawling out. "We¡¯re lucky I have enhanced hearing, because that could¡¯ve been bad."


    He didn¡¯t wait a moment longer and quickly pressed the final phone against his head. Ten minutes later, and his blue eyes glowed softly as he fully attunement to this dimension.


    "Time to go," Adrian muttered. "I need to restock in Minecraft, maybe find some new things to adapt."


    He stored his Netherite armor pieces into the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl one by one, but he paused, looking at Derflinger. "We have a problem."


    "What kind of problem?"


    "You won''t work properly in Minecraft like this." Adrian gestured to the sword''s realistic Netherite body. "The physics are different there. Everything follows strict rules."


    "So what are you saying?" Derflinger asked suspiciously.


    "I need to store you in my Pearl for a bit." Adrian winced. "It''ll convert you into Minecraft format temporarily."


    "What?!" Derflinger''s voice rose. "You want to turn me into one of those blocky things? No way!"


    "It''s just for a little while." Adrian tried to sound reassuring. "Once we leave Minecraft, I can convert you back."


    "And what if something goes wrong? What if I get stuck as a bunch of cubes?"


    Adrian shook his head. "The Pearl can convert things both ways, you know that I¡¯ve done it with other items.¡±


    "Items!" Derflinger snapped. "I''m not some random piece of equipment!"


    "You''re right, I''m sorry." Adrian sat down next to the sword. "But we need to do this. I can''t leave you behind, and you can''t function properly in Minecraft as you are now."


    Derflinger went quiet for a moment. "Will it hurt?"


    "I don''t think so." Adrian picked up the sword carefully. "Ready?"


    "No," Derflinger grumbled. "But do it anyway. Just... be careful with me in there, okay?"


    Adrian stored Derflinger in the Pearl and immediately pulled him back out. The sword popped out in his hand, now pixelated like every Minecraft item.


    "That was quick!" Derflinger spoke, sounding surprised. "Did it work?"


    "Take a look at yourself."


    "I... what happened to my beautiful curves? I''m all squares and straight lines!"


    Adrian smiled. "Welcome to Minecraft physics. How do you feel?"


    "Fine, actually." Derflinger urged him to test the edge against a nearby shelf, but it didn¡¯t fully cut through like the realistic version would. "Didn''t feel a thing. One moment I was going in, next moment I''m out looking like this."


    "The Crystalline Minecraft Pearl seems to preserve everything exactly as it went in." Adrian patted his chest. "Like a perfect storage space where time stands still."


    "Handy trick." Derflinger''s voice came clearly from the blocky blade. "Just don''t leave me in there too long. I''d hate to miss out on any adventures."


    "Yes, of course." Adrian checked his surroundings one last time. No drones in sight. "Ready?"


    "As ready as I''ll ever be looking like this." Derflinger sighed dramatically.


    "Let''s go find some new things for you to eat."


    Adrian''s eyes began glowing bright blue. The air twisted and warped around him as reality bent to accommodate the dimensional jump. Five seconds later, he vanished from the endless Store.


    He appeared in a forest clearing about one mile from New Haven. The blocky trees and grass felt jarring after weeks in more realistic worlds. Adrian released his suppression of the Minecraft Physics Integration, and his body shifted to match the world''s rules. Even in human form, he now looked like a more detailed version of a Minecraft player.


    He pulled out his Netherite armor and equipped it piece by piece. The enchanted metal settled perfectly over his now-cubic frame.


    "This feels weird," Derflinger commented from the blocky sword in Adrian''s hand. "Everything''s so... rigid."


    "You get used to it." Adrian started walking toward New Haven.


    "The physics here are simple, but they work."


    When they reached the settlement''s gates, the guards raised their weapons.


    "Hold!" One shouted. "Identify yourself!"


    "I''m a friend of Sarah and Jason," Adrian called back. "Name''s Adrian!"


    The guards looked skeptical. "Adrian''s not human. He''s some kind of monster mob."


    Adrian sighed and transformed into his Primal Zerg form. The guards jumped back as he shifted back to human.


    "Adrian!" Sarah''s voice came from inside the walls. "Let him in!"


    The gates opened and Sarah rushed out, stopping abruptly when she saw him. Her cubic eyes widened as she took in his appearance - the more detailed but definitely Minecraft-style body.


    "What... how did you..." She walked around him in a circle. "You look like us now! Well, sort of. More detailed, but still..."


    "Found a weird mob," Adrian shrugged. "Some modded thing that looked like a realistic Steve. When I killed it, the drop item let me transform into this."


    "That''s so cool!" Sarah poked his arm. "And weird. Really weird. But cool! Jason! Come look at this!"


    Jason jogged over from a nearby farm plot. "No way. Is that really you, Adrian?"


    "The one and only." Adrian grinned. "Nice wheat field you''ve got going."


    After catching up briefly with Sarah and Jason about New Haven''s expansion, Adrian made his excuses. He needed to check on his old den and plan his next moves.


    The mountain den looked exactly as he''d left it. Adrian sat down on a crafting table and pulled out his inventory list.


    "Okay, partner." Derflinger spoke from the blocky sword. "What''s the plan?"


    "First, we need an Enderman." Adrian scratched marks in the stone wall with his nails. "Fresh Ender Pearl means fresh Essence. But they teleport away from projectiles, so my spines won''t work."


    "Close combat then?"


    "Yeah. Need to catch one by surprise." Adrian drew another mark. "Also need more resources. Gold for ingots, golden apples and carrots. We¡¯ll need lots of coal and various building blocks too..."


    "Why not ask those other guys where to find this stuff?"


    Adrian shook his head. "Endermen spawn randomly, and gold ore can be found everywhere deep underground. No point asking for help."


    He stood up and transformed into his Primal Zerg form, and kept Derflinger magnetically attached to his scales.


    "We''ll start with mining," Adrian decided. "Stock up on materials first. Then in a couple of Minecraft days... we hunt."

 Chapter 16 - Void Step

    Minecraft Universe, Blocky Planet


    The wooden boat barely made a sound as Adrian guided it across the blue sea. He leaned back against the wood, watching the cubic sun climb higher in the sky while Derflinger dozed in his pixelated Netherite form.


    Five days of mining, trading, and organizing had done wonders.


    The four Shulker Boxes he''d traded more than two stacks of emeralds for had revolutionized his storage system. Each one was nestled safely within his Crystalline Minecraft Pearl with their contents perfectly categorized.


    Adrian closed his eyes, mentally reviewing his inventory. The first Shulker Box held his building supplies - 511 cobblestone blocks for defensive walls, 120 dirt blocks for emergency platforms, 51 oak blocks for crafting materials. He''d mined 78 obsidian, enough for multiple Nether portals if needed. The 20 bookshelves and enchanting table would let him enchant equipment anywhere. Five furnaces and an anvil rounded out his crafting capabilities.


    The second box made him smile. His precious materials - 165 diamonds, 42 emeralds, enough for extensive trading. Twenty-two blocks of lapis lazuli for enchanting, 41 redstone blocks for mechanisms. The 15 gold blocks, 37 iron blocks, and 61 coal blocks represented hours of careful mining.


    His third box focused on brewing potential and combat prep. Twenty-two spider eyes for poison, 60 sugar for speed potions, 50 glass bottles waiting to be filled. The 45 pieces of string could become bows or fishing rods as needed.


    The fourth box held his general supplies. One hundred and sixty steaks for food, 64 bone meal and 20 seeds for emergency farming. Sixty-four books and 110 pieces of paper for enchantments and other things, matched with 64 leather. The 124 torches would light any temporary base, while basic tools like shears and a fishing rod gave him options.


    Beyond the boxes, his immediate inventory stayed combat-ready. Sixty-four steaks, Golden Apples, and Golden Carrots for healing. Fourteen Ender Pearls for emergency teleports. The buckets of water, lava, and milk could solve many problems.


    Besides that, he naturally had his Netherite Armor and Sword at the ready. His bow enchanted with Power V and Infinity along with 120 arrows gave him more ranged options, thought he definitely needed to work on his archery skills in more realistic worlds. Naturally he also had a shield, though he didn¡¯t make much use of it.


    To top it all off, he kept Louise¡¯s wand and 32 TNT in a corner.


    A dark shape appeared on the horizon, the edge of a desert biome. Adrian nudged Derflinger who had fallen asleep against the boat''s edge.


    "Wake up, Derf. We''re here."


    "Mmm?" Derflinger''s voice came from the blocky Netherite sword. "Finally! I hate being on the water. Everything''s so... boring."


    Adrian guided the boat toward the shore, breaking it down as soon as they reached land. The miniature item disappeared into his inventory as he transformed into his true body.


    "Another day of searching?" Derflinger asked from his magnetic hold on Adrian''s back.


    "Jason swears Endermen spawn more often in deserts at night." Adrian started running across the sand blocks. "And this desert is a mega-biome that goes for thousands of blocks toward Imperial Diamond."


    "That big settlement you mentioned?"


    "Ten thousand players." Adrian increased his speed. "Biggest one they know of, apparently. But that''s not why we''re here."


    He ran until the sun reached its peak, then built a cobblestone pillar straight up into the air. From this height, he could see for miles in every direction.


    "Now we wait." Adrian settled onto the pillar''s top. "Night will come soon."


    The cubic sun sank below the horizon, and light levels began dropping rapidly across the desert. Adrian scanned the sands below, watching skeletons and zombies spawn in the shadows between dunes.


    "You really think this will work?" Derflinger asked.


    "Jason hasn''t been wrong yet." Adrian kept searching. "He knows more about Minecraft than I do."


    A creeper appeared near the pillar''s base. Then another. Adrian ignored them, focusing on finding the tall black shape he needed.


    "There!" Adrian''s voice dropped to a whisper. "Four hundred blocks east."


    The Enderman stood motionless between two sand dunes, holding a block of sand in its blocky hands. Purple particles floated around its body as it stared into the distance with glowing purple eyes.


    "Ready?" Adrian transformed to human form and grabbed Derflinger from his back.


    "Always ready! Just don''t let it teleport away."


    Adrian destroyed the blocks beneath him one by one, creating a staircase down. The Enderman remained in place, seemingly fascinated by its sand block.


    "Remember," Adrian whispered. "Sharpness V should tear through it in two hits. Maybe even one with your fire aspect burning it."


    They reached the ground, and Adrian ran closer to the Enderman. At fifty blocks away, he stopped.


    "Here we go." Adrian raised his head and stared directly into the Enderman''s face.


    The Enderman''s jaw dropped open in rage, releasing an otherworldly screech that caused him to flinch slightly. Purple particles swirled around its body as it teleported directly in front of Adrian.


    "Now!" Adrian swung Derflinger in a horizontal arc.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The enchanted Netherite blade made the Enderman flash red, and flames soon covered it entirely. The creature screamed and tried to teleport away, but Adrian had already brought Derflinger down for a second strike.


    The Enderman exploded into pixels, leaving behind a single Ender Pearl.


    Adrian transformed instantly into his Primal Zerg form and snatched up the Ender Pearl. The smooth sphere radiated cold energy, completely different from the other Ender Pearls in his inventory. This one was fresh, still containing the Enderman''s Essence.


    He swallowed it whole.


    His enhanced digestive system went to work immediately. The pearl resisted breaking down at first, maintaining its cubic form even as stomach acid bubbled away. Adrian almost felt as if the pearl was trying to teleport away from inside him.


    "You okay, partner?" Derflinger asked from his back.


    Adrian couldn''t answer. The pearl finally cracked, releasing what felt like liquid void into his stomach. It burned cold, spreading through his body like ice in his veins. His stomach churned as it tried to process this alien substance that seemed to exist between dimensions.


    This wasn''t just DNA or biological material. No, it was something else entirely. Pure dimensional energy extracted from the End itself contained within the Essence. Adrian''s body struggled to adapt it, trying to create something that could contain and channel this power, but in the end his organs started shifting, making space for something new.


    A new organ began forming below his heart. It grew rapidly, consuming biomass as it took shape. The organ looked like a small purple crystal surrounded by specialized tissue. Every few seconds it would flicker in and out of reality, as if it couldn''t decide which dimension to exist in. Small tendrils grew outward from the tissue, connecting to his nervous system. Each connection sent jolts of pain through his body as it adapted to channel the purple energy.


    The Void Magic Fragment in his brain responded to the new connections to his nervous system, and the specialized neurons glowed slightly as they attempted something, but it fizzled out.


    Adrian triggered the internal crystal, and purple particles immediately poured out of it to surround his body as reality bent around him. He vanished and reappeared thirty blocks away with just a thought.


    "Whoa!" Derflinger yelped. "That was different from an Ender Pearl throw!"


    Adrian tried again, this time focusing on a distant dune he could see. The teleport worked perfectly.


    No projectile needed and no pearl consumed.


    He spent the next hour testing his limits. The crystal seemed to fill up with energy out of nowhere, allowing rapid teleports without strain. He could blink to any visible location, or up to thirty-two blocks away even through solid matter. When a skeleton shot at him, his body automatically dissolved into particles to avoid the arrow.


    "I''ll call it Void Step," Adrian decided.


    "Can you reach the End from here?" Derflinger asked.


    Adrian focused on the crystal, feeling the connection to something vast and empty beyond normal space. The same space that it drew its power from. "Maybe. The crystal seems to resonate with... something that could be the End. Let me try a few more tests first."


    He approached a nearby water source block and reached toward it. The moment his claws touched the water, he flinched hard. The crystal organ pulsed erratically, and purple particles scattered chaotically around him.


    "Agh!" Adrian jumped back. "That''s unpleasant."


    "What happened?"


    "Water interferes with the Void Step somehow." Adrian circled the water carefully. "It doesn''t just block teleportation - it actively hurts. Like the crystal wants to reject reality wherever water exists."


    He tested this theory by walking through a light rain that started falling. The drops stung against his scales, but the pain remained manageable. The crystal adapted somewhat, but Void Step refused to work until he got under cover.


    "At least I won''t dissolve in the rain." Adrian sighed. "But no teleporting while wet."


    He turned his attention back to the distant pull he felt. The crystal resonated with something impossibly far away, yet somehow right next to him. Like a door that existed everywhere at once.


    "Here goes nothing."


    Adrian gathered power in the crystal and reached for that connection. Purple particles exploded outward from his body as reality twisted violently. The desert vanished, replaced by absolute darkness for a split second.


    Then they were somewhere else entirely.


    An endless void in every direction. The only solid ground was the pale end stone island they stood upon. Strange chorus plants grew in twisted shapes, reaching toward a sky that didn''t exist. Everything had a slightly purple tint from the ambient light that seemed to come from nowhere.


    "The End." Adrian breathed deeply, feeling the crystal organ resonating with the very fabric of this dimension. "We made it."


    "This place feels wrong." Derflinger''s voice was quiet. "Like we''re somewhere we were never meant to be."


    Adrian walked to the edge of the island and looked down into the infinite nothing below. "No, this feels... right. The crystal belongs here. I can sense the connection now, all Enderman teleportation draws power from this place."


    He tested Void Step again. Here in the End, teleportation felt completely natural. Distance seemed meaningless as he blinked rapidly between chorus trees. The crystal drew power directly from the surrounding Void, eliminating any and all strain or limits.


    "I wonder..." Adrian focused on a distant floating island barely visible in the void. Purple particles swirled around him as he vanished, reappearing instantly on the far island. "Perfect! Range seems unlimited here as well."


    "That''s great and all," Derflinger grumbled, "but can we go somewhere less... empty?"


    Adrian laughed and prepared to return them to the desert. But first, he harvested several chorus fruits and stored them in his Pearl before focusing on the connection to the overworld.


    In moments, they reappeared in the desert.


    "That was something else." Derflinger spoke up. "But what happens when we leave Minecraft? Will you still be able to teleport?"


    Adrian hadn''t considered that. The crystal organ drew power directly from the End''s Void. Without that connection... would it work at all?


    "The Void Magic Fragment might help." Adrian started running across the sand. "It tries to interface with the crystal, but fails. Maybe because it''s incomplete?"


    "You mean the piece you got from the Void Mage you killed?"


    "Yeah. It''s only a quarter of the Void Magic from Brimir, right?" Adrian jumped over a small ravine. "A complete set might let me connect to Void dimensions in other universes."


    "If they exist."


    "If they exist," Adrian agreed. "For now, let''s focus on what we can do here."


    Adrian transformed into his human form and climbed the nearest dune. Somewhere out there lay Imperial Diamond.


    "Time to test this properly." Adrian focused on the furthest point he could see. Purple particles swirled around him as he vanished, reappearing atop another dune nearly a mile away.


    "This is much faster than running!" Derflinger exclaimed from the sword on his back.


    Adrian kept teleporting across the landscape. Each jump covered massive distances as he aimed for the highest points he could spot. Dunes gave way to plains, then a savanna biome.


    "Look!" Derflinger spoke up after their twentieth teleport. "On the horizon!"


    Adrian stopped on a tall acacia tree. Far in the distance, cubic skyscrapers pierced into the clouds. Even from here, he could see the scale was immense, nothing at all like the wooden houses of New Haven.


    More teleports brought them closer. The buildings grew larger with each jump until Adrian stood on a hill overlooking Imperial Diamond.


    "By the End..." Adrian whispered.


    The city was absolutely massive and even with his enhanced vision, he couldn¡¯t see where it ended. Large structures of quartz and concrete reached toward the sky, connected by sky bridges made of glass and iron. Streets of stone brick formed perfect grids between the towers, filled with players going about their business.


    Different districts showed unique architectural styles. One area featured pagoda-inspired builds with red and gold accent blocks. Another section held Roman-style monuments and coliseums built from granite. The center housed the modern skyscrapers that pushed against the height limit.


    "Ten thousand players built this?" Adrian watched redstone-powered minecart systems zoom between stations.


    "More arrive every day!" A voice called from below.


    Adrian looked down to see a player in Netherite armor waving at him.

 Chapter 17 - Infinity

    Minecraft Universe, Blocky Planet


    "Welcome to Imperial Diamond!" The player called out again. "I''m Greyvest, but everyone calls me Grey!"


    Adrian jumped down from his perch and used a water bucket to soften his fall. The Netherite-clad player stepped back.


    "Nice armor." Grey nodded at Adrian''s matching Netherite set. "You must be new here. I patrol this sector, and I''ve never seen you before."


    "Just arrived." Adrian glanced back at the city. "The scale is... impressive."


    Grey gestured toward the city gates. "We get new players every day, but not many arrive with full Netherite already."


    Adrian followed him toward the massive quartz walls. "I''ve been in this world for a while. Just never made it out this far before."


    "Where you from?"


    "New Haven."


    "Ah, that¡¯s very far!" Grey waved to the guards at the gate. "Heard they got hit by raiders recently."


    The gates opened wide, powered by redstone machinery.


    "Want a tour?" Grey placed down two minecarts on the powered rails leading into the city. "Nothing beats seeing Imperial Diamond for the first time from street level."


    Adrian nodded and climbed into one of the carts. The redstone beneath them pulsed, and they shot forward.


    "We''ve got different districts," Grey explained as they zoomed past the outer walls. "Financial, residential, shopping, arena - you name it, we built it."


    "How do you keep track of everyone?" Adrian watched a player in diamond armor haggle in a shop over enchanted books.


    "Name tags help." Grey pointed up at the floating text above each player''s head. "But mostly we''ve got different guilds and districts. Makes things organized."


    Their carts turned onto a wider rail system. More carts joined them from connecting tracks, carrying players between the massive quartz and concrete structures. Signs marked different stations like "Diamond District", "Redstone Quarter", "Trading Plaza."


    "Look up there." Grey gestured toward a glass walkway spanning between two skyscrapers. A small purple shape flew past the windows. "That''s Whisperlady''s dragon. One of the only tamed ones left in the city."


    Adrian''s eyes locked onto the creature. "Dragon?"


    "Yeah, from the Ender Dragon eggs. They can hatch into companions and breathe little purple magic orbs." Grey shrugged. "Status symbol more than anything useful. Most got killed in PvP."


    Their carts clattered onto a new track heading toward what looked like a coliseum made of stone bricks and nether quartz.


    "This is where we hold our weekly events," Grey explained as the carts slowed to a stop. "PvP tournaments, build competitions, mob arena battles¡­ but the big draw happens every Friday."


    Players crowded the entrance, many wearing colorful leather armor with guild emblems. A large board displayed upcoming events in bold text.


    "FRIDAY NIGHT: ENDER DRAGON RAID - 15 STACKS EMERALDS ENTRY FEE."


    Adrian stepped out of his cart. "You fight the Dragon every week?"


    "It respawns like clockwork." Grey led him through the crowd. "But the real prize is the egg. Only drops once per kill, and everyone wants one."


    Inside the coliseum, wooden stands surrounded a central arena. Target dummies lined one wall while players practiced bow shots. Others sparred with swords on concrete blocks.


    A commotion drew Adrian''s attention to the far side. Two players squared off in full Netherite, while above them...


    "Watch this," Grey pointed upward.


    A small purple dragon, no larger than a wolf, circled the arena. Purple particles trailed behind as it swooped down and spat a miniature purple ball at one of the fighters. The orb exploded harmlessly, but the crowd cheered.


    Adrian watched the dragon closely. The way it moved, the void energy in the little attack...


    "How many eggs are there?"


    "Thirty-two total in our territory since people first got stuck here." Grey counted on his fingers. "Maybe five still exist as pets. Rest got destroyed in PvP or stored away in Ender Chests. Nobody wants to risk losing them."


    "And the Dragon itself?"


    "Nasty piece of work, not at all what you¡¯d expect from Minecraft." Grey shuddered. "Takes coordinated teams with maxed gear just to bring it down."


    Adrian nodded slowly. "When''s the next raid?"


    "Two days." Grey gestured at the event board. "But you''ll need those fifteen stacks of emeralds just to enter the stronghold. Council''s rules, keeps things a bit more calm and funds the city."


    A player in diamond armor rushed past them, shouting about enchanted books for sale in the market district.


    "Fifteen stacks..." Adrian glanced at his inventory. Forty-two. Not even close.


    "Hey, I know that look." Grey crossed his arms. "Don''t even think about sneaking in. We''ve got guards at every Imperial Diamond Stronghold entrance within fifty thousand blocks. And the End portal room? Obsidian walls twenty blocks thick."


    The small dragon above them swooped low, releasing another burst of void energy at a practice dummy. Adrian watched the purple particles dissipate.


    "What about the End itself?" Adrian kept his voice casual. "Once you get through a portal, I mean. Ever explored out there?"


    "Sure, lots of us have. End cities are great for loot runs." Grey pointed at his Netherite chestplate. "Got my first elytra that way. But the main Dragon island is locked down tight during non-raid days. Force fields or something."You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Adrian frowned. That was annoying.


    "Look," Grey pulled out a map. "If you want to join a raid properly, I can show you the best emerald trading routes. Maybe hook you up with some villager contacts-"


    "DRAGON SIGHTING!" Someone screamed loudly from the coliseum walls. "WHISPERLADY''S COMPANION SPOTTED NEAR MARKETPLACE! ALL HUNTERS CONVERGE!"


    "Not again," Grey muttered. "Fifth attempt this week."


    Above them, Whisperlady''s dragon screeched and flew higher, purple particles trailing behind as it fled toward the market district.


    "Dragon hunters," Grey explained. "They think killing a tamed dragon might drop another egg. Never works, but they keep trying."


    Adrian watched a team using Elytras fly after the fleeing creature. Such a waste. Even if he caught it, a simple pet wouldn''t have the Essence he needed if it didn¡¯t drop anything...


    No, he needed the real thing. The Ender Dragon itself.


    "What about Dragon Heads?" Adrian turned back to Grey as the commotion in the market district grew louder. "From End Ships?"


    Grey shook his head. "Good luck finding those anymore. Most End Cities within fifty thousand blocks have been stripped clean even if they get restocked every month. Next time is actually also in two days."


    "Monthly restocks aren''t enough?"


    "Not with more than ten thousand players." Grey pulled out a piece of paper and started sketching a rough map. "See, Imperial Diamond claims everything in this 50k block radius. Beyond that? Other major cities, all with their own Ender Dragon Islands."


    Adrian studied the map. "So the closest unlooted End Ships would be..."


    "Millions of blocks out, probably. Nobody knows whether this world is really infinite, and whether that means the amount of players are also infinite. If there are players literally everywhere¡­ there might not be an unlooted End Ship in existence." Grey erased part of his drawing. "Most people keep Dragon Heads in Ender Chests now. Especially since we discovered they can be useful."


    "Useful how?"


    "Remember those weird dragon-like mobs that started appearing a few months back?" Grey lowered his voice. "Really rare modded spawns, but they drop these crystalline scales. Combine those with a Dragon Head and you can make either a Helm or Staff."


    A player in full diamond armor rushed past, shouting about dragon hunters in the market square.


    "What do the Helm and Staff do?"


    "The helm makes Endermen completely ignore you unless attacked. Plus night vision and immunity to levitation effects, and it¡¯s stronger than Netherite too."


    Adrian nodded slowly. "And the staff?"


    "Lets you teleport without pearls or any cooldowns, thirty-two blocks max. Also shoots concentrated Dragon breath."


    Adrian stared out at the city skyline. With his Void Step, distance meant nothing in the End. No water to block him, no solid matter to navigate around¡­


    Just endless void and scattered islands.


    "Hey." Grey waved a hand in front of Adrian''s face. "You zoned out there."


    "Just thinking." Adrian turned back to his guide. "These End Ships... they appear randomly throughout the End, right?"


    "Yeah, attached to End Cities. But like I said, good luck finding-"


    "What''s the furthest anyone''s ever gone?"


    Grey scratched his head. "That we know of? Maybe a million blocks? Takes forever even with Elytra. And you need stupid amounts of rockets, food, backup gear..."


    Adrian smiled. A million blocks. Such a tiny distance compared to what he could cover. No need for rockets or supplies when he could simply teleport billions, trillions, and even more blocks instantly.


    "Thanks for the tour." Adrian stepped away from the coliseum railing. "I should get going."


    "Already?" Grey looked surprised. "But we haven''t even seen the shopping district! Or the farms! Or-"


    "I''ll be back in two days." Adrian started walking toward the city gates. "For the Dragon raid."


    "But you don''t have the emeralds for entry!"


    Adrian kept walking. He didn''t need emeralds, he would just force his way inside no matter what. Especially not when he could maybe find his own Ender Dragon Island first.


    "At least let me show you where to find some good villager trades!" Grey called after him.


    But Adrian had already disappeared into the crowd.


    No known player had ever explored more than a million blocks out. But what about ten million? A hundred million? A billion?


    The End went on forever. And he could cross that forever in moments.


    Derflinger shifted slightly on his back. "I know that look. You''re planning something crazy."


    "Not crazy." Adrian grinned. "Just ambitious."


    He waited until he reached the outskirts of Imperial Diamond. The moment no other players were in sight, he focused on the connection to the End.


    Purple particles swirled around him as reality twisted. The blocky world vanished, replaced by endless darkness.


    He stood on an End island covered in Chorus trees. The pale endstone beneath his feet resonated with the crystal organ inside him. Here in the End, the connection felt stronger than ever.


    "So what''s the plan?" Derflinger asked from his back. "Just teleport randomly until we find something?"


    "No." Adrian stared at the black horizon. "We go where no player has ever gone before."


    The crystal organ pulsed with power. Adrian gathered void energy around himself and...


    VWORP


    They appeared on another island. The previous one was completely gone, hidden beyond the darkness of the void.


    "How far was that?" Derflinger sounded impressed.


    "About ten million blocks." Adrian prepared for another jump. "Not nearly far enough."


    VWORP


    Another island. More Chorus trees. No cities yet.


    "A hundred million now." Adrian prepared himself. "Still too close to civilization."


    VWORP


    VWORP


    VWORP


    Each jump took them further into the infinite End. One billion blocks. Ten billion. A hundred billion.


    "This is insane!" Derflinger shouted after the twentieth jump. "We must be further than anyone has ever-"


    "Wait." Adrian crouched low on the endstone. "Look."


    An End City was in front of them. And there, floating beside the highest tower... an End Ship. But he sighed as soon as he spotted the cobblestone bridge leading up to the vessel.


    Someone had already been here.


    "A hundred trillion blocks." Adrian shook his head. "We''re a hundred trillion blocks from Imperial Diamond, and someone still got here first."


    "How?" Derflinger asked. "That''s... that''s impossible!"


    "Maybe from another city." Adrian stood up. "Or maybe..."


    He stared into the darkness. The End stretched forever in every direction. And if the End was infinite, then the Overworld must be too. Which meant...


    "There must be infinite players." Adrian''s voice was quiet. "Scattered across an infinite world. And they''ve all been exploring, building, fighting..."


    "So no matter how far we go..."


    "We might never find an untouched End Ship." Adrian gathered void energy again. "Unless..."


    VWORP


    A quadrillion blocks.


    VWORP


    A quintillion.


    VWORP


    Numbers beyond human comprehension. Distance that made light years seem tiny.


    Each time they appeared on a new island, Adrian searched for End Cities. Some had blocks all over them. Others didn¡¯t have that, but the Elytra and Ender Dragon Head had already been taken.


    "More." Adrian pushed himself further. "We go until we find one."


    VWORP


    VWORP


    VWORP


    The void energy flowed endlessly through him. In this End dimension full of the Void, he had no limits to how far he could travel.


    "There has to be one somewhere," Adrian muttered. "In an infinite space..."


    VWORP


    Another island. Another looted city.


    VWORP


    He had traveled so far that galaxies were like grains of sand in comparison.


    "Adrian." Derflinger spoke quietly. "Stop."


    VWORP


    "We need to stop."


    Adrian prepared another teleport, but Derflinger''s words finally registered. He lowered his arms and stared at the empty End Ship before them.


    "The chances of finding an untouched ship..." Derflinger sighed. "Even in an infinite space, we''d need infinite time to search."


    Adrian sat down on the endstone. "There has to be a way."


    "Maybe there is." Derflinger shifted on Adrian''s hip. "The Dragon raid is in two days, right? And you plan to join no matter what?"


    "Yes." Adrian clenched his fists. "Even if I have to force my way in."


    "The End Ships restock that same day." Derflinger said. "And we know exactly where many of them are."


    Adrian stood up slowly as he realized what Derflinger meant.


    "The raid will take time," Derflinger continued. "They''ll be focused on the Dragon. Meanwhile, we could teleport to every known End Ship location and collect the Dragon Heads before anyone else reaches them."


    "And then join the Dragon fight..." Adrian smiled. "Get both the heads and a shot at the egg."


    "Exactly!" Derflinger exclaimed. "You just need to memorize the locations of a bunch of End Ships."


    Adrian gathered void energy around himself. "Then we better start scouting."


    VWORP


    He could confidently say that he had traveled further than the length of the observable universe at this point.


    Two days. He had two days to learn of as many End Ship locations as he could, plan his route, and prepare for both looting and Dragon-slaying. The corners of his mouth curved into a predatory smile.


    He was looking forward to becoming the first Draconic Primal Zerg.

 Chapter 18 - Ender Dragon Raid

    Minecraft Universe, Blocky Planet


    The portal room in front of him was a fortress within a fortress. Twenty-block-thick obsidian walls surrounded the actual portal chamber. Guard towers dotted each corner, equipped with dispensers full of arrows. Players had to pass through three separate checkpoints just to reach the activation room.


    Adrian was crouched invisibly behind all of the players, waiting for the right moment. He had teleported continuously for at least 600k blocks to find a Major City that was far enough that his activities wouldn¡¯t be traced to his ¡®home territory¡¯ of Imperial Diamond. This Al-Wahat city wouldn¡¯t know what hit them. He had hoped to teleport even further, but there was a pretty sharp limit on how far he could travel while he wasn¡¯t in the End dimension that was utterly full of Void Energy, and he hadn¡¯t even mentioned how strained he got after teleporting more than 350 miles in rapid succession.


    "There must be fifty of them here." Derflinger whispered from his back.


    Adrian counted the gathered raiders. All wore enchanted Netherite armor, but a few had elytra¡¯s equipped. They spoke rapidly in Arabic, checking potions and comparing enchanted weapons.


    "Good thing I spent those emeralds on the Imperial Diamond mob grinders." Adrian touched the hilt of his sword. Sharpness V for direct damage, along with Fire Aspect II for sustained damage. But the new enchants were Looting III for better drops, Mending to keep it repaired, Sweeping Edge III for increasing damage through horizontal strikes by 75%, and Unbreaking III for extra durability..


    His armor had been greatly improved too. The basic Protection IV remained, but Unbreaking III and Mending on every piece meant he wouldn''t need to worry about durability. His helmet could now let him breathe underwater for a while with Respiration III, while Aqua Affinity would help him break the environment faster if submerged.


    A commotion below drew his attention. The raiders were gathering around someone in Netherite armor with gold trims.


    "That must be their leader," Derflinger observed.


    The man raised his hands, speaking in Arabic. The raiders cheered and began forming into groups.


    Adrian adjusted his position again. His boots were probably his favorite upgrade. Protection IV, Unbreaking III and Mending like the rest, but also Feather Falling IV to survive any height, Depth Strider III for water speed, and Frost Walker II to avoid water completely. That last one could be crucial in the future, because getting wet disabled his most important escape technique of Void Step.


    "They''re opening the first checkpoint," Derflinger warned.


    Adrian nodded. The bow across his back had Power V for raw damage, Unbreaking III for durability, while Infinity meant he''d never run out of arrows. He''d considered getting Flame too, but fire could give away his position if he ever wanted to go the sneak archer route.


    The raiders moved through the first iron door. Guards were present to make sure everyone had paid the entry fee.


    "Remember the plan?" Adrian whispered.


    "Let them activate the portal and enter first," Derflinger recited. "Wait thirty seconds for them to spread out. Then follow through and stay invisible until we reach the Dragon."


    "And if anyone spots us?"


    "We¡¯ll kill anyone in our way."


    The second checkpoint opened. Adrian could see the End Portal frame now, still empty of Eyes of Ender. His shield had been enchanted as well with a Mending and Unbreaking III combination in case he ever needed it.


    He kept his potions in his main inventory as well. Health, Strength, Fire Resistance, Swiftness, more Invisibility backup, Water Breathing just in case, and even some Weakness potions if needed.


    And¡­ since he was paying for experience anyway¡­ he had enchanted his fishing rod with Lure III and Luck of the Sea III for better catches, with Mending to keep it working.


    He didn¡¯t anticipate needing it on the raid, but it could be a nice hobby in the future.


    "Final checkpoint," Derflinger warned.


    The raiders gathered around the portal frame. Twelve Eyes of Ender appeared, passed carefully from player to player. They began placing them one by one.


    Adrian tensed. The void energy inside him responded to the portal''s awakening. After billions of blocks traveled, hundreds of End Ships scouted, and every enchantment maximized...


    The final Eye clicked into place. Black particles swirled as the portal activated with a loud VWOOOOM.


    It was time to killsteal an Ender Dragon.


    Adrian abused the fact that he had a 32-block range where he didn¡¯t require line-of-sight to teleport straight through the obsidian walls. He landed on the End Portal frame, took one step forward, and let the darkness pull him in.


    He now stood on a small obsidian platform packed with Arabic players. Without hesitation, he teleported to the main island at the same time that a deep roar shook the air above him.


    The Ender Dragon circled the island. It was massive, at least five times larger than the standard Minecraft version. Purple eyes blazed as it swooped between obsidian towers.


    "Time for some shopping." Adrian gathered void energy again. The End Ships were waiting.


    VWORP


    The first ship yielded an elytra and dragon head. He stuffed both into his inventory and jumped to the next target.


    VWORP


    Another successful grab. The void energy flowed freely here, making each teleport effortless.


    VWORP


    By the sixth ship, he had three elytras and five heads. A player in diamond armor reached for the head mounted on the front.


    Adrian shifted into his Primal Zerg form. Four spines launched from his back in rapid succession. The player flashed red with each hit, knocked backward by the force, and  the final spine finished him off.


    More ships. More heads. The stack count grew steadily in his inventory.


    VWORP


    Three players stood on the next ship''s deck. They froze at the sight of him, eight feet of scaled muscle and Netherite-enhanced claws.


    Eight spines flew through the air. Two players dropped instantly.


    The third raised his shield as Adrian''s claws raked across it. "Wat de fuck?!" The Dutch player stumbled backward.


    Adrian teleported behind him. The muscle-mimicking bands under his scales contracted as he opened his jaws. One Netherite-enhanced bite to the back was all it took.


    Items scattered across the deck, and he spotted Emeralds and Netherite ingots among them. Adrian scooped them up quickly, smirking slightly at the ease he was going through the players.


    He had enhanced his natural weapons with Netherite back in Imperial Diamond during these past two days. Combined with the Minor Adaptation of Muscle Augmentation from the IKEA Staff, his bite force could shred through players.


    VWORP


    VWORP


    VWORP


    He encountered more and more players he had to eliminate. By the time he reached ninety-three dragon heads, the remaining ships were picked clean.


    "Back to the main event?" Derflinger asked from his back.


    Adrian nodded, gathered void energy and focused on the central island while he looked around the looted End Ship.


    VWORP


    Adrian appeared on the edge of the central island. Hundreds of players swarmed around the Ender Dragon, but there were only so many that could attack at the same time. The thing was immune to arrows, that was well known. All the healing crystals had been destroyed by now, yet¡­ the massive dragon showed no signs of weakening.


    "May God help us!" A player screamed as the Dragon''s tail swept through a group. Five players died instantly, and their items scattered all over the endstone.


    Firework explosions filled the air as players with elytras chased the beast. Several wielded staffs topped with dragon heads that breathed purple balls that actually managed to harm the Ender Dragon.


    "Ya! Already two hundred seventy dead!" Someone shouted from below in Arabic. "We need more people with the dragon staffs!"


    Adrian watched a player land to drink a healing potion. Actually, why shouldn¡¯t he take advantage of the situation? He teleported behind the unsuspecting raider and sank his claws deep into their back.


    The items dropped silently.


    VWORP


    Another player, isolated from the group. Dead before they could react.


    VWORP


    The Dragon roared and dive-bombed the central platform. "Ahtaris!" Players scattered in panic. Three weren''t fast enough and died instantly to the impact.


    "This is too easy," Adrian muttered as he picked off another isolated player. The chaos of battle masked his actions completely.


    "Ya ikhwan, we need to coordinate!" The raid leader that wore Netherite Armor with gold trims called out. "Form up in teams of-"


    Adrian teleported directly above him and smashed his claws against the player twice. A flash of green light surrounded the player as the Totem of Undying activated, restoring him to life. He spun around with his sword raised, but Adrian''s third strike caught him before he could defend himself.


    "Al-qaid!" Several players rushed to where their leader had fallen. "Someone killed the leader through his totem!"


    VWORP


    Adrian appeared in their midst, clawing and biting down on whoever was in reach. Four more dead in seconds.


    The Dragon swooped low again. Purple breath scattered players in all directions. "La tastaslem!" Someone shouted. "Keep fighting!"


    A player with a dragon staff and helm turned just in time to see Adrian teleport next to them. "Ma hadha-" The words cut off as Netherite-enhanced claws tore through their armor.


    ¡°Thanks for the items!¡± Adrian whispered as he teleported away.


    The entire place became immensely chaotic as players realized they were being hunted by some lizard creature that could teleport at will.


    "There''s something else killing us!" A voice called out in Arabic. "Watch your backs!"Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    But how could they watch their backs when the massive Ender Dragon demanded their complete attention? Another tail swipe eliminated six more players.


    "Three hundred dead!" Someone screamed. "We''re being slaughtered!"


    Adrian continued his elimination of stragglers. Just the fact he had unlimited teleportation inside of the End made him untouchable. Any player who separated from the group for even a moment became his prey.


    The Ender Dragon roared again, and Adrian smiled.


    "This is turning out better than I''d hoped," he joked to Derflinger.


    The massive dragon''s head snapped toward him. Another roar split the air, but this time it was aimed directly at him.


    That was a mistake, wasn¡¯t it? He shouldn''t have taunted fate¡­


    "Oh shit." Adrian barely managed to Void Step away as purple breath scorched the spot he''d been standing.


    "The dragon''s targeting the creature!" Someone shouted. "Everyone, focus on that thing!"


    The remaining two hundred players turned their attention to Adrian. Six dragon head staffs lifted in unison as concentrated breath attacks flew toward him.


    Adrian froze for a split second as hundreds of players charged at him from all directions while purple death rained from above. He couldn''t fight them all at once, not even with his advantages.


    "Switch forms!" Derflinger yelled. "I can absorb the magic!"


    He shifted to human form and drew Derflinger just in time to catch the first wave of dragon breath attacks. The magic disappeared into the blade with a sound like water hitting hot metal.


    "The creature changed shape!" A player with the nametag ¡®Deslordo¡¯ shouted. "It''s a player!"


    More dragon breath streaked toward him. Adrian planted his feet and held Derflinger up, absorbing attack after attack. The sword hummed with stored energy. Just as an arrow threatened to nick his ear, his void crystal organ automatically teleported him ten blocks to the left. Three more arrows passed through where he''d been standing.


    "Keep firing!" The command came from somewhere behind him. "Don''t let him rest!"


    Adrian spun around, Derflinger catching a blast of dragon breath from the Ender Dragon. But a sword strike from his blind spot caught him across the back. His Netherite armor absorbed most of the damage, but the hit still stung.


    "You okay?" Derflinger asked as they teleported away from the attacker.


    "Fine." Adrian drank a healing potion. "But there''s too many-"


    The Ender Dragon''s roar cut him off. The massive beast dive-bombed straight at him, purple breath filling the air. Adrian held Derflinger up, and the sword drank in the magic attack.


    But the Dragon''s wing clipped him during the pass. The impact sent Adrian flying, and only the fact that he was innately more durable than the standard player kept him from dying on the spot. He slammed into an obsidian pillar and fell twenty blocks before managing to teleport to safety.


    "He survived that?" A player exclaimed.


    Another healing potion and golden apple rapidly restored him to peak health, but that had been too close. He needed to thin out these numbers.


    More arrows came flying his way, and one more automatic teleport kept them from hitting him. But this time he appeared right in the middle of a group of sword-wielders.


    "Got him!" One slashed at Adrian''s face.


    Adrian took advantage of the fact that he wasn¡¯t fully aligned with Minecraft logic to parry the strike with Derflinger and kick the attacker away. But someone else struck him from behind, and a third player managed to slash his leg before he could teleport again.


    The Ender Dragon wheeled around for another pass. The six dragon staff wielders lined up their shots.


    "This is getting annoying!" Adrian teleported rapidly between positions, trying to avoid being surrounded again. He was taking serious damage, and just one more direct strike like that from the Ender Dragon...


    "Behind you!" Derflinger warned.


    Adrian spun just in time to block an axe strike that would have taken his head off. The impact numbed his arms, but he managed to teleport away before the follow-up attack landed.


    "He keeps disappearing!" A frustrated voice called out. "Spread out! Don''t let him-"


    Adrian teleported behind the speaker and spewed sticky cobwebs all around him. The player struggled to move as Adrian''s Netherite sword cut into him three times.


    An arrow whistled towards his chestplate, triggering an automatic teleport. He appeared next to another group and immediately sprayed more webs. "I can''t move!" One screamed before Adrian''s blade found him.


    Adrian¡¯s entire body caught fire when someone''s enchanted sword struck him. He teleported away and quickly downed a Fire Resistance potion, following it with Strength and Swiftness potions.


    "He''s using potions!"


    "Don''t let him-"


    Adrian cut the warning short, his enhanced strength letting him kill the speaker in two quick strikes. The movements felt more natural now, each swing leading smoothly into the next.


    Purple breath from the Ender Dragon filled the air. Adrian raised Derflinger, absorbing the magic while teleporting sideways to dodge more arrows.


    "Your left!" Derflinger warned.


    Adrian spun and parried an axe strike. The impact made his arms shake, but he managed to counter-attack. His Fire Aspect II sword set the axe-wielder on fire.


    VWORP


    More cobwebs trapped another group. Adrian''s sword found gaps in their armor as they struggled to break free. But someone managed a lucky hit just before he teleported away.


    He drank a healing potion and kept moving. The Ender Dragon roared overhead, diving toward the platform again.


    "The staffs!" Derflinger reminded him. "Take out the staff users first!"


    Adrian nodded and teleported behind one of the dragon staff wielders. Two quick strikes ended them. Another teleport brought him to the second staff user, who managed to block his first attack before succumbing to the second.


    A beam of concentrated dragon breath managed to pierce his leg before he could react, and three players rushed him with axes raised.


    Adrian sprayed webs in a wide arc, catching all three. His blade enchanted with Sweeping Edge III made short work of them.


    "Four more staff users!" Derflinger called out.


    Purple breath from both the Dragon and the staffs filled the air. Adrian absorbed what he could with Derflinger while teleporting frantically to avoid the rest.


    A sword caught him across the back. Another managed to hit his arm. The wounds burned from Fire Aspect enchantments, but his potion kept him from taking extra damage.


    "You¡¯re slowly getting better," Derflinger commented as Adrian eliminated another staff wielder.


    He was right. Adrian''s strikes flowed more naturally now. He found himself predicting enemy movements, reading their stances, striking at exactly the right moment.


    The Ender Dragon''s roar shook the island. Adrian teleported just as massive claws raked through where he''d been standing. He spun around and sprayed webs at the remaining players surrounding him, buying himself time to drink another healing potion.


    "Only about fifty left!" Someone shouted in panic. "How is he doing this?"


    Adrian''s answer was another spray of cobwebs from the small breathing hole in his Netherite Helmet. The Swiftness potion let him sprint between trapped players and quickly slice them up. He then narrowed his eyes at an archer on top of one of the remaining obsidian towers, and Void Stepped behind him. Two stabs with his sword took care of that little problem¡­


    "Oh my Allah, he killed Ahmed! " A player wearing a Netherite helmet with a green trim yelled at him from the ground. "You bastard!"


    The Ender Dragon roared again, but the players were utterly focused on Adrian now. He could see the fear in how they moved, backing away whenever he looked in their direction.


    "Thirty left!" The same player shouted. "We need to-"


    Adrian teleported right next to him and struck twice with his sword. The player''s green-trimmed helmet dropped to the ground.


    The remaining players instantly backed away. Twenty-nine of them wore elytras, and they all exchanged glances.


    "We need to get out of here!" One of them activated his elytra. "This is suicide!"


    "He''s right!" Another player shot off a firework rocket and took to the sky. "Live to fight another day!"


    The players with elytras launched into the air one after another, shooting firework rockets to gain altitude. They flew deeper into the End, leaving behind a single player who stood frozen in place.


    "Um." The player raised his hands. "Peace?"


    Adrian tilted his head, and replied in English. "You don''t have an elytra?"


    "No..." The player was surprised to hear another language but slowly shuffled backward. "I... I spent all my emeralds on potions."


    "That''s rough, buddy." Adrian teleported right next to him and stabbed twice.


    The massive Ender Dragon roared on the other side of the island.


    "Just you and me now," Adrian called up to the beast. He had expected this outcome from the start, because trying to steal an egg from hundreds of players would have been messy. At least this way he''d earned quite a few bonus items from the kills.


    He watched the Ender Dragon fly towards him. Arrows would be useless against those scales, and even the concentrated breath attacks from dragon staffs didn¡¯t work all that well.


    He''d have to get up close and personal.


    "At least you can teleport," Derflinger spoke from his hand. "Unlike those players who had to rely on elytras and firework rockets."


    "True." Adrian drank another Strength potion. "But this might take forever."


    The Dragon dove toward him, purple breath streaming from its mouth. Adrian teleported behind one of the obsidian towers and waited for it to pass.


    "You know what would make this easier?" Derflinger asked as they dodged another breath attack. "If you had an elytra."


    "I have three in my inventory."


    "...why aren''t you wearing one?"


    Adrian paused mid-teleport. "I completely forgot about that."


    "Seriously?"


    "Look, I''ve been busy killing people!" Adrian equipped an elytra. "Happy now?"


    The Dragon roared and swooped low. Adrian teleported on top of a nearby tower and jumped at it, piercing down twice with his sword before teleporting away. The beast barely seemed to notice.


    "This is going to take forever," Adrian muttered as he shot a firework rocket to gain altitude. "Watching paint dry in slow motion might be quicker."


    "At least the view is nice?" Derflinger offered.


    Adrian teleported to dodge more purple breath. "Yeah, endless void. Really scenic."


    "Better than that IKEA store."


    "Fair point."


    Another diving attack forced Adrian to teleport again. He managed to land three hits this time before the Dragon''s tail nearly took his head off.


    "You know what would make this go faster?" Derflinger asked after ten minutes of hit-and-run attacks.


    "What?"


    "If you''d remembered to use those dragon staffs we looted while it¡¯s not in sword range."


    Adrian froze mid-swing. "...I hate you sometimes."


    "Love you too, partner."


    Adrian quickly equipped one of the dragon staffs he''d looted. It felt odd to have a¡­ stick with an Ender Dragon Head on top of it while fighting the Ender Dragon, but he could sense the void energy stored within it.


    "How on Zerus did I not decide to use this sooner?" He teleported to dodge another breath attack.


    "Because you were too busy playing stabby-stabby with the raiders?" Derflinger suggested from his back.


    The Dragon wheeled around for another pass. Adrian raised the staff and fired a concentrated blast of purple energy. The attack connected, and the beast actually flinched.


    "Now we''re getting somewhere!" Adrian shot another firework rocket to maintain altitude. "Maybe this won''t take until next Tuesday after all."


    He teleported to another obsidian tower and fired three more blasts. The Dragon roared in what sounded like actual pain this time.


    "You''re hurting it!" Derflinger called out. "Keep going!"


    Adrian fired continuously while teleporting between positions. The Dragon tried to dodge, but Adrian''s ability to instantly appear anywhere made tracking its movements simple.


    "This is much better than swinging a sword around like an idiot." Adrian landed on another tower. "Why didn''t you remind me earlier?"


    "I wanted to see how long it would take you to figure it out yourself."


    "...I''m going to throw you into the void."


    "No you won''t." Derflinger sounded smug. "I¡¯m too useful."


    The Dragon dove at Adrian again, but this time he stood his ground until the last second. He absorbed the breath attack with Derflinger while firing back with the staff.


    "Okay, maybe I won''t throw you into the void." Adrian teleported away from another tail swipe. "But I might leave you in a chest somewhere."


    "You''d miss my witty commentary."


    "What I''m missing is peace and quiet!" Adrian fired another blast at the Dragon. "Now shut up and let me focus on not dying!"


    The battle continued for another twenty minutes. Adrian kept teleporting and firing, slowly wearing down the massive beast. Its health seemed to be represented by its scales, and they were cracking more and more.


    "Almost there!" Derflinger encouraged as Adrian landed another beam. "Just a bit more!"


    The Dragon wheeled around for what would probably be its final attack. Adrian raised both the staff and Derflinger, ready to end this.


    "You know, I just remembered something that would make this even easier." Derflinger stated.


    "What now?"


    "You have a dragon helm that is stronger than Netherite in your inventory."


    Adrian facepalmed.


    "I swear, when this is over-" Adrian quickly equipped the dragon helm. The moment it settled on his head, he felt the void energy inside resonate with his own.


    "Less threatening, more fighting!" Derflinger reminded him as purple breath filled the air.


    The helm''s enhanced protection made Adrian confident enough to stand his ground longer. He absorbed the breath with Derflinger while returning fire with the staff. Each blast connected solidly with the Dragon''s cracked scales until the beast let out one final deafening roar. It exploded into countless experience orbs that filled the air like a green waterfall. Adrian had never seen so many, and after he had collected all of it, he could tell by some innate Minecraft instinct that he had absorbed exactly 5,000,000 XP.


    Enough to take him from level 0 to level 430. No wonder so many players risked their monthly respawn for this, it would save so much time standing under mob grinders that it was almost unbelievable¡­


    "Well, that was dramatic." Adrian walked over to where the Dragon had died. A black egg with purple spots sat on a bedrock pedestal. He quickly snatched it up and stored it in his inventory.


    "Time for cleanup?" Derflinger asked.


    Adrian nodded and began teleporting around the island. He gathered every dropped item, every block of value. By the time he finished, he had stripped the place clean of items he felt were worth storing in his inventory.


    Most players were smart and kept their valuables safe in Ender Chests. But he had still gotten stacks of Netherite ingots, Emeralds, Ender Pearls and Golden Apples. He didn¡¯t care all that much for the weapons and armor since he had his own set that would fully repair themselves thanks to all of the experience he had gotten.


    "Now for the main event?" Derflinger seemed excited about Adrian consuming the Dragon''s Essence.


    But he hesitated.


    Something felt off about absorbing such powerful Essence in this blocky world. When he''d consumed the Spider Essence, it had resulted in Minecraft web blocks when the silk hit any surface. The Architect Leviathan Essence had given him a Crystalline Minecraft Pearl that followed Minecraft''s rigid rules. Both were perfectly usable, but¡­


    "I think we should wait a bit," Adrian spoke slowly. "Everything in Minecraft follows specific rules. Blocks must be cubic, items stack in specific numbers, even damage primarily follows a mathematical formula."


    "And?"


    "What if consuming the Ender Dragon Essence here forces it to conform to these rules?" Adrian paced across the endstone in thought.


    "But it was still incredibly powerful!"


    "Yes, but imagine if I absorb this Essence somewhere more... flexible after I use paradox to make the Egg and Heads realistic." Adrian gestured at the cubic world around them. "Like in the IKEA dimension. Somewhere the Essence can express itself in a more natural and organic manner instead of being forced into Minecraft''s framework."


    "Because the Ender Dragon Essence might be the most powerful I¡¯ve found so far," Adrian continued. "I don''t want to risk it becoming just another set of Minecraft mechanics. We need a world where physics and biology work properly."


    "That... actually makes sense." Derflinger sounded impressed. "You''re learning to think things through."


    "Don''t sound so surprised." Adrian¡¯s eyes began to glow a bright blue. "Now let''s get out of here."


    He focused on the IKEA store. That would be a good place to absorb the Essence, and if he built a little platform in the air, nobody could disturb him either. Once he was finished with the absorption, he could jump towards a new world. Maybe it¡¯d be a safe one for the people in the Infinite Store?


    "Ready?" Adrian asked.


    "As long as we don''t have to fight any more Staff creatures."


    "No promises."

 Chapter 19 - Primal Void Dragon

    SCP Universe, IKEA Store


    The dimensional jump dumped Adrian and Derflinger onto the infinite floor of the IKEA store. Adrian immediately began stacking up and constructing a platform out of various blocks high above the shelves.


    "This should be high enough," Adrian said as he placed the final cobblestone block. The platform was nearly one hundred feet wide, giving him plenty of space to work with.


    "Ready to start?" Derflinger asked from his back.


    Adrian nodded and focused on the egg first. He placed the same 1 egg in each crafting slot of his Crystalline Pearl, forcing reality to resolve the paradox. His body began tearing itself apart as the egg transformed, becoming perfectly spherical and emanating a slight purple glow.


    "One down," Adrian gasped, consuming a Golden Apple to heal the damage. "Ninety-three heads to go."


    He converted three of the female Ender Dragon heads at a time before letting the Golden Apple''s regenerative effects restore him. The heads grew massive as they escaped Minecraft''s constraints, each one nearly as large as his current body.


    "These are going to take forever to digest," Adrian commented as he finished converting the last head. Blood dripped from his nose, and his limbs trembled from the strain.


    "At least you won''t go hungry for a while," Derflinger said.


    Adrian approached the first head and sank his teeth into the scales, swallowing down with each bite. After ten minutes, he had fully stuffed the head into his stomach.


    "This might be a good time to tell me stories about your past wielders," Adrian suggested as he settled in for what would be a very long process. "We''ve got about two weeks of this ahead of us."


    "Well, there was this one wielder back in Germania..." Derflinger began as Adrian''s body started processing the first head''s Essence. "She used me to fight manticores in-"


    Adrian exhaled a ragged breath as the first changes began. The Ender Dragon''s DNA started merging with his own Primal Zerg genetic structure, causing his scales to darken from their usual green to a deep obsidian black. The transformation wasn''t just cosmetic¡­ his scales became denser, stronger, as void energy began infusing into their molecular structure. Each scale now contained microscopic chambers that could store and channel void energy, making them far more resistant to damage than before and capable of warding off fire and lava.


    "You okay there, partner?" Derflinger asked with concern.


    "It feels... different from other Essences," Adrian managed to say through gritted teeth. His spine was elongating, vertebrae splitting and reforming as new neural clusters developed along his back. These clusters would serve as secondary processing centers for handling the vast amount of void energy his body would eventually channel. "Keep talking. It helps distract from the pain."


    "Right, so this vampire hunter..." Derflinger continued his tale while Adrian''s body underwent more changes. The first head''s DNA was restructuring his skeletal system, making his bones hollow yet incredibly dense. New cavities formed within them, creating a network that would help further distribute void energy throughout his body. His muscle fibers began breaking down and rebuilding themselves with enhanced protein structures that could handle the strain of his eventual larger size.


    By the time Derflinger finished his first story, Adrian had grown nearly two feet longer. His neck had extended slightly, and the first hints of wing buds had appeared along his shoulders. The void energy from the head had permanently altered his cellular structure, making his body more capable of channeling and storing magical energy.


    "Ready for the second head?" Derflinger asked after Adrian''s body had fully processed the first one.


    Adrian nodded weakly. The¡­ evolution was exhausting, but he could already feel how much stronger he was becoming. He dragged himself over to the next head and began consuming it while Derflinger launched into another tale about a knight who had used him to slay a dragon.


    The irony wasn''t lost on either of them.


    Within three days Adrian had consumed ten more heads. Each one brought new changes, building upon what came before. The wing buds expanded into proper wings, spreading outward as new bones and muscles formed. The membrane between the wing fingers started as thin and delicate but quickly strengthened as specialized cells produced an incredibly resilient tissue that took full advantage of void energy. His chest inflated to accommodate the massive flight muscles needed to power these new appendages, and his heart split into four chambers to handle the increased blood flow his larger body would require.


    "You''re starting to look more dragon than lizard now," Derflinger commented as Adrian flexed his wings, and the force of the air current buffeted the sword. He had kept Adrian entertained with stories ranging from epic battles to embarrassing mishaps of past wielders, helping distract him from the constant pain of transformation.


    Adrian''s neck had lengthened considerably, and the original enhanced photoreceptors that allowed him to see in near-darkness remained, but they merged with new void-sensitive cells. These specialized cells arranged themselves in a unique layered structure of which the outer layer maintained his night vision capabilities while deeper tissues responded to void energy emissions. His pupils mutated to process both visible light and void signatures simultaneously, creating a dual-spectrum vision system that overlaid both types of information into a single cohesive image.


    The adaptation changed his irises from blue to deep purple, with microscopic crystalline structures forming throughout the eye tissue. These crystals acted as natural amplifiers for void energy detection, allowing him to perceive the faintest traces void energy use in magic or beings.


    "I need... more heads," Adrian growled, his voice deeper than before. The hunger for evolution drove him forward despite the exhaustion. His digestive system had adapted to break down the heads more efficiently, but each one still took hours to fully process.


    By the end of the first week, Adrian had consumed forty heads. He now stood twice his original height, and his wingspan stretched wider than a small airplane. The void energy saturating his cells had begun affecting his existing adaptations. His heat regulation system merged with the void energy network, allowing him to survive in even more extreme environments. His enhanced senses became attuned to the void itself, letting him detect spatial disturbances through subtle humming in the Void Crystal organ responsible for his Void Step.


    "The Staff creatures haven''t bothered us up here," Derflinger noted during one of Adrian''s rest periods. "Maybe they can sense what you''re becoming."


    Adrian snorted in agreement, purple energy crackling around his nostrils. The transformation had reached his respiratory system, creating specialized organs that could produce and expel concentrated void energy. This would eventually become his breath weapon, but for now it appeared as occasional bursts of energy when he exhaled.


    The second week brought even more dramatic changes as Adrian consumed the remaining heads. His skeleton finished reconstructing itself with void-infused bones stronger than steel. His muscles became dense enough to crack concrete just by flexing, yet remained incredibly efficient thanks to the void energy flowing through them. The spines along his back developed into proper spikes that could channel and store even more void energy, creating a reservoir he could draw from in combat.


    "Last head," Adrian announced on the fourteenth day. He had grown to nearly full size now. Only the dragon egg remained after this, which should complete his transformation.


    "Make it count," Derflinger encouraged from where he lay nearby. "You''ve come too far to mess it up now."


    Adrian consumed the final head, and the changes began immediately. The void energy concentrated in his claws and teeth, creating microscopic spatial distortions around them. When he scratched the cobblestone platform, his claws didn''t just cut through the block¡­ they partially phased through it, bypassing a portion of the material''s structural integrity. The effect consumed stored void energy with each use, but the results were devastating.


    "Now that''s interesting," Adrian rumbled, examining his claws. He could feel the void energy flowing into the bone and keratin structure from the void energy network all throughout his body. The metal he had consumed in the past, particularly the Netherite, were still incorporated into the molecular matrix, creating weapons that could shred through almost any defense.


    "Ready for the egg?" Derflinger asked.


    Adrian turned toward the spherical object that was still emanating purple light. This would be the keystone of this large-scale evolution, containing the core genetic material needed to fully stabilize his Essence. He opened his jaws, now large enough to swallow a car whole, and consumed the egg in a single bite.


    The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. The egg''s shell dissolved in his stomach, releasing pure void energy that flooded every cell in his body. His muscles seized as new neural pathways formed, creating a dedicated network for channeling and controlling void energy. The secondary processing clusters along his spine lit up with purple light as they integrated with this network.


    "Jeez..." Derflinger whispered as Adrian''s body underwent its final changes. The sword watched in amazement as Adrian''s scales became even darker, absorbing light itself. They developed an iridescent quality that shifted between black and deep purple depending on how the light struck them.


    Adrian roared as his throat transformed one last time. The sound contained subsonic frequencies that could disorient and nauseate anyone who heard it. The specialized organs in his chest cavity that produced his void breath weapon finally reached maturity, allowing him to project concentrated streams of void magic that would corrode both matter and space itself.


    When the transformation finally ended, Adrian stood at his full height of ten feet at the shoulder. His body stretched thirty-five feet from nose to tail tip, and his wingspan reached fifty-five feet when fully extended. He had retained the best aspects of his Primal Zerg heritage while gaining the power and majesty of a realistic Ender Dragon.


    He was now a Primal Void Dragon.


    "How do you feel?" Derflinger asked after several minutes of silence.


    Adrian had the draconic equivalent of a smirk on his face. "Complete."


    "Let''s test the human form," Adrian continued, still with a slight smirk on his lips. The change began as usual, scales shrinking and reforming into skin, wings folding into nothing, tail disappearing...


    Something felt very wrong.


    Adrian''s smirk vanished and he blinked as the transformation completed, immediately noticing the different center of gravity. He grabbed a mirror from the cobblestone platform and froze at the reflection.


    Long black hair framed a delicate face with deep purple eyes. The muscular male body he was used to had been replaced by a slender female that stood 5''9". He glanced down at his chest and immediately looked away.


    "Well..." Derflinger broke the awkward silence. "This is unexpected."


    "Shut up." Adrian''s voice came out higher pitched than before. He grimaced as he held up a stranf of black hair that reached down to his mid-back. "This has to be from the egg, right? That damn Ender Dragon must''ve been female, and considering I took in so much Essence to undergo a complete Evolution, those genetic markers must''ve affected the human form in turn."


    Derflinger made a sound suspiciously like suppressed laughter. "At least you''re still wearing clothes?"


    Adrian looked down at the tight black shirt that showed off way too much cleavage and the form-fitting pants that hugged curves he definitely didn''t have before. "This isn''t funny!"


    "You have to admit it''s a little funny." Derflinger wasn''t even trying to hide his amusement anymore. "The big bad Void Dragon turns into a beauty!"


    Adrian grabbed Derflinger and pointed him at the mirror. "Look at me! How am I supposed to blend in looking like this?"


    "I am looking," Derflinger replied smugly. "And I''d say blending in won''t be your biggest problem anymore."


    Adrian dropped the sword with an exasperated groan. "I need to figure out how to fix this."


    "Why fix what isn''t broken?" Derflinger asked from the floor. "You''re a Primal Zerg, right? You''ve told me you didn''t even have a concept of gender before consuming the original Adrian."


    Adrian stared at his D-cup breasts and sighed deeply. "That''s not the point-"


    "The point is you''re making this a bigger deal than it needs to be," Derflinger cut in. "Make a new identity. And if you really want your old appearance back, just find some shapeshifter to consume in another world. Having a female form could be useful."


    "Useful how?" Adrian crossed his arms, immediately regretting the action as it made his chest situation even more obvious.


    "Well..." Derflinger''s tone became suggestive. "People tend to underestimate beautiful women. And you are quite the beauty now-"


    "I need clothes." Adrian marched toward the platform edge. "These were made for a male body, and they''re about to fall apart."


    "I''m not complaining about the view!"


    Adrian ignored the perverted sword and jumped down to the store below. The clothing section wasn''t extensive, but anything would be better than what he currently wore. The shirt had ridden up to expose his stomach, and the buttons strained against his chest.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "You know," Derflinger called from above. "You''ll need a new name for this form!"


    Adrian paused while rifling through a rack of shirts. The sword had a point. He couldn''t exactly introduce himself as Adrian while looking like this.


    "How about... Ariana?" He suggested after a moment.


    "Keeping it similar to Adrian. Smart!" Derflinger yelled back. "Now hurry up and find something that fits properly. Not that I mind the current outfit-"


    "Just shut up already," Ariana grumbled as she picked out some black cargo pants and a plain dark purple t-shirt that actually fit her new body. She changed quickly, glad to be out of the too-tight clothes that had been practically bursting at the seams.


    She looked up at the platform, ready to Void Step back up... and nothing happened. The required void energy wasn''t there. She reached for it again, but found nothing to grasp.


    "Great." Ariana transformed back into her true form, immediately feeling the network of void energy stored throughout her body. The microscopic chambers in her scales held a large portion, while her bone network and spinal spikes contained the rest. These structures didn''t transfer to her human form at all - or rather, only the bone network carried over, but there was too little space in her human body compared to her true form, and thus the amount of void energy transferred was not enough to use Void Step when she already didn''t have all that much in her true form.


    But¡­ she did notice something odd in her storage. Void energy was trickling in from out of nowhere, appearing in small amounts throughout her body. This wasn''t from the Ender Dragon, that beast drew power directly from the End Dimension''s Void.


    Wait.


    The Void Magic Fragment she had taken from Louise... it must be generating this energy. The specialized neural structures she had developed weren''t producing it directly. No, this energy seemed to be generated within her soul, then distributed at least in part to her physical storage systems.


    "At least I won''t run dry," she muttered, shifting back to human form. "But I still want to find a shapeshifter somewhere."


    "Still bothered by the gender swap?" Derflinger asked from above.


    "Yes." Ariana stacked up by placing cobblestone blocks under her feet. "I got used to being male. And..." She hesitated before continuing. "I still find women attractive. Men do nothing for me."


    "So you''re a lesbian dragon now?"


    "I''m serious!" Ariana pulled herself onto the platform. "Doesn''t that mean I''m still male inside? I could probably force another large-scale evolution by consuming enough essence from some male creature, but..." She shook her head. "This Void Dragon form is too valuable to undo just because of one annoying side effect. Unless it was a very powerful male creature, it wouldn''t be worth it."


    "There are infinite worlds out there," Derflinger reminded her. "We''ll find a shapeshifter eventually."


    "I''ll add it to the list," Ariana nodded. "Right besides finding a safe world for the IKEA people." She pulled out her Dragon Helm and focused on using paradox to convert it. The strain hit her, but nowhere near as badly as before. Her enhanced durability seemed to handle the process much better now.


    "That wasn''t so bad." She grabbed her Netherite armor pieces and converted them one by one. The process left her slightly winded, but nothing like the bleeding and tearing she used to experience. When she touched the complete set, the armor split apart and reconnected around her body, automatically adjusting to her new proportions.


    "Ready to try a new world?" Derflinger asked as she picked him up.


    "More than ready." Ariana''s purple eyes began glowing bright blue. Reality twisted around them for five seconds before depositing them in a nighttime forest.


    The sight took her breath away.


    Bioluminescent plants surrounded them, pulsing with beautiful blue and purple light. She looked up through the canopy and froze. An enormous blue gas giant dominated the night sky, filling nearly a quarter of the visible space above.


    "This is incredible," Ariana whispered as she walked through the glowing forest. Strange six-legged creatures scattered at her approach, and spiral-shaped plants retracted into the ground. The remnant memories from Adrian identified this place immediately as Pandora from the Avatar movie.


    Ten minutes passed as she wandered around enjoying the sights of the alien ecosystem. Then she felt the first tickle in her throat. The air was becoming harder to breathe, and she knew why after thinking on it. The atmosphere here was toxic to humans, high in carbon dioxide and other compounds. She had thought her current adaptations would be enough, but it seemed they weren''t able to handle this mixture of air.


    "I need to find something to eat," she told Derflinger as another cough escaped her lips. "And fast."


    oo0ooOoo0oo


    Notes:


    Adrian being stuck as a woman in human form will be temporary for just this visit to Avatar, he''ll find a solution in the next world through either a shapeshifter or a powerful male creature he''ll consume.


    CHARACTER SHEET:


    Name: Adrian/Ariana


    Current World: Avatar (James Cameron)


    Race: Primal Zerg (Void Dragon)


    Appearance: Adrian''s evolution has resulted in a very large western dragon body, approximately 35 feet long with a 55-foot wingspan, and standing about 10 feet tall at the shoulder. His body is covered in tough, overlapping black and dark purple scales. Large, dark wings allow for powerful flight. He has sharp, black spikes running along his back and down his thick, muscular tail, which ends in a broad, sharp, spade-like tip. His head is draconic, with strong jaws and teeth, and his eyes are a deep glowing purple.


    BASE ATTRIBUTES - True Form (summary of adaptations)


    1. Strength: Immensely powerful. Can crush metal with ease, tear through enchanted Netherite plating with his claws and teeth, and lift several tens of tons.


    2. Agility: Surprisingly agile for his size. Ground speed remains impressive despite increased mass (70-80 mph in short bursts, 40-50 mph sustained run). Flight capabilities are exceptional: cruise speed of 300-400 mph, capable of reaching 600-700 mph during sprints, and diving speeds approaching 800-900 mph (Mach 1) that can break the sound barrier. The 55-foot wingspan combined with void-enhanced flight muscles allows for remarkable maneuverability, including near-instant direction changes, complex aerial maneuvers, and precision hovering. Can perform barrel rolls, power dives, and tight corkscrews even at high speeds. The void energy network throughout his body helps counteract g-forces during extreme maneuvers.


    3. Constitution: Extremely durable. His Void Dragon Scales provide exceptional protection against most forms of attack, including piercing, slashing, and blunt force trauma. He''s highly resistant to fire and has increased resistance to other environmental hazards. While not invulnerable, he can withstand significant punishment before showing signs of serious injury. Small arms fire would be largely ineffective, and even larger caliber weapons would struggle to penetrate his scales.


    4. Intelligence: Above average human intellect.


    5. Senses: Drastically enhanced. His Void Dragon Eyes grant exceptional night vision and the ability to perceive Void energy. His Void-Attuned Senses provide an incredible range of smell and hearing, and his ability to sense Void fluctuations gives him a form of spatial awareness.


    BASE ATTRIBUTES - Human Form (summary of adaptations)


    1. Strength: Significantly enhanced, but far below his dragon form. He can easily overpower multiple ordinary humans, bend steel bars, and punch through brick walls. He can lift several tons.


    2. Agility: Very agile. He can achieve explosive sprint speeds of 30-35 mph and maintain a sustained running speed of around 20-25 mph. His reflexes and coordination are significantly enhanced, allowing him to react quickly and perform acrobatic maneuvers.


    3. Constitution: Highly durable, but significantly less so than his dragon form. He can withstand impacts that would severely injure or kill an ordinary human, and his bones and tissues are much denser and tougher. He''s resistant to small arms fire, but vulnerable to larger caliber weapons and sustained attacks.


    4. Intelligence: Above average human intellect.


    5. Senses: Drastically enhanced. His Void Dragon Eyes grant exceptional night vision and the ability to perceive Void energy. His Void-Attuned Senses provide an incredible range of smell and hearing, and his ability to sense Void fluctuations gives him a form of spatial awareness.


    ESSENCE SYSTEM:


    Through age and experience, adaptations can be "compressed" or "optimized", potentially combining compatible ones to free up slots. New slots can be gained through increased complexity of his soul.


    Minor Adaptations (Can have many):


    1. Extreme Environment Adaptation (Minecraft Realistic Ender Dragon) - Can function effectively in extreme temperatures ranging from -100¡ãF to 400¡ãF. Adaptation to sudden temperature changes takes minutes. This adaptation also grants limited resistance to other environmental hazards, such as high pressure or toxic atmospheres (though not complete immunity)


    2. Void Dragon Eyes (Minecraft Realistic Ender Dragon) - Can see clearly in near-total darkness, approximately six times better than human night vision. These eyes can also perceive traces of Void magic and beings, seeing residual energy trails, distortions, or the faint outlines of creatures connected to the Void.


    3. Void-Attuned Senses (Minecraft Realistic Ender Dragon) - Adrian possesses a suite of incredibly heightened senses. He can track scents up to several days old and detect specific chemical compounds across a range of two miles. His hearing extends beyond the human range (both higher and lower frequencies), allowing him to detect sounds up to a mile away. He has a heightened sense of the Void itself, allowing him to detect fluctuations, tears, or weaknesses in reality from spatial manipulation through subtle "humming" in his void-attuned organs.


    4. Void-Infused Claws/Teeth (Minecraft Realistic Ender Dragon) - Claws and teeth are made of ultra-dense biological material enhanced with consumed metals and infused with Void magic. Can tear through steel with ease. Void energy can be directed into his claws and teeth to produce a localized spatial distortion to partially bypass a portion of the target''s defenses, increasing penetration.


    5. Muscle Augmentation (SCP 3008-2) - Localized "bands" of muscle-mimicking skin that augments existing muscle groups. Grants increased strength to the point he can push through Netherite with a gentle push of his claws.


    6. Void Dragon Physique (Minecraft Realistic Ender Dragon) - This adaptation represents the seamless integration of the Ender Dragon''s various physical attributes into Adrian''s body. His skeletal structure is incredibly dense, providing increased resistance to blunt force trauma. Specialized muscle fibers within his wings and chest, perfectly adapted for flight, grant exceptional stamina, power, and maneuverability. His scales are capable of withstanding Netherite weapons with ease, deflect arrows, and have great resistance to fire damage.


    7. Void Energy Storage (Minecraft Realistic Ender Dragon): Adrian''s body has developed specialized structures for storing and channeling Void energy. These include microscopic chambers within his scales, a network within his hollow bones, his spinal spikes, and secondary neural clusters along his spine. This stored energy can be used to enhance his Void-related abilities and potentially provides a buffer against Void energy depletion.


    8. Subsonic Roar (Minecraft Realistic Ender Dragon) - His throat can produce a powerful, low-frequency roar that can disorient and unsettle opponents, inducing nausea, dizziness, and a general feeling of unease.


    Medium Adaptations (Can have 10):


    1. Rapid Regeneration - Can heal minor wounds in minutes, major wounds in hours. Requires significant biomass consumption. Limb regeneration possible but takes days.


    2. Advanced Digestive System - Can process and extract essence from consumed biomass in hours rather than days. Allows for quick energy replenishment and faster adaptation to new essences. Limited by the complexity of the essence being processed.


    3. Poison Glands - Hemotoxin/neurotoxin mix. In humans: severe pain and weakening muscles within 2 minutes, potentially lethal in under 20 minutes without treatment. Larger creatures: progressive weakening over 5-10 minutes, death in 30-60 minutes depending on size. Stores 5-6 doses, replenishes over 12 hours.


    4. Spines Launcher - Can launch up to 12 spines in rapid succession. Spines regrow over 6 hours (2 per hour). Spines can pierce very thick steel armor at close range (under 100 feet). Accuracy decreases significantly at longer ranges.


    5. (SUPPRESSED) Minecraft Physics Integration (Minecraft mobs) - Body partially adapted to function within Minecraft''s rigid physics system. Allows proper interaction with blocks, grid-based movement, and compatibility with the world''s healing mechanics. Scales and muscles can align to cubic patterns when needed while maintaining organic flexibility.


    6. Webbing Glands (Minecraft Spider) - Can spray sticky webs from specialized glands in the mouth. Webs function identically to Minecraft cobwebs, significantly slowing movement of creatures caught within them.


    7. Void Magic Fragment (1/4 Familiar of Zero) - Grants affinity to distort fundamental forces of reality, but it feels incomplete, as if it''s only a portion of a greater whole. Currently expresses itself as crude explosive force due to lack of understanding. Future possibilities unknown, but clearly limited by the fragmentary nature of the absorbed power.


    <ol>


    <li>This fragment also produces a certain amount of Void Energy, a finite resource that fuels certain Void-related abilities, every day. This is stored within the Soul.</li>


    <li>All four fragments combined can allow Adrian to connect to a pre-existing Void-like Dimension (if it exists in the universe) to instead use its energy. Unless he is directly in that dimension, there is a capacity limit of how much Void Magic can be channelled at once.</li>


    </ol>


    8. Void Step (Minecraft Enderman) - Grants the ability to temporarily phase through the Void for instantaneous travel. When teleporting, Adrian''s body briefly dissolves into purple particles before reforming at the destination. Water causes severe pain and disrupts teleportation.


    <ol>


    <li>Connected to Void Dimension: Unrestricted teleportation within 32 blocks without line of sight, or to any visible location regardless of distance. Defensive teleportation triggers automatically against incoming projectiles. Can freely travel to and from the End dimension at will. No strain or cooldown between teleports due to constant connection to the Void. If directly inside of a Void Dimension, there are zero limits to how far Adrian can teleport.</li>


    <li>No connection to Void Dimension: Teleportation becomes severely limited to line of sight within 50 feet. Each teleport costs a certain amount of Void Energy that increases with distance travelled, and has an increasing strain cost per teleport.</li>


    </ol>


    9. Void Dragon Breath (Minecraft Realistic Ender Dragon) - Spews void magic that causes whatever is hit and a small radius around it to be damaged. Whatever place is hit will be stained by the void magic and continuously deal void magic damage.


    10. Empty Slot


    Major Adaptations (Can have 5):


    1. Crystalline Minecraft Pearl (Minecraft Architect Leviathan) - Developed specialized organ that functions as a biological crafting table and inventory system. Contains a crystalline pearl that can store (36-slots, variable stack size) and combine materials according to Minecraft''s crafting rules. Produces miniaturized items that are spat out. Items maintain Minecraft properties in other worlds, and follow the same rules. Processing time varies with complexity (seconds to minutes). Non-Minecraft items put inside are converted to Minecraft items. By introducing a paradox of placing 1 item inside all 9 crafting slots, it becomes a real-world equivalent, but it strains Adrian greatly.


    <ol>


    <li>Inventory:


    <ol>


    <li>Shulker Box 1 (Blocks/Crafting)


    <ol>


    <li>511 cobblestone, 120 dirt, 51 oak blocks, 78 obsidian, 20 bookshelves, 5 furnaces, 1 enchanting table, 1 anvil, 1 brewing stand</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>Shulker Box 2 (Valuables)


    <ol>


    <li>165 diamonds, 42 emeralds, 22 lapis blocks, 41 redstone blocks, 27 gold blocks, 52 iron blocks, 61 coal blocks, 31 Netherite ingots</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>Shulker Box 3 (Potion Supplies/Combat)


    <ol>


    <li>22 spider eyes, 60 sugar, 50 glass bottles, 45 string, 4 Health Potions, 2 Strength Potions, 2 Fire Resistance Potions, 2 Swiftness Potions, 2 Invisibility Potions, 2, Water Breathing Potions, 2 Weakness Potions, 6 Dragon Staffs, 3 Elytras, 313 firework rockets</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>Shulker Box 4 (General Supplies)


    <ol>


    <li>160 steaks, 64 bone meal, 20 seeds, 64 books, 64 leather, 124 torches, 110 paper, 202 gunpowder, 1 flint and steel, 1 shears, 1 fishing rod (Lure III, Unbreaking III, Luck of the Sea III, Mending), 4 chests</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>64 steaks, 64 Golden Apples, 64 Golden Carrots</li>


    <li>16 Ender Pearls, 1 water bucket, 1 lava bucket, 3 milk buckets, 1 boat</li>


    <li>Enchanted Netherite Sword (Sharpness V, Fire Aspect II, Looting III, Sweeping Edge III, Unbreaking III, Mending)</li>


    <li>Enchanted Bow (Power V, Infinity, Unbreaking III, 64 arrows</li>


    <li>Dragon Helm (Protection higher than maxed Netherite, night vision, immunity to levitation effects, Endermen ignore you unless attacked)</li>


    <li>Enchanted Netherite Helmet (Unbreaking III, Respiration III, Mending, Protection IV, Aqua Affinity)</li>


    <li>Enchanted Netherite Chestplate (Unbreaking III, Protection IV, Mending)</li>


    <li>Enchanted Netherite Leggings (Unbreaking III, Protection IV, Mending)</li>


    <li>Enchanted Netherite Boots (Unbreaking III, Protection IV, Mending, Feather Falling IV, Depth Strider III, Frost Walker II)</li>


    <li>Enchanted Shield (Unbreaking III, Mending)</li>


    <li>Potions: 2 Health Potions, 2 Strength Potions, 1 Fire Resistance Potion, 1 Swiftness Potion, 1 Invisibility Potion</li>


    <li>Louise''s wand, 32 TNT, 1 redstone torch</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    </ol>


    2. Empty Slot


    3. Empty Slot


    4. Empty Slot


    5. Empty Slot


    MAGIC


    1. Human Form (Familiar of Zero)


    <ol>


    <li>Male: 6''4 feet tall. Short black hair and deep purple eyes. Handsome and muscular.</li>


    <li>Female: 5''9 feet tall. Long black hair (down to mid-back) and deep purple eyes. Beautiful and slender. D-cup breasts.</li>


    <li>Most adaptations are carried over in some manner, but usually in a weaker form. If the adaptation would be visibly non-human, it doesn''t transfer.</li>


    </ol>


    INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY


    Dimensional Travel Node - A crystalline blue-tinted node (golf ball sized) integrated into the brain stem. Allows for dimensional travel. Stores energy converted from consumed biomass, 2 dimensional jumps when fully charged. 1 jump worth of energy per 48 hours of regular feeding. Emergency jump possible at half charge, but causes unconsciousness and node strain that disables dimensional travel for 2 weeks. Requires specific materials from each new world to establish stable connection points. Once a world is attuned, can return using only energy reserves.


    Indicators:


    1. Bright blue eye glow when actively traveling between dimensions


    2. Subtle blue eye glow when scanning materials for dimensional attunement


    Attuned Worlds:


    1. Starcraft (0%)


    2. Minecraft (100%)


    3. Familiar of Zero (100%)


    4. SCP Universe (100%)


    5. Avatar - Pandora (0%)


    Skills:


    1. Adept Tracker


    2. Apprentice Primal Fighter


    3. Novice Swordsman

 Chapter 20 - Beautiful Pandora

    Avatar (James Cameron), Pandora


    "I need to find something to eat," she told Derflinger as another cough escaped her lips. "And fast."


    She shifted into her dragon form and spread her wings, the membrane stretching wide as she prepared for takeoff. The bioluminescent plants flattened against the ground beneath her when she pushed off into the air.


    The next few wingbeats shook the trees below, and multiple odd-looking circular orange plants not far away shrank rapidly in response. Ariana¡­ no. There was no point in pretending to be a woman even in his mind if he wasn¡¯t in his human form. Adrian hovered above the treetops, taking in the breathtaking view of Polyphemus.


    The gas giant''s swirling storms were visible even from this distance. Its massive presence made flying feel different in that the higher gravity pulled at his wings more strongly than Earth''s would have, but his flight muscles were precise enough that it didn¡¯t matter.


    "This place is beautiful," Derflinger said from where he was magnetically attached to his scales. "But you should get going before that cough gets worse."


    Adrian nodded his draconic head and soared over the bioluminescent forest, and it didn¡¯t take long before his nostrils twitched at the scent of prey animals.


    Between some large trees next to a rock wall was a group of large creatures in what looked like a nest. Four bird-like animals huddled together, each one about the size of a human. They had four limbs connected to wing membranes, but the wings seemed too small for proper flight. Just from looking at them, it was clear they balanced themselves on strong back legs, though he wasn¡¯t sure why they had such flaps of skin beneath their jaws.


    "Found something," Adrian whispered. He circled the nest once, smirking slightly when the animals stayed close together.


    His wings twitched slightly as he glided towards them. A bone-shaking vibration emitted from his throat, too deep to be heard but powerful enough to rattle leaves and disturb the very air. The pressure wave hit the creatures like a physical force.


    The birds stumbled and squawked in confusion, their legs wobbling as the subsonic frequencies disrupted their inner ear balance. Before they could recover, he spun around and launched two spines from his back at each animal.


    The disoriented dodo-like birds had no chance to do anything before the spines pierced straight through their bodies.


    "Well done," Derflinger commented as Adrian landed next to the nest. "But what are these things?"


    Adrian grabbed one of the dead animals with his claws. The body was warm, and the blood smelled different from anything he''d encountered before. He lifted it to examine the strange anatomy carefully - four limbs with wing membranes that seemed useless for actual flight, powerful back legs, and an odd flap of skin under the jaw.


    "No idea what they are," Adrian replied before biting into the flightless bird''s stomach. The meat tasted gamey but not unpleasant. He swallowed large chunks, letting his enhanced digestive system break down the alien flesh quickly.


    It didn¡¯t take long before his body began using the new Essence to adapt to Pandora''s atmosphere. New structures formed in his lungs that could process the high CO2 levels and filter out toxic compounds, and the adaptation spread throughout his respiratory system, improving his gas exchange efficiency and giving him mechanisms to handle the xenon content.


    "The air''s getting easier to breathe," Adrian said between bites of the Pandoran dodo.


    "You''re like a proper dragon," Derflinger teased. "Eating everything in sight."


    Adrian snorted and reached out to swallow another dodo in one go. "With the current size of my body¡­ I need to eat a lot more than before, so I have little choice. "


    He stared at the remaining two dodo-like animals with disdain. "These things are pathetic excuses for animals. Look at these wing membranes, they''re too small to generate any real lift. The legs are strong, sure, but what''s the point when predators can just run them down? And what purpose does this skin flap under the jaw serve? Display? Useless either way when you''re dead."


    Adrian grabbed the third dodo and bit into it, continuing his rant between bites. "Evolution should have either given them proper wings or gotten rid of these vestigial membranes entirely. They''re like someone took a perfectly good flying creature and broke it piece by piece until only these sad remnants remained."


    "You seem very passionate about this," Derflinger said.


    "Because it makes no sense! They nest out in the open where anything can find them. They bunch up together when threatened instead of scattering. The only defensive adaptation I can see is..." Adrian paused as his digestive system broke down more of the creature''s biological material.


    He recalled something important from the movies. "Wait. The bones."


    Pandoran creatures had bones containing natural carbon fiber composites, didn¡¯t they? He paid more attention to the Essence being broken down, and yes¡­ they did indeed have that.


    "Good," Adrian smiled as the microscopic structures throughout his bones began reorganizing. The calcium matrix incorporated new compounds derived from the alien creature''s physiology. Carbon-based molecules arranged themselves into incredibly strong fibers that wound through the bone tissue.


    "What''s happening?" Derflinger asked.


    "My bones are changing. These creatures might be evolutionary dead ends, but they did get one thing right." Adrian flexed his wings, feeling the alterations spread through his body. "The hollow network that stores void energy is being reinforced with carbon fiber structures. The base material is becoming denser but lighter."


    He launched himself into the air with a powerful jump. The bone enhancement had spread throughout his body, improving his overall structural integrity.


    When he landed on his four feet, he barely felt the impact.


    "The void energy flowing through the hollow spaces interacts with the carbon fiber structure," Adrian explained while grabbing the last dodo. "The two systems enhance each other. The stronger base material allows for better void energy conductivity, and the void energy in turn strengthens the molecular bonds of the composite."


    "You sound excited about this," Derflinger stated with a clack of steel.


    "Of course I am! This is a decent improvement to my strength, durability and agility." Adrian¡¯s throat tightened as he swallowed the Pandoran dodo.


    "Now I just need to find something more challenging to hunt. These pathetic excuse for birds were only worth eating because of adaptations that I could¡¯ve gotten from any of the fauna on Pandora."


    Adrian spread his wings and took off again, but something nagged at the back of his mind. The dodo creatures... they had the neural queues typical of Pandoran fauna, didn''t they? He had been so focused on mocking their useless wings and the bone structure that he completely missed that part of the Essence. The queue would have been an interesting adaptation, allowing him to form temporary neural connections with other creatures. Sharing sensory information through a biological interface, even if it was only useful on this planet... but he had wasted the opportunity by not paying attention to what he was consuming.


    "Something wrong?" Derflinger asked as Adrian flew higher above the bioluminescent forest while letting out constant sighs.


    "Just annoyed at myself for missing an opportunity," Adrian grumbled. "Those stupid birds had neural queues that could have been useful, but I was too busy complaining about their other features to notice until after I''d already processed the Essence."This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    He scanned the ground below, searching for new prey. The beautiful blues and purples of the forest''s natural lighting made spotting movement easier than he expected. It didn¡¯t take long before blue and white stripes caught his attention.


    "Found something," Adrian whispered as he flapped his wings towards a group of six-legged creatures grazing in a small clearing. They looked similar to Earth antelopes, but with three pairs of legs instead of two. The blue ones must be female based on what he remembered from the two movies.


    One of the¡­ hexapedes raised its head, and Adrian saw the fan-like structure on top of its skull unfold. The membrane between twin horns displayed an eye-like design, presumably to ward off predators.


    At the same time, small feathery organs on the sides of its head twitched in the air.


    "These look more interesting than those birds," Adrian muttered. "Good sensory awareness... and yes, there''s the neural queue."


    He could see the thin, whip-like appendage near the base of each creature''s spine. The protective layer of skin housed delicate pink tendrils that connected directly to the nervous system.


    "Time for a proper hunt." Adrian grinned, showing off rows of razor-sharp teeth.


    He dove toward the group, aiming for one of the larger females. The hexapedes scattered immediately, their six legs carrying them in different directions at impressive speeds for their size.


    Did it help them?


    No. No it did not.


    Adrian tucked his wings close to his body and accelerated toward his chosen prey. The air resistance increased dramatically as he approached the speed of sound, but his void-enhanced muscles powered through without strain.


    The pressure built up around him until - CRACK!


    The sonic boom echoed across the forest as he broke through the sound barrier. A visible cone of condensed water vapor formed around his body, the humid Pandoran air making the effect particularly dramatic. The shock wave scattered nearby plants and small creatures.


    But Adrian barely noticed any of that because he was too busy being absolutely delighted at how awesome it felt to create an actual sonic boom. Sure, he''d seen it before in movies, but this was the first time he¡¯d experienced it himself and wow did it feel different. The way the air compressed around him, the sharp crack of displaced atmosphere, the satisfying way everything scattered from the pressure wave...


    He snatched the hexapede in his claws right as he pulled up from the dive, spreading his wings wide to catch the air. The creature struggled, but Adrian ignored it completely while soaring higher into the night sky.


    "Show off," Derflinger muttered from his back.


    "Like you wouldn''t do the same thing if you could fly," Adrian retorted while looking at the massive alien forest below his wings. The bioluminescent forest seemed endless in every direction, but a decent-sized hill rose up not far away that was prefect for his purpose.


    He landed on top of the hill and examined his captured prey more closely. The hexapede still tried to escape, but Adrian''s grip remained firm while he studied the neural queue at the base of its spine. The whip-like appendage contained delicate pink tendrils - direct extensions of the nervous system protected by a layer of specialized skin.


    "This should be interesting," Adrian said before biting into the creature. He made sure to focus on the neural structures this time, not wanting to miss another opportunity like he had with those stupid birds. At least those had given him improved bones, even if he''d completely ignored their queues because he''d been too busy ranting about their evolutionary failures.


    The Essence broke down quickly in his enhanced digestive system. New neural tissue began forming near the base of his tail as his body incorporated the hexapede''s DNA. The process felt strange, like someone was gently pulling on his spine, but from the inside.


    "What''s happening now?" Derflinger asked.


    "Getting my own neural queue," Adrian explained while watching the new organ develop. "It should let me form temporary neural connections with the fauna on this planet that have their own queue. Could be useful for gathering information."


    He flexed his tail, feeling the movement of the neural whip encased in a protective sheath of scales near his spine. He could sense the delicate tendrils inside responding to his mental commands.


    "This fills the last of the Medium Adaptations I can fit in my Essence," Adrian sighed. "Unless I find something compatible enough to merge with an existing adaptation, or decide to drop my suppressed Minecraft physics for now... I''ll have to be more selective about what I consume from now on."


    He shook his head and took off into the night sky. The neural queue might prove useful later, and that was enough. He soared over the bioluminescent forest, wondering what he could do next on Pandora.


    Then he saw it.


    An enormous hole carved into the earth that was two miles wide and just as deep. Heavy machinery dug into the earth to extract massive amounts of dirt, stone and who knows what else, and he could also spot mechs patrolling the edges.


    "The RDA''s mine," Adrian muttered. "Which means they''re digging for... Unobtanium. Seriously, who names something Unobtanium? That has to be the laziest name in science fiction history. Oh, we found this super valuable mineral that''s hard to get, let''s call it Unobtanium! Because it''s hard to obtain! Get it? At least Adamantium and Vibranium tried to sound cool, but no, some corporate hack probably got paid millions to come up with Unobtanium. I bet they spent all of five minutes on that name while sipping overpriced coffee in their office and-"


    "Focus," Derflinger interrupted. "Those things are running."


    Adrian stopped his internal rant and noticed the Amplified Mobility Platform suits were indeed retreating from the quarry. Before he could wonder why, a warning screech filled the air. He spun around to see three aircraft racing toward him. The sleek gunships looked more like fighter jets than helicopters, but four rotating fans gave them VTOL capabilities.


    "Seawasps from the second movie," Adrian growled. He teleported sideways as one opened fire with rockets, but the other two had already circled around. Streams of bullets from rotary cannons tore into his wings while more missiles streaked toward him.


    Another max-range teleport of fifty feet got him clear, but something stuck to his scales,  a small device that kept emitting regular beeps. More missiles launched, and he barely managed to avoid them with another teleport that kept draining aways his void energy reserves.


    The tracking missiles curved around, following the signal from the device buried in his scales.


    Adrian transformed into his human form, and Ariana plummeted through the air as the missiles collided above her in a massive explosion. She ripped the tracking beacon that was embedded into her shoulder, then shifted back to dragon form.


    But the damage was done, his wings were shredded by bullet holes, and he couldn''t maintain his usual speed.


    Adria¡¯s wings twitched as he spun around to face the gunships, memories from the movies coming to the forefront of his mind. The Seawasp¡­ RDA''s latest aerial combat vehicle with quad coaxial ducted fans and twin pusher turbines. Maximum speed of 526 kilometers per hour, armed with a 30mm rotary cannon and enough missiles to take down small armies. The honeycomb-patterned hull absorbed radar signatures while adding structural strength to the light composite material.


    ¡­the original Adrian was a bit of a nerd, wasn¡¯t he?


    But none of that mattered right now.


    He charged straight at them, ignoring the streams of bullets that pinged off his scales. The rotary cannons spat out hundreds of rounds per minute, but his Void Dragon Physique held strong for now.


    He twisted around and launched every remaining spine from his back when one Seawasp got within range.


    The pilot managed to dodge most spines, but one pierced through the reinforced canopy and straight into flesh. The gunship spiraled down into the forest and exploded in a ball of fire.


    Void energy built up in his throat, a deep purple glow emanating from between his scales. When he opened his jaws, reality itself seemed to warp and twist as a roiling cloud of dark energy erupted outward. The cloud engulfed one of the Seawasps, and wherever it touched, the metal and glass became stained with spreading patches of dark purple.


    The pilot screamed loudly as the void-touched areas began to dissolve. Metal corroded and warped as space itself broke down around the purple stains. The corruption spread across the gunship''s hull like a cancer, eating through systems and armor while the pilot desperately tried to eject. But the void energy had already seeped into the cockpit, and Adrian watched as patches of purple spread across the man''s exposed skin, causing flesh to bubble and dissolve wherever they touched.


    The Seawasp crashed into the forest below, still covered in spreading patches of purple corruption that continued to eat away at the wreckage.


    The last gunship kept firing, but Adrian had enough. He charged straight through the hail of bullets and missiles, smashing into the aircraft with his full mass. The explosion¡¯s concussive force smashed against his scales as metal and fuel detonated, causing him grave wounds.


    The remaining missiles tracked toward him from behind, but he just transformed back to human form, letting them collide above him before returning to dragon form and fleeing toward the horizon before more showed up.


    What he saw made him pause.


    Large mountains covered in long vines were floating in the distance, held aloft by the same magnetic fields that made Unobtanium so valuable.


    The Hallelujah Mountains.


    The Tree of Souls was supposed to be at the center somewhere, wasn¡¯t it?


    Adrian flew toward them and explored the grounds until he spotted a basin.


    He landed and shifted to human form. Ariana stumbled forward, consuming two more Golden Apples to recover from her bleeding wounds. That fight had been way too close. Modern weapons might not pierce her scales easily, but sustained fire from those rotary cannons could wear her down. And those missiles... if she hadn''t transformed to avoid them... She needed better defenses against tracking weapons, and her void energy reserves were pathetically low. Maybe she could-


    "That was intense," Derflinger spoke up from her back. "Are you alright?"


    "I''ll live," Ariana muttered. "But I need to be more careful. Those weren''t even the gunships I expected¡­ this must mean the events of the first movie are already over with¡­"


    She walked toward the massive willow-like tree that glowed softly with bioluminescence. The Tree of Souls, the most sacred site to the Na''vi people of the Omatikaya Clan. Massive stone arches surrounded the basin like natural guardians.


    "This place is beautiful," Derflinger whispered as Ariana looked up at the floating mountains above. "I''ve never seen anything like it."


    "Neither have I," Ariana agreed. "At least not in person."