《Kingdom Rising》


 Chapter 1

    Adam Rose thought he was done killing. It had been years, and he had finally come to peace with putting that life behind him. Sure, he supposed he would kill again if he had to, but he never thought he would actually be put back in that position. Then again, he wasn¡¯t sure exactly what it was that he had killed.


    He sat on the cold stone, hands trembling in his lap with his heart beating furiously against his chest. He was only wearing his bright orange swim trunks of all things, shirt and shoeless in this gloomy and grime covered city. The faint blue of the odd rippling dome above him reflected on the gray stone around him. It shimmered in dull waves, almost as if water passed over it and reflected down on his surroundings.


    A pool of blood dribbled down the staircase to his right. The weird jackal like humanoid that had attacked him lay motionless there, the blood originating from its head where it had been caved in from a wild back handed swing from Adam. His ankle burned from where the beast¡¯s claws had dug into him, causing him to trip.


    It had been lucky he grabbed a free stone as he scrambled back. A piece of rubble from one of the crumbling statues of what looked like an ancient Greek soldier nearby. The creature had nearly eviscerated him with its razor-sharp claws, and he felt lucky it had only connected with his ankle. The creature had stood on two legs - nearly as tall as he was - with intelligent yellow eyes and thin muscular frame. A white cloth with golden borders covered its waist and wrapped over its back to fall over its shoulders in the front. Though it was now stained red.


    He had been wandering aimlessly around the strange city, debating whether he was stuck in a dream or if his hallucinations had gotten that much worse. That¡¯s when he heard a voice echoing from down an alleyway and called out for help. To say he was startled when bright yellow eyes glowed from the darkness followed by a jackal like humanoid standing on two legs would be an understatement. The creature had hissed and darted toward him - teeth bared with vicious looking canines. Adam ran, instinct for self-preservation well-honed through his time in the military far outweighing his curiosity of the creature.


    ¡°This has to be some sort of dream,¡± Adam huffed as he ran. The adrenaline rushing through him made him feel cold. ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital. Maybe some of the turtle¡¯s ointment got on my hands and I¡¯m having a bad reaction¡±


    He paused and looked around. ¡°Tim, if you gave me some of your hippy brownies again, I¡¯m going to throw you in the channel as the tides going out,¡± he said aloud, praying he was sleep talking.


    He had been told he did that often and this was clearly a dream. It was too physical for one of his hallucinations, too detailed. It was the only logical explanation of a creature that looked like Anubis from ancient Egypt attacking him in what looked like an underwater city¡­ Right? But this didn¡¯t feel like any dream he had ever been in before. He was too lucid. Too in control of his own thoughts. Not the random stream of memories that he so often woke with. Even more odd were those strange words that had appeared before him when he had woken up here.


    You have been teleported to an area with sufficient Primordial Energy to sustain your body.


    Adam leaned back and closed his eyes, resting his head against the stone. He made sure to keep far from the blood seeping from the weird creature. Even if this was a dream, he didn¡¯t want to lay his head in a pool of blood. Heart hammering in his chest, Adam sucked in deep breaths trying his best to calm his racing mind. He had been here for at least eight hours, and even though he couldn¡¯t see the sun, the area he was in was growing noticeably dimmer. If he didn¡¯t find some help soon, he¡¯d be wandering around in the dark.


    The only sign of life he had seen this far had tried to kill him and his surroundings were like nowhere he had ever been before. The stone buildings seemed ancient, yet oddly well preserved. The buildings were ornamented with intricately carved columns and archways. The streets were clean and well paved, and the air felt cool, like he was in a cave, but there wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of a breeze.


    A deep growl pulled Adam from his thoughts, and he sat up, rubbing shaky hands against his eyes. Down the cobbled street stood what looked like an eight-foot crocodile. Only¡­ it had humanlike legs. Its entire body was covered in green and white scales and Adam could even make out gold piercings in each of its nostrils. A white cloth with golden borders wrapped around its waists that hung to cover its groin to its mid-thigh. Its chest rippled with muscle he was sure normal crocodiles didn¡¯t have. More striking were the eyes. Yellow eyes that showed the same spark of intelligence the jackal like humanoid had displayed. Its snout was long with wicked rows of sharp teeth and its hands ended in long sharp claws. Behind it, a tail flapped on the ground in a puddle, splashing the water with a loud smack.


    ¡°Huuuumanitass¡± The beast seemed to say. Its voice was distorted and gargled as it pushed the words through its teeth. As if it knew his language but found it hard to make his mouth move in an organized enough pattern to produce the words.


    ¡±Yup. Definitely a dream.¡± Adam said. Staring at the beast and then back at the jackal like creature he had killed. ¡°Either that or Tim has really outdone himself with his home-grown concoctions this time.¡±


    The beast dropped to all fours, arms and legs moving in a surprisingly fast crawl as its tail swayed from side to side behind it. It growled again, eating up the distance between them quicker than an Olympic sprinter. Adam could swear he felt the heat from its breath even from the few hundred feet between them.


    Adam turned to run. Maybe he would wake up if he was eaten by this twisted crocodile, but who wanted to be eaten? Even in a dream that sounded painful. ¡°Wake up. Wake up. WAKE UP.¡± He shouted as ran.


    He looked over his shoulder and saw the beast catching up to him, the heat on his neck growing in intensity with every passing second. It jumped at him when it was still thirty feet away, tail swinging forward over its head in a wild arc. Adam heard it whistle as it rushed through the air. The tail slammed into the ground only a few feet from Adam, a veritable shockwave erupted from the impact as the beast somersaulted over it and rolled to stand on its feet.


    A wave of pressure shot from the spot of impact ¨C rushing toward Adam like the burst of air from a bomb going off. He had been unfortunate to feel it enough during his time in the Navy to be intimately familiar with the jarring sensation.


    ¡°Ohh shi¡­¡± his breath was knocked out of him as the wave of force threw him in the air, his body slamming against a stone wall of a building that was a good fifteen feet from where he was before. His vision went white as he slumped to the ground, pain erupting in the back of his head from where it connected with the wall. The all-consuming feeling of nausea settled over him as the world spun. He shook his head and took deep breaths, doing his best to ease the feeling.


    Damn but if that didn¡¯t hurt. Adam never remembered feeling pain in his dreams. And why hadn¡¯t he woken up yet? You¡¯d think being slammed into the wall from the concussive force of a crocodile tail would do the trick. But here he was, groaning in pain and blind. Still suffering in this cruel nightmare of death and violence. And the only thoughts he could bring himself to think was why he hadn¡¯t thought to put on something other than his orange swim trunks.


    Adam felt hot air blow over his face, a rancid smell of spoiled meat filled his nostrils as something rough squeezed over his already bleeding ankle. Sharp pain pierced his leg as it felt like knives were being shoved into his skin. He felt stone moving beneath him. Adam reached for what was dragging him with his free hand, flinching when his hand encountered what felt like the shingles of a roof. Overlapping scales with a sandpaper texture.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°What¡­ what are you doing to me? I¡­¡± Adam blinked his eyes repeatedly trying to get them to work. His vision came back slowly, and he looked up with blurry vision. Piercing yellow eyes looked down on him with pure malice.


    ¡°Let me -¡± Adam was cut off as the beast brought his tail down hard on his head. The rough scales ripping at his face and slamming his head into the ground again. This time he was knocked unconscious.


    ***


    (Eight Hours Earlier)


    Adam startled awake, shooting up with his hands in front of his face as he prepared for the wave of ice to hit him. His chest heaved as he sucked in deep breaths. The thunderous voice still echoed in his head that had shook him to his bones. The titanic figure that called for him while fighting off the grey wolf. He had never seen them together, even in his dreams. They had always appeared separately, each terrifying in their own way.


    When the hallucinations first began a few years back, the figures had only appeared in his peripheral vision or as distant voice or snarl. Then the strange figures had invaded his dreams so that even his sleep wasn¡¯t a safe place any longer. They had only worsened overtime. His mandated therapist had said it was how his mind processed the trauma he had witnessed. She promised they would subside on their own, if he gave his mind time to heal. Adam had stopped going to her when the hallucinations forced him to retire from the SEALs.


    He kept his eyes squeezed shut until nothing but the gentle ocean breeze of an early summer morning brushed his face. The hammock on the deck of his Grady White swayed with the soft winds. The booming voice of the titanic figure replaced by the sound of seagulls chirping overhead. He let out a deep breath, soaking in the warm ocean air. The smell of salt pulling him back to the present. This had been far better for him than therapy ever was.


    After his time in the SEALs, he had taken his earnings and bough a boat. He had always loved the water, and marine biology was his first love. Moving to the keys seemed like a good start. Besides, he could sleep on the reef on calm nights and not waste the gas getting back to shore. That, and when no one was around to bother him, he could largely ignore the voices in his head.


    He stretched his arms above him, a smile spreading across his face as his bare feet landed on the soft rubber he had put over the old cracking plexiglass. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a great day.¡± Adam said aloud. He spent most of his time alone and had gotten in the habit of talking to himself aloud. It was good for a person to hear the sound of a voice, even if it was your own - or so he had read once. He didn¡¯t count the growls of the wolf or the distant booms of the titanic figure.


    He moseyed over to the cabin where his coffee machine sat already brewing a pot. While it finished, he rummaged through his scuba gear that had occupied his bed from the night before. They were releasing Bertha back into the wild today. He had spent the last year with the old leatherback in the turtle hospital after he found her out on the reef one day, and she was finally ready to be set free. He wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world.


    ¡°Deadgummit.¡± Adam murmured as he rubbed the back of his head. The regulator on his scuba gear had cracked. Still, he could always ask Tim to bring him out another one this afternoon. In the meantime, he would just free dive the reef. It was only about twenty-five feet deep here. Not enough that he couldn¡¯t gather some good data on a single breath hold. Still, it was another problem that needed addressing.


    He made his way to the back of his Grady and sat on the rear deck over where the ladder was supposed to be. It hadn¡¯t been there when he bought the boat, so he put a cushion there. His feet dangled in the cool Atlantic water as he sipped his coffee. He was parked just off Sombrero Beach along the reef surrounded by crystal clear blue water. He stared down at the bottom like he did every morning and could just make out the first signs of life as the reef fish emerged from their homes amongst the coral.


    Something flashed in the morning light on the seabed. A bright iridescent blue in a bed of white sand. Adam looked closer, putting his hands over his eyes to try and cover up the glare from the sun on the water around him. The ocean rippled slightly making it difficult to see exactly what the shine of blue was. He was sure it wasn¡¯t there a minute ago.


    Adam finished his coffee and ran back into the cabin to grab his mask, not wanting whatever it was to get caught in the current and drift into some lobster hole. He slipped on his bright orange swim trunks not bothering with his wet suit or flippers. This would be a quick in and out.


    He took a deep breath and dove into the water, a smile spreading across his face as he jumped. This was the perfect way to start the day. As he hit the water, he quickly spotted the iridescent shimmer and swam toward it.


    The small object seemed to glow. It was the purest blue he had ever seen ¨C mesmerizing in its shifting hues that rippled beneath the water. He swam closer, growing more intrigued by the second. It looked like a hexagonal crystal that belonged in a royal treasury. Sharp edges cut in perfect symmetry made up the outside. The center seemed to hold a depth that defied its size. It was as if he was staring into the abyss of the ocean. Layers upon layers of shifting blue refracting on themselves against the outside light.


    As he dove closer, he noticed the water growing warmer. That was odd¡­ He made a mental note to take some water temperatures in the area. A lot of sea life could be affected by rapid increases in water temperature.


    He dove further, the crystal just barely out of reach now but the water had grown exponentially warmer. He felt like he had jumped into a jacuzzi and not the cool Atlantic waters. He had the feeling that he should stop. Return to the surface to get some tools to take some readings, but he couldn¡¯t. It was as if his body was forcing him toward the crystal. Urging him to keep going despite the growing heat.


    Adam reached out, his fingertips brushing the edge of the mesmerizing crystal. Before he could grab it, his body stiffened as a searing pain shot through his hand and up his arm. He nearly blew out all his air as he pushed himself back putting some distance between himself and the crystal, vision flashing white for a second. Adam¡¯s mind started to race. He felt his lungs burn with the urge for air as he just blew all of his out, but his body still wouldn¡¯t listen. He was fixed in place, feet floating just a few inches off the ocean floor.


    The crystal floated off the ocean bed and began to spin a few feet in front of his face. It turned faster and faster. A light sparked to life deep in the center of the seemingly endless chasm that the crystal held.


    Adam tried to move. Tried to swim back to the surface. He felt as if the last dregs of oxygen in his lungs was being pulled from him as the crystal created a vortex with the force of its spin. His attempts were in vain as the crystal only pulled him closer with each passing second. The water bubbled around him, the heat growing further as blisters appeared on his skin.


    The light within pulsed faster until it became a constant glow. Adam¡¯s lungs burned, his vision flashing as the need for oxygen consumed every cell in his body, but he couldn¡¯t pull himself from the rotating crystal. The iridescent blue he had seen from the surface was being burned into his eyes until all the sudden the crystal stopped rotating, a pulse shooting out of the center in all directions. The burning in Adams body had reached a crescendo. It felt like his very veins had been filled with fire and still, he could do nothing but watch the odd crystal before him.


    It floated toward him as if of its own free will. The current had no effect on it. Adams mind had gone blank, the outside world forgotten along with the dire need for oxygen. He was consumed by the crystal approaching him until it was only a fingers breadth before him.


    A moment of fear overtook him as he watched on with horror. A fear he hadn¡¯t felt since being trapped behind enemy lines; certain he was going to die. He tried again to move. To do anything other than float helplessly, but it was in vain. The crystal pressed against his chest, the burning multiplying as the crystal seemed to fuse with his sternum ¨C the odd blue light sunk into him and dispersed beneath his skin giving his normally golden tan color a glowing blue quality instead.


    The blue light beneath his skin faded in slow pulses as he watched. He had no idea how long he was underwater, but the need to breath suddenly seemed a distant thought, replaced by an odd peace. The burning in his veins had turned to a comforting warmth, as if he was sitting by a fire in the winter. His skin had stopped blistering, even changing back to its normal smoothness.


    His vision darkened until he could see nothing. He could feel nothing. It was as if he was floating in a sensory deprivation tank until suddenly¡­White writing appeared before his vision. He wasn¡¯t sure if the text was real or if it was just in his mind. Either way, he was left even more confused. Had he died?


    You have successfully absorbed the soul skill [Essence of a Primordial]


    [Essence of a Primordial] Blessed by providence, or perhaps luck, you are the first of a new generation. Regardless of circumstance, you have formed a pure connection to the Primordial Energy that makes up the universe. Your pure access to energy ensures that it cannot be affected by those around you.


    Your body has been infused with a small amount of Primordial Energy, however, the ambient energy in your area is insufficient. You will be transported to an area with sufficient Primordial Energy to sustain your growth.

 Chapter 2

    Adam woke to a skull splitting headache. It felt like someone had hammered a thousand nails into his head and when they ran out of room they began to drill. He kept his eyes squeezed shut, trying his best to block out the throbbing behind his eyes. It felt like he was back in his college days when he woke up from a night out at the bars until 3am. What the hell kind of dream was that to leave him like this. There was some weird Anubis-like creature and even a crocodile humanoid¡­ He almost thought he was in some sort of Egyptian nightmare.  Maybe he had a little too much of Tim¡¯s under the counter Rum the night before? Or was that a few days ago?


    Adam groaned, trying his best to sit up, his eyes still firmly pressed shut. He strained, feeling something tighten around his chest preventing him from moving. He tried to bring his hands to his face only to find straps around both wrists as well.


    ¡°What the¡­¡±


    Adam opened his eyes, blinking rapidly to clear the blur. It was dark out ¨C the only light a slight orange flickering that illuminated a stone wall beside him and a grey stone ceiling above him. His mind raced as he realized he wasn¡¯t on his boat. The stone beneath his back finally registering to his senses. He strained against the straps binding him, leg flaring with pain.


    A loud thud sounded next to his ear sending a current of air over him. He turned his head, the only thing he found he could move freely at this point, to the crocodile humanoid from before sticking a needle into the neck of the jackal like creature. He connected the needle to a long clear tube that coiled into a satchel that hung around his neck. His movements were fluid and steady, as if he had done this a thousand times.


    Adams breath caught in his throat. He held it on instinct, hoping the croc wouldn¡¯t turn toward to him to find him awake. The events of the past day came back in a rush. He had been transported to what appeared to be an abandoned city, killed what he had always known as an Egyptian god of old, and then attacked by a freaking crocodile. And then there was the weird text that had appeared before him like notifications in a game.


    As he thought it, another notification popped up in front of him.


    As a newly enriched world, the Primordial has arranged guidance to help the people of your world adapt. Notifications will appear occasionally to help you navigate this new world.


    The crocodile stepped toward Adam, tail flicking slightly as if in anticipation. The notification vanished as Adam looked toward him. Adam stared back at the creature, eyes narrowing. It had noticed he was awake, and he wouldn¡¯t show weakness no matter his situation. It wasn¡¯t who he was.


    The crocodile opened its jaws wide, a deep growl emanating from its chest. ¡°Tam facile mentiri te ac respirationem.¡± The words came out gargled and deep, but clearly enough. A wave of hot rancid breath hit Adam in the face.


    Adam was horrified at first that the crocodile had spoken. He was sure he had imagined it before. But this time... He was even more surprised that he thought he understood some of it.


    Facil¡­Respirationem¡­ ¡°Easy breathing?¡± Adam murmured aloud. It was Latin. Something he had taken in high school to score better on the ACT but stopped when he got to college. It was supposed to be a dead language.


    The beast merely shook its head as it leaned over Adam, a needle similar to the one he jabbed in the jackals neck heading for his arm. He pushed against the leather straps again, straining to do anything other than lay there helplessly.


    He wasn¡¯t a small guy. Six foot two and built like a tank. He had played football and wrestled in high school and then spent five years in the Navy SEALs, but these straps didn¡¯t budge in the slightest. The beast smacked him with its tail, making his ears ring and the headache flare again.


    He glared at the croc, spitting a mouthful of blood at its feet. It snorted at him, seeming almost amused at Adam¡¯s defiance. A second later he felt a sting in his left arm and looked down to see the needle sticking out, a trickle of blood falling to the stone below. The crocodile connected a similar tube to the one he had to the jackals needle to his, only this time dark red blood began to flow along the clear tubing and into the satchel around the beasts neck. He reached a hand inside the satchel and a soft hum started a second later.


    Warning. An external force is attempting to drain the Primordial Energy from your body. Due to your [Essence of a Primordial] skill, no energy is able to be siphoned.


    Adam stared at the message having absolutely no idea what it meant or what this Primordial Energy was, much less his supposed skill. Regardless, he doubted having his blood drained from him was any better. He strained against the bindings again, arms and legs flexing as he pushed. All he managed was to push blood into the tubing at a faster rate.


    The crocodile didn¡¯t strike Adam this time. Instead, he stared at the tubing, head cocking to the side slightly as if it was confused. He looked in his bag, reaching his hand in again and fiddling with something that Adam couldn¡¯t see.


    A second later he kicked Adam in his side and muttered something else in Latin that he couldn¡¯t make out. Adam grunted, his body straining against the straps as he tried to curl up by reflex but was held back. The croc put its foot on his chest, pressing more weight onto him. For the first time Adam noticed the beast wore sandals, the kind he had seen in movies the ancient Egyptians used to wear.


    ¡°Dimitte industriam tuam, humanam¡± The croc said, staring down at Adam.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want from me. I can¡¯t understand you.¡± Adam said through clenched teeth.  ¡°I¡­¡± The beast stomped on his stomach, blasting the air from his lungs.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Dimitte industriam tuam. Humanam!¡± It said again. More forceful this time.


    As a being infused with Primordial Energy, you have access to an inherent translator. Would you like to activate this function?


    ¡°Yes¡± Adam wheezed aloud. He would have curled in a ball on his side if he could have but instead ended up just barely lifting his head. He had no idea how to interact with whatever this Primordial Guidance system was and only hoped his audible confirmation was enough.


    Translator activated


    The crocodile kicked him and asked the question one more time, this time Adam understood it as if he was speaking English.


    ¡°Release your Primordial Energy, human¡± Oddly he recognized that the beast was speaking Latin even as he understood it as English.


    Adam stared back at the croc, unflinching beneath its gaze. He had been tortured before. Tied up, beaten, humiliated, and worse. There was nothing this croc could do to him that he hadn¡¯t already lived through. Other than eat him perhaps.


    ¡°Even if I knew what you were talking about, what makes you think I would do anything you said.¡± Adam said back, voice cracking as he tried to work some moisture into his mouth.


    The croc snorted again. ¡°You lie as easy as you breath.¡± It responded, its tail slapping on the ground in a clear threat. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you are blocking the siphon, but I can make this much more painful.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s some soul skill that¡¯s doing it, not me. So, I couldn¡¯t stop it even if I wanted to. You mind as well do whatever you¡¯re going to do because when I get out of here I¡¯m going to turn you into a nice pair of boots and ¨C¡°


    The croc leaned down, snout pressing against his chest as it took a deep breath, its scaly hand covering Adam¡¯s mouth and cutting off his empty threats. It pulled back again, yellow eyes taking in every part of him. It reached a long nailed finger toward him. Just before it reached his chest, the beast slammed its tail into the ground, flinging itself to the side.


    The movement sent a bag over his head, leaving him now blinded and only able to hear. A sharp clang rang out beside him where the beast had just been. Adam tried to wriggle the bag off his head but was wildly unsuccessful as it just seemed to settle further onto him.


    Growls and grunts filled the air as there was clearly a struggle happening behind Adam. He heard the sound of the crocs tail slapping against stone, rapidly shifting around the room he was in. The attacker was far more quiet, the only noise Adam could make out was a soft grunt or the clang of something metal striking stone. The struggle continued for a minute until he heard deep breaths through an eerie silence in the aftermath of whatever fighting had been going on.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t over.¡± Adam heard the croc say. The other party didn¡¯t say anything in response, only giving what sounded like a dismissive grunt.


    A minute later Adam heard the soft thuds of feet walking toward him. He continued to struggle against the straps holding him down, though his struggling was in vain as he ended up just wiggling on the ground in what he imagined was the sad interpretation of an inchworm.


    The bag was pulled from his head a second later, bringing him face to face with a human that looked like he had been chiseled from stone. The man staring down at him had an almost bronze complexion, shoulder length curly brown hair and chiseled jaw that looked as if it could rip through steel on its own. His eyes were a sharp grey interspersed with flecks of bright white. He wore a simple sleeveless brown leather jerkin and matching brown leather pants. Most striking were the tattoos on his forearms that wound up from his palm to his elbows. They looked like mountains, but it almost appeared to Adam as if they were shifting on his skin.


    The man studied Adam, his eyes flashing over him quickly. He frowned as he saw his orange swim trunks. Adam gave a helpless shrug as if to say how was he supposed to know he would be transported to some lost city where he¡¯d be fighting Egyptian gods.


    ¡°You do that.¡± The man said, nodding his head toward the humanoid jackal beside them, its head still caved in, though it had stopped bleeding. The man¡¯s voice was deep and seemed to reverberate in his chest.


    ¡°I uhh. Well, it kinda just happened.¡± Adam said as he studied the man, trying to figure out what was going on in his head. He could tell he was speaking Latin as well, but he didn¡¯t seem to be with that crocodile creature.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t feel like finishing the job?¡± He said, sounding annoyed at Adam for some reason.


    Adam had no idea what he was talking about and was honestly growing sick of being expected to just know everything that was going on.


    ¡°Look man. I have absolutely no idea what is going on here. One second, I was diving to get a crystal I saw from my boat and then¡­¡± Adam stopped, realizing he remembered what he was doing just before being sent here. His mind spun as he went over the events. The crystal. The blinding pain. The weird notification that he had gained something called a soul skill and now had access to Primordial Energy.


    ¡°And then?¡± The man prodded, still standing over him.


    ¡°Could you please just get me out of this thing?¡± Adam replied, refusing to give any more information until he was free.


    The man studied him a second longer before he reached his hand to the side. His eyes glowed blue for a second as a light flashed in his right hand. A jagged sword appeared an instant later. Its surface shimmered slightly with hues of blue and white that danced along the shifting edges of the sleek blade. Adam studied the sword, his hair rising on end as if in response to the pure power emanating from the weapon. He felt as if he was looking at lightning made solid.  Before Adam could admire the blade more, the man brought his arm down in a swift motion that cut through the straps binding Adam. It was done with such speed that Adam didn¡¯t even have the time to realize a sword had been mere centimeters from slicing off his hand.


    Adam rubbed gingerly at his wrist where the bindings had dug into his skin while the strange man walked over to the humanoid jackal. In a motion just as a rapid, he brough the sword down across its neck separating its head from its body in one clean slice. Small arcs of blue lightening flickered across its body.


    Adam flinched back, shocked at the sudden display of unnecessary violence. ¡°Why¡­ why¡¯d you do that?¡±


    The man looked back at him, clearly confused. ¡°Because you didn¡¯t kill it.¡± He said matter of factly. ¡°Did the other Eldari get to you before you could?¡±


    Adam stared at the decapitated beast, not sure how it couldn¡¯t have been dead from what he had done. A few moments passed and then the body began to disintegrate rapidly before his eyes. Black particles that shimmered in the air began to float up from the disappearing corpse. They were¡­ beautiful. It was as if he was staring at the substance that made up the very essence of the universe. He watched the little motes dance in the air feeling like the longer he looked he was about to grasp something just out of reach.


    The particles were pulled from the air before he could appreciate them any longer. Sucked in a vortex into a cannister at the other man¡¯s belt. Just as quickly, the feeling Adam had that he was about to discover something was gone.


    Again, Adam stared at the strange man, no idea what to say or where to go from here. He seemed to realize what Adam was thinking as he shifted his weight and cocked his head to the side.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on here? Do you?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Adam replied, a little more forceful than he meant to. ¡°Like I¡¯ve said multiple times. Why no one chooses to believe me is beyond my comprehension. Apparently, I now have access to something called Primordial Energy. There¡¯s such a thing as skills which are apparently magical abilities like in a game. There are freaking creatures that are half person half animal that can talk and don¡¯t seem to like humans too much. And on top of all of that, I¡¯m somehow fluent in Latin now.¡± Once Adam started talking, the words just flowed out of him, and he found it difficult to stop.


    ¡°What kingdom are you from?¡± The man asked, completely ignoring everything Adam had said.


    This only unnerved him even more as his jaw hung open, his eyebrows knitted together.  ¡°Kingdom?¡± Who spoke like that? He thought of saying Florida, but if the man was from another planet - which he had to be from everything Adam had seen, that or Adam was going crazy. Well crazier than he already was. The Haldol injections were supposed to help with that but never seemed to do the trick.


    ¡°Yes. How did you end up in this trial? There were very specific requirements and this Kingdom only reached minimal threshold of Primordial Energy a few hours ago.¡±


    Trial? What the hell was this guy talking about? ¡°Umm. I guess my Kingdom would be Earth?¡± Adam said, his tone more questioning than sure.


    The man paced back and forth, arms folded across his extremely broad chest. ¡°I was wondering why we hadn¡¯t seen Ellis¡¯s tracker pop up.¡± He said aloud. ¡°Nothing to be done about it now, I suppose.¡± He turned back toward Adam and walked up to him, extending a hand. ¡°The names Caius Arconius. If you have any interest in surviving more than a few more hours, you should come with me back to my team.¡±

 Chapter 3

    Adam looked at the outstretched hand of Caius for just a second before reaching out his own. He had been raised on the idea you could learn a lot about a man from their handshake - and Caius¡¯s said that he could rip him limb from limb with his bare hands if he wanted.


    It was a quick shake, and the man didn¡¯t seem to mean to cause any discomfort, but his grip was like his hand was being clamped by iron vices. Adam refused to wince though, gripping the man¡¯s hand firmly in response.


    ¡°Adam Rose,¡± he said. The tension dissipated a little between them. Though Adam doubted the man ever really felt any in the first place.


    Caius was a good two inches taller than him with lean muscular arms. With the man so close, Adam could feel a palpable energy coming off him. Like he was in the presence of a person out of myth. For the first time in a long time, he was shocked to feel intimidated by another man.


    Adam looked down where a small light pulsed from the last remnants of the jackal that weren¡¯t sucked into the cannister at Caius¡¯s belt. The light pulsed faster and faster until it was a steady iridescent shimmer being emitted from a small red crystal pyramid. Not as bright as the crystal he had seen on the ocean floor, but similar none the less. He stepped back, remembering the pain that had racked his body from his last experience.


    Caius turned and looked down at the crystal. "That''s not too bad. I wasn¡¯t sure how long that would take in this region with the low Primordial Energy, but it wasn''t much longer than others I''ve seen." He stepped forward and knelt, hand reaching for the crystal.


    Adam sucked in a sharp breath. "Stop" He called. He didn''t want Caius to experience the same pain he had if he could stop it. Not that he knew the man, but he had saved him and seemed normal enough, minus the medieval look and frightening strength. "I touched one of those and all the sudden I woke up here. Who knows where this one will send you."


    Caius stopped and looked back at him - his brows knit together. "Skill Crystals? Are you crazy? I don''t think there''s a better feeling in the world. Besides, I''m not going to use it right now." He snatched up the crystal, inspecting it between two fingers.


    "Arm skill. That''s a lucky find this early." He looked back up at Adam and tucked the crystal into a pouch at his belt, tying a string off to keep it closed. ¡°We need to get back to the others. We¡¯re too exposed here and the Eldari will be back with others soon.¡± He turned to make for the opening of the large warehouse looking room.


    He didn¡¯t think there was a better feeling in the world? Did Adam find himself with some kind of masochist that thought excruciating burning pain was enjoyable? Regardless, he figured his best chance at survival was with Caius and whoever the others he was talking about were. Adam had trained extensively in the art of survival, but he had the feeling that training wouldn¡¯t provide much benefit in this strange city if there were people like Caius walking around.


    ¡°The Eldari?¡± Adam asked.


    Caius sighed and turned back toward Adam. ¡°The Eldari are the humanoid beasts. The jackal and crocodile are both considered Eldari, even if they are different species. We can get into everything and answer the thousands of questions I¡¯m sure you have later. For now, we really need to get going. With only one of my skill slots filled, I¡¯m confident against one, but no more than that.¡± He looked down at Adam¡¯s bare feet. ¡°And I think I might have some extra shoes for you at our camp. You¡¯ll just have to tough it out until then.¡± With that, he turned and made for the exit, not giving Adam the chance for any follow up questions.


    Adam looked around the empty warehouse for a few seconds and then to Caius¡¯s back as he walked at a brisk pace toward the exit. He shrugged to himself, not being one to get caught up in questions he wouldn¡¯t find answers to now. Something drilled into him during basic training. He jogged after Caius, his ankle burning from the injuries earlier, coming to the man¡¯s side quickly so he wouldn¡¯t be left behind. It was nearly pitch black wherever he found himself, and it wouldn¡¯t do to lose sight of him. As far as toughing it out went, that was right up his alley.


    As they exited the empty building, Adam was more surprised to see a faint blue light glowing all along the stone around him. It provided enough light to see everything as clearly as if in the day, just with a neon hue. He looked closer at the lights, seeing small algae patches beneath.


    ¡°Bioluminescence. Amazing. I¡¯ve never seen it on such a grand scale before. I have to¡­ I have to get some samples.¡±


    ¡°Adam. Focus. It¡¯s just the native algae. Whatever you want to test it can be done later.¡± Caius said, seeming almost amused by his reaction. He stared at Adam a second longer and shook his head slightly. ¡°I have a feeling you and Finn are going to drive Ava crazy.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Right.¡± He said hurriedly, eyes still fixed on the algae. Then it hit him just how absurd of an idea it was to want to collect samples right now. ¡°Wait, who¡¯s Finn and Ava?¡±


    Caius ignored the question and broke out at a jog, hurrying through the city streets as if he had lived here his whole life. Adam followed and was thankful that Caius wasn¡¯t going too fast, even though he was used to long runs, it wasn¡¯t as fun barefoot.


    Adam was still able to admire the city as they jogged. The narrow streets lined with stone buildings illuminated by the glowing algae. The buildings were all the same dark stone, barely warn by the passage of time or weather. The streets were an even cobblestone of dusty white stone.


    There were frequent intersections of winding roads and bridges that spanned some of the taller buildings.  The longer they ran, the streets grew wider. Buildings grew smaller and more spread out. He noticed sprawling fields not too far ahead, the edges barely illuminated from the glow of algae around. It was noticeably darker here than where they were when they started running, though Adam still had enough light to run comfortably without fear of tripping.


    The oddest thing was the absence of sound. It was as if the stone absorbed all noise, leaving the only thing Adam could hear the footfalls of Caius and himself and the panting of his own breath. He had heard no other living creatures ¨C humans, animals, or those Eldari creatures. Not even the chittering or buzz of insects coming from the fields.


    Caius pulled to a walk as they neared what looked like a field of mutated corn. It was three times the size of the corn he was used to and a deep violet color. He looked back behind him toward where they had come from, brows rising in awe at the scene.


    Before him sat a glowing stone city that he would have seen on an Epic Fantasy TV show. They had climbed in elevation slightly on the run, leaving them looking back down over a city that he couldn¡¯t even see the end of in either direction. Tall stone spires the equivalent of modern day sky scrapers were placed in a circle around the inner most part of the city. Most breathtaking of all was the pyramid in the very center of the city.  It towered over every structure around it, a sharp point reaching toward the dome like structure far above. It made the pyramids in Egypt look downright small compared to it.


    Interestingly, none of the algae that seemed to cling to the rest of the buildings in the city could be found on the pyramid¡¯s surface. At least not that Adam could see. Its surface was a polished white with gold accents every so often that ran in a band around it. The point on top was a mini golden pyramid itself that seemed to float above the larger pyramid beneath it. The entire thing emitted a faint glow, bathing its¡¯ immediate surroundings in a warm white light.


    ¡°This is¡­ amazing.¡± Adam said, struggling to find the right word for the scene before him. He had decided not to get caught up in the why of what was happening to him and to instead embrace it as much as possible. If it was a dream, he would wake up eventually. And if it wasn¡¯t. Well, he would have to make the most of it anyways, so why bother with worrying over things he couldn¡¯t control. His time in the Navy had taught him to take things as they came.


    ¡°It¡¯s a grand gathering array.¡± Caius said, noticing what Adam was fixated on. ¡°It helps draw in more Primordial Energy to this area than normally would be found here. I¡¯m not sure how it appeared on a newly enriched world though.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°And more Primordial Energy is a good thing?¡±


    Caius just shook his head, a bewildered smirk on his face. ¡°We¡¯re not far now. Like I said, you¡¯ll have all the answers we can give you soon.¡± He turned to keep jogging, this time cutting straight through the strange fields.


    Caius was true to his word as they only jogged through the fields for another fifteen minutes before coming to a small barn in a clearing surrounded by the tall violet corn stalks. The building was made of the same dark grey stone as all the other buildings Adam had seen and was similarly covered in blue algae. He was extremely thankful to see they were coming to a stop as his ankle throbbed from the run.


    A striking girl with long blonde hair and sharp features came out of the building as they entered the clearing. She had fair skin, accentuated even more by the black leather armor she wore. On her arms were thin green tattoos that looked like the branches of trees and vines that wound around her arms and ended on her hands. Adam could just make out vines of green crawling up her neck and disappear behind her hair as well. Her eyes were a deep emerald with just a touch of brown.


    ¡°Who the hell is this?¡± The girl said, walking up to Caius. She looked over Adam, eyes studying him from head to toe.  She lingered on his dirty bare feet and orange swim trunks, then studied his arms and the retinue of odd tattoos he had acquired over the years, making a disgusted face. ¡°And where is Ellis? I didn¡¯t agree to come here just to be stuck without our frontliner. Also why is this stranger half naked and shoeless? Are you some kind of vagrant?¡± She said, turning on Adam.


    ¡°This is Ava,¡± Caius whispered to Adam. ¡°She¡¯s our healer.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean our healer?¡± Ava said, walking straight up to Adam. Her head only came to his mid-chest, but she stared up at him, eyes burning and a scowl plastered on her face.


    ¡°Ava,¡± Caius said, his tone stern, but more in the overly familiar manner you would take with a close friend. ¡°This is Adam Rose. It would appear something happened as the new world reached minimal threshold and Adam took the place of Ellis somehow. That¡¯s why we haven¡¯t been able to sense his tracking stone.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean something happened? We all walked through the same portal. Those portals were more expensive than anything any of us have seen and the chance of some random squire slipping through is quite literally zero. Even you prince.¡± Her pale face grew redder by the second.


    Prince? Was Caius some sort of royalty where they came from? Why would he be in a place like this?


    Caius shrugged in response.


    ¡°Five towns in our faction will be without Primordial Energy for at least a year and you¡¯re saying that something must have just magically happened. That, other than me, we¡¯re without the most important person for our survival.¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡± Caius wasn¡¯t fazed by her tirade and just stared down at Ava. ¡°It would appear so. Adam said he is from a place called, Earth. I think he¡¯s from the new Kingdom.¡±


    That seemed to catch Ava¡¯s attention. She was still uncomfortably close to Adam who wasn¡¯t sure what to do with himself, so he just stood there awkwardly.


    ¡°Umm, hi.¡± Adam said. ¡°I¡¯m a marine biologist. Well, trying to become one anyways. Do you have those where you come from?¡±


    Ava¡¯s face had turned a deep shade of red by now. She huffed and then turned back to Caius. ¡°Did you do this somehow?¡± She said, jabbing a finger into Caius¡¯s chest. ¡°I know the tension between your families. His father¡¯s been growing in popularity especially with the war ramping up again. There¡¯s plenty of damage specialists but a good frontliner is hard to come by. His family¡¯s protection skills are legendary, and the crown was feeling the pressure. Weren¡¯t they? I know how much you hated Ellis.¡±


    Caius let out a long sigh, turning back to Ava as if already exhausted by the conversation. ¡°Ava, honestly, I couldn¡¯t give two shits about the power plays between the Kings, but I wanted Ellis here as much as any of you, even if he is an insufferable ass. He¡¯s the best there is hands down. But he¡¯s not here and we¡¯ll just have to make due with what we have.¡±


    His tone was level and calm as he spoke, never condescending or commanding. That seemed to drive Ava even crazier. She threw her hands in the air and walked back toward the small barn, a stream of curses coming out of her mouth. ¡°I mean do you even know how valuable his Indominable Guardian skill is?¡± She disappeared behind the barn leaving Caius and Adam alone again.


    ¡°So. I¡¯m guessing she¡¯s not too thrilled at the change of plans.¡± Adam said. He couldn¡¯t blame her. He wasn¡¯t particularly happy about it either.


    Caius laughed in response, rubbing the back of his head. ¡°She¡¯ll come around. Ava¡¯s always had a quick temper. It burns hot and fast and then she settles down, but she¡¯s the best healer there is hands down. We¡¯re lucky she agreed to hold off on filling her skill slots and advancing to Baron so that she could come on this trial.¡±


    Adam had so many questions it was difficult not to just blurt them all out at the same time.  ¡°And this Ellis? He was some sort of Tank that was supposed to be here?¡± Adam didn¡¯t know if that was the right word but it¡¯s what he imagined Ava was talking about. He was starting to feel like he was trapped in a video game, which at one time would have been the most exciting thing he could think of.


    Caius looked at him. ¡°Tank?¡± He repeated the word. It sounded odd in his mouth as if he was pronouncing with a mouthful of water.


    Adam realized that he had said it English, not the translated Latin he had been speaking in. Apparently, the translator didn¡¯t work for everything¡­


    ¡°Oh sorry. I guess you don¡¯t have the word for that in your language.¡± He struggled to find the words for a second. ¡°Was he kind of like a defender? Someone that stands at the front and takes most of the damage?¡±


    ¡°Ahh yes.¡± Caius replied. ¡°He was our frontliner, as we call them. It¡¯s difficult to find a good one. Especially when working outside large scale battles and more fit for team-based environments. The skill sets and tactics are vastly different. It¡¯s really more of a matter of finding the right combination of pre- Primordial Energy training and understanding and synergy with the direction you want to take your skill sets. Then you have the genetic component. The problem is that most high tiered families focused on damage or healing as they are the safer options, so their young grew into those fields of study. As with Ava and I. Ellis is one of the rare exceptions. His father is¡­¡± Caius looked over Adam realizing he was completely lost. ¡°Sorry. The inheritance and creation of skill sets is something I am deeply passionate about. I forgot for a second that you had no idea what any of this was.¡±


    Adam couldn¡¯t help but smile back at Caius. He knew exactly what it was like to get caught speaking about something that the person on the other side of the conversation had absolutely no idea about. It broke some of the mysticism that had been built up around Caius in his brain and he began to see him as a real person for the first time.


    ¡°That¡¯s all right. I genuinely look forward to learning all about it. If you¡¯re willing to teach me that is.¡± And Adam meant it. This was a chance to learn about an entirely new world. How could he not be excited? ¡°But I have to ask. Do you really feel comfortably bringing me into your team so quickly? I mean Ava¡¯s not wrong to doubt my presence here.


    Caius stared at him, his brows pushed together as if he was studying Adam.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong.¡± He said quickly. ¡°I¡¯m thrilled to be here. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d survive without you, but I also know what it¡¯s like when a new person is inserted in a team where mistakes lead to death.¡±


    Caius must have seen the sincereness on his face as he clapped a hand on Adam¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I think we¡¯re going to get along just fine. Besides, there¡¯s absolutely no on in their right mind that meant to come to this trial that would dress like that.¡± He gestured to Adam¡¯s orange swim trunks. ¡°Alone. And so clearly in over your head. If you¡¯re some sort of spy from another faction or Kingdom that engineered being captured by an Eldari banking on me saving you, then you¡¯ve earned it.¡±


    ¡°Well, when you put it that way.¡± Adam said, rubbing the back of his head.


    Caius let out a low chuckle.  ¡°Come on.¡± He gestured to the stone barn. ¡°You need to meet the last member of the team.¡±


    They walked through the door to find a fire burning in a dug-out pit in the center. Next to the fire sat what looked like an eighteen-year-old kid. He had unkempt, curly, dirty blonde hair pulled back behind his ears and large glasses. He fiddled with something in his lap that almost looked like a pouch containing an endless void, not looking up when Caius and Adam walked over. He wore ornately crafted gold rings that had different color gemstones set into them on each finger.


    Caius and Adam watched the kid work for a minute before he looked up. ¡°Ohh. Hey Caius. I guess Ellis didn¡¯t make it then?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Caius said. A soft smile split his lips. ¡°But I did find Adam here. He was a little lost. I think he¡¯s from the new Kingdom. Adam this is Finn, the other damage focused specialist on our team.¡±


    Finn turned his attention to Adam. He had large green eyes that were even more amplified by his thick glasses. He looked Adam up and down, eyebrows raised. ¡°The dimensional forces that must have diverged at the exact moment to create this phenomenon is unprecedented - but not out of the realm of possibility. Master Manning theorized a similar event was possible given the imbuement of Primordial Energy in a native before their planet could support the new requirements of their body.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad somebody understands,¡± Adam said, the words slipping out. He had this awkward air about him but seemed genuinely kind at the same time. He reminded him a lot of his older brother. Well, before the incident. Still, he couldn¡¯t hold back the smile at the similarities.


    ¡°I like him,¡± Finn said as if passing judgment after studying Adam for a few seconds. ¡°Ellis was an insufferable ass. Besides, do you even know what a ridiculous opportunity it is to learn from a native?¡± Finn studied Adam in the same way Ava had, going over every detail of his body.


    ¡°Is it normal for your people to mark their skin with pictures of little devils showing their backside?¡± Finn asked, pointing at the tattoo on his shin of the devil creature that was in fact turned around and flashing its butt.


    Caius smirked and Adam couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He had gotten tattoos as a way to cope with everything he had done in the military. All he had witnessed. Even fighting the demons of his own mind. Most of the time he just told the tattoo artist to do something that would make other people feel uncomfortable and as a result had ended up with two full arm and leg sleeves. Finn had more of a scholarly interest it seemed though.


    ¡°No. This was just more of my thing.¡± He said, not bothering to explain his reasoning. ¡°Also, why are you calling me a native? I don¡¯t even know where here is.¡±


    Finn shrugged. ¡°I haven¡¯t been everywhere in my home Kingdom, doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not a native to the planet.¡±


    Adam had to concede the point. Finn and Caius¡¯s perspective were on more of a cosmic scale where he had only just found out about intelligent life outside of the Earth.


    ¡°You almost done with the dimensional storage sacks?¡± Caius asked, looking down at the void in Finn¡¯s lap.


    Finn reached a hand in the odd pouch before him, arm disappearing up to his shoulder. It was perhaps the most bizarre thing Adam had seen since waking up in this strange city. Even with the talking humanoid creatures attacking him and meeting people from other worlds ¨C or Kingdoms as they seemed to call them. There was something more disconcerting about an arm disappearing into something that shouldn¡¯t fit anything larger than a water bottle.


    Finn pulled out three other similar looking black pouches. He tossed one to Caius and one to Adam, a wide grin splitting his face as he did. ¡°I have to say it was particularly tricky overriding the dimensional capacity fields without my father¡¯s workshop, but these will hold up nicely for our purposes here. As long as we don¡¯t try and store a full building in them or wildly chaotic dimensional forces, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡±


    He stood and attached a belt to the original pouch and proceeded to wrap it around his waist. Adam was even more dumbfounded when he realized he was looking at a fanny pack. A fanny pack that doubled as a vault that could potentially store a mountain worth of material.


    He clipped it in place, sticking his arm in up to his shoulder a few times and pulling it out like a kid playing with a new toy. The inside of the pouch felt like the inside of a fridge. Any part of his arm that entered began to tingle, as if it had fallen asleep. Despite the terror of the day, Adam had the distinct feeling that he was going to enjoy this. Either that or die trying.

 Chapter 4

    Adam sat around the small campfire that Finn had apparently started with one of his rings with Caius and Finn. Caius had explained that Finn was what they called an elemental manipulator with an expanded interested in dimensional magic. The rings on his hands each represented a different element with some repeating that he used more often such as fire. The others were earth, air, water, and gravity. Caius had tried to stress just how impressive the fact that he focused in multiple elements was, much to Finn¡¯s quiet embarrassment.


    Ava returned a short time later and sat next to Caius, her anger from earlier gone. Finn tossed her a fanny pack that she promptly clipped around her waist, giving an appreciative nod back to Finn. She turned toward Adam, a challenging glare on her face. ¡°So, are you going to be our new frontliner or are we going to be stuck here with a dead weight who doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Ava,¡± Caius said as if talking to a child who said something rude, ¡°It¡¯s not his fault he¡¯s here. Besides, he had already pretty much killed an Eldari by the time I found him. I have a feeling he¡¯s not going to be a dead weight for long. And you know I¡¯m normally spot on with these things.¡± He glanced over at Finn with the words.


    ¡°Maybe not. But that doesn¡¯t change the fact that we¡¯re hung out to dry because of him. You¡¯ve read the reports of how these trials are. During the last Kingdom Rising, only five of the Knights made it out alive and that was with teams that had worked together for years. And there¡¯s others where the Eldari killed every Knight sent. We need to know what we¡¯re getting ourselves into by bringing him on with us. Otherwise, we might be better just going out on our own and trying to support one of the other Kingdoms or even factions from ours. I¡¯d rather make it back home and risk one of the other Kingdoms getting stronger than die here.¡±


    ¡°Ava isn¡¯t wrong,¡± Finn said, his voice neutral as if he was just stating a fact. ¡°But I think we stand more to gain from keeping him around and teaching him, even if it makes things more difficult for a while. Besides, he even came up with a fun new name for our waist secured dimensional storage devices!¡±


    Ava stood up and faced Adam. ¡°Do you even know what we¡¯re doing here? Or why any of this is happening?¡± She asked more forcefully. It seemed her anger was flaring up again. ¡°Or are you a spy from one of the other kingdoms?¡± She turned back toward Caius. ¡°Or did that not even cross your mind?¡±


    ¡°He would be the luckiest spy in the world if he was one. He was about two minutes from being bled dry and doesn¡¯t have a weapon or even shoes. I mean for goodness sakes Ava just look at him. Does he look like someone who was prepared for a trial like this?¡±


    Ava¡¯s face was still cold as she turned back to Adam, her brows raised as she was clearly waiting for a response to her question.


    Adam looked at Finn and Caius who didn¡¯t say anything. He figured they were probably eager to hear his answer as well. Over the past thirty minutes while they waited for Ava, they had mainly just asked him random questions about Earth. What industries did the planet specialize in? Did they fight with melee weapons, bows, or magic? They were baffled when Adam told them there weren¡¯t healers like Ava and he had to explain the concept of hospitals and health insurance.


    ¡°I¡­¡± He paused staring back at Ava. He had never been the type to fold in front of someone¡¯s scrutiny. It¡¯s what made him such a good wrestler. It¡¯s what made him defy everyone telling him he would never make it as a Navy SEAL. It¡¯s even what got his arm broken in seventh grade when he refused to back down to a bunch of high school bullies that wouldn¡¯t leave his brother alone.


    ¡°I honestly have no idea what¡¯s going on here. Last thing I remember, I was on my boat and dove in the water because I saw a crystal at the bottom of the ocean. I had no idea what Primordial Energy was until about ten hours ago and to be honest I still don¡¯t know what it is. I was dropped in this abandoned city with creatures that come from legends on my world and nearly killed¡­ twice. I didn¡¯t even know a person had skill slots, and honestly still don¡¯t know what that is, and all the sudden I have something called a soul skill. I¡­¡±


    The other three all stood up at once. The flood of questions that followed from all three was honestly more alarming than Ava¡¯s cold gaze ever was. He looked at each of them, trying to get a word in but failing.


    ¡°You have a soul skill?¡±


    ¡°Ohh you have got to be kidding me.¡±


    ¡°Truly fascinating. The emergence of a soul skill. I¡¯ve read the histories but never thought I would see one in person.¡±


    ¡°What does it do?¡±


    ¡°I feel the need to mention that it could be quite possible that our new friend Adam here is misinterpreting what he is feeling. Perhaps it is a domain skill?¡±


    The others burst into a tirade of more questions and comments that went over Adam¡¯s head. He stared back at them with a blank expression and put his hands up in a placating manner. Eventually the stream of questions and comments slowed to a stop until they were just standing around the fire while Caius, Ava, and Finn all examined him.


    ¡°Is anyone going to tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± Adam asked eventually.


    Ava raised her hands up and huffed out a breath. That drew a laugh from Finn and Caius gestured for both of them to calm down.


    ¡°A soul skill is exceedingly rare. One in a factions history, rare. There are some old writings detailing the first king of our Kingdom having a soul skill, but since then, not one has been recorded since, and that was over ten thousand years ago. It¡¯s something that is so rare that honestly, we can¡¯t even give you a good answer of what it means.¡±


    ¡°The first king being your great grandfather.¡± Ava murmured.


    Great grandfather? Adam¡¯s eyes widened at the implication. Did these people live for thousands of years? Does that mean his life expectancy had just greatly increased as well? Assuming he wasn¡¯t killed in whatever this trail was that is.


    ¡°And the reason the Arconius line is still in power.¡± Finn said, practically vibrating with pent up excitement. ¡°It means we get to study the emergence of a soul skill on a newly enriched planet during a Kingdom Rising. It is not an understatement to say that many would quite literally burn down Allaris for this opportunity.¡±


    Caius gestured for Finn to calm down again. ¡°The only advice that I can give is to tell no one else that you have such a skill, regardless of what it does. I know my uncle and the other Duke¡¯s well, and I cannot overstate the lengths they would go to control you for their own favor.¡±


    ¡°Or just silence you completely.¡± Ava murmured.


    Caius shot Ava a glare and she shrugged. ¡°That goes for you two as well. By providence or coincidence, Adam was brought to us, and we won¡¯t betray his trust. This secret is his and his alone to share.¡±


    His voice was hard and cold, as if a new side of him was bleeding through. It sent a shiver down Adam¡¯s spine. Finn hurriedly nodded, clearly just excited at the chance to study something new. Ava gave a curt nod after a few seconds.


    Adam never liked being the center of attention and he felt his face flush with all of them staring at him. ¡°I still don¡¯t really get what the big deal about it is. Finn¡¯s control over the elements with his rings is much more impressive to me. I mean I haven¡¯t even done anything with the skill yet. I don¡¯t even think I can do anything with it. I might as well just be a normal person.¡±


    ¡°The big deal is that you are getting an extra skill slot that the rest of the cosmos doesn¡¯t have. While we¡¯re all stuck with six skill slots, you conveniently get seven.¡± Ava said.


    ¡°And what exactly is a skill slot?¡± Adam asked. He was picturing a video game like interface where skills could be swapped in and out, but it couldn¡¯t be that simple.


    Ava covered her face with her hands while Finn chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s what allows people like us to use Primordial Energy to affect the world and ourselves. Typically, a person only has six skill slots that are¡­ awakened, for lack of a better word, by the use of skill crystals throughout the squire stage.¡± Finn said.


    Adam felt like the annoying kid in class who asked questions constantly, but he was finding with every answer he got he also got three new questions. ¡°And the squire stage is what? A stage you train under someone else at?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s where a person has awakened a skill slot but hasn¡¯t filled all of their skill slots yet.¡± Caius said, cutting off Ava from answering. ¡°It¡¯s what separates a normal person from a knight. In general, the more skill slots you have, the more Primordial Energy you are able to utilize, the more powerful you are,¡±


    ¡°Not to mention every surviving record of someone with a soul skill has reached the tier of King.¡± Ava murmured.


    ¡°And that¡¯s different than the king of your Kingdom?¡± Adam asked. ¡°Or do you have to reach the King tier to be a king¡­ Or queen. Or however your system works. Most countries¡­ sorry factions, on my planet don¡¯t have Kings.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to reach the tier of King to become the ruler, it just so happens to be the case in our home, though other factions are different.¡± Caius said.


    ¡°And because he is both a King and the king, he has access to more Primordial Energy, which I still don¡¯t understand what that is by the way, but it¡¯s supposed to make you stronger? So, the King is not only the most physically powerful person but also the most politically powerful? Seems like a recipe for a dictatorship.¡± Adam said.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Ava was red faced and looked to be barely holding back a tirade of curses toward Adam¡¯s ignorance. She looked to Caius for help.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s start with the basics.¡± Caius said, glancing toward the increasingly exasperated Ava. ¡°Hopefully this will clear up most of the questions you have and if not, we can always get to those later. We¡¯re going to have a lot of time together over the next few months.¡±


    Adam nodded. He could only go so far just winging it. Sooner or later, he would need some answers, and he was happy it was looking like he would get them sooner.


    ¡°To start, Primordial Energy is the central most unit of power in the universe. It makes up the very fabric of our reality and we, as beings infused with Primordial Energy, have access to that power that allows us to use skills and progress on the path to Kingdom. The more energy you are able to utilize, the more powerful you become.¡± Caius said.


    ¡°Is that what the black dust like stuff you sucked into the cannister at your belt was?¡± Adam asked remembering the enchanting black dust that the body had evaporated into.


    Caius nodded. ¡°A form of it. Though it¡¯s changed. That is base form of Primordial Energy that can¡¯t be directly used to fuel skills, but can be used for other things. It¡¯s essentially the currency of our world.¡±


    ¡°The problem is, for all intents and purposes, there is only a finite amount of Primordial Energy in a Kingdom.¡± Finn said.


    ¡°What do you mean for all intents and purposes?¡± Adam asked.


    Primordial Energy isn¡¯t truly finite, but increasing at a rate so slow that it might as well be. It limits the amount of people that can ascend along the path and further creates massive conflict between Kingdoms and Factions in order to control more Primordial Energy. Also, according to the law of energy conservation, Primordial Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed which leads to a much larger economical conversation. Which is why the Primordial Energy that dissipated from the Eldari you and Caius killed earlier is still Primordial Energy, just a changed from. This doesn¡¯t even take into account the eternal conflict with the Eldari.¡± Finn added.


    ¡°We can get to the Eldari later. He¡¯s already seen them and from what Adam has mentioned they seem to have been to his planet before.¡± Caius said.


    ¡°Yeah. Like that¡¯s not an ominous sign or anything. For all we know he could be one of them.¡± Ava said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a bloodthirsty beast whose goal is to eradicate the Allied Kingdoms, are you?¡± Finn asked?


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± Adam replied. ¡°Also I don¡¯t know what the Allied Kingdoms are.¡±


    ¡°There you have it. He¡¯s one of us.¡± Finn said. Which earned him an aggressive eye roll from Ava. ¡°The Allied Kingdoms are the coalition of humans, elves, and dwarves that have banded together to fight the Eldari. You being human, are naturally one of us.¡±


    Caius continued again, cutting off any questions Adam was about to ask about elves and dwarves. ¡°There are six tiers along the path with the first beginning when a being learns their first skill. It triggers the change in their body infusing them with Primordial Energy and allows them the opportunity to walk the path. The tiers are based on the amount of Primordial Energy you are able to conduct through your body, beginning with squire, then Knight when you have filled all your skill slots, then Baron, Viscount, Duke, and finally King.¡±


    ¡°Though that¡¯s not the only delineation between the tiers.¡± Finn added in.


    ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is that the more Primordial Energy I am able to¡­ utilize, the more powerful I¡¯ll become. What exactly can I do with this Primordial Energy then?¡±


    ¡°The possibilities are endless.¡± Caius said. ¡°It¡¯s also based on the individuals understanding of their abilities. Someone with an elemental skill like Finn but no understanding of the fundamentals of the elements themselves could be useless. Where Finn can create fire on his own, another might require an existing source of fire to manipulate.¡±


    ¡°There are very specific requirements to progress to the next tier and some people get stuck at bottlenecks. Otherwise, you would get idiots growing in power with no idea of how to control them.¡± Ava said. ¡°It¡¯s a recipe for disaster and in the few cases where it happens, innocent people die.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Simple enough so far, I guess.¡± Adam said. ¡°I don¡¯t understand how you ended up here though. Or me for that matter. There¡¯s no such thing as Primordial Energy on my planet, at least not that I know of.¡±


    ¡°This is where it gets interesting.¡± Finn said, his voice going up an octave. ¡°We have seen signs of a Kingdom Rising for years now. It¡¯s what we¡¯ve been training for. Caius, Ava, Ellis and me. Well, we were one of a few hundred potential candidates but ended up scoring the best at the academy and then absolutely waxed the other teams in the Allaris tournament.  So, when the Primordial Energy reached minimal threshold and the portal was activated, we stepped on through. The dimensional forces surrounding the portal are actually quite fascinating. Taking into account the gravitational pull and sub dimensional travel¡­¡±


    ¡°Finn.¡± Ava pleaded, interrupting his ranting. ¡°Please stay on topic.¡±


    ¡°Right. Sorry.¡± He said. ¡°Anyways, when a Kingdom rises, or reaches minimal threshold of ambient Primordial Energy to support the planet, a trial of sorts opens. It¡¯s been going on since after the second kingdom rose and no one is sure why or how it happens, only that it is a chance for the separate Kingdoms to grow their own access to more Primordial Energy in all its forms. The Eldari want to control it for their own kind as do the Allied Kingdoms for ourselves. Although there appears to be more infighting between the factions of the Allied Kingdoms even though we¡¯re all technically part of the same coalition.¡±


    ¡°Finn¡­¡±


    ¡°This trial is really a battle between the Allied Kingdoms and the Eldari to see who will control access to the new Kingdom.¡± Finn said, ignoring Ava.


    ¡°And if a Kingdom controls the new Primordial Energy source sprouting , they also expand their access to the limited amount of Primordial Energy, increasing their own power.¡± Adam continued, linking the pieces. It was kind of like oil on his planet. Countless wars fought over controlling the substance that seemed to make the world turn. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why a Kingdom wouldn¡¯t just send their strongest people through if it was that important?¡±


    ¡°Because the new kingdom doesn¡¯t have enough ambient Primordial Energy to sustain them yet. The source is like a newborn, so to speak. Those who require more Primordial Energy would just end up in a comatose state struggling to survive while their bodies greedily soaked up all the Primordial Energy available. This world can barely sustain knights at this point. That¡¯s why there¡¯s only four of us from each Faction. ¡± Caius said. ¡°While there¡¯s only three known Kingdoms, there¡¯s many factions across each. With one Kingdom solely in Eldari control, one in our control, and one in conflict.¡±


    ¡°So why wouldn¡¯t a Faction just send more people Adam asked. ¡°Even if it was just a bunch of knights. If Primordial Energy really is that precious and the single most valuable resource, I would think that a Faction would try and steal the spots for themselves.¡±


    ¡°Because Primordial Energy is far too complicated for even the most brilliant minds of the cosmos to understand.¡± Finn said. ¡°Not to mention the insane expenditure of Primordial Energy to open one of these portals. A single Faction could never afford to open more than one.¡±


    ¡°We just happen to be from the Faction of Allaris on the Kingdom of Olym which was founded by Caius¡¯s great grandfather, the first King of our Faction. We¡¯re from a Allied Kingdoms controlled planet, thankfully.¡±


    ¡°Who founded it over ten thousand years ago¡­ and he¡¯s your great grandfather?¡± Adam asked. The realization that they were only three generations removed from the man despite the ten millennium that had passed. It also wasn¡¯t lost on him that Finn had mentioned that his planet was. ¡°How long do people live on your world?¡±


    ¡°Depends on the tier. Life span gets longer with each tier as your body is able to hold more Primordial Energy. Common people only live seventy to one hundred years with each tier increasing your life span by about double.¡± Finn said.


    Adam sat with his mouth agape at the news. If what they said was true, all he needed to do was fill his remaining skill slots and his life span would be longer than one hundred and sixty years. He was essentially a child in the grand scheme of things.


    ¡°Allaris is also the most powerful Faction on our Kingdom which is one of the main reasons we¡¯re here and not some others. I have no doubt there are some individuals from other factions that are more talented than Finn or me that would have been more appropriate for this trial along with Caius and Ellis, but that¡¯s not how politics work.¡± Ava said.


    It was a lot of information at one time with obviously a lot of underlying social interplay between Factions and Kingdoms that Adam didn¡¯t understand, but he could imagine just based off the politics of his own world. ¡°Then what exactly is the point of this trial? I mean how do you win. If you¡¯re not only facing the Eldari, which I assume we¡¯ll have to eliminate completely, but other Allied Kingdoms. Is there some sort of end goal?¡±


    Caius tensed slightly, looking at the other two who stared into the fire. ¡°We¡¯re not exactly sure.¡± He said after a few moments. ¡°The records of the previous three trials are scattered and inconclusive. The only thing historians agree on is that each one has been different. You are correct that we will most likely have to eliminate all the Eldari, and potentially others that should be allies based on the orders their elders have given them.¡±


    ¡°Which is why it¡¯s such a big deal that you took the place of Ellis. This isn¡¯t a large-scale battlefield where one individual doesn¡¯t mean much. It¡¯s combat where skill level and teamwork are paramount down to every individual. One person not pulling their weight means death.¡± Ava interjected. ¡°Ellis was just as skilled of a frontliner as any dwarf. And now were stuck with not only a clueless human, but one that doesn¡¯t even have a useful defensive skill.¡±


    ¡°Ava.¡± Caius said. ¡°You know you can¡¯t blame Adam for being here.  I doubt he wanted this any more than we did.¡±


    ¡°No, Caius.¡± Ava said, rising to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m not being rude or unreasonable here. We¡¯re already in the most dangerous position possible and now our situation has only been made worse. We need answers. Maybe one of the other Allied Kingdoms or other factions of our Kingdom had something to do with this. Maybe it was an accident. But we need to know one way or the other.¡±


    Adam nodded, wanting answers himself. He let out a deep breath and calmed himself. ¡°Look,¡± he said, facing Ava directly. ¡°I don¡¯t know why or how I got here. That¡¯s the honest truth. But the fact is, I am here, and there¡¯s nothing we can do about that now. Maybe we¡¯ll get answers and maybe we won¡¯t, but I¡¯ll fight as hard as any of you to get back home. I¡¯ve been in wars, seen battle and death. I¡¯d wager more than all of you combined, and that hasn¡¯t stopped me yet. I won¡¯t let this stop me either.¡± Adam stopped, realizing he had said a little more than he wanted as he got carried away in the moment. A stiff silence followed.


    ¡°Hell yeah, brother.¡± Finn said a few moments later, breaking the tension. Caius smiled and shook his head lightly and Ava seemed placated for the moment.


    ¡°There¡¯s still something I don¡¯t understand.¡± Adam said. ¡°Why would you want to come on this trial if it was so dangerous? What¡¯s the incentive?¡±


    Caius looked down at the fire, lips pulled tight. Finn answered instead. ¡°The short answer is power. These trials have historically provided astronomical opportunities. The reward is so great that the risk is worth it. What those opportunities are is hard to say while here. If we come home victorious, integrating an entire new Kingdom under the influence of our own, that would be more than worth it alone. We would be showered with riches, our families set up for generations to come.¡± He glanced at Caius as he spoke, as did Ava.


    Adam nodded, not pressing the issue as Caius had visibly tensed. He was sure there was more to the story there. With at least a base knowledge now, he was more curious about the skill slots they were speaking of. Because who wouldn¡¯t want crazy magical abilities that used Primordial Energy as the fuel to run it.


    ¡°Can you tell me more about these skill slots. As Ava so eloquently put it, I¡¯m as good as useless despite my intentions. And if I want to be any help, seems like I¡¯m going to need some of these skills.¡± Adam said.


    ¡°In general, each person has access to six skill slots that grant abilities. Two arm skills, two leg skills, a body skill, and a domain skill. These skill slots are granted by small crystals formed of Primordial Energy like the one we found earlier in the Eldari¡¯s body.¡± Caius said, clearly relaxing in the shift in conversation. ¡°These skills can range anywhere between summoning a weapon or armor to calling down fire from the sky, to healing or construction. The possibilities are endless.¡±


    ¡°You found a skill crystal?¡± Ava asked. Genuine excitement clear from her for the first time.


    Caius nodded. ¡°And we also killed an Eldari. Well Adam essentially killed it I just helped a little at the very end.¡±


    ¡°Truly auspicious.¡± Finn whispered.


    ¡°What does your soul skill do?¡± Ava asked.


    It seemed the conversation had shifted rapidly again away from what Adam was truly curious about, but he was happy to go along. They had answered all of his questions, it was only right he returned the favor. ¡°I don¡¯t remember really¡­ I only got to look at it for a few seconds before waking up here.¡±


    ¡°Just imagine you want to view your skills. A brief description will pop up before you for a small cost of Primordial Energy.¡± Finn supplied.


    Adam took a slow breath and did as instructed. He was surprised by how intuitive it was. All it took was for him to think of skills just as Finn had directed and a list popped up in front of him. He nearly fell back in shock.


    Skills:


    Soul Skill: [Essence of a Primordial] Blessed by providence, or perhaps luck, you are the first of a new generation. Regardless of circumstance, you have formed a pure connection to the Primordial Energy that makes up the universe. Your pure access to energy ensures that it cannot be affected by those around you.


    Arm: -


    Arm: -


    Body: -


    Leg: -


    Leg: -


    Domain: -


    Primordial Energy 99/100


    Adam studied the text in front of him with wide eyes.


    ¡°Quick learner.¡± Caius noted. ¡°What does it say?¡±


    Adam told them, unsure whether it was a good skill or not. It seemed rather underwhelming to him, pretty much just indicating that he had access to Primordial Energy.


    ¡°Remarkable.¡± Finn said. ¡°The implications. Does his use of Primordial Energy effect ours? Are we drawing from the same pool or can he access types of Primordial Energy that we can¡¯t? I mean who knows what it means. If I could just have a few months of your time to run some test.¡±


    ¡°Seems pointless to me. Doesn¡¯t make him stronger or supply any useful abilities¡­ Seems like it just told him he can now access Primordial Energy. I got all worked up for nothing.¡± Ava said, mimicking Adam¡¯s own thoughts.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s more than meets the eye.¡± Caius said. ¡°How about we try and¡­¡±


    Loud bangs echoed through the stone barn and the ground beneath them began to shake. A growl like grating rock emanated from the entrance to the barn. Adam turned to see what looked like a volcanic stone golem squeezing its way through the entrance to the barn. Its body circular with three stocky stone legs and four arms. It filled the eight-foot doorway, leaving just a few inches on each side as it peered in. Its chest was a churning vortex of onyx stone.


    ¡°Eldari?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°No.¡± Ava said shooting to her feet along with the others. ¡°That¡¯s a Stone Sentry. We¡¯re in deep shit.¡±

 Chapter 5

    Adam had no idea what a Stone Sentry was, but judging by the other¡¯s reactions, he didn¡¯t think it was a good thing. He jumped to his feet as well. With years of his life spent responding to life and death situations, he felt oddly comforted by the familiarity. Still, he wasn¡¯t sure how he could help so he ended up standing still, knees bent a little just out of instinct and being told his whole life that would make responding easier.


    The others burst into action immediately. Finn spun his hands around making a complex series of shapes while the purple rings on his finger glowed brightly, pushing a violet reflection from his glasses onto the surroundings. Caius sprinted directly at the stone monstrosity, a sword appearing in each hand and Ava had both hands pointed toward Caius. Adam could just make out a thin stream of green weaving through the air between them that spanned from Ava¡¯s hands to Caius¡¯s back.


    A crackling of purple appeared around Caius as he jumped, soaring far higher than Adam had ever seen a human jump before. He nearly reached the ceiling before a thin veil of purple appeared around him again and he plummeted like a meteor toward the Stone Sentry.


    A sound like stone slamming against pavement reverberated through the barn. Dust billowed out from the impact site and Adam covered his eyes. When he looked back, the Stone Sentry stood unmarked from the attack with Caius standing before it, his two jagged swords held at the ready, small arcs of blue lightning dancing between them.


    The Sentry burst into motion, the bottom half of its body rotating and moving independently from the top. Two of its arms dropped in a fall of stone toward Caius who dove out of the way, bringing both swords across its arms in a slashing motion. The Sentry¡¯s attack barely missed him, a small crater forming in the ground where it had hit. It followed Caius, using the recoil from the ground to propel itself forward like a spinning top.


    Finns hands were outstretched now toward the fire with a ruby glowing brightly on both hands. The fire swirled around his arm and wound its way around his body in a serpentine torrent. He pointed at the Stone Sentry again, the fire moving in an explosive beam toward the monster who was still distracted by Caius dancing around it.


    The beam of fire impacted the Stone Sentry¡¯s back, flowing into it in a constant wave of searing heat. It was like nothing Adam had ever seen. The stone grew red, then yellow, then to a bright white. Adam could feel the heat from where he was standing, and it was stifling. He felt like the very air in the room burned his lungs as the inside of the barn was turned to an inferno. Finn pushed harder, the stream of fire that had been circling him had long since been exhausted. Still, more flames poured from his hand as the rubies on his fingers glowed brighter and brighter until they were just as white as the fire.


    It lasted for another five seconds before Finn dropped his hands to his side, chest heaving as he sucked in deep breaths. His hands were blistered and red and sweat poured off him. He looked to Adam like he had just run a marathon in the south Florida heat in the middle of summer.


    A stream of green brushed over Finn as Ava focused on him and Adam watched his hands heal before his eyes. The skin on his hands rapidly knit back together. Finn nodded toward her in thanks.


    Adam turned his attention back toward the Stone Sentry who had completely ignored the attack, still focused on smashing Caius into the ground. Its back a glowing red where Finn had aimed the torrent of flames. The rock almost looked¡­ soft.


    ¡°Hit its back where Finn blasted it.¡± Adam called out. He looked around him, searching for anything that he could use to help. There were only small stones on the ground around him from debris that had been knocked off the Stone Sentry¡¯s body.


    To his side, Finn was extremely pale. Sweat still poured from his brow as his chest heaved. Ava was focused on Caius, the stream of green energy flowing from her to him, but he could tell she was growing increasingly tired with each passing second. She too was growing pale, her arms trembling as she held them out. Caius, for his part, was starting to lag as well. Each swing of the Stone Sentry¡¯s arms coming closer with some landing and sending him tumbling through the air. His only saving grace was the Stone Sentry¡¯s decreased movement. Its legs having been whittled down by Caius¡¯s relentless assault.


    ¡°Over here you overgrown geode.¡± Adam called, acutely aware that insulting the monster probably wasn¡¯t the best idea. He threw some stones he had gathered - aiming for the point on its back. If it had a weakness, it had to be there.


    Caius was hit with a crunching blow to his ribs and flung to the side. His body rolled across the stone, only coming to a stop when he slammed into the barn wall. Ava screamed, pouring everything she could into the green energy flowing toward him. Caius lost his grip on his swords, and they scattered across the barn. One of the blades skittered to a stop at Adam¡¯s feet.


    The Stone Sentry lumbered toward Caius. Its gait slow and unstable as Caius had carved them to thin spires of what they had been before. Adam jumped when the ground  began vibrating slightly before the chipped off pieces of rock started to roll toward the Sentry and attach back to its body and legs. Some of the stones even rumbled up and began to patch themselves over the still glowing spot on its back that Adam had been throwing at. He only now realized he had probably been helping the creature by throwing stones at its back.


    His entire life, Adam had thrown himself headfirst into danger, and he didn¡¯t see the need to stop now. It was natural at this point, like it was what he was born to do. He sprinted toward the jagged sword on the ground in front of him, a jolt running up his arm as he lifted the shockingly heavy sword. It felt like he had just grabbed an electric fence and a forty-five pound dumbbell instead of a thin piece of jagged metal. Still, he held on, grabbing the hilt with his other arm to manage the weight better. Unfortunately, this sent another spasm up both arms.


    He rushed the Sentry, hefting the sword toward the rapidly closing glowing spot on its back and slammed the point in, feeling the blade slice into the molten rock. A crunching roar came from the Sentry as the top half of the body rotated, stone arms swinging in a furious arc that slammed into his body.


    Adam was flung through the air, pain erupting in his chest. As he flew back, Adam noticed small eddies of white swirl around him. He braced for impact, but his body came to an abrupt halt just inches before he hit the stone wall. The eddies of wind flickered for a second longer before coming to a stop and he was dropped on the ground with a thud, his ribs screaming in pain.


    He looked up as a warm sensation fell over his body, encompassing him and easing the pain around his chest. He tried to talk but felt no air moving through his lungs as it all had been blasted from him. Instead, he found himself just pointing toward Caius who was back on his feet and going toe to toe with the massive stone monster. Ava nodded and refocused on him.


    Caius weaved in and out between the Sentry¡¯s blows. He ducked, side stepped, somersaulted and dove between blows that would have caved in his head, the strikes barely a fingers breadth from making contact. He was swordless, just doing his best to keep the attention on him. He moved at a lightning pace, even faster than he had before. Finn lay face down by Ava, the only sign he was even still rise and fall of his chest with each breath. That had to be from him over exerting himself to stop Adam from slamming against the stone wall. He would have to thank Finn if they made it out of this alive.


    Adam let out a low groan as he struggled to his feet. He refused to be a burden. To sit by while these others fought while he was useless. It just wasn¡¯t who he was. Adam stood and charged the Sentry, grabbing Caius¡¯s other abandoned sword as he did. He gripped the handle, feeling the same shocking pain shoot up his arm as the prior time but he shoved the pain to the back of his mind.


    He jumped toward the Sentry¡¯s back when he was only a few feet away, which he realized when he was in the air was a horrible thing to do in combat. The Sentry turned toward him, stone hand already extended and caught him in the air. It held him aloft, two burning embers for eyes staring directly at him. He could feel the heat from scorching his skin from where Finn had blasted into it with his torrent of flames. The beast held him aloft, seeming content to let him dangle there in his failure. Adam wouldn¡¯t let this stop him. Afterall, the sword was never actually for him. He tossed it toward Caius, praying that he could finish the Sentry. A warm tingling enveloped him as Ava focused her healing abilities on him once more.


    Throwing the sword must have angered the Sentry as Adam felt his body cave under the pressure of the Sentry¡¯s grip contracting around him, slowing pushing in on itself as the fist of stone closed tighter and tighter around him. His vision blurred, then darkened at the edges until he could just barely make out anything before him. The last thing he saw was Caius¡¯s jumping form, snatching the sword he tossed out of the air, a smirk adorning his face as he raised the sword toward the Sentry¡¯s back.


    He had the fleeting thought that it can¡¯t be good to pass out this many times in one day before darkness enveloped his mind once more.


    ***


    Adam jerked awake, his arm punching out in front of him as the memory of the Stone Sentry holding him aloft surged to the front of his mind. A firm hand caught Adam¡¯s fist and pinned his arm to his side.


    ¡°A fighter through and through,¡± a calm voice said. It was Caius. He released his grip on Adam¡¯s fist and sat back down by Ava.


    ¡°Well at least we know he¡¯s not a pansy. An idiot maybe, but not a soft one.¡± Adam could feel the warm touch of Ava¡¯s healing magic probing his body as thin tendrils of green connected him and Ava.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°What¡­ What happened?¡± Adam said. He was slowly coming to his senses as he sat up. His head felt like it was about to implode and his ribs felt like they had been cracked in multiple places.


    ¡°Well. You decided it would be best to charge into a Baron level opponent with insufficient knowledge of its strengths, weaknesses, or any general knowledge of the world you¡¯ve found yourself in. Armed with a weapon you don¡¯t know how to use and without the slightest shred of armor. All in all, I¡¯d say it turned out quite well for you.¡± Finn said. He flashed a crooked smile toward Adam.


    ¡°A little foolhardy, but you showed great instincts and quick reactions. Given the situation, I¡¯d say we couldn¡¯t have asked for a better response. Your tactics and actual maneuvers in battle can be trained and honed, but you can¡¯t teach guts.¡± Caius said. He reached a hand toward Adam and pulled him up. ¡°I doubt there are many who would have jumped in like that in your situation. Besides, you played the perfect distraction to set up the killing blow.¡±


    Adam stood slowly, a little wobbly on his feet but he quickly gathered his senses. He nodded appreciatively toward Caius but felt awkward with the praise. ¡°I was just trying to help. Not sure I really did much to be honest.¡±


    Ava stepped forward and placed a hand on his side, pushing more of her odd healing magic into him. He felt his ribs shifting beneath the torrent of warm energy and a few seconds later his body was back to new. ¡°I feel the need to apologize. I was too hard on you at first. We no doubt would have been better off with Ellis here, but you performed admirably given the circumstances. Ultimately, I¡¯m not sure we would have survived without you.¡±


    Adam let out a small laugh at the back handed apology, though he couldn¡¯t blame her. They would have been better off with this Ellis here. Even if he was some insufferable ass.


    ¡°We¡¯re just lucky the Sentry only appeared to have access to one skill. Perhaps a function of it being so early in the trial. There¡¯s no doubt more, and they¡¯ll only get more powerful as time passes. We need to shore up our strategies and get some skill slots unlocked.¡± Caius said. ¡°We also need to talk about how we could have improved and what we did wrong.¡±


    ¡°Ohh come on, Caius.  Give us a few minutes. Adam just woke up and Finn is likely still struggling from energy deprivation. Hell, I was close myself to running out. Another minute of healing and I would¡¯ve been tapped.¡± Ava said.


    ¡°No. It is best to review a battle immediately, when it¡¯s fresh. We learn from our mistakes and don¡¯t make them again.¡± Caius said, sounding like a coach talking to his team following a tough loss. ¡°Finn you can¡¯t burn through all your Primordial Energy like that. It was a strong blow, but far too risky. Not to mention you only used two aspects of your [Elemental Rings] ability.¡±


    ¡°I agree with Caius. Directly following an exercise is the best time to review events. The longer we wait the more we lose.¡± Finn replied. ¡°As for my energy expenditure, I deemed it the most logical course of action at the time. While my gravity manipulation opened well for a powerful joint attack with you, the attack proved futile. The source of fire being readily available allowed me something to draw from without having to create my own as I would have with water. The Sentry was too heavy and too powerful to be affected by anything other than flames. Therefore, I poured everything I could into one blast, either to burn straight through the Sentry or create an opening.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate the effort, Finn. Your logic is sound and ultimately provided the opening for the finishing blow. But you left yourself unconscious and a liability. If the Sentry had decided to lumber its way over to you it would have exposed us even more having to move your body. We need you mobile, even if it means you can¡¯t create as powerful attacks. I¡¯d wager you could have held off a bit and still created the same opening.¡±


    Ava sighed. ¡°I guess we are doing this now.¡± She tapped her lip as if struggling to think of something she could improve upon. ¡°Other than keeping you idiots alive the entire fight, I suppose I could have managed my energy expenditure better as well. My [Healing Stream] skill isn¡¯t overly expensive, but I ran it pretty much continuously even when you didn¡¯t need it. I panicked with the Stone Sentry and overreacted by healing when you didn¡¯t need it.¡±


    Caius nodded appreciatively. ¡°And I was overly cautious and didn¡¯t utilize the lightning aspect of my [Armament of the First King] skill. I thought it wouldn¡¯t have any affect against the stone but I clearly didn¡¯t account for the core of the Sentry. I was fighting conservatively even after Finn gave us an opening with his all or nothing gambit. I should have capitalized on the opportunity and trusted in Ava to keep my health up if caught.¡±


    The group grew quiet for a second, seeming to think back over the fight.


    Adam coughed. ¡°I guess I could have gotten some shoes and a shirt before the fight. Maybe an actual skill that could help contribute other than hollow insults.¡±


    The others laughed, breaking the tension that had settled over them. ¡°You really looked like a crazy man charging a Stone Sentry in nothing but orange underwear. That story is going to get some serious laughs when we get back home.¡± Ava said.


    Adam looked down at his swim trunks. ¡°Ohh, these aren¡¯t underwear. They¡¯re swim trunks.¡±


    ¡°Why would you wear swim trunks when grabbing a soul crystal? Seems like a ridiculous choice.¡± Finn said.


    ¡°How was I supposed to know that I¡¯d end up transported to some crazy trial?¡± Adam exclaimed. He was feeling oddly bonded with the other three. He wasn¡¯t one to make friends quickly, not that he didn¡¯t get along with people just fine, just that he didn¡¯t particularly like many people. He found most lazy and annoying, especially after he had left the military. ¡°If I had known I would have worn some combat gear!¡±


    The others laughed again, the mood lightening even more, but Adam couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of fear that he wouldn¡¯t make it back home for a long time. If he even could make it back home. Not that he had all that much to go back to, but he couldn¡¯t stand the thought of leaving his brother behind.


    ¡°Speaking of skills, I think it¡¯s time you got an actual skill that can help keep you and us alive.¡± Caius said, pulling Adam back to the present as Caius grabbed a dark gray crystal from his dimensional fanny pack. It looked similar to the previous crystal he had found but was in the shape of a cube and had what looked like a burning ember in the center. He gripped it between two fingers and held it out toward Adam. ¡°This was left from the body of the Stone Sentry. We all talked about it and agreed that you should be the one to use it. It¡¯s a body skill crystal, and a powerful one at that.¡±


    Adam stared at the cube. The pain from the last crystal he had used rushing to the forefront of his mind. ¡°Are you sure? Wouldn¡¯t we better off with one of you gaining another skill?¡±


    ¡°Strategically speaking, our overall tactical ability would be greatly increased by you getting a skill. Otherwise, you¡¯re more likely to die or just get in the way. Besides, you earned it after that showing.¡± Finn said. Adam was quickly coming to really enjoy the young man¡¯s company. He was quirky and startlingly straight forward, but had an earnest air about him that couldn¡¯t be faked, much like his brother.


    ¡°Just take the crystal.¡± Ava huffed. ¡°Even if I would likely get a ridiculous healing ability from that one, I can make due with my [Healing Stream] for now.¡±


    Caius pushed the crystal closer to Adam who hesitantly accepted, wincing as the crystal hit his hand as he half expected it to burn a hole in him or something like that. He let out a sigh of relief as no pain followed.


    ¡°How do you know this is a high tiered crystal?¡± Adam asked, examining the small cube in his hand.


    Caius suppressed a chuckle as he watched Adam¡¯s expression of relief. ¡°Because of the shape.¡± He replied. ¡°Skill crystals essentially come in five tiers and typically represent the potential of a skill, with some exceptions. But you don¡¯t need to worry about those.¡±


    ¡°Not to say that a low tiered skill can¡¯t be extremely powerful in the right hands, or a high tier skill squandered, but in general the potential is much higher with a high tiered skill crystal.¡± Ava added.


    ¡°Higher tiered crystals tend to come with far more utility as well.¡± Finn said. ¡°Where a Tier 1 crystal might allow you to put your hand in fire without getting burned, a Tier 3 could allow you to do the same, but also actively manipulate the fire in other ways. The increased variability is where the real value lays.¡±


    ¡°A crystal that looks like a thick needle is considered a Tier 1 crystal. In general, these are avoided by anyone who has any intention of going into combat and are mainly utilized by non-combat citizens such as farmers and tailors. They¡¯re relatively plentiful, but I¡¯ve never heard of anyone making it past Knight who filled their skill slots with these.¡± Caius continued. ¡°Tier 2 come in the shape of a sphere. This is the tier most in the army have. Still plentiful and the skills provided aren¡¯t as varied. It makes it easy to create strategies that work on a grand scale due to the similarity and simplicity in skills provided.¡±


    ¡°My father actually got a dimensional manipulation skill from a Tier 2 crystal. He¡¯s quite happy with it.¡±


    ¡°Well, your family is something of an anomaly.¡± Ava said to Finn. ¡°And we¡¯re speaking in general terms for Adam¡¯s sake here.¡±


    Caius ignored them and continued. ¡°Tier 3 becomes exponentially rarer and generally reserved for those deemed to have potential as future leaders or members of elite teams. They appear as small pyramids. The Kingdom will purchase these at great cost from any that come across them to get them in the right hands. They¡¯re essentially worth small fortunes.¡±


    ¡°But no individual is required to give up a skill crystal. At least not in our Kingdom.¡± Ava supplied.


    Adam raised his brows at that. In his experience, something that valuable wouldn¡¯t just be allowed to sit in the hands of a common person to do with what they want.


    ¡°What¡¯s that look for?¡± Ava asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I guess I just find it hard to believe that people wouldn¡¯t be forced out of their Tier 3 crystals if they were really that important.¡±


    Finn nodded, as if he had the same feelings regarding the situation. ¡°The Kingdom can definitely impose its will where it wants, in many ways that are wrong under the guise of the ¡®greater good¡¯. Luckily, this is one law in our Kingdom that is as set in stone as can be. Any reports of a skill crystal being forcibly taken or deemed unfairly influenced by external forces is met with the swift, public, and brutal judgement of the King himself.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not something that happens often. Maybe once in a generation when the memories of the last judgment have faded. My uncle is not a subtle man and makes sure to imprint the fallout on any that would think to replicate the act.¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s a good thing.¡± Adam said. He had similar ideas for his own society, but wasn¡¯t sure his more brutal impulses would be good for the rest of society. ¡°Is the only way to get one of these crystals by killing something?¡± Adam asked. He had to imagine that it would make murder a lot more common if that were that the case.


    Ava shook his head. ¡°No. But it¡¯s the most common way. The skill crystals are just extremely condensed Primordial Energy. It¡¯s possible to occur naturally. In fact, I¡¯m sure were going to find some laying around this city at some point.¡±


    Caius gestured toward the cube in Adam¡¯s hand. ¡°Tier 4 is represented by a cube, like the one you are currently holding. It¡¯s also the tier of each of our skills. Ava¡¯s [Healing Stream] is extremely powerful and cost effective. Most Squire and Knight level skills are one off casts with longer cool downs. Finn¡¯s [Elemental Rings] ability is one of the most rare magical weapon abilities giving him a broad range of powerful attacks and use in diverse situations, as long as he doesn¡¯t over extend himself.¡± Finn reddened at the comment. ¡°And I have a weapon summoning skill called [Armament of the First King] that allows me to summon the swords of my great grandfather. He was a legendary lightning wielder, and some of his power still remains in the swords I summon.¡±


    ¡°And Tier 5?¡± Adam asked. He was slowly getting a grasp on this strange new world he found himself in, loving every second of it. Before he felt like he had lost all meaning. He used to be a soldier. Part of a team with a job where he felt needed and important. But it had been taken from him. This felt like a chance to get that back but with the added bonus of magical abilities.


    ¡°Tier 5 crystals only come from killing a Duke or higher and come in the shape of a star.¡± Ava said. ¡°And even then, the chance is small. The actual data on Tier 5 crystals is so restricted that access to the records of them require a writ of approval from the King himself. It¡¯s rumored even he only has one Tier 5 skill, though that¡¯s unconfirmed.¡±


    ¡°And what about a hexagonal crystal?¡± Adam asked, remembering the glowing blue crystal that had given him his soul skill. ¡°Those must be a Tier 6, right?¡±


    Finns eyebrows rose at the statement and Ava let out a huff as if dismissing the question.


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a hexagonal skill crystal.¡± Ava said, though she didn¡¯t sound so confident.


    Adam rubbed his head feeling a little bad. By the sound of it, he had found something so exceedingly rare that even these scions of their Kingdoms didn¡¯t even know existed. And he had only just been introduced to this world of Primordial Energy and skills.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure the crystal I found was hexagonal.¡± He told them of the experience. Every detail down to the crystal coming toward him on its own and the excruciating pain.


    ¡°What I wouldn¡¯t do to have been there to take some readings. The energy fluctuations to create a thermal interaction alone must have been astronomical!¡± Finn said excitedly.


    Adam smiled back at him. ¡°A man after my own heart. I was actually thinking the exact same thing when I was diving for the crystal. Not because I knew what it was, just because the water had gotten so much hotter.¡±


    Ava only looked at him, an incredulous expression on her face.


    Caius looked troubled, but quickly schooled his expression to one of interest. Adam wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it but decided to leave it alone for now. He was peppered with questions from Finn over the next few minutes about every minute detail until thankfully Caius saved him.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s time we use that skill crystal. What do you say Adam?¡±


    Adam shrugged, looking at the small cube in his hands again. ¡°Nothing to lose, I guess. What do I do?¡±

 Chapter 6

    Adam stared at the dark gray crystal cube in his fingers, eyes studying the dancing ember that seemed to burn within.


    ¡°So, I just hold it to my chest and mentally accept it?¡± he asked. It sounded too¡­ easy. It seemed to him that something like granting a magical ability that was powered by Primordial Energy would be a little more involved than that ¨C not that he had any reason to believe otherwise. He was basing his ideas off an assortment of video games he played and comic books he read growing up.


    ¡°Pretty much.¡± Ava replied, a slight look of longing on her face as she stared at the crystal. ¡°I can show you how if you¡¯d like.¡± She offered, holding her hand out to Adam.


    ¡°Ava,¡± Caius chided.


    ¡°Just offering to help.¡± She gave an innocent smile and batted her eyes at Caius.


    ¡°You two have the oddest relationship I have perhaps ever seen.¡± Finn said. He shook his head slightly at her before turning back to Adam. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, Adam. Trust me.¡± He flashed a toothy awkward smile at him.


    Adam was honestly a little tempted to hand over the crystal to Ava. The blinding pain from the soul crystal was still fresh in his mind. But so was the sight of Finn manipulating the force of nature with his rings, Ava sending streams of healing that would have the doctors of his world foaming at the mouth, and Caius summoning two lightning blades out of thin air. He wanted that.


    He took a long deep breath and brought the crystal to his chest. Umm. I would like to accept the ability you grant. Nothing happened for a few seconds as Adam just stood there holding the stone to his chest, feeling increasingly awkward with the other three staring at him. Then, the strange Primordial Guidance text from earlier popped up in his vision.


    To accept the ability granted from this crystal, will a portion of your Primordial Energy into the stone. Warning: Once accepted, the skill cannot be replaced or forgotten, for better or worse.


    ¡°Do y¡¯all have something called a Primordial Guidance system that pops up in front of you randomly to tell you about the world?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°Primordial Guidance system?¡± Ava asked.


    ¡°Interesting. It must be a function of being a person from the newly enriched world. Truly fascinating.¡± Finn said. ¡°I wonder if you could share it with us. It begs so many more questions.¡±


    ¡°Finn¡± Caius and Ava said together. The awkward teen shrugged in response.


    ¡°No, Adam.¡± Caius said. ¡°We don¡¯t have some sort of guidance system telling us about Primordial Energy and the world. I¡¯d wager because our world has been enriched with Primordial Energy for over ten thousand years.¡±


    ¡°What did it say?¡± Ava asked.


    ¡°That I needed to will a portion of my Primordial Energy into the crystal to accept it and that I¡¯m stuck with it once I choose it.¡± Adam said, looking at the other three for confirmation.


    ¡°Sounds about right.¡± Finn said. ¡°It¡¯s why anyone that cares about advancing past the Knight teir doesn¡¯t accept a Tier 1 skill crystal.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Regardless¡± Caius continued. ¡°You have an excellent stone in front of you. One that will supply a skill that anyone would be happy to have.¡±


    ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t turn you into a Stone Sentry yourself.¡± Ava murmured.


    ¡°Wait¡± Adam said, turning toward Caius and Finn. ¡°Is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Anything is possible.¡± Finn said calmly. ¡°Highly unlikely though.¡±


    You¡¯re going to be fine, Adam.¡± Caius reassured him. ¡°Just imagine the energy in your body is gathering behind your chest and reaching out to wrap around the crystal.¡±


    That was a little ominous. None the less, Adam had come this far, might as well keep going. He focused on the Primordial Energy in his body. After Caius had explained to imagine the Primordial Energy flowing through his body, he could just vaguely sense it inside his body. Like every cell was constantly soaking up and releasing the strange energy inside of him.


    The energy responded, flowing to the point on his chest where the crystal sat waiting. Energy collided with crystal, the two merging before his eyes. A blinding light pulsed from the crystal cube as it began to sink into his chest. Adam¡¯s vision narrowed - his senses were drowned out by a chorus of white noise that consumed his mind. Ava, Finn, and Caius became distant afterthoughts.


    He felt as if his feet were being lifted from the ground, his mind spinning in a euphoric state of emptiness while simultaneously being over stimulated by a flood of emotions and images. He saw his parents and old SEAL team. His brother sitting on their old front porch. A snow covered mountain. The monstrous figures from his dreams and hallucinations. He knew he should be concerned, more worried about whatever change his body was going through, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to be bothered with such pointless emotions at the moment.


    His vision blackened, but Adam never had the sense of losing consciousness. Instead, he found himself standing on the top of a snow-covered mountain, jagged rock poking through the ice like a frozen stone crown. Behind him, he could just make out the peaks of other mountains far below him, barely peeking through the clouds.


    Stone protruded in a semi-circle in front of him, rising in a steep slope toward the heavens. At the base of the stone wall before him sat a stone throne. It was massive, yet simple and unadorned. In the throne sat a massive figure that Adam instinctively thought of as a Titan. It wore resplendent golden armor with onyx accents covering every part of its body, a long white braided beard falling over its breast plate. His helm sat in his lap, leaving the Titan¡¯s piercing blue eyes to peer down at him like frozen sapphires glowing in the night.


    In his right hand he held a war hammer that was larger than Adam. A golden handle that ended in an onyx head of stone and metal. The base of the hammer¡¯s handle was an onyx pommel with a long spike that pierced the ground, holding it in place. On his left was a golden tower shield embellished with accents of onyx.


    An overwhelming pressure exuded from the Titan. Like the weight of the world was descending on Adam mixed with a bone freezing cold that made him feel like he couldn¡¯t even lift a finger. He knew he wouldn¡¯t have a chance at remotely harming this being even if he had a century to attack it uninterrupted. Still, Adam felt no fear. No sense of danger came from the Titan. It was as if his mind was being calmed by an external force.


    A voice echoed through the clearing, deep and rolling like thunder over wide-open plains. It shook snow free from the tops of the peak behind the Titan that caused a mini avalanche to fall.


    ¡°At last, my eternal struggle has come to an end. I can only hope that it was enough time for the others,¡± the Titan said, eyes fixed on Adam.


    The voice sounded familiar to him. Like the echoes of a sound he had been hearing for years, though he thought it only in his head. He looked up at the Titan, eyes studying every part of the monstrous figure.


    ¡°It¡¯s you. It¡¯s been you all these years.¡± Adam said, mind racing as he connected the Titan in front of him to one of the monstrous figures in his hallucinations.


    The Titan leaned forward on his throne, brows heavy and eyes soft with a burden he had seen in many soldiers faces before. The desolate face of those asked to give too much of themselves, and who in turn lost themselves. A face that he was intimately familiar with.


    ¡°I am sorry, child. It is your burden to bear now.¡±


    It reached a massive finger forward Adam who was unable to move. All he could do wasere while the finger that was as large as his entire body creeped toward him until it came but a fraction of an inch away. It hovered there - the Titans face strained as if he was trying to fight something off for just a few moments longer.


    The finger tapped him lightly at the exact spot the crystal had been absorbed into his chest. The glowing warmth returned as light poured from his chest, pulsing in a blinding rhythmic beacon of blue and white light that reflected off the snow around him until it slowed and eventually winked out.


    When the light was gone, Adam looked back on the Titan in his stone throne, the Titan¡¯s eyes now closed. His skin a dusky grey where it had been light tan before. He felt a weight settle over him at the scene, aware that he had just witnessed the death of a being far more powerful than anything he could have ever imagined.


    Adam wasn¡¯t sure how long he sat there for, but he was content to do so for as long as he was allowed. He felt like he had just been given an incredible gift, though he didn¡¯t know exactly what. Still. He felt like he owed it to the Titan to pay his respects. It had clearly given its life for a cause greater than himself, and that was something Adam could understand and respect.


    Inevitably, his vision darkened once more and then returned a few seconds later. He found himself standing in front of Caius, Ava, and Finn in the exact positions they had been in when he started.

 Chapter 7

    ¡°How long have y¡¯all been staring at me for?¡± Adam asked, his vision coming back to find the others just a few inches from his face.


    ¡°What the hell was that bright light?¡± Ava said. ¡°Have you two seen anything like that?¡±


    ¡°I could have sworn I noticed a flux in the dimensional membrane surrounding Adam following those flashes.¡± Finn said as he adjusted his thick rimmed glasses. ¡°It was brief, not enough to get any good sense of the dimensional forces involved, but present nonetheless.¡±


    ¡°What? Is that not supposed to happen?¡± Adam asked.


    Caius crossed his arms and rubbed his chin with a finger. ¡°No. But then again, neither was a native being pulled into this trial. I have a feeling that odd things just tend to happen around you, Adam. Did it work?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I guess¡­¡± He paused and focused on his skills like they had taught him before. A slew of messages popped up before him.


    You are absorbing a Tier 4 Body Skill.


    Your [Essence of a Primordial] skill is applying external factors that is interfering with the absorption of the skill crystal.


    Skill Crystal has been transformed by your [Essence of a Primordial Skill].


    Learned Body Skill: [War Regalia of the Primordial Titan]: Atlas held the weight of the world on his shoulders, and now, so must you.


    Summon the war regalia of the Primordial Titan. Can only be summoned once every twenty-four hours for a large Primordial Energy cost. War Regalia cannot be repaired and must be dismissed before you can summon another set. The strength and constitution of the Regalia will increase with tier. The Regalia also has a taunting effect. Taunting affect is more potent against species of lesser intelligence and those with less Primordial Energy than you.


    He studied the prompt, eyes lingering on the name. The Primordial Titan. He had known he was in the presence of some great being. He could feel the power exuding from it. Still, the meeting had rocked him. That voice had been haunting him for years. Had he been watched by this being? This Titan? It had looked exhausted. Like he had been holding up the weight of the world¡­


    Adam froze, re-reading the prompt, his stomach dropping as he read the name of the Primordial Titan. Atlas. The Titan who was forced to hold up the heavens and the sky. The Titan was¡­ real. And Adam had just met him. But what did that mean? Why would the Titan have chosen him?


    ¡°Why are you just standing there like a simpleton staring into space?¡± Ava said. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Sorry. I¡­¡± Adam read over the text from his new skill for what must have been the tenth time. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know where to start.


    A moment later, a rush of energy filled him like he had been stabbed with adrenaline. He felt his muscles vibrating, itching to release the pent-up energy. He couldn¡¯t stop a smile from splitting his lips despite the startling realization that Atlas was real and he had somehow inherited his burden. His body hummed with barely contained power.


    ¡°I know that look.¡± Caius said, taking a step back. ¡°It¡¯s the new rush of Primordial Energy with the skill. Go on then, activate it.¡±


    An instinctive knowledge of how to summon the War Regalia flooded his mind, and he sent the Primordial Energy in his body circulating in a mad dash to activate the skill.


    A warmth like he had never felt spread through him. The activation of the skill was euphoric. His body buzzed as the energy circulation rose to a crescendo. A roar like that of a train passing at full speed  filled his ears as a fog clouded his vision. He felt suddenly weak as a burst of energy was spent all at once, and he instinctively knew that he had consumed nearly eighty percent of his Primordial Energy. Adam squeezed his eyes shut as pain flared in his head. He reached his hand to his head, halting when he heard a clanking sound when his hand should have pressed against his forehead.


    ¡°Well, it looks like we found ourselves a replacement frontliner.¡± Caius said, his voice excited.


    ¡°That is the most insane looking armor I¡¯ve ever seen. Is that even still you in there, Adam?¡± Ava asked.


    Adam lifted a hand in front of his face, a golden gauntlet with onyx stones inlaid over the knuckles appeared before him. He looked at his feet, noticing that he couldn¡¯t feel the stone beneath him anymore for the first time since getting here. It felt more like he was standing on a cloud in the comfiest shoes of all time, only it was two golden greaves. He felt at his chest and legs, realizing he was wearing a full set of armor. And not just any armor, but that of the Titan he had just been in the presence of.


    He ducked and moved around in it. Rolling and laughing as he did so. It felt like he wasn¡¯t even wearing anything. Like this suit of armor had been made for him perfectly and he was finally complete with it on. He didn¡¯t feel any more hampered than if he was only wearing his swim trunks. Even the helm that completely incased his head didn¡¯t hinder his vision as the helm was essentially see through to him. He had never felt this good in his entire life and broke out in a giddy childlike laugh, overwhelmed with a euphoric feeling. Adam caught the others staring at him with amusement plastered on their faces.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Now you¡¯re just embarrassing yourself.¡± Ava said.


    ¡°Well, it is vital to know the limits of one¡¯s own mobility, especially when armor is involved. It would appear that Adam has obtained a rather impressive armor summoning skill. Most skills like that don¡¯t provide quite the same flexibility as his does.¡± Finn said.


    ¡°He still doesn¡¯t have a weapon though.¡± Ava said. ¡°Granted he should be able to soak up some good damage in that ostentatious suit of metal and stone, but he¡¯s going to need something to attack with eventually,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about that a lot actually.¡± Caius responded. The group seemed to jump into analyzation and tactics immediately. Adam ignored them for the most part, just enjoying his new War Regalia. ¡°The problem is that skills don¡¯t give you an inherent knowledge of how to use a weapon. You still need years of training. We need a weapon that is simple enough that he can get by without completely exposing his lack of knowledge. At least for now.¡±


    Adam realized he wasn¡¯t holding the hammer and tower shield he had seen at Atlas¡¯s side. He was disappointed briefly until a second later, he noticed the air grow frigid around him. His breath fogged inside his helm as Adam felt something condense in his right hand and a weight on his left forearm a second later.


    He stared wide eyed at the golden shafted war-hammer in his right hand. The entire thing was as tall as he was with the head being nearly the size of a watermelon. If a watermelon was made of vicious onyx stone and metal and more in the shape of a rectangle with jagged edges. The handle was ribbed with grooves running all the way down to the onyx spike at the bottom. The weapon was surprisingly light. He felt like he was lifting nothing larger than a wooden stick when he held the massive weapon up. The tower shield was slightly heavier, but still nowhere as heavy as what it should be. He couldn¡¯t help a broad grin from spreading across his face again.


    ¡°Very auspicious indeed.¡± Finn said, a smile of his own spreading.


    ¡°I think this should do nicely. Right?¡± Adam asked, though he honestly didn¡¯t care what Caius said at this point. He was beyond thrilled.


    ¡°That¡¯s probably the best weapon we could have hoped for.¡± Caius said, his brows raised as he examined the weapons. ¡°You¡¯ll still need years of training to master it especially with that shield on the other arm, but in terms of being able to utilize without any prior training, I¡¯d say we got extremely lucky here.¡±


    ¡°Well, it can¡¯t be that difficult to swing that monstrosity around and smash things.¡± Ava said.


    Adam swung the hammer around, enjoying the whoosh of air that followed as he did so. He felt the long golden shaft slide through his hand till he gripped it just above the pommel, the weapon at full extension. He figured his reach with the weapon had to be extremely impressive, even if he didn¡¯t know much about fighting this way. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel it would be awkward to wield when closer. The shaft was just so long that even if he held it in the center it could get in the way.


    Almost as if responding to his thoughts, the golden shaft closed in on itself, turning the five-foot handle into a two-foot handle in the blink of an eye, though the head remained the same size.


    ¡°Yeah, I think I could get used to this.¡± Adam said, doing his best to shove down the overflowing excitement. He felt invincible. ¡°Caius. Give me a good strike with your swords. A nice slash straight to the arm.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Finn started, but was interrupted by Ava


    ¡°That is a fantastic idea! Go on, Caius. We need to learn the limits of his new armor after all.¡± She stared at Finn as she said the last bit, using his own words against him.


    Caius smiled, but not in a playful way. More of in a way that said he was going to enjoy teaching me a lesson. He reached his hands to the side as his two wicked swords puffed into existence.


    ¡°How about we start with a blow to your shield.¡± Caius said.


    Before Adam could respond, Caius burst forward and leaped, rotating in the air with his swords forming in his hands as he spun in the air. It was all Adam could do to barely get his shield up in front of him in time. The tower shield was only about a foot shorter than him and easy to maneuver but still, Caius¡¯s speed was frightening.


    His swords fell in perfect sync, colliding with Adams shield with an ear shattering clang. The stone ground beneath Adams feet cracked beneath the pressure, a reverberation of air bursting out around them from the impact that forced him to a knee. His arm groaned in protest, a shockwave of pain shooting from his wrist to his shoulder as he held his shield above his head. He was shocked from the blow, nearly losing his grip on the hammer in his right hand. The shockwave even caused the damaged section of the barn wall to fall in on itself. Luckily the roof held.


    Caius stepped back, inspecting the shield before him. ¡°That¡¯ll do nicely I think.¡±


    Finn rubbed at his ears, wincing. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have let me step outside before doing that. Goodness Caius. I mean, I know we have magical healers and all, but I still don¡¯t like ear damage.¡±


    ¡°Now we just need to teach him how to respond when taking a blow instead of retreating inside of himself. You didn¡¯t piss yourself? Did you?¡± Ava said.


    Adam was still stunned from the blow but slowly coming back to himself. He turned his shield to look at the front where Caius had struck. A large dent sat in the middle, a crack running through the center. He was shocked to see such damage to his new shield.


    ¡°You already damaged it.¡± He said, feeling unreasonably saddened at the sight.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky he didn¡¯t completely shatter the whole thing.¡± Ava said, her brows raised. ¡°I know you¡¯re new to our world and still have no idea who any of us really are, but a blow like that from someone of the Arconius family is not something so easily dismissed.¡±


    ¡°You could always just summon a new shield.¡± Finn said. ¡°That¡¯s one of the perks of summon abilities.¡±


    Adam felt a slight sinking feeling as if the War Regalia wasn¡¯t as good as he thought if he couldn¡¯t just resummon the armor at will. ¡°I actually can¡¯t. I can only summon it once every twenty-four hours and I have to completely dismiss all of the Regalia if I want to re-summon it.¡±


    Caius whistled and Ava¡¯s mouth dropped.


    ¡°What? Is that bad or something?¡±  Adam asked.


    ¡°Not at all.¡± Caius said. ¡°In fact, I¡¯d say you hit the jackpot. Summon skills that have time restrictions are often far more powerful than those that can just be used at will. There¡¯s a natural checks and balances to these kinds of things that¡¯s been well studied. Same goes for extremely powerful abilities of any type. I¡¯d wager that¡¯s why your shield didn¡¯t just shatter in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it then?¡± Ava said, looking at Adam expectantly. He had no idea what she was talking about so just stared back. ¡°The full description of your ability, dummy. If we¡¯re going to be working as a team, we need to know everything about each other¡¯s abilities.¡±


    ¡°In general, it is best to keep the true details of your abilities to yourself, but Ava is correct. In this setting, we need all need to be fully aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each of our skill sets. It is paramount to understanding our limits as a team and knowing how far we can be pushed with our skills.¡±


    ¡°Ohh, right.¡± Adam said. He had no objections to them knowing everything. He preferred it as he had no idea what he was doing and needed all the guidance he could get. He read off the title and explanation of his skill to the others, studying them while he mentioned Atlas.


    ¡°I mean this just keeps getting more and more ridiculous by the second.¡± Ava said, looking increasingly exacerbated.


    Caius just laughed and Finn looked like a little kid on Christmas that just received a gift he had been wanting for years.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to wish I actually had organized leaving Ellis out of the trial so I could take credit for this.¡± Caius said.


    Adam removed his helm and looked at the others with blatant confusion on his face. ¡°I know y¡¯all are probably getting tired of me having no idea what you¡¯re talking about, but could you please tell me what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on is you inherited a Primordial¡¯s skill. The most powerful beings in existence. It¡¯s the tier above King that we don¡¯t even count as they are almost more myth than reality. The only reason we even know they exist is because we have detailed records of interactions with them from the beginning of our Kingdom.¡± Ava said.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it was possible to get such a skill from anything other than a Tier 5 skill crystal. My uncle has one but he¡¯s the only other one that I know of even in all of the other Kingdoms.¡± Caius said. ¡°And he only got it from a trial like this one.¡±


    ¡°The strange thing is I know who Atlas is. Or at least there¡¯s a legend about him on my world. That he was cursed to hold up the sky and the heavens for eternity. When I saw him¡­ He looked so tired. Defeated even. He mentioned something about hoping it had been enough time for the others. Do you have any idea what that means?¡±


    This time Ava didn¡¯t even have a snarky response. She just turned and left the barn, head shaking from side to side as she muttered to herself.


    Finn was practically frothing at the mouth. ¡°Tell. Us. Everything.¡±

 Chapter 8

    Quetz flicked her tongue, tasting the blood in the stale air of this forgotten city. She hated how weak she felt. The sparsity of the Primordial Energy was sickening. It was slowly rising, but not quick enough that she didn¡¯t feel the need to supplement her energy.


    Her talons dug into the ox Eldari beneath her, its Primordial Energy feeding into her and sating the constant headache that had plagued her since arriving in this desolate place, even if it was just for an hour or two. The elders had warned her she would be affected by the lack of energy more than the others due to having filled four of her six skill slots, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to be this severe.


    The ox groaned beneath her, its fur clumping and falling out as she pulled more and more energy from it. She wouldn¡¯t normally have done this to one of her own kind, but the fool had the audacity to speak to her like a peer. Didn¡¯t he know who he was talking to?


    ¡°Please. I did not mean to offend.¡± He wheezed.


    Quetz flared her feathered wings, spreading them to their full width. She was young and still growing, but her wings spanned thirty feet already. She leaped, talons pulling from the ox¡¯s chest, blood dripping to the stone ground below and staining the algae¡¯s blue glow red.


    The fool would recover. Perhaps it would teach him to be more mindful of its betters. In particular, the true descendant of the Primordial, Quetzalcoatl. She was the only Eldari in her Kingdom since the fall of her Ancestors empire to inherit a Primordial skill. And she had two of them.


    The other families had mocked hers for centuries. Belittled them and pushed them from the council. That had only worsened when she had been born and named after the great Primordial. ¡°The audacity,¡± they had claimed. She had quieted them with her skills, and she would rekindle the grand empire once more.


    She landed away from the others of her supposed team. If it was up to her, she would have just come alone, leaving the ox, fox, and lizard to themselves. But her father had insisted on diplomacy and the need for cooperation with the other species. They had to work together if they wanted to succeed. It made her sick. Even if they were Eldari, they were lesser beings to her, only useful as small sources of Primordial Energy to satiate the withdrawal pains.


    Quetz mentally commanded her skill screen to come up to monitor her Primordial Energy. She also enjoyed looking at her skills. Who wouldn¡¯t with a skill set like hers? It only further proved that her demeanor was justified.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Skills


    Arm: [Wrath of the Primordial Winged Serpent]: All shall bow before your might or suffer your wrath.


    Flare your wings, sending feathers flying that blaze with the heat of the sun. Each feather delivers the judgment of the Primordial. They cannot be dodged and cannot be outrun. The feathers will continue endlessly until their mark is found. Number of feathers generated based on amount of Primordial Energy invested. Attack can only be used once every twenty-four hours.


    Arm: [Twisting Gale]: The wind is yours to command.


    Send a gust of gale force wind with a flap of your wing for a small Primordial Energy cost. The gale is not only physically powerful but becomes razor sharp as if cut by your own feathers. Cost increases with distance of attack.


    Body:


    Leg: [Insatiable Hunger]: When you are the pinnacle, you require more than the rest.


    Sink your claws into another being, draining their Primordial Energy and vital energy from them to make it your own. Energy is purified and amplified in your own body, healing you to your maximum vitality and Primordial Energy capacity. Unused energy will slowly dissipate back to the original host if not used within two hours.


    Leg: -


    Domain: [Presence of a Primordial]: You are the epitome of creation. Who could possibly stand above you and who dares stand before you?


    All beings can naturally sense your superiority. When fed with Primordial Energy, this skill will cause others to be overwhelmed by your presence, causing them to tremble, cower, or second guess themselves. Has a varied effect based on all that it encounters. Area of affect based on amount of Primordial Energy invested.


    Primordial Energy: 300/700


    Her body practically hummed with power. She wanted to take off into the sky and go after the humans. Eradicate them before they were able to grow too powerful, not that it really mattered in the end, but the Elders had counseled caution on this front as well. It wouldn¡¯t do to reveal herself too early to the other Kingdoms of Eldari.


    She had seen a Stone Sentry a few hours ago. That had been a nice treat that she hadn¡¯t expected. A chance to use her [Wrath of the Primordial Winged Serpent] skill on a worthy opponent. Of course it had crumbled beneath the attack, but she still relished in the kill. In the proof that even a Baron couldn¡¯t stand before her at her current weakened state.


    It had even coalesced into a Tier 3 skill crystal. It was garbage to Quetz and she promptly gave it to the little fox on her team. She was their healer after all, and Quetz supposed that a healer could come in handy at some point, not that she planned on ever being injured, but you never knew inside a trial such as this. She was nothing if not just, and the others would do well to remember her generosity in the coming months.


    Quetz stared out over the glowing stone city toward the shining white pyramid in the center. That¡¯s where her destiny truly lay. Where her life would truly begin. The humans didn¡¯t understand the importance of the structure. What it actually did. Perhaps she would inform them before killing them, if only to see the horror on their faces.


    For now, she would have to be content with picking off the humans a few at a time. She would bide her time for the three months that she had agreed upon before starting her true assault on the pyramid. Hopefully by then the ambient Primordial Energy would be sufficient for her needs. If not¡­ Well, then perhaps her team would have a use after all.

 Chapter 9

    It had taken over an hour, but Adam had finally answered all the questions Caius and Finn had about seeing the Primordial and his knowledge of Atlas. Apparently, that wasn¡¯t something that normally happened when absorbing a skill. Most of the time, the user was just left with an innate understanding of how to utilize the skill. Granted, there were always things to be discovered like how he could change the length of his new war hammer.


    Adam was also happy to find that getting in and out of the War Regalia was easy. He just had to think of the armor cracking open and then it would. It was as if he was stepping out of a shell that responded to his every thought. He could then deposit it in his dimensional storage sack by merely giving a mental command for the armor to sink into his fanny pack. It worked as long as he had one hand on his armor and one hand on the pack.


    After a few rounds of testing, he had found that he could have the entire Regalia out of the fanny pack and on in about ten seconds. Which seemed absurdly fast to Adam to have an entire suit of armor equipped in that time but when it literally opened for him to step in, things were expedited a bit.


    When the excitement and adrenaline of the past day and a half finally left him, Adam realized that he had never been this tired before in his life, even after hell week in his military training. Caius had told him in no uncertain terms to get a good sleep as tomorrow the real training would begin bright and early. He had no doubts that Caius¡¯s idea of training would be vastly different than what he was used to.


    Finn had started another fire with his rings, which even with everything Adam had seen today, was still the coolest thing he could imagine. Ava, Finn, and he lay around it on some mats they had brought while Caius stood guard. He said he would come get Finn later in the night to switch, but Adam knew that was a lie. Caius struck him as the type of person who would sacrifice his own comfort for those around him.


    ¡°Hey, Ava.¡± Adam said. ¡°What was that you said about Caius being a prince? He seemed to get a little uncomfortable at the mention.¡±


    Ava let out a little laugh, turning to face Adam on her mat. ¡°I¡¯m not sure where to even begin with that boy.¡± She said. ¡°But I shouldn¡¯t have said that. It was a low blow.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it would be best if you allowed Caius to explain his own family¡¯s situation.¡± Finn said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how comfortable Caius would be with us talking bad about the royal family. Even after what they did to him.¡±


    ¡°Those bastards.¡± Ava spat. Her eyes narrowing as she looked into the fire. ¡°I would normally agree with you, Finn, but he¡¯s not from our world and Caius is too kind a person to tell the whole truth. If he¡¯s to be one of us, he needs to know the kind of people he¡¯s working with, and how we ended up here.¡±


    ¡°Did you not end up here because you were deemed the most capable?¡± Adam asked, growing more confused by the second.


    ¡°Ohh, we definitely are that.¡± Ava said. ¡°But no. There¡¯s more to it than that.¡±


    ¡°Humility never was her strong suit.¡± Finn said with a long-suffering sigh. Adam could tell he was long used to her personality.


    She poked her tongue out at Finn but ignored the comment otherwise.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± she continued. ¡°It¡¯s much more complicated than that, especially when it comes to Caius. The royal family operates outside the bounds of the rest of our ¡®high tiered¡¯ society, mostly consisting of families with at least one Viscount or Duke. They train with only the most powerful, get the best resources, the highest tiered skill crystals, the most sought-after tutors. They are essentially spoon fed a path to power as long as they are willing to put in a little work along the way. And that path is generally safe guarded by the careful eye of the King¡¯s advisors.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re called the Duke Guard. They are the most elite warriors of our faction sworn to keep the King¡¯s family and Allaris safe.¡±


    ¡°But not the King?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°Why would the King need protecting?¡± Ava asked. ¡°He¡¯s the most powerful person in the Kingdom. He¡¯s the leader of the Duke Guard. It¡¯s part of what makes him the King. Were you not paying attention when we explained the Tiers earlier? I swear if you end up being another Ellis that can¡¯t remember anything after only a few hours I¡¯m going to lose my mind.¡±


    ¡°No. No sorry. Just in my world, the rulers, or kings, are normally the ones that have a host of guards protecting them because they need it. The terminology is just messing with me a bit. I got it though.¡±


    Ava looked like she wanted to ask a bunch of questions about that but let it drop. ¡°Anyways. What ultimately led Caius Arconius to being here and not raised on the silver spoon fed energy diet was what he sacrificed for his cousin, Vys, the King¡¯s son. The little shit is everything you would expect someone born into that situation would be. Entitled.  Arrogant. Just all around insufferable.¡±


    ¡°Like Ellis, just without the skill to back it up.¡± Finn said absently. That got a chuckle from Ava.


    ¡°Long story short, Vys believed he was every bit the warrior that Caius actually is. He was tired of being outdone by his cousin. Tired of hearing of the prodigy that Caius Arconius was turning out to be. He was the Kings son, not Caius. If anyone would be the next to rise to the tier of King, it should be him. So, the fool snuck into the royal treasury and grabbed a Tier 4 Domain skill crystal. Not only did he not have any other skills unlocked, but he hadn¡¯t even reached his sixteenth birthday yet.¡±


    ¡°Which is when it¡¯s safe to use skill crystals.¡± Finn said. He had clearly seen the question forming on Adam¡¯s lips. ¡°It has to do with the body¡¯s ability to properly circulate Primordial Energy in a safe and effective way.¡±


    ¡°And Domain skills are notoriously the most difficult skill to master. It requires constant concentration and exquisite control over your Primordial Energy. It is the last skill slot you should fill. Vys knew this, but thought he could manage it so absorbed it as his first.¡± Ava said.


    ¡°Not advisable under any circumstances.¡± Finn added. ¡°Not only is it dangerous for everyone else, but the erratic fluctuation in Primordial Energy caused by Domain skills is already taxing enough on squires. Absorbing one as your first skill is testing death.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± Ava said, shooting a glare at Finn for interrupting her. ¡°The fool survived his foolish act. Instead of seeking help in understanding and controlling his new skill, he took to the streets of Allaris to visit a pub. Perhaps the rush of emotions flooded him with confidence or amplified his stupidity.¡±


    Adam thought back to the flood of emotions and energy that filled him when he absorbed his skill. He almost felt like he wasn¡¯t in control of his body. He just knew he had to move. He had to feel the power coursing through him as his armor surrounded him. He could imagine how it would impair your judgement. Especially for a young kid.


    ¡°Well, it definitely didn¡¯t increase his intelligence.¡± Finn murmured.


    ¡°Can you two please stop interrupting me? My goodness.¡± Ava complained. Finn shrugged and returned to fidgeting with some contraption he had been working on.


    ¡°Anyways¡± Ava continued. ¡°The prince ended up drinking quite a bit. And not only did he just absorb a domain skill with no training in how to control his Primordial Energy, but he got hammered on top of it.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately for Vys, one of the patrons happened to know Caius and realized what was happening. He didn¡¯t want to be punished by the prince for turning him into the Duke guard, but also recognized the danger of an untrained domain skill flooding a pub with a bunch of squires.¡± Ava said. She trailed off for a second allowing Adam to think over what she said.


    Adam could see where this story was going. ¡°So, he sent for Caius who showed up to bring his cousin home.¡±


    Ava nodded, her lips pressed together in a thin line. ¡°By the time Caius got to the pub, Vys had fully unleashed his domain through his drunken stupor. With the skill being a Tier 4 from the royal treasury¡­ Well, let¡¯s just say it was not good for the people unfortunate enough to be there.¡±


    Adam couldn¡¯t help but be curious as to what the skill did. ¡°What happened?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Domain skills are often a reflection of their user.¡± Finn said, his voice quiet, almost a whisper. ¡°Much more so than other skills. And with Vys being a vile and jealous little brat, his Domain skill ended up creating a dense poisonous cloud around him. With the only outlet for his Primordial Energy being his Domain skill, he pushed every ounce of Primordial Energy in his body into it because he lacked the control necessary to stop it.¡±


    ¡°Caius arrived to find a pub filled with dead civilians and an unconscious Vys in the center, dense green smoke still rising from his skin. The Duke Guard arrived not long after and shut down the surroundings, tracking down any possible witnesses. It was too late though and there was no putting a stop to the stories that would spread.¡± Ava said, growing more somber the longer the story went. ¡°Innocent people had died, and justice needed to be doled out. It was the scandal of the century and too many knew that a member of the royal family was at the center of a bunch of deaths for the King to sweep it under the rug.¡±


    Ava paused and looked toward Finn as if asking him to finish the story. ¡°Caius knew what would happen to Vys if he was the one who took the blame for the tragedy. He wouldn¡¯t make it outside the confines of the royal halls. Caius knew he could. As much as I love how selfless and loyal he is, it¡¯s also his biggest flaw.¡± Finn said.


    ¡°So, he took the blame.¡± Adam said. Not as a question but as a statement.


    Ava nodded. ¡°And as a result, he was exiled from his family and ordered into the custody of the Royal Academy where he would train to be a member of the Duke Guard. Sworn to protect the very family that he was no longer considered part of. Sworn to never tell anyone what had happened.¡±


    ¡°Then how did you two find out?¡± Adam asked. ¡°If he was sworn to secrecy?¡± He added after they just stared at him for a second.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Ava said, her cheeks flushing.  ¡°Caius and I have been fairly, familiar, for a while now, and I more or less pulled the truth out of him.¡±


    Finn stifled a laugh which earned him a slap from Ava. The tension they had while telling the story dissipating a little.


    ¡°My mother is a Duke just like his father, so we¡¯ve known each other since we were kids. It was more than natural for us to grow close.¡± She said defensively.  ¡°We met Finn at the Royal Academy and he became something of the odd best friend to Caius. No one else really understood him but Caius had a soft spot for him.¡±


    Finn raised his hands at the comment and turned toward Ava. ¡°I¡¯m not some pet.¡±


    ¡°And Finn is one of the smartest people I¡¯ve ever met. You can¡¯t honestly expect that he wouldn¡¯t figure out the truth on his own. Not that it takes a genius to put two and two together for anyone who has spent time with Caius or even an hour with Vys.¡±


    ¡°And he just lets the rest of your Kingdom think he caused the death of all those people?¡±


    They both nodded. ¡°There are many who hate him for it. Think he should have been put to death as well.¡± Ava said. ¡°He¡¯s been in quite a few fights over the ordeal. People challenging him to bouts in an attempt to punish him if only by getting in a few solid hits. He¡¯s required by law to agree as long as they are of the same Tier.¡±


    ¡°As for Ava and I,¡± Finn said, ¡°we¡¯re just the lucky two who got caught up with him at the Academy. We¡¯re good, don¡¯t get me wrong, but he¡¯s the real talent of our team. Well, him and Ellis, but you¡¯ve heard how we feel about that prick.¡±


    ¡°That still doesn¡¯t explain why y¡¯all are the ones who ended up here though.¡± Adam said. ¡°All three of you have said what a great opportunity this is. Why would he still be sent here if he was essentially exiled?¡±


    Finn and Ava both looked at Adam with downcast expressions. Finn was about to respond when they heard footfalls echo through the barn. Caius was illuminated by the fire light a second later.


    ¡°Because we were never expected to return.¡± Caius said. ¡°This is an exceptional opportunity, but only if we survive. In the eyes of the Kingdom, we¡¯re all massive problems. We may be extremely talented and some of the best young talents in the Kingdom, but that doesn¡¯t outweigh the sins of families.¡±


    Adam looked up at the stoic Caius standing over them. ¡°So, the problem you pose is either solved by the trial, or you come back heroes for succeeding.¡± Adam said.


    Caius nodded. ¡°The Royal Academy is a nice euphemism for what it really is. We were all sent there for different reasons. Ava for her half elf heritage being exposed and Finn for his fathers unsanctioned experiments. Regardless, this is our only chance to get our lives back, and I wouldn¡¯t want to be here with anyone else.¡±


    Adam thought over the information. It was a lot to process and only gave him more questions than answers, but he oddly felt even better about the people he was here with. ¡°Wait, one question. What about Ellis? What did he do to be sent here?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°Of everything you just heard, that¡¯s your question?¡± Ava said, shock clear on her face. ¡°Not the part about me being half elf or the fact that we¡¯re all essentially being punished for things out of our control or for crimes we didn¡¯t commit.¡±


    Adam rubbed the back of his head. ¡°Well, government being corrupt doesn¡¯t come as a surprise to me and people have proven to be generally pretty shitty just in general. I¡¯m not surprised being from a different world hasn¡¯t changed that fact. But from the way y¡¯all have spoken about Ellis, he seems like an annoying golden child that will do anything to gain the approval of his father. So, why would he be sent here?¡±


    Finn let out a deep bellied laugh that was soon followed by Ava and even the stoic Caius. Adam couldn¡¯t help but laugh as well after thinking about the ridiculousness of everything he had heard and that¡¯s what he asked.


    ¡°He is that indeed.¡± Finn said between laughs.


    A few moments later they calmed down again, and Caius answered. ¡°He didn¡¯t do anything wrong, and he wasn¡¯t being punished for anything. Well not counting his father essentially brain washing him into going to the Academy.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say that Ellis has a hero complex the size of the cosmos and wanted to be the savior of the Kingdom.¡± Finn said.


    ¡°Well, now you know,¡± Ava said. ¡°With that, I¡¯m all tapped out for the night. Keeping you idiots alive today took it out of me. Better get some sleep. Trust me, Adam. You¡¯re going to need it.¡±


    Caius nodded toward him, silent thanks for not digging deeper into all he had been told before turning back toward the opening of the barn. Adam was already impressed with Caius from the moment he met the man, but this put things into perspective. He handled himself well and was genuinely kind. He had seen it in the way he spoke with Finn and handled Ava. He counted himself lucky to have ended up with such a group especially with a leader like Caius.


    Adam knew he should take Ava¡¯s advice and get some sleep. His body begged him to let it relax. Whatever Caius had planned for him tomorrow, he would be ready. He wouldn¡¯t let this team down, not like he had his last.


    Before he closed his eyes, he pulled up his skill screen one last time. A smile spread across his face as he did.


    Skills:


    Soul Skill: [Essence of a Primordial] Blessed by providence, or perhaps luck, you are the first of a new generation. Regardless of circumstance, you have formed a pure connection to the Primordial Energy that makes up the universe. Your pure access to energy ensures that it cannot be affected by those around you.


    Arm: -


    Arm: -


    Body: [War Regalia of the Primordial Titan]: Atlas held the weight of the world on his shoulders, and now, so must you.


    Tier 1: Summon the war regalia of the Primordial Titan. Can only be summoned once every twenty-four hours for a large Primordial Energy cost. War Regalia cannot be repaired and must be dismissed before you can summon another set. The strength and constitution of the Regalia will increase with tier. The Regalia also has a taunting affect. Taunting affect is more potent against species of lesser intelligence and those with less Primordial Energy than you.


    Leg: -


    Leg: -


    Domain: -


    Primordial Energy 150/150

 Chapter 10

    Caius watched as Adam completed the series of forms he had taught him earlier that morning for what had to be the thousandth time. His resplendent golden and onyx armor eerily quiet as he moved. He had to give it to the guy, he didn¡¯t know what the word quit meant.


    He wasn¡¯t sure what the rest of the people of Adam¡¯s Kingdom were like, but if they were anything like Adam then the rest of the universe would be in for some trouble. Hard working, easy to get along with, and eager to learn. If more people in Allaris were like that then they would have finished off the Eldari long ago.


    Caius nodded toward Finn and then over at Adam. Finn returned the nod with a wide grin and cracked his knuckles one at a time, his rings shining in the afternoon light. A nervous tic he had picked up during his time at the Academy. For all of his skill and intelligence, he still lacked the self confidence that he had rightfully earned. Becoming a true magic user was hard enough. Doing it in a mixed field of dimensional and elemental magic was unheard of. The kid truly was a generational talent and Caius hoped he would stop selling himself short.


    ¡°Adam.¡± He called. Adam stopped with the series of forms that were meant to instill his body with the correct way to move in battle. A way to keep his balance while being attacked and dodging and how to shift his weight when attacking. ¡°Finn is going to throw some attacks your way. Keep focusing on the forms.¡±


    ¡°You got it boss!¡± he called back, more enthusiastic than he had ever heard anyone about training. Especially for something as menial as basic stance training. He was used to people believing that because they had abilities, they didn¡¯t need to focus on the basics. They thought they could just expend Primordial Energy to compensate for lack of a good foundation. Especially the children of the high tiered families. Caius couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the stark contrast in front of him.


    ¡°He¡¯s a weird one.¡± Ava said, sliding next to Caius and looping her arm through his. ¡°I mean honestly, who charges a strange stone creature with no abilities of their own and then gets this excited about training that we have six-year-olds start with?¡±


    He wrapped an arm around her, happy to see she wasn¡¯t still pouting over Ellis not being here. He had known her for years. Loved her for most of it, though their relationship only really started after his exile, and was more than used to dealing with her outbursts. He knew she didn¡¯t mean it, she just liked to cause a scene immediately rather than stew on something and make it worse.


    ¡°He may be weird, but you can¡¯t deny we are extremely lucky he¡¯s the one we ended up with. He may not have Ellis¡¯s talent right now, but I have a feeling it won¡¯t be long before he¡¯s impressing even your standards.¡±


    ¡°My standards are what is going to keep us alive. Or was¡­¡± Ava said. ¡°And we still don¡¯t really know anything about Adam. This could all be a ploy by another Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°That would be an extremely dangerous stunt to try and pull.¡± Caius said. ¡°When I found him, he was strapped to the floor with an Eldari breathing over him. Besides, I just have a feeling about him.¡±


    Ava stared at Caius before turning her attention back Adam. ¡°I think you could be right though. He has the right temperament for a frontliner. I still don¡¯t understand why didn¡¯t you tell him how skills are chosen? We know they¡¯re not random, even if we can¡¯t prove it. Your theory that skills can be augmented slightly based on desire and need, not only the accepted belief that they are true expression of who we are at our core mixed with our understanding of Primordial Energy. You could have perhaps nudged him more in the direction of a frontliner ability instead of leaving it to chance.¡±


    Caius grimaced as a gust of wind slammed into Adam¡¯s side just as he was between movements that that sent him careening into a nearby boulder. He popped right up without hesitation and was back into the exercise of trying to dodge Finn¡¯s myriad of elemental attacks.


    ¡°Because it is not our place to attempt to influence what kind of skills someone else should get, even if we desperately needed it. If we had told him to try and focus on getting a frontliner ability, who knows what he would have ended up with, or if it would have affected him at all. No. What he needed was support. Not for us to try and influence him for our gain.¡± Caius continued to watch Adam as he spoke, though he squeezed Ava a little tighter. ¡°Besides, after seeing the way he dove into help with the Stone Sentry, I had an idea about the kind of ability he would get.¡±


    Ava pushed his shoulder. ¡°Yeah, okay whatever you say Mr. - ¡®I like to study the inheritance of skill sets and what they say about their users.¡¯ - She smirked at him in a teasing manner then looped her arm back through his.


    ¡°Do me a favor and don¡¯t tell him about the theories behind skill acquisition even if he asks. I have a feeling it will only end poorly He strikes me as the type of guy who would make a self-detrimental decision in the moment with good intentions that would only harm him down the line.¡±


    ¡°Kind of like someone else I know.¡± Ava said. Caius shook his head but kept his eyes trained on Ava. She nodded after a second, then winced as a vine lashed out and tied up Adam¡¯s legs as a fireball came hurtling at him from Finn¡¯s outstretched hand. He managed to raise his shield, dispersing the fire in a cone of flames around him while simultaneously maintaining balance.


    ¡°I will say that he is a fast learner. I just hope we can all stay alive long enough for it to mean something. This is no place for inexperience, and we¡¯ll encounter a team of Eldari before long.¡±  Ava said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Until then, the rest of us will just have to pick up the slack.¡± Caius reached a hand in his waist secured dimensional storge pouch, or fanny pack as Adam had called it, and pulled out the skill crystal he had gotten from that first meeting with Adam. He held it out to Ava. ¡°We¡¯re going to need all the healing we can get.¡±


    It was just a Tier 3 crystal. Nothing too special, but they would all have to fill some slots with Tier 3¡¯s. Besides, that was just a general ranking and didn¡¯t actually hold any sway on the power of an ability. Even if the higher Tiers were more notorious for what was considered better abilities, there was plenty of Duke¡¯s whose signature ability came from a Tier 3.


    Ava looked down at the crystal, green eyes studying it with clear desire. The small pyramid was opaque with a hint of violet in the center that seemed to twist through the crystal in a mesmerizing maze.


    She turned her head up to meet Caius¡¯s eyes and closed his hand over the crystal. ¡°No. I can get by with my [Healing Stream] skill for now. What we need is our most powerful member to take another step forward. You can help me more by killing the things that are trying to kill us quicker. Not by giving me another way to heal you if I just have to do it for longer.¡± Her tone was sarcastic, but Caius could hear the tenderness hiding behind. The care for him.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    He knew not to argue. ¡°Alright then. Should we gather the others?¡±


    They heard a cracking sound as Adam flexed his arms, the encasing of ice around him shattering. Finn was doubled over laughing as Adam pulled off his helm, face bright red.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for now.¡± Caius called to them. ¡°You two come over here.¡± They nodded and ran over to join him and Ava.


    Adam grinned from ear to ear as he jogged over and Finn looked like he didn¡¯t want to stop their training either, clearly having a good time with his live target.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m starting to get the hang of this.¡± Adam said. ¡°I mean at least I know I won¡¯t die a horrid death if someone shoots a fireball at me.¡±


    ¡°Just you wait until I¡¯ve had some time to progress to a higher tier. I¡¯ve seen some Viscounts melt stone with a flick of their wrist.¡± Finn said, cleaning off his glasses with a cloth he pulled from his fanny pack. ¡°The really interesting thing about your armor is that I haven¡¯t been able to spot a single break in its dimensional integrity despite the repeated blows. I would love to¡­¡±


    ¡°Perhaps another time, Finn.¡± Caius said cutting him off. He held up the pyramid skill crystal a second later. ¡°For now, I wanted you two to be here as I use the skill crystal. Finn, because I know how much you enjoy seeing the changes in dimensional energy surrounding the process, and Adam so you can see what normally happens when one is used.¡±


    Finn¡¯s eyes glistened with excitement, flashing a deep hue of purple beneath his thick rimmed glasses. Caius had wondered why he wore those glasses. Even Ava¡¯s [Healing Stream] ability was more than enough to cure any vision impairment. He had promptly explained they were specialized glasses that allowed him to better view dimensional forces acting on the physical world in an extremely complicated lecture that left Caius acutely aware of his own lack of knowledge. His passion had been so infectious though that it left Caius wanting the kid on his team. That was his first day at the academy and they had been inseparable since.


    ¡°Always the gentleman.¡± Finn said. ¡°What do we have here? A leg? Body? Arm? I would really love to see a Domain as they cause the most dimensional fluctuation purely based off the general nature of most Domain skills.¡± The others looked at Finn with furrowed brows. ¡°I know. I know. No Domain skills until we¡¯ve filled all our other slots.


    ¡°It¡¯s an Arm skill crystal.¡± Ava said, shaking her head slightly at Finn. She had never quite understood him, but Caius also knew she had a soft spot for him as well.


    Finn shrugged and gestured to Caius to proceed. Caius couldn¡¯t help a small smile from splitting his lips as he took one last deep breath. He brought the crystal to his Right shoulder. He was right-handed, and most people typically filled their dominant arm skill slot first as it was generally their most powerful attack ability with the other arm skill slot being a more control-oriented ability. Caius had theorized that beginning with the control ability would lead to greater damage output on the back end as the second arm ability would have better synergy with the control ability, as opposed to the other way around. That¡¯s why he had filled his first skill slot in his left arm. It had turned out a little different than he had planned, but he was more than thrilled with the results.


    The crystal made contact with his shoulder and Caius pushed his Primordial Energy into it, accepting the skill crystal. His body was flooded with a stream of warmth exuding from the crystal. It coursed through his body, filling every cell with a buzzing energy. It was as if he could feel his body drawing more Primordial Energy in through every pore in his body, soaking his cells in more than they had ever held before.


    He looked at his arms, the lines extending from his palms to his elbows that most had assumed were tattoos glowed blue. Of course, they weren¡¯t tattoos, but the true inheritance of his family. What had made his father and uncle such forces of natural power. They had been described to him as essentially ley lines for Primordial Energy. Tracks of power unique to the Arconius blood line that to this day the mysteries surrounding them had not been uncovered. What was known was the terrifying displays of power throughout history that those with these marks had left upon the world. Starting with his great grandfather.


    The power in his body reached a crescendo as he felt every hair on his body stand on end, the ground around him beginning to tremble. Caius gripped his swords, feeling the Primordial Energy in his veins rushing into them through the markings on his palms. Crackling burst of blue electricity arced over his body and down his arms. They funneled their way down through the swords, arcs of lighting jumping between the two.


    Skill Obtained: [Lightning Strikes, Thunder Follows]: Where lightning goes, thunder follows.


    With every strike of your weapon, a small amount of kinetic energy is stored in the blade. This energy can be discharged at a later time of your choosing, delivering the punishment in a thunderous attack. Cost of attack increases with amount of energy stored.


    A smile spread across Caius¡¯s face as he studied his arms. The others had all stepped far away and were now peeking at him from behind the stone barn. Except for Adam who had put on his helm again and was standing as close as he dared.


    Caius looked toward Adam, feeling the instinctive knowledge of his new skill flood his mind. He walked toward him, a maniacal grin spreading on his face.  Adam lifted his shield, clearly thinking the same thing as him, and happy to oblige. He was their frontliner after all.


    Caius circulated the Primordial Energy through his body and into the new skill as he slashed at the ground in front of him with his swords. He took slow steps toward Adam, feeling the power of the skill grow with each sword strike on the ground. The ley lines in his arms growing brighter with each passing second. He felt a fire burning in his veins, like he was being overcharged and needed an outlet for the power. It just so happened that he had a willing subject in front of him.


    ¡°Adam, I don¡¯t know if you have lightning in your Kingdom, but you should know that metal conducts electricity.¡± Finn called from behind.


    Ava started up her [Healing Stream] ability and a second later a green sheen enveloped Adam.


    Caius burst forward, propelled by the pent up power that begged to be released. He struck at Adam¡¯s proffered shield, and an explosion of lightning erupting from the point of impact followed by an ear shattering boom. Adam was flung back fifty feet in the air and then slid another fifty before coming to a stop against the stone barn.


    Small arcs of blue lightning arced over his armor as he tried to stand. ¡°Ohhh shiiii. Thhiiis huuurtsss.¡± Adam said, his voice cracking as his muscled seized. He tried to stand, but his arms and legs kept locking up before he could make it to his feet.


    Caius let his swords disappear as smirked to himself. He knew there was a lot more he could do with the skill. Ways he could manipulate it especially if he pushed it to its limits. But that was part of the fun of testing one¡¯s abilities. The synergy with his [Armament of the First King] ability was exactly what he was hoping for. The Royal Advisors had called him a petulant child for arguing with them in regards to skill selection. Well, he would show them someday.


    Ava and Finn joined Adam and him a few seconds later. There was smoke rising from the inside of Adam¡¯s armor as he lifted his helm, his hair sticking straight up. Ava sent a more concentrated stream of healing his way and he nodded in thanks.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy I wasn¡¯t the only one here when you used that crystal.¡± Finn said. He clapped Adam on the back with a sympathetic nod.


    ¡°I¡¯d hate to see how you test out abilities when you don¡¯t have someone in a full suit of armor to experiment on.¡± Adam said.


    Caius waved his hand with a dismissive gesture. ¡°Ehh, I knew you could take it. Besides, I didn¡¯t give it everything.¡±


    ¡°So does this mean I¡¯m going to be the test dummy for everyone¡¯s new ability?¡± Adam asked. Horror clear on his face as the realization of the precedent he just set sunk in.


    Ava walked by him and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Just think of it as endurance training. After all, you barely know how to properly use that armor of yours.¡±


    Adam groaned as the others laughed at him.


    ¡°So?¡± Ava said. ¡°What are we working with? Don¡¯t leave me waiting too long or I might just decide I need to go on a run in a minute.¡±


    Caius snapped his head toward her mouth agape. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t.¡± She gave him a smirk as if challenging him.


    ¡°Umm. What is going on?¡± Adam asked.


    Finn was rubbing his face with his hand. ¡°What¡¯s going on is me and you are going to need to find a place far from here for the next thirty minutes.¡±


    Caius could feel his skin heating. Lingering lightning returning over his forearms as little streams of it arced off his body.


    ¡°When someone uses a skill crystal, their hormones and emotions go into overdrive. Every aspect of their being is hyper charged.¡± Ava said, smirking while she stared at Caius, one brow raised as if in challenge. ¡°In Caius¡¯s case perhaps a little more literally than others.¡±


    ¡°It means that because his girlfriend is here, certain emotions end up getting a little more amplified than others. Your adrenaline and curiosity were amplified which is most likely the reason you turned into a child opening a birthday present who had to go play with it for an hour irrationally. For those two¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called : [Lightning Strikes, Thunder Follows]. It allows me to store kinetic energy from prior attacks in my swords that can be delivered as a much more powerful attack later.¡± Caius said in a spew of words as he walked toward Ava. He picked her up, looping one hand under her knees and one behind her shoulders and took off toward the barn. ¡°Don¡¯t die.¡± He called without turning back, leaving Adam and Finn standing alone in the odd corn field.