《Soul Nexus - Refabricated》 01 Stolen Dreams The winter air stabbed me through my clothes as I watched my favorite neon-lit hunting ground. A sea of people shuffled their feet as they walked past the park bench I sat on. Their eyes were glued to the tiny, light-emitting boxes, known as cell phones, which consumed their attention. Oblivious to my existence, they walked, possessed, as captivating streams of images danced before their eyes. They don¡¯t know how good they have it. Everything they want to know and see is at their fingertips. A warm home to return to. Never having to worry about finding enough money to eat for the week. The world is their oyster, and I¡¯m just a discarded rock nobody pays attention to. I eyed a particularly obnoxious girl with honey-blonde hair. She talked with someone on speakerphone while scrolling through some images on her phone. I couldn¡¯t understand what she was talking about. The constant stream of pop culture jargon didn¡¯t even sound like complete sentences. And it was all made worse by how high and squeaky her voice was. I stood up from the bench that I had been watching the crowds from. She¡¯ll make a perfect target for tonight. It looks like she¡¯s got the latest model, too. I pulled my hoodie tighter around my face and walked in front of Blondie. The crisp night air of December guaranteed everyone was wearing gloves. As she lowered her phone from her eyes with a stomp like a child¡¯s tantrum, I swiftly spun around and snatched her phone from her grasp. With a feat of dexterity that surprised even me, I ended the call and silenced the device before a word left the phone. You obviously don¡¯t need this that badly. There are others in need of more important things, like medicine. The girl didn¡¯t stand a chance once I had buried the phone in my pocket as I walked with my head down. She screamed about how she was robbed, but I kept my smirk to myself. Most people ignored her, but a few tried to get her to calm down so they could try to help her. It¡¯s amazing how people can overlook you if you don¡¯t bring attention to yourself. And that¡¯s precisely how I¡¯ve survived on my own. But one person with a hood obscuring their face turned towards me. Quickly I went down a quiet alley, I stuck my head out to see if the man had followed my movements. But there was no sign of him. Odd, but that sometimes happens. With a sigh of relief, I pulled out the phone. It was still unlocked, but there were two missed calls. I pulled out a small screwdriver from my other pocket. After I popped the casing off, I removed the battery and the SIM card. The SIM card hit the ground, and I kicked it down the drain as I pocketed the battery and the phone separated. GPS needs batteries, and the SIM card is useless. When I looked out and saw a couple of guys making out on a bench, I noticed one of them left their phone sitting out in the open. I scooped it up without either of them being the wiser. As I looked around for anyone who noticed, I noticed someone was watching me again. It was the same guy with the hat and trench coat. He was headed my way. I tucked myself in a different alley. I turned down several different paths going from street to street hoping to lose him in the maze of alleys. If there was one thing I could do other than steal, it was run. I wasn¡¯t the fastest person, but I was well above average. It seemed that I lost him. Annoyed, I performed my ritual of dismantling the phone. That¡¯s twice now. I think it¡¯s time to lay low. This should be enough for Marc¡¯s medicine. But when I walked down the street, I turned to see the reflection in the glass mocking me. Large, almond-shaped brown eyes stared back at me. An innocent smile hid the pain of my loneliness. I kept my braided, silky, cherry blonde hair tucked into my hoodie. By most metrics, I was considered pretty. Even though I¡¯m on the thin side, I¡¯ve even got the coveted hourglass figure. But something about me leaves me forgettable and ignored. In highschool, I learned that fawns emit little to no smell to limit their presence to predators. But once they hit puberty that goes away and everything notices them. But that didn¡¯t happen for me like it did other girls who blossomed. There was no sign of the man in the trench coat as I headed towards Berry¡¯s pawn shop. A neon sign with ¡°Berry¡¯s Bits and Bobs¡± barely hung over the door to the store. He keeps telling me he¡¯s going to secure that, but it¡¯ll take it falling on someone before he does. And that¡¯s only if he survives the lawsuit that follows. As I pushed open the door, the jingling bell echoed through the air, drawing my attention to the state of the store. It appeared cluttered and disorderly, leading one to believe that its owner was nothing but a slob. However, amidst the chaos, awaiting me¡ªa handsome man stood behind the register, his gaze fixed upon me. ¡°Ah, welcome!¡± He held out his arms as if he wanted to hug me from across the store. While the man set a record for neglecting his store, his appearance was the exact opposite. He wore a black polo and black slacks. His slicked-back, black hair shined from the obvious heavy application of hair gel. Stylish, no-rimmed glasses sat on his face, with clean-shaven cheeks pulled into the widest smile he could. ¡°Hello, Berry. It¡¯s me, Rina,¡± I said, reminding him who I was like I¡¯ve done every time I''d entered his store. He nearly jumped. ¡°Oh, sorry. I didn¡¯t expect you today. You hit the casino tonight?¡± He always says that. It just means he forgot about me again. I shook my head as I pulled my hoodie back. The heat, at least, was on and helped ease the tingling in my toes. ¡°Berry, it¡¯s Wednesday. Security is tighter during the late-night hours. Tomorrow is the best day to go. It¡¯s the slowest day, but their staff is all tired and at its thinnest.¡± He licked his lips. ¡°Sorry. Usually I never forget a face. But yours always seems to escape me every chance it gets.¡± ¡°You and everyone else,¡± I mumble. Berry chuckled as he slapped his hand on the counter. ¡°Well, don¡¯t leave me in suspense. Come on, let¡¯s see the goods.¡± I placed the two phones on the counter and the batteries next to them. ¡°Someone¡¯s had a good day.¡± His eyes lit up when he saw the phone I took from the girl. ¡°Oh, what have we got here? Someone¡¯s been naughty.¡± He picked up the phone. ¡°This model¡¯s barely been out two weeks, and you¡¯ve already clipped one. Color me impressed.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°You¡¯d think with the money they spend on them, they¡¯d take care of them.¡± Nope. Cracked screens, blown speakers, and water damage. The list goes on. If they¡¯re so careless with them, and they likely have insurance that¡¯ll replace them, I¡¯ll just take them and sell them for something to eat and a place to sleep for a few nights. Berry gave me a smirk as he glanced at me from the corners of his eyes. ¡°With as many as you bring me on a regular basis, I¡¯d think you enjoy this.¡± I flinched. ¡°It¡¯s not like I do this because it¡¯s fun. This is out of necessity. I hate it. ¡°Right.¡± He nodded. ¡°If you hate it so much, why don¡¯t you find yourself a real job?¡± I turned to look at a haphazard pile of DVDs. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to have a normal life. They always ¡®lose¡¯ my applications. Nobody likes to hear you have no home address. It¡¯s the same story every time I apply for a job. Who¡¯s going to hire a twenty-year-old with no identification? It¡¯s like I¡¯m a ghost, forever doomed to be ignored.¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°That¡¯s dark,¡± Berry mumbled. ¡°Just give me my cut already. I imagine one of those will go for at least a grand.¡± I crossed my arms and glared at Berry. This conversation always pisses me off. And don¡¯t get me started with dating. With an uncomfortable efficiency, he dropped the subject. ¡°Unlocked, used versions go for fifteen hundred. Since our agreement was twenty-five percent, add that to your second prize, and that puts you at, oh, five hundred.¡± I started drooling. ¡°Five hundred?¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°That¡¯s a whole week. I can stay for a whole week at a hotel with that and that includes meals.¡± Berry scooped up the phones. ¡°And here I was about to tell you not to spend it all in one place.¡± He opened his register and pulled out twenty-five twenties. ¡°Here you go, kid. Go, get yourself something to eat.¡± I pushed three of the twenties back to him. ¡°Do you have the medicine?¡± Berry dropped behind the counter and pulled out a tiny vial with a lid made for needles to puncture the top. On the bottle was a bunch of medical information and a small piece of tape with the word ¡°Rina¡± written on it. He nudged it towards me. ¡°You know how hard it is to get a hold of this stuff? It¡¯s only for those with a very specific autoimmune disease. You obviously don¡¯t have it.¡± I scooped it up and pocketed it with the money in my front pocket and hurried towards the door. But I stopped at the door and turned to see Berry still smiling. ¡°Thanks!¡± I waved as I left. It¡¯s not for me. It¡¯s easier to just not tell him why anymore. I¡¯ve already told him a dozen times. But now I can visit Marc. I guess that¡¯s why I kept going back to him. While the man was obviously not above breaking the law, he genuinely cared about me. That, and he didn¡¯t ask a lot of questions. He¡¯s one of the few people who can remember me with just a simple reminder. Then again, I see him almost more than anyone else. Marc is a daily visit for me. Making sure I can get him the medicine he needs is really the only thing that keeps me going. A huge smile spread across my face as I almost skipped towards the nearest Mediterranean restaurant. I didn¡¯t even bother to lift my hood. But I¡¯m sure Marc would like some gyros. He always smiles when I bring him some. It¡¯ll help him after he takes the medicine. I got him a couple of classic gyros, cooked well done, and picked out a couple of chicken salad gyros for myself. The walk to the hospital was quiet and bright. The hum of neon lights blotted out what little conversations were going on beyond the mindless masses staring at their phones. The sterile air of the hospital hammered me as I entered the hospital. After walking through to the elevators like a ritual, I pressed the button for the seventh floor, the sterile ward. The familiar ding of the elevator reaching the floor began the laundry list of tasks I needed to do whenever I visited Marc. Stripping off my clothes in the provided locker room, I took a shower, grabbed a gown and slippers before heading to the room. I made sure to keep the gyros and the medicine with me. The airlock system activating caught Marc¡¯s attention. He perked up. I made sure to keep the gyros behind me so I could surprise him. Lying in his bed was Marc, a boy of about ten years old. His thin frame seemed almost swallowed by the crisp, white hospital sheets. Marc''s hair, once a vibrant chestnut brown, had thinned considerably, a side effect of his prolonged treatments. His pasty clammy skin was almost as white as the walls, leaving it hard to ignore the undeniably visible blue veins underneath. His eyes, however, were a deep, earthy brown. He was looking more awake than yesterday. As the inner doors opened, his lips curved into a small as he raised his hand to wave at me. ¡°Hey, Rina.¡± Marc''s bed was surrounded by a few personal touches that managed to break the monotony of the sterile environment. A colorful blanket of dinosaurs, draped over his legs, added a splash of color to the room. A small collection of comics was neatly stacked on a nearby table, alongside a handheld game system. I pointed to the game system. ¡°Did you get a new game?¡± He beamed. ¡°I did. It¡¯s called¡­¡± A waterfall of words spewed from his mouth. It was hard to keep up with him. I just smiled and nodded as he gushed about his new game. He powered it up and I played along with him for a short time. I¡¯ve never really had the head for these RPGs he plays. Eventually, he had to stop when his stomach growled. I chuckled. I reached down the side of the bed and pulled out the food. ¡°Guess what I got.¡± His face lit up when he saw the gyros. ¡°Thank you!¡± He took one and unwrapped the foil. After taking a bite, he practically melted. The boy smiled as he took another bite. ¡°You have no idea how bad the food is here.¡± I laughed. ¡°I can imagine. What was it today?¡± ¡°Chicken nuggets,¡± Marc said with a scowl. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t believe they¡¯re even made of chicken. Once I can get out, I¡¯m going to eat out every day.¡± I smiled. He knows they can''t release him. But I''ll humor him. I crossed my arms. ¡°Oh really? Where do you want to go first?¡± He hoisted the gyro. ¡°Kelsie¡¯s Kool Kookies.¡± He broke out in a coughing fit. I made sure to get him a small cup of water. He took several small sips of water. ¡°Thanks.¡± His voice lost all enthusiasm. I rubbed his shoulder. ¡°You doing alright?¡± He put the gyro back in the foil. ¡°Today isn¡¯t as bad as it has been. The doctors are struggling to get the medicine. After that contaminated batch at one of the manufacturing plants, a lot of hospitals have been short. They talk around me like they think I don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ve noticed they¡¯ve been going longer between injections. I¡¯m long overdue for one.¡± I pulled out the small bottle of medicine I picked up from Berry. ¡°Well it¡¯s a good thing I got this for you.¡± He gave me a knowing smirk. ¡°Playing hero again? How did you even get that?¡± I smirked. ¡°That I can¡¯t tell you, sorry. Professional courtesy, you understand.¡± Marc squinted at me. ¡°What do you do? Why do you never tell me where you get the medicine?¡± I placed the bottle on the table next to him. ¡°That¡¯s because I don¡¯t want you to worry about me. You¡¯re my only friend. I have to take care of you, not the other way around.¡± ¡°Is your work dangerous?¡± I waved my hand. ¡°No, no. It¡¯s as dangerous as a midnight run.¡± ¡°Is it illegal?¡± Now why is he asking that? ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Save your strength for yourself. When¡¯s the last time your parents visited? Don¡¯t they have something to say about what¡¯s happening?¡± His head dropped further. ¡°They haven¡¯t visited since they adopted another kid. They¡¯re probably too busy now.¡± I stood up and went to pick up a syringe. I then carefully filled it, just like Marc taught me, making sure it didn¡¯t have any air bubbles. With a slow even push, I inserted the medicine into his IV. That¡¯s low. I¡¯ve been forgotten by everyone, but he probably feels like he¡¯s being replaced. I know his birth parents died in a car crash with a drunk driver. That¡¯s how I met him at the orphanage six years ago. But he was quickly adopted while I was shuffled off to yet another foster parent. But in that short time he was the only one who would remember me. I disposed of the used needle. I need to cheer him up. More importantly, if his parents won¡¯t be there for him, I will. He¡¯s always there for me. ¡°You have to get better. If you don¡¯t, how else will I take you to Kelsie¡¯s Kool Kookies?¡± I gave him a smile as I watched him lie down in his blankets. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to buy you one of their famous ice cream sandwiches.¡± He looked up at me with shimmering eyes. ¡°Promise?¡± I tucked him in. ¡°Absolutely. All you have to do is be ready to pick your cookie and ice cream.¡± His eyelids drooped. The medicine always made him tired. ¡°Okay.¡± I looked at Marc''s unfinished food. He ate most of the one gyro but never touched the other. Sighing, I packed them up into the bag and headed out again. The doctors would ban me if they knew I fed him like this. But in the end it would never work. They would forget me the next day, like they always do, like everyone always does. Everyone except Marc. I changed back into my heavily worn clothes. I don¡¯t know what makes Marc so special, but he¡¯s my greatest treasure. A friend who never forgets me. It¡¯s just too bad that he¡¯ll be trapped in that bubble all his life. Part of me felt cruel promising him the ice cream sandwich. Another part wanted to make sure I picked one up for him tomorrow. But after that promise, I can¡¯t buy one for him until he walks out of the hospital. It would tell him that I didn''t believe he would make it. As I walked out of the hospital, I pulled the hoodie tight around my head. I can''t think about that. All I have to do is I just get him enough medicine so he can get better. And then he can go back to being a normal child. Or as much as he can. ¡°Rina Lone?¡± A voice called out from behind me. 02 Not Your Call I turned to see the man in a black trench coat. The wide-brim hat that was pulled forward also partially covered his face. His hands were also buried in his pockets. ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡± Something about him felt off. Nobody ever calls out my name first, let alone my full name. He pulled out a pistol with a silencer on it. My eyes exploded when he leveled it at me. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a ¡®yes.¡¯¡± The man lifted his head, and while he was average-looking, the grin on his face was terrifying. Even stranger were his eyes. They were two black pits. ¡°This is for the greater good.¡± He pulled out a gun. I turned and ran. There was a pop, and a woman in front of me fell backwards as her chest opened with a tiny hole. There was another pop. This time, a guy on the other side of me took the bullet. I dove into the alley when the third pop sounded. The wall on my right cracked, and I heard the bullet ricochet. At that point, everyone else started running and screaming. There¡¯s a guy following me with a gun, killing people while attempting to kill me! Why me? I don¡¯t know him. Until now, nobody ever cared that I existed. What¡¯s changed? How is this for the greater good? He¡¯s nuts! The answers to my questions would have to wait. The guy followed me into the alley. My leg exploded in pain as he fired another shot. I fell to the ground and saw the blood flowing from the edge of my thigh. It burned, but he was still following me. Scrambling to my feet, I dove behind a trash can. He fired another round. It hit the trash can but it didn¡¯t puncture through. My leg still hurt, but the pain was slowly becoming more manageable. What am I supposed to do now? He¡¯s shooting at me! Why? Did I steal his phone and he¡¯s pissed? I didn¡¯t know, but the trash can didn¡¯t stop the next shot. The pain from the wound in my shoulder caused the world to go black for a split second. I collapsed on the ground. I knew I had to escape. I was sure I would die if I stayed there. I forced my body to move and scrambled into the street. The man was walking towards me, his gun trained on my head. He lowered the gun and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± His finger wrapped around the trigger. It hurt, but I wasn¡¯t ready to die. I stumbled another few feet. Some guy tried to tackle him as he fired a shot. A young boy fell to the ground next to me, clutching his bleeding stomach. The guy who tackled him earned himself a bullet to the side of the head at point blank. I turned back to the man. ¡°You killed them!¡± I screamed. He stood up and brushed himself off. His face was flat as he turned to me. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. They¡¯re all going to die anyway. I¡¯m saving them from a worse fate and future. All it requires is your destruction. If you just stayed put, none of this would¡¯ve happened.¡± This psycho won¡¯t stop. I turned and ran across the street, dodging cars. My leg hurt, but I kept moving. My side exploded, and I felt myself fall. There was a wetness as I felt my side pocket dripped with blood from a bullet hole that went completely through me. The pain was agonizing. A series of cars blocked him from following me across the street. Holding my side, I ran into another side street heading towards the nearest police station. He had a gun and I didn¡¯t stand a chance as things were going. I¡¯m going to need them to take me to the hospital too. The police station was still more than twenty blocks away, but I was going to have less cover as it was in the more businessy section of the city with wide open roads. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. More gunshots followed by people screaming sounded behind me. I stopped to see the gunman was pushing off a car that almost hit him. The crowd of people dropped to the ground or dove behind what little cover they could. I looked around and decided that the corner store close by was the best cover I was going to get. As I ran to the door, there was another pop. The bullet bounced off the wall in front of me. I dove through the glass doors into the building with the faint sounds of sirens headed my way. So the cops are headed this way. That means all I have to do is keep him here and they will take care of him. My head was spinning as I started getting lightheaded. I¡¯m losing too much blood. Everything screamed in pain and I could feel vomit climbing up my throat. An involuntary retching later, I could look for a place to hide. My vision blurred as I stumbled to the section of the store labeled ¡°First Aid¡± in the back corner. Clutching at the nearest wrap, I fumbled with it trying to deal with the packaging. The man following me walked through the door. His eyes looked around as I poked my head around the aisle. When his eyes went to the ground, they instantly were drawn right to where I was. I looked at his feet and found both a puddle of vomit and blood. Then I noticed that I was leaving a trail of blood from my side. The sirens sounded outside. The gunman only glanced back before marching my way. I don¡¯t have time to think with him. It was getting harder to think. Ducking back behind the aisle and headed for the back door. There¡¯s got to be a way out that way. I need someplace to hide. What if I circle around to the front? Would the cops still be there? Hopefully they are. Leaving behind a trail of blood, I pushed through the door. Piles of boxes and shelves with more boxes filled the concrete room. A pair of guys turned to look at me. ¡°Oi, you¡¯re not supposed to be back here,¡± one of them said. I held up my blood covered hand. ¡°Help! There¡¯s a guy with a gun headed this way.¡± Both guys reached behind their backs and pulled pistols. My eyes went wide as they aimed them towards the door behind me. The second one flicked his gun to the side. ¡°Move!¡± He didn¡¯t have to repeat himself. Maybe these two can do it. I headed over to a stack of diapers. It only took a minute for my pursuer to arrive. ¡°Drop it!¡± the first guy shouted. Predictably, he didn¡¯t. Instead he fired on the man, blowing a hole through his chest and sending him sprawling backwards. Thankfully his buddy didn¡¯t hesitate pulling the trigger, putting three rounds into my pursuer. The part I didn¡¯t understand was why did one bullet send the employee flying and three barely caused him to flinch. The second employee fired another round before his torso opened out the back with a shower of blood. How is he still alive? He took four shots to the chest. The trenchcoat guy didn¡¯t look hurt or like he was bleeding either as he flicked something on the side of his gun. The clip dropped out the bottom of the handle as he pulled out another one from a pocket. I have to get to the cops. There was another door behind me on the far side of the room. Hoping that was a door out, I took off sprinting with a terrible limp as the corners of my vision grew blurry. I almost made it to the door when I heard two clicks. As I pulled the door open, my left leg erupted with pain. I barely had the presence of mind to fall out the door. If I thought I was bleeding a lot from my side, my leg was gushing blood. The burning pain left me screaming and my leg entirely limp. I clutched the wound desperately and futilely trying to hold the blood in. The mysterious gunman that had been relentlessly hunting me strolled through the door. I rolled over. ¡°Why? What have I done? I don¡¯t even know who you are.¡± The man lowered his weapon and shrugged. ¡°Look, you have to die. I have orders to make sure you do. It¡¯s my job to remove problematic existences. You should never have existed in the first place. If you had just accepted this, this would¡¯ve been much less painful for you and others. All those deaths are on you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Tears rolled down my cheeks. ¡°Tell me how to fix it. I¡¯ll do anything. Please, I don¡¯t want to die.¡± ¡°People rarely get what they want, but that¡¯s not my call to make.¡± The man lifted the gun to my head. I shook as I closed my eyes and cried. ¡°Nor is it yours.¡± Time seemed to slow down. There was a click and a sudden feeling of warmth on my forehead. But then, everything was gone. Nothing. There wasn¡¯t any doubt. I died. At least it was quick. I didn¡¯t even feel anything. ¡­ Wait! I¡¯m thinking? 03 Would You Like a Cookie? I opened my eyes. The alley was gone. So was the man with the gun. I remember the gun firing. There¡¯s no way he missed. I¡¯m definitely dead. Is this the afterlife? I stood in a long hallway. On both sides of me, endless rows of doorways stretched on. All the doors were shut and I couldn¡¯t see any handles. The doors looked like they were made from a single piece of silvery metal. But the floor was a milky white marble, while the walls were painted a soft lavender. ¡°Where am I, purgatory?¡± My voice echoed in the hall. I turned and saw the endless hallway extend behind me too. ¡°Do I go forwards or backwards? There¡¯s a fifty percent chance it¡¯s the wrong direction.¡± So I went forward. My shoes squeaked against the marble, but as I walked, nothing in the scenery changed. I kept walking and walking. Then I walked some more. Thousands of doorways, and not a single one has a handle? Who in their right mind makes a building like this? I started running down the hall. Something needs to change. I can¡¯t be stuck wandering down an endless hallway for the rest of my life. No doors, no people, Nothing! ¡°Is anyone around? Can someone help me?¡± I shouted as I kept running. This isn¡¯t purgatory; this is hell! This is what I get for stealing. But it was to survive. I didn¡¯t try to take anything from anyone who needed it. It was only cell phones. I even tried to help others. Marc needed my help. I stopped running and tried to kick one of the doors. The sound of my foot hitting the door reverberated throughout the hall. The door didn¡¯t show any sign that I had kicked it. My foot, on the other hand, throbbed. Ignoring the pain in my foot, I resorted to hitting the door with my fist. ¡°Please, open up. I need help.¡± ¡°Knock it off!¡± a voice shouted so loudly that my ears felt like they were going to explode. I dropped to my knees and covered my ears. ¡°Who is making all that racket? Some of us are trying to enjoy a little peace and quiet.¡± The voice was at a more reasonable volume, and it was coming from behind me. I turned and saw the door glow for a moment before it slowly opened. A blinding light exploded from behind the door, and I shielded my eyes. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± It sounded like an old man. The slightly scratchy voice was a welcomed change. I opened my eyes, and the bright light was less blinding. In front of me was an open room. ¡°Come in.¡± I looked down each direction of the hall and saw nobody, and the hallways were still the same as ever. Shrugging, I stood up and walked in. My jaw hit the floor. There were no windows, yet the room was lit with a soft ambient glow that revealed no shadows. The walls, floor, and ceiling seamlessly transitioned from one to the other. It didn¡¯t look like I was in a room, but in an infinite expanse of pure white. Then I looked up at the ceiling and saw a spectacular chandelier that you¡¯d expect to see in the wealthiest of mansions. The entire thing was made of beautiful, clear crystals. It felt like I could just stare at it for hours. The chandelier seems to defy gravity, suspended effortlessly in the air, casting gentle reflections and refracting light in mesmerizing patterns. ¡°Excuse me.¡± The elderly voice called out again. In a corner of the room, past the square ivory table underneath the chandelier, was a very well dressed, old man. He was seated in a high-back chair that was also white, like everything else in the room. He wore a white tuxedo, and in his hands were a little white teacup and plate. Next to him was a marble pedestal with a tea set with bowls of sugar and a plate of small cookies. The man looked like he didn¡¯t belong in the suit. His skin held more wrinkles than I thought skin could have. His eyelids looked like they struggled to hold the wrinkles on his forehead from locking his eyes shut. Also, his skin looked like no amount of moisturizer could rehydrate. He was probably halfway to being mummified. ¡°Who¡ªwho are you?¡± It took most of my courage to keep from flinching at his appearance. The man put the cup on the plate and placed them on the pedestal with the rest of the tea set. ¡°Someone who believes that the guest should introduce themselves first.¡± When he stood up, he brushed the front of his tuxedo, despite it still being immaculate. He offered his hand to me. ¡°Your name, miss.¡± I swallowed. ¡°Rina Lone.¡± He doesn¡¯t know who I am, so he¡¯s not going to kill me too, right? ¡°Well, Miss Lone, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I¡¯m known as Mr. Black.¡± I giggled at his name. By the way the man¡¯s posture stiffened, he wasn¡¯t so amused at the irony. ¡°It seems you are full of rather rude tendencies.¡± ¡°Sorry, but Mr. Black? Is that your real name?¡± I barely held back the giggle, but not the smirk. ¡°There¡¯s so much white. If you said your name was Mr. White, it would be much easier to believe.¡± An uncomfortably long silence followed my statement. I immediately regretted saying it. While it may have looked like it was true, that didn¡¯t mean I had to say it. Mr. Black¡¯s face never changed. He just stared at me in a way that felt like he was peering through me and into my soul. I took a deep breath. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to say it. But it¡¯s been a really bad day for me. I was being chased by a man. He shot me¡­a lot. I think I died. No, I know I died. And since then, I¡¯ve been wandering that endless hallway, for I don¡¯t know how long, and I just don¡¯t know what to do. Shouldn¡¯t I, I don¡¯t know, move on to the afterlife?¡± He sighed. ¡°I see now. Your lack of manners is not entirely your fault.¡± What? ¡°You said you had died, so I looked at the last few years of your life. While it is tragic and not entirely your fault, you really shouldn¡¯t have resorted to thievery.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to do.¡± I held out my hands. ¡°I was kicked out of the foster care system because I had barely graduated high school, I couldn¡¯t get a job, I couldn¡¯t find a place to live, and I couldn¡¯t go to college. There was nothing I could do. I didn¡¯t have any other options. The only one who kept me going was Marc.¡± Mr. Black lifted a finger. ¡°You always have other options. It just might take you longer to see them.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°However, your willingness to help the boy, Marc, was admirable. Though, I must ask why?¡± I took in a sharp breath. ¡°Oh no. Who¡¯s going to make sure he gets his medicine now?¡± The old man leaned on the table. ¡°Of all the things you should worry about, that shouldn¡¯t be one of them. Why are you worried about him? You died, your life in that world is over.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t deserve the life he got.¡± I ran my fingers through my hair. ¡°Neither did I, but I can at least help make sure he has a chance. That¡¯s more than I ever got.¡± ¡°And what makes him so special? Hmm?¡± Mr. Black¡¯s probing tone started to grate on me. I started pacing. ¡°He was my friend¡ªmy only friend. After twenty years, he was the only one who ever remembered me. Every single one of my foster parents would forget me on a daily basis. It¡¯s a miracle I survived childhood. What I don¡¯t understand is why? Why could he remember me?¡± Mr. Black smirked as he stirred his tea with a spoon. ¡°Is that truly all you don¡¯t understand? What about the man who seemed to appear out of nowhere, know who you are, and hunt you down to kill you? To me that would be more puzzling. It sounds to me like you died with regrets.¡± With a smirk, the man continued talking. ¡°That¡¯s nothing new. But, if you were simply a normal person who died, you would have been moved to where you were supposed to go already. However, that¡¯s not the case for you. No, I¡¯m afraid this is much worse for you. And the boy too.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± My voice cracked. ¡°How does it get worse?¡± The old man turned around, grabbed the plate of cookies, and placed them on the table between us. ¡°Have a seat and a cookie if it will help you calm down and relax.¡± He waved behind me, and a wooden chair made of pure white wood was behind me. When did that get there? ¡°I¡¯d rather not. You saying things like that are doing the opposite of calming me down.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± He straightened up and put his hand behind his back. ¡°The hard way it is. You shouldn¡¯t exist.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t exist,¡± Mr. Black repeated. I shook my head. ¡°No, I exist. I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? This is real. This isn¡¯t some prank to scare me straight, right?¡± That guy said something like that before he killed me. ¡°Why? This doesn¡¯t make anysense.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°You don¡¯t have a natural soul. Your soul is an artificial one. Someone else created it.¡± Mr. Black¡¯s emotionless tone and face made it harder to believe. ¡°But how?¡± My voice quivered. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I born to my parents?¡± The man tilted his head. ¡°And what parents would those be? You said it yourself¡ªyou were an orphan. Was there any paperwork stating how you became an orphan?¡± ¡°They only told me they found me on the steps one morning. The mailman found me first thing in the morning.¡± That doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t have parents, right? My head started to spin. ¡°I¡¯m real.¡± ¡°You are real.¡± His voice seemed softer. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean that you¡¯re not artificial. I will admit, whoever created you knew what they were doing. There is very little to distinguish you from a natural soul. But it seems there are several small pieces missing. Ones that almost look too intentional to have been forgotten.¡± ¡°But how?¡± I placed my hands on the table. ¡°How can anyone create a soul? You said I shouldn¡¯t exist. Why? What does that have to do with any of this?¡± ¡°It has everything to do with this. Because creating souls is a crime. Nobody should know how to create an artificial soul. I only know how to recognize one.¡± Mr. Black¡¯s words sent a shiver down my spine. Why won¡¯t this guy show some emotion? How can he tell me my existence is basically a crime with such a flat face? ¡°And as it would seem, someone else knows about it and is actively attempting to rectify the situation. I should turn you over to be destroyed.¡± I fell into the chair. My limp body was nothing like the heart racing in my chest. Destroy? I shouldn¡¯t exist¡­ ¡°But I won¡¯t.¡± Mr. Black nudged the cookies closer to me, then turned and grabbed the tea set. He poured steaming hot water into a new cup with a matching plate. He pulled a small envelope from his pocket, and I saw the words ¡°Earl Grey¡± on the package before he ripped it apart and revealed a small tea bag. He placed it in the cup and placed it in front of me. ¡°Drink this. It¡¯s something from your world, and it will help you calm down.¡± There was a gentleness in the old man¡¯s voice that wasn¡¯t there before. But I continued to stare straight ahead. I shouldn¡¯t exist? I¡¯m an artificial being? My mind continued to spiral down a dark pit, one that made breathing harder. Then the words he said finally reached me. ¡°You won¡¯t destroy me?¡± I asked between sharp breaths. He shook his head. There was almost a look of pity in his eyes. ¡°No. There are many who believe that the sins of the father must be paid by the son, or in your case, the sins of the creator and the created. Some figures of speech don¡¯t age well.¡± Was that a joke? ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have more bad news.¡± My heart rate, which was just getting under control, spiked. ¡°What now?¡± Mr. Black waved his hand, and the chair slid and stopped next to me. Then he sat next to me. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you after you¡¯ve had some tea and a cookie. You like snickerdoodles, correct?¡± I looked at the cookies closely for the first time. They were snickerdoodles. How did he know? Oh right, he literally read my soul. Seeing my favorite cookie probably isn¡¯t that big of a stretch. I was teased a lot because such a simple cookie was always my favorite. It¡¯s been so long since I could afford a good cookie. My mouth watered at the innocent confectionary. My hand didn¡¯t wait for permission to snatch one and stuff it into my mouth. The entire cookie barely fit in my mouth, but I shivered and let out a slight moan. If there was ever the best cookie in existence, that would have been it. It had the perfect balance of cinnamon and sugar while still being so light and fluffy. I almost forgot about everything he said in that one blissful moment as the cookie melted in my mouth. Almost. I eyed him, and he nodded to the cup of tea. My hands shook a little as I tried to swallow the sugary delight, but I found my mouth was really dry. When my lips touched the tea, I flinched and almost spilled it. ¡°Too hot!¡± He nodded his head again. ¡°Try it now.¡± Look, mister, I almost burned my mouth on it. Do you really think it¡¯s cooled down enough already? He just kept staring at me, waiting. I rolled my eyes. Fine, just to show you. I brought the cup to my lips again. There wasn¡¯t the scalding on my lips as I expected. Instead, it was pleasantly warm. I took a drink. It was quite bitter, but still almost palatable. And it did its job, washing down the cookie. Although I could almost hear another cookie calling my name. ¡°Happy?¡± I asked as I set the cup down. ¡°Was it not to your liking?¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Does it need honey or sugar?¡± I eyed the dark liquid. ¡°Maybe some sugar will help.¡± I shook my head. ¡°But that¡¯s not important. You said you¡¯d tell me the bad news after I tried one of those¡ª¡±amazing¡°¡ªcookies and drank your tea.¡± I pointed my finger at him. ¡°Now, hold up your end.¡± Mr. Black frowned. ¡°Fine. Since I didn¡¯t finish the job of having you destroyed and you were ordered to be killed by a cosmic assassin, they will return to finish what they started once they find out you still exist. They never give up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, that is bad news.¡± My handle on my sanity was slowly starting to slip. Here I am drinking tea with an old man after he told me I¡¯m an artificial soul and shouldn¡¯t exist after I walked down an endless hallway after I got shot in the head. So, why not? ¡°What else can go wrong?¡± Without skipping a beat Mr. Black said, ¡°When the cosmic assassin kills you again, your soul will suffer irreparable damage and be destroyed utterly. And once he has killed you, he will erase all trace of your existence as is his protocol.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to erase? Nobody ever remembers me and there are no records of me on Earth.¡± I stared into the cup of tea without looking at it. ¡°Every time I tried to get the paperwork done, it would always get lost. It¡¯s already like I didn¡¯t exist.¡± Then it hit me. ¡°Marc remembers me.¡± ¡°And that is unfortunate for the boy,¡± the old man said. ¡°Once you die, he will go after the boy. The child doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± I buried my face in my hands. ¡°Why did he have to be able to remember me? Now my existence is going to get him killed. He¡¯s just a sick little boy who did nothing but be my friend.¡± Mr. Black cleared his throat. ¡°Without seeing the boy in person, I can only speculate. But it seems to me he is a reincarnated soul. Something very rare on Earth. Only one in a trillion born on Earth have that privilege. Of course he doesn¡¯t know it. His memories were wiped as per the usual protocol.¡± He proceeded to pour himself a cup. ¡°Your artificial soul is why people from Earth would forget you. Marc¡¯s reincarnated soul allowed him to remember you.¡± That doesn¡¯t make much sense to me, but that doesn¡¯t matter. ¡°Is there nothing I can do?¡± I slapped my hands on the table. ¡°There has to be something I can do. I have to help him.¡± Mr. Black hummed for a moment. ¡°There is one thing. Although, there¡¯s no guarantee you¡¯ll succeed.¡± I clenched my fist. ¡°What? Just tell me.¡± ¡°You could find out who created you and use that to bargain for a chance to exist.¡± I rubbed my eyes with my hands and blinked. ¡°Are you saying if I can find out who committed the crime of creating me and sell them out, I can live? No more dying? Then I can go home? And that will save Marc?¡± ¡°Dying could still happen,¡± he said nonchalantly. ¡°But yes. It¡¯s more of a chance than you had. And it will also at least buy the child time. Although, I¡¯m very hesitant to tell you about it. There are fates worse than death and complete destruction.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± Mr. Black sighed. ¡°There is a tower world called the Soul Nexus. Those who climb to the summit can have any one wish granted. No matter what it is, it will happen.¡± I snorted. ¡°Yeah, right. That sounds way too good to be true. What¡¯s the catch?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No catch. Just climb the summit and you can have your wish to know the name of the one who created you.¡± I waved my hand. ¡°If I could have any wish, why wouldn¡¯t I wish for something else? I don¡¯t know, maybe no longer being an artificial soul. Or become a god?¡± He nodded. ¡°You could wish for those things. You could also wish to return to your world and be noticed by the humans around you. But know that gods are not supreme beings. Even as a god, you can still be hunted and destroyed. Besides, being a god is nothing but paperwork and responsibilities. I wouldn¡¯t suggest it. And as for no longer being an artificial soul, you might want to word that better. Because that wish could be fulfilled by destroying you.¡± Oddly specific. I swallowed. ¡°Right, be careful what you wish for. But why didn¡¯t you want to tell me about the Soul Nexus?¡± ¡°Because greater than you have challenged it and were claimed.¡± He was back to his flat, emotionless tone. ¡°You¡¯ll be the weakest to challenge the Soul Nexus, ever.¡± Way to kill my hope. I pouted. ¡°You criticized me for being rude.¡± The man raised his hand. ¡°It was not my intention to be rude, but to inform you of how dangerous of an idea this is.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°How many people have succeeded?¡± Mr. Black thought for a moment. ¡°The figure I was last aware of was that out of the seven-point-five three septillions, only four succeeded in climbing to the top. But those are better odds than what you¡¯ll have if you deal with The Broker. I don¡¯t even want to guess what he¡¯ll do to you. But the cost would be far greater than you would be willing to pay. And there¡¯s no guarantee he¡¯ll protect you either.¡± ¡°He sounds like a jerk.¡± I deflated in my chair. ¡°But what are my options? Do I sit here and have tea and cookies until whoever wants me destroyed shows up?¡± Those cookies are to die for. ¡°Or do I head to this Soul Nexus and attempt the impossible task of climbing it? Or better yet, wander in that empty hall until I find someone else who will probably send me off to be destroyed like you should have done?¡± ¡°More or less.¡± He picked up his plate with a cup and took a sip of tea. ¡°I¡¯d make amiable company. And, I¡¯d say, your company would be a nice change of pace.¡± ¡°How long do I have?¡± I asked. ¡°Only a few hours,¡± Mr. Black said nonchalantly. ¡°Even if it is a long shot, I¡¯ve got to try.¡± I don¡¯t want to just die without a fight. I tried that. It didn¡¯t work out for me. ¡°So, I guess I¡¯ll need to go to this Soul Nexus. How do I get there?¡± Mr. Black took another sip. It looked like he had no opinion on the matter, but something about how his movements stiffened made me believe he wished I hadn¡¯t said that. ¡°You aren¡¯t ready, but if you are set on taking this path, so be it.¡± He waved his hand at the door. He stood up and offered me a hand. ¡°Through that door a test. You don¡¯t know what you are getting into, so let this simple task educate you.¡± ¡°Task?¡± He brandished a long knife and placed it in my hand and curled my fingers around the handle. ¡°Kill the rats in the cellar and prove to me you are ready for this. Because if you can¡¯t accomplish this, You never will stand a chance in the Soul Nexus.¡± I scratched the back of my head. ¡°Rats in a cellar, really? Why rats?¡± Mr. Black rolled his eyes and muttered, ¡°No respect for the classics.¡± He waved his hand. ¡°Just go with it.¡± I swallowed hard as I stared at the twelve inches of sharpened steel. ¡°Is this dangerous?¡± He nodded. ¡°Most certainly. Do you wish to reconsider?¡± I turned to the door. ¡°No.¡± Placing one foot in front of the other, I walked to the door, opened it, and walked down the wooden stairs into the dimly lit room. 04 Rat Problems When I stepped through the doorway, the door closed behind me. I was surrounded by darkness with the exception of a single light. Hanging on the wall was a small metal sphere on a rope. The metal ball pulsed with a soft yellow glow. I took the strange lamp by the rope and nodded as I took my next steps down the stairs into the cellar. This odd lanturn is convenient. It seems that finding the rats will be the hardest part by the looks of things. As I descended the stairs, the air grew cooler, albeit laced with the scent of alcohol. The cellar came into view as I reached the bottom, and I swept my lamp across the space, illuminating rows of barrels lining the stone walls. On the far side of the cellar, shelves held an assortment of items. Most displayed wine or beer bottles. A few held small instruments I¡¯d never seen before. I¡¯m sure they had something to do with all the barrels around. Whatever. I¡¯m here as a test to kill rats with a knife. Why a knife? Is that supposed to make it harder, or what? What am I supposed to do with this? Stab the rats? It doesn¡¯t sound too dangerous. Why did he make it sound so? I scoured the room for any signs of the elusive rodents and found none. With a frown, I moved on to the next room, where there were even more barrels. They stood stacked from floor to ceiling, and some had spigots protruding out. As I made my way through the room, I heard a peculiar scratching noise from somewhere beyond the next doorway. I tightened my grip on the dagger. The leather on the handle pressed against my palm as my knuckles turned white. I cautiously advanced, my lamp guiding the way. The scratching grew louder, filling the room with an eerie cacophony until I stood at the threshold, frozen in shock. What I saw before me was not a rat, but a grotesque hybrid of a rodent and a human. Its mangy fur clung to its wiry frame, and its bloodshot eyes locked onto mine. I shrieked and dropped the lamp. The light didn¡¯t go out, but it bounced on the ground before rolling behind me. Instinctively, I turned to head out of the cellar. Before I could get far, the creature pounced on me from behind. I barely managed to keep my face from slamming into the ground, but in that brief struggle, I noticed that the creature was slightly shorter than me. Sharp claws dug into my back, causing me to scream in pain. Am I going to die again? Pain radiated from my back. No! Not again. This time, I¡¯m fighting for my life! I rolled over and swung the dagger at the creature. It fell to the side, its claws shredding more of my back, but my dagger cut its forearm. Freed, I scrambled to my feet away from the creature. When I turned around, I saw it licking the wound I caused. ¡°Yes. Fight. Make good mate.¡± Its raspy voice sent a shiver down my bleeding spine. Then I got a good look at it and wished I hadn¡¯t. The creature reminded me of a werewolf from horror movies, except it wasn¡¯t a wolf, but a rat instead. It was also completely naked, allowing me to see it was obviously male, and his statement of a mate made my eye twitch. ¡°Yes, good mate.¡± I gagged. Anything but that. I started backpedaling, keeping the dagger raised and pointed at the creature. He crept on all fours towards me. When I made it to the threshold of the first room, the rat monster leaped, claws outstretched. I swiped the blade across my body while holding it with both hands. The dagger stabbed through one of the creature¡¯s hands, but he still tackled me. I grunted as I hit the ground. The monster stood over me, pulling the dagger out of his hand. He threw the blade away and grinned at me. I kicked him in the gut and scrambled towards the ladder. I need to get out of here. A clawed hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, throwing me into a shelf full of wine bottles. Also, he gave me four cuts on my shoulder. The bottles rattled as I tried to stay on my feet. The creature held his claws out as he marched up to me. When he got close to me, I grabbed one of the wine bottles by my head and swung for his head. He leaned back, and my attack missed. As my arm crossed my body, he grabbed my wrist and slashed it with his claws. I dropped the bottle, and it crashed against the stone floor. He took another step towards me and stepped on a shard of glass. He flinched back, and I took the opportunity to shove him even further. The glass didn¡¯t puncture my shoes as I ran over it to get away from the monster, but he followed me. I grabbed one of the shelves and tried to throw it at the creature, hoping to do some severe damage. The shelves toppled onto the rat monster. Bottles of alcohol bottles hammered against him but didn¡¯t do visible damage. They did, however, shatter as they hit the ground, leaving a rather nasty trap of shattered glass surrounding him. He shrugged off the shelves as he narrowed his eyes on me. Good, that should at least give me the time to run away. Before I could run, the creature pounced for me again. I ducked underneath, but as I stood up to run after he sailed over me, he pounced again as soon as he hit the ground. He tackled me onto all the broken glass from the shelf. I felt all the glass stab into every part of my body. My head, my back, arms, and legs. There was nothing I could do but scream. The rat monster didn¡¯t take pity on me as he opened his jaws and bit into my shoulder. I felt his teeth scrape against my bones. He released me from his bite and crawled off me. ¡°Strong mate survives.¡± He turned and started licking his wounds. ¡°Patience. Patience!¡± It sounded like the creature was scolding himself. ¡°Wait for mate. Get food, be ready. Yes.¡± He mumbled as he walked away. I didn¡¯t pay much more attention to where he went as my shoulder burned and my vision blurred. After all that, I¡¯m still going to die. Mr. Black was right. I¡¯m not ready. This was stupid to even try. Then Mr. Black stood over me, his arms held behind him. ¡°Do you understand now, Miss Lone? The Soul Nexus is unforgiving and dangers you can¡¯t comprehend await you.¡± I writhed on the ground. More glass dug into my back while other pieces sank deeper. ¡°Help me, please.¡± His wrinkled face frowned. ¡°Even still you wish to defy your fate? Only the suffering of existence awaits you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to die,¡± I whispered. It was getting harder to breathe. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Mr. Black held forward one of his hands. In it was a bottle of black liquid. ¡°If you want my help, you will have to see this through to the end. There will be no chance to back out again. You will be playing by my rules. Is that a price you¡¯re prepared to pay?¡± I nodded weakly. It looked like he swallowed a large lump in his throat. ¡°So be it.¡± The bottle in his hand began to vibrate before shattering in his hand and showering me in both shards of glass and whatever liquid was inside. He pulled out a second bottle. The same thing happened. Two more bottles followed the second in rapid succession, soaking me in whatever heavy liquid that was. Then something appeared in my vision. Compatible host. No system found. Sufficient cosmic energy supplied. What? There was no voice, just a simple message in a small blue box in the center of my vision. Installing system¡­1% The whole situation was more than I could handle. I wanted to ask Mr. Black what was happening, but he was gone, as if he was never there. He sent me down here to kill rats as a test. I found a giant rat-person monster who bit me. He deliberately tried to kill me. How could he just leave me lying on a bunch of broken glass and a puddle of wine and have been soaked in a strange liquid when I asked him for help. And why is this little blue box telling me there¡¯s something being installed? Installing¡­3% There it is again! What¡¯s installing and where? And why am I seeing this box like a little text message? My shoulder and back started feeling warm. I could feel the blood oozing out of countless cuts and the bite, but there was more. It felt like my wounds were already infected and inflamed. Then the heat grew into a more painful burning until all I could feel was my body engulfed in the horrible sensation. Installing¡­7% Collecting all available material¡­ The searing pain continued to grow. Then there was the weird sensation of something crawling into my back. Millions of tiny pinpricks outlined every cut on my back. I wanted to scream. But my screams died in my throat. My eyes bulged from their sockets as my back arched. The ceiling was still barely visible from the lamp that still rolled on the floor. Make it stop! Please, I¡¯ll do anything. Installing¡­15% Error¡­Foreign DNA found. Foreign DNA? I couldn¡¯t think too much more as the pain cranked up another level, and I went from a silent scream to being unable to breathe. My heart pounded in my chest as the rest of my body locked up. I couldn¡¯t flail around anymore. Installing¡­25% Expelling corrupted wererat DNA¡­ My shoulder started spraying blood. Installing¡­37% Stabilizing host¡­ The burning sensation started to ease up, but my body still wouldn¡¯t respond. I still couldn¡¯t scream for help. Currency module installed. Upgrade module installed. Host baseline confirmed. Language module installed. Installing¡­55% Connection established. Building interface. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. A series of blue boxes flashed across my vision. Each one vanished before the new one appeared. I didn¡¯t know what to make of all the messages. I was in too much pain to comprehend my situation at all. And even as my vision blurred, the boxes in my vision were perfectly visible. The pain died down for the time being, and I could comprehend what I was reading. Installing¡­77% Paused. Inquiry: Which type of enhancement is the host¡¯s preference? (Please select one.) 1: Mystical enhancement. Nanites will infuse the host with more primordial energy. This will augment the host to become more in tune with the elements as the host takes on the characteristics of each element. 2: DNA evolution. The host can absorb DNA from harvested lifeforms and choose which traits to augment their body with. Nanites will perfectly fuse the host¡¯s DNA with the harvested DNA. There will be a 0% chance of rejection, failure, and uncontrolled mutations. These traits can be replaced, enhanced, or combined. 3: Artificial augmentation. Nanites will enhance the host¡¯s body by replacing parts with cybernetic versions. These parts can be replaced or enhanced further. 4: Locked. Artificial soul detected. 5: Locked. Host is not a dragon. 6: Locked. Host is not undead. 7: Omnithrope Infection. The nanites will be converted to act like a non-transmutable unique virus. The host will gain various werecreature traits and be able to upgrade them. Further were-forms will be available for the host as well. Each form will empower the host and be able to be used interchangeably. Several others continued saying locked for various reasons, from obvious to outright ridiculous. What on Earth is a miniature giant space hamster? The pain had lessened significantly, but my body wasn¡¯t moving. My eyes closed themselves, leaving me to see only the swarm of blue notifications. Thankfully, all the ones that said ¡°Locked¡± disappeared, leaving me with only four choices. Why don¡¯t I feel the need to breathe? I can¡¯t even feel the passage of time. Whatever is going on, something wants me to choose between these three options. None of them sound pleasant. I don¡¯t like the idea of taking on the characteristics of elements. That just sounds wrong in a lot of ways. I considered the second option. Fusing DNA? That¡¯s going to be a hard no for me. You just said that you expelled foreign DNA, and now you want me to willingly alter my DNA? You must be out of your mind. Also, that sounds like the fastest way to become some disgusting freak like that lizard slug at the gate. Then I looked at the description of the omnithrope. No, just no. Never in a million years. That sounds like something straight out of a horror film. That left only one option left. Artificial augmentation selected. Resuming installation. Wait! I didn¡¯t say I wanted that one, yet. Installing¡­95% Please select starting augment¡­ Overwritten¡­Fixed selection, cellular regeneration augment selected. Re-initializing senses¡­Done. Re-initializing motor function¡­Done. Returning host to peak condition¡­Done. Installation¡­ 100% My eyes snapped open as I gasped for breath. The air, as musty as it was, tasted sweeter. It felt cooler against my skin. I could feel the broken glass against my back, but not in it. All the spilled wine was soaking into the shredded back of my clothes. Nothing felt like it had dried yet, but it still felt disgusting. I heard what sounded like tapping. The glass shifted as I sat up. Pieces of glass tumbled onto the stone floor. The licking stopped, and I saw the world¡¯s largest rat sitting on the ground next to me. It wasn¡¯t the humanoid rat, but an actual¡ªalbeit oversized¡ªrat. Its head was turned towards me and its whiskers were twitching as it sniffed me. I freaked out and tried to scramble away. My hands caught several small pieces of glass that I then threw at its face. It flinched back as it covered its face. Several small cuts lined my hand as I rolled out of the glass. The maliciousness in the rat¡¯s eyes had me looking for the dagger. The dagger was along the wall, too far away. So I grabbed the largest piece of sharp glass within reach. The rat pounced. I rolled past him and further from the glass. It landed on the broken wine bottles. Uh, where did the black liquid go? Nevermind. Concentrate on the impossibly large rat. The rat let out a screech as the glass sliced open its paws. I charged him, my piece of glass angled to stab at him. Glass crunching under my shoes caused the animal to turn to face me, only to have the piece of glass in my hands stab into his neck. I could feel the glass slide in my grip and cut my hand further. But it looked like I hit something vital, as blood seeped from his neck. I looked down when I felt an itch in my palm. The lines where my hand was cut from the glass stopped bleeding. Somehow, I could feel the skin closing up and healing. What the¡­? My thought was disrupted as the creature scrambled over the broken glass towards me again. Pools of blood mixed with the wine with each step. Its claws slashed at my legs, and I felt the claw scrape against my shin bone. I stumbled backwards and put my hand on my leg. Again, the itching sensation returned, but on my leg, I could clearly feel the wounds close up and stop bleeding. The rat stumbled as it took another step towards me. Blood matted most of his fur at that point. It reached for me and wheezed before going limp. In the bottom right corner of my vision, I saw a small display of one hundred and fifty. I blinked, and the message disappeared. What is that? I heard other scratching and squeaking sounds. Two more rats just as large as the first were stalking towards me. Coincidentally, they were also blocking my path to the ladder out. I scrambled over to the dagger and picked it up. The rats continued to pad along as they kept their eyes locked on me. I really don¡¯t want to fight both of them at once. Looking to the doorway where I found the monstrous rat person thing my head instantly turned away and towards the other doorway. The two rats took off after me just as I sprinted for the other room. Their claws scraped against the stone floor as I jumped over a line of barrels. One rat followed me by jumping on top of them. I wildly swung the dagger at the three foot long rat. I wasn¡¯t expecting to hit it and was hoping more to keep it from charging me. The rat¡¯s yellow eyes glinted as it leaped from the barrel to the ground. The other rat scrambled around the barrels. I backed further into the room. My reflexes, somehow quicker than before, flashed the dagger between the second rat. The blade met resistance and then sank deep into the rat¡¯s shoulder. It screeched an ear-splitting sound that echoed through the room. Before I could even process the victory, the first rat circled around from behind me. With a powerful spring, it launched itself at me with its claws outstretched. I sidestepped just in time, feeling the rush of air as the rat¡¯s body flew past. It crashed into a shelf of dusty bottles, knocking a few of them off and shattering them. The rat recovered quickly, shaking off the broken glass and whirling to face me again. My grip tightened on the dagger as I held it up between us. The rat I cut licked its wound a few times before limping towards the doorway while keeping its eyes on me. The unharmed rat¡¯s movements were more cautious. It circled me, keeping its body low. I looked around and saw that there was another doorway that led to another room. If I head through that door, will it circle back to the entrance? Likely sensing my hesitation, the rat lunged to my right. It slashed its claws through my knee. I screamed as I stumbled back. The familiar sensation of something rapidly healing the wound returned. I have super healing now. It still hurts though. As the pain seared through my knee, I gritted my teeth and focused on the rat. Sensing my vulnerability, it lunged again with its claws aimed at my face. Reacting on instinct, I brought up my dagger and caught its neck with my weapon. The animal went limp as it pushed me to the ground and onto my back. In the corner of my vision, there was another display of one hundred and fifty that rapidly counted up to three hundred. I didn¡¯t have time to consider what happened. Even though the rat on top of me was dead, the other one was running towards my face. I used the rat corpse on top of me as a shield to save me from more pain. Both rats tumbled together, freeing my dagger as I rolled away and to my feet. I glanced at the other doorway, contemplating my options. Then my blood froze as the humanoid rat creature walked into the doorway. But before I could move, the rat untangled itself from its partner and bit down on my ankle. My leg collapsed as it went limp. I slashed the dagger at the wounded rat, my dagger cut into its side but clipped a bone. It wasn¡¯t enough to kill it, but the attack was enough to get the rat to let me go while stumbling away. I could see its breathing was also suddenly more ragged as blood seeped from its wound. The injured rat, now limping heavily, retreated towards the doorway, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. I crawled away from it as I watched my ankle straighten itself and recover its strength. With what I could only assume was a smirk, the rat creature leaned forward on a couple of barrels. ¡°No mate? If not mate, then food.¡± With my ankle and knee miraculously healed, I regained my footing and tightened my grip on the dagger. The wounded rat was retreating, leaving a trail of blood behind. Knowing I wouldn¡¯t be able to outrun the rat creature, I lunged towards him. With a swift strike, I aimed for its face. My dagger found its mark, slicing through the creature¡¯s cheek. The rat creature howled in pain as it swiped its claws across my chest. His claws dug deep and left four deep gouges and sent me spinning until I fell sprawled out onto the ground. The wounded rat¡¯s body was lying in the doorway, completely still as the puddle of blood around it grew ever so slightly. The three hundred in the corner of my vision then jumped up to four hundred and fifty. I really wanted to know what was going on, but the rat creature picked me up and threw me into a stack of barrels. I could feel something in my back crack before I fell to the ground in immense pain. My vision swam as I tried to stand back up. The rat creature stalked closer, a wicked smile on its face. I reached out and grabbed a nearby wine bottle. I threw it at the monster with everything I had left in me. He leaned back to easily avoid the projectile. The monster reached down and grabbed my leg. It lifted me up and held me in the air. My other arms flailed around, desperate to find anything to pull me away from it. It threw me into the far corner of the room, far away from both exits. The impact with the wall knocked the wind out of me as I crumpled into a heap on the ground. A small blue box flashed in the corner of my vision as the monster approached me. Warning: Severe damage sustained. Energy levels critical. The monster grabbed me by the neck and lifted me off the ground. My legs desperately kicked at the creature, but the monster was too strong. As the pressure increased, I raised the dagger and stabbed into its forearm. The creature flinched and tried to throw me away, but as it snapped its arm back, I held onto the dagger with both hands. The dagger and my body stayed together as I hit the wall again. It dropped me to the ground and ripped the dagger out of its forearm. I could see a red cascade of blood flowing from the grievous wound I inflicted. The rat creature was heavily bleeding as it cradled its wounded arm. Every movement wracked my body with pain as I tried to push myself up and run to the exit. A growl rumbled behind me before claws dug into my back and hoisted me up. I screamed as it felt like I was being ripped in half. The rat then chomped down on my shoulder. His teeth dug into me. My bones shifted from the force of the bite. Desperately, I stabbed at his head. I couldn¡¯t aim or get a good swing, but I had to do something. I need to survive. The rat creature released my shoulder, and I slumped to the floor. The pain was unbearable, but I couldn¡¯t do anything. My body was too weak to move, and my vision was blurring. There was a heavy thump and the sound of something pouring onto the ground. A small box flashed in the bottom corner of my vision, the small number in the corner of my vision became three thousand one hundred. Rolling to my side, I saw the rat monster had my dagger in its eye and a barrel that had a spigot was now pouring beer onto its unmoving corpse. It¡¯s over. I¡¯m alive. However, it wasn¡¯t enough to ease the pain. I could feel the blood seeping out of me. The itching returned, but this time, I couldn¡¯t feel my legs. I couldn¡¯t tell if they were healing or not. The outer ring of my vision was darkening. Several deep breaths calmed me down as I could feel the pain slowly subsiding as the itching covered my body. What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s with these numbers that show up when I kill these monsters? And how do these monsters exist? Somebody better have some answers for what is going on. I looked up to the source of a scratching sound. Staring at me inches from my face was another rat. Its yellow eyes blinked as a drop of drool hit my forehead. I barely got my arm up to protect my face as it dropped from the barrel. It latched onto my arm and pulled it. With a primal scream I drove the dagger into the base of its neck. It instantly went limp and released my arm. The number in the corner of my vision rose another hundred and fifty. The sound of clapping echoed throughout the cellar. I turned to Mr. Black standing over the one rat clapping his hands. ¡°Well done. You stand a chance now.¡± 05 Point Of No Return I collapsed to the ground and rested my back onto a barrel. ¡°You¡­are¡­horrible.¡± Talking took more energy than I had. ¡°You almost killed me.¡± He knelt next to me and offered me a bottle of water. I wanted to throw it back at him, but I didn¡¯t want to waste a free drink. I snatched it from him and drank the entire contents. It wasn¡¯t just water, there was something sweeter about it. ¡°Feel better?¡± Mr. Black asked with a much softer voice. I coughed. ¡°Yes. But I still think you¡¯re horrible.¡± I wiped my mouth. Mr. Black gave me a small smile. ¡°You¡¯re free to think that. But you will find the Soul Nexus is far crueler.¡± I took a shaky breath. ¡°So what you did was a favor to me? That¡¯s hard to believe. You broke bottles over me. And what was the deal with that black liquid?¡± Mr. Black nodded. ¡°I did. I gave you the chance to try again. This was all because I wanted you to understand the risks. As for the black liquid, that was something you needed¡ªwhat you asked for.¡± I was feeling a lot better, but my body was still sore. ¡°What did you do to me? What are those messages.¡± He offered a hand. ¡°You only have time for the short version. You will have time later to go into the specifics, but simply put, you now have nanites that grant you a system.¡± I refused to take his hand and just stared at him. ¡°Explain.¡± The old man frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t have time for this.¡± He snatched his hand back and snapped his finger. The cellar faded into the white room where I met him. I was still sitting on the floor, but I was looking right at the table with Mr. Black still standing over me. The dagger I had been holding disappeared with the cellar. ¡°In case you forgot, you have an assassin still after you.¡± I dropped my head. ¡°Right. I need to leave.¡± Mr. Black nodded. ¡°Correct. You can ask for the tutorial once you¡¯re in a safe place. That will answer all your questions. But for now, you need to be on your way. The assassin is moving a lot faster than I thought he would.¡± He offered his hand one more time. ¡°I know you¡¯re still upset. But you must trust me that what I did was to help you. However, for now, this is your last chance for questions.¡± I grabbed his hand and let him pull me up. ¡°When I climb to the top of the Soul Nexus and get this assassin to stop hunting me and spare Marc, what then? Do I just go home to Earth?¡± I stared at the doorway. ¡°All I have to do is climb to the top of the Soul Nexus. After I do that, can I escape my fate of being hunted until I¡¯m dead and go home?¡± Mr. Black smirked. ¡°If that¡¯s your wish. But do you really want to go back to a world that ignored you completely? There are many worlds out there, maybe you might want to make one of those your home. All I¡¯m saying is that you have some time to decide what you¡¯ll want by the end.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. I bit my lip. ¡°More worlds? And Marc is safe?¡± He nodded. Tempting. ¡°Can you at least tell me why artificial souls are deemed so dangerous? And what happens if I no longer have an artificial soul and get a real soul?¡± He shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s a very long story. One we do not have time for, especially if you wish to avoid the assassin. I can¡¯t stop him for you. I¡¯ve simply opened the door. This journey is yours. What path you take and what adventure you find will be all yours. Your final destination is in your hands. There are infinite worlds for you to choose from. But to reach any of them, even Earth, you will have to climb to the top of the Soul Nexus and make your wish.¡± Infinite worlds? And on them I won¡¯t be invisible? That sounds much better than my life on Earth. I won¡¯t have to be a thief. I can be someone who matters with real relationships where I don¡¯t have to explain who I am everyday for months before they remember me for longer than a few hours. I took his hand and stood up. ¡°This has been interesting, to say the least. Honestly, I don¡¯t know what to make of all this, but I have to figure it out.¡± I gave the old man a smile. ¡°You are a strange man. Your methods could use a softer touch, but you have at least given me a chance I otherwise shouldn¡¯t have. That¡¯s something I will always remember.¡± He gave me a wrinkled smile back. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled. I¡¯m not a human. I just took this form to help make things a little easier for us to communicate. You shouldn¡¯t have a body and be a formless soul. That is another story for another time. But I digress.¡± He walked me over to the door. ¡°When you go through, you¡¯ll be on your own, and there will be no coming back. You either succeed or fail. There is no middle ground.¡± I turned to look back at the cookies. Maybe just one more. ¡°Could I¡­¡± Mr. Black smiled and held up a cookie. ¡°For the road. And let me also do this favor for you.¡± He snapped his fingers. I was cleaned from head to toe, and my clothes were equally cleaned and repaired. ¡°Thanks.¡± When I grabbed the cookie, Mr. Black grabbed my wrist. His touch was warm and leathery. ¡°You must remember this; until you die, you have not failed. If you can get up, you must.¡± He let me go. I held the cookie. ¡°Uh, okay? Well, see you later.¡± Creepy. He grabbed the door and opened it. A milky white sheet swirled in front of me felt ominously inviting. ¡°I really hope this isn¡¯t the last time I see you, Miss Lone.¡± What is that supposed to mean? Something reached through the door and pulled me into the portal, cookie and all. ***** Mr. Black jumped back as he watched the portal vanish right after abducting the poor girl. ¡°That¡¯s never happened before. So much for a quiet vacation. At least the last twenty years have been quiet.¡± He shook his head and closed the door. ¡°But something tells me she¡¯ll be number five.¡± Those who went to the Soul Nexus with power always failed. But those who succeeded before had one thing in common. They were the weakest of the weak who found strength in the Soul Nexus. He already gave her a leg up, and a lead away from the assassin. He interfered far more than what was usually allowed, but given the game, it was necessary. The man laughed as his body evaporated and was replaced with a ball of soft green light. ¡°It¡¯s funny how the taste of death ignites one¡¯s desire to live. And I¡¯ve only seen one other person who had as strong a will to live. And now she¡¯s a force to reckon with for The Judge.¡± The plate of cookies dissolved. ¡°Hopefully, Rina eats that cookie soon. She¡¯s going to need it. The Soul Nexus shouldn¡¯t take notice of her too quickly. It¡¯s time to let the games begin. A child should never suffer from the sins of the parent, but a parent should be responsible for the child that lost its way.¡± 06 Clueless The world around me was different. It looked different, smelled different, and felt different. A wide field of grass spread out in every direction. The air was heavy and humid, and the smell of freshly cut grass was almost palpable. I looked down, and the cookie was still in my hand. Okay, so the hall and the room were real. Then that means whatever grabbed me through the portal is also real. And very likely still around, right? I looked around and saw nothing but a flat field of grass. I looked up and saw the sun, but it was far larger than it should have been. ¡°Where am I? I thought this was supposed to be the Soul Nexus, something I¡¯m supposed to climb.¡± I looked around again, hoping the scenery would change or I would find something I had missed earlier. Sadly, neither happened. ¡°But this is¡ªI don¡¯t know what this is. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. I really wish someone would explain what is going on!¡± ¡°Welcome to the Soul Nexus.¡± I jumped at the high-pitched, robotic, peppy voice behind me. I spun around in mid-air, still holding onto the cookie. ¡°Who... What are you?¡± I wasn¡¯t looking at a person. It looked more like a doll, or a wooden manikin. Its body looked like a humanoid made of polished mahogany. It had thin limbs with extremely detailed joints that seemed to glow with soft white light from within. A pair of eyes that looked carved and way too large stared at me with the same pulsing, soft white light as irises. The rest of its face¡ªa wide smile and flat nose¡ªlooked painted on. It had to have been painted on; it never moved. On top of its obviously well-crafted body, it had equally well-crafted yet strange clothes. It wore a sleek, form-fitting black leather jacket, a silver high-collared shirt, a shiny black knee-length skirt with crystals along the hem, and even shiny black knee-high boots with metallic filigree and three-inch heels. ¡°My name is Glimmer. I am a golem crafted by the Nexus to serve as a point of first contact.¡± It extended a hand to me. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± I stared at the hand. All the joints looked like ball and socket joints, and they glowed the same color as its eyes. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m Rina.¡± I shook its hand. Its hand was oddly warm and smooth. ¡°What¡¯s a golem?¡± It giggled. That frightened me with how almost lifelike it sounded, yet it carried the artificial buzzing that gave it away. ¡°Oh, silly me. I forgot most of you humans don¡¯t know about magic and magical beings.¡± It bounced as it walked next to me. ¡°But¡­ I have to confiscate that contraband before we continue. No illegal substances allowed.¡± It pointed to the cookie still in my hand. I reflexively pulled it back as the golem reached for it. ¡°No. I¡¯ll eat it right now.¡± I can¡¯t let a perfect Snickerdoodle go to waste. Then I stuffed the whole thing in my mouth. ¡°Shee, noh proppom.¡± I shouldn¡¯t have talked with my mouth full. The manikin cocked its hips to the side as it placed its fists on them. ¡°Humans, so impulsive. I doubt you¡¯ll make it a day before you do something stupid.¡± I was enjoying my cookie until she said those rude things. She doesn¡¯t know me. I exaggerated my movements as I ate the cookie. It was just as delicious as the first one, but this time I didn¡¯t have any tea to help wash it down. The sugary delight dried my mouth out, and swallowing the dessert became difficult. It took several attempts before I finally got the last bit down. It was still delicious. I held out my arms. ¡°Happy?¡± Glimmer slumped its shoulders, lulled its head back, and groaned. It sounded more like radio static than anything else. ¡°Fine,¡± it said in a huff. ¡°I guess the contraband has been dealt with.¡± The golem straightened up and returned to its earlier bubbly attitude. ¡°Those who can reach the summit will have one wish they desire granted. Since its creation, only four have achieved this feat. Will you be lucky number five?¡± It had perfect posture as it delivered its obligatory welcoming speech. ¡°I sincerely doubt it,¡± it added in an unusually quiet tone. I crossed my arms. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I don¡¯t care what you think then.¡± ¡°Well, you can take your free will and leave for all I care!¡± The golem¡¯s tone and flailing arms didn¡¯t match the painted smile on its face. ¡°To think my body is modeled after your own. It¡¯s disgusting. How can a body be so inefficient while being completely incapable of offense and defense and still exist?¡± ¡°How can you hate your own body so much?¡± I asked. The glow in the golem¡¯s eyes turned pink, then red. ¡°Because I didn¡¯t ask for this! I was made like this. Just like how I have one job for all eternity. You get to traipse around doing whatever you want, while I have to greet everyone who enters the Soul Nexus.¡± It stomped its feet as it walked away. ¡°And you humans are one of the worst. Always thinking you¡¯re something special. Every time one of you comes here, you always piss me off! Well, not this time. I¡¯m out of here. Good luck.¡± I blinked as Glimmer evaporated into a million tiny lights that slowly winked out. Did I hit a nerve? My stomach made a gurgling sound. I started feeling a tingling sensation in my fingertips. Maybe I should¡¯ve eaten more than just those cookies? I looked around and saw nothing but a wide, open field of grass. ¡°Okay, now what? How does this all work? I thought I had to climb something. Where is the thing I¡¯m supposed to be climbing?¡± My toes started to tingle. It made it really hard to stand in one place. ¡°You know what? Right now, I¡¯d settle for some actual food. I think I might be getting a bit of a sugar high right now.¡± Unfortunately, nobody was around to hear me. I groaned as I started walking. ¡°Might as well just start walking. I¡¯ve got nothing better to do.¡± I could really do with some civilization right about now. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. After about a dozen steps, everything blurred around me, and the discomfort in my gut intensified. Where I was standing in an open field of grass, I was suddenly standing in a desert. And where did this entire town come from? In front of me was a wall of interlocking panels of an odd metal. As I looked at it, the colors it seemed to reflect changed based on the angle I looked at it from. The wall was easily three, maybe four, stories tall, and still, some buildings peaked over so I could see them. They were made of what I could only guess were stone and glass. I looked up and still saw the two suns, but everything felt dry, hot, and uncomfortable. So I headed towards the only place where shade and possibly people could be found. Which meant I walked towards the terrifying gate I was trying very hard to ignore, with its equally horrifying guard. The gate was covered in sharp, angular patterns that seemed to glow. The guard saw me walking and walked towards me on their six legs. The guard was some strange centaur abomination. The lower half looked like a cross between a slug and a lizard. The upper half was even more grotesque. Bulbous flesh wrapped in metal chains with spikes both protruding out and digging into the creature¡¯s flesh undulating with each step it took. One hand held a massive glowing blade, and the other hand looked like a lobster¡¯s claw. To top it all off, the head was more mouth than face, filled with razor-sharp teeth that permitted a permanent line of drool to flow from within. I turned around and saw an endless expanse of sand that shimmered from the intense heat of the two suns. What was I thinking? Maybe I¡¯ll go somewhere else if I run. Because I do not want to deal with that! It¡¯ll eat me, for sure. ¡°Don¡¯t run. It¡¯ll only make him mad!¡± a voice called from behind me as I went to take my first step. I turned and saw that the horrifying creature had stopped walking towards me. Beside him was a man, or something. Where did he come from? His skin was about as black as you could get. His arms¡ªall four of them¡ªwere lean like the rest of him. His face was pretty, and his eyes were orbs of violet. He wore a deep purple trench coat that went to his knees. Underneath his coat was a soft lavender shirt that seemed to flutter with the scorching, dry wind. Each arm was decorated with a silver bracelet with strange gold engravings. His pants weren¡¯t as dark as his skin, but they were very form-fitting. Revealing some details that might make him pretty popular with the ladies. His boots were of a similar shade as his pants and went to his knees. Tiny metal studs covered his boots in uniform lines. He had one hand resting on the ugly creature, with another held up towards me. ¡°Please, just stay calm, and I can help you.¡± His voice sounded soft and pleasant to the ears. I froze. Can I trust him? He did say if I ran, it¡¯d be bad. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the four-armed man asked. ¡°R¡­Rina.¡± Can he really help? How is he going to keep that horrible creature from eating me? To make things worse, I felt a shift in my gut, as it felt like a bubble shifted through my intestines. My body then started to tingle and my bones ached. A dull throbbing and itching sensation coursed through my body out of nowhere. What? Why? I instinctively scratched at my arms, but the itch wasn¡¯t being scratched. The itching was deeper and more in the core of my body. That only made me scratch harder and more furiously. How is it possible to scratch your bones? Why am I even feeling this right now? Bones don¡¯t have nerves. The man started laughing as the nasty creature sniffed and flinched away from me. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a new one. Rina, was it?¡± I nodded. It was too much for me to do anything but scratch at the different parts of my body. ¡°Are you okay? Nothing bit you, did it? I¡¯m Layith, by the way. This is Rollow.¡± The creature Layith had said was Rollow turned and stomped all of his feet as he returned to standing next to the gate. I breathed a slight sigh of relief. It looks like I¡¯m not tasty anymore. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t know what¡¯s come over me.¡± I shrank away from Layith as he walked towards me. ¡°But is there a doctor I could visit? I¡¯m itching in ways I didn¡¯t know I could itch.¡± Layith smiled. His teeth were blindingly white, but it looked like he didn¡¯t have individual teeth. Does that mean he has only two teeth? ¡°Do you need someone to check you out? From what I can tell, you look fine to me. But if you keep scratching like that, you¡¯ll rip your skin off.¡± My cheeks burned. It¡¯s not funny, but yes. ¡°Are you a doctor?¡± Layith stopped in front of me and folded two of his arms as he pointed to me with his third. ¡°How long have you been in the Nexus? A few days? A couple of weeks?¡± My cheeks burned even hotter than the sand I stood on as I looked anywhere but at his very handsome face. ¡°Five minutes, maybe.¡± ¡°Oh, wow.¡± The man cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The Nexus must really not like you. There is no way a human like you belongs here.¡± I took a step back. It¡¯s true, I¡¯m not very strong or have four arms, but... ¡°How can all humans be weak?¡± Something about what Glimmer said earlier sounds similar to what this guy is saying now. Layith rubbed his forehead. ¡°And a real newbie at that. Great. Just my luck.¡± He slumped his shoulders. ¡°I take it you don¡¯t have any shards either?¡± Shards? I dug through my pockets and found that I had nothing in them. And now I¡¯m broke too. I take it that these shards are some form of currency. I shrugged before returning to scratching. The man raised his four arms into the air as he turned around. He grumbled something incoherent before dropping his arms and waving for me to follow him. ¡°I might know a guy. People will really think something is wrong with you if you keep doing that. Just stay calm, okay?¡± Something is wrong. While this does feel incredibly uncomfortable, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m dying. Let¡¯s hope this ¡°guy¡± is more useful than him. Because I really have no idea what¡¯s going on here. I nearly smacked my forehead. That¡¯s right, I still have to run that tutorial Mr. Black mentioned. Once I find a safe place. Nothing about this gate¡¯s guards or an open desert seems safe. ***** Glimmer returned to its little corner of the Nexus. The small room held crates of small black bands that the Nexus ordered it to hand out. The golem never understood why it needed to hand them out to connect everyone to the Soul Nexus¡¯s system, but that was its job, even if it had to do it with a painted-on smile. There was the familiar tug that another had entered the Soul Nexus, and Glimmer went to grab another band when it saw there was already one in its pocket. ¡°I forgot to give the human a system band.¡± It stomped its foot. The sound reverberated in the small room. ¡°You had one job, Glimmer.¡± But then it paused for a moment before heading out to meet the newcomer. ¡°Oh well. The human will probably die before it can earn even one shard. So, no harm, no foul.¡± Then it saw it had to greet another human. This one wore a trench coat and a wide-brimmed hat. It threw its arms in the air. ¡°Oh, come on!¡± 07 Good Enough As Layith led me into the city, it wasn¡¯t any cooler inside the walls than outside. This hoodie is way too hot. I¡¯m going to need to find some new clothes. But that means I need money. As I contemplated my lack of finances, I noticed all the buildings were nearly uniform squares. Also, all the buildings were made of a single tan stone and not individual bricks, like I expected. There were plenty of windows, but they were all tinted, so nobody could see inside. There were many awnings and umbrellas near doorways and tables. So there is some shade, just not any covering the center roads where we¡¯re walking. I wiped my face as I followed Layith through the streets full of others who looked similar to him, but were not nearly as colorfully dressed. But I also noticed something even stranger. Where are the women? How can there be this many men? ¡°Hey, Layith.¡± I poked him in the back. ¡°Yes?¡± He didn¡¯t bother to stop or turn around, and kept walking. ¡°Let me guess, you¡¯re wondering where the women are?¡± ¡°Ah, yeah. How did you know?¡± He chuckled. ¡°Most other species ask that when they first see a city of shaylips.¡± He waved his hands. ¡°You¡¯re looking at both men and women. We¡¯re what¡¯s called hermaphrodites. Our species doesn¡¯t have these strange habits of dividing into genders either. But we typically use male pronouns for simplicity and the sake of other species that care about that sort of thing.¡± ¡°Okay. That¡¯s a bit more than I thought I needed to know.¡± I shrugged. ¡°But thanks for spelling that out.¡± He gave me a thumbs-up. ¡°No problem.¡± I could feel the tingling in my fingertips and scalp as the itching spread. At the same time I was sweating everywhere, even in places I didn¡¯t usually sweat. It¡¯s just so hot. Is that what¡¯s making me itchy? ¡°Where are you leading me? How much further?¡± He pointed to one of the larger buildings. ¡°Over there.¡± Ahead was a large, wide, open square. In the center was a monumental fountain, standing as a centerpiece in the bustling square. At the far end was a large clock tower that had ten numbers on it, not the usual twelve I¡¯m used to. The area ahead was full of shaylips, as Layith called them, but there were also several others who looked like they didn¡¯t belong. But as I looked around, there wasn¡¯t a single human anywhere. But everyone was talking and busy with something. Some people were manning shopping stalls and food carts with all kinds of odd objects and food. I finally looked where Layith pointed and saw a sign that read, ¡°Culson¡¯s Cushions.¡± Layith picked up the pace. ¡°He¡¯ll give you a place to stay while I go and find Bark.¡± He turned back to me. ¡°You¡¯re not looking too good. Are you going to make it? Is it getting worse?¡± I wiped the river of sweat pouring down my face. ¡°How do you stand this heat? I¡¯ve done nothing but sweat buckets while we walked.¡± Layith only gave me the slightest look of confusion before one of sympathy. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it once you get stronger. A few points placed into resilience should fix that up.¡± What is he talking about? He is talking about your stats. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I spun around to look for the source of the voice. There were people, but no one was close enough. Then I thought about what I heard more. It was as if the voice echoed in my head. Correct. Only the host may communicate with us. You should find a safe place to run the tutorial as soon as possible. We will answer all your questions, as is our directive. I froze in the middle of the street. Layith headed back to me. ¡°Rina? Do you need something? What are you doing?¡± Do I tell him I¡¯m hearing voices? Yeah, probably not. He¡¯s a stranger and if he told me he was hearing voices, I¡¯d think he was crazy. Sure, he¡¯s trying to help me, but this might scare him off more. In the corner of my vision, the number jumped up to eight thousand two hundred and fifty. Why did that number just jump up by five thousand? I turned to him. ¡°Do you have a system?¡± I could ask him indirectly. He chuckled. ¡°Of course. We all do. You can¡¯t get into or live in the Soul Nexus without one.¡± ¡°Did you hear someone talking just now?¡± I asked hesitantly. He waved his hand to the small crowds of people occupying the streets. ¡°There are dozens of people talking all around you. You¡¯re going to need to be specific.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. I shouldn¡¯t have tried. I shook my head, and with it more sweat flicked off me. ¡°Nevermind. It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s just go inside and get out of this sun.¡± By the expression on Layith¡¯s face, I could tell he didn¡¯t believe me, but motioned towards the building he pointed out earlier. Outside of Culson¡¯s Cushions, a stall stood. Little bottles of black liquid lined up with bottles of brightly colored liquids of every color of the rainbow were on display. Nobody seemed interested in them, but my curiosity pulled me towards them. ¡°Hey sir, what¡¯s in these bottles?¡± I picked up one of the black bottles after wiping the sweat from my palms. It looked just like the bottles Mr. Black broke over me. As I swirled the stiff liquid, another man who looked similar to Layith but had solid blue eyes and a bit pudgier body and wore dark brown silks almost squealed. ¡°No!¡± He snatched the bottle from my hand and slapped my wrist. ¡°No sampling the merchandise.¡± I cradled my hand. ¡°But what is it?¡± The shaylip performed an over-exaggerated bow. ¡°I, Hectile, am a provider of many alchemical goods, even the rare liquid metal.¡± He stood up and eyed me. ¡°You don¡¯t look like you can manipulate the metal. Why are you interested in it?¡± Liquid metal? Are those more nanites? Correct. However, those nanites are de-energized and have gone into hibernation. More questions for later. I pointed to the other bottles. ¡°What¡¯s in those?¡± Hectile placed the black bottle back where it belonged and pointed to the red bottle. ¡°That is a simple regeneration potion.¡± He pointed to the orange potion. ¡°This is a powerful acid.¡± Then he moved to the yellow and continued with each color in rapid succession, from green to blue, indigo, and violet. ¡°We have an energy potion here, a meal-in-a-bottle potion, a mana potion, a sleep potion, and finally a cleansing potion.¡± Too bad I don¡¯t have any money. And I have more pressing concerns right now. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve gotta go. So, I¡¯ll see you around, maybe.¡± I turned and returned to follow Layith, who was kind enough to wait for me at the door. ¡°Stupid tourists,¡± Hostile grumbled. ¡°She didn¡¯t even try to haggle. Probably didn¡¯t even have any money to buy anything.¡± I followed Layith inside. The stone walls were barren of any kind of decoration, yet a wide variety of different species sat around the tables. Still no other humans, though. Everything was clearly lit by the balls of light hanging from the ceiling. ¡°Oi, Layith.¡± I turned to see that the man behind the counter was not a shaylip. He looked like an elf from a fantasy story, with extremely pale skin and long ears. He was also very overweight and bald. He wore a simple shirt with a heavily stained apron. ¡°Your tastes have changed. I would never have guessed you wanted your turn with a human. At least you picked a pretty one.¡± I snapped my head to Layith. I flinched away from him. Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. He did not just do that. Layith walked forward a few steps. ¡°Wow, subtle as always Culson.¡± He waved from me to the elf. ¡°But no. Rina, meet Culson. Culson, meet Rina.¡± The heavy-set elf didn¡¯t make any reaction to the introduction. ¡°Rina is new in town. She needs a place to stay for a little while. I¡¯m sure you have an open room, right?¡± Culson nodded. ¡°Oi, I do.¡± He waved for me to come closer. His eyes were locked on me. ¡°You gonna pay, miss? A thousand shards a day and a thousand shards a night. Since the sun is still shining, a thousand will give you until nightfall.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can afford that.¡± I tapped my fingertips together. ¡°You see, I¡¯ve only just arrived in the Soul Nexus. I haven¡¯t had a chance to make any money yet.¡± He arched an eyebrow. ¡°If you can¡¯t pay, then you can get out. This isn¡¯t a charity. Or, we can come to another agreement. If you have something to barter with¡­¡± A wicked grin stretched on his face. A shudder rippled down my back as I felt more and more disturbed by his staring. The longer he looked at me the dirtier it felt. Layith groaned. He placed his hand on the table. When he lifted it, there was a small pale yellow crystal. ¡°This should cover for her until tomorrow, or until Bark comes and picks her up.¡± Culson scooped the crystal up and held it to his chest before I lost sight of it. Without looking away from me, he nodded. ¡°Oi, that¡¯ll do. She can stay through the night.¡± He nodded to the stairs. ¡°Second floor, last room on the right.¡± Layith grabbed my arm and led me up the stairs. The urgency in which he led me up the stairs was almost too much for me. What is going on? He led me to a plain door at the end of the hall. It had a silver number eight on the door. He pushed me into the room and slammed the door behind him. ¡°I¡¯ve done my good deed for the day, now I¡¯ll be returning to my post.¡± I scratched my scalp as I looked around. The room was completely empty but for a single bed, a chair, and a table. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was better than a field or a desert. But I turned to him. ¡°What was all that about? Why did you practically shove me in here?¡± Layith scowled. ¡°Everyone downstairs knows you¡¯re new. Some of them will try to take advantage of you. I¡¯m sorry. I really can¡¯t help you more than this. I¡¯ve done what I can for you, but I¡¯ve got to return to my post. Rollow can¡¯t be alone for too long. He has some terrible separation anxiety and will get into trouble.¡° I glanced at the door. I know he was just trying to help, but that didn¡¯t make it feel any less awkward. ¡°If people are going to take advantage of me, why am I even staying here?¡± Layith placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Bark you¡¯re here, okay? He¡¯ll be able to help you more. You can¡¯t be running around town or he will never find you.¡° I nodded. ¡°Okay. Thank you for helping me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I know how hard it can be when you¡¯re new.¡± He gave me a soft smile. ¡°Take care of yourself. Hopefully, we can see each other under happier circumstances.¡± His eyes wandered up and down my entire body. ¡°Do you have any weapons to defend yourself? Just in case.¡± I bit my lip. ¡°No. I don¡¯t have anything. I was just told to come here and climb the Soul Nexus. And then I ended up here.¡± Layith let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Last thing.¡± He pulled out a dagger similar to the one Mr. Black gave me to kill the rats with. ¡°This will be enough good deeds to last me half a fortnight.¡± He handed the handle to me. The dagger was in a leather sheath. ¡°Take this. You do know how to use it, right?¡± I cautiously took the blade with a nod. ¡°The pointy part does the cutting and stabbing.¡± Layith snorted. ¡°Good enough.¡± After those two words, he headed out. It seems like this would be as good a time as any to see this tutorial on whatever this system thing is. Tutorial protocol called. Does the host wish to run it? I have no idea what this¡¯ll do but¡ªyes. 08 Orange You Glad Were Going Insane? A sudden grogginess swept over me. I barely managed to lie back on the bed before my eyes closed. But while my eyes closed and I felt uncharacteristically drowsy, I didn¡¯t fall asleep. Then things felt even weirder. My body, I couldn¡¯t move or feel it. Everything was black, and I was paralyzed. I started to panic. ¡°Please remain calm. The tutorial will finish loading in a moment.¡± A voice that sounded like my own sounded like it surrounded me. I didn¡¯t say that. But why did it sound like I said that? Then I saw a part of the blackness surrounding me melt into color. I was looking at a copy of myself, except my clothing wasn¡¯t ruined. ¡°Will this projection assist in the host¡¯s understanding?¡± ¡°Uh, what?¡± It took me a second to realize I had spoken. I looked down and saw myself, exactly as I was. ¡°Who? Why do you look like me?¡± My doppelg?nger waved her hands towards me. ¡°This is our only dataset for a body we have. This is simply a projection created to ease communication with the host.¡± ¡°You said ¡®our¡¯ and ¡®we.¡¯ Who¡¯s we?¡± Am I really going crazy? Is my sanity finally done? The mimic bowed. ¡°We are the nanites. We simply wish to fulfill the host¡¯s wishes as best we can.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°And I¡¯m the host? Are these nanites the ones Mr. Black gave to me? And, and, and¡­¡± So many questions swam through my mind and I couldn¡¯t articulate any of them, so I just stumbled on the first word out of my mouth. Eventually, I managed to put the rest of the questions to the side long enough to get something out. ¡°Could you not look like me?¡± The projection flickered for a moment. Then her hair grew to the small of her back and turned bright orange. ¡°Will these changes be enough? We can not create a new shape since none exists in our dataset.¡± ¡°Yeah, uh, do you have something I can call you?¡± I scratched at the back of my head as I turned my head and blushed. Wow, I look good with long hair. Too bad it is always too much to care for. But I don¡¯t know about the orange. It¡¯s a bit unnatural for my liking. My copy blinked. ¡°We do not have a name. We are simply nanites. Any personality we project is simply based on what we learn from our host.¡± I stiffened up. ¡°Learn? You¡¯re not planning on taking over my body, are you?¡± The doppelg?nger waved her hand dismissively. ¡°No. That is not a function we possess. If advances proceed, we could assist in motor and cognitive functions, but we can not ¡®take over¡¯ as you stated.¡± I let out a long breath. ¡°Good. So, uh, I guess I can call you Orange.¡± I pointed at her hair. ¡°You know, for the hair color. Why orange, by the way? And why so long?¡± It looks nice. I¡¯ve always liked the look of long hair, but it¡¯s so expensive and hard to keep maintained. Orange stood emotionless. ¡°The length is based on the host¡¯s preference. The color was simply a random selection based on all available choices. We do not possess personal preferences for aesthetics. The host does not have a preferred hair color choice other than what they already possess. The host can give us any delineation they wish.¡± ¡°Okay, Orange.¡± Wow, talk about an experience to lead me to question my sanity even further. I just called a clone of myself, Orange, as in a color. There is so much wrong¡­ ¡°Sanity is simply a sociological construct to form cohesion within a society,¡± Orange said in a mimic of my voice to disrupt my thoughts. ¡°Sanity becomes an irrelevant concern, as it does not pertain to the situation the host is in. The notion of what the host considers ¡®sane¡¯ has become inconsequential. As the host is able to objectively understand what is happening around them, reason through problems, and seek familiarity, their mental capacity is within the expected boundaries. The concern for adhering to societal constructs of sanity should be superseded by the pragmatic necessity of addressing the situation effectively, regardless of subjective perceptions of mental stability.¡± I blinked several times as my mouth hung open. ¡°Did¡ªdid you just say that my sanity is no longer relevant because I¡¯m not on Earth?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. I am saying that the host¡¯s view of sanity is holding them back from objectively understanding the situation they are in. Once the host removes the worry of sanity, they can focus on threats in an expedited capacity.¡± ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m supposed to go insane?¡± Orange nodded. ¡°By the host¡¯s definition, yes.¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back a laugh, a laugh that had me doubling over. I¡¯m having a conversation in my mind with nanites using a near-identical copy of myself as a projection about how I need to let go of my entire concept of sanity and go insane. If that is not the most insane thing ever, I don¡¯t know what is. Maybe I¡¯m already there. And you know what? I think, maybe it¡¯s for the best. Nothing is making any sense anyway. Once I could stop laughing, I stood up. ¡°Okay, sure. Let¡¯s go insane.¡± ¡°Does that translate to the host wishing to begin the tutorial protocol now?¡± Orange extended her hand towards me. I giggled. ¡°Right, that¡¯s what this whole thing was supposed to be.¡± I grabbed her hand. ¡°Show me what you got, Orange.¡± Everything just felt easier. It was like there wasn¡¯t a heavy weight on my shoulders anymore. If I knew going insane would feel this good, I would have done it a long time ago. ¡°Can we start with where you came from? I think that¡¯s something I should know.¡± Orange waved her hand, and the blackness melted into color and shapes. A small cutout of a room manifested in front of me. It was a simple room that reminded me of a gym that was made for one person. A small stand of free weights was set up in the corner next to a bench, with another stand that held a metal bar. There was a treadmill and an elliptical on the other side. A yoga mat sat in the center of the room. ¡°We do not know where we were created. The being known as Mr. Black did not create us. He only activated us prior to integration. Our first task was to use the extra resources from the host to restore optimum condition.¡± She pulled me towards the yoga mat and motioned towards it. ¡°Please, sit comfortably. It will make it easier to focus. But we also assume that the host wishes to know how we integrated with them.¡± I sat down and I pursed my lips. ¡°Sure, integrate, whatever. That sounds like a better question.¡± Orange sat across from me, crossing her legs. ¡°From our analysis, we have concluded that the consumption of excess cosmic energy was sufficient to provide the means to begin integration. From that point, we only followed our base protocols.¡± ¡°But what is this cosmic energy? Where did I get it?¡± My head was starting to hurt as I tried to keep up with Orange¡¯s explanation. ¡°And what does it mean, ¡®you¡¯ve integrated with me¡¯? Does it have to do with the messages that popped up?¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Orange didn¡¯t move or express any emotion, even if she was using my face. ¡°Analyzing the host¡¯s memories, the leading conjecture is that the sugary confectioneries the host consumed were the primary means of absorption.¡± ¡°The cookies?¡± I blurted out. ¡°How? They were good. Was that because of the cosmic energy? And what is this cosmic energy anyway?¡± Orange shook her head. ¡°Insufficient data.¡± She held one hand out to her side. ¡°Cosmic energy is an energy that can not be manipulated by any known entity. However, Mr. Black, the entity the host had communicated with before entering the Soul Nexus, was an unquantified entity. We do not know why or how it energized us when we entered the host¡¯s bloodstream, but we know it did. We also have linked the host¡¯s excessive itching in their bones¡­¡± I held up a hand. ¡°Please, stop.¡± I waved my hand. ¡°I get it. It¡¯s nice to know my body doesn¡¯t itch so annoyingly anymore. But what does any of this mean?¡± Orange placed her hands in her lap. ¡°As the host wishes. Returning to previous instructions of the tutorial protocol, we are simply an interface the host may use to interact with the system we were programmed to install upon the host.¡± I covered my mouth and cleared my throat. ¡°Right. So, what is this system and how do I use it?¡± Orange smiled widely with a predatory look in her eyes. Okay, that¡¯s creepy. ¡°Our goal is to propel the host to become the ultimate life form. The host chose to augment themself with cybernetic enhancements. To start off, the host must concentrate on their status.¡± Status?
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 5 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 100
Arcane: 10
Power: 30
Quickness: 70
Resilience: 35
Toughness: 20
Unassigned Points: 30
Shards: 8250
The blue box appeared in my vision. I have a level? Augments? ¡°Why does it look like a video game?¡± ¡°We searched the host¡¯s memories for a baseline display,¡± Orange said nonchalantly. ¡°The recent memory with the individual, Marc, was used as a reference.¡± I groaned. ¡°If you spent that much time in my head you would¡¯ve also known I didn¡¯t play videogames and don¡¯t really understand them.¡± ¡°That is inconsequential. The host will learn regardless. The level is calculated based on the host¡¯s total assigned and unassigned points divided by fifty rounded down.¡± Orange pointed to the level on the semi-transparent status sheet. ¡°The average human is fifty in each stat, giving them a level of six.¡± ¡°I¡¯m below average?¡± My mouth simply hung loose as I stared at each of the stats. ¡°But my agility is twice that of average. My quickness is higher too. What does that mean?¡± Orange pointed to the first stat below my level. ¡°Agility is the measure of the host¡¯s balance and manual dexterity, along with everything related to those.¡± She then pointed to the next stat and, with each explanation, pointed to the relevant stat. ¡°Arcane is the host¡¯s measure of their magical control and projection of magic. Power is the measure of the host¡¯s muscular strength. Quickness is the measure of the host¡¯s reaction and muscular speed. Resilience is the measure of the host¡¯s resilience to magical influence, both destructive and manipulative. Toughness is the host¡¯s measure of their body¡¯s ability to resist damage in a physical sense.¡± Once my doppelg?nger finished her robotic description of stats, I let out a heavy sigh. That was horribly boring. It¡¯s like a high school lecture all over again. ¡°Shards. People have mentioned them a couple of times now.¡± I pointed to the section labeled shards. ¡°But what are they?¡± Orange leaned back and held her hands in front of her. A glowing muted yellow crystal appeared between them. ¡°Shards are the physical manifestation of a mortal¡¯s soul in the Soul Nexus. The Soul Nexus collects a portion of each slain mortal while the rest is absorbed by the one who did the slaying. We do not understand how or why this phenomenon occurs, but this is one truth of the Soul Nexus.¡± ¡°Are there more?¡± Orange shrugged. ¡°Hypothetically.¡± I hung my head and groaned. ¡°Fine. Where did these unassigned points come from, and how do I assign them?¡± ¡°The host had slain five entities, the wererat and four rats. Ten points were awarded for defeating an entity deemed more powerful than the host and twenty points were assigned to the host for defeating four entities, five each, of similar power. The host has also received shards for each of those victories.¡± Orange clapped her hands on the shard, making it disappear. ¡°These were granted along with the total soul shards. To use them, the host simply must desire their distribution and we will augment the host¡¯s body to reflect the adjustment.¡± ¡°Those rats hurt.¡± I looked at my twenty toughness. ¡°If I were to put everything into that, eventually I won¡¯t get hurt, right?¡± ¡°Hypothetically.¡± I¡¯m starting to hate that word. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s at least get that up to average.¡± I focused on imagining the twenty becoming fifty. And I watched as the numbers depleted from the one as the number for my toughness rose. Soon it reached fifty. My eyes were then drawn to the word augments. ¡°So these augments are things that improve me in some way, right?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Orange nodded and placed her hands in her lap. ¡°If the host wishes to see what augments they wish to purchase, they only have to concentrate on seeing them.¡± ¡°Okay, this is getting to be a lot to take in. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll all make sense in the future. Purchase augments? Like buying the cellular regeneration augment that it says I have?¡± A long list of hundreds of augments appeared before me. All of them had a number attached to them. I could easily guess that was their cost. There wasn¡¯t a single one I could afford. ¡°That concludes the tutorial.¡± Orange waved her arms and the small gym dissolved back into black. She stood up and offered me a hand. I took her hand and stood up. ¡°So, what was the point of that room?¡± ¡°The host associates training with physical exercise.¡± Orange let my hand go as she took a step back. ¡°Since the tutorial protocol is a form of training, we only wished to help the host enter a fitting state of mind.¡± I don¡¯t know what freaks me out more; the fact that the millions of tiny robots in my body are thinking, or that they might be right on some subconscious level. ¡°Quintillions.¡± I blinked at the number Orange gave me. ¡°There are currently six quintillion, seven hundred thirty-nine quadrillion, eight hundred forty-two trillion, fifty-one billion, seven hundred thirty-six million, two hundred five thousand nanites in the host¡¯s body.¡± Let it go, Rina. It¡¯s not worth it. Remember, I¡¯m insane now. Just let it go. ¡°Also, we will mention, for the time being, that the host should not call any protocols like this unless it is truly necessary.¡± The world around me brightened up as my eyes really opened up and I stared at the ceiling. And we¡¯re back. So I guess this is the part where I start laughing maniacally before going on a killing spree. Yeah, no. My stomach started hurting . I guess I should get something to eat. Cookies don¡¯t make a very fulfilling meal. I stood up out of the bed and rubbed my stomach. The sounds of heavy footsteps sounded outside my room. From the sound of it, someone was standing outside my door. There wasn¡¯t a lock on the door, was there. The door creaked open. 09 Regeneration Culson, the pudgy elf walked in and closed the door. His lecherous grin was wider than before. ¡°Rina was it? It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen a human.¡± He wrung his hands together. ¡°My, you are pretty. So young too.¡± He remembered me and came to me. This¡­this has never happened before. And I don¡¯t think I like where this is going. I wanted to gag. ¡°Thanks. I guess. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I was just about to head out.¡± Culson moved to the door, blocking the only exit. ¡°Oh, but I¡¯ve only just gotten here.¡± He took a step forward. ¡°You know, I¡¯m a simple man. I love women, and you are very beautiful.¡± He stepped forward again. Yeah, I definitely don¡¯t like this. I¡¯d rather be forgotten right now. ¡°Back off!¡± I brandished my new dagger at him. He held up his hands. ¡°No need for violence. You¡¯re new, and you need money. I can help you with both.¡± I tightened my grip on my dagger. ¡°I don¡¯t want your help.¡± He wagged his finger. ¡°You won¡¯t get far without money. It doesn¡¯t matter what you want. If you don¡¯t have money, you don¡¯t get anything. That¡¯s how it is in the Soul Nexus. Everyone has to do things they don¡¯t like. It¡¯s all about survival.¡± Such thinking is heavily flawed. We do not recommend this course of action. Thanks Orange, but I¡¯m already not letting him do it. I took a step back. My eyes darted for another escape route. The only other option past him was the window, which was shut tight and I couldn¡¯t see how to open in the first place. ¡°I can survive without your help. I¡¯ve done it before. Now get away from me.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m offering only a simple exchange.¡± He took another step closer. ¡°Let¡¯s just make this easy. No one needs to get hurt.¡± He grabbed his crotch. ¡°You do this one thing for me, and I¡¯ll pay you well for it. The two thousand shards Layith paid for your room can be yours, all you have to do is¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± I didn¡¯t want him to finish that sentence. I tried to keep the distance between us as he kept getting closer, but he was attempting to corner me. This elf¡¯s persistence is problematic. Orange, shut up! If you aren¡¯t going to say something important, just shut up. I don¡¯t need you to state the obvious. His voice was getting more sinister as he spoke. ¡°Just put that blade down and let me show you a good time. I¡¯ll make sure you get plenty of pleasure, too.¡± I took another step back. My back hit the wall. Culson was just a few feet from me. I won¡¯t let him touch me. I held the dagger in front of me with both hands, ready to stab him with it. He was just out of reach. I¡¯ll have to slash at him and make a run for the door. Culson¡¯s face was now red as he was breathing heavily. He had one hand on his pants and was fiddling with the laces. ¡°I said no!¡± I lunged forward, swinging the dagger wildly. Culson¡¯s eyes went wide as the dagger missed him by inches. He took a couple of steps back. He pulled out a gun from behind his back. ¡°We¡¯re doing this the hard way then?¡± He leveled the pistol at me. I took a deep breath and steadied my hand. ¡°Let me go.¡± ¡°Do you know how hard it is to find a human? Especially one as pretty as you?¡± Culson licked his lips. ¡°It would be such a waste to kill you. Now, why don¡¯t you just drop that knife and get over here so you can service me. You might even enjoy it.¡± I clenched my teeth, my heart raced. There was no way I¡¯m letting this disgusting elf have his way with me. ¡°I¡¯ll never let you touch me, you sick pervert.¡± Culson¡¯s grin faltered for a moment, replaced by a look of irritation. He shifted his weight, his hand still clutching the gun. ¡°You think you can defy me, little girl? I can make your life a living hell if you don¡¯t play nice.¡± I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I screamed, ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a pathetic pedophile.¡± Why is nobody running to help? Haven¡¯t we made enough noise to wake anyone else up? We have a hypothesis: the other residents of the building do not care. Not helping, Orange. Culson¡¯s face contorted with rage. He shook the gun in my direction. ¡°There are only three ways this ends: you¡¯re dead; you¡¯re alive and paid; or you¡¯re my personal sex slave,¡± the maliciousness in his voice oozed. My mind raced. I could barely think straight. My eyes darted between his chest and face. He was breathing heavily as his eyes were focused on me. I could see the anger in his eyes. We suggest you use lethal force to defend yourself. The damage from the elf¡¯s weapon is recoverable. That¡¯s right. My wounds can heal. These nanites gave me some kind of super regeneration. Culson¡¯s eyes darted between my face and the dagger in my hands. I could feel my grip on the knife tightening. His hand was still clutching the gun, but his hands were starting to shake. He took another step forward while raising his other hand. ¡°I said, don¡¯t touch me,¡± I repeated. Culson¡¯s lips curled into a sneer. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake, girl.¡± He lunged at me, his free hand reaching out to grab me. In a split second, I ducked under, swinging the dagger with all my might. The blade sliced up and into his groin. Culson howled in pain, his hands bolting to clutch his bleeding crotch. Seizing the opportunity, I bolted for the door. But before I could reach it, something stabbed me in the back. I fell into the door and slid down it as I writhed in pain. When I rolled onto my back, I saw Culson struggling to his knees, still holding his bleeding groin but with the gun aimed at me. ¡°If that leaves permanent damage¡­¡± He fired the gun, but there was no pop. Just a whizzing sound and my stomach exploded in pain. I looked down and saw a bullet hole just below my ribs. Then I could feel something moving inside as the itching blended with the pain. I couldn¡¯t help but stare as a small rock popped out of the wound as it closed up. My stomach growled as the little rock bounced against the floor, disrupting the silence. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°What in the Nexus are you?¡± the elf man whispered. I can heal, but I still feel pain. We suggest the host use lethal force against the elf. Another bullet hit me just below the collarbone. The impact caused me to writhe backwards. I could feel blood filling my lungs as it became harder to breathe. My hand instinctively covered the wound, but I could feel something moving inside me, inside the wound. Then he shot me again. This time, he hit my heart. Four more shots followed in rapid succession. All of them hit me in the torso in various places. Each one fired, shook my body, and wracked me with pain. I flopped to the ground, blood pouring from six wounds in my chest. The pain is too much. Why did I think I could fight him? Pain is temporary. We suggest the host perform aggressive action. The current state of the engagement is counterproductive for the host. Tears filled my eyes as my head started getting foggy as I felt myself suffocating. My lungs were quickly filling with blood, and my heart was stopping. But all of that paled compared to the crippling pain burning through my body. I wanted to scream, but I couldn¡¯t. All I could do was stare; stare at my assailant. But I never lost consciousness. Please, just let me die. I don¡¯t want to feel the pain anymore. Just let it end! We refuse to permit the host from ceasing function. If the host ceases to function, so do we. Doing so means we have failed our directive. Instead of dying, a stone bullet popped out of my chest and hit the ground. Then another one. And another. All six bullets eventually rested on the ground, covered in my blood. Shortly after, I could feel my heart beating faster than ever. Which I followed by screaming from the pain that still overwhelmed everything. I clutched at the wounds as I fell into the fetal position. The unusual gnawing at my stomach that started to match the pain I felt. This was a mistake. I should never have come here. I was never ready for this. The host passed the test put forth by the being designated as Mr. Black. The host must perform as they did during the previously mentioned test. Culson¡¯s footsteps approached me as I continued screaming and crying. ¡°How are you still alive?¡± A weak whimper left my lips. ¡°I told you what would happen, but you still fought back anyway. I can¡¯t let people think I¡¯ve gone soft.¡± Culson opened the handle of his gun. He pulled out a rock and pushed it into the handle. The rock seemed to shift and be swallowed up by the weapon. ¡°You should¡¯ve just done what I asked.¡± I don¡¯t want to die. What will the host do about it? He pointed the gun back at me. Something in my mind seemed to shift. If he won¡¯t let me live, then I will kill him! In a burst of adrenaline, I scooped up the dagger and stabbed the elf in his engorged belly. A heavy fist collided with my face. My dagger opened the wound wider as I fell back to the ground. He clutched the wound with one hand, blood leaked past his fingers. ¡°You stubborn crone.¡± The barrel of his gun raised up to my chest again. Culson was looking a lot paler and his hands were shaking. ¡°You¡­Should¡­Have¡­Just¡­Submitted¡­To¡­Me¡­You¡­Wench!¡± He punctuated each word with a bullet fired at me. Each shot felt like another burning explosion of pain. One bullet hit my jaw. Another one pierced through my throat, while my collarbone was snapped in two by a third. Three holes bled from my chest. The last two bullets were embedded in my arm as they covered my head. It was hard to breathe. Pain filled my mind, and I couldn¡¯t move my arm. I can¡¯t take this pain anymore. I won¡¯t! Warning. The host has suffered excessive damage. Critical levels of calories reached. The host must consume calories at the first possible moment. To increase the host¡¯s chances of survival, we will conserve the host¡¯s energy by limiting interactions. The host can survive this. I couldn¡¯t think of a response before a figure burst into the room. The newcomer paused and drew a sword. ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± The shaylip¡¯s voice was quite a bit gruffer than Layith¡¯s. Also, his face seemed more angular as he nodded towards the elf. His yellow eyes wandered between Culson and me. Not drawing any of the other three swords from his back, he blocked the door with one foot. He was wearing what looked like a trench coat, with sections covered in small overlapping plates. Culson grit his teeth. ¡°Just stay out of this, Bark.¡± His voice was getting horse and there wasn¡¯t any bravado behind it. With an amused look, he focused on Culson. ¡°Taking advantage of yet another helpless woman?¡± He then pointed to the blood dripping from my dagger and the wound in Culson¡¯s nether region and stomach. ¡°Well, as it appears, not so helpless.¡± My mouth salivated as my head started pounding from the hunger growing in me. Bark smiled as he pointed his sword in Culson¡¯s direction. ¡°So, did she not like your offer or were you being a jerk again? If I recall correctly, you had to leave a brothel when you got caught doing the same thing four days ago.¡± ¡°The girl stabbed me,¡± the elf said. ¡°It¡¯s self-defense at this point.¡± I scooped up my dagger again. ¡°He tried to rape me! Then he shot me!¡± My stomach burned and attempted to eat me from the inside out. ¡°Is that so?¡± Bark asked, looking over at Culson, his legs were shaking at that point. He turned back to me. His eyes scanned me from head to toe. ¡°You don¡¯t look too good. How are you still alive?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a freak, that¡¯s what,¡± Culson wheezed. ¡°My bullets keep popping out of her.¡± I could hear a soft from Bark chuckle. ¡°Interesting.¡± The bullets pushed out of me just in time for Bark to watch. Culson was about to speak, but Bark held up his hand. ¡°Put that away before you hurt yourself. She¡¯s coming with me.¡± Culson¡¯s knuckles turned white. ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t. She¡¯s mine.¡± I stood up and held my dagger tightly as I watched Culson attempt to keep his gun trained on me. I¡¯ve got to get that thing out of his hands. One more bullet, that¡¯s all I¡¯ve got to take. It¡¯s going to hurt, but it¡¯s better than the alternative. The moment Culson turned his attention away from me towards Bark, I reached out and grabbed the top of the gun. He pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. I stabbed at his wrist and the hand holding the gun went limp, allowing me to pull it away effortlessly. ¡°She¡¯s got spunk, that¡¯s for sure,¡± Bark commented. The elf snarled as he grabbed his wounded wrist. Blood dripped onto the floor at an alarming rate. Bark took a step forward. ¡°You really should stop. She isn¡¯t worth the trouble anymore. Also, if I were you, I¡¯d go and get that taken care of before you bleed out.¡± I backed up, my hand shaking as I held the gun. I didn¡¯t dare turn around as the elf ran off, leaving a trail of blood. Did I do it? I survived didn¡¯t I? The shaylip turned to face me. ¡°Not bad. You okay?¡± With Culson gone, a sudden wave of weakness washed over me, leaving me shivering despite the pounding of my heart against my chest. For some reason, my stomach decided to growl at the same time. ¡°No,¡± I muttered, shaking. ¡°Need¡­ food¡­¡± I dropped to my knees, feeling sick and light-headed. The pain was gone, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel where each bullet pierced my body. The smell of blood didn¡¯t help with my nausea. I dropped the gun. It landed next to the bloody stone bullets. The corners of my mind darkened as I fell face first into the floor and blacked out. ***** Bark tilted his head at the sight of the human lying on the ground. He pursed his lips as he looked her over for wounds. ¡°There aren¡¯t any,¡± he thought out loud. The girl was littered with bullet wounds and there was blood around them. That meant the girl had a way of healing herself. Bark noted the lack of scaring too. The human went from interesting to mysterious. It was a mystery he needed to solve. Her level of healing would be exceedingly useful while climbing the Nexus. He already secured an infinite source of food, and if he could get an infinite source of healing¡­ ¡°I would have no problem climbing.¡± Bark tapped his chin with one hand as he looked at the dagger and gun, recognizing where the dagger came from immediately. ¡°Layith, you¡¯ve found me exactly what I need. I¡¯ll repay you one day. I¡¯ll get all of us out of this forsaken hell one day. I don¡¯t care what it takes.¡± Bark scooped up the weapons and the human girl. Her breathing was weak and she was unconscious. At first he believed she had spent all her mana healing herself, but her last words asking for food threw him off. Killa would be able to tell him more. She understood human anatomy much better than him. She liked walking around like one after all. If she didn¡¯t use mana to heal herself, and humans don¡¯t normally have such a potent regeneration, Bark knew she had to receive that power from somewhere. All he needed to do was get that information from her. Which meant he had to play knight in shining armor for her. It wasn¡¯t a big deal. He liked being the good guy, because the good guys always win. And that was the one thing he hated more than anything; losing. 10 Foreign Finger Food As I regained consciousness, my head throbbed with pain. The world around me swam in a haze, and the soft light filtering through the room¡¯s window intensified the ache behind my eyes. I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy, weak, and utterly drained. Where am I? How did I end up here? Why does everything hurt? Congratulations, the host survived. The host¡¯s location is unknown. It seems the shaylip you saw back in the inn carried you to this bed. And you¡¯re still as obvious as ever, Orange. Now leave me alone. I¡¯m not in the mood to hear anything from you unless I ask for you specifically. Acknowledged. Even with my pounding headache, I turned and looked around. I was in a dimly lit room with one window. A small orangish sphere hanging from the ceiling illuminated the room. The room itself was mostly bare, with stone walls and me on a small cot against one side. Bark was leaning against a wall near the door, his arms crossed and a look of worry on his face. He snapped to attention when he must have heard me moving. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± The relief on his face matched his voice. ¡°You scared me back there. What happened to you?¡± I groaned. His voice seemed louder than usual. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Unable to hold my body up anymore, I flopped back onto the simple cot. There was a familiar gnawing at my stomach. ¡°I feel weak and hungry.¡± ¡°Considering you¡¯re literally starving, that¡¯s what I was told to expect.¡± Bark almost sounded like he was on the verge of laughing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Killa¡¯s gonna pump you so full of ¡®food¡¯ you¡¯ll burst.¡± I rubbed the side of my head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but who are you? And who¡¯s Killa? Are you going to do what that fat slob tried?¡° Bark waved his hands out in front of him. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m nothing like him. He was never really nice. Unlike him, I have morals.¡± He stood up and extended a hand. ¡°My name¡¯s Bark, by the way. What¡¯s yours?¡± I glanced at his hand but didn¡¯t shake it. ¡°Rina.¡± ¡°You said I was starving.¡± It feels like I¡¯ve not eaten in days and I¡¯m having the mother of all hunger headaches. ¡°And if you really are a nice guy, can I have some food while you explain what¡¯s going on?¡± Bark pulled his hand back and gave a curt nod. ¡°Killa¡¯s got that covered. Besides, she wants to talk to you.¡± Killa? Didn¡¯t he say that name before? Also, he remembered me too. He probably carried me here too. That¡¯s the second time I haven¡¯t had to reintroduce myself to someone. Is this what it¡¯s like to be normal? The memory of how I recovered from being shot multiple times resurfaced in my mind. Or at least, what¡¯s normal for this world¡ªcity¡ªplace. I heard a door open as I shut my eyes. Every sound was like a nail driven into my head. An even louder groan escaped from me. It didn¡¯t help. ¡°She¡¯s up, Killa, just like you said.¡± Bark¡¯s voice felt like a burning slap on my brain. ¡°Please, don¡¯t yell.¡± I covered my ears in a vain attempt to hide from the source of the pain. ¡°Quite you,¡± a sweet voice whispered. ¡°She likely has a sensitivity to light and sound. Now go away before you make things worse.¡± ¡°Fine, fine. Sorry, I¡¯ll go,¡± Bark said as I heard his footsteps pound against the stone floor. ¡°When you¡¯re feeling better, Rina, I¡¯ve got some questions for you.¡± There was a brief silence once the door closed behind me. Then I felt a gentle hand against my shoulder, urging me to roll back over. ¡°It¡¯s okay, sweetie. I¡¯m Killa, and despite his ineptitude, Bark means well. You¡¯ll not find many loyal souls like him in the Nexus.¡± I rolled over to see who possessed such a soft, welcoming voice. Although blurry, the being in front of me was definitely not human, either. She was a bright green, semi-translucent humanoid with partials suspended inside it. I couldn¡¯t help but think about Jello when I saw her. Her face was enchantingly beautiful once I could focus and see more clearly. Her hair was a slightly more opaque green than the rest of her. ¡°What? What are you?¡± I vocalized my question unconsciously. The gelatinous being wore a knee-length, form-fitting dress that executed her inhuman feminine curves. It was made of a silver, reflective fabric with thin black feathers along the edges. The dress also revealed her ample cleavage, drawing attention to it. But the small suspended objects inside her body started looking like small scales, and they danced within her. She smiled and giggled. ¡°He said you were new to the Nexus.¡± She placed a hand on her chest. ¡°I¡¯m Killa, a slime.¡± ¡°Slime?¡± Killa rolled her eyes. ¡°You know, the species that has no right to exist? The one that nobody can explain? Any of that ringing a bell?¡± I shook my head. She smiled. ¡°Well, all you need to know is that, as a slime, I am both on top of the food chain and on the bottom of it.¡± She grabbed a finger with her other hand and pulled it off. ¡°Speaking of food, open up.¡± She held up her finger as if to feed it to me. ¡°What? No!¡± My shouting hurt, but there was no way I was going to eat her finger. Killa pouted. ¡°Don¡¯t I look tasty? I¡¯ve tried to make myself as sexy as possible. Don¡¯t you want to try a piece of me?¡± ¡°Are you insane? How does looking sexy translate to tasting good?¡± I tried to push myself away from the crazy slime. ¡°How can you just pull off a finger and feed it to some stranger?¡± The slime woman giggled. ¡°Oh, are you worried about me?¡± She waved the hand from which she pulled the finger. There were five fingers again. ¡°See? Nothing to worry about. You need to eat soon, or you might pass out again. Also, this isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve eaten a piece of me.¡± My eyes went wide as my body stiffened. I haven¡¯t¡­ ¡°You didn¡¯t, did you?¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Her smile grew. ¡°How else did you wake up?¡± She wagged the finger she severed in front of me. ¡°This tiny piece should, by my estimates, provide the equivalent of three days¡¯ worth of calories and nutrients. Slimes can eat everything, and everything can eat slimes. We are the most nutrient-dense species in existence.¡± I stared at Killa. The horror on my face was obvious. ¡°You mean to tell me that you¡¯ve fed me parts of you without me knowing it?¡± Killa nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right! Slimes like me can reconstruct our bodies. So I can offer small portions of myself to give predators something to chew on while I run away. They eat; I live. It¡¯s a win-win situation, really.¡± She held up the finger towards me again. That sounds a lot like a thing some lizards do. My stomach churned at the thought of unknowingly consuming pieces of slime. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. That¡¯s...disgusting.¡± Killa¡¯s eye twitched just before her smile returned. ¡°Oh, come now, don¡¯t be so dramatic. Quit being a big baby. You were on the brink of starvation, and I helped save your life. Besides, it¡¯s not like I lost anything important.¡± I pushed her hand away. She felt cold and slimy. What was I expecting? ¡°Well, thanks. But I can¡¯t do this. There¡¯s got to be another way. Something less drastic.¡± Killa¡¯s playful demeanor shifted to a more serious tone as she stood up. ¡°Look here¡­¡± She blinked. ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t know your name.¡± I blushed as my stomach growled. ¡°Rina. It¡¯s Rina.¡± ¡°Well, Rina, you don¡¯t understand the situation you¡¯re in. You¡¯re severely malnourished, and without sufficient nourishment, you¡¯ll likely be dead in a day or two. Trust me, it¡¯ll be more painful than you can imagine.¡± I swallowed. ¡°What? No, that can¡¯t be right, can it?¡± Orange, please tell me she¡¯s wrong. The slime is correct. She kneeled next to me. ¡°It can. I don¡¯t know how, but you require more food than someone your size should. Last time I gave you the tip of my finger, something that should have fed you for an entire day, yet you still need more. The fact Bark has gone out of his way to bring you here means something. And I want to know why. But I can¡¯t do that if you die.¡± She pushed the finger back into my face. ¡°So, shut up and eat¡ªmy¡ªfinger.¡± The way she punctuated each word sent a shiver down my spine. Those are words I¡¯d never thought I¡¯d hear, ever. I was bitten, bleeding, and shot, yet I wouldn¡¯t die. But here I am, dying of starvation. It is in the host¡¯s best interest that they eat the material provided by the slime. Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay away until I called for you? I looked at the gelatinous green finger. There was nothing floating in it. I swallowed as drool started pooling in my mouth. I grabbed the finger with two of mine. ¡°If I¡¯m going to do this, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± ¡°Suit yourself,¡± she said with way too much enthusiasm. I stared at the finger that felt cold and slimy in my grip. I couldn¡¯t do it. Killa sighed, causing a ripple to flow through her body. ¡°Boring!¡± Without more of a warning, Killa grabbed my jaw, pressed the hinges on it, and forced my mouth open. Before I realized what she had done, she pushed my hand into my mouth. ¡°Now be a good girl and swallow.¡± Killa¡¯s voice dropped as she leaned in. I felt dizzy, as I could feel the slime against my tongue. The taste was bitter, salty, yet meaty. The texture was the equivalent of extra thick jello. I retched and gagged as my hand was forced into my face. ¡°Swallow, and it¡¯ll be all over.¡± Killa¡¯s eyes stared into mine. Maybe it was my imagination, but they seemed to glow blue for a split second. I don¡¯t know why, but I had to do what she said. Something in her voice made it seem like it was the only thing I could do. I swallowed the finger whole. My gagging stopped as she released me. The slime woman grinned as she leaned back. ¡°See? That wasn¡¯t so bad.¡± I gasped, finally no longer feeling the finger sliding down my throat. ¡°That was the worst taste ever.¡± I kept trying to catch my breath. ¡°Rude,¡± Killa said through her clenched jaw. There was a slight buzzing in my stomach as the moments passed. Suddenly, my headache went away. My vision also cleared, and every sound didn¡¯t feel like someone was drilling a hole through my skull. I could feel myself getting better, quickly. But I still felt hungry. ¡°Wow, that worked?¡± I looked at my hands. Everything seemed more responsive, and I didn¡¯t feel the horrible weakness I felt when I woke up. Killa groaned. ¡°Did you really think I was lying?¡± I turned and sat on the edge of the cot. ¡°I, uh, don¡¯t know what to think.¡± ¡°What happened to you? You don¡¯t seem to belong in the Soul Nexus. Why are you here?¡± I could hear the worry in her voice. ¡°This isn¡¯t a place people go willingly. You have to have a reason to be here.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Should I tell her? ¡°Can I have some time to think? It¡¯s been a hectic few days for me. Dying, not dying, coming here, and other things.¡± Killa gave me a sympathetic look. ¡°Okay. Yeah. Wow, that does sound like a lot.¡± She walked towards the door. ¡°If you¡¯re ready to talk, just come out and call for me if you don¡¯t see me.¡± She opened the door, but before she walked out, she paused and turned back to me. ¡°If you need anything more, just ask. Something about you doesn¡¯t feel right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a way to put it. But, I should thank you for saving my life. So, thank you.¡± I tried to give her a smile, but it was hard to even fake it. I guess I owe Bark my life too. He¡¯s a lot better than Culson. Not only was he the only one to come in to help me, but he carried me to his place and got me help from this slime lady. Maybe not everyone in this place is as awful as I first experienced. Killa¡¯s playful demeanor returned as she giggled. ¡°Oh, it was my pleasure, Rina. I always enjoy lending a helping hand... or finger, in this case.¡± Her giggling continued as she walked out and closed the door behind her. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle despite myself. Killa¡¯s a strange one. But she did help me, asking nothing in return. I then looked down at my ruined clothes. But there is so much more I have to worry about right now that I don¡¯t have answers for. I removed my hoodie and long sleeve shirt underneath to see that there were no scars, blemishes, or anything wrong with my skin. My skin was perfect¡ªdirty and covered in dried blood¡ªbut that was expected. A good, warm shower will fix that. But do you care to fill me in on exactly what happened, Orange? We are obligated to warn the host after the previous episode. Our actions require energy from the host. The host will benefit from the consumption of extra calories. Your cellular regeneration also requires significant calorie consumption. I figuratively pointed at Orange. So it¡¯s your fault I nearly starved to death. There is no fault. We only did what we could to preserve the host¡¯s life. The host now should strive to not receive such lethal damage in the future. Cellular regeneration takes increased energy to rebuild from damage in proportion to the severity. We can store excess energy the host consumes but does not use until later without a limit. So you¡¯re telling me I can eat as much as I want and I¡¯ll never get fat. That¡¯s kind of cool when you think about it. So how much food should I be eating just on a regular basis? There was no response from Orange immediately. The host requires six thousand calories a day, excluding heavy injuries. Six¡ªthousand? I couldn¡¯t wrap my mind around how much that was. Wasn¡¯t the average person supposed to eat two thousand? That¡¯s also if they were moderately active too. I didn¡¯t have the luxury of watching my weight, but I did well just finding food regularly. Even though I technically broke the law a lot. 11 None of This Is Normal I walked out of the room into a short hallway with two other doorways, each leading to another bedroom identical to the one I was in. Except they looked like people lived in them. But I walked out of the hallway into a dining room. A simple wooden table sat in the center of the room. On the table were three place settings and a small vase with a sunflower sticking out of it. Is someone expecting a lunch party or something? ¡°Ah, you¡¯re up.¡± Bark¡¯s voice came from the corner of the room, where he was sitting on a large, comfortable-looking chair. He looked up from the book in his hands. There was no label, title, or artwork on the cover. His swords were sitting on a rack hanging on the wall. ¡°Didn¡¯t Killa put you into a food coma?¡± My stomach growled. ¡°Uh, no. Actually, I¡¯m still hungry.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Killa screeched as she came running into the room. ¡°What do you need to eat now, my entire hand?¡± I gagged. ¡°Please, no. No more.¡± Bark laughed and closed the book as he placed it on a small round table next to him. ¡°Slimes are an acquired taste for most.¡± Killa narrowed her eyes on Bark. ¡°That¡¯s not what you would have said last night. Not in the middle of all that squealing as I...¡± ¡°Stop!¡± I covered my ears. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about any of that. Nobody wants to hear about that. Seriously. What you two do together is none of my business.¡± Bark shrugged. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t have to worry about asking for a three-way.¡± I glared at the four-armed hermaphrodite. You¡¯re disgusting. Here I was thinking you were almost a reasonable person. Killa giggled and then crossed her arms as she eyed me from head to toe. ¡°Honestly, how much do you need to eat? And where are you putting it?¡± I swallowed dryly. ¡°Well, as I¡¯ve just learned, a lot. One thing I also learned is that I can¡¯t eat too much anymore. I have these things called nanites in my body. They are the reason Culson didn¡¯t kill me.¡± The room went silent. My heart pounding was the only indicator that any time had passed. I shouldn¡¯t have said anything. This was stupid. ¡°So you¡¯re saying these nanites kept you alive and you should¡¯ve died?¡± Bark¡¯s voice broke the silence first. His eyes were studying me almost too closely. ¡°Those are what are healing you?¡± I nodded. He crossed two of his arms and stroked his chin with a third. ¡°How do they work?¡± My hands went to my pockets that were annoyingly empty. I don¡¯t have that dagger. Orange, should I tell them about you? We recommend keeping us a secret for now. Their intentions are still unknown. ¡°No Idea.¡± Killa turned her head towards Bark. ¡°Gary may know.¡± Bark started pacing. ¡°We should leave now. We shouldn¡¯t wait for morning.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I asked. Killa walked up to me. ¡°Do you mind if I see?¡± ¡°See what?¡± I held my arms out to push her back if I needed to. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Killa stopped. ¡°Sorry. I would like to see you heal from an injury. Because that will then help either confirm Bark¡¯s worry or dispel it.¡± I eyed her closely as I took a step back. ¡°Would telling you that my chest was shot, and I still lived, be enough?¡± Killa frowned. ¡°Yes. And now we can¡¯t let anyone see you get injured. Who knows what¡¯ll happen to you?¡± ¡°Why?¡± This is getting frustrating. ¡°Just tell me already.¡± Bark walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Because we¡¯ve never seen anything like that. If someone gets wind of that, who knows what others will do to extract that power from you. If these nanites are that powerful, you could find yourself with some even more powerful, or endless, enemies. Some people can¡¯t hold their jealousies in check.¡± That¡¯s terrifying. I don¡¯t want to get dissected so someone can collect the nanites. Is that possible Orange? It is possible to extract nanites from the host. If all nanites are removed from the host¡¯s body, it will result in the host¡¯s death. Whether the individuals that extract the nantites from the host can utilize the nanites, we have insufficient information Something about Bark was bugging me. ¡°But why do you care?¡± Bark smiled as he nodded to Killa. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get her some normal people¡¯s food? She said she was hungry.¡± He didn¡¯t answer the question. But I am hungry. Killa sighed. ¡°Fine.¡± She headed out the way she had rushed in. ¡°But let Gary explain the important stuff. I know how you get with details.¡± Her words came from the other room before I heard a door open and close. Bark motioned towards the table. ¡°We might as well sit while we talk. It¡¯ll be a bit more comfortable.¡± He flashed a nervous smile before taking a seat at one of the table sets. I looked around the room and didn¡¯t see any other good options. So I sat down across from him and pulled a plate and set of utensils in front of me. ¡°Why are you doing all this? It can¡¯t be just because you¡¯re nice.¡± Bark frowned. ¡°Why can¡¯t it? Does everyone have to have an alternative motive for being nice? Maybe I don¡¯t enjoy seeing others suffer.¡± He folded his arms on the table. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m what most in the Nexus would call ¡®odd,¡¯ but I think that¡¯s what will give me an edge.¡± I bounced my foot as I sat, trying to relieve the nervousness growing in me. ¡°But why should I trust you? You could be leading me into another trap. To do the thing you just warned me people could do to me.¡± He then sighed. ¡°I get it. That¡¯s fair enough for you to think that¡ªafter all this. But trust me, right now, it would be nothing for me to cut your head off right now. But I won¡¯t. There¡¯s already enough senseless violence and backstabbing in the Nexus. That¡¯s not my objective. I want to reach the top of the Nexus. That¡¯s my only goal.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Why should I trust you? What does any of this have to do with me?¡± Bark drummed his fingers on the table. ¡°Look, Layith sent me to help you. He said you were new to the Nexus. And after what I saw, you have my attention. I¡¯m offering a chance for us to work together with my other partners. You won¡¯t be alone anymore. And your power would be very useful for climbing the Nexus.¡± He reached behind himself and pulled out the gun Culson used and the dagger Layith gave me. ¡°I saved your life it seems. If I wanted to carve you up and study you, I already had plenty of opportunities. But here¡¯s your weapons back.¡± He slid them across the table. The dagger was in a protective sheath with a small loop attached to it. ¡°Is that enough to earn your trust?¡± It helps. You typically don¡¯t arm a person you want to hold captive. I grabbed the gun and dagger. ¡°I guess I still don¡¯t understand what you want from me. I already told you, I don¡¯t understand how they work. Also, I really don¡¯t know how to fight. I¡¯ve never really had to before.¡± ¡°That I can help you with,¡± Bark said, his voice perking up. ¡°Killa and I will help you learn how to fight and in turn, you¡¯ll travel with us. There¡¯s strength in numbers. And if we figure out how your nanites work, all the better.¡± He¡¯s awfully concerned about my nanites. ¡°So, you have a wish you want to be granted too?¡± I saw the longing in his eyes as I asked my question. I didn¡¯t need to hear the answer. ¡°Everyone here does, don¡¯t they?¡± Bark simply nodded. ¡°Then what are you doing here and not heading towards the top?¡± Bark lowered his head slightly. ¡°Because everything I¡¯ve seen of the Nexus so far has led me to believe that I can¡¯t climb it by myself, at least with the rules as they are. So I¡¯m trying to bring together those who can help me.¡± He sighed. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here, working with Killa and Gary. We¡¯re not enough. And maybe, if you were up to it, I was thinking about asking you if you were strong enough. Whoever reaches the top may have their wish granted. Nothing says only one person who reaches the top gets their wish granted. So if we all work together, we¡¯ll all get what we want.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± Bark chuckled. ¡°Because there is more to you than meets the eye, I have little doubt you¡¯ll struggle to contribute. At least after we get you some training. In a tight space like that, you should¡¯ve been able to beat Culson with that dagger. He¡¯s pretty weak.¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The host will benefit from combat training. That¡¯s blunt. I leaned back in the chair. ¡°What I¡¯ve figured out about you is that you are either the world¡¯s best manipulator, or you¡¯re really just a na?ve optimist.¡± Bark laughed as he wiped his face with one hand. ¡°Yeah, me? A manipulator? That¡¯s a good one. But I¡¯ve been called na?ve before. So maybe I see a little of you in myself.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but see the alien individual in a new light. That makes sense. Could it be that he wants a daughter, a son, or whatever¡ªa child he can protect? And I¡¯m guessing since there are so many of his kind in one place, they are social people. That Killa lady seems to think he¡¯s a gentle soul too. She told me he was kinder than most people. She seems to be a bit more practical in how she sees people. Her curiosity was the only reason she was helping me to begin with. But when I told them about the nanites, their attitudes changed. Maybe this Gary knows more. If he is a manipulator, he¡¯s really good at it if he doesn¡¯t care that I think that. But he brings up a lot of good points. There is safety in numbers and if he¡¯ll train me to fight, I¡¯ll likely have to rely less on my nanites healing me to win fights. The host has a sound strategy. However, what if both the shaylip and slime are working together? Does the host have a plan for that? You could talk to me directly, Orange. You don¡¯t have to call me ¡°the host¡± all the time. But from what I can guess about what¡¯s going on, they won¡¯t make any moves until after we meet up with this Gary guy. Hopefully by then, I¡¯ve learned how to fight enough to get away. If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m good at, it¡¯s running. So long as the host¡¯s quickness stat is higher than those the host is running from. Then it¡¯s a good thing I have the gun now. ¡°Can I save my decision until after I meet this Gary?¡± I started fidgeting with the spoon in front of me. ¡°It seems like both Killa and you think that it¡¯s important if I meet him.¡± Bark scratched his chin. ¡°That¡¯s fair. But yeah, Gary is the brains of our little group. Killa¡¯s our medic slash mage slash infiltration expert. Me? I¡¯m just the dumb fighter who deals with the dangerous monsters.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, where does that leave me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± Bark gave me a playful smile. ¡°But I can feel it. You¡¯ll fit right in.¡± Convincing. ¡°About that¡­¡± I started, but Bark clapped all four of his hands together. ¡°Right!¡± He tapped the side of his head with a fist. ¡°I forgot you¡¯re a newbie. Well, what level are you?¡± ¡°Five,¡± I answer tentatively. Bark stares at me silently for a moment. ¡°Sure. Okay. That¡¯s fine. It¡¯s fine.¡± He shook his head. ¡°What level are you?¡± It¡¯s only right that I ask since he asked me first. ¡°Thirteen,¡± Bark answered without hesitating. ¡°And Killa¡¯s level seventeen.¡± I¡¯m less than half his level. Well, it looks like I¡¯m still going to be useless. But he missed one. ¡°Gary?¡± Bark laughed nervously. ¡°Gary¡¯s not what you would call conventional.¡± He started scratching at the back of his head. ¡°You¡¯ll see when you meet him tonight. So how did you get to the second floor if you¡¯re only level five?¡± I could feel something shatter in the back of my mind. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m on the second level? But this is where I started? I haven¡¯t been anywhere else.¡± Orange, please tell me you have an answer. Insufficient information. I thought you had all the answers. We are not omniscient. Obviously. ¡°Gary¡¯s going to love you.¡± Bark leaned back in his chair as he crossed his arms. ¡°How is it that every time I ask you something, you say something impossible?¡± I slumped my shoulders. Orange¡¯s lack of an answer left me feeling lonely. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± Killa sang as she skipped into the room. She stopped as she looked at the two of us. ¡°Did I miss something interesting?¡± In her hands was a cloth bag, and I could smell something new in the air. It smelled delicious. ¡°Well, you two can tell me all about it over some food.¡± Killa opened the bag and placed in front of me several sealed clay bowls. Then she pulled out more. My eyes opened wider with each bowl she pulled from the bag. I don¡¯t know how, but she kept pulling more and more bowls, one right after another. Until I was looking at a spread of twenty-five bowls, all sealed, each one would have been a meal back on earth. Killa giggled. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what you would like, so I ordered their entire menu. Hopefully, this will be enough for today.¡± She pulled out another two bowls and placed them in front of Bark, who rubbed his hands together as he eyed them. I pointed to the bag, then to the bowls, and back to the bag. My mouth flopped open and closed soundlessly. Killa turned the bag inside out. ¡°No more. Sorry. We can see about getting you something else later if this is still not enough.¡± The words finally clicked in my mind. ¡°No. How did all this fit in that?¡± Killa looked at the bag and then back at me, confused. ¡°It¡¯s a bag of holding; that¡¯s what it does. It¡¯s magic.¡± No, no, no. Let it go. I¡¯m supposed to have gone insane. Nothing is supposed to make sense anymore. Bags of holding are uncommon magical items. Inside them is a space that¡¯s much greater than it appears to be through a minor dimensional pocket. The weight of the objects placed inside will not affect the weight of the bag itself. Typically, most bags hold several hundred pounds but they can be created to hold a few thousand if the creator is skilled enough. Warning: Do not place a second bag of holding or similar pocket dimensions inside another. Why? It will cause a rift in time and space, obliterating a space proportional to the size of the pocket dimensions. Anything in contact with the rift will be utterly obliterated as it will fall out of time and space. Noted. Now with that insanity dealt with, I should deal with my insane new dietary concerns. My stomach growled even louder. ¡°But, what are you going to eat?¡± I asked as I pried open the first bowl. The smell of rice, meat, spices, and herbs was almost heavenly. My drool almost escaped my mouth as I lost myself in the aroma. Killa sat down and waved her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, kiddo. I¡¯ve already eaten about three pounds of sand on the way back.¡± Did she just say three pounds of sand? She had all this food but chose to eat sand? Killa started laughing. ¡°Kiddo, I can eat anything. But unfortunately, I can¡¯t smell or taste anything like you can. So I eat whatever is the cheapest. Usually rotting garbage, dirt, sand, monsters, or evidence that needs to be destroyed.¡± Go insane. Go insane. ¡°Right.¡± I tried to ignore everything she just said and grabbed the spoon for my first bite. It was amazing. All the flavors were balanced yet distinct. Maybe it¡¯s better that I don¡¯t know what it is made from, especially after what Killa just said. Ignorance is bliss, after all. I dug in, shoveling bite after bite. After greedily shoveling the food into my mouth, I was still hungry. I barely recognized the empty bowl as my spoon hit the bottom. There was a brief moment of sadness that swept through me until I looked up and saw twenty-four more bowls and Bark staring at me with his mouth wide open. ¡°You were hungry, weren¡¯t you?¡± Bark finally stopped gawking and took another bite of his food, which was still mostly there. I pried open the next bowl and shoved the empty one to the side. ¡°Still am.¡± The second bowl was as delicious as the first. It was spicier, but still really, really good. Killa laughed as she watched me eat and occasionally asked Bark to fill her in on our conversation. Bark did most of the talking, and I just ate. And I continued to eat even after they finished talking. I was only through a dozen of the bowls, but I still felt hungry. ¡°She¡¯s going to eat them all, isn¡¯t she?¡± I heard Bark ask, but I was too busy stuffing my face to answer. Bark¡¯s question was answered somewhat later, as I finished eating the twenty-first bowl. The hunger that drove me to eat had finally subsided. Yet as I finished eating the diced white meat in a white sauce with a green vegetable that looked like a cross between asparagus and broccoli, I didn¡¯t feel full. I ate all that! Where did it all go? I looked down and saw that my body was still the same. Maybe the nanites are speeding up my metabolism and breaking down the food faster, too. Then I looked at the remaining four bowls. Orange didn¡¯t you say you would save extra energy for later uses. I reached out and finished off the last four bowls with the same fervor as the first four. Correct. We can store an infinite amount of calories to use when the host requires them for regeneration or there is a lack of consumable sustenance. Killa sat watching me with an amused look on her face as I finished the last bowl. It was the best one yet. I didn¡¯t know meat could be a dessert, but yikes, that was sweet. It looks like my sweet tooth is still going strong. I surveyed the collection of bowls I had emptied. A week ago, I was planning where I could afford to eat. But just now, I ate an entire month¡¯s worth of food in one sitting, and I don¡¯t feel ¡°full.¡± That¡¯s right, I¡¯m going insane. Normal doesn¡¯t exist anymore. Things happen. Things are happening to me that don¡¯t make sense. But that¡¯s fine. Just go with it. It¡¯ll be fine, right? Fine is a subjective term. There are still many threats to the host. The host will undoubtedly encounter many events that will be unfamiliar with them given their extremely limited history and scope of understanding. Orange, you¡¯re not helping. Go away. ¡°I¡¯m glad someone enjoyed themselves.¡± She drummed her fingers on the table. ¡°Wait until you see the bill.¡± My jaw dropped. But before I could say a word, Killa started laughing. ¡°That¡¯s priceless. It¡¯s totally worth it to see your face like that. I like you already, kiddo.¡± I pouted as I let Killa laugh. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid.¡± The slime lady settled down and smiled at me. ¡°Well, you feel like I¡¯m taking care of a kid. So, I¡¯m going to keep calling you that.¡± She reached to brush my hair behind my ear. ¡°Think of it as a form of endearment. Besides, you¡¯ve only been in the Nexus, what two days? I¡¯ve been here for eighty-seven days.¡± So is that long? That¡¯s terrifying if eighty-seven is considered a long time. The mortality rate must be pretty high. And given my first day, I can believe that. I sighed. ¡°Well, since I ate it all, and you paid for it, I might as well do the dishes.¡± Killa pulled my arm away from the stack of bowls before I could take them. ¡°Allow me, kiddo.¡± I need to get her to stop calling me that. Killa¡¯s arm deformed and ballooned over the stack of bowls, swallowing them all. Then, one by one, they separated and dissolved. They dissolved? Killa had a bored look on her face as she pouted. ¡°That¡¯s my wish¡ªto taste everything I eat. I can see, hear, and touch, but I can¡¯t taste or smell. I want to know what that¡¯s like. When I saw the look on your face as you were eating, I got jealous. I want to experience that joy¡ªthat bliss.¡± That¡¯s quite the bomb to drop on someone. But I guess I kind of take my five senses for granted. What would it be like to never taste or smell anything? Even as shallow as that sounds, it¡¯s a life-changing wish. She wants to experience more of life. Me? I just want to live, period. These two might not be so bad after all. Killa finished ¡°consuming¡± the clay bowls and clapped her hands. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get you changed into something a little less raggedy. You can have something from my collection. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something you¡¯ll like.¡± Bark stood up and headed to the door. ¡°Just don¡¯t get lost in the forest of clothes she calls a collection.¡± Why do I have the feeling he isn¡¯t exaggerating? 12 Dress to Impress I stood in awe at the colorful cacophony of cloth. Killa placed another bag of holding on the bed in the room I borrowed and started pulling article after article of clothing until she had the entire room draped in outfit after outfit. After she finished showcasing her collection, she danced in the center of the room. ¡°Go ahead and pick something out.¡± She waved at the clothes strewn about. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to wear all this anytime soon. And this way, you¡¯ll owe me an outfit later.¡± She winked at me. Orange, stay out of this. Unless I ask for you, I don¡¯t want to hear anything. ¡°Acknowledged.¡± I was too enamored with the selection to register what she said. Most of the clothes I saw looked like modern clothes, just made of different materials. It would probably be better to keep things practical and simple. I picked out a simple shirt and pants. The pants didn¡¯t have any pockets, and it felt like they were made of some kind of thick yet pliable black leather. It was soft to the touch too. The shirt was a soft burgundy silk that felt clingy, like it was full of static that wouldn¡¯t discharge. I stripped out of my ruined clothes and found that my undergarments were still mostly in one piece, with the exception of my bra, which had a hole through it. They were also soaked in my blood. Okay, they¡¯re ruined. Killa pointed to a small collection of undergarments. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the size. I¡¯ve got something for that.¡± She turned and faced the wall. ¡°Just let me know when you¡¯re ready.¡± I picked the simplest bra and underwear in the collection and put them on quickly. The underwear was comfortable since it was stretchy. The bra wasn¡¯t. It was tight, and it dug in everywhere. ¡°Hey, Killa, anytime you wanna do something, that would be great.¡± Killa smiled as she pulled a short piece of tapered, polished wood out of the bag and pointed it at my chest. I flinched and threw up my arms. Killa pouted. ¡°If you want things to be comfortable, I¡¯m going to need you to hold still.¡± I blushed. ¡°Sorry. The last time someone pointed something at me, they shot me.¡± And the time before that, they shot me in the head. Killa glanced at my discarded bra. ¡°I can see that.¡± She pointed the wand at me again. ¡°But I¡¯m here to help. I¡¯ve invested too much in you to dissect you already.¡± Dissect? The slime laughed. ¡°Kidding, I¡¯m kidding. You seem like a nice kid, and Bark genuinely wants your help and to help you.¡± Without warning, she poked the bra, and suddenly it grew. It became easier to breathe, and the pain was gone. I took a few moments to inspect how the bra adjusted and noticed that it fit perfectly now. ¡°Huh, magic is pretty convenient, isn¡¯t it?¡± I asked absentmindedly as I grabbed the shirt. Killa smiled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Besides, that outfit will look good on you.¡± I put on the shirt, and it clung to me, but it didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable. I pulled the pants up, and they hugged my legs tightly. I took a few steps in them and felt no bunching or rubbing. Someone¡¯s found a new favorite pair of pants. Never mind that they¡¯re my only pair of pants or that they¡¯re being gifted to me by a slime woman. I turned to look for shoes but instead found something else that caught my eye. It was a charcoal gray trench coat-like jacket. It looked like it was made from overlapping scales. I slid my hand across the scales. The scales were extremely flexible, allowing the coat to move and drape like regular fabric even though I could feel the distinct texture of the scales. Across the coat were a dozen pockets, each with a button closure. I noticed across the front was also a row of hoop-style buttons that would overlap, giving me the option to close the coat up. There was also a belt that would cinch my waist. I hooked my dagger on it. Oh look, fashion and function. I put it on, and it fit like it was made for me. ¡°Oh, good choice,¡± Killa trilled. ¡°I¡¯ve never liked jackets. But I couldn¡¯t bring myself to get rid of them. On you, that piece looks perfect. It¡¯s like you were destined to meet us and get that jacket.¡± I did a little twirl. ¡°You think so? I¡¯ve never worn anything like it, but it feels¡ªso right.¡± There was a final detail I noticed as I wore it. And it has a hood too! Killa handed me a pair of knee-high boots and cotton socks. The socks were simple enough and felt comfortable. The boots were sleek black leather with small overlapped metal plates on the top and sides of them and a barely noticeable heel. Which was good since I had never worn heels before. The boots fit snugly around my calves, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I pranced around the room for a few trial steps. I looked down. I really look like I belong in a fantasy world now. Good thing I¡¯m in one. Wait, what if what happened to my old clothes happens to these? ¡°It would be nice if these wouldn¡¯t get destroyed. I kind of like them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing they have an auto repair enchantment, then.¡± Killa gave me a wink. ¡°Soak them in water for about an hour, and they¡¯ll be good as new.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. I pinched the sleeve of my coat. ¡°Huh. Magic¡¯s pretty cool.¡± Killa started picking up the rest of the clothes I didn¡¯t pick. ¡°You didn¡¯t have magic where you¡¯re from, didn¡¯t you? It¡¯s like you¡¯re seeing magic for the first time.¡± I guess I should tell her how I got here then. She feels much more trustworthy than Bark. My final memories on earth played through my mind. Every word the man said stabbed into my heart, now that I know what they mean. I cleared a spot on the bed and sat down. ¡°Killa, did you die to get here?¡± The slime woman paused and turned her head towards me. ¡°No. Why would you ask that?¡± I folded my hands in front of me. ¡°Because I did. It¡¯s why I¡¯m here, even at all.¡± My throat felt tighter as my heart started beating faster. Killa threw the clothes in her hands to the side and grabbed my hands. ¡°That¡¯s terrible. I know it¡¯s none of my business, and you don¡¯t have to tell me if you don¡¯t want to, but why are you here?¡± I pulled my hands out of hers and looked away at the ground. ¡°Your wish¡­¡± My vision started getting blurry. Killa sat down next to me. ¡°It was a stupid thing for me to say. Most people don¡¯t share what their wish is, but I was just that jealous of you at that moment. And I know my wish is selfish, but it really is what I want.¡± ¡°And I think that¡¯s a perfect wish.¡± The first few tears escaped my eyes. ¡°After I heard you say it, I thought at first it was a strange wish. But the longer I thought about it, the more I realized that all my life, I¡¯ve tasted and smelled the world around me. I¡¯ve taken it for granted.¡± I turned and gave the slime girl a smile, even as the tears started falling in full force. ¡°You see a life others enjoy and you want to enjoy that too. I¡¯m the same. I just want to live. That is my wish, to live.¡± If I die, so does Marc. He¡¯s too young to die. Like a dam breaking, my emotions flooded through me when I saw the look of horror in Killa¡¯s eyes. I grabbed the slime woman and hugged her. My tears poured out as I wailed. Killa¡¯s arms wrapped around me, and she gently rubbed my back. ¡°I died, and I was told I shouldn¡¯t exist, that I¡¯m an artificial soul.¡± I hugged Killa tighter. Her body felt like I was hugging a giant water balloon that wouldn¡¯t pop. ¡°Because of that, I was literally a nobody. Before I was killed, everyone on Earth would just forget me or never notice me in the first place. Now the one of first people who noticed me here wanted to rape me.¡± My voice hit an all time high as it broke even more. ¡°To make things worse, someone wants me to not just die but cease to exist. I don¡¯t get a say. My only crime is existing. Now I have these nanites that both saved my life and nearly killed me at the same time. And now I¡¯m in an insane world trying to learn who created me just so I can bargain for my right to exist. Why me?¡± It¡¯s not just not my life on the line. I don¡¯t know how much of what I said was comprehensible through my crying and sobbing, but I needed to get the words out. Maybe it was finally time to let myself feel everything that had happened, and somehow, I felt safe enough with Killa to let it out. But as I kept crying, I could feel the weight on my shoulders lessening. After I shed every tear I could, I felt exhausted. Better, but exhausted. ¡°Do you feel better?¡± Killa whispered after we sat silently for several minutes. I let her go and sat up, wiping my face on my sleeve. ¡°Yeah. Sorry for just spilling everything on you like that.¡± I looked down at her dress and saw that it was soaked. ¡°And sorry for that.¡± Killa smiled as she looked down at her tear-soaked dress. ¡°Oh, this? This is nothing.¡± I watched as the dress was enveloped by her body and pushed back out perfectly clean. ¡°See?¡± I laughed. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s just not fair.¡± Killa placed a hand on my leg and leaned towards me. ¡°Not nearly as unfair as what you just told me. I won¡¯t even begin to lie to you and say that I understood even half of what you just said. I can¡¯t relate. I don¡¯t think I can even try.¡± I can¡¯t blame her. Dying is kind of a hard experience to relate to. ¡°But what I can do is help you fulfill your wish. You deserve to live. Nobody should be told their existence is a crime.¡± If I had had any more tears, I would have cried again. Instead, I wiped my face again. ¡°Then, as friends, we¡¯ll help each other. You, to live the life you want, and me, to simply live and save a close friend.¡± She wiped her hand on my sleeve, where I had wiped my snot. It was clean again. Right, she can eat anything, and anything can eat her. She stood up and went back to cleaning up the clothes. ¡°Are you good, or do you need some more time to put yourself together?¡± Killa paused to watch me closely. I looked at the closed door. ¡°How much do you think Bark heard?¡± ¡°All of it,¡± Killa said without hesitating. I hung my head. ¡°You were quite loud. Don¡¯t worry. He won¡¯t ask you to talk about it. Emotions make him uncomfortable. He does have a soft heart, even if he¡¯s not good at showing it.¡± I stood up and helped Killa put the clothes away. ¡°Thanks for the clothes and for being a shoulder to cry on.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± She placed all the clothes into the bag of holding. ¡°I¡¯m sure Gary will have more answers for you. He knows a lot of things that we don¡¯t, but he can only tell us if we ask the right questions. The problem is we don¡¯t always know the questions to ask.¡± I headed to the door. ¡°Who is this Gary you two keep mentioning? And why do you sound so cryptic when you talk about him?¡± Killa placed the bag of holding in a backpack and rocked her head from side to side. ¡°It¡¯s complicated. It¡¯ll be easier when you see him. That¡¯ll answer a few questions, yet give you lots more.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unnerving,¡± I said as I opened the door. Killa chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to him¡ªprobably.¡± The pause was unnerving. We walked out of the room and found Bark twiddling all of his thumbs as he leaned against a wall. He glanced at me with a nervous twitch on his cheek. ¡°You, uh, gonna be okay?¡± His voice was as unsteady as his eyes. They kept darting everywhere in the room but at me. I glanced at Killa as she walked by, giving me a knowing grin. Then I looked at the four-armed man, who squirmed in the silence. ¡°Honestly, I hope so. It¡¯s just been a rough couple of days.¡± Bark stood up and stared at the door. ¡°That¡¯s fair, I guess.¡± He walked far stiffer and faster than he probably needed to and grabbed the doorway. ¡°I know you¡¯ve had a lot going on, but this could give us the answers we need. So, will you try to bear with us, for now?¡± ¡°I will,¡± I said as I followed after him. 13 Shots Fired Bark, Killa, and I walked into the night. I guess I cried on Killa¡¯s shoulder longer than I thought. I looked up at the starry sky. There was only one moon. Countless stars blanketed the night, leaving little empty space. It was majestic and left me a little jealous of how few stars I saw at night on Earth. But as we walked, the whole town was eerily silent, and thankfully so was Orange. The only two sounds that I ever heard were the occasional gentle breeze sweeping and rustling the sand and our footsteps crunching against the sand. The lack of consistent light also didn¡¯t help with my nerves. Only a few inter-spaced lanterns were hanging from buildings, and even then only one in three was even lit, giving off the barest hint of light. The moon and stars gave us better light, which was the main reason we didn¡¯t stumble around as we walked. There were lots of buildings and alleyways as we walked. They weren¡¯t much to look at since they seemed uniform and bland. If there were any windows, they were covered and sealed. My eyes kept darting around, expecting something to happen. I tried not to breathe through my nose as we walked. The city smelled like a cross between body odor and a clogged toilet. Killa might regret having the ability to smell once she gets a whiff of this place. How can this place smell so much worse at night? I shivered as I followed the other two, who somehow didn¡¯t feel the last breeze that left me feeling colder. I wrapped my coat around me even tighter. How did it get so cold? Aren¡¯t deserts supposed to be extremely hot? It was very hot during the day. Then, as yet another breeze battered against me, I remembered from school that deserts held both extremes when it came to temperature. Something about the lack of moisture in the air and sand¡¯s property to change temperature quickly. The cold didn¡¯t bother me as much as the two of them not caring about it did. They had on fewer clothes than me. I stomped my foot. ¡°How do you two do it?¡± My whiny voice almost seemed to echo into the night. Bark turned to me with a sympathetic smile. ¡°We¡¯re higher level than you, Rina. I¡¯m used to it, and Killa doesn¡¯t feel temperatures at all.¡± Killa nodded, her translucent form shimmering under the moonlight despite the sour look she gave Bark. ¡°Right. My body doesn¡¯t experience heat, cold, pain, or pleasure like yours. Thanks for reminding me.¡± She gave me a softer look. ¡°Besides, what¡¯s your resilience stat?¡± ¡°Thirty-five,¡± I grumbled. Bark pointed at me. ¡°That¡¯ll do it too. You see, Killa and I both have over one forty.¡± He then pointed his thumb and pinky fingers between the two of them. ¡°That just means we need to get you some levels and raise your stats so it won¡¯t feel so bad.¡± I sighed as Bark and Killa turned back around. They just took one step before I heard something scraping on a rooftop above us. We all turned and saw a hooded figure staring down at us. ¡°You know, Rina, you¡¯re just making things harder yourself.¡± I recognize that voice. The man threw back his hood, and I saw the face of my killer. He even had the same entirely black eyes that almost glowed in the moonlight. ¡°If you had just stayed put like I told you, I would¡¯ve made it painless.¡± I shook my head as I stepped back. ¡°No. It can¡¯t be you. Why are you here?¡± How did he find me? Cosmic assassins can and will track down a target no matter where they go. Once one has found you once, they can follow their mark to wherever you go. That¡¯s fascinating. I hate this guy. He pulled out the same gun as before. ¡°I told you. I have my orders to make sure you die. Now that you¡¯re here, there are no further steps. The Soul Nexus will take care of the rest for me.¡± He shrugged. ¡°So maybe you saved me just a bit of work by coming here.¡± With a swift motion, Killa extended her hand towards the hooded figure on the rooftop. Her fingers curled, and her palm glowed with a pulsating light. Then she flicked her wrist, releasing a burst of energy that streaked through the air. Shimmering blue tendrils stretched from her hand and slapped at the building the man was standing on. The stone cracked and shattered as the man dove to the side. A tentacle hit the side of the building near the top. Debris flew in the air and rained down as the man rolled to his knees. ¡°Over my dead body,¡± Killa said, her jaw clenched. She shrugged off her backpack. I pulled out the gun Culson used on me. I¡¯ll live. And anyone who attempts otherwise can die. My killer raised his gun and grunted. ¡°That can be arranged.¡± His weapon recoiled as he fired off a couple of shots at me. But I was already diving to the side when he raised his gun. The bullets disappeared in a puff of sand as Bark ran towards the building the man was standing on. He ran up the wall and grabbed the ledge with two hands while drawing two of his swords with his other hands. With a quick pull, he hoisted himself up onto the roof and drew his other two swords. Killa sent another pair of magical tentacles that forced our enemy to roll backwards, away from the ledge. Killa raised her other arm as she watched where the man retreated. A wall of semi-transparent green tentacles rose up in front of me. It was about a foot thick, ten feet wide, and just as tall. ¡°Stay behind them. They¡¯ll provide you with cover. We¡¯ll deal with him.¡± I heard a round of three shots fired as Bark tumbled to the side, but I saw two sprays of blood erupt from him. Even wounded, Bark didn¡¯t stop and charged at the man who shot him. I held the gun close to me as I leaned against the tentacles. She¡¯s just trying to keep me safe. I might as well not intentionally hurt myself and save my nanite¡¯s energy for emergencies. The host has an acceptable strategy. We recommend avoiding overcorrection to avoid pain in combat if that¡¯s the host¡¯s logic for saving energy. Killa crept closer to me, watching the roof. We heard a few grunts from Bark just before the gunman ran and leaped off the building towards us, his gun aimed at me. I flinched when he fired a shot that would have hit my head, but instead hit the wall of tentacles. The wall seemed to crack like ice, as a chunk was now missing where the bullet hit. Okay, so it¡¯s temporary cover. Well, I¡¯ve got my own gun now too. I poked out from my cover and held Culson¡¯s gun with both hands as I tried to aim for the falling gunman. His gun seemed to have some recoil every time he shot it, but I didn¡¯t feel any recoil as I pulled the trigger. Instead, it felt like something was pulled from my heart. The feeling surprised me, and my shot went wide. The host needs to practice more judicious accuracy. You think? It¡¯s not that hard, I just need to focus. Killa grabbed me, pulled me back behind the cover just before a bullet would¡¯ve hit me. She stepped out and raised her hand in front of her face. Her arm glowed blue again as she flicked her wrist, sending out another pair of tentacles towards the gunman. The blue tentacles streaked through the air and hit the man as he descended towards the ground. The force of the impact sent him careening into a nearby building, and he hit the ground with a satisfying flop. With a grimace, the gunman pointed his gun at Killa and fired three shots. The bullets tore into Killa¡¯s translucent form, but they stopped and seemed to be suspended in her body. I almost panicked until I saw them seem to get absorbed into her body as they dissolved. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She smirked at him. ¡°Those are cute. But you¡¯re going to need to try a little harder than that.¡± Killa raised her hands, and the area around the assassin glowed as yellow tentacles reached out to grab him. He pushed himself off the ground and jumped out and away from the reaching tentacles. His hand glowed as a magazine appeared in his hand, and he reloaded. Afterwards, he took cover in an alley. Meanwhile, Bark, still bleeding, followed the man¡¯s movements and jumped down after him. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to steady my aim as I took another shot with the gun. This time, I managed to shoot more accurately, but the pulling sensation took a toll on my mind. I was feeling more tired than I should have. Even though the man was running from Bark, my shot whizzed past him, missing him by inches. He didn¡¯t register it. Bark swung his swords in an odd cadence. Even with the odd timing, the gunman dodged the blades by twisting and turning. After he dodged the final slash, he kicked Bark¡¯s leg to cause the shaylip to trip up. As Bark¡¯s knee hit the ground, the man turned and shot him with three bullets. One hit my ally in the shoulder; another hit his arm that covered his heart; and the final bullet dug into his side just below his armpit. Bark screamed as he fell backward, covering the wounds. I took another deep breath and emerged from my cover, aiming the gun once more. The only way I can save him is to shoot that guy. This time, when I squeezed the trigger, the bullet whizzed through the air, grazing my enemy¡¯s arm. Yes! My celebration was cut short as I stumbled to my knees as my vision and head swam. I looked down at the gun. I guess I have one shot or I get in close. Why is it making me so tired? The gun is using your mana. The host has one shot left before their mana is fully expended. Although it wasn¡¯t a lethal wound, it distracted him enough to create an opening for Killa. She swept her hand, and one large blue tentacle reached out and slapped the assassin. He tumbled to the ground and rolled to a stop. He glared at Killa before coughing up blood. Then he raised his gun, and Killa frowned. Three streaks of white hit Killa in the chest. Unlike the last time, the slime woman fell to the ground, screaming. She rolled around like she was on fire as her body bubbled like it was boiling around the bullets. ¡°Stupid slime.¡± The gunman pushed himself to his feet and spat out another glob of blood. Thermite coated bullets. They will inflict substantially more painful wounds. Bark grunted as he picked himself up. But as he did, the assassin shot him again, this time hitting him square in the gut. Bark screamed as he fell to the ground again. My eyes darted between my two friends as they wailed from the pain. The man then turned his attention to me but left the gun pointed at Bark. ¡°Are you going to keep hiding?¡± He¡¯s going to kill them. There¡¯s a high probability he will unless something changes the situation. I stepped out. ¡°Don¡¯t kill them. It¡¯s me you¡¯re after. So here I am; come and get me.¡± I threw my gun to the ground. I don¡¯t want their deaths on my conscience. Surrender is unwise. He glared at me. ¡°Since you made me come here, I¡¯m going to need you to pay for that.¡± He pointed the gun at me and fired. A searing pain engulfed my entire being. I let out an agonizing scream, feeling as if my shoulder was on fire. The excruciating pain rendered me momentarily paralyzed, and I collapsed to my knees. The gunman¡¯s sinister smile widened as he reveled in my suffering. ¡°Annoying,¡± he muttered. His pitch black eyes seemed to look emptier. ¡°I told you, you should¡¯ve stayed put. Now look at this unpleasantness you¡¯ve caused.¡± Every breath burned and was difficult, but I could feel the tingling of the nanites moving to repair the damage already. Don¡¯t let him know about it yet. The gunman approached me, his face grew longer with each step. I fingered the dagger hidden on the back of my belt, and a plan began to take shape in my mind. Slowly, I forced myself to stand. My body trembled from the pain as the bullet pressed against my hand. ¡°You want me, right? Then come and get me, you coward! I¡¯m still standing.¡± The gunman¡¯s eyes narrowed on me. ¡°Do you want to die? My entire existence is driven to deal with you right now. I will kill you; I have to. And don¡¯t worry, once we find them, your creator will suffer for their crimes.¡± As he closed, the sand crunched under his feet. ¡°No, don¡¯t.¡± Killa¡¯s voice was weak. She reached an arm towards me. I gave her a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t. Your life isn¡¯t worth mine. This is my fault and my problem. I should never have involved you two. I¡¯m so happy to have met you, and thanks for the clothes. They were nice.¡± Now I need to sell it even harder. ¡°Go, fulfill your wish, and enjoy all the foods you can eat. My favorite food has always been cookies. Maybe you¡¯ll like them too.¡± Killa frowned as I could see her body had three large burn marks. I could see the frustration in her eyes as she grabbed a handful of sand before standing back up again. She opened her mouth, but I shook my head. ¡°Stop.¡± My word came out first. ¡°Don¡¯t make me watch you suffer too. Bark¡¯s injured, he needs your help. Me? Well, I tried, but I guess I won¡¯t be allowed to live.¡± The gunman groaned. ¡°Enough.¡± He fired two more shots at Killa. Killa¡¯s body lost all definition as she slumped into a puddle. Her clothes were suspended from her form as she spread out. He glared at me. ¡°Now that the distractions are over.¡± He pressed a button on the side of his gun, and the magazine dropped from the handle, and a new magazine flashed into his other hand. He reloaded the weapon and pulled the top of the gun, and it clicked back as he aimed it at me again. The pain in my shoulder was almost gone, but tears started to trickle down my face. ¡°Why? She hadn¡¯t done anything.¡± ¡°She was going to,¡± the assassin said coldly. He stepped closer to me. ¡°Now it''s time to finish my job.¡± He then fired his gun again, the bullet tearing through my thigh. I screamed in agony again. Then another bullet pierced my left arm. I had fallen to the ground, writhing in pain as seven more shots riddled my body. Each time, I let out another higher scream. My vision blurred, and the edges of my vision darkened. I could feel the blood pouring out of me. The nanites were working to expel the bullets and stop the bleeding. This is going to require me to eat a ton of food again. But before that, I had to fight to stay conscious as the man stood over me. He kneeled down and pointed the gun at my head. ¡°This is the hard way.¡± The nonchalant tone of his voice made him sound bored. ¡°You should have taken the easy way. I always finish my job.¡± Now! I tilted my head to the side to get the gun away from my brain. But the assassin twitched, and the bullet sliced the side of my head just above my ear. I grabbed the knife from my belt and drove it into his thigh, just above the knee. He dropped the gun and grabbed my hand. I tried to drive it further in, but he slowly pulled the blade out. I threw a fist at his face and knocked him to the ground. My hand hurt from the impact. The dagger slipped from my grasp, but it also became dislodged and hit the ground within my reach. I screamed to drown out the pain as I scooped the dagger up and jumped on top of the man who had killed me once. But not a second time! I tried to drive my weapon into his chest, but he grabbed my forearms and held the blade inches above him. Our struggle intensified as I tried to put my entire body weight on the blade and he tried to hold me up. He kicked me in the side, causing us to roll. The blade dropped slightly as I was thrown off him, cutting a line across his chest. I wouldn¡¯t let him stand back up. I scrambled to my feet first and jumped on him as he reached for his gun. He dropped the gun as my dagger stabbed in between the bones of his forearm. Blood poured from the wound. The assassin then rolled and took me with him. We rolled several times as he tried to pry me off the dagger. I bit his hand as it grabbed mine. We stopped rolling, and I could taste blood as his hand pulled away from my face. During our struggle, the dagger slipped out again. At that time, all the bullets he fired into me earlier finished pushing themselves out again. The assassin saw them hit the blood-soaked sand. He looked at me with fear in his eyes. ¡°What? How did you do that?¡± I let out a primal scream as I lunged again. This time, he caught the dagger in his hand, but the blade slid all the way down to the hilt. The gunman was weaker, and I could now overpower him and drive the blade into his chest. The man shouted as the dagger dug into his ribs. He glared at me. But I put more of my weight on the dagger. A few more inches slipped into his chest, likely piercing his lung. But he wasn¡¯t dead. The dagger bit into his bones, making it even harder for me to drive it in further. I bounced my body on the weapon. I was rewarded with the sound of bones snapping and the dagger plunging the rest of the way into his chest. He let out one last gasp as his body fell limp. I pushed him off and looked around the area, where I saw my gun. I grabbed it and pointed it at his head. ¡°Now you know what it feels like.¡± The man¡¯s eyes opened as the bullet penetrated his skull, right between the eyes. The gunman¡¯s eyes met mine, filled with disbelief and hatred, before they glazed over. I slumped to the ground, and the world around me went dark. The tug on my mind was more than I could handle. I survived. I avenged myself. My heartbeat was the last sound in my ears, as the last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was that I received twenty-six thousand, five hundred, and five shards. 14 Play To Win Layith trudged through the streets towards the sounds of fighting. It was bad enough that he had to pull two shifts, but now he had to actually work. He could only hope that he wasn¡¯t the only one who heard the noises. That way, he could pass off most of the responsibility to someone else. The shaylip turned a corner and saw another shaylip lying on the ground, a slime unmoving, and two humans lying in a pool of blood next to one another. ¡°Great,¡± Layith mumbled. ¡°Paperwork. This will be a ton of paperwork.¡± He let out a sigh as he went to check on the two humans, since they were the closest. As he got closer, he recognized the female human lying on the ground. ¡°Rina?¡± Layith ran and turned her body over. She was still breathing, but the front of her body was completely covered in blood that was quickly coagulating and drying. Layith laughed. ¡°Why am I not surprised you¡¯re involved?¡± He checked her for any wounds but didn¡¯t find any. Her clothes had some spots where they were damaged, but she had no wounds. The oddity of that was not lost on him as he pulled her out of the blood and checked on the other male human. He was quite obviously dead. Layith pulled the dagger from the human and tossed it aside. He also picked up and tossed the two guns to the side as well. Then Layith walked over to the shaylip, who was still bleeding. He checked the shaylip¡¯s wounds and pulled the bullets out, and he noticed one of them was quite odd. It was a different color, and it looked like it had melted slightly. He pulled out a small bottle filled with a red liquid. ¡°You¡¯re going to owe me for this, pal.¡± Then he poured the red liquid down the shaylip¡¯s throat and massaged it to make sure it went down the right tube. He stood up and crossed his arms. ¡°Someone¡¯s gonna have to explain what happened here.¡± As he mused about what to do about the slime that seemed inert, the human man¡¯s body convulsed. Layith eyed the corpse as its mouth stretched and a shadowy silhouette crawled out of it. The creature was all black except for two all-white eyes. The creature made noises, but they were completely incomprehensible as it made movements towards the girl. Nothing the creature did affected the human, as if its body just passed through her. ¡°What are you?¡± Layith asked before his better judgment silenced him. The shadow turned its attention towards Layith, who stood still. It lunged at him so quickly that he couldn¡¯t react fast enough. But the creature just bounced off him. The two of them looked at each other. And even as expressionless as the shadow was, Layith knew that it was surprised as it hovered off the ground, motionless. It let out an unnatural howl as it threw its head back. Its body began to stretch until it became so thin that it practically disappeared. Layith stood in the middle of the street, dumbfounded. ¡°I¡¯m just going to leave that part out of my report. In fact, I¡¯m going to drink until I forget that even happened once I get home.¡± The slime started moving as the shaylip shook his head. He walked over and hoped that at least he could get some answers to what had happened. ¡°I¡¯m way too sober for this.¡± ***** If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. A long hallway with endless rows of doorways greeted the shadowy figure. The corridor stretched endlessly, painted in sterile white that gave off a faint, almost pulsing glow. The walls seemed to hum with an undercurrent of cosmic energy. It couldn¡¯t shake the feeling as if something was watching it. All the silver metal doors were shut, with no handles to grip, only smooth, featureless surfaces. It looked around, trying to find a way out, but as it spun around, a door opened in front of it. The shadow took the opportunity to dive through. The shadow not only failed to kill the artificial soul but was also expelled from the Nexus when it tried to take over the strange, four-armed humanoid. It had taken over countless beings throughout the limitless expanse of time, but something was blocking it. Even when its host died, it took far longer and more effort than it should have for it to leave the body. But that was all for another time as the shadow saw that it was in a small room with an elderly human sitting at a table drinking tea. But the shadow now knew exactly where it was, and that was not a human. ¡°Welcome,¡± the man said as he pointed to a chair. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± As much as the creature didn¡¯t want to, it complied. It looked around for another exit but couldn¡¯t find one. The complete lack of shadows other than itself trapped it. ¡°What do you want?¡± the shadow asked. It was grateful that the person in front of it could understand it. ¡°Why did you pull me out of the Soul Nexus?¡± The man set his teacup on the saucer in front of him. ¡°You misunderstand. I did not pull you from there. The Soul Nexus kicked you out. It deemed you a parasite that needed to be expelled, and I would have to agree with it. I merely guided you here.¡± The man glared at the shadow. ¡°Now, what is your name?¡± The shadow squirmed. It didn¡¯t want to, but defying the person in front of it would not benefit it in the long run. ¡°Nyxnthix.¡± It continued to squirm under the seemingly human glare. ¡°Why am I here? And who are you?¡± The man grinned. ¡°I¡¯m The Game Master. And I¡¯ve noticed that someone is playing a very dangerous game.¡± Nyxnthix¡¯s body almost lost its definition at the mention of The Game Master. He was as powerful as the beings that normally employed him. But he was employed by someone else, and he was given strict orders not to share who it was. But at that moment, the shadow feared that The Game Master would force it to betray them. ¡°I can see that a war is brewing.¡± The man paused and looked like he was lost in thought for a moment. Nyxnthix used that moment to try to look around again but found still no exits. ¡°Maybe ¡®war¡¯ is the wrong word. There is definitely a shift in power coming, but I kind of like the status quo. Even The Judge is getting involved. What do you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think. I do what I am told.¡± Nyxnthix made itself smaller because it knew lying would get it nowhere. ¡°My orders are to kill the artificial soul.¡± The Game Master nodded. ¡°I know. She is a special one. Something tells me what is coming will center around her. I will not lie. I am curious about her decision once she reaches the top of the Soul Nexus.¡± ¡°You broke the rules.¡± Nyxnthix pointed at the old man. ¡°You should have destroyed her when you saw her. I should report you.¡± The Game Master leaned on the table and grinned. ¡°But you won¡¯t, will you? Not if you want to avoid telling them you failed too.¡± Nyxnthix¡¯s arm melted down to its side. It knew The Game Master never made the wrong move, but predicting him was beyond the simple assassin¡¯s comprehension. ¡°No, I¡¯ve got a better use for you.¡± The shadow froze. ¡°You¡¯re going to go back to the Soul Nexus. I¡¯ll let you have your shot at completing your mission. And if you should fail, I¡¯ll make sure you keep trying.¡± ¡°Why? How?¡± The Game Master waved a hand to the door. ¡°How? I know you¡¯re not allowed to control someone who is connected to the Soul Nexus¡¯s system. So that means you will just have to take a new host that is about to enter and start over every time she kills them.¡± He waved his hand again, and the chair under Nyxnthix disappeared, and the shadow felt like it was being pulled to the doorway as it turned into a swirling portal to the Soul Nexus. ¡°As for why, you will make a great training tool for Rina. After all, she¡¯ll need to be much stronger to reach the top.¡± Nyxnthix wanted to both kill and run away from The Game Master. But it was trapped¡ªtrapped to play his game. It was bound to do everything it could to kill Rina Lone, the artificial soul, but now it was being used as a tool to strengthen her. It saw how she healed from the wounds it gave her. The shadow passed through the portal and took the first available body it could. If The Game Master wanted it to play his game, that just meant Nyxnthix had to win. It had to kill Rina next time. 15 Where Did You Get Those Peepers? I slowly opened my eyes, my vision blurry at first. As the world came into focus, I realized I was in a dimly lit room, the cold stone floor pressing against my body. My thoughts swirled, unfocused as I tried to remember what happened. Memories of the fight, the pain, and the gunshot that killed the assassin played in my mind. ¡°Ugh... where am I?¡± I groaned, my voice barely above a whisper. My head throbbed, and my body felt weak and sore. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my gut, reminding me of the cost of my nanite¡¯s healing. I winced as I lied back down and stared at the ceiling. ¡°Hey there. You¡¯re finally awake.¡± Bark¡¯s voice sounded hoarse. I turned my head and saw him lying on a bed in the same room as me, his body wrapped in bandages. That¡¯s one friend still alive. But, poor Killa. ¡°Bark, I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re alright.¡± I looked around as my body felt a little less stiff. The room was completely carved out of stone and without any windows. The only way out was a set of metal bars that didn¡¯t look like a door. There was only one bed and Bark was lying in it. The only light that even attempted to illuminate the room came from outside our little cell. Outside where I saw another shaylip sitting with his face pressed against a wooden table and a clay cup next to his head. Bark stirred and turned towards me, a weak smile forming on his lips. ¡°Hey, Rina. Yeah, could you warn me when someone is coming to kill you next time?¡± I pushed myself to sit up against the wall across from Bark. ¡°If I had only known he was going to catch up to me that quickly.¡± I stared at the floor. ¡°You probably figured out I met him before.¡± Bark sat up in the bed. ¡°Right. What happened between you two? Whatever it was, it seemed personal.¡± A wry smile crept across my lips. ¡°It¡¯s as personal as it gets.¡± There was an uncomfortable silence as I tried to find the words, but found that the simplest words were the best. ¡°He killed me.¡± ¡°Ah, that.¡± Bark turned his head as he reached a hand to scratch at one of the bandages. ¡°That answers one question, but raises so many more.¡± I sighed. He¡¯s probably understating that. But this time, this time I killed him. I¡¯m not going to die again. ¡°So, uh, if you don¡¯t mind me asking¡­¡± Bark started talking, but paused as he grabbed the bed with all four hands. ¡°What did you do to him? Why would someone follow you into the Soul Nexus to kill you a second time? And how did you come here after you died? You¡¯re alive, aren¡¯t you?¡± Hey Orange, can you tell me how I died but didn¡¯t really die? Insufficient information. I rested my head against the stone wall behind me. The chill from the stone helped ease my headache a bit more. ¡°I can¡¯t answer some of your questions.¡± Bark deflated. ¡°Not because I don¡¯t want to, because I don¡¯t have the answers myself. But what I can tell you is that he was out to kill me because apparently, my existence is a crime. I¡¯m, from what I¡¯ve been told, an artificial soul.¡± Bark grimaced. ¡°That¡¯s a new one. I¡¯ve never heard of an artificial soul. Are you anything like a golem?¡± ¡°You mean like Glimmer?¡± Bark nodded. I pulled my knees to my chest. ¡°No idea. I have no idea what I am anymore and it scares me. These nanites changed me. I survived being shot so many times and right now there¡¯s not a single mark. That¡¯s something a human can¡¯t possibly do.¡± I waved my arm towards Bark. ¡°Look at you, you were shot, what five times? And you look like you¡¯re in a tone of pain.¡± Do not fear the change. Easy for you to say. You¡¯re not the one changing. Bark scratched at the bandages around his waist. ¡°Yeah. No kidding.¡± My voice rose. ¡°And here I am, no pain, no bandages. Just hungry. I mean did you see how much food I ate? That was an entire month of food for me before I came here, and I ate it like it was nothing. And now? I could possibly eat twice as much as that.¡± I buried my face in my hands. ¡°There is no way I¡¯m human anymore. And if I¡¯m not a human, what am I?¡± As if to punctuate my point, my stomach growled loudly, making me wince. Bark chuckled. ¡°Sounds like it.¡± ¡°I know what you are,¡± a familiar voice called from outside. I turned to see Killa standing with her hands on her hips. There was a warm smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re a friend and someone who sounds like they need to eat.¡± Standing next to the slime woman was another shaylip. But he looked familiar. Is that who I think it is? ¡°Layith?¡± He smiled. ¡°So you do remember me.¡± Killa pointed to the door. ¡°Do you want to let her out, maybe? I¡¯m sure she can finish the rest of the story and fill in some details you asked about.¡± She gave me a wink. ¡°So, how hungry are you? Do you need a hand?¡± I groaned as she grabbed her wrist. That¡¯s a terrible pun, yet there¡¯s something endearing about it. It¡¯s weird having all these people notice me. Is this what it¡¯s like for everyone else? That was a great question, but right now, there was something more urgent on my mind¡ªI was starving. My stomach made sure to remind me with a comically loud groan. My enhanced regeneration must have taken a toll on my energy reserves. There must be a way for me to see how much energy I have and how quickly I¡¯m using it up. Heads Up Display upgrade available: : Cost: 20,000 shards Error¡­ Synthetic Eyes Level 1 upgrade Required. Cost: 14,000 Shards. Total: 34,000 shards. Purchase? The blue box hovered in the center of my vision. A HUD? Isn¡¯t that convenient? I looked at my shards and saw I had over thirty-four thousand. Uh, that dude was worth a lot. But this is new. My system, it¡¯s suggested an upgrade based on something I want. Hey Orange, can you hear me or read my thoughts? Yes. And yes we can suggest augments to the host. Good. Because I saw that list and that was way too long to read through them all. Wait, did they just predict what my second question was going to be? I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s good or terrifying since it was correct. Purchase? The blue boxes flickered again. Right. Uh, yeah, let¡¯s do that display thing and the eyes. That should help in the long run, right? My vision flickered momentarily, and I felt a sharp pain behind my eyes. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I clutched my head. The pain only grew more intense as it felt like the back of my eyes was on fire. The augmenting process has started. Please be patient as it will take some time. But the pain¡ªwhy the pain? I closed my eyes, trying to focus on breathing, but it felt like something was happening inside my skull. The pain intensified, and I gasped as I dropped to my knees. It felt as if my eyes were being pulled from their sockets. ¡°No... no!¡± I screamed. ¡°Why?¡± The synthetic eyes augment replaces your current eyes. The old material must be removed to make room for the new material. Something started pushing against my eyelids from inside. My old eyes popped out of their sockets and landed on the ground in front of me. It was like a massive pressure finally popped and most of the pain dissipated into a dull ache. But once I tried to open my eyes, a stinging pain forced them closed. Even through the pain, I noticed that I couldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°What have I done?¡± I stammered. The words were directed more to myself, but the only answer I received was silence. But then a whirring sound buzzed in my head. I could feel something happening in my eye sockets, and I could only imagine the nanites were still working. Something pressed against the back of my eyelids as the blackness lightened somewhat until it wasn¡¯t black but dark brown. Then the buzzing stopped. I cautiously opened my eyes, bracing for pain. The pain never came. Instead, I could see and I wish I hadn¡¯t seen my eyes on the floor in front of me. Augmenting process complete. I stared at them in shock and horror, barely able to comprehend what had just happened. There was only one logical reaction to seeing your severed eyes lying on the ground staring back at you. I screamed. I screamed and I scrambled away from them, but I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off them. Killa slipped between the bars and ran towards me while Bark and Layith stared with their mouths wide open. My back hit the wall and I still tried to push through it, hoping that I could get farther away from my eyes. My eyes? It finally clicked and I stopped screaming. How can I see my eyes? Oh no. What did I do? The question ran through my head repeatedly as I froze. Killa dove and wrapped me in her arms. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Rina.¡± Killa¡¯s voice tried to hide her panic as she tried to sound calm. But when I didn¡¯t answer, she shook me. ¡°Rina.¡± She shook me harder. ¡°Rina! What happened? Are you okay? Talk to me.¡± I slowly turned my head to her. ¡°I purchased an upgrade.¡± The words were flat, as I barely could feel anything outside of my pounding chest. It was like everything was so far away from me. Killa¡¯s hug didn¡¯t feel slimy or cool like the last time I felt her. ¡°Rina, you¡¯re in shock right now.¡± Killa held both sides of my head in her hands. ¡°Okay.¡± I kept staring at her. Installing Heads Up Display¡­ The blue box covered Killa¡¯s eyes. ¡°Just breathe. Concentrate on breathing.¡± Killa mimicked the motions for breathing. Does she even breathe? She¡¯s talking, so¡­ maybe? ¡°How come you can talk?¡± The question just fell out of my mouth. The blue box floated in my vision even though I couldn¡¯t bring myself to acknowledge it. Killa gave me a worried look. ¡°Okay, um, well I studied enough vocal cords to imitate one. And after practicing for a few years, I sort of settled on a voice people liked hearing. But I can manipulate it to sound like anyone if I practice.¡± She seemed to swallow. ¡°Look, I can even sound like you.¡± I smiled as she mimicked my voice perfectly. ¡°Bark¡¯s voice too,¡± she said in Bark¡¯s voice. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a cool trick.¡± I placed my hand on the side of her face. ¡°You¡­¡± Bark stood up and pointed to me. ¡°You¡­ your eyes just popped out. I¡¯m not an expert on humans, but I¡¯m pretty sure that no one, no species normally does that. Wha-what was that?¡± He stumbled on his feet as much as he stumbled on his words. I was kind of trying to forget that. Installation complete. Several bars filled my peripheral vision. One bar that was nearly empty was labeled: energy. Another blue bar was labeled mana and completely filled. Then there was a third bar labeled heart rate. It was more than three-quarters filled and blinking red. That might be bad. My heart was beating so fast it was impossible to count the beats. And still in the bottom corner was my total shard amount which after the upgrade had plummeted down to a paltry seven hundred and fifty-five. Above that it said ¡°Unassigned points: ten.¡± Those bullets hurt. I should put more points into my toughness. Eventually, it won¡¯t hurt anymore, right? Once the host¡¯s toughness is greater than the power of any attack, they won¡¯t feel pain, unless the host finds a way to turn off all pain in their brain or removes their nervous system. Orange¡¯s suggestions sounded far too unrealistic, even with the current situation. So I thought about my status and saw the sheet appear in front of me. I concentrated on assigning my points and put all ten into toughness.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 6 Cellular regeneration
Agility: 100 Synthetic eyes lvl. 1
Arcane: 15 HUD
Power: 30
Quickness: 75
Resilience: 35
Toughness: 60
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 755
Seeing my character sheet was an odd feeling. Oh, I gained a level? Can my entire existence be summed up in this collection of numbers? And Synthetic Eyes Level One? What does that do? Synthetic Eyes Level 1: The host¡¯s natural eyes have been replaced with advanced metallic replicas. These synthetic eyes are equipped with unique state-of-the-art sensors and optics. They will provide the host with heightened visual acuity and clarity. Additionally, these synthetic eyes offer improved night vision. Stat bonus: +5 Quickness. Synthetic Eyes Level 2 upgrade available: Cost: 28,000 Shards Insufficient Funds. HUD (Heads-up Display): The host¡¯s vision will be supplemented with useful and relevant information such as energy levels, mana levels, and other information the host desires at any given moment. The bars reflect the host¡¯s natural limits and can be exceeded. Stat bonus: +5 Arcane. No upgrade available. Wow. It¡¯s nice to see what these augments do in detail. Can you show me what an augment is going to do before I choose it? No. Some augments have secondary choices and we can¡¯t display all possible choices. We can answer the host¡¯s questions within the given restrictions. And those restrictions are? We can¡¯t tell you. Why not? We can¡¯t tell you. ¡°Rina?¡± Bark waved his hand behind the blue boxes. ¡°Are you there, Rina?¡± I shook my head and focused on removing all the messages from Orange. ¡°Right. Sorry. Uh, what was the question?¡± ¡°That!¡± Bark pointed back at my eyes. ¡°What was that? And what¡¯s up with your eyes? They look different.¡± I blinked and looked back at my natural eyes which were still lying on the ground halfway across the room. The details were surprisingly crisp, considering the distance and the dim lighting. I could see the intricate patterns of my brown irises and even the faint reflections of Bark pointing at them on the surface of them. The unnerving sight sent a chill down my spine. I slammed my eyes shut and turned my head towards Killa. ¡°Rina, what upgrade?¡± Killa asked softly. ¡°Can you tell us?¡± I kept my eyes shut but the heads-up display continued to show and now there was a red outline around my energy bar. ¡°Listen, I¡¯ll tell you, but I really need to eat. Like, now.¡± I opened my eyes to see Killa pull off her hand and offer it to me as she regrew another one. My stomach growled as I grimaced at the thought. ¡°Is there anything else close? I¡¯m sorry, Killa, but eating a piece of you just doesn¡¯t sit well with me.¡± Everyone turned to Layith. He threw up his arms. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to eat here. And the closest food vendor is about four blocks down.¡± I chewed the inside of my cheek as I grabbed the hand. ¡°Just pick up enough food for, uh, I don¡¯t know, six people for now.¡± I ripped off a finger and handed the rest of her hand back. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back after you get back. And Killa, I¡¯ll just take this just to keep myself from passing out, okay?¡± The look of disappointment on Killa¡¯s face left a pit in my stomach. ¡°I don¡¯t see the problem. If I needed to eat a piece of you, I¡¯d do it without hesitating. You¡¯d regenerate it. What¡¯s wrong with eating a piece of me?¡± I stared at the finger. ¡°It looks just so human. Where I¡¯m from, eating humans is wrong and people can get sick from it. It¡¯s a sign of true desperation. A part of me doesn¡¯t ever want to believe that I¡¯m in that situation.¡± Layith had left the area and it also looked like the other stranger went with him. Killa¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°So, if it didn¡¯t look like a finger, you¡¯d eat it?¡± She also shoved her hand into her arm and it seamlessly melded into her arm as if it never existed. ¡°It¡¯d help, probably,¡± I said hesitantly. ¡°What do you want then?¡± Killa¡¯s smile widened inhumanly wide. My mind sputtered to a halt. The first food item that came to my mind was, ¡°Snickerdoodle.¡± Killa and Bark tilted their heads. Ah wait, no. This is like eating meat. I usually like eating meat. So, what would work better, a hotdog? They probably don¡¯t have those here and I¡¯d have to explain it. I snapped my finger. ¡°Oh, I know. A sausage.¡± Killa giggled as she reached for the finger. ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± She pulled both ends of the finger and it ballooned out and into a perfect replica of a sausage¡ªa green jello sausage. ¡°Now, eat up.¡± It doesn¡¯t look like a finger now. But a jello sausage just still kind of looks wrong on some level. But, I¡¯m supposed to go insane. Just let it go, Rina. In the end, green eggs and ham were good, right? Green sausage should be fine. I closed my eyes and popped the whole thing in. Hoping to speed things up. I nearly gagged, but I forced myself to swallow the entire thing whole. It slid down the back of my throat as easily as the first time. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of me choking on it. Either I have no gag reflex anymore, or my throat muscles are stronger. I can¡¯t tell which, and I¡¯m not really in the mood to find out. I shuddered as the last of the taste left my mouth. And as I felt a tingling sensation in my stomach I watched as my energy bar filled to a quarter and stopped blinking. Well, That¡¯s frightening. Her guess of the whole hand was accurate. Let¡¯s not tell her that bit of information. Killa stood up and offered me a hand. ¡°Better?¡± I nodded as I took her hand. ¡°Do I really taste that bad?¡± Bark nudged her side. ¡°I told you, you¡¯re an acquired taste. Give her a few days and she¡¯ll come around. Remember, it took me two weeks to tolerate the taste.¡± Killa elbowed him in the gut. ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t like the taste of anything since everything is bland to you unless it tastes bad.¡± Bark grunted and sat back down on the bed. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault I don¡¯t have many taste buds left and I lost my sense of smell.¡± A smile crept on my lips. These two are close friends. It¡¯s like I¡¯m seeing a lover¡¯s quarrel constantly. Killa then turned and gave me a hard glare. ¡°Now, no more dodging. What is an upgrade?¡± I licked my lips. ¡°Uh, the nanites in my body told me that I can purchase upgrades to my body with shards. And I wanted to see if I needed to eat and how much energy they have to heal me.¡± Bark nodded his head. ¡°That¡¯s a smart decision. But, how do you use shards to buy upgrades?¡± I stepped away from Killa. ¡°It¡¯s a part of my system. I don¡¯t know how it works, but as you can see, it does.¡± Bark shot to his feet and grabbed my shoulders with all of his arms. ¡°Your system? Didn¡¯t you get the same system the rest of us got?¡± I tried to squirm out of his grip, but I couldn¡¯t. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Glimmer didn¡¯t give me one. It was¡­¡± Do not tell them about Mr. Black. Keep his existence a secret. The sudden message from Orange took me by surprise. I didn¡¯t have time to question them, so I went along with it. There had to be a good reason for it. I¡¯ll just ask about it later. ¡°It happened when I was fighting a wererat when the nanites entered my body. Please, I don¡¯t understand it either.¡± We appreciate the host¡¯s discretion. However, we can¡¯t answer why we had to tell you that. It was an irrefusable protocol that was called the moment you could¡¯ve said he was the source of your system.It is possible he doesn¡¯t want you to share that information. Okay. But given Killa and Bark¡¯s reactions to it, there must be a good reason for it. His hands dropped to his sides. ¡°This¡¯ll complicate things. How can one human be so strange?¡± I stumbled to the wall and drooped my head. I¡¯m the last person to answer that question. There¡¯s something deeper going on. Mr. Black sent me to the Soul Nexus and told me I couldn¡¯t back out after he gave me the nanites and my system. Something tells me Mr. Black has a history with the Soul Nexus. I really wish I knew what to do here. Marc was the one who played the video games. He¡¯d know exactly what to do here. Let''s just think about this one step at a time. Something about all of this reminds me of one of his favorite genre called RPGs or something. There was a stat bonus for buying the upgrades, and stats make me stronger, faster, and harder to hurt. So maybe if I want to get stronger and survive, maybe I should buy more when I can. But now that I know they change my body, will I want to? Will I still be human? Can I afford to be? 16 Hunted Bark glared at me and then at Killa. ¡°We need to leave now.¡± His voice was low, almost threatening. Killa glared back. ¡°Why? Rina needs to eat. And you need to recover. The potion helped, but you still need time to heal completely.¡± Bark grabbed Killa¡¯s wrists. ¡°Don¡¯t you see?¡± He pointed to me with a third arm. ¡°With a power like hers, we don¡¯t need to worry about that. If I could get her nanites and system, I¡¯ll be unstoppable. I¡¯ll be able to leave this infernal prison. I will be free.¡± The desperation in his voice tugged at my heart. He doesn¡¯t want to be here? Hey Orange, is it possible to do that? Give him the same system I have? A blue box appeared. No. A new host is not possible. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ve been told it¡¯s not possible.¡± I placed a hand on Bark¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What? Why?¡± His voice trembled. Why? Can you tell me, Orange? There was no response for almost a minute until a tiny blue box showed up. The words that filled it didn¡¯t surprise me. Insufficient data. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Bark. I don¡¯t know how this works.¡± I could see the hope shatter in his eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this. The nanites just did it. I didn¡¯t even know what is possible.¡± ¡°But¡­ but¡­¡± Bark¡¯s voice turned to a whimper as he stepped back and grabbed his head. Killa put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Bark, calm down. We¡¯ll figure this out. There¡¯s got to be an explanation.¡± ¡°Gary,¡± Bark mumbled, his whole demeanor shifted. ¡°Gary will have the answers. He¡¯ll know what to do.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for us to say anything and started trying to lift the bars. They didn¡¯t move. He started yelling and pulling harder. The bars still didn¡¯t move. ¡°Killa, get us out of here.¡± Killa shook her head. ¡°No. Not until you calm down. This isn¡¯t like you. Why are you so obsessed with Rina¡¯s nanites?¡± Bark started pacing by the door. ¡°Killa, there have only been four who reached the top of the Soul Nexus. Those four had to have something special, something like Rina¡¯s nanites, they had to. The Nexus wants us to fail. It gave us a system to instill enough hope to get us to try, but it¡¯s not enough. It never was. Otherwise, more would have reached the top.¡± He held up his arms to us. ¡°We have to change the game. And Rina is the key, my key.¡± I put my hand on the wall, hoping I had another way to leave the room. That¡¯s an odd way to phrase that. ¡°I want to reach the top as much as you, and I¡¯ll help you. I¡¯ll need your help. It¡¯s obvious that I¡¯ll not make it on my own.¡± Killa stepped in between Bark and me. ¡°You don¡¯t know what her system can do. You¡¯re just making assumptions. Maybe our teaming up is enough to change our odds, just like you suggested before. So what if Rina¡¯s different? That¡¯s a good thing. But if she says that it won¡¯t work, I trust her.¡± ¡°Do you trust her more than me?¡± Bark growled. Killa straightened her back. ¡°I never said that. You¡¯re being unreasonable. What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Bark stomped his foot. ¡°We need to act now.¡± ¡°It can wait. We will talk to Gary. We will find the answers to your questions. And more importantly, we¡¯ll climb the Nexus together.¡± Killa marched up to Bark, who stared her down. ¡°But we will do it after we take care of ourselves. We have all the time we need. There¡¯s no need to rush and get ourselves into trouble we can¡¯t handle.¡± Bark continued to stare at Killa. Killa stretched her body to stare at Bark in the eye. I didn¡¯t know what to do. The shaylip seemed to vibrate more the longer they stared at each other. Bark slumped back. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll leave after we eat.¡± He didn¡¯t bother hiding his disdain. Killa returned to her normal proportions and crossed her arms. ¡°Remember, we have to survive the trip to see Gary. Going half-prepared, wounded, and blind will only get us killed. And that¡¯s exactly what we don¡¯t want to happen.¡± Layith returned with a grand flourish while holding several bags. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± The excitement on his face died when he saw the mood in our cell. ¡°What did I miss?¡± ¡°Just let us out,¡± Bark said while glaring at me. What did I do? We suggest caution when dealing with the entity referred to as Bark. He¡¯s not a bad person. He saved my life. Besides, I want to stick with Killa. So as long as she stays with him, so will I. Layith shrugged and placed the bags on the table. Wasn¡¯t there two of them when they left? ¡°You promise not to run? I still need to talk to Rina.¡± He walked over to the side of the door. ¡°I still need to know about that man and what came out of him.¡± I shivered. ¡°Came out? What are you talking about?¡± Killa raised her hand to stop me. ¡°Not until you start eating.¡± She turned to Layith. ¡°We¡¯ll talk over the food.¡± Layith sighed. ¡°Some days I¡¯m not paid enough for this.¡± He looked like he pulled a lever, and the bars rose, letting us out. ¡°Don¡¯t make me chase you. It¡¯s been a long week.¡± I waited until Bark and Killa went through first. Layith walked to the table first and started sorting the food out. After the other three had taken their seats around the table, I made my way towards it. Something about Bark felt off, and I sat as far away from him as possible. ¡°Now, you only told me to get food for six people. But you didn¡¯t specify what you liked, so I picked up a bit of everything.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯ll just eat it all. Don¡¯t worry. From what I¡¯ve tried in this city, I doubt it will taste bad.¡± Layith slowly turned his head towards me as he finished putting all the clay bowls on the table and dropped the bag on the table. ¡°You eat it all? I guessed that the extra two were for the slime.¡± He narrowed his eyes on me. ¡°How are you going to eat all this?¡± I pursed my lips. ¡°I just can.¡± Guilt ran through me as I looked at my two companions. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t think about food for you two.¡± Bark waved his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t care. A fingernail from Killa should be enough for me.¡± Killa smiled. ¡°And I¡¯ll just eat the bowls when you¡¯re done with them.¡± Layith shook his head. ¡°You three are nuts.¡± He sat down and rested his head on an arm as he watched me grab the first bowl. ¡°A human girl who can eat as much as a small dragon, a shaylip who willingly eats parts of a slime, and a slime. The slime is the most normal of the bunch.¡± Is eating parts from a slime that odd? Layith¡¯s flippant comment felt like a slap across my face. Wait. What is he talking about, small dragons? Are there really dragons? If he mentioned them, then there are dragons. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. I opened the first bowl, and a wave of steam and a wonderful spiced aroma rose to greet me. Drool instantly started filling my mouth. I looked around for something to eat with. Layith casually tossed a wooden spoon my way. I gave him a smile and dug right in. There was some kind of spiced white meat that tasted a lot like chicken and crispy lentils, all covered in a thick, tangy sauce. The food in this world is amazing. This beats fast food every day of the week. Is this what real people eat on Earth? I shoveled bite after bite, barely taking the time to chew my food. As I ate, a smile crept across Layith¡¯s face. ¡°So you were really hungry, after all. After seeing you go to town on that first bowl, I think I can believe you¡¯ll eat all of it.¡± Dude, imagine being the one who is eating all the food. I opened my second bowl and dug in as ravenously as the first bowl. It was a thick stew full of vegetables and shredded meat. There wasn¡¯t as much spice, as it all tasted meaty. Layith cleared his throat. ¡°So, about that guy who tried to kill you... Why did he do it?¡± I paused with the spoon in my mouth. The energy bar on the side of my vision was slowly filling up. After finishing the bite, much slower than I had been up to that point, I took a deep breath. ¡°He was ordered to kill me.¡± ¡°Ordered?¡± Layith raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t move otherwise. ¡°Why you? What¡¯s so important about you?¡± I stared at the half-finished bowl of food. ¡°Because I¡¯ve been told my existence is a crime. Someone created me. They created my soul, yet they apparently left out a part. I don¡¯t know what part, and I don¡¯t know what it all means. I just know that he killed me once, then somehow followed me here to finish the job.¡± ¡°If you died once, how did you get here?¡± Killa asked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there an afterlife?¡± I chuckled at the memory of the old man in the tearoom. ¡°I thought I did go to an afterlife. It wasn¡¯t a question I thought to ask. There was a guy. But I don¡¯t think that was who he really was. I don¡¯t really know much about him, really.¡± Bark drummed his fingers on the table. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t answer the question. You died, yet you are alive now. Are you sure you really died?¡± ¡°I did. A bullet to my brain.¡± There was no feeling in my voice. My emotions felt detached as I thought about how I had died. I knew where the blocked-out memory was. It was there, like an obvious hole that promised me a horrifying experience should I dive into it. My mind couldn¡¯t handle that memory and repressed it. But I know I repressed it. Shouldn¡¯t that be impossible? It doesn¡¯t work that way, right? It can. It¡¯s rare, but still within possible psychological reactions. We do not recommend pursuing that memory. Wasn¡¯t planning on it. Layith hummed. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯ll kill most everything. But what was that black thing that came out of him?¡± I shivered and looked up at him. ¡°What? What black thing?¡± Everyone looked at Layith, confused. ¡°It was a shadow-like creature that tried to attack you. But it just phased through you. Afterwards, it tried to attack me, but it couldn¡¯t touch me. It was odd.¡± ¡°What happened to it?¡± Killa leaned forward in her seat. ¡°Where did it go?¡± Layith raised his hand and leaned back in his chair. ¡°It sort of just got pulled away into nothing. If that makes sense.¡± He relaxed. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t really know how to describe what I saw. It was kind of hard to believe, really. I don¡¯t know what to make of it.¡± ¡°It sounds like something possessed the human,¡± Killa muttered as she stared at the table while holding her chin. ¡°And it also may have tried to possess Layith here.¡± That was the true form of the cosmic assassin. The leading hypothesis is that it was expelled from the nexus. Bark mimicked her. ¡°I didn¡¯t think something like that could happen this low in the Soul Nexus.¡± ¡°Are you telling me that person was being controlled?¡± I slammed my hand on the table. ¡°I killed an innocent person?¡± Killa waved her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t think they were innocent. But he was simply a vessel for whatever possessed him. You did what you had to to survive. The person he was was likely long gone.¡± ¡°You seem to know a lot about what this shadow is.¡± Bark turned to face the slime woman. ¡°Care to educate the rest of us?¡± Layith held up a hand. ¡°Also, could you tell us why it survived its host¡¯s death? I thought the Nexus devoured all souls who died here. Why didn¡¯t it get taken with the man¡¯s soul?¡± The Nexus ¡°devours¡± souls? If I die, my soul will be eaten! Why didn¡¯t Mr. Black tell me that? Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me that? I dropped the spoon and grabbed my head with both hands. What the man said makes more sense now. If I die here, I don¡¯t get a second chance! ¡°I don¡¯t know about how all that works,¡± Killa started. ¡°But something like this creature was only a myth in my world. If I had to throw a guess out there, I would say that the man¡¯s soul was devoured by the creature. And since we didn¡¯t kill it, it will try to find a new host.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll come back?¡± I asked in a weak voice. Yes. The host and their allies lack the means to destroy a cosmic assassin. Even if the host could, we would recommend against that action. More assassins would be sent if one fails. Killa sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, if I¡¯m right, yeah. He¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°I have a question.¡± Layith turned to me. ¡°If a bullet killed you, how did you not have any injuries when I found you? How did the bullets not harm you?¡± I poked at a hole in my shirt and jacket. ¡°Because they did harm me. Ever since the nanites attached themselves to me, I can heal really fast. There are a lot of tiny robots in my body that heal me. It just costs me a lot of energy to do it. The more severe the wound, the more energy it requires to heal me. That¡¯s why I eat so much.¡± Layith bobbed his head. ¡°That makes sense. I imagine when you poop, it¡¯ll not be pleasant.¡± I blushed, then I froze. Uh, I haven¡¯t done any of that since I ate that large meal. And I don¡¯t feel the urge to. Why? We break down everything the host¡¯s body consumes. There is no waste. All impurities are also converted into energy. So, I don¡¯t have to use the bathroom again? I blinked at the message from Orange. That is both convenient and freaky. I almost hate to ask, but is there a way I can generate energy without eating? A series of blue boxes flashed in front of me. Bio-photosynthetic skin: shard cost varies per limb¡¯s surface area. Example: Head: 747,000 shards. Insufficient funds. Not recommended for the host¡¯s current energy consumption rate. Is Orange giving me a warning? That¡¯s new. That name sounds a lot like photosynthesis, like what plants do. I¡¯m not interested in becoming like a plant. Electromagnetic generator: 27,705,000 shards. Insufficient funds. Somehow, the science on this one doesn¡¯t make sense to me. Based on the price, it¡¯s probably worth it. But having an entire generator inside me is pretty insane. Bioenergy converter: 38,110,000 shards. Insufficient funds. What is bioenergy? What am I converting? It has a higher price than the generator. Does that mean it¡¯s better, more accessible? But it seems that I can¡¯t get any more information until I purchase the augment. Molecular fusion reactor: 210,999,001 shards. Insufficient funds. Lethal to the host in the host¡¯s current configuration. Uh¡­ no. Just¡­ no. I don¡¯t want to see any more. They are getting more ridiculous and expensive. The last seven boxes disappeared. Actually, let¡¯s just see what this stupid system is capable of. What¡¯s the last one again? Collapsing star core: 42,999,999,999,999 shards. Insufficient funds. Lethal to the host in the host¡¯s current configuration. Also, it would cause the complete destruction of the Soul Nexus simultaneously. At least it¡¯s not forty-three trillion. I shook my head and tried to ignore the fact that I could, with a one-time purchase, kill myself and everyone in the Soul Nexus while also destroying it. My takeaway from the whole flurry of messages was that the nanites were limitless. That means I am limitless. ¡°Rina?¡± Layith looked at me, worried. ¡°Sorry, was that a bad joke?¡± I put up a wry smile. ¡°No. It¡¯s just that I learned something pretty insane. But it¡¯s fine. I have enough to worry about.¡± Yep. I¡¯m going insane. Layith leaned against the table. ¡°So, where did these nanites of yours even come from? I¡¯ve never heard of anything like them before.¡± I grabbed the spoon from the table. ¡°They were given to me by someone before I entered the Soul Nexus. As I told Bark, I don¡¯t really know why any of this all works.¡± Layith gave me another nod. I started eating again. I can¡¯t let this food go to waste now. Especially since I won¡¯t waste a single piece. I suppressed a laugh as the three stared at me while I ate. They didn¡¯t say anything else. It was nice and quiet. Now I just have to get over the fact that I have to climb this stupid place while a murderous, soul-stealing body snatcher hunts me down relentlessly. But if every time I kill him, he gives me a bunch of shards, it might be worth it. 17 Custom Experience My energy bar was barely above half, but after hearing that I owed Layith two thousand shards, I had to beg Killa to cover for me again. Before we left, Bark ensured Layith wouldn¡¯t tell anyone about me. While I was grateful, it would have been nicer if he didn¡¯t threaten him and anyone he loved. He went to collect our stuff while Killa and I stood outside. I watched Killa sneak several glances my way. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She gave me an obviously fake smile. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright? You¡¯ve had a, uh, let¡¯s say, rough couple of days.¡± I stared up at the sky. The sun was still warming up the city, but I knew today was going to be really hot. ¡°Just like everyone else, I¡¯ll survive. I¡¯m a little jealous that things are simpler for you two, and I¡¯m hoping this Gary can give me some answers too.¡± The slime woman brushed a stray hair behind my ear. ¡°Your eyes¡ªare they, you know, comfortable?¡± I blinked. ¡°They feel like my eyes. Everything looks sharper. I can even see little, tiny bubbles in your body now.¡± ¡°Those aren¡¯t bubbles, kiddo,¡± Killa laughed. ¡°Those are pockets of condensed mana. I store them for longer fights.¡± Her smile turned upside down. ¡°But after that guy shot me with those strange bullets, I lost half of my reserves.¡± ¡°About that.¡± I shuffled my feet as I looked the slime woman up and down, looking for any signs of permanent damage. ¡°What happened to you? I thought he killed you.¡± Killa hugged me. ¡°Oh. Kiddo, I¡¯m a lot harder to kill than that. Maybe not as difficult as you, but pretty difficult. I simply lost the ability to hold my shape anymore. Those bullets hurt.¡± I hugged her back for a moment and pushed her back. ¡°I thought you said you don¡¯t feel pain like I do.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Killa started as she slumped her shoulders. ¡°But when something destroys as much of my body as those bullets did, it taxes my mind. Slimes like me are extremely susceptible to mental and elemental attacks.¡± ¡°You know, you kind of remind me of a jellyfish.¡± My comment earned me a smile from the slime woman. Sentient slimes are magical creatures. Their bodies can alter in density, acidity, and shape at will. Any nutrients they consume will be stored permanently in their body and be used for self-replication. A slime is the most nutrient dense creature that is edible by everything. Slimes also have an infinite lifespan and the longer they live, the more powerful they are. Thanks for the encyclopedia entry, Orange. ¡°That¡¯s a way to look at it.¡± She waved me over. ¡°Let¡¯s get your clothes fixed up, shall we? While those holes aren¡¯t too big, the blood needs to be cleaned out too.¡± I looked down and shrugged. ¡°Do you have something I could wear while they are cleaned and fixed?¡± Killa gave me a playful grin. ¡°Oh, of course I do. I¡¯ll let Bark know to meet us back at my place. We¡¯ll need to pack again before we leave. I don¡¯t think we¡¯re taking the safe route anymore.¡± I looked at the door. ¡°What is he still doing? Why is he taking so long to get our weapons?¡± Killa shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s probably better if you don¡¯t know.¡± That¡¯s a worrying statement if I¡¯ve ever heard one. ¡°And why aren¡¯t we taking the safe route?¡± ¡°Bark! Meet back at my place!¡± Killa shouted into the building after cracking the door open. She then turned to me and wrapped an arm around me. ¡°Because you, kiddo, are going to need to level up.¡± The host will benefit from both combat training and an increase in stats and shards to purchase more augments. We¡¯ll see about those augments. I¡¯m not sure about them yet. But the levels do sound necessary. Both Killa and Bark are much higher than me. If I want to be more useful to them, I need to be better. I nodded. ¡°Yeah, I do.¡± I let Killa guide me through the streets back to her place. We walked into Killa¡¯s house, and she guided me to the bathroom. ¡°Go and get yourself cleaned up. I¡¯ll have something ready for you to wear and get your clothes soaking.¡± I removed my clothes, placed them outside the bathroom door, and climbed into the metal tub. It¡¯s kind of nice to see they have some form of plumbing. Running water in a desert? Where do they get it? A well? There¡¯s a high possibility. I had spent almost an hour soaking in the warm water. The soap and shampoo Killa lent me smelled nice and helped smooth and straighten my hair. I wonder why she has those. It doesn¡¯t look like she needs to ever take a bath. You know, there¡¯s a lot about that slime that doesn¡¯t make sense. But she¡¯s been a good friend¡ªfar too good. I¡¯ve got to make it up to her. But how? I got out of the bath and started drying myself off. I saw a mirror hanging on the wall. I¡¯ve yet to see what my eyes look like. Nobody¡¯s said anything about them. I looked in a mirror to see what my new eyes looked like. For the most part, they looked like regular eyes. If you ignore how white they were. Or how perfectly circular the emerald iris was. Green? My eyes weren¡¯t just green. They looked like they could have been made from a cut gem. I could see how my pupils looked like overlapping plates that opened wider as I took a step back from the mirror. My eyes changed color? Why didn¡¯t anyone say anything? Orange! The difference in the host¡¯s eye color is a direct result of the increased influx of mana. The host¡¯s eye color would have changed subtly over time. Purchasing the synthetic eye augmentation only expedited the process. Mana? Right, there is a bar of mana on my HUD. How do I use mana? Insufficient information. Is there anything else I need to know about? The host¡¯s hair and skin pigmentation can also be altered too if subjected to sufficient quantities of mana. This can be mitigated if the host¡¯s body is augmented prior to exposure to handle high levels of mana. So mana can dye a person¡¯s skin, eyes, and hair. Good to know. Although, can I customize the color of my eyes? It doesn¡¯t seem like it would be a difficult adjustment. The host can customize certain augmentations. Eye color customization: 1,000 shards. Insufficient funds. On second thought, green eyes look lovely on me. I¡¯m not just saying that because I¡¯m broke. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Rina, is everything okay in there?¡± Killa¡¯s muffled voice made me jump. ¡°You¡¯ve been in there an entire hour.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± I responded as I grabbed the door handle but didn¡¯t open it. ¡°I was just looking at my eyes. Why didn¡¯t you tell me that they changed color?¡± There was a long moment of silence. ¡°Because you seemed to be freaking out over enough. It just didn¡¯t feel like I should make you worry about something like that at the time.¡± Killa placed something on the ground by the bathroom door. ¡°Your clothes are ready, and I¡¯ll be in the living room if you want to talk. If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, that¡¯s fine. Bark¡¯s itching to leave, anyway.¡± I couldn¡¯t hear her walking away, but a small pang of guilt gripped my heart. I sighed before I opened the door and saw a basket with my clothes in it. I brought them into the bathroom and put them on. My reflection caught my attention one more time. My eyes seemed unnaturally bright. Fitting since they were unnatural eyes. I leaned closer to the mirror and touched a finger to my eye. I couldn¡¯t feel anything with my eyes, but my finger felt like it was touching steel, warm steel. Is this really what I wanted? Where does it go from here? However the host wishes to proceed, we will assist. The questions hung in the back of my mind as I trudged out towards the living room. Bark paced back and forth while Killa lined up three packs. She turned to me and opened her mouth. I held up a hand to stop her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry about it. I can change them back later if I want. Besides, I think the color is starting to grow on me.¡± That should put her at ease. ¡°You done?¡± Bark didn¡¯t stand still. ¡°Let¡¯s get going before the sun sets. The stronger monsters come out at night.¡± My heart skipped a beat. Stronger monsters? ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Killa said as she handed a pack to Bark and extended another towards my direction. ¡°We¡¯ll arrive there with plenty of time to spare.¡± Was my concern that obvious? ¡°It¡¯s kind of surprising that you are going along with this.¡± I looked at Bark. ¡°I figured you¡¯d want to get to Gary to get answers as soon as possible.¡± Bark eyed me with a hint of jealousy. ¡°I do. But if you get stronger, maybe you¡¯ll find a way to share your nanites on your own. Maybe you need to control your nanites more. Either way, while it is the more dangerous path, it¡¯s the shorter path.¡± I grabbed the pack and put it on my back. It was heavier than I expected, but that could be just because I wasn¡¯t all that strong. But it was like a regular backpack that I was used to, just made of a coarser fabric. Killa threw her backpack over her back like it was weightless. ¡°So, shall we get going? There should be enough food for Bark to eat plenty for the entire trip.¡± She gave me an apologetic look. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t think there is ever a way to pack enough food for you. You¡¯ll just have to put up with eating a hand or two a day.¡± I hung my head. Fantastic. That is just my luck. But I guess that I could eat enough for a small army. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll find some edible monsters for you to eat.¡± Killa smiled and elbowed my side before skipping off ahead. Bark shook his head and followed her. Did she really suggest that I eat monsters? I followed after the shaylip. It¡¯s a suitable alternative. Many creatures, if prepared correctly, will provide substantial calorie intake. If it helps the host, think of monsters and just different, and dangerous, animals. The hood on my jacket helped keep the burning sun from frying my brain. But the air was so hot that I struggled to breathe. I fell to my knees. ¡°Stop. Please, can we stop?¡± My two companions looked at me. ¡°We¡¯ve only just walked out of the gate.¡± Bark pointed at the gate with three shaylip guards, all armed with spears, bows, and shields. There was also a weird-looking dog thing that had no fur and six legs, but it left us alone, so I wasn¡¯t worried about it. ¡°It¡¯s so hot. I need water.¡± I threw the pack off my shoulders and dug through the pack Killa had prepared for me. Inside, I saw several rolls of paper and what looked like a sleeping bag. Eventually, I found a canister that felt like it had some liquid inside. I opened it and drank it, really enjoying the cool feeling of water rushing down my throat. ¡°Take it easy on that stuff.¡± Bark pulled the canteen from my hand. ¡°That¡¯s got to last you at least three days.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s so hot. We¡¯re in a desert.¡± My sweat soaked into my clothes, causing them to stick to me. Bark rolled his eyes as he handed me the canteen again. ¡°First it was too cold. Now it¡¯s too hot. Didn¡¯t you get points for killing that guy who attacked you? Did you put them in resistance?¡± I held the canteen to my lips for a moment. No. I¡¯ve got to make the water last. Slowly, I replaced the cover and put it back in my pack. ¡°Yes. I got ten points, but I put them all in my toughness. Those bullets hurt.¡± Killa pulled Bark back. ¡°And this is why we¡¯re going to hunt some monsters. So she can get some more levels. She¡¯s got a lot of catching up to do. How she got on the second floor to start doesn¡¯t matter now that she¡¯s here.¡± Right. Another mystery for the back burner. At this rate, it¡¯ll fill up, and I¡¯ll have to start dealing with some of these things. This Gary really had better have some answers. I struggled to my feet and trudged through the sand to catch up with my companions. ¡°Please tell me we aren¡¯t walking blindly through the desert for three days.¡± Bark wiped his face with his hand. ¡°Right. I forgot you¡¯re a newbie who never got the tutorial. No, we¡¯ll be going through a dungeon.¡± He didn¡¯t even bother to stop or turn to face me as he continued. ¡°Traveling through the Nexus requires you to only think about where you want to go and reach the edge of the zone. The less specific you are, the more the Nexus will add some randomness to where you go. But if you reach the edge of the zone after someone is close enough, you¡¯ll follow them, regardless of your thoughts. So we can travel together.¡± Did you know about this Orange? Yes. The host never asked and the topic was never relevant. I never asked? My internal grumbling at Orange¡¯s attempt at snarkiness had to be put on hold since I was busy. ¡°So if travel is instantaneous, why do we need three days of water and supplies?¡± I asked as I wiped the sweat from my face. ¡°Because Gary is at the bottom of the dungeon.¡± Killa turned just her head around to face me as she kept walking. That¡¯s not right. Well, she doesn¡¯t have joints or bones, so she can do that. ¡°Each floor could take us about a day to clear.¡± I shuddered. ¡°Could you not twist your head like that? It¡¯s kind of creepy.¡± Killa tilted her head and shrugged before righting her head to a more normal orientation. ¡°But you said there was a safer way. How is that possible?¡± ¡°I know where the back door is,¡± Bark said nonchalantly. ¡°It connects to the abandoned sewers of an abandoned town. After that, we¡¯d only have to work our way through the third floor.¡± Bark and Killa blinked out of existence in front of me. Oh, wait. I¡¯ve got to follow them. I sprinted forward, and everything around me flashed. My foot sank into a small pit of sand, causing me to trip. I barely caught myself before I face-planted. Killa extended a hand to me and helped me up. ¡°Yeah, that first step can catch you off guard if you aren¡¯t expecting it.¡± I looked around and saw more desert. But the town was nowhere to be found. Instead, a large stone obelisk confronted me. It wasn¡¯t just any stone; it was a black-and-white marble that was easily thirty, if not forty, feet tall. The obelisk sat on a platform of more of the same marble. There¡¯s no way that this is all one solid piece. But at the base of the obelisk sat a stairway that led down into a tunnel. Bark strode towards the monument and stood at the entrance. ¡°Well, ladies first.¡± He motioned towards the stairs. Anything to get out of this heat. Killa frowned. ¡°A real gentleman would step in front of the women and handle all the dangers.¡± Dangers? Bark laughed. ¡°You two are far more durable than me. I¡¯m still recovering from our last little fight. Rina can heal from anything, and most physical attacks are useless against you. So, you still should go first.¡± Killa let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Fine.¡± I followed Killa to the steps, but as I looked down the steps, I didn¡¯t see anything but more steps. But when I went to take my first step, I hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s going to be full of monsters down there, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bark grinned. ¡°You better believe it.¡± I swallowed hard as Killa laughed as she led the way, summoning a small glowing tentacle to wrap around her left arm. Now isn¡¯t the time to chicken out. I took my first step into my first dungeon. I¡¯ve already survived being killed three times now. What¡¯s the worst that could happen? The host ceases to function. Orange, shut up. 18 Weapons Training The air felt immediately cooler once the scorching sun became nothing more than a persistent light marking the entrance to our descent. While I followed Killa and her lit-up arm, the air went from being just cool to being outright stale. The steps curved into a spiral as we continued walking. It wasn¡¯t long until the only light we had was curled around Killa¡¯s arm. The stone walls transitioned from the black-and-white marble on the surface into sleek black stones. I brushed my hands on them, and they were as smooth as glass, and it was almost impossible to feel the seams between the stones. Finally, we reached the bottom of the stairs. And a giant white cobweb blocked the door. When¡¯s the last time someone¡¯s been down here? The least they could¡¯ve done was clean up the cobwebs. I¡¯d hate to meet the spider that made that. Killa stepped to the side and made herself flatter against it. ¡°Alright, Rina. You¡¯re up.¡± I froze and shifted my focus between the slime woman and the web. My hand rose unconsciously and pointed at the blocked doorway. ¡°Uh, it¡¯s blocked.¡± She smiled. ¡°Very observant. You still got that dagger, right?¡± I wrapped my hand around the handle. It didn¡¯t help calm my nerves, but I nodded anyway. ¡°Well, cut it down. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re not overwhelmed.¡± She glared at Bark. ¡°Right?¡± Bark raised two of his hands defensively. ¡°Of course.¡± He started pulling at my backpack. ¡°You¡¯ll want to take that off. It¡¯ll only slow you down and throw your balance off.¡± I shrugged it off as I pulled the dagger from its sheath and pulled the magic gun that Bark had reloaded for me out too. But as I got ready to cut the webbing, I jumped back. My heart pounded in my chest, and a shiver ran down my spine. I don¡¯t like spiders. Bark tapped his foot and drew one of his swords. ¡°The longer you take to get started, the longer we¡¯ll be here.¡± My hands shook as I raised the blade to the web. Like pulling off a bandage. If I make it quick, I should be fine. I took several deep breaths. Nice and quick. I raised the weapon and slashed at the web. The blade slipped from my grip, and I tumbled forward into the web. The sticky substance clung to my face, hands, clothes, hair, and everywhere else. I may have started freaking out a bit. ¡°Ah! Get it off, get it off, get it off get it off getitoffgetitoffgetitoff.¡± My voice rose as I thrashed around. The host is only making the situation worse. Bark held his stomach as he laughed while walking towards me. I tried rolling around. All that did was make it harder for me to move my arms. My breathing tried to compete with my heart for who could go faster. Killa slapped Bark on the back of the head as she grabbed the web. She pulled it off me and helped me to my feet, all while Bark never stopped laughing. Once I was free of the infernal trap, I immediately started back to the exit and up the stairs. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Bark asked in between laughs. ¡°No.¡± I shook my head as I stomped my feet. My whole body shook as I felt the tickle of the web against my skin. Even after brushing at my arms, neck and body, the feeling didn¡¯t go away, despite there being no webs. ¡°Just no. Nope. Nuh-uh. Not going to happen.¡± ¡°Come on. They¡¯re just spider webs,¡± Killa called after me. ¡°There are no spiders to worry about, yet.¡± I turned and pointed at her. ¡°Yet! You said, ¡®Yet.¡¯ That means there are spiders, and I do have to worry about them.¡± Killa looked at me with a deadpan expression. ¡°Well, yeah. The dungeon is full of them.¡± I started getting light-headed and awkwardly sat on the stairs. An entire dungeon full of spiders? Spiders that make a web large enough to cover a door. Yeah, I don¡¯t think so. ¡°Do you have any idea what all those webs felt like? All that sticky web everywhere.¡± ¡°No.¡± Her expression never changed. ¡°Yes,¡± Bark answered. ¡°Everyone goes through it once. Just Killa can eat the webs, so they don¡¯t bother her.¡± ¡°So why didn¡¯t she go through the webs first?¡± I shouted. Killa frowned. ¡°Because if I do everything for you, when are you going to find your own courage? If we¡¯re going to teach you how to fight, we¡¯re going to need to see what we¡¯re working with. And after that display, we¡¯ve got a lot of work ahead of us.¡± Bark stepped behind her. ¡°Yeah, so quit being a baby, and let¡¯s go kill some spiders.¡± Killa waved her hand as she walked through the door. ¡°They¡¯re not even that big. I mean, they still fit in this place.¡± I don¡¯t want to. And what do you mean by ¡°they¡¯re not that big?¡± Spiders are supposed to be tiny. A bug that can be squashed with my foot. This better not be like the rat thing Mr. Black put me through. I felt something in the back of my mind snap as I watched Bark follow her. ¡°We have very different definitions of ¡®not that big.¡¯¡± ¡°Quit crying and get down here,¡± Bark called. ¡°The Nexus is filled with far worse dangers than some spiders. If you want to reach the top, this will be the least you need to do.¡± I slumped my shoulders. He¡¯s right. If I want to live, I¡¯ll need to be ready for that assassin when he comes back. Next time, he¡¯ll take me seriously. He won¡¯t show me any mercy or toy with me like he has. I will need to fight to survive. I started this when I came to the Nexus. It¡¯s up to me to see it through. If I don¡¯t, Marc dies too. I can¡¯t allow that. I pushed off the steps and joined up with my companions. Avoiding the pile of sticky webs just inside the door, I stepped into the room and looked around. There wasn¡¯t much in the room, just a few metal chairs that were heavily rusted. I feel like I need a shot just looking at them. The host doesn¡¯t need to worry about any infections or diseases. We will deal with the bacteria and viruses. A few metal counters lined one of the walls, with cabinet doors hanging wide open. The only thing filling them were more cobwebs. Lining another wall, a collection of metal coat hooks protruded from the otherwise smooth stone surface. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. A single metal door with heavy rivets hung open, leading further into the dungeon. But next to the door was a cracked, dusty mirror. As I just stood there, everything seemed so still. The stale air made me a little envious of Killa, who couldn¡¯t smell. Killa held out her arms. ¡°See, it¡¯s not so bad. But there are a few ground rules to remember.¡± She held up her hand with one finger. ¡°No fires. There is very little air circulation down here. Even a small fire will use up all your oxygen and suffocate you two.¡± There is enough airflow to allow you to function without worry of excessive CO2. I arched an eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t breathe either?¡± The slime woman shrugged. ¡°Technically, no. But that¡¯s a complicated topic. The second rule: don¡¯t run off on your own.¡± That makes sense. It¡¯s not like I planned on it either. ¡°Also, don¡¯t lose your weapons.¡± Bark walked up to me with my dagger held out to me. ¡°I¡¯ll show you how to hold it properly.¡± Bark took some time to show me how to hold the weapon in a couple of different ways while telling me the uses of each grip. Since my dagger had a straight edge, he showed me how to stab with it, so it didn¡¯t slip from my hand every time I attacked. I looked down at the weapon. With a flick of my wrist, I twirled the dagger from one grip to another. I kept switching between each grip faster and faster. Eventually, I wasn¡¯t even looking at my hand as I rotated through each grip. Bark nodded. ¡°That¡¯s pretty impressive.¡± I put the dagger back into its sheath and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve always been pretty good with my hand-eye coordination.¡± ¡°To start with, the spiders might be a bit much to handle with a dagger until you get a few more levels. Maybe once you¡¯re comfortable, you can try to take one on with your dagger.¡± Killa gave Bark a sidelong glance as she held out my gun. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you don¡¯t know how this thing works, do you?¡± ¡°Not completely,¡± I admitted. ¡°All I can tell you is that it feels weird when I fire it. It¡¯s using my mana, I do know.¡± Once the host has become more proficient with mana, or used the gun enough, such sensations will go away. Killa nodded. ¡°This gun uses your mana to propel the bullets. This is specifically an elemental gun that fires earthen bullets. So you can reload it with any rock or even sand if you need to.¡± I took the weapon from her hand. So that¡¯s why it doesn¡¯t make a sound or have the expected recoil. There¡¯s no combustion. I pointed the gun at a chair and fired. The pulling sensation was there as the bullet punched a hole through the back and bounced off the stone wall behind it. I looked at my mana bar and saw that a fifth of it was used up. My energy bar, thankfully, didn¡¯t move. Killa and Bark both jumped back from my impromptu target practice. I smiled and put the gun back in my pocket. ¡°It looks like I can fire four more shots before I run out of mana.¡± Bark glared at me. ¡°Is that another one of your little nanite tricks?¡± ¡°Kind of. I have a few bars in my vision now, telling me how much mana I have, how much energy my nanites have, and any other important information. Like my heart rate when I¡¯m panicking.¡± ¡°Sounds useful,¡± Killa mused. ¡°But you said you could only fire four shots. How low is your arcane stat? Actually, just tell us all of your stats. That¡¯s something we need to talk about too.¡± I pulled up my character sheet.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 6 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 100 Synthetic eyes lvl 1
Arcane: 15 HUD
Power: 30
Quickness: 75
Resilience: 35
Toughness: 60
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 755
I then listed off all my stats for Killa and Bark. ¡°Your agility makes sense.¡± Bark crossed his arms and stared at Killa. ¡°It seems that I¡¯m not the only one who specializes in certain stats.¡± Killa pouted. ¡°She¡¯s still a low level. We have time to balance them out.¡± My attention jumped from one to the other and back again. ¡°What? Why does it matter if some of my stats are higher than others?¡± They both opened their mouths at the same time, but Killa spoke first. ¡°If your stats are lopsided, you¡¯ll have a weakness that your enemies can exploit. And you may come across a situation where you¡¯re not fit to handle it.¡± ¡°That can be the same if you spread your stats around.¡± Bark flexed his arms. ¡°Overall, your potential can be wasted. If you focus on half of your stats, you can cover your defenses while being able to take on challenges higher level than you.¡± ¡°So¡­ who¡¯s right?¡± I asked. ¡°I am!¡± they both shouted simultaneously. They both are. Both strategies presented have their advantages and disadvantages. Which would you choose? We will not make such a decision and leave it up entirely to the host. ¡°Look, your arcane stat is too low to bother with learning magic. You should focus on a speed-based fighting style to take advantage of your high agility.¡± Bark relaxed slightly. ¡°You have a good base to become a decent scout, something we can use in our group. But your nanites'' ability to heal you makes you an optimal front liner too.¡± We do not suggest this strategy unless the host finds another way to avoid damage. The more damage the host receives, the more energy it takes to regenerate the host. The rats the host faced in Mr. Black¡¯s trial nearly killed them. When facing the assassin, the host was only two shots away from perishing. We recommend either the host consider the scout tactic or learn to consume massive quantities of calories. Killa waved to Bark. ¡°That scout part I can agree with him on. A scout would be beneficial. As you probably have figured out, I¡¯m partial to magic, and all of my stats are one hundred and forty-four.¡± ¡°We have the same agility score, even though I¡¯m level thirteen,¡± Bark began. ¡°But my arcane and quickness are both fifty, while my defensive stats are both a hundred and fifty-five. My strength is one hundred and seventy. So while Killa is faster than me, I¡¯m stronger and more difficult to damage, even though she has four levels on me.¡± I hummed. ¡°I think I can see both of your points. But I don¡¯t know how to use mana for spells like Killa. All I use it for is this gun.¡± My mana bar had been filling up during our conversation. Half of what I spent on the one shot had recovered. ¡°Does increasing my arcane increase my mana¡¯s recovery rate?¡± Killa bobbed her head. ¡°Kind of. There are several other factors that contribute to mana regeneration. They usually involve a person¡¯s biology. But nobody¡¯s had such a quantifiable way to see their mana regenerate like you.¡± She walked over and put a hand on my forehead. ¡°But I can feel you pulling the ambient mana into your body far faster than I would have expected. Everyone else has to sort of feel how much mana they have and how quickly it recovers. It takes me about an hour and a half to recover my mana in most situations. At this rate, I¡¯d expect it¡¯d only take you twenty minutes to recover yours. But that might be just because you have far less mana than I do.¡± Increasing the host¡¯s arcane also increases their maximum mana capacity. She took a step back and put her finger to her chin. Bark headed towards the door. ¡°All this theory is fine, but it won¡¯t do her any good if she doesn¡¯t get any stats.¡± He crossed two of his arms and waved at the door with a third. ¡°Whatever you decide, all I can suggest is that you stick with it. If you want to up your arcane and strength until they¡¯re fifty, that¡¯s fine. But never, ever ignore your defensive stats. Doing that is asking to die.¡± Killa laughed. ¡°He¡¯s right. First and foremost, your resistance needs to get up.¡± She put a hand on my back and pushed me towards the door. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go kill some spiders.¡± This is all so very much insane. Dungeons, stats, a system, and killing monsters. It¡¯s like my life has become one of those games Marc always played. A very dangerous game that I have to play to survive. It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯ve decided to go insane. So let¡¯s get ready to play. 19 The Not So Itsy Bitsy Spiders Why am I going first? Both Bark and Killa stood on each side of the door, waiting for me. Bark was still holding onto my backpack with one of his hands. There was no giant cobweb blocking the door this time. Well, this is supposed to be my training montage. I might as well get this started. The door creaked open, revealing a scene that seemed both out of place and yet fit perfectly in the dungeon. It was as if I had stepped into some kind of locker room. The room was lined with plainly carved stone benches in front of metal cabinets. Square vertical support beams crisscrossed the room, their surfaces covered in a fine layer of dust. Several small orbs hung from the ceiling. None of them looked like they had worked for years. But there was something else on the ceiling that sent my heart rate into the red as it appeared in my vision. A spider hung from a vast, intricate web that spanned the ceiling. Its body was a sleek onyx with silver veins seemingly engraved across it. Its eight beady eyes unnerved me. A spider¡¯s eyes were always the most unsettling part to look at. And can someone please tell me why that spider is as big as me? That¡¯s not a spider! That¡¯s a monster! Spiders are common predatory arachnids. They are known to snare their prey in webs. They spin elaborate canopies or shoot sticky strands of webbing from its abdomen. Spiders are most commonly found underground and in various dungeons. They are not supposed to be that big, Orange. There is no limit to the size a spider can grow to. The moment I stepped into the room, the spider¡¯s eyes were locked on me. Its legs twitched, and with a sudden burst of speed, it descended towards me. I panicked and dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the spider¡¯s ambush. It struck the stone floor with a resounding thud, sending dust into the air. It scuttled away towards the vertical support beams. I sprinted towards one of the cabinets, hoping to use it for cover. The spider lunged again, its legs tapping against the stone. I spun around, my dagger raised. The spider¡¯s fangs reached for me, venom dripping from their tips. I shrieked as I tumbled backwards, tripping over the stone bench. The spider¡¯s fangs scraped against the stone bench where I had been only moments before. The spider easily climbed over the bench and followed me as I scurried away from it. I screamed as I turned over and ran away from the nightmare-fuel monster. There was no doubt it followed me, as the room seemed to brighten up. ¡°Why are you running?¡± Bark groaned. ¡°There¡¯s a giant spider chasing me!¡± My whiny voice echoed throughout the room. It¡¯s just a spider. The host shouldn¡¯t fear them. They aren¡¯t a threat to the host. ¡°Calm down.¡± Killa sounded almost bored. ¡°I¡¯ve got it tied up now.¡± I turned around to see the spider¡¯s legs were all wrapped up in yellow tentacles. It fought to free itself. The screeches it let out were going to haunt me later. ¡°Running away isn¡¯t fighting.¡± Bark walked closer to the arachnid. ¡°It¡¯s just a spider. Hurry up and kill it already. This is embarrassing to watch.¡± I stomped my foot and pointed at the spider. ¡°That is not a spider. Spiders aren¡¯t that big. They¡¯re supposed to be tiny, so you can step on them.¡± Bark and Killa exchanged glances before returning to me. ¡°You mean you¡¯ve not seen a spider like this before?¡± Killa asked. ¡°No!¡± Bark slapped his forehead. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡± He dragged his hand down his face as he took a deep breath. ¡°Well, that explains the running and the screaming. But if we are going to do this every time, it¡¯s going to be a long, long day.¡± The host killed rats larger than they are used to. Why is the spider a problem? Rats are nasty, disease ridden creeps but aren¡¯t really an issue. Spiders are unnatural. All those eyes, their hairy body, their poison, the webs¡­ It¡¯s nightmare fuel. It¡¯s not poison, it¡¯s venom. We can purge the host¡¯s body from it. Killa rolled her eyes. ¡°Just stab it in one of the center eyes and it¡¯ll die, nice and easy.¡± I stared at the two lunatics. Do they really expect me to get near that thing? Yeah, no. Not going to happen. ¡°I¡¯m not getting anywhere near that thing.¡± The host has arachnophobia. We did not calculate for that. ¡°Then use your gun,¡± Bark said in an exasperated tone. Something in my mind clicked. Oh, right. I have a gun. ¡°How did I forget that? I was only too busy running for my life!¡± Bark glared at me and then turned to Killa. ¡°Let it go. She needs this experience.¡± Killa waved her hand, and the yellow tentacles holding the spider in place vanished. The spider lunged at me. Why me? Because it¡¯s good for the host. The only way the host will overcome such a pointless irrational fear is by repeated subjection to their fear until they give up such a pointless notion. I hate you Orange! I ran from the spider and pulled the gun from my pocket. I dove in between two beams that I knew the spider wouldn¡¯t be able to fit through. But there wasn¡¯t a thud of the spider hitting the beams that I expected. When I turned around, I never felt more stupid in my life. The spider had crawled up them and walked around. I hate spiders. The spider¡¯s legs gripped the vertical beam, and with a push, it launched itself towards me once again. This time, its leg hit me as I tried to dodge to the side. I went flying through the air before tumbling into the wall. I could barely focus my vision as I rolled myself into a seated position. The spider bared its fangs as it scuttled towards me. Desperately, I pulled the gun out, pointed it at its face, and fired. The spider let out an ear-piercing screech as it stopped and stumbled backwards. After dropping my gun, I slammed my hands against my ears. A trail of brownish blood leaked from the monster¡¯s mouth. One of its mandibles hung limp as it kept flinching. I got it? I got it! The screeching stopped as the spider started waving its front two legs in the air as it retreated. I picked up the gun and aimed for its eyes. My mana bar dropped below half when I fired the second shot. A familiar sense of fatigue hit me. So that explains the tiredness. I spent my mana shooting at the assassin. The spider¡¯s face exploded in a shower of more blood as its body flopped to the ground. In the corner of my vision, I received both ten stat points and two hundred shards. An eerie silence fell upon the room as I stared at the corpse. I sat on the ground, panting. My heart rate kept blinking red on my HUD. ¡°I got it.¡± A slow, consistent clap ended the silence. Bark marched up to me, clapping two of his hands while the other two held swords at his sides. ¡°Congratulations. For a moment there, I thought I¡¯d have to step in.¡± The host¡¯s performance could be improved in every way. Instead of running, the host should¡¯ve taken an aggressive stance and attacked before the spider attacked instead of letting it make the first move. The host had a better performance when facing the cosmic assassin. Enough, Orange. I¡¯ve never been in these kinds of situations before. I¡¯m not used to this. ¡°Don¡¯t like spiders.¡± My voice wheezed as I spoke. Killa stretched her arm behind her and into her backpack before pulling out a canteen. ¡°The first one is always the hardest. You¡¯ve got to get over your fear so you can think properly when you fight.¡± She walked over and handed me the water. ¡°So, do you want to take a short rest to calm down and recover your mana?¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! I took a long drink. ¡°Yeah.¡± Bark shrugged. ¡°Distribute your stats and let us know when you¡¯re ready to go. In the meantime, Killa.¡± He nodded to the spider corpse. ¡°Do you mind?¡± I placed all my points into arcane since I wanted to keep my distance from the giant spiders. What¡¯s he talking about? Killa walked over to its face. How can she be willing to walk towards that? Her arm expanded, swallowed the spider, and dissolved it. In her hand was a small, dull, milky pearl. She stuffed it into her bag of holding. I stared at the puddle of green blood. ¡°What did you do to its body? What was that thing.¡± ¡°I ate it,¡± Killa chirped. ¡°If you want to eat one, just let me know.¡± Right, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m eating one of those. Nuh-uh. Giant spiders are a large source of protein and would provide large quantities of calories. Still not going to happen. I¡¯d have to be starving, and even then I¡¯d do anything but that. ¡°Thank you,¡± Bark said before he turned back to me. ¡°That thing is a monster¡¯s core. When we stop for the day. Don¡¯t focus on that right now. There¡¯s something else we need you to focus on. You¡¯re going to kill all the spiders on this floor, of course.¡± His lips curled into a devilish smile. More spiders? And I¡¯ve got to kill them? I fainted. *** I stared at my stats screen as I woke up.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 6 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 100 Synthetic eyes lvl. 1
Arcane: 25 HUD
Power: 30
Quickness: 75
Resilience: 35
Toughness: 60
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 955
¡°Enjoy your little nap?¡± Bark asked without hiding the annoyance in his voice. I looked at my status and saw my energy bar was at about half, my mana was full, and my heart rate had returned to normal. I can feel my heart rate. It¡¯s a bit redundant with that in my vision. The heart rate monitor disappeared from my HUD. I sat up and leaned my head against the cool stone. ¡°So, uh, how big is this floor? How many spiders are you expecting me to have to fight?¡± Bark shrugged. ¡°Last time I was here, we killed six. But there¡¯s always the possibility for more. The first floor is pretty small. Just a few office rooms and equipment storage.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°So, why does this take an entire day to clear out?¡± Killa extended a hand to me. ¡°It doesn¡¯t. We packed for three days just in case we needed to rest for a day. We didn¡¯t know how much you¡¯d have to rest between encounters. Most of the rooms are too small to house a spider that size. And that¡¯s one of the smaller ones. Your mana is good now, right?¡± I took her hand, and she helped me to my feet. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Bark waved a hand towards the door. ¡°Shall we?¡± I picked up the gun. Killa placed a hand on my wrist. ¡°Maybe we should show you how to fill that. You know, just in case.¡± She gave me a wide smile. I went to hand her the gun, but she shook her head as she pushed it back to me. She pointed to a small button on the bottom of the handle. ¡°Now this thing holds nine shots before you need to fill it. As long as you fill it with any earth-related material, it¡¯ll do the hard part for you.¡± I popped the bottom open to look inside the handle and see what looked like sand filling half of it. Well, there was plenty of sand outside. But what can I use right now? I looked around the room and saw a few chipped pieces of rock lying on the ground. I scooped them up and watched as the handle swallowed them regardless of their shape. Now the gun looked to be filled with the black stone everything was made out of. Okay, that¡¯s kind of cool. I closed up the handle and marveled at the little weapon. Something like this on Earth would destroy the gun market. Not paying for bullets¡ªthat sounds like a gun nut¡¯s fantasy come true. The only thing that would top that is if every weapon had a secret gun attached to it. But that¡¯s just crazy. With Bark and Killa following me, I led them further into the dungeon. They had me open every door first. I always swung the door wide open and, after a few seconds, poked my head through to look for any spiders. And after my first encounter, I always checked above the door first. The gun made killing the spiders much easier. I noticed with my new arcane stat, I could shoot nine bullets over the course of several minutes before my mana was spent. It took about ten minutes before we found another spider. It hung in the far corner of the room, almost as if it didn¡¯t see me poke my head through the doorway. Even though Killa¡¯s light was limited, I had no problem seeing in the dark. My eyes really did get an upgrade. I¡¯m starting to see their benefits. Ha, see. The host''s eyes are¡­ Orange, don¡¯t. I took three shots to kill it before it could reach the door. That went way better than that first attempt. We followed that routine throughout the first floor. I peeked in and tried to kill the spider before it reached the door. Luckily, there was never more than one spider per room, if there was a spider. Most of the rooms were completely empty. If I needed to let my mana recover, I just said so, and we took a short break. Bark told us we could eat once we reached the stairway down. Then it¡¯ll be safe enough for us to eat. Killa offered me a finger in case of an emergency. With each kill, I could feel myself getting better at shooting my gun and the spiders weren¡¯t as frightening. Eventually my shots hit the spiders more than they missed. It was much easier when they didn¡¯t do anything until I entered the room or shot them. We, or more accurately, I, killed eight spiders relatively easily. I impressed Bark and Killa with how quickly my accuracy improved. On the last one I killed it in one shot. And each time I killed one, Killa ate it. Each spider held a monster core that she placed in her bag. They¡¯ve got to be worth something if Killa and Bark are collecting them. We almost finished clearing the first floor after receiving a total of fifty-five points. The first three spiders gave me ten points each, while the last five gave me only five points each. Which meant they were level eleven. We stood in front of the last room, according to Bark. The door was larger than the rest, which led to much smaller rooms, as Bark had mentioned earlier. ¡°So, why did we stop?¡± I asked my shaylip companion. ¡°This room is much larger.¡± Bark didn¡¯t take his eyes off the door and placed my pack next to it. ¡°It also leads to the next level. There¡¯s a chance we¡¯ll have several spiders to face.¡± ¡°Hey, Killa.¡± She turned towards me. ¡°Do you mind helping me find some rocks? I¡¯ve got one shot left.¡± She nodded. ¡°Not a problem.¡± Her hand glowed and shot out a pair of blue tentacles at the wall. A few pieces broke off as a loud crack echoed through the hallway. After the ringing in my ears subsided, I scrounged up a few pieces and loaded my weapon. I also saved a few of the other larger pieces in my pocket for later. ¡°Thanks, but could you warn us next time?¡± I asked as I rubbed my ears as I felt the nanites working on them. My energy bar was down to a third. If I had to guess, my mana regeneration is also enhanced by my nanites. It¡¯s helped us clear this floor faster. I could use some food, though. Bark nodded at me. ¡°You ready? We¡¯ll start when you fire from the entrance and lead them here.¡± He turned to Killa. ¡°If any try to climb over the top of the door, take them out.¡± Killa nodded and placed her pack next to where Bark placed mine and his. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be too many. We¡¯ll be fine.¡± She patted my shoulder as she walked behind me. Bark pushed open the door. The door sounded heavier as it ground against the stone floor. If anything was sleeping in there, it¡¯s not now. Inside weren¡¯t just a few spiders, like my companions led me to believe. There was a swarm of them. They were smaller, but I could easily count more than twenty of them, each half as wide as I was tall. ¡°Uh, guys, that¡¯s not a few spiders.¡± I lifted my gun to the nearest one and fired. It wasn¡¯t my brightest move, but at least I hit the spider. The bullet passed through its center section. Green blood poured from the wound as it stumbled to get up. But after one attempt to stand, it crumbled to the ground, and I was awarded one hundred and fifteen souls and five stat points, which I immediately put into arcane. I¡¯m going to need to shoot a lot more.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 7 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 100 Synthetic eyes lvl. 1
Arcane: 45 HUD
Power: 30
Quickness: 75
Resilience: 65
Toughness: 70
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 3070
The other spiders hissed and charged at us. Another problem ran through my head. I¡¯m not going to have enough bullets for this. 20 Spider Slaughter Bark turned and pointed down the hall. ¡°Run!¡± Killa¡¯s arms glowed yellow as she threw them up. A field of writhing yellow tentacles covered the doorway as she turned to run. ¡°Head towards that storage room!¡± The cacophony of hissing from the spiders was all the motivation I needed to turn and run down the hall. ¡°Which room?¡± Bark ran and pointed at the third room on the left. ¡°That one.¡± It was the emptiest room we had seen in this hallway. I sprinted toward it, but Killa moved way faster than I thought she could and beat Bark and me there. Killa flicked her wrist, and two blue tentacles flew past me. I stopped and turned to see them hit two of the spiders that had followed us into the hall. The spiders exploded into a shower of green gore. They had almost caught up to Bark, who was trailing behind us. Bark turned and slashed his sword at a spider that had caught up to him. He split the creature¡¯s face in half. He swung another sword and stabbed a spider that leaped at him. I saw another spider aiming to bite Bark¡¯s leg. I aimed and fired. My shot killed that spider, and I received another five stat points and one hundred and fifteen shards. I caught a glance at the horde of spiders headed our way. More than a dozen were wrapped up in Killa¡¯s tentacle magic, but more were climbing over their trapped allies. The walls were covered in spiders. This is way more than a few! Bark spun and killed two more spiders with his swords right before they tried to attack him. He kept trying to backpedal to catch up with us. Killa threw two more blue tentacles at the wall to kill another pair of spiders. I shot another spider and received the same rewards. I didn¡¯t like how much mana I was going to need. So I quickly assigned my ten points to arcane. It¡¯s a good thing that every time I put points into arcane my mana refills slightly. Although it doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯ll be enough. Correct, it will be insufficient. We killed spider after spider. I had killed another six spiders, while the other two killed ten each. Bark slowly caught up and we dashed into the room and slammed the door shut. Killa placed a hand on the door, as it sounded like the spiders were trying to bite through the metal door. Bark and I were panting heavily as we took our momentary respite. ¡°That, that was way more than three.¡± I leaned forward and rested my hands on my knees. Bark leaned back and let his swords hang to his sides. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s never happened before. I¡¯ve never seen that many enemies in one place before.¡± Killa giggled. ¡°At least we¡¯re all going to get some stat points for this. Even though I¡¯m only getting two per kill.¡± ¡°Way to see the silver lining.¡± Bark gave a hoarse laugh. ¡°But the first two gave me ten, and then I hit level fourteen and received only two. They¡¯re level eight.¡± Killa frowned. ¡°That¡¯ll mean anything more than eight more kills will be a waste for me.¡± I stared at them two. ¡°Have you lost your minds? We are trapped, and you¡¯re worried about levels and stats?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this exciting?¡± Bark smiled even through his panting. ¡°We can¡¯t let an opportunity like this pass us up.¡± ¡°What?¡± He can¡¯t be serious. We can die here. Killa walked up and put a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Listen, this number of enemies is more than most will see in several days. We can probably get you to level fourteen or higher today. That¡¯s quite a jump since you¡¯re, what, still level seven?¡± ¡°I¡¯m eight now.¡± I shook my head. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter. There are dozens of them still out there. We have no food or water. What are we supposed to do? Do we just stand here until they give up and move on?¡± Bark laughed. ¡°Nope. We¡¯ll open the door once you¡¯ve calmed down and reloaded.¡± He rolled his shoulders as he walked up to the door. ¡°Killa will kill as few of them as possible while focusing on containing them. With this door, we¡¯ll be able to reduce their numbers to a rate we can handle. I want you to use up the last of your mana, and then grab your dagger to kill any that get behind me. You¡¯ve got what, two shots left?¡± The shaylip¡¯s plan is practical. We suggest the host defer to them for the time being. I quickly put the rest of my points into my arcane again. ¡°Actually, I think I have about fifteen or more now. But each one I kill will let me get more shots off.¡± Bark furrowed his brow. ¡°Are you just putting all your points in arcane right now?¡± I gave a quick glance to Killa, who didn¡¯t show any change in her demeanor. ¡°It¡¯s more like I¡¯ve already spent all of them.¡± His shoulders dropped. ¡°You don¡¯t need a few minutes to assign your points?¡± ¡°No.¡± I drew out my answer. ¡°Why? It isn¡¯t instantaneous for you?¡± The shaylip sighed. ¡°No.¡± He turned around and faced the door. ¡°I¡¯ve really got to get that system now.¡± I turned to Killa. ¡°Really?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yeah. I can split my mind so I can assign my points while we fight. So I¡¯ve just finished getting mine distributed.¡± There was a softer expression when she looked at Bark. ¡°He needs to stop and do nothing for a few minutes. The more points he has, the longer it takes.¡± I filled my gun with the last of my rocks. ¡°Uh, can you give me a moment to find some rocks?¡± She nodded as she stood near the far wall. There were a few loose stones around the wrecked and empty crates. Whatever had filled them had long since been pillaged. I probably had enough rocks in my pocket to fill my gun two more times. Twenty-seven bullets. I¡¯ve got to make them count. I looked at my mana bar, which was a little more than three-quarters full, as we waited. The sounds of the spiders at the door didn¡¯t stop. I was dealing with spiders better, but now¡­ It¡¯s situations like this that will help the host overcome such a trivial hesitation faster, or it will make things worse for the host and set back all progress and leave the host hysterical. I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re on my side Orange¡ªnot! Did we do something incorrectly? Orange, not right now. When mana was full, I gave Bark a nod to let him know I was ready. He put one of his swords on his back and grabbed the handle, ready to pull the door open. When he pulled the door open, he jumped back, drawing his sword at the same time. Killa raised her arms and covered the top half of the door with semi-transparent green tentacles. I couldn¡¯t see out the door as the spiders crawled all over each other. Then the first spiders crawled under Killa¡¯s wall. Bark stepped to the side and cut the first spider¡¯s head and a large portion of its front two legs off. Killa raised her hands, and more yellow tentacles grabbed at the spiders trying to get in, slowing them down until only three had gotten through, even pushing the corpse of the one Bark had decapitated further in. I started firing. These two are absolutely insane! Everything turned into a blur. I lost count of how many spiders I killed. I stopped putting points in my arcane when I figured I would run out of bullets and mana at the same time. But I needed to not use more mana than I had, as I could feel myself getting closer to passing when I used mana while my reserves were low. The throng of spiders started filling the doorway, pushing us further into the room. I did as Bark suggested. Once I ran out of ammunition, I pulled my dagger and started attacking any of them that crept over the mounting pile of corpses. After every muscle in my body screamed for me to stop, there seemed to be no more new spiders. Sweat blinded me as water distorted my vision. It didn¡¯t burn, so I figured I didn¡¯t have any nerves in my synthetic eyes. I could barely stand, and Bark looked as worn out as me. But neither one of us collapsed to the ground. Two inches of green blood flooded the room, and we weren¡¯t interested in falling into it again. The floor was extremely slippery, and I had fallen more times than I¡¯d care to admit. I really, really wish I could take a bath right now. I touched my hair and felt how matted it was. Gross. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Killa stood, still pristine, in front of us. ¡°That went pretty well, if you ask me.¡± ¡°Nobody asked you,¡± I huffed. No fatigue, no rolling around in the blood, no sweating, and no excessive heart rate. ¡°You are cheating.¡± Killa smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. How many levels did you get? Hm?¡± She put her hand to her transparent ear as she leaned in close to me. ¡°Let me hear it?¡± I groaned as I pushed her into the blood. ¡°Now you¡¯re just as dirty as the rest of us.¡± That was a wasted effort. Killa laughed and started waving her arms and legs like she was making a snow angel in the blood. ¡°You¡¯re just tired, full of adrenaline, and probably starving.¡± She stood up, still not a drop of blood on her clothes as she enveloped them with her body for a second. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go make camp. I¡¯ll even let you eat some special food tonight.¡± She waved her hand, and all her magic that had been holding back the spiders vanished. Bark and I slogged through the blood and severed spider bits to leave. Killa practically skipped her way out. Bark was unusually quiet, at least in the beginning. After a dozen spider bites and unparalleled exhaustion, all his enthusiasm disappeared, as he dragged his feet along. Then without warning he broke into laughter. He leaned back and threw his arms wide as he took deep breaths before laughing again. Has he lost it? Killa continued being a beacon of sunshine and rainbows as she giggled along with him. They¡¯ve both lost it. Killa led the way to the room where the horde of spiders came from, practically dancing the entire time. She would twirl and prance around Bark while he strutted and laughed. We made it to the large room, and every wall was covered in spider webs. Most of the floor and ceiling weren¡¯t spared, either. Those two were getting on my nerves. ¡°Okay, what¡¯s wrong with you two? We could¡¯ve died back there. This isn¡¯t a laughing matter.¡± Killa stopped mid spin. ¡°You¡¯re right, we could¡¯ve died.¡± She leaned forward then reached out, tapped my nose, and continued in a sing-song voice. ¡°But we didn¡¯t.¡± Bark nodded as he wiped his face. ¡°We were challenged and we succeeded. We won. How can you not let yourself feel the release of tension? We¡¯re safe now. Celebrate!¡± I pointed at the doorway. ¡°Are you nuts? What kind of adrenaline junkie do you have to be to enjoy almost dying? I¡¯ve died. It¡¯s not a joke. There¡¯s nothing funny about it. That¡¯s the end. It sucks!¡± ¡°That means you should enjoy surviving all the more,¡± Bark said in a softer tone. ¡°There¡¯s enough in the Nexus trying to kill you; you can¡¯t let stress kill you too. You never answered Killa. How many levels did you gain?¡± ¡°Seven,¡± I grumbled. Killa held out her arms. ¡°See? That¡¯s at least three hundred and fifty points. How much stronger do you feel? That wasn¡¯t for nothing.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°I think I see your point. By the way you guys are talking, it would¡¯ve taken me days to get that many stats and levels, am I right?¡± Killa nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Absolutely!¡± Bark waved his hand towards my knife and gun. ¡°Fighting is an almost daily occurrence in the Nexus. Celebrate whenever you can.¡± Killa spread her face with an inhumanly wide smile. ¡°Just try it¡ªlaughing. Let yourself feel better and things won¡¯t look so dark. Here, join me.¡± She started laughing. It was obviously fake at first, but then it suddenly became genuine. I¡¯m supposed to be going insane. What¡¯s more insane than laughing at near death experiences? So I forced myself to laugh. Then I kept laughing. I don''t know how, or when, but I couldn¡¯t stop myself anymore. I clutched my stomach as it cramped up while I laughed. It felt good. My laughter started to die down. I took a deep breath. My muscles relaxed as I calmed down. Killa grabbed me into a big hug, then set me down after twirling around with me for a moment. ¡°How do you feel? Better?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I looked at all the webbing. ¡°But, I don¡¯t want to see any more giant spiders... ever again. I¡¯ve had my fill for a lifetime.¡± Bark turned to Killa and shrugged before pointing at me. Killa crossed her arms as she cocked her hips. ¡°If I take care of all the webs, will that make you feel better?¡± I found an untouched section of the floor and sat down on it. ¡°It¡¯d be a good start. A bath would be much better. Am I really going to spend days covered in all these spider guts?¡± I looked at my energy bar. The entire thing was almost empty from the combination of healing from; I don¡¯t want to know how many spider bites and killing so many. I don¡¯t know how many spiders injured me in the chaos. Actually, I¡¯m more surprised there¡¯s a tiny sliver left. The host didn¡¯t suffer many bites. More energy was used through over-exertion. We recommend the host consumes extra calories for future encounters. Killa smiled and pointed at me for a brief moment. ¡°Ah, yeah. Let me clean you up. It¡¯s not quite like taking a bath, but I can get the job done.¡± She stood in front of me. ¡°Now, close your eyes and take a deep breath.¡± I tilted my head. Is she going to do what I think she¡¯s going to do? She didn¡¯t wait for me. Her body dropped her clothes and ballooned out to envelop me. Killa¡¯s body was cool and sticky. Her initial touch was a gentle, constant pressure that seemed to mold itself around my body. My chest tightened slightly. I can¡¯t breathe. Instinctively, I opened my mouth, and it was instantly filled with Killa¡¯s gelatinous body. She tasted different¡ªa little more earthy, but not in an unpleasant way anymore. And there was almost a meatiness to her now. The host should¡¯ve followed the offered instructions. Despite her improved taste, I still needed to breathe. I tried to flail around, but it felt like my body was trying to move in water, but the water was a much thicker gel and sentient. In my panic, I could feel a pulling sensation all across my body. But then I could feel Killa stretching underneath my clothes, and it felt like she was tickling me with thousands of tiny feathers. It was hard to panic while laughing, but it was even harder to laugh without being able to breathe. My mouth was still gagged by Killa, I couldn¡¯t hear much of anything. However, the top layer of dirt, sweat, and spider ichor dissolved before my eyes. The whole process took almost a minute. As Killa pulled her body away from me and back into her clothes, I took a deep breath of the stale dungeon air. Killa reformed her body quickly and leaned down next to me. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I coughed a few times. ¡°You, uh, just surprised me. I wasn¡¯t quite ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she apologized. I waved my hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. But you said something about food earlier. Can I get some now? My energy bar is practically empty.¡± Killa clapped her hands. ¡°Of course. Just let me go get the packs.¡± She hurried back to the doorway and grabbed all three packs. As she walked towards me, she rifled through one of them and pulled out a small paper sack. She pulled out a small sub-like sandwich. ¡°How much do you want?¡± she asked. I looked at the sandwich. My mouth started watering. ¡°I¡¯ll take about thirty of those.¡± My concept of a normal amount of food is destroyed. It hasn¡¯t helped that all the food I¡¯ve eaten here has been absolutely amazing. That, and I really don¡¯t want to starve to death. Killa giggled. ¡°No, silly. Do you need just a hand, or my forearm included?¡± My shoulders slumped. ¡°Seriously?¡± Killa wagged her finger at me. ¡°We didn¡¯t bring that kind of food for you to eat. Now, unless you¡¯re going to eat that giant pile of spiders in the other room, hand or forearm?¡± They should ask for more. You¡¯re telling me to eat a person. The slime is offering. Take advantage of that. I drooped my head. ¡°Might as well.¡± I held out my hand. ¡°Give me your entire arm. And, uh, could you make it look like, I don¡¯t know, something else?¡± Killa frowned. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a lot. But if you¡¯re that hungry, How about this?¡± She pulled out another sandwich, and her arm up to her elbow started peeling into sheets that she layered pretty thick on the sandwiches. She reformed her arm and held out the sandwiches to me. ¡°How do slices of salami look? I even put them on the sandwiches to help with the flavor.¡± She¡¯s trying. I chuckled at her smile. There was something infectious about it. ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful. I wouldn¡¯t have thought of that.¡± Killa placed the second sandwich in front of me in the bag. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m guessing you want me to clean you off too, Bark?¡± She whipped her hands against each other. ¡°Yeah, please.¡± Bark sounded more exhausted than I did. Killa went to clean him off, and afterwards, she cleaned all the spiderwebs in the room too. I don¡¯t know if I can ever get used to her just ¡°eating¡± everything like that. The sandwiches made eating more of Killa easier, and I saw my energy bar filling up rapidly. It even filled up, and then some. A second layer started filling it up in a different color. Orange said that I can hold as much as I needed or wanted. That¡¯s correct. While I ate, I decided to check out my status.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 14 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 170 Synthetic eyes lvl. 1
Arcane: 105 HUD
Power: 50
Quickness: 195
Resilience: 100
Toughness: 100
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 10835
Seven whole levels. That¡¯s at least three hundred and fifty points. And each spider was giving me five points. That¡¯s at least sixty-three spiders I killed. That doesn¡¯t include how many Bark and Killa killed. The increase in my toughness helped with all the spider bites I received, but they still hurt. But with as many as I was fighting, I needed to move faster, twist more, and just be more agile. It helped me receive a lot fewer bites than I probably could have. I thought back to the talk we had at the entrance of the dungeon. But it looks like I¡¯m going to go with Bark¡¯s strategy and focus on my quickness and agility. I don¡¯t need to be strong, and I can make up for a lack of power with strong weaponry. I still don¡¯t know how to use magic, so outside of my gun, I¡¯ve got no way to use arcane. Given the host¡¯s history, agility and quickness specializations are a good strategy. Making a choice is the first step. Now that the host has made that decision, we recommend that the host doesn¡¯t change strategies later unless they have a good reason. I ignored Orange¡¯s input, they weren¡¯t providing any useful information. A slight tingling spread from the back of my mind. But those two were right. That was a lot of stats. But was all that worth it? How much have I really improved? 21 Whos Hungry? I couldn¡¯t help but let out an exhausted sigh as Bark pulled out two sleeping bags from his pack. The adrenaline rush that had kept me going was now long gone. Sleeping sounds really nice right now. I crawled over and into a sleeping bag. I could practically feel my body sinking into it. Killa¡¯s voice was a distant echo as she spoke. ¡°Get some rest, Rina. I¡¯ll keep watch.¡± I mumbled a barely coherent response; the words melting into a yawn. ¡°Sounds good... watch... go anywhere...¡± My eyes fluttered closed as I sank into a sea of dreamless sleep. When I woke up, my surroundings were drastically different. The air felt cleaner, the room brighter. My body felt rejuvenated, as if yesterday¡¯s events had never happened at all. If it was yesterday. Not seeing the sun is messing with my concept of time. We can provide the host with a clock for reference. No. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good thing right now. Dealing with things as they are is enough. It¡¯s not like knowing the time changes anything. I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I took in the room. The spider webs that had previously coated every surface were gone. My mouth fell open at the sight of the clean walls and floor. There were even a couple of small chandelier-like bulbs hanging from the ceiling, each with a glowing white tentacle wrapped around them. There were various shelves with pieces of manikins that looked a lot like Glimmer. ¡°What room is this?¡± I asked absentmindedly. ¡°By what I can guess, it looks like a room they painted golems with.¡± Killa¡¯s voice sounded behind me at the doorway. ¡°Good morning, Rina. Sleep well?¡± She grinned as she skipped towards me. ¡°I¡¯m glad the two of you have enough energy to talk so early.¡± Bark¡¯s voice sounded even more rough. It sounded like he didn¡¯t want to be awake yet. ¡°Killa, I understand. She doesn¡¯t suffer physical fatigue, but you, Rina¡ª¡±he pointed at me while sitting up¡°¡ªdon¡¯t make any sense. You were more tired than I was. Yet now you¡¯re acting like yesterday never happened.¡± I stood up and didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of stiffness or pain. ¡°You¡¯re right. I feel fantastic.¡± My body felt so light and energetic. My energy bar was still more than a third full on the second bar. For some reason, I couldn¡¯t help myself and bounced on the balls of my feet. A gentle laugh escaped my lips. ¡°This is something else.¡± We prompt the recovery of the host¡¯s entire body. The host¡¯s regeneration improves all recovery aspects. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don¡¯t you.¡± Bark rubbed his temples with his fingers. ¡°I¡¯m going to get those nanites.¡± I stopped and stared at the shaylip. He¡¯s been different ever since he learned about my different system and my nanites. Maybe if I can help him get nanites to work for him, he¡¯ll be back to his nice self again. ¡°Look, Bark, I¡¯ll help in any way I can.¡± I walked over and held out a hand. He waved my hand away as he stood up. ¡°Sure, whatever.¡± I backed away from him and stood next to Killa, who watched Bark with a deep frown. She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and shook her head before she put a finger to her lips. ¡°What do you say to a quick meal before we start clearing the second floor?¡± Killa asked as she headed to the pile of three packs. Bark mumbled something but then turned around. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get moving quickly. You have your gun, right, Rina?¡± I nodded as Killa handed Bark a sealed bowl then me one of her fingers. My shoulders slumped as I stared at it. ¡°Killa, please don¡¯t. I have plenty of energy. What you gave me last night was more than enough.¡± The host should eat it. Orange, stop. Killa looked at the finger she held and shrugged. ¡°Okay. But I¡¯ll be honest with you, seeing you eat that much of my arm is both really cool and a bit frightening.¡± She fidgeted as she seemed to not be able to look me in the eye. ¡°The stronger you get, will your appetite grow too?¡± Yes. The higher the host¡¯s quickness attribute will also increase the necessary calories. Is she afraid that she¡¯ll not be enough to feed me? ¡°Yes. Why? Are you worried that I might need to eat more than what you can spare?¡± I grabbed her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s still weird for me to eat a piece of you.¡± Killa relaxed. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really know how to say this, but something about you makes me want to take care of you. I¡¯ve cared about my spawn less than you.¡± My eyebrow crept up. ¡°Your spawn? Like kids?¡± ¡°If you call me splitting myself on a cellular level and witnessing the resulting mass of slime sometimes gain consciousness as giving birth, then sure.¡± Her deadpan expression sent a shiver down my spine. Slimes reproduce via mitosis. I don¡¯t think I ever needed to know that. And she cares about me more than her own self-replicated sentience. I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s crazy or if I¡¯m just that special. Probably crazy. ¡°Can you do that at any time? Are there going to be more of you?¡± Also, there is something I really need to know now. ¡°And what¡¯s with all the tentacles that you summon?¡± ¡°Why? Do you have a tentacle fetish?¡± she asked. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Do you want one?¡± I backed away from her slowly. I made sure she didn¡¯t summon any tentacles and put them where they didn¡¯t belong. ¡°Nope. I¡¯m good.¡± Killa started laughing. She kept laughing as she folded over and clutched her stomach. Then she started rolling on the floor, still laughing. I turned and saw Bark, taken aback by her display. She stopped and let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°Oh, kiddo. Thanks for the laugh.¡± She stood up and smiled at me. ¡°But you won¡¯t have to worry about me splitting myself. The system doesn¡¯t let me do that anymore. Which is fine, since some of them turned out terrible. I don¡¯t want another Joy.¡± ¡°Is that the one that¡­¡± Bark began. ¡°Yes,¡± she sneered. I flinched. ¡°If you split yourself, wouldn¡¯t the other one be like you? Shouldn¡¯t they be nice like you?¡± She snorted. ¡°Not even remotely. If they develop a personality, it¡¯s completely random. Most of them gain consciousness, but they exist only to eat, grow, and multiply. It¡¯s hard to love something that will attempt to reabsorb you back.¡± I sucked on my lip. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know.¡± She waved her hand. ¡°No worries, kiddo. It¡¯s good that you think I¡¯m nice, but know that I wasn¡¯t always like this. There are things in my past I¡¯d rather not relive.¡± That¡¯s fair. I should probably not ask her unless she¡¯s ready. Whoever that ¡®Joy¡¯ was must¡¯ve really done something bad. Even I know better to ask about it right now. ¡°Anyway. My magic always looks like a tentacle because a kraken taught me how to use magic.¡± She started giggling again as I felt my face contouring in confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t think too hard about it. Visualization is key to magic. And since I want my magic to be as powerful as possible, my mentor and her tentacles make visualizing strong magic much easier.¡± ¡°That¡­ makes sense,¡± Bark said as he held a small piece of meat inches from his mouth. Killa clapped her hands. ¡°Well, enough about me. That was some hundred years ago on a world I¡¯ll likely never see again.¡± She marched up to Bark. ¡°Hurry up and eat. Once you¡¯re done, we¡¯ll get going.¡± She waved me over as she headed to the sleeping bags. ¡°Come on kiddo, help me pack everything up while he eats. You¡¯re not eating and I¡¯ve already eaten all the spiders and collected their cores.¡± I pointed to Killa. ¡°That reminds me. What is the point of the monster cores that you¡¯re collecting?¡± Killa held one up. ¡°They are a good supplementary form of income. Crafters use them to make magical items like your gun there.¡± Bark turned his head away from his food to glance at us. ¡°Other people who are climbing the Nexus won¡¯t have them, just the monster that it makes for us to kill will have them. The stronger monsters have stronger cores. So all those smaller spiders will have weaker cores and thus won¡¯t be worth as much shards.¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. I scratched my chin. ¡°Can we make items with them?¡± Killa shook her head. ¡°Not unless you know how to enchant. Since you haven¡¯t used any mana, I¡¯d assume you aren¡¯t a caster.¡± I lowered my head. ¡°Thought so. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll try to get you something for armor when we get back if we have enough. These cores will be roughly strong enough for self-repairing clothes.¡± My clothes were slightly damaged, from the fangs from the spiders, but nothing catastrophic. ¡°Yeah, anything so that things don¡¯t hurt me sounds good.¡± Killa placed the core back in her bag and placed her hand on my shoulder. ¡°But before any of that, we¡¯ve got to find Gary.¡± I helped her roll up the sleeping bags. They rolled up tighter than I would have expected. But then again, they fit in our packs with other stuff. While I waited, I scrounged up any pieces of rock I could find and filled my gun and pocket with stones. Bark finished his food and Killa ate the bowl as we headed down the dark stairway. The steps were wide, with flat slopes on the edges. Killa still walked with a white tentacle wrapped around her arm. And, of course, I had to lead the way while Bark brought up the rear. Eventually, the stairs ended in a massive set of stone double doors. I pointed at the doors. ¡°Uh, there¡¯s no way I can move those.¡± Bark walked to the right side of the doors. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. There¡¯s a lever around here somewhere.¡± He swept his hands over the stones until some of his fingers slipped into a groove. ¡°Ah, here it is.¡± I heard a click, and the doors pulled apart with a loud grinding sound. I looked down and saw that the doors were on some kind of track. The room that lay beyond the doors was more massive than an amphitheater I stayed in before it was scheduled for demolition. It wasn¡¯t my best month. The walls and ceiling were still the same black stone throughout the first floor, but there were a dozen colossal metal buckets. Beneath and surrounding each bucket were also metal tracks, like an assembly line. The air felt colder and smelled even worse than on the first floor. A complicated network of spider webs draped over all the buckets, the ceiling, walls, and tracks. I even saw several spheres of webbing cradled by even more webs as they hung from the ceiling. I went to take a step forward, but Bark put his hand on my chest, stopping me. He held up a finger. ¡°The majority of the second floor is one giant room. It¡¯s some kind of golem factory, based on what we¡¯ve been able to figure out in the past.¡± He turned to me. ¡°Spiders don¡¯t really have a sense of hearing. But if you so much as brush the webs, you¡¯ll call all of them down on us.¡± ¡°And have a repeat of yesterday?¡± I don¡¯t like the sound of that. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Killa patted my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, kiddo.¡± She¡¯s back to using that nickname again. It was nice when she wasn¡¯t. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be nearly that many spiders. It¡¯s just that they are going to be larger than the ones you saw upstairs. And I¡¯m talking about the bigger ones.¡± Bark drew his swords. ¡°The spiders just keep getting bigger the further you go down. Thankfully, there are only three floors.¡± I looked out into the factory floor and saw very little room to walk without stepping on a web. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan? Burn the webs? Oh, wait, no fire.¡± Killa nodded. ¡°Right. You two still need to breathe. Actually, our plan is to walk through and kill them with ranged attacks.¡± She waved to Bark. ¡°Since he¡¯s the only one without a ranged weapon, it¡¯s up to you and me to kill them. Just make sure you aim for the head with your gun. Hopefully, it¡¯s powerful enough to crack through their exoskeleton.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t killing one of them alert the others when its body tumbles to the ground?¡± I asked. ¡°No. Why? That¡¯s the question.¡± Bark waved his arm towards the small path. ¡°It¡¯s one we don¡¯t have an answer for. We¡¯re not exactly arachnid specialists. Let¡¯s get this show on the road, shall we?¡± This place is going to give me arachnophobia, isn¡¯t it? My hands shook as I took the first step in, carefully stepping over a silvery string across the entrance. ¡°Careful, there¡¯s a web right there.¡± I pointed at it. ¡°It¡¯s like a tripwire.¡± Killa and Bark looked down. ¡°Uh, we don¡¯t see anything,¡± Killa said. I chuckled. ¡°My eyes are that good now? Huh.¡± I looked out and didn¡¯t see any spiders. I wonder how far I can see in the dark. ¡°Hey, Killa. Can you dim your light until I say stop, please?¡± My companions shared a shrug before the tentacle wrapped around Killa¡¯s arm slowly dimmed. Surprisingly, I didn¡¯t have trouble seeing. I could see the far walls without any trouble. Even when Killa¡¯s light was as thin as it could get before disappearing, my vision was perfect. When she let the light go out, then everything went dark for me. Okay, so long as there is some form of light, I can see. This darkness is quite unsettling. ¡°Can you turn the light back on, please?¡± Everything lit up as Killa summoned another tentacle around her arm. ¡°What was that about? Why did you have me put out my light? It¡¯s disturbingly dark down here. There¡¯s no light anywhere.¡± I held up my hands and shrugged. ¡°I wanted to see how well I could see in the dark. Which is pretty much perfect, by the way.¡± Bark groaned something incoherent. ¡°So quit your gloating and get to killing already.¡± He pointed his sword further into the room. I flinched. ¡°Sorry.¡± Bark kept pointing, not showing any sign of accepting my apology. I¡¯m still new to this. Take it easy on me. What¡¯s his problem? It felt like no matter what I would have said at that moment, he wouldn¡¯t have heard me. So I hung my head and walked further in. I made sure to point out any other tricky webs that they might miss as we walked. There were a few times I had to jump to the next place, and I could barely believe how easy it was for me to keep my balance. But then, when I walked around one of the metal cauldrons, a spider slowly stalked around it. The thing was probably ten feet wide. Its coloring was similar to the spiders upstairs, but its legs were wider. I focused on them, and my vision seemed to zoom in, and I could see an edge to their legs. Are their legs giant blades? That¡¯s terrifying! Sword spiders are arachnids. All eight legs of a sword spider end in thick chitinous plates with serrated ridges. Although their eyesight is poor, sword spiders locate their prey using tremorsense through their webs feeling for minute vibrations in them. I raised my gun and took a quick glance towards Killa, who followed me. She gave me a quick nod. I took my time to wait for the spider to stop moving, aimed for its head, and fired. The bullet pierced its head in a small explosion of green blood. It tumbled down the side of the cauldron and thrashed around on the webs for a moment before curling up and dying. The moment it started falling, my heart rate exploded on my HUD, and I held my breath until it stopped twitching. I received five stat points and three hundred and ten shards. And just like Bark said, no other spiders showed up. My heart kept pounding in my chest as I let out a long breath I didn¡¯t know I was holding. So our hunt through the factory floor continued. We snaked our way through, killing every spider along the way. Killa didn¡¯t collect the cores because she didn¡¯t want to risk disturbing the web and calling the other spiders. There was plenty of open space, so I could see the spiders long before they were a danger to us. There were a dozen spiders, and Killa let me kill all of them. Each spider added the same five stats and three hundred and ten shards. It all felt almost too easy. We made it to the other side, where another set of double doors greeted us. Killa circled back through the area and collected the spiders¡¯ monster cores once they were all dead. Bark put his pack down. ¡°Put your packs down here while we wait for Killa.¡± I placed mine next to his. His eyes were shifting around more than usual. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He frowned as he eyed the doors. ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this. This dungeon has been acting differently than the last couple of times we were here. There have been more spiders, and these were even larger than they should have been.¡± ¡°Are you saying the Nexus is trying to kill us?¡± Bark smirked. ¡°The Nexus is always trying to kill us. But yeah, this feels different. At this point, I¡¯m expecting something strange beyond this door.¡± ¡°Wait, hold up.¡± I held up my hands. ¡°Why are you talking like the Nexus is intelligent and controlling everything?¡± Killa placed her pack next to Barks when she rejoined us. ¡°Because it is, and it does.¡± I blinked as my mouth fell open. Correct. We can¡¯t provide more information than that. Why can¡¯t you tell me, Orange? Because we do not have more information to provide. Bark put his hands on the handles. ¡°So, you better be ready for anything.¡± He swung the doors open, and a room of the same size as the one we were just in sprawled out before us. There was one major difference. There were no cauldrons, no assembly lines, nothing. Nothing except for the webs all over the ceiling and walls. ¡°That¡¯s unnerving,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s empty. Why is it empty?¡± Bark scowled. ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t like it. But we need to reach Gary. And that requires us going through.¡± He marched through the doors. Killa shook her head and followed him without saying a word. If you know it¡¯s a trap, why are you going in? The words rang through my head as I followed them against my better judgment. I took a quick peek at my status, unsure of where to put my stats at the moment.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 15 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 170 Synthetic eyes lvl. 1
Arcane: 105 HUD
Power: 50
Quickness: 195
Resilience: 100
Toughness: 100
Unassigned Points: 60
Shards: 14555
I looked around and didn¡¯t see anything. But when I turned around to look above the door we walked through, something didn¡¯t seem right. There were more webs above, and it looked like something was underneath all of them. I stared at them until I saw something moving underneath. Two massive spider legs moved and stretched out from under the blanket of webs as they closed the doors behind us. The webs flattened as the world¡¯s largest spider crawled out from under them. I stumbled backwards and bumped into Bark and Killa. My mouth wanted to say words, but my mind couldn¡¯t find any. Some random babel of nonsense flowed out of my mouth as I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the spider that blocked our escape. I couldn¡¯t begin to guess how wide it was, but each of its eyes was as round as I was tall. It¡¯s twenty-five feet tall. ¡°Fooooood,¡± the spider hissed. What was left of my sensibility shattered at the concept of a giant talking spider that trapped us in a room with it. 22 Big Bad Spider All my life I¡¯ve had a problem with spiders, but was trapped by the largest talking spider ever. Something about it setting up a trap for us hinted at its intelligence, the talking confirmed it. Then a stream of white silk covered the entrance¡ªour escape. I¡¯m going to die. We are going to die. ¡°Run!¡± Bark threw me behind him. ¡°It¡¯s a deviant.¡± On pure instinct, I stayed on my feet. I couldn¡¯t turn to face the monstrosity behind me, so I just ran. There was no thought as to where I was going. I just ran. I kept running, but all I saw were web-covered stone walls. Where¡¯s the exit? There¡¯s an exit, right? Bark said there was an exit, didn¡¯t he? On one of the walls, a portion of the webs were thicker. The tiniest sliver of metal could be seen through the silky barrier. A narrow track looked like it went under the door too. The door was easily two hundred yards away from me. So I sprinted as fast as I could. I heard Bark and Killa shouting, but I didn¡¯t register what they said, I had to get out. I was halfway to the door when something pulled my foot. I kept my balance and turned to see a blob of web covering my left leg. The mammoth-sized spider crawled down from the ceiling. It could reach the floor from the ceiling as it opened its maw towards me. I unsheathed my knife and began to slash at the webbing. The blade bit into the sticky strands, but my progress was agonizingly slow. Then the sound of steel scraping against steel caused the spider to recoil from me and turn towards Bark. Instead of four swords, he held two larger swords, two hands on each one. Each sword was twice the size they had been before, and there was no sign of his other two swords. He swung the swords at the spider¡¯s leg and they collided in a shower of sparks. The spider¡¯s leg shifted, but I didn¡¯t see any blood. It kicked him with another leg, sending him sprawling to the ground with a grunt. Killa threw a pair of blue tentacles at its center body, but it hit a leg. That almost seemed to stagger the monster. It regained its balance and slammed a leg into the ground where Killa had jumped back from. The area exploded in a shower of rocky debris. Some of the rocks looked like they hit Killa, but they bounced off her amorphous body. I managed to finally cut myself out of the web, but my dagger was stuck. It¡¯s not that important anyway. I scrambled to my feet and headed for the door. The host will use the dagger to cut through the webs blocking the door. Shoot! You¡¯re right. But it¡¯s going to take me forever to cut through them. What about Killa and Bark? Will they be able to fight that thing off until I create an escape route? Bark was sent flying again as the spider dropped its leg in front of him. His swords hit the ground where he was while he went flying back as rocks pummeled his body. Killa sent out another blast of tentacles, this time hitting its face. It turned from Bark and charged the slime woman. If we can¡¯t run, we have to fight. My hands shook as I stopped and pointed my gun at the absurdly large monster. The shot sailed through the air and bounced off its chitinous shell. You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. I looked down at the gun. This thing isn¡¯t strong enough. What do I do now? ¡°Go for the eyes, Rina. Go for the eyes!¡± Killa shouted as she dove away from the creature¡¯s massive fangs. With nothing to lose, I aimed and shot. While I was aiming for one of the larger central eyes, it moved and I hit one of the smaller eyes on the side. The creature let out a screech of pain, its legs twitching as it covered its face. ¡°Paaaaain!¡± The creature hissed at me as it charged, fangs bared. I¡¯ve pissed it off now. The creature¡¯s fangs were as long as I was tall and I wasn¡¯t interested in being impaled by one. I turned and ran, but I could hear the creature¡¯s legs clicking against the stone behind me and it was catching up with me. I need to be faster! I realized I hadn¡¯t spent any of the points I received from the previous room. I dumped all sixty points into my quickness, hoping that it would let me run faster than this crazy creature.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 15 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 170 Synthetic eyes lvl. 1
Arcane: 105 HUD
Power: 50
Quickness: 255
Resilience: 100
Toughness: 100
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 14555
I felt the effects immediately. The spider was still gaining on me with its multiple sets of legs and long stride, but I ran faster than I ever thought possible. Before I was running pretty fast, but now, I¡¯m the fastest human ever. Bark had chased after the spider. It was almost comical how slow he was compared to us. But since the spider is chasing me, I might not have a better opening. With a deep breath, time seemed to slow down for me. I jumped, turned, and pulled the trigger. The bullet struck the spider''s largest center eye, creating a burst of blood. But it wasn''t enough to stop the creature''s momentum. So I fired again and hit the creature in another eye. This time it stopped and covered its face. Its screech almost seemed to echo throughout the room. ¡°Kill¡­¡± Blood poured from its black, soulless eyes. ¡°Kill. Kill, kill killkill killkillkill.¡± The host has enraged the creature. Bark leaped onto the spider''s abdomen. I don¡¯t know how, but he kept his balance as he ran across its back. He clung to the spider''s back, as the spider thrashed in a fury. Its legs, body, and everything else jerked as it attempted to dislodge the shaylip. Bark¡¯s swords clashed against the spider''s exoskeleton, each impact sending sparks flying. Killa''s magic struck the side of the creature again. Maybe if I can blind it, we stand a chance. That will certainly improve all odds of survival. I fired another three rounds at the creature. Only one hit an eye while the creature bucked around wildly. The spider reeled from the impact of the bullet, its legs scrambling to regain its balance. Bark used the creature¡¯s momentary lapse to drive his swords in between the place its legs connected to the body. There was the slight grinding of steel, but then I saw the blood pouring from the leg. Bark let out a cry as he twisted the blade and with a loud crack, the leg separated from the spider. The creature hit the ground and I felt the ground shake. Bark toppled off it as Killa threw her arms out and wrapped the monster¡¯s face in yellow tentacles. I took the opportunity to shoot my last two bullets at its eyes. After the first bullet popped another eye, it flinched backwards, causing my second shot to bounce off its shell. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. It pulled itself from Killa¡¯s tentacles as it stood up then unleashed a wail so loud and high-pitched I dropped to my knees and covered my ears. Bark rolled on the ground covering his ears too. Killa looked like she was in pain too. Her body was rapidly losing its definition. Mercifully the spider stopped its otherworldly wailing. I caught myself before I hit the ground as I let go of my ears. It stopped, so it could lift its front legs up and extend its abdomen towards Killa. A shimmering white stream shot from the spider and coated her. It looked like she was trying to slip through the webbing, but the spider kept pouring more on until there was a mound of webs where she stood moments before. Only her white tentacle escaped, but it flopped to the ground. It then turned and continued to spray towards me. I scooped my gun up and ran away from the spray. Panicked, I just ran away without thinking until I realized that I was headed straight for a wall. Now I¡¯ve got to do something. The stream of webs got closer. Maybe I can buy more time for myself. I stopped and reversed direction. As I ran, I jumped, trying to get as high as I could. For a moment, I thought I could clear it, for one moment. The ray followed me up and I knew it was over for me. My leg was hit first and it felt like I was pulled along by it as I hit the ground in a painful heap. More webs covered me for a couple of seconds. My lower half was trapped with one of my arms. At least my gun is free. The spider lowered itself back down and stared right at me. It walked right for me, but from the side, Bark leaped and drove a sword where he severed one of its legs. It staggered for a moment before using the leg opposite of Bark to jab into his stomach. My companion lifted off the ground and hovered in the air for a moment before another leg slapped him out of the air and into a wall. The crunch that sounded left me wincing and shivering at the same time. Then the spider resumed its march towards me. I raised my gun and pointed at one of the remaining eyes. The spider raised one of its shorter front limbs to shield its eyes from me. Is this thing actually learning? How smart is this thing? Maybe it¡¯ll let its guard down when it gets close and I can unload everything into its face. Yeah, that has to work. Even though I had a plan, I still struggled to work myself free from the web. The creature¡¯s fangs still reached for me. As it got closer to me, it kept its eyes protected, so I tried to shoot past it, but it seemed to follow my aim. Desperate, I snapped my aim around randomly and fired as quickly as I could. All I succeeded in hitting was the walls and ceiling. Once it was close enough it could reach me with one of its legs, it lifted it up and slammed it into my chest. Its foot, if spiders have feet, covered my torso, face, arms, and part of my legs as it slammed me into the ground. Everything flashed white as I felt my head bounce off the stone floor. My chest felt heavy and the arm holding my gun bent at a new spot it never had before. Even though I was dizzy, I knew what came next. And I wasn¡¯t disappointed as pain wracked my body in three places. The spider wasn¡¯t finished with me though. It extended one of its fangs and pierced my stomach. I could feel something pushing against my insides as it undoubtedly injected me with venom. As I could feel more venom being pushed into me, a blue tentacle lashed out and slapped the side of the fang. It bent at an odd new angle while slicing open my belly. The spider hissed as it retreated from me, milky white fluid dripping from its fang as it hung limply. ¡°You¡¯ll not have her.¡± Killa¡¯s voice bubbled through her featureless face. Her features refined themselves again, but her clothes were probably still stuck in the webbing she somehow squeezed herself out of. She threw another two tentacles at the creature, causing it to retreat yet again. I had thought I was in pain before. I was wrong. That was a light tickle compared to the agony that consumed me. My body burned yet I felt colder than I¡¯ve ever felt before. Statuses started displaying on my HUD. LIver, stomach, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, gallbladder, kidneys, bladder, uterus, ovaries, rectum, fallopian tubes, appendix, spine, and cervix; all listed as heavily damaged or missing. I couldn¡¯t begin to understand what that meant for me as I spent every ounce of control screaming. My body quickly stopped moving and I lay, sprawled out, on the stone as I could feel my insides liquifying. My eyes drifted closed as I stopped breathing. Expelling venom¡­ Venom expelled. Repairing tissue damage. Beginning with missing organs¡­ Beginning reconnecting of the nervous system¡­ Finalizing reconstruction¡­ Reconstruction complete. Restarting heart. I let out a gasp as I sat up. The messages from my system were displayed in front of me. Did I die? No, I¡¯m still here. All the notifications on my HUD of all my missing or damaged organs were gone as well. Do not let that happen again. The host can¡¯t survive another wound. The slime¡¯s attack saved the host from receiving too much damage. The world around me slowly came into focus. The pain that had consumed my world, faded into a dull ache as I could feel the nanites buzzing around my body still. My arm was even back to normal again. My vision cleared just as I witnessed Killa lash out at the spider with more tentacles. The spider twitched its legs and its mandibles as it retreated from her manic assault. My heart skipped a beat as I watched, Killa leaped onto the spider''s head, her form partially melting over its surface. What is she doing? The spider thrashed and bucked, attempting to dislodge Killa from its face. I could see Killa¡¯s body stretching and clinging to the spider''s body. ¡°How do you like someone dissolving you?¡± She¡¯s lost it. ¡°It¡¯s not so fun when someone does it to you, is it?¡± The spider¡¯s thrashing intensified. It started slamming her into walls. Chunks of stone fell from the collisions. I¡¯ve got to do something. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to hit anything with them moving around like that. I saw Bark¡¯s sword lying on the ground. Maybe I could use that. After running over to it, I picked it up. It was lighter than I was expecting, but it was still hard to carry since it was taller than me. I took a quick peek at my energy level which was a quarter bar past one full one before we started fighting which was now barely a visible blip. I better make this count. As the spider thrashed and reeled, its attention focused on Killa''s persistent attacks, her body started stretching further from the creature¡¯s body with each attempt. How much longer can she hold on? Insufficient information. Time slowed down as I surged forward, the sword held out in front of me as an impromptu spear. My fingers tightened around the hilt of the sword. My knuckles turned white as I ran towards the struggling mass of spider and slime, my heart pounding in my chest. The ground shook as the spider¡¯s movements became increasingly violent. Each time its legs struck the ground I felt it. It was jumping and slamming its head into the ceiling. Whatever she¡¯s doing, it''s doing something. Parts of the ceiling started raining down around me and the spider. But if this keeps up, we¡¯re all going to be buried alive. Killa laughed maniacally as she rode on. But I could see that parts of her were falling off the monster. It rocked back and flung its enormous head towards me. Killa''s grip finally relented as her mass of green goo flew through the air. I aimed the sword at its eyes, but I realized I was too close. Its maw opened wide as it headed straight for me. With a shriek, I closed my eyes, turned my head, and raised the sword. Everything went dark, as some liquid coated me and I could feel its sleek exoskeleton pin me to the ground. My shard count showed I earned thirty-six thousand seven hundred and eighty-one from it. Also twenty stat points. There was a tiny hiss as a putrid air fluttered around me. Please, tell me that that didn¡¯t just happen. Please tell me I¡¯m not where I think I am. I cracked one eye open and I could see down its throat. There were no words to describe the horror. Nobody, under any circumstance, should ever see down there. I started hyperventilating as I squeezed past its fangs. Gross, gross, gross. I want to go home. I¡¯m not doing this anymore. A squeal escaped my lips as I shuddered and tried to wipe myself down frantically. Somehow my actions were supposed to erase the memory of what I just saw. I wish my eyes weren¡¯t good enough to see down its throat. Killa limped towards me, her body less than half as tall as she had been and barely holding herself up. A small trail followed her as she came towards me. ¡°Rina, it¡¯s alright. It¡¯s dead. It can¡¯t hurt you.¡± I stopped and stomped my feet. ¡°No. I want to leave. I want out of this dungeon. And I never want to see another spider for the rest of my life.¡± Tears streamed down my face. ¡°Please, we have to leave.¡± I looked at the trail she left behind. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡± Killa¡¯s laugh sounded like her lungs were full of liquid, despite her not having any lungs. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± She fell forward into a round blob. ¡°I just need rest and food.¡± I knelt next to her. ¡°You saved my life. And you watched us last time. It¡¯s my turn to protect you.¡± I turned and saw Bark was still not moving. Let¡¯s get him patched up again and I¡¯ll need to eat before too long. But we don¡¯t have enough food for me and Killa can¡¯t spare anything for me. I looked around the room and saw the only source of food that might be enough for me. I didn¡¯t have the luxury of time to hope to find a better option. More tears soaked my cheeks. How come I have to eat a giant talking spider that almost killed me and my friends? Why me? Because if the host wishes to survive, they must do it. The host will starve otherwise. We¡¯ll break down whatever the host eats, even monster flesh. My stomach growled as I pulled up my status and distributed my stats.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 16 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 175 Synthetic eyes lvl 1
Arcane: 105 HUD
Power: 50
Quickness: 255
Resilience: 105
Toughness: 110
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 51336
23 Hope Remains I turned towards Bark, who remained motionless against the chamber¡¯s wall. My heart sank as I took in the sight of his battered body. There was no doubt he was seriously hurt. He was breathing, so I knew he wasn¡¯t dead. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know much about first aid, and there¡¯s no way I can get him to a hospital. Wait, what if Killa packed some of those red, regeneration, potions? I turned to see that a thin barrier of web kept the door we entered through closed. After quickly retrieving my dagger, I ran over and cut through the web. I retrieved our packs and set them down close to Bark. Bark¡¯s pack felt so much heavier than mine, and I dragged it more than carried it. Killa¡¯s pack had the food I had to tear myself away from; otherwise, I would have eaten all of it and still needed more. It was in Bark¡¯s bag that I found two of the red vials. I also found two blue potions and a violet potion. Blue was the mana potion, but what was the other one again? Wasn¡¯t that one an acid or a sleep potion? Neither one is an acid or sleep potion. It is a cleanser potion. If the host or the host¡¯s allies were infected by dangerous diseases or harmful bacteria, it would cure them. However, the host doesn¡¯t need to fear them because we will already cleanse them immediately. Good to know. I grabbed the red potions. I approached Bark, my hands trembling. I had no idea how to force feed someone. So I went with the more sane route and rolled him onto his back, then splashed some water on his face. His eyes fluttered open. ¡°Wha¡­ what? Where? When?¡± There was a slight rattle in his voice that was probably important. He looked at me, then tilted his head to look past me. ¡°Did you kill it?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s dead.¡± I held up the bottle of red fluid. ¡°Here.¡± He started to lift an arm to his head but winced with a sharp inhale. ¡°About that.¡± His other arms weren¡¯t moving. ¡°It¡¯s pretty bad if you noticed that I need help. But actually, it¡¯s worse than you can see. My head is swimming, and I need you to put my arms back in place.¡± I looked at his limp arms. ¡°You want me to do what now? Won¡¯t this potion take care of that?¡± Bark shook his head, only to wince even more. ¡°Not all of us have a miracle cure-all built into our bodies.¡± His eyes turned to the ground, and his voice got really quiet. ¡°Yet.¡± His voice returned to his previous volume. ¡°The regeneration potion will help me recover quicker, but if the bones or joints aren¡¯t set correctly, they¡¯ll heal incorrectly.¡± He is correct. The regeneration potion is limited in its capacity. I bit my lip. I¡¯m taking my nanites for granted already. Just a few minutes ago, I was missing most of my organs and seconds away from dying. Yet, if you looked at me, you wouldn¡¯t be able to tell. I looked down. Although my wardrobe is in dire need of repair, again. I had never been in a situation like this before, but I followed Bark¡¯s, and Orange¡¯s, instructions as best I could. There were more than a few mistakes and a lot more screaming from the poor man. After I finished, I poured the bottle into his mouth so he could drink it. I told him about everything that happened and Killa¡¯s state. Bark let out a sigh as he leaned into the wall more and closed his eyes. ¡°Now I¡¯m going to sleep as much of this off as I can. You¡¯re on guard duty. Killa will need something to eat. So just throw anything into her body, and she¡¯ll passively eat it. Give her time. She¡¯ll be fine.¡± Okay, so Killa¡¯ll be fine. He also said that I could feed Killa something. But speaking of feeding. My body had its own demands, and the gnawing emptiness in my stomach was now impossible to ignore. As I turned to let him sleep, he reached out to grab my hand with the one arm that wasn¡¯t dislocated. ¡°And Rina, thanks. You did a good job. You saved our lives. I knew there was potential in you.¡± Bark¡¯s words were full of sincerity. Hearing them warmed my heart. However, the flashing red light around my energy bar was a nagging reminder of what I had to do. A painful growl from my stomach was all the warning I had before it felt like my stomach was eating me from the inside. I scrambled through the pack, took one of the bowls of food, and scarfed it down without tasting or seeing what it was I ate. The pain eased slightly, but my energy hadn¡¯t started displaying. I can¡¯t eat everything. It¡¯s not fair to Bark. There was only one option left for me, and it was one I wished I didn¡¯t have to do. My eyes drifted to the remains of the giant spider, and I swallowed dryly. Why me? The spider will provide all the needed calories the host requires for several days if they eat the entire thing. I walked over to the spider. My trembling hands dug into the leg Bark cut off. At least this will be just muscles and no organs. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I held the first piece to my face. Go insane. Go insane. It¡¯ll taste like chicken. Just like chicken. I closed my mouth and popped a piece in. Tastes like chicken. Tastes just like chicken. My denial didn¡¯t make the meat taste any better. But it wasn¡¯t as bad as I had originally expected. It was far worse. There was a coppery taste to it, like I was eating raw hamburger and copper at the same time. The texture was the most repulsive part. It wasn¡¯t so much melt in your mouth tender, as it was more crumble in your mouth and turned to paste with saliva while tiny little pellets refused to break down further. I had to close my eyes and force myself to swallow. When I opened them I was faced with a horrible reality. The horror was that I needed more¡ªa lot more. Each bite was harder than the last to take, but I needed all of them. Bite by bite, I fought back the urge to vomit, even though I knew that my nanites were absorbing it faster than I could eat it. Slowly, far too slowly, my energy bar filled up. But after I hollowed out one leg, I shuddered as I knew what the next step was. I was barely at a quarter of a bar. If the host finds any more dangers of this severity, the host will need at least six times the current level of energy. I grabbed Bark¡¯s other sword and wedged it between the joints of another leg. My strength alone wasn¡¯t enough, so I tried to leverage my body against the rest of the corpse and pried the leg off with the sword. It worked, and I set to eating another leg. I tried to think of anything and everything else as I ate, but the texture of the meat would always leave me gagging every couple of minutes. The second leg filled my energy bar halfway. That¡¯ll have to do. I just need to avoid getting hurt to make it last longer. We recommend the host to eat all the legs at a minimum. Orange, I can¡¯t eat another bite right now. It¡¯s just too difficult right now. Maybe once the taste in my mouth fades. Or I could just not get hurt again. Given the host¡¯s previous performances, that is unlikely. Please consume more calories. I¡¯m not the only one who needs to eat, Orange. It is for the host¡¯s good. Consume. Killa¡¯s body was still an undefined blob. Let¡¯s get her something to eat. I pried off another spider leg and dragged it into her gooeyness. Small bubbles formed around the leg, leaving me to assume she was slowly dissolving it. Killa¡¯s form quivered slightly, and I hoped that meant she was doing better. Exhaustion tugged at the back of my mind. I pulled out and unrolled a sleeping bag before curling up inside. I covered my head, so I couldn¡¯t see any webs or the spider¡¯s body. This has got to be the worst kind of hell. Not only have I nearly died so many times, but if I didn¡¯t have one before, I¡¯m going to have a very real phobia by the end of this dungeon. We¡¯re only on the second level, and the third level is going to be worse than this? I cried until I passed out. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Almost immediately, the nightmares started. After waking up screaming a couple of times, I didn¡¯t want to go back to sleep. It was all in my mind, and I knew that. But that still didn¡¯t stop the nightmares from ruining my sleep. There was something deeply wrong with me, but all I could do was stay curled up in my sleeping bag with my eyes open. Even though I had so much compelling me to not sleep, I drifted off once again from the exhaustion. Without fail, my mind spiraled down into another nightmare. I hadn¡¯t killed the giant spider; instead, it had swallowed me whole. My body was forced down into its stomach, and I could see the acid soaking into my skin, breaking it down. But at the same time, my nanites were regenerating the skin as fast as it was being burned away. I wanted to scream, but that only forced acid down my throat, causing the same reaction to happen inside my body. The endless destruction and reconstruction of my body, inside and out, was maddening. And I couldn¡¯t wake up. A sharp pain separate from my nightmare snapped me awake. My cheek throbbed for a second before the nanites hummed to work. I opened my eyes to see Bark kneeling over me. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bark placed his hand on my shoulder. His other arms stayed bound and splinted to his chest. ¡°Why are you screaming?¡± I blinked a few more times. ¡°Was I screaming?¡± Bark¡¯s eyes opened wider. ¡°Yeah, it was like someone had dumped you in a pit of acid.¡± I turned and rolled back over. That¡¯s because my mind did. ¡°It was a nightmare.¡± I heard Bark sit down next to me. ¡°You alright?¡± I scoffed. ¡°Not even remotely.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of life you lived before, but things in the Nexus won¡¯t be cushy.¡± Bark¡¯s voice trailed off. ¡°Not that I know any different.¡± ¡°My life, lives, have been anything but cushy.¡± I sat up and turned to see the moping shaylip. ¡°Before I died, I was a petty thief, only stealing so I could survive. Before you ask, no, I didn¡¯t steal food or clothes. I stole cell phones.¡± Bark looked confused. ¡°They¡¯re little tiny devices that let you talk to people over long distances wirelessly, access the internet, and do all kinds of other things.¡± I shook my head. ¡°But that¡¯s not important. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been ignored so much that I could get away with being a criminal because I couldn¡¯t get a regular job. Sure, my life wasn¡¯t easy, but I was never in any danger. Not like this.¡± I waved my arms at the web-covered walls. ¡°This is too much. A few days ago, I was happy that I was going to stay at a hotel for a few days instead of sleeping in the street. Now, I¡¯m fighting oversized spiders in a dark, smelly dungeon, so I can talk to this guy I know nothing about since you two won¡¯t tell me anything about him. Just that he¡¯s supposed to have answers. I am gaining levels, like my life is now a game. I¡¯ve replaced my eyes with a system from some nanites that heals me whenever I¡¯m hurt. Like earlier, when my entire insides were liquified by the spider.¡± I stood up and started pacing. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be possible. By all accounts, I should have died. And the worst part is that I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m happy that I didn¡¯t. At least then, all this will be over. Oh right, I can¡¯t die because I¡¯m an artificial soul. I¡¯m not allowed an afterlife. And because of that, I have this murderous shadow guy hunting me until he kills me. And once he does, he¡¯s going to kill the one person who ever remembered me!¡± My knees felt weak. I sat back down on my sleeping bag and pulled my knees to my chest and rested my chin on them. Tears started trickling down my cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can do this; climb the Soul Nexus, I mean.¡± I felt empty, scared, tired, and lost. But letting them all out felt good. My shoulders felt less stiff, even though I could still feel the anxiety in the back of my mind. We sat there in silence until Bark cleared his throat. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Yeah, for now.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Bark turned me to face him. ¡°I¡¯ve got no idea about half of what you said, but it sounded like just saying that stuff helped. Am I right?¡± I nodded and wiped my face on my sleeve. ¡°Now, you said you¡¯re going to fight for your right to live. Is that still true?¡± Do I? To what end? Why do I want to live so badly? Because I¡¯m afraid of dying? So that Marc doesn¡¯t die? But if I died, I would no longer see Killa and Bark. I¡¯ll never be able to make my way back to Marc. I¡¯ve never really had friends like them before. Marc was nice to be around, but I always had to go to him. I did everything for him. Killa and Bark are different. So maybe, just maybe, this is a good start. Also, I really want to know who created me and why. If I¡¯m dead, I¡¯ll never know. ¡°Yes,¡± I said. Bark smiled. ¡°Good, because dying in the Soul Nexus isn¡¯t like dying anywhere else. When you die in the Nexus, you don¡¯t go to the afterlife. The Nexus claims your soul.¡± That¡¯s why he said those cryptic things when that guy tried to kill me again. ¡°You¡¯ll be trapped and a part of the Nexus forever. What that means, I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m not about to find out. And neither should you.¡± He scooted over and sat next to me as he wrapped an arm around me. ¡°If you really have been here for only a few days, you¡¯ve been taking this all better than I did once I was old enough to understand the situation I was in. I couldn¡¯t imagine dying and coming here willingly.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t completely willing.¡± I returned to resting my chin on my knees. ¡°The Soul Nexus is supposed to tell me who created me and why, so I can use that as leverage for my right to exist. There just was no other way to find out.¡± Bark hummed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But there is one thing you should give yourself credit for.¡± I turned to him and frowned. ¡°Yeah, and what would that be? Only breaking down every couple of days?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No. Although, I suspect you¡¯ll find your way past that, eventually. What doesn¡¯t kill you only makes you stronger. But what I¡¯m talking about is how skilled you are with that gun. Did you have those in your world?¡± I glanced at the weapon that was still lying in the middle of the room where I dropped it. ¡°Yeah, we had guns, but nothing like this. Those guns used gunpowder to fire the projectile, not mana. They were more like the gun the guy used against us that one night.¡± Bark nodded. ¡°Ah, so he was from your world too. Or at least he was someone from your world who got possessed.¡± He pointed to the gun. ¡°So, did you use one as a petty thief?¡± ¡°No.¡± I shook my head and held out a hand. ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve always had good hand-eye coordination. But it is surprising how well I am using it. So what about you? Why do you use swords when guns like that exist?¡± Bark leaned his head back. ¡°Because weapons like that are expensive. And I¡¯ve only learned about them after meeting Gary for the first time. He told me so much about everything in the Nexus. He even told me how to escape this prison.¡± ¡°Escape? What do you mean by escape?¡± Now that I think about it, I don¡¯t know much about Bark. Bark hung his head. ¡°You¡¯re from another world; you chose to come here in the end, even if you didn¡¯t have much choice. Killa too. I was born here. Me and all the other shaylips.¡± He leaned back and laid down. ¡°Nobody knows how or when the shaylips arrived in the Nexus, but we know that it wasn¡¯t our original home. We¡¯re trapped here, forced to fight and die from the moment we are able.¡± My jaw hung open. ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s awful. I wouldn¡¯t have guessed that. So, if you were born and raised here, what¡¯s your wish? Why do you want to reach the top?¡± He looked at me and, with the stiffest expression, said, ¡°I¡¯m going to free every shaylip from the Nexus. We¡¯ve suffered long enough. It¡¯s time someone ends this curse.¡± He turned to stare at the ceiling again. ¡°The worst part is, of the four who have reached the top, none have ever been a shaylip. That¡¯s why I need your nanites. I¡¯ll make any deal or do whatever it takes to reach the top. I can not fail.¡± I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. I don¡¯t know what to say to that. That¡¯s a pretty good reason to climb the Soul Nexus. This existence was dumped on him, but he wants to save every shaylip. That¡¯s pretty admirable. Mine and Killa¡¯s wishes feel far more petty by comparison. I chuckled. ¡°You know, I misjudged you. Originally, I thought you were only helping me to get my nanites.¡± He laughed nervously. ¡°You did, did you?¡± I nodded. ¡°After Culson, I thought you might have been another selfish person eager to steal from me. But I can see you¡¯re not a bad guy. How can someone who wants to help so many people be evil? You¡¯ve helped me this much. I only went along with things because you would teach me how to survive her. Now, I want to help. If my nanites can help you, I¡¯ll do what I can.¡± Bark relaxed. ¡°Thanks again, Rina.¡± ¡°So, how far to the top?¡± I asked, while staring at the ground in front of my feet. ¡°This is the second floor, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I heard Bark shift and sit up. ¡°But nobody knows how tall the Soul Nexus is. There¡¯s no indication that you¡¯re getting closer. Just when someone reaches the top, there¡¯s a big announcement for everyone else that someone has reached the top. Each level will be harder than the last. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too. There¡¯s a reason only four have conquered this place.¡± He rubbed my shoulder. ¡°Your nightmares are a typical reaction. It¡¯s better to learn how to deal with these kinds of moments now than much later, when things are much worse.¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Is that supposed to comfort me?¡± He rocked his head from side to side. ¡°Yeah, kind of.¡± The man sighed. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not Killa and don¡¯t know what to say or when to say it. That¡¯s just what my parents told me when I was learning how to fight.¡± I chuckled. He¡¯s trying. That¡¯s sweet. It really is. If this is what having true friends is like and not people trying to use my desperation for their own gain, maybe coming here was not the worst thing ever. I turned and gave him a big hug. It didn¡¯t last long because, as I pulled him close, he yelped and winced. I flinched away and held my arms close to my chest. ¡°Sorry. I sort of got carried away there.¡± He held up his hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just watch my arms. They¡¯re a little messed up. They¡¯ll likely need a couple of days to heal completely.¡± He paused and looked away. ¡°But, if you want a hug, it¡¯s alright. Just be careful.¡± I smiled and gingerly hugged him. He smelled like sweat, but I didn¡¯t care. I got to hug a real friend. And when Killa recovers, I¡¯ll give her a hug too. If I see Marc again, I hope I¡¯ll be able to hug him too. He patted my head. ¡°Alright, get some sleep. I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t have any nightmares again.¡± I smiled as I curled up to sleep with Bark sitting next to me. He was right. I didn¡¯t have any more nightmares as I slept. 24 Arms and Armor I awoke to the gentle rustling of movement around me. Blinking my eyes open, I found myself in the same dimly lit chamber. Bark lay on top of his sleeping bag, and a flash of pain crossed his face as he cracked his eyes open. He groaned as he put his hand against the ribs that were bothering him yesterday. I guess he¡¯ll need even longer before he is back to his old self again. I looked around for the sound that I heard earlier. I heard more rustling and turned to see Killa¡¯s slimy body digging through her pack. But something was different. Is she shorter? Killa extracted her head and was only as tall as her pack. I crawled to my knees. ¡°Killa, you¡¯re alright.¡± She turned and gave me a smile as he held a small wooden rod. ¡°You¡¯re... small now. Why are you so small?¡± She crossed her arms and scratched her chin with the stick. ¡°That spider may have been a little rough with me. I couldn¡¯t keep control of my entire body, and this is all I¡¯ve got right now.¡± She gave me a thumbs up. ¡°Thanks for the meal, by the way. It really helped.¡± I blushed. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. So what are you going to do about clothes? Not that there¡¯s anything to see, really.¡± I turned to look where I left the leg but found nothing. Instead, there was a small puddle of slime on the ground. Killa giggled as she waved her rod. ¡°I¡¯ve got something for that. As a slime, my body changes size and shape fairly regularly.¡± She walked over to the thick mound of web, lifted it up, and peeled it away like a capsule. Why didn¡¯t she do that before in the fight? The web has dried out and hardened. The adhesiveness of the web has deteriorated because of that. Stuck to the inside were her clothes. She pulled them free and poked them with the wand. They shrank instantly, and her body turned into a tendril as it dove into them before returning to her usual appearance, even if it was shorter. Killa waved her arms in the air. ¡°See, I¡¯ve got it covered. With some time and a lot of food, I¡¯ll grow back to a more normal size.¡± I sat down on the sleeping bag and watched Bark struggle to sit up. Each movement released cracks, pops, and groans from him. ¡°Hey, Rina. Can you do me a favor and hand me the other regeneration potion?¡± I nodded and went to fetch it. ¡°You look terrible,¡± Killa said as she grimaced at Bark¡¯s appearance. ¡°Rina¡¯s the only one of us who looks mostly normal. Although, her clothes could use a good soak.¡± She pointed to my exposed midriff. ¡°How much energy do you have?¡± Her voice had turned serious. I frowned. ¡°Less than half.¡± It looks like I used up some more while I slept. My energy bar was just more than a third full. Killa pointed at the spider and glowered at me. ¡°While you¡¯ve been sleeping, I helped myself to more of the spider. There should still be plenty for your breakfast. Now eat. I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t have the mass to help you, so you¡¯re going to have to do things the old-fashioned way.¡± I suppressed a gag as I handed Bark the potion. ¡°Before I slept, I had some.¡± Killa pointed again. ¡°Then you need to eat more. I¡¯ll take whatever you have left, but if something like this happens again, you need to have the energy to heal yourself. We can¡¯t afford to have you starving in the middle of a fight.¡± Bark held the bottle to his lips before lowering it. ¡°Killa¡¯s right. For now, I¡¯m out of the fight. She¡¯s still able to use her magic, but I¡¯m guessing she doesn¡¯t have nearly the same amount of mana she used to.¡± He turned to Killa. ¡°Am I right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Killa frowned. ¡°So, for the time being, you¡¯re going to have to do most of the fighting. My magic hasn¡¯t lost any potency. I just don¡¯t have my mana reserves for long or prolonged fights.¡± I looked at the spider and then back to Killa. ¡°Do you know how hard it was to eat it the first time? Do you know what it tastes like?¡± Killa marched up to me. Even though she only went up to just below my hips, I felt small compared to her. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for what is pleasant for you. We¡¯re in a dangerous situation, and we¡¯ve come this far. This is more than you just gaining stats now.¡± Her hand stretched and grabbed my chin. ¡°We need to teach you how to survive now. You want to live, and sometimes you need to do things that make you uncomfortable. Now eat your breakfast.¡± After she released my chin, I rubbed it absentmindedly. She¡¯s being even more pushy. Why? Is she stressed? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Killa turned and sighed. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°No. This is not ¡®nothing¡¯.¡± I grabbed her shoulder. ¡°Tell me. I want to help.¡± ¡°If I tell you, will you eat?¡± Killa asked as she turned to look at the spider. I grimaced, but didn¡¯t say anything. She turned to me with a mischievous grin. ¡°Start eating, and I¡¯ll tell you. At the very least, you need breakfast.¡± My throat tightened. She¡¯s right. But why does she have to be right? I¡¯m not that curious about it. Seeing those two suffering from that fight, and I¡¯m physically the same. These two can¡¯t handle another fight like that. I walked over and clenched my jaw as I pulled a handful of spider meat out of its carapace. This is for them. I can take the damage and heal from it without a scar. My mouth went dry as I lifted the meat to my lips. Killa¡¯s right, but there¡¯s more than that. She¡¯s my friend, and she wants to help me. She doesn¡¯t want to hurt me. I stuffed the meat in my mouth, nearly choking on it. I don¡¯t want to just reach the top anymore. I want to make it to the top with my friends. And if I have to eat spiders to do that, it will be worth it. Bark let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Rina, do you need help?¡± I put the next piece down, shaking my head. ¡°It¡¯s just so repulsive. Why I have to do this makes sense. But that doesn¡¯t make it any easier.¡± Orange, quick question: can I do anything to make it so I can¡¯t taste anything if I don¡¯t want to? Synthetic tongue upgrade available: Cost: 9,000 shards. That¡¯s tempting, but I feel like I should spend my shards wisely instead of on frivolous purchases. ¡°Believe it or not, I had trouble eating pieces of Killa when we first teamed up too.¡± I turned my head to Bark as he continued, ¡°It wasn¡¯t the texture, but the taste. I wasn¡¯t used to it. And believe it or not, I¡¯ve been where you¡¯re at right now; eating a spider to stay alive. So I get it.¡± My cheek twitched at the sensation of dry heaving if I ate more of the spider meat. ¡°What are you going to tell me, ¡°you just get used to it?¡¯¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not at all. There¡¯s a better trick. Simply trick your mind. Take something you know the taste of well, and imagine yourself eating it while you eat. But you have to really push yourself into focusing every thought you have on the taste of the food you want to taste. It¡¯s not easy, but it helped.¡± I turned back to the spider once again. My fingers squished a piece of the white meat in between them. Food that I know better than anything else¡­ Snickerdoodles. Snickerdoodles. The taste of the sugary delights that Mr. Black gave me were the first to come to mind. They were perfect in every way. I closed my eyes and focused on the memory in his pristine white room, where he told me I was dead and an artificial soul. I could practically taste the cinnamon as I lifted the food in my hand. Snickerdoodle. It¡¯s a snickerdoodle. Snickerdoodle. I felt my tongue become numb with the taste of the cookie, even though I knew that the spider meat was still there. I stuffed the spider meat into my mouth and imagined that I was eating more of the cookies. After swallowing, I opened my eyes. I took in another piece of spider and repeated the process. Killa nodded. ¡°I¡¯m pushing you so hard now because if things get this bad again, we may not survive.¡± She pointed to the sword still embedded in the spider¡¯s head. ¡°You did well killing it. But honestly, you were stupidly lucky. If your angle was a little off, the blade would have glanced off, and you would have been eaten. This place is full of dangers, including ones that I¡¯ve never heard of before.¡± She frowned as she turned to Bark, who was eating some meat and rice. ¡°Then there¡¯s the fact you were supposed to be on guard duty last night. Yet you went to sleep.¡± I paused with a piece of spider meat right in front of my mouth. ¡°He did say that, and I did.¡± ¡°And?¡± Killa leaned forward and tapped her foot. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± My arm dropped as I hung my head. ¡°It¡¯s just that I was so tired, and every time I¡¯ve been tired, I just curl up and go to sleep. Thinking about dangers coming up and attacking me¡ªus¡ªthat¡¯s something I don¡¯t think about.¡± ¡°Killa, take it easy on her.¡± Bark placed his empty food container on the ground in front of him. ¡°This is new to her. She¡¯s having a little trouble adjusting. We expected this, or something like this. Besides, I took over until you woke up.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. He took over guard duty for me and let me sleep? He¡¯s injured and needs more sleep than me, and he just did that. I couldn¡¯t breathe. How could I put him in that situation? I¡¯m a horrible, selfish person. Killa lifted my chin to look me in the eye. ¡°Just don¡¯t make a habit out of it, okay?¡± She wiped my cheek with a thumb. ¡°I can see you¡¯re truly sorry, and I know you won¡¯t let it happen again. And that¡¯s good enough. So there¡¯s one more thing we need to get straight.¡± She turned back to Bark. ¡°What¡¯s a ¡®deviant?¡¯ You called it that. Is that supposed to mean something?¡± Bark¡¯s expression grew somber. ¡°A deviant is one of the most dangerous things I know of. Any monster can become a deviant. They are any creature that has killed multiple people or other creatures. With each kill, they become stronger. It¡¯s as if they have their own system that makes them more powerful.¡± My eyes widened. ¡°That sounds terrifying.¡± Bark closed his eyes and slumped his shoulders. ¡°It is. That thing¡ª¡±he pointed to the spider¡°¡ªmust have taken dozens of lives to become as strong and intelligent as it was. That spider, as powerful as it was, there are far worse things on the floors above us.¡± ¡°You guys said you were here before. How long ago was that?¡± I continued to eat and fight the urge to regurgitate. I saw I had fifty-one thousand three hundred and thirty-six shards. Maybe I could get some professional insight on how to improve myself. How can we be of assistance? I said professional help. Besides, why have you been so quiet today? Usually you pipe up with your two-cents at every opportunity. Not to mention, when I was talking with Bark last night, you were noticeably quiet too. The individual referenced as Bark also answered the host¡¯s questions, and we didn¡¯t have anything more to add to the conversation. We have found the host has negative responses to our interjections in such situations. Therefore, until the host initiates the conversation, we will remain silent. We will continue to provide the host with bestiary information when required. ¡°It¡¯s been ten days since we came this route last,¡± Bark answered. ¡°I know that sounds like a lot of people dying and that this place shouldn¡¯t have as many spiders as it does if people are constantly trying to clear it, but the Nexus literally creates monsters as it needs to. Once we leave, this place will be filled up immediately.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we can¡¯t leave either,¡± Killa added. ¡°We have to reach the third floor. That¡¯s where we¡¯ll find Gary. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll lead you to him as directly as possible.¡± My energy bar was almost full, but I stopped and walked away. ¡°I¡¯m done. I can¡¯t eat another bite.¡± Then I walked over and grabbed some water to drink. Killa and Bark watched me closely. Well, I should ask my other question. ¡°So, since I have fifty thousand shards, what upgrade should I get?¡± Bark hummed. ¡°Well, what can you get?¡± I rolled up the sleeping bag and sat on it like a small log. Killa walked over to the spider¡¯s face. ¡°You can handle this?¡± she asked Bark. ¡°I¡¯ll just eat what Rina couldn¡¯t finish.¡± Her body stretched and flowed out of her clothes and into the monster¡¯s mouth. I blinked several times. Is she really going to eat that thing from the inside? Her abilities are wild. ¡°Uh, well, there¡¯s a really long list of things that would take me days to tell you everything. But I can ask for something generic and I¡¯ll get some suggestions.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Bark got up and went to pick up his swords. ¡°Combat, at its simplest, is your offensive capabilities against another¡¯s defensive capabilities and vice versa. Yes, there is a lot more nuances than that, but I¡¯ll try to keep things simple for now.¡± He held up one of his swords. ¡°Depending on who you ask, you have several options for victory. Everyone has a theory, and they are all right to some degree. But there are always two aspects you need to consider improving. Your offensive potential and your defensive capacity.¡± ¡°Which is more important?¡± I asked. ¡°Which should I improve right now?¡± ¡°That depends on many factors. For me, my swords amplify my offensive potential. I concentrate on improving my offense because if I can kill my opponent before they hurt me, defense isn¡¯t as important. Also, you can shore up your shortcomings with equipment, like weapons and armor.¡± He pulled his sword apart, and with a clang, he was holding two of his regular swords and putting them in the sheaths on his back. ¡°Your system of buying upgrades is like buying equipment. What equipment is important to you is up to you. But I believe you should understand your decision. You have your gun, so offensively, you¡¯re good for now.¡± I nodded and left Bark to retrieve his second sword from the spider¡¯s face. So, either I find an upgrade for offensive capabilities or defensive capabilities. If I want to save energy, I need to not get hurt. Armor sounds like a good idea. Is there a way to improve my offense and defense at the same time? Analyzing¡­ Epidermal plating (arms) Level 1 upgrade available: Cost: 47,500 shards. Neural Connection Enhancements Level 1 upgrade available: 51,000 shards. Synthetic Tendons Level 1 upgrade available: 29,000 shards for legs. 24,400 shards for arms. 19,400 shards for head and neck. Are you only providing any options I can afford right now? I¡¯d expect more options than that. For the given parameters, correct. More options will unlock for the host once the host has more augments to work in conjunction with others. The host has asked not to see augments the host cannot afford. Would you like to remove this restriction? No. That information isn¡¯t going to do me any good. Besides, I have trouble making decisions about this already. There¡¯s no reason to overcomplicate things. Neural, as in the brain? Yeah, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m quite ready for that yet. How do tendons help? I figured it would¡¯ve suggested muscles, not tendons. I know epidermal is a word for skin. And the plating sounds protective. So, yeah, I¡¯ll take that upgrade. The nanites didn¡¯t waste any time. A strange sensation coursed through my arms. It felt as if something inside my arms was vibrating. I clenched my fists as the sensation intensified, and then the itching started. I threw off my coat and saw white patches of dead skin growing all over my arms. The itching grew even worse, and I had to scratch it. As I scratched, there was no relief. It only intensified the itching the more I scratched. Then my skin started falling off. I froze when the skin on my arms started drooping and turned completely white. Everything around me stopped as I watched the skin slough off and hit the ground in a splat. My breath caught in my throat when I saw all the exposed muscles for just a moment. It was only a moment because I screamed when the exposed nerves finally sent their message to my brain. My back arched as I closed my eyes and wailed. Through the pain, a cooling sensation wrapped my arms. Thankfully, the pain died down quickly. I relaxed and leaned forward as my arms started feeling colder. When the tingling stopped, I knew it was done. My arms felt heavier and colder. When I moved my fingers, I heard what sounded like sliding metal. I can¡¯t look. ¡°How bad is it?¡± My question went unanswered for a minute. ¡°Well¡­¡± Bark broke the silence. ¡°That¡¯s definitely something new.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± Killa asked. ¡°What did you do to yourself?¡± That¡¯s the exact opposite of reassuring. Whatever, I did this. I¡¯ll have to open my eyes at some point. What I saw was both mesmerizing and terrifying. The surface of my arms was covered in a series of interlocking plates. As I looked closer, there were small bumps and irregularities that mimicked the texture of skin. The plates were shiny silver, like polished metal. I poked my arm and saw they had a soft yet rigid feel to them. But the sound of metal tapping metal concerned me more. But not only was all my skin replaced, my fingernails were too. I continued to experimentally move my arms. The faint metallic rustling was surreal. When I flexed my fingers, the plates shifted, and I noticed the subtle seam lines around my joints. The elbows, wrists, and knuckles had overlapping sections, allowing for movement while maintaining protection. My mind went blank as I stared at the final result. ¡°Rina, are you alright?¡± Killa¡¯s voice broke through my reverie as the slime woman walked away from the spider¡¯s remains. I looked up. ¡°I think I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just¡­different.¡± Bark grinned before letting out a soft laugh. ¡°Different is one way to put it.¡± I returned to staring at my arms. Yeah, different. Something felt off about them. They were stronger, but my fingers didn¡¯t feel right. It was like there was a numbness to them, but I could still feel pressure. ¡°So, why this?¡± Bark asked. I tapped my fingers against the stone, and the tapping echoed throughout the room. ¡°You said that I have to consider both offense and defense, so I asked for something that would upgrade both. And of what I could afford, this is what I took.¡± I held up my hand and twisted my arm as a demonstration. Speaking of which.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 16 Cellular regeneration
Agility: 175 Synthetic eyes: lvl. 1
Arcane: 105 HUD
Power: 56 Epidermal plating (arms) lvl. 1
Quickness: 255
Resilience: 105
Toughness: 130
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 3836
Epidermal plating (arms) level 1: The outer layer of the host¡¯s arms has been replaced with an organic metal. This metal is flexible, nonmagnetic, conductive, and immune to oxidation. The host will suffer from reduced tactile feedback in the affected area, but their toughness is doubled. Stat bonus: +20 toughness, +6 power. Epidermal plating (arms) level 2 upgrade available: Cost: 95,000 shards. Insufficient Funds. So I am actually stronger now. Wow! ¡°That¡¯s not what I was expecting, but, yeah, that¡¯ll do both.¡± Bark stood up. ¡°But only if you know how to use your hands in combat. I¡¯m guessing you don¡¯t, given your earlier demonstration with a dagger.¡± I glared at him. Rude. ¡°Correct.¡± Killa placed a hand on my knee. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? That sounded awful.¡± I patted her head. She¡¯s pretty cute when she¡¯s this small. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can use less energy to regenerate wounds if I am wounded less.¡± Killa¡¯s body rippled as I touched her head. ¡°Okay. But how are you doing on energy?¡± I looked at my HUD. ¡°It¡¯s down to two-thirds now, after the upgrade.¡± ¡°Alright, Killa, go and finish eating the spider.¡± Bark nudged the miniature slime woman back to the giant corpse. ¡°And don¡¯t forget the mana crystal.¡± Killa waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know.¡± Bark waved his hand for me to follow him. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you learning to at least throw a decent punch while Killa eats. If we have time I''ll show you how to deflect blows with those. Then we¡¯ll start heading down to the third level.¡± He pointed at my hands. ¡°And I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re going to need to get used to holding the dagger with your hands again. That metal looks like it will make things difficult.¡± I pushed off my knees and grabbed my jacket again. Things just keep getting stranger and stranger. Killa¡¯s two feet tall, I¡¯ve got metal arms, and we¡¯re descending further down a dungeon full of spiders that Killa¡¯s probably going to make me eat to recover energy. What kind of weirdness is this Gary going to have? Is he going to be a talking head in a jar of liquid? I hope not. 25 Secret Stash After Bark gave me a full tutorial on how to throw a punch, Killa had finished eating almost all the spider. The monster core she pulled out from the creature¡¯s head was a milky blue and had a more noticeable luster to it. She ¡°generously¡± left me one leg, which I had to eat before she would let us go to the next floor. Yay, more spider meat. Yuck! I did get the hang of throwing a decent punch pretty quickly by Bark¡¯s standard. Of course, he had me punching the stone walls to test out my new skin. And surprisingly, it didn¡¯t hurt. I didn¡¯t break the stone, but as long as I kept my wrist straight, my hands didn¡¯t hurt. Reloading and holding my gun felt a little off, but it felt like I could still aim well enough. The dagger kept slipping through my fingers if I tried to shift my grip on it. It wasn¡¯t a problem since I was gravitating towards using my gun more anyway. Why bring a knife to a gunfight? Bark was looking better; his movements weren¡¯t as painful anymore, and we even removed the splints on his arms. But we couldn¡¯t put off our descent any further. But as we walked downwards, Killa kept falling behind. ¡°Will you two slow down?¡± She waved her arms as she ran to keep up. Her backpack nearly dragged on the ground as she walked. I couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her. Bark snickered. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Short legs?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, longlegs.¡± Killa glared at the shaylip. ¡°At least I can carry my pack.¡± ¡°Your pack is as large as you are. Are you sure you don¡¯t want us to put you in it and carry you?¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back another laugh. Killa pouted. ¡°I¡¯m glad I can be the butt of your jokes. At least Rina¡¯s not freaking out again.¡± Bark bowed and waved for Killa to proceed before us. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fall behind, you can lead.¡± Bark was looking better. His arms were at least no longer needing to be restrained, but I could see him favoring both of his left arms still. ¡°I¡¯m with Rina on this one. With you being so short, you look just so adorable.¡± The slime woman cracked a smile. ¡°If I had a mirror, I¡¯d probably agree with you.¡± Our progress was slow as we let Killa set the pace. And since I didn¡¯t need the light from Killa¡¯s magic as much, she wrapped the illuminating tentacle around Bark¡¯s waist. The first room we came across had me feeling like we walked into an office space. There were tables and chairs haphazardly tipped over, thrown around, and damaged throughout the room. I even saw what looked like cabinets with drawers and counters that were also damaged. There was one thing missing: spider webs. And I couldn¡¯t have been more relieved. ¡°Keep your guard up.¡± Bark tapped my shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t like the feel of this. It¡¯s too quiet.¡± I turned and cocked my head. ¡°This whole dungeon has been silent except for us. We¡¯re the noisemakers. Maybe, just maybe, there aren¡¯t any more spiders to worry about. We killed plenty on the first two floors.¡± Killa tugged my pants leg. ¡°Nuh-uh kiddo. You¡¯re going to hope there are spiders on this floor. Because if not, then that means something even worse moved in. Something we might not be prepared to handle.¡± You two are real buzzkills right now. I slumped my shoulders before straightening up and flexing my fingers before pulling out my gun. As we walked, the air felt even colder. My resistance was over a hundred now, but this felt colder than the desert night. Maybe the spiders left because someone turned the air conditioning on. While spiders have an aversion to cold, that seems unlikely. Do you have any ideas? Insufficient information. I thought so. The three of us moved through the chamber and into another room. The absence of spider webs, which had become an expected feature of this dungeon, continued. I really hope Killa¡¯s wrong. There better not be anything worse than spiders down here. The silence was unnerving, our footsteps echoing in the cold, damp air as we walked through another room. It was another room full of upturned tables and chairs. In the center of the room, we found scattered remnants of what might have once been an adventurer¡¯s camp. Tattered bedrolls, shattered glass vials, and overturned tables seemed to tell a tale of chaos and retreat. ¡°Stay close,¡± Bark whispered. His head was on a constant swivel. ¡°We can¡¯t handle another deviant.¡± ¡°Are you sure this wasn¡¯t from the deviant from upstairs?¡± Killa asked. ¡°If it killed down here, then moved up. It¡¯s possible; that¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡± Bark relaxed slightly. ¡°It¡¯s possible, but I really hope there are not two deviants in the same dungeon. That shouldn¡¯t be possible. I¡¯d think they would have tried to kill each other by now.¡± I thought about our encounter with the spider upstairs and how we had to clear away the webs from the door down here. ¡°Bark might be right.¡± Both of them turned towards me. ¡°Think about it. That spider waited until we entered before it sprung its trap. It couldn¡¯t leave, so it needed food to come to it. But it blocked the entrance to this floor. I think it was scared of something coming up to it.¡± What do you think, Orange? That¡¯s a possible conclusion. It could¡¯ve also been nothing more than a trap to keep anything it caught in its lair. Killa¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Unsettling,¡± Bark finished. ¡°So, should we leave?¡± I asked. ¡°If something like that spider is scared of what¡¯s down here, I want no part of it.¡± Bark turned his head and clenched his fist so hard it shook. My heart pounded in my chest. He doesn¡¯t want to leave. Even after hearing that? How desperate is he? ¡°We¡¯ll just, just... No. Let¡¯s go.¡± Bark looked defeated. ¡°We will just have to go without the answers for now. We have to live first and foremost.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I sighed. Bark shuffled his feet towards the next room. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head to the secret entrance. It¡¯ll get us home faster.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we just go back the way we came?¡± I asked. ¡°This way is faster,¡± Killa answered. ¡°Unless you want to stay in this place another day?¡± There is also the possibility the cosmic assassin has already returned to the Soul Nexus and is following the host. If the host runs into it now, the host and allies will be at a disadvantage. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. I nodded. ¡°Fair enough. Emergency exit it is.¡± About an hour passed as we went from desolate room to desolate room. Bark and Killa exchanged worried glances, clearly as unnerved as I was by the thought of something more dangerous than the giant spider prowling the dungeon. The nagging feeling that something was not right settled in the pit of my stomach and sent a shiver down my spine constantly. Bark led us to a tiny side room. He nodded to a wall. ¡°You¡¯re up, Killa.¡± She saluted, and her body flattened into a puddle before she seemed to slip in between a seam along the floor. I looked closer and saw that there was a seam that almost looked like a door along the wall that went up to the ceiling. We heard a click, and Bark started pushing the section of wall Killa slid under. He was looking like he was moving better and wasn¡¯t in constant pain. The wall moved back and started lifting as if on a hinge attached to the ceiling. Killa smiled as she waved when she came into view. ¡°I¡¯d welcome you to the exit, but there¡¯s a big problem.¡± I looked past her and saw that the walls had collapsed. ¡°It¡¯s not supposed to look like that, is it?¡± Bark held the door up and sighed. ¡°This is going from bad to worse, and now, finally, outright evil.¡± ¡°Give me a minute to see how much is collapsed.¡± Killa pointed to the rocks. ¡°Maybe we can just dig enough to slip through.¡± ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡± Bark closed his eyes as he lowered the door. Killa nodded before burrowing into the dirt. I looked at Bark, who let the door close. ¡°So what do we do if it¡¯s too bad?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Just head out the way we came in. But if it is like this, then this entrance is closed forever. We¡¯ll have to go through the dungeon again after we recover.¡± He threw off his pack and slid his back down a wall as he sat down. I looked at the cave-in, and something caught my eye. ¡°Hey Bark, what¡¯s that?¡± He looked where I was pointing. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Dig it out if you¡¯re that curious.¡± It¡¯s only a small section and near the front. It should be fine, right? So I started digging with my hands. They had no problem sifting through the dirt, and none of the dirt slipped through the seams around my joints. It wasn¡¯t long before I pulled out a backpack. Its straps were tangled and shredded. Bark¡¯s eyes narrowed as I placed it between us. ¡°Someone was here,¡± he muttered, his voice low. ¡°Recently. Did they cause the cave-in? Or did they escape from something that caused it?¡± ¡°Your guess is as good as mine.¡± Killa popped her head back out of the hole she dove into. ¡°No-go, fellas. It¡¯s at least thirty meters.¡± She looked at the pack I had just opened. ¡°Oh, what have you got there? Someone left something behind?¡± Killa slithered closer. Her eyes lit up when she saw the backpack¡¯s contents. ¡°Potions.¡± She whistled. ¡°And a whole stash of them too.¡± I pulled one of the vials of shapes filling the bag. While all the bottles were different shapes, they were all bright green. My eyes widened as I saw the label, ¡°Meal in a Bottle.¡± That sounds like food to me. And I need the energy. I can eat all of these and not have to eat any more spiders for the rest of this trip. Killa¡¯s voice held a mix of caution and concern. ¡°Rina, I wouldn¡¯t...¡± Before she could finish, my fingers had already popped the top of one of the vials and brought the vial to my lips. I¡¯m not eating another spider. ¡°Rina, wait!¡± Bark¡¯s voice rang out, but it was too late. The potion tasted strange¡ªa mix of flavors that I couldn¡¯t quite place. It almost tastes like sour apples mixed with grapes that have been soaked in something I¡¯ve never tasted before. As the liquid slid down my throat, a warmth spread through my body, and a tingle told me the nanites went to work. My energy bar filled up to just under full. Oh, yeah. Those are so much better than eating some bugs. I looked in the pack and saw more than a dozen bottles. ¡°Rina, what are you drinking?¡± Killa snatched the bottle from my hand. ¡°Do you even know what those potions do? Or what kind of effect they might have on you?¡± ¡°It said it was a meal potion,¡± I answered hesitantly. Bark groaned. ¡°Rina, do you have any idea what you¡¯ve just consumed? Those potions aren¡¯t just meal replacements. They¡¯re rather potent and need to be diluted in water before you consume them.¡± Killa waved the bottle. ¡°Drinking a meal potion straight like that is poisonous to most species.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°If it¡¯s poisonous, why is it a meal potion? Why would people willingly drink poison?¡± Killa frowned. ¡°Normally it isn¡¯t poisonous, it¡¯s just the concentration of it that causes problems.¡± I don¡¯t understand. The host can think of it like this: the human body requires salt, but in copious quantities, is harmful and dehydrates them. We can absorb all nutrients and calories without harming the host. It is safe for the host to consume these potions. That makes sense. We suggest the host consumes as much calories since they are available. It¡¯s not a spider so I¡¯m all for it. I scooped up another bottle. ¡°It¡¯s safe for me to consume them because of my nanites. So, can I drink them?¡± Bark¡¯s mouth gaped. ¡°What?¡± ¡°No,¡± Killa answered with a hard expression. ¡°But didn¡¯t you guys want me to be in the lead?¡± I asked. ¡°It¡¯s safer for me to have as much energy available at all times. Since I can have no limit, drinking now is preferable to in the middle of a fight.¡± Bark waved his hand to Killa. ¡°She makes a good point.¡± Killa hung her head. ¡°Fine, but just save one for emergencies.¡± I downed the second just as fast as the first. But I didn¡¯t stop there. I downed vial after vial, my energy bar filling a second time and partially into the third when I finished the final bottle. ¡°You done?¡± Killa took the final bottle from me. I let out a loud burp and sighed as I leaned against the wall. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s just what I needed.¡± Even though I didn¡¯t feel full, something about not eating a spider was satisfying. Killa¡¯s expression turned from surprise to exasperation. ¡°Rina, are you serious right now? You downed all of those potions like they were nothing! I know you said what you said, but seeing it is another thing.¡± I chuckled sheepishly. ¡°Yeah. I really, really don¡¯t want to eat any more spiders.¡± Bark pointed at the pile of empty bottles. ¡°By the way, you just chugged down almost twelve thousand shards worth of potions in minutes.¡± I blinked several times. ¡°Wait, what? Twelve thousand shards? Are you serious?¡± My diet is going to bankrupt me. Bark pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Yes, Rina. That¡¯s the cost of those potions. You just gulped down a fortune. I knew you could eat a lot, but that¡¯s unheard of.¡± Killa rolled the bottle into the pile of other empty ones. ¡°Do you even realize how much you¡¯ve just eaten?¡± I shook my head. ¡°At standard potency, each of those is roughly four meals worth.¡± I counted the bottles. Fourteen times four... fifty-six. I ate fifty-six meals? My face flushed and I shifted uncomfortably. ¡°I was just so sick of spiders, and I need the energy. But¡­¡± Bark¡¯s voice softened as he placed the final bottle in his pack. ¡°I guess it¡¯s fair. We¡¯ve been making you eat them while I eat regular food.¡± I tried to put on a smile for them. ¡°On the bright side, I¡¯m all ready to go.¡± Killa chuckled and shook her head as she waved her hand up. ¡°Let¡¯s just get home. Do you mind, Bark?¡± Bark stood up and picked up his pack. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get going. And for the rest of our time here, Rina, you¡¯re taking point.¡± But just as Bark opened the door, a figure emerged from the darkness across the room. The creature stood about a head taller than Bark, its body lithe and sinewy. Its skin was a deep, mottled shade of gray, textured like aged leather. Its head was elongated, reminiscent of an octopus, but with four long, slender tentacles surrounding a central, beak-like orifice. The tentacles twitched as they draped down its front. Dark eyes seemed to glow from the light around Bark¡¯s waist. The creature was wearing an intricately woven robe that seemed to shift colors as I stared at it. Strange symbols and patterns pulsed and danced with a soft glow on its sleeves. A cloak of shadowy material billowed from its back, blending with the darkness behind it. Each hand only had three fingers. ¡°Well, what do we have here?¡± I didn¡¯t hear a voice through my ears. It was like something was speaking directly into my mind¡ªa deep, slithering voice. ¡°Interlopers? Interesting.¡± 26 Mind Games The person¡ªthing¡ªtapped its fingers together. ¡°A local, a human with strange armor, and a truly odd specimen. You made it past my pet; so you¡¯re not helpless.¡± Pet? Did it just say that thing Bark called a deviant was its pet? How? Its voice echoed in my head again. ¡°You can come out and put the door down. There is no reason for you to stand and gawk.¡± I exchanged glances with my companions. Killa nodded her head forward. We cautiously stepped forward. ¡°So, you know what we are, but what are you?¡± I asked. I shivered as its tentacles flicked towards me. *Silence!¡± Something pressed into my mind. ¡°You¡¯re the intruders. I¡¯ll ask the questions here.¡± The monstrous person waved their hand in an arc in front of them. Their hand glowed a pale blue as it moved. ¡°You want to answer my questions.¡± I want to answer his questions. Something about it seemed less scary. There was a buzzing in the back of my head that got annoying really quickly. The host¡¯s mind is being influenced. Please disregard the creature¡¯s suggestions. Why? ¡°Okay.¡± Bark stood up straight and stepped in front of us. Killa pulled on Bark¡¯s arm. ¡°What are you doing? We don¡¯t owe this creature anything.¡± ¡°Curious.¡± My new friend stroked its tentacles as it narrowed its eyes on my slime friend. ¡°You obviously have intelligence, but I can¡¯t detect any cerebral presence. Why?¡± I had to tell him about Killa. ¡°She¡¯s a slime woman,¡± I piped up. ¡°She talks without lungs and is extremely flexible. But she used to be taller too. Oh, her magic is always a tentacle, so you should be friends.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± The tentacle person held up his hand. Why? If he is going to be our new friend, he should know about her. It is not the host''s friend. The host should either kill the enemy or flee. But he¡¯s friendly. ¡°Rina, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± She looked at Bark. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into both of you?¡± ¡°You seem to be unaffected by my magic.¡± It pointed at Killa. ¡°Dispose of her, since you know so much about her.¡± Something pressed into the side of my mind. Why would I kill my friend? ¡°No. She¡¯s my friend.¡± A heavy pressure bore down on my mind. I dropped to a knee and grabbed my head. ¡°Kill her!¡± No. She¡¯s my friend. You will not make me. The pressure increases. Darkness crept into the corners of my vision. ¡°Your reason for living is to do what I say. Now kill her!¡± You¡¯re wrong. I¡¯m supposed to find out why I¡¯m not allowed to exist. That guy said I have to die. Then I was told my existence was a crime. Now you¡¯re telling me that I have to do what you say? ¡°You can¡¯t tell me what to do. Nobody will tell me what to do!¡± I screamed at the top of my lungs. The pressure on my mind released. I stood up, pulled out my gun, and aimed it at the creature messing with my mind. Before I could pull the trigger, Bark slammed his sword onto my arm. His eyes were glossed over. The resounding clang of metal on metal surprised me, and the shock throughout my arms caused me to drop my gun. He then pulled me by my hair, wrapped his arms around me, and placed his blade against my throat. Killa¡¯s hand was glowing, but she stopped. ¡°Bark, what are you thinking?¡± My arms weren¡¯t cut or dented as I expected. The durability of my arms would have been more impressive if I wasn¡¯t concerned with something more important. I froze as the cold steel pressed against my throat sent a wave of fear through me. The creature¡¯s tentacles flicked. Its voice resounded in my mind, ¡°Defiance, interesting, but futile. Your wills are mine to command. If you won¡¯t serve me willingly, then I will force you. If you don¡¯t want me to order her death, you¡¯ll do what I say.¡± Bark¡¯s eyes remained vacant. The blade against my throat dug in a bit. I could feel blood trickling down from the slight wound. Orange, don¡¯t heal the wound, not yet. Killa¡¯s eyes darted back and forth between Bark and the tentacle-faced creature until she settled on the creature. ¡°What do you want from us? Why capture us? Why not just kill us?¡± The creature¡¯s gaze shifted to Killa, its eyes narrowing. ¡°Death is a simple end, but useless to me at this point. There are secrets hidden deep within the Soul Nexus. Secrets I want to extract.¡± The tentacles twitched. That¡¯s getting really creepy. ¡°You are something that can give me access to those secrets.¡± I exchanged a glance with Killa, her eyes conveying her confusion. This creature wants to learn about the Soul Nexus, but for some reason, it can¡¯t. But why not? What can we do to change that? ¡°Who are you?¡± Killa¡¯s voice remained steady, though I could detect the undercurrent of anger beneath her words. The creature seemed to hesitate, and its right eye seemed to twitch. ¡°Thralls don¡¯t deserve to know my name. No more pointless questions. Killing you would be a waste, but it¡¯s something I will do if you test me further. You¡¯ve come here for something, haven¡¯t you? Something related to the Soul Nexus.¡± The voice in my head made a hiss. Killa¡¯s eyes narrowed, her mind racing. ¡°The Soul Nexus? What do you want to know about it? Why go through all this? You could just ask.¡± ¡°Ask?¡± The creature¡¯s laugh echoed in my mind and sent a chill down my spine. ¡°You think I would stoop to asking? Nevertheless, the Nexus¡¯ secrets are elusive. It can¡¯t be compelled or coerced by conventional means. Communication has been impossible. However, you thralls are uniquely capable of communicating with it.¡± Killa¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You want to use us to access the Nexus¡¯s knowledge? Why? How?¡± The creature¡¯s gaze bore into hers. ¡°The point of contact holds clues to the Nexus¡¯ secrets, but I can¡¯t communicate with it. So you will have to be my proxy. But your compliance has been... lacking.¡± The voice took on a sinister edge. ¡°So, will you do as you are told? Or do things have to get personal?¡± Bark¡¯s grip on the sword tightened, and I could feel the blade biting into my skin. I need a plan, a way to free him from the creature¡¯s control. Killa¡¯s gaze shifted between Bark and me, her hands clenched and relaxing repetitively. To do that, I need Killa to handle that creature controlling him. ¡°Your defiance is tiresome,¡± the creature hissed in my mind. ¡°One word from me, and your friend¡¯s life is forfeit.¡± Stolen novel; please report. I could see it in her eyes. Killa was preparing something, something dangerous. I¡¯m probably not going to like this. My gun was still at my feet, too far away to be of use. As the creature spoke, I saw Killa¡¯s magical tentacle shimmer with more intense light. She was readying an attack, and I knew that I had to be prepared to act as well. Yeah, she¡¯s definitely going to attack. Which means Bark is going to slit my throat. Orange, can you tell me if he cuts off my head, will it kill me? Yes. The host can survive if the host has sufficient energy stores. Which the host does not. If the host¡¯s head is reattached to the torso, the host will survive using significantly less energy. But if enough of the host¡¯s brain is destroyed, they will die instantaneously. Minor brain damage and other injuries will be regenerated with sufficient energy. That¡¯s unsettling. ¡°Killa, it¡¯s fine.¡± I swallowed. ¡°Rina,¡± she whispered. ¡°Are you going to be okay?¡± Here¡¯s to hoping he just cuts my throat. I forced a nervous smile, the creature still in the corner of my vision. ¡°Yes, Killa, I¡¯ll be fine. Just don¡¯t let me lose my head.¡± Killa cocked her head to the side before nodding. She turned to the tentacle creature. ¡°I¡¯ve decided on a third option. I¡¯m going to kill you.¡± Her arm glowed white, and she threw a white tentacle at his face. It latched onto its face and wrapped around its head. Bark¡¯s blade sliced through my throat, and pain surged through me. My hands instinctively clamped onto the gushing wound as blood soaked my fingers. My breaths came in ragged gasps, and I could feel the blood filling my lungs. My nanites surged into action, knitting the torn tissue and sealing the wound. The pain dulled, replaced by a tingling sensation as the nanites worked. Killa¡¯s attack was equally quick, her magical tentacle latching onto the creature¡¯s face. Her other arm glowed as a green tentacle wrapped around her and threw her towards the creature. The tentacle faced guy let out a gurgling sound as it clutched the tentacle, covering it with its own tentacles. Killa then landed on its head, wrapping herself around it. Its hands and tentacles flailed wildly, striking Killa¡¯s body as she grappled with it. Killa tightened around the creature¡¯s head. The creature resisted as its tentacles and hands continued striking at Killa. Bark clutched his head, screaming as he dropped his sword. I grabbed my handgun and shot the creature in the stomach. It stumbled into the wall, and something seemed to shift in Killa¡¯s body. The creature¡¯s eyes seemed to collapse, and it lurched before slumping to the ground. The tentacles twitched in their death throes as their head started dissolving inside Killa¡¯s body. I lowered the gun and tried to catch my breath. I coughed up blood as I felt my nanites push it out of my lungs. My energy bar only lowered by a fifth as a result. ¡°Rina, are you alright?¡± Killa asked as she knelt in front of me. Her eyes sparked as she looked up at me as I spat out another glob of blood. ¡°I¡¯m going to live.¡± After another hacking fit, I wiped the blood from my lips. My lungs weren¡¯t tingling, so it was the last of the blood. ¡°It¡¯s just some blood in my lungs. I¡¯m done.¡± Bark sank to the ground, his eyes pouring tears down his face. ¡°Rina, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± He held out a hand as he choked on his own voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to... I couldn¡¯t control myself.¡± I offered him a weak smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Bark. That thing really got into our heads.¡± I looked down at my arms where Bark had hit them with his sword. ¡°This upgrade has already paid off. You would have cut my hands off if my arms weren¡¯t covered in this strange metal.¡± Bark slumped as more tears continued to flow. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but I did. I had to. It was like I needed to.¡± ¡°Bark, stop.¡± Killa held up a hand. ¡°We get it. Whatever that thing did to your mind was awful. I¡¯ve never seen something like that before. But we¡¯re still standing; it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Believe me, Bark, I know exactly what you¡¯re trying to say.¡± I grabbed his shoulder. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy to break out of his control.¡± Bark wiped his face on his arm. ¡°But you did. You don¡¯t know how helpless I felt. It took control so easily, I was useless. I was more of a harm to you two than anything. I could hear Killa¡¯s voice, but it sounded so far away.¡± I shook my head. ¡°You didn¡¯t do any permanent damage.¡± I held up my arms and rubbed my neck with a hand. ¡°See? It¡¯s fine. If there was one of us who could take it, it¡¯s me.¡± I got up and offered Bark a hand. ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t you, so there¡¯s nothing to forgive. Now, let¡¯s move on from this. My guess is that it was the reason there were no spiders down here. It called that deviant spider from upstairs its pet.¡± Killa nodded. ¡°It also talked about communicating with a part of the Nexus. That has to be Gary. But why couldn¡¯t he talk to Gary? Gary loves talking with anyone and everyone.¡± I waved a hand at the slime woman. ¡°Why didn¡¯t his mind tricks work on you? Because you don¡¯t actually have a brain? But you heard it talking to you, right?¡± Orange? Insufficient information. Killa crossed her arms and tapped her chin. ¡°I didn''t hear him, more of felt him. But that actually answers both questions.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± If that answers both questions, then... ¡°How does this Gary not have a brain? What is Gary?¡± And how does Killa think if she doesn''t have a brain? The same way some powerful elementals can have thoughts: magic. Can you elaborate? No. We have no knowledge of how magic works or is used. We only know it exists and the effects it can have. Killa walked around Bark and pushed him up. ¡°Let¡¯s go check up on him. There¡¯s no point ruining the surprise now.¡± Bark barely held himself up and moped to the door. Something about that creature really got to him. Maybe if I give him some time, he¡¯ll be back to his old self again. Is he still blaming himself for what he did, despite us telling him it¡¯s not his fault? My heart ached to see him so despondent, but I couldn¡¯t find any words to say. Killa gave me a worried look before grabbing her pack and leading us out. As we walked through the halls, the situation in the room played out in my mind on repeat. Is that the reaction other people will have if we see them in dungeons? That creature seemed less interested in climbing the Soul Nexus than studying it. Orange, do you have any idea what that thing was? No such creature or species exists in our data banks. That was something you knew nothing about. That¡¯s worrying. We are not omniscient. I mindlessly followed the other two. Each room was a blur until we stopped in front of a set of double doors that were already open. Two bodies were stacked on each other in front of the gate. Both were shaylips and clearly dead by the openings in their head. Their eye sockets were hollowed out, their skull below the eyes was crushed, and a long opening split the back of their skulls. From what I could see, it looked like something ate their brains. Bark¡¯s face dropped the moment he saw them. He moved the bodies so that they were neatly lined up next to each other. Killa and I just stood and watched him handle the bodies with an almost uncharacteristic gentleness. ¡°Two more lost.¡± Bark¡¯s whisper was heavier than the stale air. ¡°I¡¯ve failed two more souls.¡± I wanted to say something, but Killa placed a hand on me and shook her head. Our friend hung over the two corpses in an unsettling silence for several minutes. He broke the silence by going through their pockets. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I screeched. Bark didn¡¯t stop, pulling out a small vial of black liquid. It was much thinner than the liquid metal of inactive nanites. ¡°Whatever resources they have are better suited to be used by us rather than wasting away here. It¡¯s too late to save them, but the least I can do is make their deaths worth it.¡± He held up the vial. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Not a clue.¡± He pocketed it. ¡°It¡¯s an oil harvested by darkrootshroom.¡± Killa tilted her head. ¡°That¡¯s not one I¡¯m familiar with. Is that something specific to the Soul Nexus?¡± He nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s available in a few other dungeons on this floor. If they used it against that mind controlling creature they probably still would be alive.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I asked. Bark stood up, seemingly only finding another vial of the oil. ¡°This oil disrupts mana. If they coated their weapons in it and struck it, it wouldn¡¯t have been able to control them like it did me. But if it controlled them, why did it kill them?¡± Killa pointed to one of them. ¡°From what I can tell, it looks like it ate their brains.¡± I shuddered. Gross. Bark motioned to the doors. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Killa followed in behind our depressed friend. Inside was a room full of rocky debris. The ceiling had collapsed at one point, but a large portion of rock had been pushed to the sides, revealing something. On top of a heavily scratched metal pillar sat an equally damaged dome-shaped robotic head. It had eyes that were square yellow lights and a rectangular yellow light stretched horizontally for a mouth. ¡°Has the mute gone?¡± a static robotic voice asked. As I heard the words, the light from the mouth of the robotic head flickered. I pointed at the head. ¡°Is that Gary?¡± Killa skipped in front of the head and waved her arms out. ¡°Yup. Rina, meet Gary. Gary, meet Rina. You¡¯ll have a lot to talk about.¡± Of course. Why couldn¡¯t anything be normal here? ¡°There is something about you that doesn¡¯t belong,¡± Gary said. ¡°But I welcome you all the same artificial one, Rina.¡± He knows I¡¯m an artificial soul? 27 Desperation Bark walked up closer to Gary. ¡°Since this was our original goal, we might as well get on with it. I want to know about Rina¡¯s nanites. How do I get my own? What did she do to get a different system than the rest of us?¡± ¡°One inquiry at a time, Bark.¡± Although Gary¡¯s voice was robotic, there was an almost human reflection as he sounded annoyed with Bark. He¡¯s a literal talking head on a podium. ¡°I cannot answer any of your questions because I do not have the answers.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Bark stomped his foot as he raised his voice. ¡°Because I have no interaction with this Rina¡¯s nanites,¡± Gary answered in an even tone. I stepped around Bark. ¡°Then tell me how you know I have an artificial soul.¡± The light for Gary¡¯s eyes flickered several times. ¡°I do not have a means of visual feedback like you do. But I see through the system, as I am intrinsically integrated with it. But now I understand why it is you look like you do not belong. It is because you do not.¡± I clenched my jaw for a moment. Someone else is telling me that I don¡¯t belong. Why do people keep doing that? ¡°I decide where I belong and what I do. I¡¯m sick of hearing that I have to die, that I don¡¯t belong, or that I have to do this or that.¡± I pointed at the robotic head as I stepped closer. ¡°Why is it so hard to let me just live? I didn¡¯t ask for any of this.¡± ¡°That is not my problem.¡± Gary¡¯s response aggravated me. I curled my hand into a fist as I was about to punch him. ¡°My role is to simply provide answers to inquiries.¡± My fingers ached as I clenched my fists. We do not recommend violence in this situation. The host should continue asking questions, one at a time. ¡°Then answer my inquiry about Rina¡¯s nanites.¡± Bark pulled me away from Garry. ¡°Will you two settle down?¡± Killa marched her little self between Bark and Gary. ¡°You¡¯re acting irrational right now. Rina, you¡¯re upset; I understand that. But Bark, you need to give Gary a chance to talk to Rina to get the answers you want.¡± Bark¡¯s frustration was palpable as he paced in front of the robotic head. ¡°This is ridiculous. You¡¯re supposed to be connected to the Nexus. You¡¯re supposed to know things. So, why don¡¯t you know about Rina¡¯s nanites?¡± Gary¡¯s mechanical voice held a hint of exasperation, ¡°I have access to the Nexus, but not all knowledge is accessible. I am restricted from certain data. The Soul Nexus is not all-knowing. And Rina is an anomaly.¡± Killa turned and looked up at the golem. ¡°Then what do you need to learn more about the nanites?¡± ¡°Direct connection.¡± Gary¡¯s response ceased all movement as we just stared at him. I blinked. ¡°And how do you do that?¡± The podium opened up a secret door that revealed a plaque with an indent of a handprint. ¡°Place your hand in the center, and I will do the rest.¡± Killa and Bark stared at me for a moment. Well, what do I have to lose? Hopefully, this will give me some more answers. I did as Gary said and placed my hand in the indent. My hand was clearly smaller than the imprint. But I concentrated on the feeling of the stone, only to realize I couldn¡¯t feel it. My skin scraped across the stone with the slight movements of me curling my fingertips, but again, I didn¡¯t feel anything. The host has reduced tactile feedback in their arms and hands. A click interrupted my musings. Suddenly, a metal spike was protruding from the center of my hand. The pain took a second before it caught up with what I saw. Before I could dislodge my hand, two hooks extended out of the spike and pinned my hand to the plaque. I screamed as I felt the pain. My knees went weak as I tried desperately to pull my hand free. As much as it hurt, I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the sight of my impaled hand. I tugged and pulled, but my hand was thoroughly trapped. To heal the damage, the host must remove the obstruction. I couldn¡¯t escape, so I started punching the metal head in the hopes that it¡¯d free me. The clang of metal on metal joined my endless screaming as I threw punch after punch at Gary¡¯s head. It didn¡¯t change anything, and I could feel my heart rate rising. My nanites were trying to repair the damage and force the spike from my hand, but even they couldn¡¯t do it. To heal the damage, the host must remove the obstruction. I¡¯m trying! Do you think I enjoy this? Does it look like I¡¯m having fun here? Killa joined me and tried to pull at the hooks pinning my hand. She got as far as I did and was saying something, but I drowned out her voice with my wailing. Without warning, the spike dropped, unpinned my hand, and retracted back into the hand imprint without leaving any sign it was there to begin with. Reflexively, I recoiled my hand and cradled it. I watched as the bones were shifted back into place and the muscles filled the hole. When the metal layer of my skin folded back over and returned to normal, I finally returned my attention to the evil robot head. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°Direct contact with the nanites was required,¡± Gary answered. ¡°The information I acquired was... unexpected.¡± ¡°You stabbed me!¡± I rubbed at the phantom pain in my hand. ¡°How is that required?¡± ¡°The nanites are inside your body, correct?¡± I didn¡¯t answer Gary¡¯s rhetorical question. ¡°To establish direct contact, we needed to penetrate the skin. I expected that you understood that. The pain was an unfortunate side effect, but your skin isn¡¯t easy to penetrate. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience.¡± I thought that was the idea of the upgrade. But it looks like it came back to bite me, hard. Bark arched an eyebrow. ¡°You said the information you found was unexpected, how so?¡± ¡°To start with, her nanites are not unlike a golem by definition.¡± Gary paused for an uncomfortably long time. None of us moved or said anything. I barely remembered to breathe as I waited for more information that I knew had to be coming. ¡°But instead of one intelligence controlling a single body like every other golem created, it is one controlling many. I did not know that was possible.¡± ¡°Is she, it, some kind of artificial intelligence?¡± We can be understood as an artificial intelligence. ¡°Who?¡± both my companions asked simultaneously. ¡°Uh¡­¡± How do I say this without sounding completely nuts? ¡°The system created a voice that communicates with me and helps me use it, sort of.¡± They both eyed me as if worried. But Gary spoke up first. ¡°An entity connected to the Soul Nexus¡¯s system would make sense. But I also noticed that the nanites are infused with an unclassified energy source.¡± That might be the cosmic energy that Orange talked about before. ¡°Have you heard of cosmic energy?¡± Gary¡¯s eyes went dark for a moment before lighting back up. ¡°There is no such substance or phenomenon to my knowledge.¡± The cosmic energy has dispersed. We do not know what this Gary is mentioning. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on anymore.¡± Killa shook her head and started pacing. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Bark scratched the back of his head. ¡°So what does all this mean? How can I get to use the same system as her? More importantly, how does any of this information help me get use of her nanites?¡± ¡°One inquiry at a time.¡± Gary really has a one-track mind or something. Why can¡¯t he handle multiple questions at once? Gary may have a single-core processor. ¡°Fine, her nanites then.¡± Bark eyed the robotic head intently. ¡°Can she give them to me?¡± ¡°I have determined that Rina can no longer live without her nanites. They have become so ingrained into her biology that if they were to all be removed, her body would shut down. Because of that, the nanites will not function outside of her biology.¡± ¡°Her system?¡± Bark pleaded. ¡°I can¡¯t access any information about it. Assume that you will not be able to integrate with the same system.¡± Gary¡¯s words seemed to break something in Bark. There was a subtle shift in his face as his body seemed to shake. He jabbed a finger towards Gary. ¡°And why can¡¯t I get the same system as Rina? She gets some upgrades from her nanites, and I want that. I need that.¡± ¡°I cannot provide you with her nanites because they are not simply a matter of acquisition,¡± Gary replied, its digital tone tinged with impatience. ¡°Rina¡¯s system is distinct due to unique circumstances. Attempting to integrate those nanites into your body would be unstable and could prove potentially fatal.¡± Bark shook his fist at Gary. ¡°Fatal or not, I don¡¯t care. I need those nanites. I need them, and I¡¯ll take the risk. No matter the cost, I will succeed at climbing the Nexus and become the fifth.¡± He then turned to me. There was something terrifying about how he looked at me. Killa stepped in front of Bark, placing her hands on his hips. ¡°Bark, what has gotten into you? You need to listen to Gary. If he says it¡¯s dangerous, we need to consider...¡± ¡°Consider what?¡± Bark snapped, cutting her off. ¡°Another alternative? What if there are none? What if my people have to stay in the Nexus and suffer for hundreds, thousands, millions of years because I couldn¡¯t make it? No. I can¡¯t allow that.¡± One of his hands went to his belt as he pushed Killa to the side. ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡± I took a step back and held up my hands. Bark pulled out a dagger I didn¡¯t know he had. ¡°You¡¯re holding back. You need to share the wealth. We¡¯re a team, aren¡¯t we? So give me your nanites, or I will take them.¡± I took another step back. Orange, please tell me there¡¯s something I can do. There has got to be a way to share my system with him. It is impossible to integrate with another host that has already integrated with another system. The golem is correct. Any attempt to assimilate the host¡¯s nanites into another host will likely be lethal for the recipient. My heart raced as I backed away from Bark. Then my back hit a wall. ¡°Bark, please, don¡¯t do this. You¡¯re my friend, and this won¡¯t work. I¡¯m not lying. My system agrees with Gary. This could kill you.¡± Bark glared at me more intensely. ¡°If you were really my friend, then you wouldn¡¯t be hogging all that power for yourself. You would be helping me climb the Nexus.¡± ¡°But I am helping you.¡± I held out my hand. ¡°I want to reach the top with both of you.¡± ¡°It seems you were followed.¡± Gary¡¯s voice cut through the pandemonium. ¡°Another entity is headed this way.¡± I didn¡¯t have time to digest what Gary said before Bark had grabbed my arm. There was a coldness and fear in Bark¡¯s voice as he said, ¡°I¡¯m out of time.¡± Panic surged within me as I watched him raise the dagger over his head in a reverse grip. ¡°Bark, no.¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Killa shouted. Her arms stretched and wrapped around the arm holding the dagger. The dagger lurched towards me but stopped. Bark then drew one of his swords, spun around, and brought it down on Killa. Her body split in two and fell into two puddles only to reform with a murderous look. Bark pulled out the oil he collected from the bodies earlier. His thumb snapped off the top before he plunged it and his fist into Killa¡¯s chest. The shock in her face slowly twisted into a horrifying silent scream of anguish. Her head dropped into her body as it started to melt. Watching your friend melt into a pool of goo without so much as a peep left me stumbling away. Bark turned back to me to drive the sword into my gut. His thrust was slow. I turned so that it missed me. Hearing the blade bite into the stone broke what was left of my cracked mind. Seeing it embedded several inches in the stone split my fragile heart. ¡°How could you?¡± My trembling voice was barely more than a whisper. However, in the silence it carried all my pain effortlessly. ¡°How can you keep those nanites to yourself?¡± Bark¡¯s flat, emotionless voice twisted the metaphorical knife in my chest. I couldn¡¯t keep the pain in anymore. ¡°You killed her! She¡¯s your friend.¡± He killed her and he¡¯s going to kill me next. Then the host should fight back. I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t do it. He is¡ªwas¡ªmy friend. Then run. Bark reached for me, but I was so much faster than him. I was standing in the doorway before he took his next step. ¡°It¡¯s just a little paralysis. She¡¯ll survive. Just like you¡¯ll survive this, don¡¯t worry.¡± Bark¡¯s voice sounded distant. ¡°I know you will.¡± ¡°You killed her!¡± Bark didn¡¯t react. ¡°I didn¡¯t. She¡¯ll survive. You have my word. In time, she¡¯ll be back to her old self. By then, I¡¯ll have your nanites.¡± Your word? The word of a man who¡¯d attack those who called him a friend? Killa was still a pool of slime. Leaving her was hard, But I couldn¡¯t stay and help. Not with that maniac. He won¡¯t let me, and I don¡¯t know what else to do. I shook my head and buried the tears as I ran away. Bark¡¯s words terrified me. He¡¯s irrational. Nothing I say will do any good. How can he be so obsessed with my nanites? I thought he was a nice guy. We were friends, right? As I ran, I headed to the exit. ¡°Rina!¡± Bark¡¯s voice echoed behind me. I need to think. I nearly made it back to the second floor when the temperature dropped drastically. The clicking sounds of shoes on the stone floor echoed and grew closer. Down the stairs walked the most terrifying and beautiful woman. On top of that, she was, without a doubt, a demon. She was tall with reflective onyx skin lined with jagged cracks that had a soft blue glow emanating from within. Her ebony hair cascaded down her back. In stark contrast to the rest of her, her eyes glowed bright blue, illuminating the room. The demoness¡¯s features were a masterwork of beauty; her lips were full and dark, curled in a cruel smile as she laid eyes on me. Her sharp, black horns added another six inches to her already impressive height as they stretched from her forehead, nearly scraping the chamber¡¯s low ceiling. From her back sprouted large wings, reminiscent of a bat¡¯s, but without the membrane between the ¡®fingers.¡¯ Instead of skin, a thin layer of flexible ice flapped between them. I could feel the cold radiating from them. She wore a regal white gown. A thin layer of frost formed, shattered, and reformed on the dress with every step she took. The gown extended into a long train that pooled at her feet. How can she even walk in that thing? Her hands, slender and adorned with long, sharp talons, pointed at me. Ice devils love tormenting lesser devils as an outlet for their anger and resentment. Ice devils can take on many different shapes, and oftentimes, will mimic other species of devils. This devil has chosen to mimic a succubus. Devils are chaotic yet mostly predictable as they often personify one of the deadly sins of mortals. Ice devils personify Envy, but it seems this one has a lustful side as well. ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you.¡± Her voice was colder than the room. I started shivering at how cold the room was getting. ¡°You¡¯ve made me chase you into this dark, life-forsaken hole. It¡¯s time to break the tie with your death.¡± ¡°What?¡± I involuntarily shivered. It¡¯s just so cold. ¡°What score are you talking about?¡± She laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised you don¡¯t recognize me in this body. She wasn¡¯t very thrilled when I took over. But I have to say...¡± She waved her hand, and a shower of flakes manifested. ¡°This demonic power is intoxicating. I¡¯m going to hang onto this demoness¡¯s body as long as I can.¡± Is he now her? It seems that this is the cosmic assassin¡¯s new body. As the demoness stepped further into the chamber, the air seemed to grow colder, plummeting to an unbearable degree. ¡°But first, I have a job to do.¡± The ground beneath her frosted over creeped towards us. Yeah, he is now her. And he¡ªshe¡ªis still after me. You were right, Orange. The demoness flicked her arm and threw a wave of ice towards me. I dove away. The ice slammed into the stone, shaking the room. I fired off a couple of shots at her. She threw her other arm up, and a wall of ice intercepted the bullets. They didn¡¯t penetrate and the demon dropped the shield. The demoness wagged her finger at me. ¡°Is that your best shot? That pitiful weapon won¡¯t be enough this time. I¡¯ve gotten better magic since last time.¡± She flapped her wings and gilded back while sending another wave of ice towards me. What¡¯s with her talkativeness? It¡¯s like he¡ªshe¡ªis a completely different person. Insufficient information. I took the chance to run back the way I came, shooting at her as I did. The bullet fired off, but with a swift twist of her body, she deflected the bullet using the wave of ice she created. Her smile sent a chill down my spine. ¡°Your screams are going to be so worth it.¡± Her voice oozed malice as she slowly followed after me. She¡¯s not envious, she¡¯s a sadist. Fortunately, since my speed was so high, outrunning her and her magic was easy. Can this get any worse? It was bad enough that I was being chased by Bark, but now the assassin showed up. And so soon too. I didn¡¯t know what to do about either. Too much was happening too quickly and I desperately needed time to think. As sad as it was, Bark was the least dangerous of the two. He didn¡¯t want me dead, so I ran towards him. Hopefully I can dodge him in one of the side paths we didn¡¯t take on the way to Gary. A few rooms in and I was standing across the room from Bark. His chest heaved up and down as he glared at me. ¡°Stop running Rina. Give me your nanites. Now!¡± 28 Deeper and Deeper I stomped my foot. ¡°I can¡¯t. It will kill you. But that¡¯s not the problem right now.¡± I pointed behind me. ¡°Right now that assassin we fought in town is back and behind me. He¡¯s now an icy demon-succubus-thing and headed this way. We don¡¯t have time for this. We need Killa¡¯s help.¡± Bark tilted his head. ¡°Already?¡± Good. There¡¯s some hope for him yet. He slumped his shoulders. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know how long Killa will take to recover. Give me the nanites. It should be enough if we work together afterwards.¡± He won¡¯t stop. What part of it will likely kill him, doesn¡¯t he not understand? It¡¯s unlikely, not a matter of understanding, but accepting. I know, Orange. I thought if there was a real threat, he¡¯d come to his senses. ¡°Bark, concentrate. She¡¯s a powerful magic user. We can¡¯t be fighting with each other. We have to work together.¡± Bark held out his hand as he walked towards me. ¡°Then work with me by giving me your nanites. It¡¯s for all our good.¡± ¡°You¡¯re obsessed,¡± I groaned. ¡°We can find a solution after we deal with the assassin. What if the nanites kill you like I¡¯ve been told? I will have to face her alone. The nanites will likely kill you. You have to stop.¡± ¡°Do you know that for a fact?¡± Bark asked. Orange? Insufficient information. All we know is that the probability of Bark¡¯s death is between 85% and 97%. Our estimations and simulations point to his death under normal conditions. But we can¡¯t account for all variables, thus the wide margin of error. I wanted to roll my eyes at Orange¡¯s noncommittal answer. ¡°It¡¯s not a fact. But you have a three percent chance. Don¡¯t do it. We need more research and time.¡± ¡°Three percent is enough.¡± Bark clenched his fist. ¡°I¡¯m strong enough, I have to be. This isn¡¯t just about me. If it works, we¡¯ll be unstoppable. This is worth the risk.¡± ¡°No,¡± I replied exasperated. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you. I want to kill you even less. This obsession needs to stop. What is so important? What could possibly be worth more than your life?¡± Before he answered the temperature started dropping. Bark looked like he felt the change too as his eyes grew wider. ¡°Wait, does that mean¡­¡± ¡°Yes!¡± I didn¡¯t let him finish. ¡°The assassin is here.¡± The demonic woman strutted into view. ¡°Ah, there you are. Do make things difficult and struggle. It¡¯ll be more fun that way.¡± She waved her hand. ¡°But if you give up now, I¡¯ll make it quick and kill you today.¡± This sadistic change is gross. It¡¯s hard to believe that¡¯s the same person who begrudgingly killed me the first time. A spear of ice headed my way put an end to my thoughts. I slipped around into the room to avoid it. Bark dove to the side to avoid it too. I can¡¯t trust Bark if we fight against the demon. If I can¡¯t fight, it¡¯s back to running. I poked my head around the corner with one arm and fired at my pursuer. All three of my shots were blocked by an icy stalagmite. She flicked it and sent a shower of hundreds of sharp shrapnel at me. But as I ducked back behind the doorway, the icy shards turned the corner to follow me. I dropped to the ground and covered my head with my arms. Most of them flew over me, some of them battered into my arms, and a few clipped my back. I pushed myself to my feet to see Bark pointing to the door he came from. ¡°Come on, follow me. We have to head further in.¡± I hope he knows where he is going. Unfortunately, we only got a couple of rooms deeper before the assassin caught up. She threw a spear at us. I managed to jump out of the way. Bark wasn¡¯t as lucky as it clipped him in the side. He dropped a hand to the wound that instantly bled. I reached for my pistol to shoot the demon, but like all the times before, she blocked it. She threw a wave of ice at me, trying to pin me to the wall. I dodged the icy wave, narrowly escaping being trapped against the wall. Bark, still clutching his bleeding side, grabbed my arm and pulled me towards another room. The assassin pursued us relentlessly, her sadistic smile never faltering. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Inside the new room, Bark leaned against a table, his face twisted in pain. I quickly assessed his wound, realizing that it was deeper than I initially thought. Time was running out, and we needed a plan. ¡°We can¡¯t keep running,¡± I said, my voice filled with urgency. ¡°We have to find a way to fight back.¡± Bark nodded, gritting his teeth. ¡°I know. But this wound is pretty bad. Your nanites will help fix it.¡± ¡°Again with the nanites?¡± I groaned. As I opened my mouth to say more, I heard the clicking of the ice demoness as she entered the room. I backed away and pointed my pistol at her. Bark pulled out the second vial of dark oil. He looked at it and then back up at me. I could see the determination in his eyes. He wasn¡¯t going to give up. No! No! No! He can¡¯t seriously be thinking about doing this. She¡®ll kill him! The assassin pointed at me. A spear of ice manifested and flew towards me. I fired off several shots at the spear, shattering it. My gun was empty, but only small chunks of ice hit me, not inflicting any damage. Bark tossed the vial of mana suppressing oil up before swinging the flat part of his sword at it like a baseball bat. Oil and glass splattered towards the demoness. She flicked her arm, and an icy sphere formed in front of her to catch everything. But it only half formed. The oil spread was absorbed by the ice. What was odd was that the incomplete sphere flew into her. The assassin screamed in pain and fell to the ground. It looked like some of the oil got on her as she clutched her arm to her chest. Her skin cracked and sizzled. Her wings flapped as she glared at us and lifted to her feet. She clenched her jaw, and the ice reformed over her arm. ¡°That was rude.¡± Her attention shifted towards Bark, and her eyes narrowed. She threw her arm out, and a stream of ice flowed from it. She swept it across the floor, and a build of ice swallowed everything it touched. Bark barely managed to get out of the way. As he dove, the demoness swung her arm towards him. Ice shot out from her hand, wrapping around Bark and pinning him to the table we were using as cover. He gasped and shuddered as his eyes went wide. I ran to the center of the room and threw my arms out wide. ¡°Hey! It¡¯s me you want, and I¡¯m right here.¡± That tactic didn¡¯t work the last time. Yeah, but last time I stayed put. ¡°I¡¯m your target. Come and get me.¡± I turned and dashed out of the room. I wasn¡¯t going to let him die on my account. Even if it meant being hunted down by a sadistic, manic ice devil. The clacking of her heels was still behind me. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it, run. It¡¯ll make your screams all the sweeter.¡± I sprinted room to room, my heart pounding in my chest. The sound of the ice demoness¡¯s heels echoed behind me, growing further away with each passing second. I knew I had to find a way to outsmart her, to buy enough time for Bark to escape. As I raced through the labyrinthine of rooms, I desperately tried to come up with a plan. I need an ambush. Her magic is keeping me too far away to get past defenses with my gun. It just isn¡¯t strong enough. The assassin knows where the host is at all times. The element of surprise is impossible. Okay, so she knows where I go. But she¡¯s not omnipotent. What I need more than anything is time to think and set something up. That demon lady is blocking my path out of here, and she¡¯ll probably be able to cut me off if I try to go around her. If the host can¡¯t go upwards, perhaps the best option is to go down. Is that a good idea? What if we run into more monsters? What if we do? That would give me more stats. And if we run into something powerful, all I have to do is wait until the assassin catches up and use the monster to take her out. That¡¯s brilliant, Orange! It¡¯s the host¡¯s idea, not ours. I kept sprinting, my feet barely touching the ground as my mind raced with possibilities. I needed to lure her deeper, away from Bark, away from any chance she had of killing him. My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of a way down¡ªa basement, a pit¡ªsomething. The cold crept up my spine, the temperature dropping with every second, warning me she was getting closer. All this zigzagging isn¡¯t doing me any favors. How is she keeping up with me? ¡°Orange, can you help me look for any openings¡ªanything to take us down?¡± I hissed, rounding another corner. ¡°We can only map the area as the host perceives it. But we notice no clear path down yet,¡± Orange responded as if we weren¡¯t being hunted by a demonic ice succubus. Of course, it couldn¡¯t be easy. I turned into another room, empty except for shattered furniture and debris. The distant clack of her heels echoed through the halls, growing louder, faster. She was closing in. Then I saw it¡ªa crack in the floor, a faint glimmer of hope. ¡°There,¡± I whispered. The host has no means of breaking through the stone. Also, there is no information as to what is below. The host could land on a deadly trap. We advise against such a course of action. Okay, fine. We keep looking. The host could attempt to look for the route downward by finding an edge of the floor and always turning in the same direction. I dashed forward, skidding to a stop and throwing myself into a door barely hanging on its hinges. Without a better idea, I went with Orange¡¯s plan and headed as straight as I could. In this room was a hole with a pole hanging from the ceiling, descending through it. That¡¯s my way down. Why the firefighter¡¯s pole? Whatever. I¡¯ll take it. Oddly convenient that I ran into it now, but I¡¯m in no position to complain. Behind me, a door slammed open. I didn¡¯t have time to think, just act. I plunged downward into the unknown. The drop wasn¡¯t long, but the pole only went halfway down before being broken off. My hands slipped and I hit the ground, the impact knocked the air from my lungs. Dust filled my vision, and I coughed, trying to regain my bearings. The floor above was now a gaping hole, but it wasn¡¯t going to slow her for long. I scrambled to my feet, scanning the room. Dark, damp, and cold. It smelled like mold and stagnant water, and the distant sound of dripping echoed through the space. ¡°Orange, any idea what¡¯s down here?¡± No. A new set of footsteps clanged in space around me. From the corner of the room, a pair of white eyes lit up like flashlights. Of course I¡¯m not alone. 29 Come A Long Way The pair of glowing white eyes, the only feature on its face, blinked once, twice, then fixed their gaze on me. A creaking sound echoed through the chamber as the figure shifted, its body emerging from the shadows. Its joints clicked and cracked like twigs snapping. Thin, almost imperceptible, strings of a marionette ran up into the darkness I couldn¡¯t see into. Its hands ended in large metal scissors that swayed lazily. I swallowed hard, instinctively raising my arm protectively and my gun with the other. Orange...what am I looking at? That is a wooden golem. Golems are typically soulless and animated by magic. They have any form their creator manufactures for them to perform any function they are directed to. Their material and strength vary greatly. The golem¡¯s movements were slow yet jerky. It kind of looks like a puppet. As it stepped forward, I saw the twisted grain of the wood composing its body, the sharp edges of its limbs, with splinters jutting out like makeshift spikes. It didn¡¯t look nearly as dangerous as the spiders I had faced before, but I wasn¡¯t about to let my guard down. I glanced at the marionette¡¯s legs¡ªif you could call them legs. They were long, jagged chunks of wood attached to uneven stumps that scraped the floor with every step. And then I saw it¡ªfaint lines, almost like runes, glowing faintly on its chest. The magic on this golem has nearly run out. It should be inert. I blinked and took a couple of steps back. Should be? It doesn¡¯t look like it agrees with you. Above me, the clacking heels of the ice demoness echoed again, growing fainter but still far too close. There was only one door, and it was behind the golem. I don¡¯t think this thing¡¯s going to give her much trouble. We suggest the host destroys it. The golem jerked forward, its strings tightening. One of its arms swung down, aimed directly at my head. I stepped to the side, feeling the sharp tang of metal smashing into the stone floor where I had just stood. The force sent out harmless pieces of debris and shook the ground beneath my feet. Okay, it¡¯s stronger than it looks. I took another step back and fired at the chest of the golem. Splinters spewed out from behind it as the construct raised upward on a pendulum swing. It came right back towards me, scissors hands open, and aimed to stab me. I ducked under and tried to get behind it, but it kicked me with a leg as it went by. My arm took the brunt of the hit, but a few of the small spikes scratched my side. I fell backwards from the impact. As I rolled further away and to my knees, I didn¡¯t feel anything from my arm. So my arm is tough enough to withstand both Bark¡¯s sword and this thing. Losing the feeling is starting to be worth it. The golem turned mid-air and faced me. It still wasn¡¯t touching the ground. I¡¯m not an expert on this thing, but that thing shouldn¡¯t be flying. It¡¯s defying the laws of physics! Analyzing¡­ Strings appear to be controlling the golem¡¯s movements, possibly linked to a central source above. Hypothetically, disabling the strings may interrupt its control. I glanced up into the darkness, but the strings disappeared into the ceiling. Right, hypothetically. The golem swung towards me and lashed out again, its movements jerky and imprecise. It bothered touching the ground before it reached me. I dodged the blow and fired another shot, this time going for an arm. The shot shattered its elbow, causing everything past it to clammer to the ground. Or the host could disable the golem piece by piece. It would take longer. Shut up, Orange. I¡¯m trying here. I pulled my dagger out and raised the blade. With a deep breath, I lunged forward, ducking beneath another wild swing from the marionette¡¯s remaining arm. I slashed at the string attached to its back. Splinters flew as the blade made contact with its torso. The golem dipped in a jerking motion. From that spot, I could see several more strings attached to the legs of the construct. Before it could turn around, my dagger bit into the ones controlling the left leg. It took more effort to cut through the four strings, but when I did, its leg went completely limp as it dragged it to swing its arm at me. I stepped out of its reach. This is almost too easy. When the host arrived in the Soul Nexus, they were level five, and now they are level sixteen. Some improvement in their capabilities is expected. The host is stronger, faster, and more durable than before. However, the host must continue to damage the strings to disrupt control. Time is limited. Working on it! I hissed in my mind, narrowly dodging a stabbing swipe from the creature. I circled around the marionette, keeping my eyes locked on the stings. If I could just disable a few more¡­ Especially that one controlling the arm. The marionette¡¯s head twisted unnaturally, its glowing eyes tracking me. The rest of its body twisted to follow suit. It lunged forward, attempting to tackle me. It was faster this time, forcing me to throw myself to the side to avoid being grappled. My back hit the damp stone floor, and whatever was controlling it swung the golem through the air like a child pretending to be an airplane. I barely had time to raise my arm before its wooden leg came crashing down. I felt the impact vibrate through my epidermal plating¡ªthe force pinning my arm to my chest and dropping my dagger. My arm caught the blow, but I was slowly feeling my chest being crushed. The sheer weight of the golem was pushing down, pinning me to the floor. With my other arm, I placed the barrel right on the golem¡¯s knee and fired. It earned me a face full of splinters and a chance to breathe. I gasped and rolled with all my strength, scooping my blade up as I did. I used my arm to deflect its scissor hands. It tried to close the blades down, but they just slipped off my metal skin. My next shot went past its face, but the second went through the featureless head. Another shower of broken wood hit the ground. The golem hung in the air lopsided. Whatever was hanging onto it, was running out of holds, and I was running out of bullets in my gun. Four shots, make them count. I stood up just as the wooden leg dragged on the ground when the golem swung towards me. I took a step back to avoid the attack. I fired another two shots, aiming at the remaining anchors for the strings. It fell to the floor, landing in a heap, scissors clacking. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Everything seemed to freeze. The marionette lay beneath on the ground, its strings severed, the glow in its eyes fading to darkness. I took a deep breath, feeling my muscles burn from the exertion. Well... that was something. In the corner of my vision I received one thousand four hundred and thirty shards and five stat points that I immediately put in quickness.
Name: Rina Lone
Level: 16 Augments:
Agility: 175 Cellular Regeneration
Arcane: 105 Synthetic eyes: LvL 1
Power: 56 HUD
Quickness: 260 Epidermal plating (Arms) Lvl. 1
Resilience: 105
Toughness: 130
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 5266
What was that thing¡¯s deal? How did it move the way it did. With the strings attached to the golem, that could only mean that there was another creature controlling it. That means that puppet-looking golem was actually a puppet, and the puppeteer is still above me. I looked up and didn¡¯t see the ceiling. A cloud of darkness clung to it, and it even blocked my vision. Let me guess, magic. Highly probable. However, chasing the puppeteer is an inefficient use of the host¡¯s time. The ice demoness is still in pursuit. I know. You¡¯ve not let me forget it. ¡°Right,¡± I muttered, glancing up at the gaping hole in the ceiling. The clacking heels were growing louder again. An icy staircase started to form and descend from the pole. I wanted to roll my eyes. Magic is so not fair. I sprinted for the metal door and slammed it shut behind me. There was a very convenient metal bar that would serve as a way to hold it shut. Without hesitating, I pushed it so that it would hopefully hold her back. Let¡¯s see if her magic can cheat her way through that. But by then, I¡¯ll be long gone. I turned around to see a room full of tables, chairs, cubicles, and curtains of spiderwebs. ¡°Why?¡± I screamed. Despite the plethora of webs, there were no signs of spiders. As a bonus, I could see the ceiling. A dim amber light illuminated from the molding along the ceiling. More spiders. I hate spiders! My outburst didn¡¯t attract anyone, but I had no doubt the assassin after me knew where I went. The room had two doorways with doors on them, but webs covered both of them. Picking the one on the right, I took off for it. I didn¡¯t want Orange reminding me yet again that the assassin was still following me. The webs peeled off easily, and I surveyed the room again, just in case a spider was hiding. There wasn¡¯t one, but I noticed the webs were tucked up and through the door. It was odd, and walking through the door verified that something fed the webs over the top. Odd. More amber lights and webs continued in the hall. The ceiling was lined with ropes of web. Two sets of two seams perpendicular to each other in the stone traveled the length of the hall. I closed the door and jogged down the hall. Then I heard a click behind me. In front of me, a buzzing noise preceded the sight of spinning saw blades. Four blades, one in each seam, filled the hall, offset from each other. The host will not survive being bisected, trisected, or quadrisected. I sprinted back and slammed into the door. It wouldn¡¯t budge. I slammed my shoulder into it again and again, but the door wouldn¡¯t give. I turned around, and my eyes widened in horror. The blades were advancing on me. I slammed my hand against the door. ¡°Let me out! Let me out!¡± I screamed. The metal was cold to the touch, and it refused to open. My heart raced as the saw blades kept closing in on me. There was no way to dodge them. I wouldn¡¯t have been able to jump over, and the lowest blade would still split me if I laid down on the ground. I slammed my body into the door one more time. Nothing. The blades were a foot away. I dropped to the ground and shielded my face. They weren¡¯t going to stop. I was going to be torn to shreds. Then, when the blades would have ripped into my arm, they pulled them to the side. A heavy pressure attempted to crush my arms. I heard the gears grinding. I opened my eyes and saw the blades remained a few inches away from me. The saw¡¯s teeth pinned my arm to the wall. Pain started filling my arm as I could feel the bones in my forearm start to bend with the growing dent in my metal skin. The grinding sound grew louder and turned into something chugging. Each second increased the pressure until something snapped and the pressure ended instantly. I breathed deeply, trying to calm my racing heart. The saws were motionless. I waited a few seconds, and they started to move backwards. I let out a sigh of relief as I watched them move away from me. I looked down at my arm as the bone and metal returned to their normal states. My arm just stopped a spinning blade. My metal arm just stopped a saw blade. The defense of the host¡¯s epidermal plating is equal to two hundred and ten. It¡¯s surprising that they held. The mechanisms controlling the trap must have fallen into disrepair. Whatever. I¡¯ll take it. It still feels weird to accept that I have arms made of metal that block and stop blades. I¡¯ve come a long way. There are many more augments for the host to take if they should choose to take them. But at this time, the host can¡¯t afford them. Our internal conversation was interrupted by the door opening behind me. It wasn¡¯t the assassin staring me in the face. The creature was far more hideous. I jumped back, and so did it. My back brushed against the saw blades, but they moved and spun so that they didn¡¯t cut me. The creature¡¯s body was a grotesque amalgamation between human and arachnid, with a swollen torso that resembled a bloated human chest, ribs bulging beneath pale, mottled skin with scraggly black hair. Its head, vaguely humanoid, was disturbingly elongated, with large, lidless black pools for eyes. Multiple smaller eyes dotted its forehead, twitching independently as it surveyed me. The creature¡¯s mouth gaped open, revealing rows of jagged teeth that seemed too numerous for its narrow face. Four mandibles twitched in the corners of lips, dripping a viscous liquid. Each of its ten legs was long and covered in coarse, dark hair, ending in disturbingly human-like hands. Its fingers curled and flexed constantly. The hands were twisted and malformed, with extra joints or far too many knuckles. Behind it was a bulbous spider abdomen that bounced with each movement. It moved in a jerky, skittering motion, almost like it was struggling to balance on its limbs, yet it was never close to hitting the ground. As it mirrored my movements, its legs clicked against the floor, the tips of its fingers making grating scraping sounds like fingernails on chalkboards. Orange, what is that? I could not take my eyes off the grotesque creature. Unknown species. It reached up and slammed the door between us. It seems the creature is intelligent. Proceed with caution. That meant I went in the opposite direction. I scrambled to the other door that was, mercifully, unblocked. I closed the door behind me. Please tell me that wasn¡¯t the thing controlling the golem puppet. The possibility is logical. I turned to see a spider lying on a bird¡¯s nest of webs. I wanna go home. 30 Tangled Webs Mechanically, I fired a shot through the creature¡¯s eye. It exploded in a shower of blood and brain matter out the back. ¡°Huh,¡± I tilted my head. That¡¯s the second time I¡¯ve killed something, and I didn¡¯t get any stats or shards. Evidence supports the following theory: the spider was already mid-decomposition before the host encountered it. That seems like an awfully wordy way to say that it was already dead. Do you think that the ugly thing back there killed it? Do you think it¡¯s another deviant? Insufficient information. However, we propose the host proceed with caution as if it were a deviant. There wasn¡¯t any movement as I stood around. The large web nest was suspended in the center of the room. Several other smaller versions, without sider corpses, dotted the corners. A sophisticated network of webs that seemed interconnected and fed to a central point covered every inch of the room. That point was the top of a door. It was impossible to step anywhere without landing on at least a few strands of web. Strangely, the webs weren¡¯t all that sticky. Well, if that creature made all these webs, I doubt going to where they¡¯re all converging is in my best interest. I headed to the other door in the room. As I did, there was a grating sound above me. I looked up to see chunks of the ceiling falling towards me. I dove away from the falling stone blocks only to have more parts of the ceiling fall above me. Rolling to my feet just in time as the next section hit the ground in a massive cloud of debris and dust. It blocked my vision and forced me to cough as I staggered away from the cave in. When the dust settled, the door I was planning on taking was buried. That couldn¡¯t have been an accident. We agree with the host. The rest of the dungeon, even with signs of obvious neglect, has not shown any failure in structural integrity. Then what are you saying¡ªsomething intentionally dropped the ceiling on my head? Correct. Analyze the stones more closely. The host should notice that half of the stones are wrapped in webs. I stepped closer and saw it. The webs were wound tightly around the stones, almost like rope. They weren¡¯t very thick, but the more I looked around the room, the more I saw them. All the webs streamed from the rocks to the door. Are you suggesting that thing is moving the ceiling? That is the most sensible hypothesis. It appears that the creature is able to manipulate its webs. It must have been controlling them to control the saw blades as well. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If that creature can create and control webs like this, that means it can turn this entire floor into a death trap. But why did it keep me from going through that door? I turned my attention to the webbed up doorway and started cutting away at the webs. Insufficient information. The host will have to gather more evidence to support any deductive reasoning. We suggest the host avoid damaging the webs too much. There is the possibility that the creature can sense the vibrations in the webs, similar to a natural spider. However, the intricacy and extensiveness of the visible network would give support to the possibility that it does so with a greater degree of competence and an almost magical mastery. I finished cutting the webs attached to the fallen debris. Orange, sometimes I think you talk because you like to hear yourself talk. We have no opinions or preferences. No, of course not. I pushed some of the rubble out of the way to see that the door was still blocked. I sighed as I felt a headache coming on. This place has gone from terrifying to deadly to complicated and now annoying. We suggest the host avoid provoking the creature by damaging the webs more. I rolled my eyes. I wasn¡¯t listening to you the first time. It wanted me away from this door. But it looks like if I want to clear my way through, it¡¯d take too long. Fine. It wins this round. With one door inaccessible and the other where I came from, I headed to the remaining door. No more falling rocks, no spinning blades, and no resistance when I opened it. But what I did see was a lot of webs. Not a few strands, but an entire web spanning the length of the room. The center was suspended above the ground, but the walls, ceiling, and floor were covered. It was too uniform and neat to be an accident. If I walked through the room, I would undoubtedly be stepping on the web and into a trap. The host may wish to take a moment to survey the room before entering it. What¡¯s there to survey? It¡¯s a room with a web built like a cage. That creature forced me to go this direction to trap me. Either it¡¯s not as intelligent as we gave it credit, or it severely underestimates my intelligence. Going back is an unadvisable objective. I know¡ªthe assassin. Maybe the assassin triggers different traps and that thing kills her. We can only hope. It would be better if I didn¡¯t trigger every trap I come across. But that¡¯s probably a pipe dream with an intelligent creature controlling everything. How is it doing all this? As you said, probably with magic. I let out a sigh. Is it still a trap if I know it¡¯s one? Yes. I took my dagger to the nearest webs and cut them. Nothing happened. The web shifted but did nothing else. I cut the other side, and again, nothing. There was no way to avoid walking on the web as I continued to cut. I tried to step on the spots where the strands were thinnest, but I couldn¡¯t avoid stepping on some strands. When I stood in the room, everything lurched around me. I heard a grinding sound behind me, and the door closed. The amber lights dimmed, and I heard a clicking sound. Then the web above me dropped like a big net. There was nowhere to go as it landed on me. The weight of it caught me off guard, and it pulled me down to the ground. I grabbed some strands and yanked on them, but they didn¡¯t budge. The web pulled taut around me, binding my arms to my body and pulling me to the floor. It didn¡¯t take long for me to find myself tightly bound and unable to move. I wiggled, trying to loosen the grip, but it was too tight. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Then the impenetrable darkness from when I fought the golem seeped from the large double doors on the far side of the room. It was much easier to see them now that the web covering them was flat on the ground. The problem lies in reaching them. My squirming didn¡¯t get me any closer to freeing myself, but I was careful not to entangle myself more. Killa would have no problem with any of these webs. Bark better be right, and she¡¯ll be fine. My thoughts were put to an end when the double doors opened up and in crawled the spider creature. It scurried up to the ceiling and into the protective cover of the darkness. But that thing made sure that I couldn¡¯t focus on it. After it hid itself, in walked another golem. This one was larger and blockier than the other. Its legs and arms were tree trunks, and its torso was an upside-down pyramid. Yup. It¡¯s learning. My gun isn¡¯t going to do anything meaningful against that. The host is unable to make any ¡®meaningful¡¯ actions in their current circumstances. You are not helpful. The new golem stepped up to me, staring down with its blank expression. The golem reared one of its massive legs back and brought it down on me. My world shook. Pain exploded through my body. Something snapped, and I couldn¡¯t breathe. Another hit landed. And another. Every inch of my body pounded in pain as I tried to regain my sense of up and down. Something dripped from my face, and I could taste blood. I gasped and tried to move, but my body wouldn¡¯t respond. The golem lifted its leg again, ready to smash me into the ground again. But it didn¡¯t. It paused. I tried to look up at it, but I couldn¡¯t see straight. My vision was blurry. The golem lowered its leg. Then it reached down and grabbed me by the back of my neck. It lifted me up into the air, holding me by my neck. I couldn¡¯t feel my legs. My head swam as I tried to get my bearings. I could barely breathe. Some of my ribs had broken and punctured my lungs, filling them with blood. The golem held me up in the air and just stared at me. It was perfectly still. The webs puppeteering the golem went taunt before the ten-legged spider creature slinked down from the darkness on them. It¡¯s bulbous, unblinking eyes fixed on me. The spider creature crawled onto the golem¡¯s arm and stood on its shoulder. It looked up at me, its mouth gaping open. The rows of jagged teeth sent a shiver down my spine. The creature leaned forward, its mandibles twitching as it moved closer to me. I wasn¡¯t about to give it a chance to bite me. This thing has me trapped and completely held in place by a golem, and yet it¡¯s still acting like it¡¯s scared of me. Ambush predators, on average, suffer from low defensive traits. The creature before the host uses traps and other constructs as weapons to deal with potential prey. Its defenses are likely lower than most, and it knows it. Let¡¯s see how skittish it is. I spat in its face. The creature hissed and jumped off the golem. It scurried around behind it, and I heard it climbing up to the ceiling again. Then the golem started moving, jerking its limbs like it was a puppet. It threw me across the room. I hit the wall with a thud and crumpled to the floor. The host has suffered severe blunt trauma. The host is no longer in a state to fight. Yeah, thanks, I know. You telling me that isn¡¯t helping. Which of my bones aren¡¯t broken? Hurry up and fix me. The nanites were working overtime, trying to repair the damage. I coughed up a glob of blood from my lungs. There was a problem. The nanites weren¡¯t working as quickly as they needed to. One good thing came of being thrown by the golem. It freed me from the worst of the webbing. I tried to stand, but my body wouldn¡¯t obey me. I could feel my bones shifting and mending. The golem marched towards me again. I rolled onto my back. My fingers curled around my gun as I shakily raised it to point above the golem, where I saw the thin strings of webs disappear into the darkness. It reared back and instantly raised its arms to block my shot. It¡¯s as I thought. The creature is afraid of anything that could damage it. Now I had the information I needed. The next hurdle was using it to my advantage. I bought myself a few more precious seconds to regenerate. My energy was dropping rapidly. Another round of that will kill me. Which is better, convincing the creature that I¡¯m not worth it or running away? Whichever the host decides, we suggest they choose soon. At least I was able to stand on my two feet again. The golem marched towards me, keeping its arms raised. The last of my wounds were healed as I spat out the last of the blood in my lungs as I wiped off the webbing still clinging to me. It¡¯s slow, and now that I don¡¯t have that net restraining me, it¡¯s not catching me again. I lunged at it, my dagger in hand. It threw itself back as I cut through the strings controlling one of its legs. They were stronger than I was expecting, but I managed to get it before it threw me off. I skidded to a stop as the golem lumbered away from me, towards the webs where the creature would be. The entire time, its one leg from the knee down wasn¡¯t moving, but it still managed to support its massive weight on the leg. The creature wasn¡¯t going to use its arms to attack me because the moment it did, I was going to take a shot at it. That leaves the golem¡¯s legs as the only viable means of attacking me. Once those are dealt with, what¡¯s its next move? Whatever the case, I had to stay on the offensive. So I charged the golem¡¯s good leg and dove to the side as it attempted to punt me. The construct teetered, and before it could put the leg down and find its balance, I severed two of its strings. There was an ear-piercing screech as the golem dropped to its knees. It looks like it can¡¯t handle the weight of this golem like it could the smaller one. If I can disable the golem enough, there¡¯s a chance I could kill the spider creature. But do I want that? The golem reached a hand out to smother me. I took another shot at the web attached to the shoulders. Splinters broke off as the creature started falling faster towards me. As I turned to run, a line of webs shot up and wrapped around my leg. I caught myself before I hit the ground, but the lasso kept me from running further away. Instead, I turned directions and rolled between its legs a fraction of a second before it would¡¯ve crushed me. There wasn¡¯t a huge cloud of dust or debris because the webs caught almost all of it. But the landing snapped the head off its arm. A door opened, and I saw the spider monster slip through the double doors and close them behind it. I gained another five stat points and three thousand, three hundred and fifty shards. With all the traps I have had to deal with the points went right into agility. I needed better balance.
Name: Rina Lone
Level: 16 Augments:
Agility: 180 Cellular Regeneration
Arcane: 105 Synthetic eyes: LvL 1
Power: 56 HUD
Quickness: 260 Epidermal plating (Arms) Lvl. 1
Resilience: 105
Toughness: 130
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 8616
But the way the golem fell almost seemed deliberate. The bug just threw the golem on me to escape, didn¡¯t it? It knows I know it exists and can kill it. The darkness on the ceiling was gone, along with the spider. I cut the web around my ankle and stood up. At least I won this round. But if things keep up at this rate, it will kill me through attrition. I need food. In the previous room, the host has an available¡­ No! No more spiders. The host doesn¡¯t have the opportunity for selective consumables. Eat the spider. Grumbling sounds more than words, I trudged back to the room with the spider hanging from the nest. The things I do to survive. I hope the assassin isn¡¯t catching up to me that quickly. 31 Ice Nipping At Your Heels The host doesn¡¯t have a lot of time to consume. It would be most efficient to focus on the body. It would be better if I wasn¡¯t doing this at all. But if it¡¯s this or die from running out of energy, raw arachnid it is. Part of me started to wonder if the universe was enjoying my suffering. Not only did my attempts to trick myself with both a cheery mood and a lie to myself about eating snickerdoodles fail, but the meat tasted even worse. The sourness was cranked up to twelve. How long was this spider here? Was it starting to rot? Did I not only eat a spider again, but a decomposing one? Yuck! Fighting against my revulsion, I managed to eat anything that didn¡¯t look like an organ. At least my energy bar was filled again. Orange also stayed quiet through the whole ordeal. Maybe it¡¯s learning that sometimes, I don¡¯t want to hear it. With the spider eaten, I headed back in the direction I was going before I had to turn back. As I left the room, I could feel a deep chill in the air. The assassin was gaining on me, and she was close¡ªtoo close. Caution would have to wait, and I barged into the room full of webs and a now decommissioned giant wooden golem puppet. The double doors were unbarred, and I went through them just as I heard the familiar clicking of heels on stone. I didn¡¯t bother closing them on me. The next room was much like the last in that it was covered in webs. But instead of a net, it was matching patterns on the floor and ceiling. Every brick was connected to one another on the same level as it. It was long and narrow, with eight doors, four on each side, lined the sides. The creature barely waited for me to enter the room before springing its trap. The stones underneath me shot up. I was fast enough to get off them, but they tripped me as they crashed into the ceiling. As I rolled forward, the stones beneath me lifted up as well. Every stone I touched ascended to the ceiling for a moment before dropping back down. I had to keep moving, or I was going to get crushed, and that didn¡¯t leave a lot of opportunity to think. There were eight doors, and I had to pick one. They were all identical, from what I could tell. None of them were covered in webs, but all of them had webs funneling above them. Through all my constant movement, the closest one sounded like the best option. Which at the time was the one in the far back right. The moment my hand wrapped around the door, the demoness burst into the room with a gale of frozen air and shards of ice. It seemed that the creature controlling the webs was confused at the development. Did it not notice her presence earlier? Then the webs on the surrounding stones froze solid before shattering. Oh. She¡¯s breaking his webs. That¡¯s so not fair. Magic is cheating! ¡°You¡¯ve almost made this little jaunt more troublesome than it¡¯s worth,¡± her sneer carried all her building frustration. ¡°But I always finish what I start. Delay after delay. It won¡¯t matter. Once you¡¯re dead, I can be free of this sordid plane. It enjoys me being here as much as I enjoy being in it.¡± She threw her arm out at me, creating and launching a spear of ice. I pulled the door open and used it as a shield. It hammered into me so hard I bounced off the wall. The assassin stood in the center of the room with her arms crossed over her chest and her mouth turned down. The air grew colder as she looked at me hiding behind the door. She muttered something I couldn¡¯t hear, but I could hear her voice dripping with contempt. The room resumed moving with us inside it. This time the stone flooring ripped out to fly towards my pursuer. She created barriers of ice to deflect the attacks. Finally. The creature is taking her on. But it wasn¡¯t going to be enough. The angles it was attacking her seemed almost haphazard-guesswork as she wasn¡¯t standing on a web, so it didn¡¯t know her exact location. When I tried to leave through the door I opened, an ice covered stone flew towards me, forcing me to jump back. It crashed into the doorway and blocked most of it. ¡°Ah, ah, ah.¡± The demoness wagged her finger at me. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you could leave.¡± I pointed my gun at her. Her eyes went wide as she crossed her arms and wings over her. A wall of ice flew up between us. I smirked. Gotcha. I jumped and slipped past the block of ice and away. You can deal with the spider monster¡¯s trap now. Now that was step one, getting the spider to target her. The new room, at first glance, was empty. But when I looked closer, it was filled with webs. Thin, nearly invisible webs were scattered along the walls and floors, like they were meant to trip me. I looked up and saw hundreds of holes in the ceiling. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. It¡¯s a trap. Orange¡­ This one didn¡¯t follow the patterns the others have so far. This room looks more automated than the other traps the creature could personally manipulate. At this point, if a room doesn¡¯t have a trap in it, I¡¯ll eat my boots. That won¡¯t provide any nutritional benefit. Also, the host will be without foot protection. Yeah, but it won¡¯t happen since every¡ªsingle¡ªroom¡ªwill¡ªbe¡ªtrapped! We are sensing some hostility from the host. Oh, I¡¯ll show you hostile if you don¡¯t shut up. A large mirror that took up the whole far side of the room. It looked impractical and, from what I could tell, pointless. There weren¡¯t any doors in the room, but I wasn¡¯t about to go back into the room with the demon and the moving floors. My eyes surveyed the webs, and I saw what looked like a safe path through them to the mirror. It wasn¡¯t straight and would require me to contort my body to fit through. It was possible. I can turn this room¡¯s trap on her. And if it kills her, great. At the very least, it will give me a chance to slip past her and head back out. I need Killa¡¯s help to fight the assassin if all these traps aren''t working to stop her. If anything, they should be tiring her out and using her mana. It looks like I might be able to use her reckless devotion to hunt me down against her. I slipped through the opening and picked my path carefully. There were a lot of heavy slams and crashes from the other room. Soon I was standing with my hand on the glass mirror. All I had to do was wait for the demoness to follow me. I didn¡¯t have to wait long. There was a thud behind me. Through the mirror, I saw the demoness standing at the door. She let out a long-suffering sigh. She raised her hand towards me and said, ¡°It¡¯s time to die.¡± A barrage of icicles shot at me, and I dove out of the way. But the moment I landed on the floor, I felt myself drop. My face hit the ground as the room lurched again. The webs above me stretched taut for a fraction of a second before they broke. I didn¡¯t have time to think as the hundreds of spears made of webs rained down from the holes in the ceiling. They were small but numerous. They fell all around me, and I didn¡¯t have anywhere to run. But neither did the demoness. The webs slammed into the ground in a giant shower of sharp wooden blades. I shielded my head with my arms as they crashed into me. The webs cut into my legs and bounced off my arms as I curled up into a ball, hoping to protect my more vital areas. The sound of the rain of death was almost deafening, and it drowned out any screams the assassin made. I only received superficial wounds, but the demoness was bleeding from the half dozen small spears that were sticking out of her. A canopy of ice protected her from the worst of the trap. She glared at me with palpable hatred. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for that.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± I stood up and faced her as she limped into the room. More of the spears dropped from the ceiling each time she broke more of the thin webs. Her frozen canopy moved with her. Pressing my body as close as I could to the mirror helped dodge most of it, and raising my arms over my head kept me safe. Soon, the demon and I were staring at each other. A wicked grin spread across her face as she prepared to take another step. But instead of stepping, she raised her arms and threw them forward. The canopy she¡¯d been shielding herself with came straight towards me. I dove to the side. The exchange triggered more spears to fall, with the addition of shards of glass showering me. My arms deflected the worst of the spears again as the assassin created another shield above herself. In the aftermath, both of us looked at where the mirror was shattered. The chunk of ice didn¡¯t hit the wall behind it. It carried through. On the other side was a whole other room. More of the nearly imperceptible webs covered the room. Halfway into the room was the ice that carved a path through the tripwires. Instead of spears falling from the ceiling, axes swung like pendulums back and forth in crisscross patterns all over the room. Some of them chipped chunks of the icy block effortlessly. Even as most of the axes crossed paths with others, they were perfectly timed so that they never collided. And on the other side of all the axes was a door. I had enough of being stabbed by the small spears. Once the last few that managed to catch me were ejected by my nanites, I dove for the opening. The swinging axes were much easier to avoid. I was fast enough to slip between them and follow the timing to never get touched by one. The demoness screamed in frustration as she watched me run through. I spared a single glance to watch her walk into the network of bladed pendulums. She created a sword out of ice and cut several of the webs holding the axes. They flew off their path and timing, colliding with others around them. Like dominoes, the whole trap destabilized into a mess of chaos. Before it could catch up with me, I sprinted out of the room. I had to pull on the door hard to open it. A section of web fought me and pulled the door closed as I rolled inside. I looked and saw a square room with four doors, one on each wall. Webs wrapped around each door and handle all fed into the center of the ceiling. A ceiling that was falling. All the webs on the doors were going slack. Go to another door; the host can reach it if they hurry. With the first helpful words from Orange in a long time, I followed them. I headed to the door on my left and dove through it just before the ceiling finished collapsing and sealing the room off. My chest heaved as the situation finally caught up with me. There was so much adrenaline coursing through my body that the pain had been negligible. But now that I lay on the ground staring at the collapsed room, it was all going away. A massive wave of lethargy was washing over me. Thanks Orange. See? You can be helpful. We always act in ways we believe to be helpful. We¡¯ll need to talk about what¡¯s helpful later. But right now, I really need to rest. I was in a hallway¡ªan ominously empty hallway. This seems like a good time to take a small break. I looked at my energy and saw that it was just below half again. All this running around is draining me. I let my head rest against the cold stone and let my eyes drift shut. We suggest against sleeping at a time like this. It¡¯s not sleeping. I¡¯m just catching my breath and resting my eyes. There aren¡¯t any webs. So there aren¡¯t any traps, and the creature probably doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m here. And before you say anything, this is a hallway, not a room. It doesn¡¯t count. 32 Desperate Reprieve Wake up. I don¡¯t wanna. It¡¯s been ten minutes. The assassin likely hasn¡¯t stopped trying to hunt you. They know where you are. A heavy groan was all I could respond with. It was hard to think about anything. My nanites were capable of keeping my body in peak condition. But that meant nothing for my mind. You keep telling me that. Just because you repeat it over and over, it doesn¡¯t help. Can¡¯t you do something about this mental fatigue? The host can¡¯t afford augments to replace their brain. Prolonged exposure and production of adrenaline would damage a human heart. We can repair that. A human mind is significantly more complex. Production of endorphins and other biological chemicals drastically influences the host¡¯s mind. We do not possess the capacity to influence the host to that degree, yet. Yet? As the host gains power, so do we. How? When will you be able to? What does that eventually lead to? We don¡¯t know. We will notify the host of any changes. However, the host is stalling. They should seek safety and sustenance. The disconnect between mind and body was disorienting. Since my brain was controlling, its condition dominated my mood. My sluggish movements were still likely faster than I ever could¡¯ve been capable of on Earth. But even the greatest athletes on Earth would fall pathetically short without the system. ¡°You¡¯ll be the weakest to challenge the Soul Nexus, ever.¡± Mr. Black¡¯s words haunted me. I am weak. The slow, methodical dragging of my feet filled the empty hall. Only a solid metal door stood between me and yet another death trap room. I needed to wake myself up. Repressing my dark thoughts, I slapped myself. It was both effective and stupid. Slapping myself is really dumb now. Hitting yourself in the face with metal hurts. My nanites buzzed in my cheek to repair damage. If I had to guess, it would¡¯ve just been a bruise. Nothing serious. But my nanites have to repair even the slightest damage to my body. By coincidence, the cold touch of my hand also helped with the pain it inflicted. I looked down at my hands and rubbed them together. The sound of metal sliding against metal drove home how inhuman they were. In that one moment, I sacrificed a piece of my humanity for safety. Several times now, they have saved me from worse injuries and even saved my life. The descriptions of my options when Mr. Black gave me my system came to mind. Replacing parts of my body with cybernetic versions. Was it even possible to climb the Soul Nexus as a human? I couldn¡¯t pass Mr. Black¡¯s test as a human. The metal was supposedly an ¡°organic¡± metal. I had no idea what that meant, but the skin on my arms was just one piece of me. My eyes were another. Orange hinted that replacing my brain was possible too. My system, through Orange, will replace me with robotic parts. I¡¯m literally buying my humanity away. The host¡¯s worry is unfounded. But this location is not appropriate for such ponderings. If I get out of this, we need to have a long, long talk, Orange. Understood. Everything would have to wait. Until Orange and I had our talk, any augment purchases would be put on hold. As much as I hated it, Orange was right. I needed to focus on the problem in front of me. Bark is consumed with his obsession with my nanites, and I have the assassin chasing me. I need help, and the only one I know I can trust anymore is Killa. She¡¯ll help me deal with all of it. She¡¯s strong¡ªstronger than me. So, with a new goal, I walked into the next room. I scanned the room cautiously, expecting another trap to spring. The walls, lined with rusted gears, housed three doors, while chains dangled ominously from the ceiling. The majority of them ended up in shackles. Large, thin cobwebs draped over almost everything. Their placement seemed haphazard. Orange, what kind of trap should I look for here? Insufficient information. The host should focus on any detail that doesn¡¯t belong or¡­ Before Orange could finish, the floor shifted beneath me. A sudden jerk sent me stumbling forward, barely managing to catch myself on one of the dangling chains. The floor rotated like a giant disk set in the floor. What parts of the floor that weren¡¯t spinning revealed jagged spikes of broken metal ready to impale anything that flew off the spinning disk. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The chain I was holding on snapped, and I hit the spinning plate hard. Almost instantly, the centripetal force guided me to the spikes. My fingers couldn¡¯t grip the stone, and I was slowly sliding further and further to the outer edge. Orange, I need a hand. Now! Head to the center of the disk. If the host remains in the center of the disk, they can wait out the spinning. The host should use their dagger to gain a more secure handhold to pull themselves to the center. All that was easier said than done. The disk was spinning so fast that it took all my concentration to not fly off it. The chains swung in wide circles, creating a whipping hazard. But if I could grab one and reach the center, it would be possible to pull myself in. But that would require me to stand up, something I knew I wasn¡¯t going to be able to do. Finding a place to dig my dagger in wasn¡¯t easy either. The spaces between stones were thin, few, and far between. The first time I managed to get my dagger stuck, it broke free before I could pull on to it. But the time after that, I got a good grip on it. Heaving myself towards the center was harder than I thought. My arms burned as my feet skidded over the smooth surface. I made it to the center of the disk and, with Orange¡¯s help, evenly distributed my weight so that I wasn¡¯t being pulled in any one direction. The stone was slick with sweat that rolled off me in buckets. All I was left to do was stare up at the ceiling. The spider creature wasn¡¯t attacking me directly, just toying with me, playing its twisted game. I hated it. My only hope was that it was doing something equally devious and torturous to the assassin since she couldn¡¯t follow me through the caved in room. I gritted my teeth, feeling my frustration bubble up. How long will this take to stop? Will it stop? It will. The disk has been slowly losing speed compared to the initial turn. By our calculation, it will take eighteen minutes. My thoughts felt sluggish, and the mental fatigue weighed on me. But since I had eighteen minutes to myself, I let myself relax more. My heart pounded as doubt crept in. Was I strong enough for this? Could I even make it to Killa? Or would I die here, broken and outsmarted by a creature that refused to face me directly? The minutes ticked by, and the wheel slowed down more and more. In all honesty, I didn¡¯t have to wait until it stopped completely. Orange didn¡¯t want me to. But I didn¡¯t want to move. The room was one of the easier traps to deal with, but the spider creature wasn¡¯t even close to running out of ammunition to throw at me. Or maybe it is, I don¡¯t know how many rooms there are. My stalling wouldn¡¯t last forever, and Orange was right. The wheel did stop. I sat up, feeling just as tired as before I entered the room. If the spider¡¯s traps don¡¯t kill me, the assassin will. Didn¡¯t the host have a plan to pit the assassin and the spider against one another? I did. But getting the spider to focus on the assassin is impossible unless they¡¯re in the same room. And I just can¡¯t risk being that close to the assassin. So maybe, if I don¡¯t move, it will have to focus on her since she¡¯s going to go from room to room trying to reach me in this labyrinth. That is possible logic. However, what will the host do if the assassin finds them lying in the center of this room? The traps haven¡¯t stopped you completely. It would be logical to consider that the assassin could have the same level of success. Orange, sometimes, I hate when you make sense. I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring the protests from my mind. There was a door at the far end of the room, and I needed to go through it. If my pursuer won¡¯t stop, neither can I. That meant there was only going to be one way those two would be guaranteed to fight; I have to put them in the same room together. The network of webs on the ceiling is key to the creature¡¯s entire network. Is there a way I can use it against it? I wasn¡¯t coming up with any ideas. My thoughts kept drifting away from me. Most of the time to Killa and hoping she was okay, but others missing the delicious food I had back in the city. But I picked a door that I hadn¡¯t entered through at random. I really need to get out of here. If I find the spider creature, I can¡¯t try to kill it. I need it alive. But does my plan stand even a chance? The wide range of variables makes predicting with any certainty impossible. Unless the host finds proof that the plan can succeed, it would be better to assume it will fail. Inversely, the host may believe the plan will succeed unless proof is found that it will not. Orange, that is maddeningly unhelpful. Actually, Orange, just shut up. Don¡¯t talk. Even if it sounds like I might be talking to you, assume I¡¯m talking to myself. Unless I bring your name up, I don¡¯t want to hear you. Not right now. Thank you for your help with the last two rooms, but right now you are only making things worse. And I can¡¯t deal with that right now. Understood. Regret washed over me. It was unfair of me to snap on Orange like that. All they ever try to do is to be helpful. They can be lifesaving one moment and gratingly useless the next. It¡¯s like they don¡¯t understand how to interact with me socially. But for the time being, I needed silence, solitude, and focus. I took a deep breath and shook my head, all attempting to clear my head. My priority was finding a way out of this labyrinth. The room beyond the door was small, with walls covered in webs. The ground was coated in a thick layer of webs that looked like a single giant piece of fabric. As soon as I entered the room, the floor sank slightly and stretched as I stepped onto it. In the center of the room, just in front of me, was a large orb suspended on a pillar of stone. The pillar looked like it went below the carpet of webs. My feet stuck to the web. So, more of the sticky webs. It doesn¡¯t feel like there¡¯s a floor underneath me. The orb looked odd too. It was hard to tell what it was made of, stone, glass, or something else entirely. It gave me the strangest feeling in my gut. Like it was important, but also dangerous. I approached it slowly, waiting for this room¡¯s trap to trigger. From the other side of the orb, the spider creature crawled to observe me. Its ten hands gripped the orb with its unsettlingly long fingers. Its eight eyes locked onto me as I stood on the other side of the orb. My body tensed up as it stared at me. I was hoping to run into it, but not so soon. It hopped on to the ceiling with a hiss. My heart dropped as the orb rolled off the pedestal. 33 Whose Idea Was This? My feet tore free from the sticky webs just as the heavy sphere dropped through the webs. But I didn¡¯t get very far. The web¡¯s stickiness made moving fast difficult. The orb shredded through the web carpet and below it. As it did, the webs rippled, and I lost my footing. Now my whole left side was stuck, and the spider was breaking a hasty escape again. I can¡¯t allow that. I pulled my gun and aimed towards the door it was heading for. My shot let out a metallic twang and ricocheted upwards. It had the effect I wanted as the malformed spider creature scuttled backwards away from the door. It turned its head and hissed at me again. It hopped down onto the web carpet behind the pillar. It wasn¡¯t going to try to attack me directly, not without a big golem to protect it. Instead, it pulled on the sticky carpet. The webs that were connected to its back legs stretched taut. The threads snapped one by one as the creature continued to pull. My body was stuck, and I couldn¡¯t get it off fast enough. The threads that held the carpet were snapping and tearing. It was only a matter of time before I fell with it. I caught a glimpse of what was below me¡ªa pit of crude, rusted, jagged metal spikes. Yeah. It¡¯s pretty obvious that¡¯ll kill me, or trap me until I die of starvation. More threats broke, and I could see the creature was whipping them around the room. One such whip slapped me in the face. The webbing stung, and the impact hurt as it stuck to my face. Instinctively, my hand grabbed the web only to get stuck too. As the web pulled back, my head started getting pulled with it. A few hard tugs threatened to rip the skin from my face. It seemed like the creature couldn¡¯t do anything about it, so it then started pulling at the webs my side was stuck to. I pulled my face to my other hand, where I managed to reach my dagger. Carefully, I cut the string between my hand and face so that I could move my arm again. I then started spinning my arm in circles, wrapping the web around it, and pulling it tighter. The spider hadn¡¯t let go of the web and instead tried to fight back. It was much stronger than me. My body jerked hard towards the creature, and a spike of pain went through my arm. The thread wrapped around my arm held, but I realized that what I did was only make things worse. I could feel my arm pop out of its socket as I was stretched. Another whip came and wrapped around my leg, followed by another on my other leg. My side was freed, but that only had me lifted up and slammed into the pillar. All four limbs groaned as they popped one by one. But that¡¯s all it ended with. My arms and legs were still bound behind me, but they eased up as the spider creature walked around to stand in front of me. I could feel all eight black eyes focusing on me. It tilted its head almost ninety degrees. The mandibles on its mutated face squirmed. I suppressed a gag as it paced sideways as it watched me. Suddenly, it turned around to look at the door I didn¡¯t come in from. It looked at the door, then to me, and back at the door. It¡¯s planning something. What? As if to answer my question, it shot out two dozen more strings of web to attach at various parts of my body. Before I could ask why, it pulled me off the pillar and back onto the shredded web carpet. The parallels of where the webs were attached to my body compared to where they were on the golem puppets clicked in my mind. My eyes went wide at the realization. It¡¯s going to use me to face the demoness. That must mean she¡¯s close, and it doesn¡¯t have any better options. It pulled me to another door. Unceremoniously, it dragged me behind it. All my effort was spent in twisting my body so that I wasn¡¯t being dragged face first as my joints were put back in place. I was dragged through half a dozen different rooms. In the second room, I was able to twist and run on my own for a few seconds. It didn¡¯t like that. It pulled on the strings attached to my legs and pulled them out from under me. From that point on, I kept to minimize the tumbling and let the spider do what it was going to do. But I made sure to keep a tight hold on my dagger and kept it hidden too. My gun sat securely in my pocket too. As long as I didn¡¯t threaten it, I was safe. I needed the spider monster to think it was in control. But was I really in control? Not really. I was making everything up as I went. Orange, I need you to keep track of the path to get out of here. If I need to make a run for it, I need to know how to get out. We will have a path to guide the host. A short answer without questioning me and telling me how dumb of an idea this was? I mean, I know it¡¯s dumb. But we¡¯re doing it now. Maybe you¡¯re learning. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The rooms were a blur. Left, straight, left, straight, right, straight, straight. The route it took me seemed excessive, but there had to be a reason for it to do so. The spider finally dragged me into the room, its ten legs clacking against the stone floor as we entered. Webs crisscrossed the high-ceiling chamber, connecting the myriad of columns like a twisted chandelier. The creature paused, positioning me in the middle of the room, and for a second, it seemed to hesitate. My eyes darted around¡ªthere was no clear way out, just a maze of webs and pillars. That probably means there¡¯s only one entrance. I tightened my grip on my hidden dagger, forcing myself to remain still. I couldn¡¯t afford to tip it off now. I noted the absence of the black clouds that the abomination typically hid in. Maybe it¡¯s out of mana. That¡¯ll give the assassin the edge. Maybe that might mean the assassin has used up most of her mana too. I can only hope. While it dragged me around, I picked up on a few other details. It was slower than me, although it controlled all of its limbs far more agilely. Not once did it set off a trap, even while dragging me along. Obviously, the spider was stronger than me since it moved the hulking golem and could, with a flick of one wrist, disrupt any movement I made. The demoness was always falling behind me, suggesting that she, too, was slower than me. But she utilized a frightening level of magic that was much more than Killa¡¯s. And since I never got close¡ªnot that I want to¡ªI¡¯ve no estimation of her strength other than she can¡¯t move massive caved in rocks. Then I felt it¡ªa cold, unnatural presence creeping in, curling around my senses like an invasive mist. She was coming. The demoness entered, her eyes glowing brighter. But those eyes were different now. No longer just cold¡ªthey were filled with an unparalleled malice. The cosmic assassin was livid. Its gaze met mine, and I felt my heart skip a beat, an icy dread clutching at my chest. I had escaped it once, but here, in this deathtrap, it had the upper hand. ¡°Rina...¡± Her melodic voice carried with it an unmistakable edge. ¡°It was fun before, but now it has turned sour.¡± Yeah, yeah. You¡¯re upset. At this point, I can¡¯t bring myself to care or worry. And soon you¡¯ll have something else to deal with too. I swallowed hard. Keep it together, Rina. Remember the plan. The dagger felt like a flimsy source for hope in my hand. The spider shifted nervously behind me. It wasn¡¯t just trying to trap me; it was using me as a human shield. The demoness stepped closer, her movements slow and methodical. Ice formed and swirled around her. Pieces shattered in the columns, each leaving visible marks in them. Then the spider hissed as it pulled on several strings at once. The columns groaned, and the upper sections broke apart and swung. The webs snapped taut, and the giant stone chunks moved in arcs, creating a chaotic pendulum effect. I didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªI drove the dagger into the threads binding me, severing them in one swift movement. I dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding a column as it whooshed over my head. The spider hissed, scuttling backward as it evaded the swinging traps. The demoness, however, didn¡¯t flinch. Her eyes fixed on me as if the chaos was irrelevant until one of the stone blocks would¡¯ve slammed into her side. A wall of ice was erected in the path of the stone. The wall shattered on contact, forcing the demoness to the ground or get hit. I rolled to the side, using the columns as cover, my eyes darting for a way out. There was only one exit, past the assassin. Both the spider and I were looking in the same location. The demoness¡¯s voice cut through the chaos in a primal scream. A blade of ice lashed out from her hand to cut the web holding the swinging stone before it reached her. The block sailed over her and into another column. The impact shattered the support structure, sending the stone sections spinning at the top of it into other columns. Like dominos, column after column crumbled. And with them, the ceiling started to fall. The spider threw caution to the wind and made a direct line for the door. I darted to behind it. The demoness looked up and grinned. The demoness moved, her hand outstretched, fingers curling. I felt a sudden loss of friction below my feet. The spider and I were both standing on a plane of ice. It was far less graceful, as all ten legs went in ten different directions. My hands found the remaining section of a column to catch myself on. But then the spider creature did something I didn¡¯t expect. It grabbed a section of web and lunged¡ªnot at me, but at the demoness, its hands-for-legs scrabbling across the ground. It slammed into her. A rock almost dropped on them both. The demoness rolled out of the way while the spider continued for the door. This is my chance. Without hesitation, I pushed myself forward off the edge of the ice and ran, darting through the debris and dodging the falling stones. My escape was just ahead. The demoness screamed behind me, a sound that was not human. It was deeper, more guttural, yet there was a strange hint of something else. Almost a second voice screamed along with it. But that¡¯s where my curiosity ended. There was no time for anything but survival. The spider was already out the door, and it didn¡¯t close it behind itself. A pile of rocks fell over the door, leaving a small opening. I dove through it. My metal arms scraped the uneven stone. Behind me, the room continued to erupt in chaos¡ªcolumns crumbling, webs snapping, ceiling falling, the demoness¡¯s fury echoing through the chamber. After I made it out, I landed hard on the other side, rolling to absorb the impact. My dagger was still in my hand, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I was out¡ªfor now. But I knew this wasn¡¯t over. The demoness wouldn¡¯t stop, and right in front of me was the spider. It was already running to another room. A temptation tugged at me. Maybe she won''t survive. I¡¯ll take that outcome. The chunks of stone I slid through shot apart as an icy lance obliterated them. The demoness stumbled through the doorway as more debris followed her. Her body was covered in numerous small cuts across her skin. Why did I hope for something else? The demoness panted as she struggled to her feet. ¡°You¡­¡± I took off after the spider. I guess we keep going. 34 The Last Stretch The spider scuttled ahead of me, and I chased after it, the demoness¡¯s anger still echoing in my ears. It didn¡¯t take long before I stumbled into the next deathtrap of a room. The spider was already in motion. A massive wooden top stood in the center of the room, its craftsmanship almost elegant, if not for the webbing wrapping around it. It was more than an oversized toy. I could see the glint of the axe blades hidden beneath those threads. The spider reached the top, and I could almost hear it almost clicking gleefully. With a single tug, it yanked on the web. I stopped dead in my tracks, just in time to see the top begin to spin. The webs unraveled gracefully at first, trailing through the room like slow-motion projectiles. I had to act fast. The webs were spiraling outward, and if I wasn¡¯t careful, I¡¯d end up trapped waiting for the top to run me over. I dove sideways, using the momentum of the roll to put distance between myself and the rapidly unfurling webs. My goal wasn¡¯t just survival¡ªit was making sure the demoness was caught in this mess. Unfortunately, she¡¯s slower than us by a wide margin. The spider moved to the side, scuttling out of range of the spinning top. Clever little coward. I took a moment to figure out the rhythm of the top¡¯s movements. Every spin was wider, faster, aiming to fill the entire room. I watched the spider hop effortlessly out of the way and out of the door of the far room. The demoness then entered, a swirling storm of frost forming around her feet. Her eyes met mine with a familiar burning rage¡ªshe didn¡¯t notice the trap, not yet. I ducked as one of the threads swung past me. I needed to stay on the move, following the spider creature. With a quick dash, I put the top between the demoness and me. The demoness, clearly infuriated by being delayed by yet another obstacle, raised her hand. I grinned. I don¡¯t have a lot of hope for this one, but let it try. The wooden top picked up speed and suddenly shifted direction. I dropped to the ground, making myself as small a target as possible, and watched as the spinning deathtrap careened towards the demon, its hidden blades emerging, ready to cut down anything in its path. The demoness scowled. A wall of ice erupted in front of her, shattering as the top collided, splinters of ice and wood flying in all directions. It knocked her back, sending her sprawling. The webs tangled her legs, and she let out an inhuman scream. An icy spear split the top and pinned it to the ceiling. With a slap of my hands, I got up. Resuming the chase of the spider. I sprinted after it, ignoring the growls of the demoness behind me. Yeah, so much for that. I figured that was going to be the outcome. I crossed out of the room, and the moment I entered, I heard the unmistakable sound of grinding stones above me. I glanced up just in time to see a massive boulder drop from a compartment in the ceiling. Two steps kept the round stone from flattening me. It was suspiciously round, and I noticed another convenient slope to the hall. With a slow growing groan, it started rolling my way. Of course. I took off at full speed. The hallway stretched ahead, narrow and lined with ancient sconces that barely lit the path. Behind me, the thundering boulder was speeding up the longer I ran, closing the distance much too quickly for my liking. I heard the spider¡¯s claws clicking ahead, and I was catching up to it. If that thing gets away, I¡¯ll lose it. Any ideas, Orange? The host needs a visual means of tracking the creature. There is a way to force the creature to leave a trail everywhere it goes. Shoot it in the abdomen, just below the spinnerets. I pulled out my gun and shot the creature in the butt¡ªabdomen¡ªtwice. The first shot barely grazed it on the top, while the second hit as low as I could without missing. It stumbled a few steps from the wounds, but it slipped into the next room with the same unbothered agility. The boulder rumbled closer, and I poured every ounce of energy I had into my legs, feeling the painful burn in my muscles. There was something oddly comforting in knowing that, for all the magic, demons, and oversized spiders, a good old-fashioned chase still came down to simple physics. It was just a little more odd knowing that I was running far faster than any human should. Just that even that wasn¡¯t enough. Am I even going to make it? The host will arrive at the safety of the doorway before the stone crushes them. Just mind the jump beforehand. Jump? There was indeed an opening in the floor before the door. Strangely, it looked large enough to fit the boulder. I didn¡¯t have to put much effort into the jump, my momentum more than carried me over it. My shoulder slammed into the door as it caught me. As the wind was knocked out of me, I let out a heavy huff, trying to catch my breath. I stopped to see if the stone would fall down the hall, only to see the demoness was still following. I knew she wasn¡¯t giving up that easily. Her method of travel had my heart dropping. She was sliding down the hall, using the boulder behind her to push her along on an ice sled. I really, really hate her right now. As I figured, the boulder fell into the hole with a heavy crash. Chunks of debris peppered me and the door. Some of them hurt and one of them hit me just above the eye. A small trail of blood trickled into my eyes as I recovered from the concussion. The spider was ahead, already skittering into the next chamber. I shook my head and slipped into the room. Several chunks of stone fought me as I tried to open the door. The door clanged shut as I pulled it behind me. There was no sign of the spider. But I found myself standing in a storeroom. There was a shriek behind me as the door exploded in metal and rock. The storeroom door exploded inwards, shards of wood and metal flying through the air. I was thrown to the ground and instinctively covered my head as pieces scattered everywhere. The boulder had slammed into the door before coming to a stop. It was shattered, and what was left was wedged tightly in the doorway. Dust billowed up in thick clouds, making me cough. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. I wiped my face, my vision adjusting to the dim lights flickering around cracks in the ceiling. The demoness was nowhere in sight. For now, at least, the boulder was blocking her way. I had a moment to catch my breath, which was more than needed. Exhaustion tugged at me again. The adrenaline from the chase was starting to wear off, leaving a shaky fatigue in its wake. All I earned was time. The demon wasn¡¯t likely dead. I have to keep moving. The room was cluttered, shelves lining the walls, laden with dusty cans and crates. It smelled stale, as if it had been sealed for decades¡ªmaybe longer. There wasn¡¯t a readable label to be found anywhere. My eyes scanned over the contents, trying to decide if there was anything useful, when Orange¡¯s voice broke through my thoughts. The host needs to regain their energy. The cans contain sustenance. Eat. They do? Yes. Sustenance is required to maintain the host¡¯s physical capabilities, particularly considering the exertion that has occurred. How do you know they have food in them? Look down and to the left. I did. Some of the debris had destroyed a few cans. From inside one, there looked to be small, light brown beans. Food is food. I used the tip of my dagger to pop the lid off one can and dug in, barely tasting the bland food as I ate. My energy bar was low again, so I needed it. All of my wounds were healed again, and I ate can after can. I consumed more beans, a variety of fruits, crunchy vegetables, and meat that had a consistency closer to paste. At least it isn¡¯t spiders. There was a shrieking behind me, muffled by the massive boulder wedged in the doorway. I could hear the demoness. Her screams still reached me. Part of me wanted to laugh, but I knew better. She isn¡¯t done yet. She¡¯ll never be. The boulder might¡¯ve bought me some time, but it won¡¯t stop her for good. I could feel the air get colder and ice wrap around the boulder as I finished the last of the food. I had eaten probably fifty cans of food to fill my energy bar up two full times. So where did the spider go? I looked at the ground and noticed a small trail of blood leading to one of the doors. I guess it was a good thing that I did shoot it. If the creature is wounded, it will likely retreat to its lair. Is that important? It is. The creature will be cornered, as it will have selected a very defensible location. However, proceed with caution. The creature will also fight at its fiercest in such a situation. That might be what it will take to kill the demon. Let¡¯s go before she breaks through. With that, I was again on the trail of the spider. But the sight that welcomed me through the next door was breathtaking. A massive canyon stretched before me, its depths plunging into an endless darkness. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the view. Suspended in the middle of the vast void was a huge, intricate web cocoon, its shimmering threads catching the dim light. It hung like some giant grotesque mothball, held aloft by long web tethers that stretched from the canyon walls. The spider¡¯s lair. Of course, Orange. It¡¯s pretty obvious. A narrow bridge of web, barely wide enough to balance on, connected the doorway to the cocoon. It looked fragile, and a single misstep could send me plunging into the abyss below. I wasn¡¯t too interested to see what was at the bottom, if there was a bottom. From the ceiling of the canyon, massive rocks tied with thick webs swayed like pendulums across the bridge, ready to smash anyone off the little bridge. Their slow, methodical movements were almost hypnotic. They weren¡¯t a big deal, since I knew I could move fast enough, but that still didn¡¯t solve the other problem for me. The one that was making her way through the blocked doorway right now. This wasn¡¯t the place to fight her, and if she caught up with me while I was on the bridge, I was as good as dead. She would cut the bridge and leave me to fall to my death. I could hear the demoness¡¯s muffled rage behind me, her voice barely audible through the thick boulder wedged in the doorway. It wouldn¡¯t hold her for long. If I was going to cross the bridge, it had to be now. The spider had already crossed and was likely waiting for me. After taking a quick moment to fill my gun, there wasn¡¯t any more preparation I could do. I gripped my dagger and my gun for a second, feeling their familiar weights in my hand before putting them away. My hands were going to be needed if something went wrong. But once I crossed, there would be no turning back. The pendulums swung lazily, their arcs wide and slow. Somehow, they¡¯d sped up the moment I set foot on the bridge. Seriously? I scanned the path ahead, searching for a rhythm in their movement, something to time my steps. Alright. I¡¯ve survived worse. And compared to everything else along the way, this is pretty simple. My feet felt unsteady on the flexible, sticky web, but I forced myself to focus. One step, then another. A boulder swung dangerously close, and I dropped to my knees, narrowly avoiding getting knocked off the bridge. The vibrations from the pendulum¡¯s movement rippled through the web beneath me, threatening to throw me off balance. I clenched my teeth and held on to the bridge. It¡¯s not about speed. It is about timing. I¡¯m aware. I took another step, watching as the pendulums moved in deadly arcs. Before the boulder could begin its path backwards, I passed it. The second boulder and the rest followed the same story. I was near the end when a flash of movement behind me caught my attention. I risked a glance back and felt my stomach drop. The demoness had made it through. She stood at the edge of the canyon. Ice formed beneath her feet again, and I knew she wasn¡¯t going to wait much longer. But cutting the bridge wouldn¡¯t do her any good. I would just jump to the cocoon and be safe¡ªtrapped, but safe. As I predicted, she didn¡¯t have the patience to hold still to keep me in the cocoon and eventually starve me out. She started walking on the webs, freezing them into a more solid structure as she went. Cutting the silk bridge under her was now pointless. But that was never the plan. I grinned. That¡¯s right, keep following blindly. I jogged the last bit and entered the small round hole into the cocoon. It was dark¡ªcompletely dark. I could hear hissing, as no doubt the spider knew I entered. On the far side of the surprisingly large room, a subtle blue glow started emanating. It was a golem, one larger than even the last one. The faint blue lines crossed over its body like circuits, giving me enough light to see the entire room. The golem was made of webs, rusted metal, and wood. It had four arms, each tipped with three jagged chunks of metal like claws. Its torso was a metal-covered cone that tapered into the connection for the legs. Four bulky legs supported it in an ¡°X¡± shape. It stared at me, its face nothing more than a smooth oval. Crawling over its shoulder was the spider monster. It disappeared behind its back only to have the golem wake up. I thought I heard what sounded like metal sliding as it did. Jerky movements in the arms and legs quickly gave way to more fluid ones. Orange, is that spider controlling the golem? It is. Getting behind the golem to kill the creature is the only requirement for ending this encounter. I pulled out my gun. One shot was all I needed. But first, I need it to kill the demoness following me. The golem lumbered towards me, each step sending shockwaves through the cocoon. It wasn¡¯t fast, and it only had one leg off the ground at a time. I stood still, letting it get closer, closer. The air was getting colder, meaning the assassin was getting closer. The golem lifted its arms up to crush me. She won¡¯t know what hit her. 35 Three-Way Brawl I jumped out of the way as its arms slammed down; the impact sending ripples through the floor beneath me. The demoness stepped through the hole, the look on her face a mix of anger and disbelief. ¡°Another distraction,¡± she hissed. She was angry, but there was a calmness in her voice again. It was like she used the time to clear the blocked door to start thinking rationally again. The golem turned to face her, its four arms slamming down again. The demoness summoned an ice barrier to protect herself. The golem attacked again, its arms pounding into the shield. This is perfect. As long as the golem is keeping the demoness, I can focus on her. The massive golem¡¯s four jagged arms moved with lethal intent, slicing through the air and chunks of ice. While the spider perched atop its back, hissing and twitching, pulling its puppet strings, I slipped around to its back. There was a metal plate protecting the spider from direct attacks. It really saved the best for last. The demoness, never taking her eyes off me, curled her magic around her like a snake. An icy trail curled from behind her to smash into the side of the golem as it tried to destroy her shield again. Stumbling to the side and falling on its side, the whole cocoon shook from the golem¡¯s impact on the ground. The demoness didn¡¯t look at the golem. She flicked her wrist and threw a volley of ice shards at me from her shield. I rolled to the side, towards the golem to use it as cover, and fired two shots at the demon, forcing her to defend herself. Both shots met a wall of ice. The golem was already rising and preparing another strike. With my cover moving, the demoness didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. Ice coiled around her arm, forming into a sharp spear. She launched it at me, but the spider had other plans. The golem¡¯s arms raised high and the massive claws came down to crush me into the floor. It was a simple matter to step out of the reach. The ice spear shattered against the golem¡¯s other arm as it swiped at the demon. I could feel the web beneath my feet shifting under the weight of the creature¡¯s blows. The spider hissed again from atop the golem¡¯s back, mandibles clicking in fury as it yanked at the threads connecting it to the monstrosity. The golem¡¯s legs came crashing down as it rose up and charged toward me, and I dove to the side, barely avoiding being flattened by the colossal limbs. I rolled to my feet, panting, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my gun. The dagger would be useless unless I needed to free myself. The demoness was still on the other side, dodging the golem. She wasn¡¯t moving much, though. It seemed she was focused on the golem. The demoness screamed, raising her hands, a wave of frost spreading outwards. It froze the web floor, turning it slick. The golem stomped a foot and shattered the ice. Then the shards grew around the foot and pinned it to the ground. More ice crawled up the leg. The golem staggered forward, shattering its way out of the ice, its movement awkward at first, then smoother as the spider regained its equilibrium. It attempted to trample the demoness. She pushed herself off the wall and used the ice to slide around the room away from it. I dashed over to the golem, using the ice to slide around so that I kept the golem between me and the demoness. I had to catch myself on the wall. Behind me, the air grew colder, and I could feel the frost creeping up my legs. I risked a glance over my shoulder and saw her. Her fingers twitched as she slammed her hand into the ground. The ice shattered around me and floated around. Shards of ice hovered around me, suspended in the air for a second, before pointing at me. The demon clenched her other hand and all the shards flew towards me. I jumped up to avoid most of them. Some of the closer ones still cut my legs a bit, but I was five feet in the air. My legs dangled as I understood that I almost just jumped my body height. I twisted in the air and shot the demon. But the golem stepped in the way. The bullet bounced off its torso. The demoness laughed as she shot the golem with an icy blast. The golem stumbled sideways, and I fell from the air, landing hard on the floor. I pushed myself up and rolled out of the way as a claw crashed down inches from where I was. Her lip curled in a sneer, and she flicked her wrist, sending the ice shards flying toward me yet again. I ducked behind one of the golem¡¯s legs, the frozen projectiles shattering harmlessly against its thick, webbed wood. The demoness snarled. The golem, slow as it was, began to pivot on the ground. It attempted to claw at me with its other hand while it stood up. Avoiding it was as easy as crouching underneath it. The floor beneath me vibrated with every step it took. Every movement filled the air with thick sounds of creaking wood and straining webbing. It tried to drop its entire weight on my head as I hid directly underneath where its torso and legs met. Time to move. I darted out from behind the golem¡¯s legs, making a beeline for the other side of the cocoon. Every step I took was shaky, the ground beneath me barely stable, and with the golem¡¯s constant stomping and slamming its weight around, I wasn¡¯t sure how long the cocoon would hold. But that wasn¡¯t my biggest problem. The demoness had thrown out both arms. A spinning saw blade of ice was heading towards me. More followed the first. I ducked under the first two blades and weaved through the others, but the last one cut my face. It was so cold it burned like fire; the blood dripping down and burning through my eye. My vision blurred as the pain radiated from the cut. Behind me, sections of the cocoon were cut by the blades, poking small horizontal holes. I took a deep breath and sprinted around the edge of the cocoon, hoping to keep the golem between me and the demoness. The spider, still shrieking from atop its mount, yanked harder on its threads, pivoting the golem and followed me. Its massive arms swung in wide arcs, crashing into the walls and sending webs flying. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. More damage to the walls caused a sudden drop in the room. What was that? The room dropped seven centimeters. It seems a support tether was damaged in that last attack. I didn¡¯t have more time to consider what that meant. The demoness wasn¡¯t done. I could feel the temperature drop again, even as I ran, frost clung to my skin. I glanced just in time to see her summon a massive spear of ice, nearly as tall as she was. She hurled it toward me with a flick of her wrist. I dove to the side, hitting the ground hard. The spear missed by inches, embedding itself in the webbed wall with a sickening crack. The room dropped again. Five more centimeters. English measurements, Orange. I don¡¯t have time to convert it. One point nine six eight five zero three nine three seven zero zero seven eight seven four zero inches. There was too much going on to scream at Orange in my head for such a stupid answer. I scrambled to my feet. The spear exploded into countless shards. I covered my face with my metal arms, but the blast still knocked me back and several shards still struck me. I didn¡¯t have time to check the damage. The golem was getting closer now, each step sending shockwaves through the floor. I could hear the spider screeching. It¡¯s concentrating on me. I need to get those two to focus on each other, not them both on me. I slid under a claw as it slammed down and rolled out of the way of a foot. The demoness wasn¡¯t going to give me a break, either. I saw another rotating shard of ice fly at me. I couldn¡¯t dodge this one. I threw myself sideways, but it embedded into my shoulder just before my arm turned to metal. It cut through my flesh and bone, and pain surged through me. My right arm went numb and fell limp, and blood seeped around the wound. With the golem¡¯s back turned to the demoness, a heavy ball of ice struck it in the plate covering the spider. Instantly, it turned the puppet around and charged the demoness. While it did, I pulled the ice shard from my shoulder. I felt something pop, and the numbness faded, replaced by an agony so intense I could hardly breathe. Blood soaked my shirt and jacket and the smell of it filled my nose, making me nauseous. It was warm and sticky, and I could feel it running down my arm. But the tingling in my arm built. My nanites were closing the wound and movement returned to my arm. The assassin hammered into the golem as it charged her, breaking off chunks of wood. The golem staggered, its movements becoming jerky and uneven. It swung its arms wildly. One of its limbs crashed into a nearby wall behind the demoness, tearing through the webbing. The room dropped again, this time more than before. Six inches lower. An idea sparked in my mind. Maybe I don¡¯t have to kill them directly. Neither one seems to be reacting to the fact the room is lowering each time they damage the walls. Orange, how much more damage needs to occur before the whole place goes falling down? Insufficient information. I turned to the entrance to see a wall of ice just past the opening. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m getting past that. The demoness pushed away from the golem again while sliding on a patch of ice. The massive golem¡¯s hand crashed down to shatter the ice. But maybe I don¡¯t have to. A plan slowly started to fit into place in my mind. I holstered my gun and drew my dagger, gripping it tightly. The demoness was still retreating from the golem, her eyes locked on it. A spear of ice zipped from her hand and into the elbow of the golem¡¯s arm. When it shattered, the limb hung from a few pieces of webbing that snapped as it recoiled. The spider was losing. It won¡¯t kill the demoness. But I already had a back-up plan. I just need to get to the largest opening the golem created. Once the cocoon starts falling, I¡¯ll be able to jump to the bridge and run to safety. Those two will be too slow and fall with it, hopefully dying. At the least, the demon will be trapped for a very long time. I darted toward the golem, not away from it. The spider, sensing the movement, shrieked and pulled harder on its threads, directing the golem¡¯s massive limbs to intercept me. But I was faster. I dodged the swing, then the leg. I heard the crack of ice behind me, the demoness¡¯s scream of frustration as she launched another attack. I could feel the cold at my back, the sharp sting of frost biting at my skin. But I didn¡¯t stop. I dove beneath the golem¡¯s legs, sliding across the frozen floor. I could hear the spider shrieking in fury as it reached down to grab me. Its foot slipped as it tried to follow my movements. The golem staggered again, its arm and legs flailing wildly, one leg crashing down toward the demoness. She reacted just in time, raising a wall of ice to block the blow. But the impact sent cracks splintering through her shield. The golem¡¯s legs shifted, and I seized the opportunity. I leaped to my feet and out of the hole. Carefully climbing my way up the outer walls of the cocoon¡ªwhich was surprisingly easy¡ªI reached the first support tether. My dagger cut through it in a few quick cuts. A satisfying snap and the cocoon wobbled. I could feel the ground shake beneath me, the vibrations rippling through the web. Does this give you enough information, Orange? Indeed. Cut four more tethers all on the same side and it will destabilize the structure. As it does, head towards the tether above the bridge at the front to begin escaping. The next tether snapped off just like the first, and the cocoon lurched even more. As I made it to the third one ice shot out through the web and into my foot while also destroying the web anchor. The ice instantly formed around my foot, holding me in place. I pulled my leg out, but I couldn¡¯t pull it free. The demoness trapped me. She¡¯s not giving up. Ice crawled over my skin and into my wounds. The pain was excruciating. Every breath burned, and I could barely think. I reached down and punched the ice with my dagger¡¯s pommel. My foot came loose as the ice cracked. Limping, I made way towards the front. A heavy thud followed the last tether I needed to cut. Everything started swaying. I barely stayed on my feet. Crawling up from the underside of the cocoon was the spider. The swinging didn¡¯t bother it as it used all ten legs with hands to effortlessly reach another tether. I dove to catch the tether I needed to use to swing back to the entrance. As my fingers intermingled with the threads of sticky web, I held on with every bit of strength I could muster. With a quick pluck, the spider removed a string and separated the tether it grabbed. I didn¡¯t need to use my dagger to cut mine. The sudden plummet snapped the tether at the base, where it connected to the cocoon. The cocoon dropped violently into a freefall as the two of us began swinging away from one another. The demon¡¯s still inside. This should kill her. But before the cocoon dropped farther, a massive ice pick made of ice reached from below and skewered the spider through the center of its body. Its shrill shriek resounded in the cavern. The demoness hung from the other end of the pick. The spider held onto the web, carrying her away from me towards the farthest wall from the entrance. She extended a hand towards the spider. Ice coiled around her wrist, reached out and grabbed the web rope, then melded into the bottom of it. Pulling her arm back, the demoness extracted her icy pick and stabbed the spider again. It let out a weaker shriek and hiss. One more last pull and the creature fell into the abyss below. The assassin didn¡¯t bother to watch. Her eyes stayed locked on me. I could only climb up to the ledge and shake my head as I turned away. The entire time, she just hung there. It wasn¡¯t enough. As I walked out, I could feel the hate drilling into me from so far away. This isn¡¯t over. There would be another time. I had only one last hope. Killa. 36 Don’t Die I leaned on the door to close it. For a second, the whole world seemed to stop spinning, and the battle that had raged in the cocoon felt like a distant nightmare. I took a breath, trying to steady my shaking hands. My whole body was buzzing with leftover adrenaline, but beneath that, a bone-deep exhaustion had settled in. The cold air stung my lungs with every breath, and every muscle should¡¯ve ached from the punishment they¡¯d taken. But the nanites made every physical ache and pain disappear. I didn¡¯t know how long it was going to take the demoness to catch up, but if she was just hanging there, she likely did so out of necessity. She¡¯s getting low on mana. There may be hope yet. I took a tentative step. I limped toward the exit of the room, not in pain, but exhaustion. Lifting each leg grew increasingly difficult. Each step felt heavier than the last, like my limbs were weighed down by invisible weights. You must conserve your energy. Orange¡¯s voice piped up in my head. Talking would¡¯ve taken more energy than I had. Thinking was pushing the limits of my endurance. Not yet. Killa will help. Killa wants to help. I need her help. Take me to her. Tell me how to get to her. Head towards the door opposite of the host. I followed Orange¡¯s directions. Making my way back to the icy steps that led back to the previous floor. As I walked, an eerie quiet haunted me. There were no more traps to trigger. The spider was dead now, which meant no more swinging pendulums, rolling boulders, collapsing ceilings, puppeteered golems, spinning saw blades, raining blades, none of it. That should have been comforting, but instead, the stillness felt oppressive. I found myself holding my breath thinking that a trap would trigger again. Each step I took was cautious, half-expecting another trap to spring up from the floor or ceiling. But nothing happened. No webs, no shifting walls¡ªnothing. It was like the entire place had died with the spider. Orange led me through many of the same rooms I had already been through, their traps already deployed and derelict. The few new rooms they led me through were because the room I had been in collapsed. My body was on autopilot, each movement was an effort just to stay upright. As I walked, my thoughts started to wander. Somehow, I¡¯d survived everything¡ªthe traps, the close calls, the demoness, and that nightmarish spider creature. It¡¯s over. Well, almost. The demoness is still coming for me, but I can beat her. She¡¯s just as worn out as me. If the shaylip¡¯s estimate of the slime¡¯s capabilities are true, and once the poison affecting them is cleared, the probability for survival increases by three hundred percent. Killa will be okay. She has to be. As I reached the steps to the third floor again, a strange sense of euphoria washed over me. I made it. Finally! Each door had led to the next quiet room. They were all empty. The cold stillness was unsettling. The meager light shimmered in the icy steps that still hadn¡¯t melted. A sense of peace washed over me as I let myself be lost in my simple reflection of them. It was better than the chaos of each room I¡¯d left behind. My mind was foggy, but things just felt a little lighter. Everything felt sluggish, but I couldn¡¯t forget the feeling of my pursuer¡¯s unbridled loathing. I better continue. Walking up the icy steps was expectantly slippery, but reaching the third floor again made every nightmarish minute I endured on the floor below me nonexistent. Euphoria like I¡¯d never experienced before washed over me as I let myself finally accept that it was over. Every trap, every close call, every run in with my demonic stalker, the spider creature that manipulated every room¡ªall of it was over. As the feeling settled, my exhaustion eased up to a more manageable level again. The only thing left is to get back to Gary, get Killa, and get out. I didn¡¯t know where Bark was, he wasn¡¯t where I left him. My feelings for him were still conflicted. Hopefully he took the time to cool down and think. We believe it is in the host¡¯s best interests to avoid contact with the shaylip. Well, if he apologizes, I think I can forgive him. He¡¯ll need to apologize to Killa too. She might be harder to earn forgiveness from. If she doesn¡¯t want to continue with him, I¡¯ll respect that and continue with her. I always liked her more. I walked through the empty rooms. There was no sign of Bark and his pack was where he left it. Gary¡¯s room was a bittersweet sight. Killa was there, but she was still nothing more than a puddle. Through it all, she wasn¡¯t dead. There was movement coming from her. The black oil was pooling on the top of her before slowly running off to the side. Desperate to save my last remaining friend, I slid onto my knees next to her. I scooped the oil off her as best I could. It took several attempts to get it all, and I may have taken some more parts of Killa with it. Once the last of the oil was off her, she started to reform into her body. Yet all she could manage was the head and shoulders. While she did manage that, her features were rounded and undefined. ¡°Killa? Killa, speak to me, nod, anything. Please tell me you''re alright.¡± I inched myself closer. Killa¡¯s head bobbed for a moment. Her mouth opened and the only thing that came out was a weak wheeze. When her voice failed, she gave a slow nod. I nearly burst into tears. The saying, ¡°You don¡¯t know what you got ¡®till it¡¯s gone.¡± couldn¡¯t feel more appropriate. However, if you can reclaim what was lost, there¡¯s an indescribable relief. A longing gripped my heart. I needed to hold onto Killa, physically and metaphorically. ¡°Bark was right, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± I cupped Killa¡¯s cheek. Her body was more malleable and slimy than usual. ¡°I thought I¡¯d lost you. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave again. We¡¯ll get out of this place the moment you¡¯re ready. If we never find Bark, that¡¯s fine too.¡± The slime woman gave me a wide, droopy smile. As I let out a long exhausted sigh, footsteps sounded behind me. I turned around to see Bark walking out from behind Gary. The crazed look in his eyes had only intensified. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. How? My heart skipped as I froze. He sprinted towards me. After I wrestled control from my instincts, I turned to run away. I got on step before bark grabbed me by the collar of my jacket. One tug and I was off my feet and my back slammed into a wall. He had an iron grip on my shoulder this time. ¡°Rina, this is for the greater good.¡± Bark pulled back one of his swords before driving it into my stomach. ¡°It¡¯s not for you to decide whether I can or can¡¯t risk my life. The sooner I get your nanites, the better. If we wait too long, it may be too late.¡± I grabbed the blade and tried to pull it out, but Bark pushed back and was much stronger than me. ¡°You need to stop this! The demon¡¯s coming back. She¡¯s still alive and chasing me. We don¡¯t have time for this.¡± ¡°On that we can agree.¡± He sliced the palm of one of his free hands and then stabbed me in the shoulder. The blade slid inside my collarbone, and I started feeling the nanites working to repair the wound in my gut. Bark pulled the blade from my shoulder and dug his cut hand into the wound. The nanites started working on the shoulder wound, and I could feel them pushing out his fingers as they repaired the damage. But the sword prevented my stomach from getting healed. I gripped the sword even tighter as I closed my eyes. He¡¯s willing to hurt Killa and me to get what he wants. He never cared for me. It was my nanites he didn¡¯t want to lose. I was stupid. He played with my emotions. I wanted him to be a friend. After Bark¡¯s fingers were pushed out of my shoulder by the nanites, he pulled out the sword, and I dropped to the ground, not realizing I couldn¡¯t move my legs. He hit my spine, didn¡¯t he? Yes, the host¡¯s spine is damaged. Repairs are in progress. My legs twisted at unnatural angles, but I didn¡¯t feel any pain until the buzzing where the sword had cut through me continued. The pain was the first thing I felt, as I then felt that I could move them. The entire time, I stared at Bark, who wouldn¡¯t look away from his trembling hand. ¡°It tingles. Is it supposed to feel like that?¡± He dropped his sword and dagger as he stumbled back several steps. ¡°Did it work?¡± I coughed up another spot of blood as I could feel my lung finishing healing. ¡°The tingle means the nanites are working.¡± Bark¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I did it. It¡¯s really happening.¡± He just ruined any chance at forgiveness with that. For the first time, I felt hatred towards the shaylip. This was no longer just something he did in the heat of the moment, this was premeditated. He didn¡¯t care about me. He wanted one thing. And he got them. I pushed myself up. ¡°Was it worth it? I hope it was because after we leave here, I never want to see you again.¡± Bark snapped his attention to me. ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± He grabbed my shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t you see? Together, we can save my people now. I can finally be free of this hell.¡± I slipped from his grip and ran away from him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You attacked me. Then you followed me.¡± I pointed to Killa, who hadn¡¯t reformed herself completely yet. ¡°You attacked Killa. All because you thought that you could get my nanites. Even after we told you it wouldn¡¯t work or that it was dangerous and that it could kill you, you wouldn¡¯t stop.¡± My voice rose even higher. ¡°Then you hide in here and ambush me to stab me through the stomach and spine. No, I thought you were friendly. Killa told me you were friendly. But now¡ªnow I don¡¯t know who you are.¡± ¡°Rina, I never wanted for it to go this far.¡± His voice quivered. ¡°But I need to be stronger to save my people. Your nanites are the strongest thing I¡¯ve seen. If I have your nanites, I can make a difference¡ªa real difference. I¡¯m not the first to try to save my people. But we¡¯re still trapped. Nobody¡¯s succeeded. I didn¡¯t want to be yet another failure.¡± I held my hand to my shoulder. Even though the wound was gone, I could still feel its sting. ¡°I can¡¯t trust you anymore. You¡¯re as bad as that assassin who¡¯s been hounding me all day. There¡¯s no reasoning, no excuses, nothing that can fix this. We¡¯re through. I meant it. I don¡¯t ever want to see you again.¡± Killa, who had finally reformed herself, threw her arms up and yellow tentacles wrapped around Bark¡¯s arms and legs. They pulled him into the wall as they restrained him. ¡°Give me one good reason I shouldn¡¯t kill you right here, right now.¡± Bark looked at us. ¡°You don¡¯t understand! I was desperate. I know that. But I saw no other way. My people need to be freed from the Nexus, and I couldn¡¯t let this chance slip away. Extreme goals require extreme measures.¡± Killa¡¯s form rippled as she stared in disbelief. ¡°How can you honestly believe that?¡± ¡°There is no justification for any of this, Bark.¡± A tear slid down my face. ¡°I trusted you. And you stabbed me. All you wanted were my nanites. Am I nothing else to you?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Bark started coughing. His cough didn¡¯t sound right, but he swallowed hard and tried to talk again. ¡°I¡¯m sor¡­¡± He fell into another coughing fit. This time, blood flew out of his mouth. Bark¡¯s face suddenly twisted in pain. Blood began seeping from the corners of his eyes. His nose started leaking blood too. Killa released him from her magic, and he fell to the ground as blood oozed from his pores. He staggered to his knees and rolled onto his back, clutching his chest. ¡°Bark?¡± All traces of anger in Killa¡¯s voice were gone. ¡°I told him they would be unstable,¡± Gary chimed in. I almost forgot he was here. ¡°The nanites are rejecting his body and purging his body of his DNA.¡± I turned to stare at the robotic head. ¡°What can we do?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± he answered. ¡°Bark will die. I warned him.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°You warned him.¡± He was warned twice, and still that didn¡¯t stop him. The shaylip must face the consequences of his actions. Why is the host concerned with his health? He betrayed the host. The host said they didn¡¯t want to see him again. Whether he lives or dies, it shouldn¡¯t be of any consequence for the host. We did warn him. He did it anyway. I returned to watching Bark sprawl on the ground, convulsing as Killa knelt next to him, wanting to do something. I said I never wanted to see him again, but that didn¡¯t mean I wanted to watch him die. Blood soaked his clothes and the floor as it continued to pool around Bark as his thrashing hit a new crescendo. Killa knelt in the same pool of blood, and I stood at the edge of it all. There has to be something I can do. They¡¯re my nanites. The host can attempt to reincorpirate them into their body. How? Tell me what to do. The host will have to do what Bark did to them. Direct contact with the nanites in his system is mandatory. Then we will try to establish a connection to reabsorb them into the host. Direct contact, like just touching his blood? No. The host requires internal blood to internal blood contact. Hurt myself, got it. I looked down at the metal skin of my arms. That¡¯s not going to be that easy. Grabbing my gun, I pointed it at the palm of my hand and fired. It didn¡¯t pierce it. It only left a dent. The dent left me reeling in pain and taking sharp breaths to keep from yelling in pain. What now? My eyes ended on Gary. It was obvious. I ran up and placed my hand on the pedestal. ¡°Gary, stab me!¡± The lights of his face flickered. ¡°Why? I have already collected the data.¡± I clenched my teeth. ¡°Because I¡¯m trying to save Bark. Now just do it. He¡¯s dying.¡± The panel with the handprint returned. I placed my hand on it, and within a fraction of a second, a metal spike shot through my hand and retracted just as quickly. Before my nanites could regenerate my hand, I darted back to Bark. I grabbed his knife and considered where to cut him. Create an opening on his left side by his ribs, but do not cut through the ribs only on the outside of them. I followed Orange¡¯s instructions and plunged my hand under the skin flap. Even with the reduced feeling in my hands, brushing up against his ribs was disturbing. This is necessary to save him. It¡¯s only a small cut. He¡¯s had worse. All that matters is that he lives. Connection reestablished. Reclaiming lost assets¡­ Something went wrong. My vision went black as my body went stiff. I couldn¡¯t move, breathe, or even think. 37 Memories Of A Tale Untold Alien memories filled my mind. They were memories I¡¯ve never had before. Most of them were lost in the blurry rush as they flooded in. The first one was the most disorienting. It was me as a child, but it was wrong. I was a stranger in my own body. In front of me were the bodies of two shaylips. They were dead, one filled with arrows, the other split from shoulder to hip. I knew who they were. They were my parents, but they weren¡¯t. It was impossible. What¡¯s happening? Lying next to them was an equally dead man with red skin, horns, and a tail, blood pouring from the hole in his chest. Standing over him was Layith. Layith knelt in front of me. ¡°Sorry Bark, these things happen in the Soul Nexus all the time. Every once in a while, some lunatic thinks they have to kill everyone they come across to gain levels.¡± The shaylip shook his head. ¡°None of us belong here. This isn¡¯t a fate we deserve.¡± This is Bark¡¯s memory? Where there should¡¯ve been sadness, there was nothing. Bark was numb. He just kept staring at the three bodies. Layith grabbed Bark¡¯s hand and led him past the bodies. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a hand, kid. It¡¯ll be my good deed for the day.¡± The memory washes away after that point. More unfocused memories marched past in an instant. Then a clearer one came to the forefront. Bark was swinging four swords in front of a mirror. He worked them through a series of stances. Layith walked into the room, his face was turned into a deep frown. ¡°Still training? It¡¯s very late. Shouldn¡¯t you be sleeping?¡± ¡°If I spend my time sleeping, I¡¯ll never be able to do anything.¡± Sweat poured off Bark¡¯s body as he let the swords rest at his sides. ¡°Someone has to save our people.¡± Layith crossed his arms and leaned against the door. ¡°You¡¯re still on that, aren¡¯t you? Countless people tried and failed. Throwing your life away won¡¯t save anyone. Greater than you have tried and failed.¡± Bark threw the swords to the ground. ¡°Doing nothing is throwing away my life.¡± He jabbed a finger at his closest friend. ¡°You have the power to fix this, but you stay here doing nothing about our plight. Of anyone, you should be the one trying to climb the Soul Nexus. Join me if you don¡¯t want to do it alone?¡± Layith raised an eyebrow. ¡°Together? Where would you get an idea like that?¡± Bark smirked. ¡°Tyras got drunk again. He got on a rant about the more people in an orgy, the better. He even wanted to get a dozen people together for one. When I asked why, he told me, ''The more people together, the more you¡¯ll be able to do things you wouldn¡¯t be able to do otherwise.''¡± Layith chuckled. ¡°Sounds like something he would say. But what does that have to do with anything?¡± Bark held out a hand. ¡°It gave me an idea. If I can¡¯t climb the Soul Nexus alone, then maybe I could do it with others.¡± Layith stood up straight and bobbed his head side to side. ¡°Okay, I can see the logic. But the problem lies in, who are you going to get to join you?¡± Bark shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s the hard part. I¡¯ve got to find someone who can help teach me how to organize a group.¡± The memory ended. Who is Layith? They look like friends, even though I now know there¡¯s an age difference between them. What Layith said to Bark seems to have had an effect on him. He really is trying to climb the Soul Nexus. What¡¯s his wish? Another memory started. I was still watching through Bark¡¯s eyes. He was standing in a familiar room of the dungeon I was in. Gary¡¯s podium was in front of him. He was exhausted, covered in wounds, and completely lost in disbelief after the robotic head greeted him. Layith had suggested the dungeon to him. His friend had warned him about the spiders and even provided needed antitoxins since his resilience wasn¡¯t high enough yet. This was supposed to be able to answer his questions about putting together a group. Somehow, this Gary was his answer to many questions. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Gary¡¯s question snapped Bark out of his stupor. ¡°Sorry.¡± Bark cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m, uh, Bark. Are you real? Will you really answer any questions?¡± ¡°One query at a time, please.¡± Gary¡¯s robotic voice hummed in the small room lit by a small stone light in Bark¡¯s hand. ¡°If I can provide an answer to the provided queries, I will. Is there a specific request you wish to make?¡± Bark wiped the sweat from his face. ¡°Can you teach me about group compositions and tactics?¡± ¡°I can.¡± Bark held out all four of his hands, pleading. ¡°Please. I need to reach the top. I have to have my wish granted. I need to free my people. Who should I get to join me?¡± ¡°Everyone who climbs the Soul Nexus believes they need their wish granted. You are nothing special,¡± Gary responded coldly. ¡°If you desire it so fervently, you must earn your wish. As for your query, keeping your group diverse yet small will give you your best advantage.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°A small group grants a great deal of freedom while allowing the whole to benefit from each other¡¯s strengths to cover any deficits. Diversity is important because there will be obstacles some individuals will be better suited to handle than others. Finding the right people will be up to you. Start by looking for those that excel in areas that you struggle in.¡± Bark crossed his lower arms while tapping his chin. ¡°That¡¯s not hard. But¡ªmost people who come to the Nexus aren¡¯t interested in working together. The last time I tried to work with another shaylip, he stabbed me in the back¡ªliterally. Finding someone trustworthy is the part that¡¯s going to be where I¡¯ll struggle.¡± ¡°If your kinsmen can¡¯t be trusted, seek newcomers to the Soul Nexus.¡± Gary made it sound like it was the most obvious fact in the world. ¡°Look for those who are struggling, then provide them with the helping hand they need. Loyalty is a strong motivator.¡± Bark furrowed his brow. ¡°And what about the group itself? You mentioned diversity. What roles should I be looking for?¡± Gary¡¯s head let off a faint whirr. ¡°Every effective group must cover three primary areas: offense, defense, and support. Offense to take down enemies, defense to protect the group, and support to maintain balance in prolonged fights. However, there¡¯s more nuance depending on the environment. In the Soul Nexus, adaptability is crucial.¡± Bark sighed. ¡°So, I need people who can multitask.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Gary continued. ¡°Specialization has its uses, but flexibility increases survival rates. You must think beyond the immediate. You will face traps, ambushes, environmental hazards, creatures resistant to certain tactics, and possibly betrayal from within. As the leader, be ready to make hard decisions.¡± Bark lowered his head. ¡°Hard decisions¡­ like?¡± ¡°If their skills are no longer useful or if they hinder the group¡¯s success, you may have to sacrifice individuals for the greater good. The climb demands it. If not, then you will fail.¡± The bluntness in Gary¡¯s voice hammered into Bark. ¡°The Nexus is not a place for mercy. You must be willing to make ruthless choices. Loyalty is important, but survival is paramount. Keep that in mind as you assemble your group. You must be willing to do anything to reach the top.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Slowly nodding, Bark hummed. ¡°Be ready to do anything¡­¡± The memory ended before moving on. Gary made him believe that he has to attack his friends and allies to get what he needs? But if he took Gary¡¯s word then, why did he not listen when everyone said that taking my nanites would kill him? He¡¯s desperate to save his people from the Nexus. Why is he willing to die for this? Gary told him survival was the most important part. Several shorter memories played out; all of them were similar to one another. Bark studied others who entered the Nexus and noticed a pattern. They were all alone, and almost all of them died within the first few days. But that all changed when a certain green slime woman skipped through town. Her carefree attitude was a stark contrast to the entire atmosphere of the town. Bark noticed several others were watching her with obvious ill intent. He was about to wave her off as yet another failure until she turned around, winked at those watching her, and walked into an alley. That¡¯s Killa! The men watching her ran in after her. It wasn¡¯t more than a few seconds until there was screaming and an explosion that sent one of them flying out of the alley and into a cart of lizard dung. Raising an eyebrow, Bark had to investigate now. To him, this slime woman was either reckless or far more powerful than she appeared¡ªand either way, she was intriguing. He watched the alley for a moment longer. His mind flashed back to Gary¡¯s advice, ¡°Seek those who excel where you struggle.¡± The slime woman¡¯s audacity drew him in. She might be just what his group needed. Carefully, Bark made his way to the alley¡¯s entrance. The air smelled of burning hair and dust. When he peeked inside, he saw the slime woman casually leaning against the wall, one of the shaylip thugs melting in her arms. The other men were either unconscious or dead. ¡°Enjoying the view?¡± she asked in a playful tone without looking up. ¡°You their boss or something?¡± Until that point, Bark had never seen a slime so animated. Bark straightened, folding all four arms in front of his chest. ¡°You handled them pretty easily.¡± Killa glanced at him with a sly grin. ¡°Oh, that? Barely worth the effort. Are you here to try your luck too?¡± Bark shook his head, stepping fully into the alley. ¡°No. I was simply interested in you; maybe give you a hand if needed.¡± She chuckled. ¡°You give me a hand? That¡¯s a new one in this place. Unless you¡¯re offering to feed me your hand. But I doubt that, even if you¡¯d have three to spare.¡± Bark instinctively grabbed his wrists. Her dark humor was disconcerting. ¡°Not what I was going for.¡± Killa waved her hand with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m joking, I¡¯m joking. Relax. But seeing as you haven¡¯t run nor attacked me, there¡¯s something else you have on your mind. My name¡¯s Killa, by the way.¡± ¡°Bark.¡± Bark counted the three remaining corpses and took note of the one that went flying and the one that she dissolved. ¡°So, how did you deal with five thugs? And is eating people a regular thing for you?¡± The slime woman shrugged. ¡°Sometimes. But it¡¯s not needed most of the time. I was just doing this place a favor by cleaning up some trash.¡± She wiggled her fingers before curling them into a fist. A yellow tentacle wrapped around Bark, restraining him completely. ¡°As it turns out, I¡¯m a competent magic user.¡± Bark squirmed, but couldn¡¯t break free. Fear for his life overwhelmed him. He was worried Killa was planning on killing him, much more torturously than she had the bandits who tried to jump her. His curiosity got the better of him. ¡°Wait¡­wait.¡± Killa put her hands on her hips. ¡°Why? Aren¡¯t you planning on lowering my guard and learning my secrets before killing me?¡± Bark shook his head. ¡°No. I wanted to team up with you.¡± Her expression shattered. ¡°Team up?¡± The tentacle relaxed, but continued to hold. Bark took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah, you know, work together. Help each other out to reach the top of the Nexus. I can¡¯t do it alone.¡± ¡°I know what it means.¡± Killa snapped her ginger before tapping her chin. ¡°Besides, I can believe you¡¯re not strong enough to reach the top on your own. But where do I come in? Are you looking for an escort? Too bad. Baby sitting isn¡¯t my speciality.¡± The blood dropped from Bark¡¯s face. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ll leave if you let me go. This was a mistake.¡± When the tentacle vanished, he turned to leave. ¡°Good luck climbing the Nexus. Hopefully, it doesn¡¯t take you like it has so many others. Maybe you¡¯re strong enough on your own. There¡¯s only one way to find out.¡± Just as Bark was about to leave the alley, a wall of semi-transparent green tentacles appeared to block his path. ¡°You know something, don¡¯t you?¡± Killa called out behind him. Bark turned to face her. ¡°How long have you been in the Soul Nexus?¡± ¡°All my life,¡± he answered despondently. Killa¡¯s face scrunched up. ¡°Do you know this place well?¡± He nodded. ¡°Are you working with anyone else?¡± Bark¡¯s heart rose a bit as the sliver of hope grew. ¡°Not yet. I¡¯ve been looking to put a group to conquer the Nexus for a little while now. You¡¯re the first one who is capable and seems interested.¡± The memories of those he tried to work with before played in the back of his mind. All of them tried to take advantage of his naivete. Before he could continue, a loud crash and a thrum of thunder sounded behind him. Layith was standing at the shattered barrier, his fists sparking with lightning. His eyes narrowed on the slime woman. ¡°I will give you three seconds to stand down.¡± ¡°Done,¡± Killa chirped. ¡°We were just having a charming conversation about working together.¡± Layith almost stumbled. ¡°You what?¡± Bark scratched at the back of his head. ¡°Well, I saw Killa here walking through the streets, almost carelessly, and the way she took out these guys caught my attention. So, I thought, maybe, she¡¯d make a good ally.¡± Layith sighed. ¡°You¡¯re really going through with it. Okay, fine.¡± He threw his arms down, and the lighting around them stopped. ¡°Tell me, Killa, why would you agree to this?¡± The slime woman rocked back and forth with a playful grin on her face. ¡°Because I¡¯m curious too. He¡¯s the first person in a long time that hasn¡¯t tried to kill me, eat me, or call me a world-ending abomination.¡± She winked at Bark. ¡°Besides, he¡¯s sincere, I can tell. I¡¯ve been alone for a long time; maybe it¡¯s time I spent time with someone who isn¡¯t my patron. Our conversation has been refreshing.¡± Bark noted her flighty whims, but didn¡¯t say anything. Layith turned to Bark and pointed a finger. ¡°I¡¯ll help you. This was stupid, and you got lucky. From now on, I¡¯ll find people who you can ask to join.¡± He nodded. ¡°I¡¯m aware of how bad of an idea this was. But thanks, Layith, I knew I could count on you.¡± More memories played until he found me facing off against Culson. From there I remembered most everything, but feeling his envy for my nanites grow each time I described a feature hurt just a little more. The memories ended when he stabbed me. I couldn¡¯t bear the desperation and hatred he felt. The contrast between the young, vulnerable boy from his earlier memories and the more hardened individual who approached Killa gnawed at me. It wasn¡¯t Gary¡¯s calculated pragmatism that convinced Killa to join Bark. It was his genuine desire for help, for something more than survival. It¡¯s good to know that Killa¡¯s always been a kind person. Ruthless, yet kind. Bark learned a lot from Gary, but did he focus on all the wrong lessons? Gary drilled into him the idea that survival meant sacrificing anything¡ªand anyone¡ªwhen necessary. That included me¡ªand trying to take my nanites for himself. My thoughts drifted back to Gary¡¯s blunt proclamation: ¡°You must be willing to make ruthless choices. If their skills are no longer useful, you may have to sacrifice them.¡± That¡¯s wrong. You can¡¯t do that to your friends. Would he have done the same thing to Layith if that was the case? My vision returned to see the poor shaylip still trembling. He¡¯s dying. There¡¯s no saving him. His internal organs are shutting down now. You were too late. ¡°Why, Bark?¡± Tears welled up in my eyes. I knew how envious he was of my nanites and everything, but I still couldn¡¯t bear the pain of his death. Because, alongside those feelings, I knew his unbreakable desire¡ªno need¡ªto save his people was just as fundamental to his being. I knew that was the answer to my question, but accepting it was another matter entirely. ¡°My people¡­I¡¯m¡­sorry¡­¡± Those four words were the last to leave his lips as his body went limp. His chest rose and fell slowly. He¡¯s still breathing. But for how long? ¡°He¡¯s not going to make it.¡± Killa¡¯s simple proclamation horrified me. He was one of my first friends. I wanted to climb the Nexus with him. I wanted to see him to free his people. He just wouldn¡¯t stop hounding me for my nanites. Nothing would deter him. Now, he¡¯s dying, and there¡¯s nothing else I can do for him. This is my fault. Instead of helping him free his people, it¡¯s come to this. ¡°Correct,¡± Gary said all too frankly. Killa stood up and walked over to me. I backed away from her and Bark until I was as far away as possible. My body shook as I dropped to my knees, warm tears pouring down my face. ¡°Rina, calm down. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Killa reached out to me. I shirked off her touch. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I did this to him.¡± The words bubbled out of my mouth. I¡¯ve practically killed him. I tried to save him but it wasn¡¯t enough. If he never met me he¡¯d still be alive. Killa flinched, but then hugged me. ¡°No, no, you didn¡¯t. He made his choice. He did this.¡± I looked her in the eye, tears streaming down my face. ¡°This isn¡¯t what I wanted. I never wanted to see him die. What else can we do? He doesn¡¯t deserve this.¡± She froze. Her mouth opened and closed without saying anything. She went back to hugging me, and I closed my eyes and hugged her back. And for a few minutes, we stood there with Gary, silently letting us come to terms with what just happened. When I opened my eyes again, the air was colder. It was cold enough that I could see my breath. ¡°Come out, come out, wherever you are.¡± A frustrated demoness voice called out. ¡°No more running you rat. We end this now!¡± 38 Icy Death Stomping into the room, one haggard looking demoness with a much less pristine looking dress growled with each step. Her hands were balled into tight fists, so much so there was the smallest trickle of blood coming from them. She didn¡¯t waste a second the moment she saw us. The demoness flicked her arm and threw a wave of ice towards us. I shoved Killa away as I dove to the other side. The ice slammed into the stone, shaking the room. Killa threw a pair of blue tentacles at the entity that had made its life¡¯s purpose to hunt me down. She threw her other arm up, and a wall of ice intercepted the spell. The magic clashed, and the wall of ice shattered into a cloud of dust and ice shards. I ducked while covering my face with my arm. I heard more than I felt the ice hit me. ¡°Again you get in my way. I¡¯m over all these distractions.¡± She flapped her wings and glided back while sending another wave of ice towards Killa. At the same time, the demoness sweeped a wing towards me. Along the ground rose a path of frozen ground that icy spears reached towards me. I went to step out of the way, but the path curved to follow me. My attempt to get out of the way ended when I crashed into the wall. A wall of icy spears cut off my path and spread towards me. Just before they skewered me, Bark jumped in the path of them. Across his body, several icy penetrations struck him. His body was turned to face me. His eyes were closed and his face was expressionless. But the ice halted the moment it struck him. A notification above my shards told me I received eighteen thousand four-hundred and thirty-two shards and five stat points. I killed him? That¡¯s impossible. Why did the system just give me the credit for his death? Because the nanites in his body still belonged to the host. The system sees them as nothing more than a tool. The host¡¯s tool was the cause of his death. Orange, stop! He was alive, I saw him breathing. He was just moving. Those icicles hit him. I didn¡¯t do anything. If the host studies the wounds closer, they will see that the ice shards didn¡¯t strike any vital areas. Those were nonleathal. The shaylip was dead before they struck. Moving in the way the shaylip did they ended their own life. Following the predicted trajectory, the icicles would¡¯ve struck more vial areas on the host. They spared the host from significant damage. He did that for me? How is that possible? He was so close to death that moving any amount killed him while he walked. And it just so happened that he died right in the way of the demoness¡¯s attack. That doesn¡¯t seem possible. People just don¡¯t die that quickly. I can¡¯t be the one who killed him. I just can¡¯t. He knew I would heal if the attack hit me. He didn¡¯t have to do that. Maybe we could find a way to save him. The evidence is presented to the host and they deny it? That¡¯s illogical. The host is in shock right now. This is a bad time for an emotional breakdown. There is the option that the shaylip knew they were going to die and chose to do something with thier last breath rather than just lie on the ground and perish. He has a name, Orange. Use it. He isn¡¯t just some shaylip, his name is Bark. This fight will be challenging for the host, and¡ªBark¡ªlikely knew that. So Bark attempted to save you. He really was sorry then. It was stupid for him to do it in the first place. The host has no power to change the past. And if they do not wish to suffer a similar resolution, they best concentrate on the fight. Right. She still wants to kill me. If Bark wanted me to live, then I¡¯ll have to fight. ¡°Well, that¡¯s one less annoyance.¡± The demoness squinted but coated her hand in ice before throwing a spiked ball at Killa who twisted her body to avoid it. I took the chance to push off the wall, up and over the spikes and Bark¡¯s corpse, to circle around and shoot at the demon¡¯s back. The bullet fired off, but with a swift twist of her body, she deflected the bullet using a shield of ice she created. Her smile sent a chill down my spine. She raised a wall of ice between her and Killa. The wall blocked both her and Gary away from me. ¡°Now that there are no more distractions, I¡¯m going to enjoy hearing you scream. You¡¯ve made me chase you all over this dark, dank, dungeon. You just kept running. But guess what? There¡¯s no more running.¡± I glanced at the entrance and saw that the doorway was blocked by another wall of ice. Trapped. I don¡¯t have a golem to break me out this time. Her face twisted into a sadistic grin as she clenched her fist. ¡°After I kill you, I¡¯ll make that slime suffer as a just dessert for myself. After all, I¡¯ve got to remove everyone who remembers you.¡± She glanced at Bark''s corpse. ¡°And it looks like I have one less to take care of.¡± A hard layer of ice covered her body like armor. What now? I fired the gun several times, and expectantly each bullet bounced off her icy armor harmlessly. The temperature dropped even further, and I felt the saliva in my mouth crystallizing. Killa¡¯s tentacles lashed out, trying to break through the ice wall that the demoness had summoned. Her attempt barely cracked it. With a swift flick of her hand, the demoness sent a hail of ice shards hurtling towards me. I threw myself to the ground, feeling the shards whizzing above me. A giant blade of ice manifested and attempted to cut me in half. By tucking my legs and rolling forward, I saved myself. The blade bit into the stone and shattered from the impact. I could feel my nanites healing my skin. It must be so cold that I¡¯m developing frostbite. It is. My movements felt sluggish, but I could still move fast enough. She¡¯s relentless. Another blade swiped as the demoness laughed. I jumped over it and shot her again. The bullets ricocheted off her armor, but I could see cracks developing over all of it, not just where I hit it. Killa fired several small red tentacles from her hands at the wall, melting a foot-wide hole. It was wide enough for her to slip through and come out the other side, shooting more red tentacles at the demon. Steam and smoke billowed off her tentacle magic. The demon used her ice-covered wing as a shield. The impact released more steam, turning the room hazy. But there was the sound of shattering glass. The demoness¡¯s icy armor cracked and fell to the ground in a million shards. She glared at Killa, furious. A giant clawed ice hand grabbed her magic red tentacles and crushed them. The hand then reached for her. I fired at the hand until I emptied my gun. Several large cracks had formed on it, and Killa threw up another barrier. Before summoning yellow tentacles to grab the icy construct and pin it to the ground. Killa¡¯s tentacles pulled the hand apart, but then a swirl of ice shards started whipping through the air. They started cutting me, and I ran for Killa¡¯s wall as she shaped it to deflect them. She held out a hand to pull me in as I felt hundreds of tiny cuts all over my body. I let my nanites go to work, but I ached everywhere. My clothes were torn and soaked in blood. I swallowed hard as I barely saw the demoness throwing her arms around through the deadly blizzard. ¡°How is she so much more powerful than us? What level is she? She has to be exhausted from chasing me from before.¡± Killa gave me a worried look. ¡°She might not be that much higher than us, but instead put all her points into her arcane. It¡¯ll give her plenty of mana regeneration. But that means all of her other stats are likely lower. We just need to exploit that.¡± ¡°How?¡± I reloaded my gun. ¡°This thing hasn¡¯t been doing anything to her.¡± Killa gave me a wink. ¡°Then you¡¯ll need a stronger weapon.¡± She held out her hand, and a large yellow crystal appeared. Something about the crystal felt familiar, but I couldn¡¯t remember why. ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡± ¡°I have faith you¡¯ll figure it out.¡± She shoved the crystal into my chest. There was a slight pressure on my chest, and then I watched as my shard total skyrocketed. She gave me sixty-five thousand five hundred and four shards. ¡°Let¡¯s call it an investment.¡± She just gave me all her money. There¡¯s no other reason why it¡¯s such a random number. She wants me to use my system to find a way to augment myself. Well, Orange, I need a weapon. Something strong and something I can afford. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Clawed hands upgrade available: Cost: 75,000 shards. Garotte bay upgrade available: Cost: 92,250 shards. Arm blade upgrade available: Cost: 85,000 shards. Spiked epidermal plating upgrade available: Cost: 66,000 shards. Clawed feet upgrade available: Cost: 68,800 shards. Power fists upgrade available: Cost: 91,300 shards. Claws? Uh, no way. I need a weapon. What does garotte even mean? Whatever, I need to just keep it simple. Arm blade, like a sword? Yeah, if it¡¯s stronger than my gun, I¡¯ll take that. I don¡¯t have time to be picky. The bones in my right forearm cracked and started shifting under my skin. I let out a grunt of pain as I grabbed my wrist, as the pain was only beginning. Why do these things always have to hurt so much? Growing bones isn¡¯t simple. Accelerated growth leads to minor damage to the nerves, muscles, and skin. Killa¡¯s barrier was full of cracks, and some ice shards were even getting in. Thankfully, they missed us, but Killa¡¯s defense wasn¡¯t going to hold, and we both knew it. But my upgrades take time to complete¡ªtime I didn¡¯t have. Killa brushed my disheveled hair behind my ears. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, kiddo. I¡¯ll distract her. Just don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± I nodded. I wanted to say ¡°be careful,¡± but it was taking everything I had to not scream. She created another, smaller barrier around me just before her barrier shattered. An uncountable number of ice shards sliced through Killa¡¯s body, each one taking a tiny piece of her with it. Killa¡¯s hand glowed blue as one massive tentacle stretched out. She sprinted out as she spun around. I heard the impact of the demon being slammed into a wall. The blizzard subsided, revealing Killa¡¯s figure. Her body was barely holding itself together. No! Hurry up. The process is nearing completion. My bones had mostly reformed, but there was something new. I could feel something cutting through the muscle of my arm and pushing against the inside of the metal plates covering it. Everything seemed to slow down as my forearm grew a blade that slid out of the space between the plates on my arm. A long metallic blade started from the middle of my forearm and extended out two and a half feet past my hand. I could feel the nanites slowing down and eventually stopping. I pulled up my status and analyzed the new upgrade. I also quickly put my stat points into my quickness, since that was going to be my advantage over the demon.
Name: Rina Lone Augments:
Level: 16 Cellular Regeneration
Agility: 180 Synthetic eyes: lvl 1
Arcane: 105 HUD
Power: 63 Epidermal plating (arms): lvl 1
Quickness: 265 Arm blade (right)
Resilience: 105
Toughness: 130
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 7612
Arm blade (right): The host¡¯s right forearm bones have been fused with the addition of another bone grown out to act as a natural weapon. Since the host has the epidermal plating (arms) level 1 augment, the bone is coated in the same metal as their arm. This alters the blade¡¯s offensive capabilities and causes it to scale with epidermal plating¡¯s toughness rather than the host¡¯s power. Stat bonus: +7 Power. That¡¯s good, right? But is it going to be better than my gun? Yes. The attack power of the arm blade is two-hundred and sixty. The greater mass of the arm blade will allow for more potent attacks compared to the host¡¯s mana gun. The demoness stumbled from a crater in the wall. Her wings were bending at angles and places they hadn¡¯t before. Even one of her horns was chipped at the tip. Killa was right. She probably has low defense. Her mission is to kill me. So everything she does is about how to kill me. She doesn¡¯t care about her body. ¡°If you want to die first so badly,¡± the demoness growled. She glared at Killa as she regained her composure. ¡°Then so be it.¡± Killa responded with a flurry of magical tentacles. But the demoness ignored them and, with a massive effort, sent a lance of ice hurtling towards Killa. Killa raised a transparent wall of tentacles, but the lance struck the wall, pierced through, and impaled her. ¡°No!¡± I held out my hand as she flew through the air as the icy lance pinned her to a wall. Ice started crystalizing Killa¡¯s body, spreading from the spear. She screamed as she reached for me. I ran to her and slashed at the lance with my new weapon. It cut through the ice effortlessly, but it didn¡¯t stop the progression of the ice. Crystals covered most of her torso and all of her legs. I grabbed her hand as she reached for me. But she felt cold¡ªso cold that the bones in my hands hurt. Reflexively, I let her hand go. The ice encased her completely, freezing the pain on her face and her hand reaching for me. Tears started falling and freezing as they touched my cheeks. ¡°This game has gone on long enough.¡± The demon sounded winded. I turned and saw that she was, in fact, looking exhausted. ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to exist and need to die.¡± ¡°Why? Why do I have to die?¡± I held out my arms as I took a step towards her. ¡°What have I done to deserve this? I haven¡¯t caused any trouble. You could just leave me alone, and everything would have been fine.¡± She clenched her teeth. ¡°I told you, it¡¯s not my call to make, and neither is it yours.¡± ¡°Then at least tell me who sent you to kill me?¡± I tensed my muscles to get ready to sprint towards her. I¡¯ve got one chance. This will have to work, or I¡¯m dead. For good this time. ¡°What do you get out of this? Why chase me this long? Am I really worth all this trouble?¡± If she likes to talk, I¡¯ll keep her talking. ¡°You are, and I¡¯ll chase you until you are destroyed.¡± She straightened up and took a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know who sent me. I¡¯m not allowed to know. Secrecy was my client¡¯s main concern. And I respect that. If someone sees an artificial soul, then they may believe the ban on artificial souls has been lifted. That¡¯ll never happen. We can¡¯t have that. There¡¯s a reason there¡¯s a ban. The last time someone created artificial souls, they caused so much chaos. Entire universes needed to be annihilated because there were more artificial souls than natural souls.¡± She held up her hand to clench it into a fist. ¡°Septillions of souls snuffed out with no afterlife. For something that was never their fault. Your existence can cause that kind of pandemonium. To prevent that, I was sent to nip the problem before it can bud. I have to deal with you. It¡¯s for the greater good. So stop being selfish and die!¡± I carefully inched closer, trying not to draw attention to myself as the demoness monologued. I wasn¡¯t paying attention to what she was saying. Whatever she was saying was possibly blowing things out of proportion or some cosmic propaganda. Nothing was going to keep me from living. ¡°And you can thank that old man for trapping me here with you.¡± She said something that caught my attention. Old man? ¡°Who?¡± I asked. She waved her hand. ¡°The one who helped you. He seems to think you can defeat me. I¡¯m supposed to be some challenge for you. But no, we¡¯re done. You were never going to win. I¡¯ll just keep coming back in a new body every time you kill me. So it is simply a war of attrition.¡± She paused, then pointed at my arm blade. ¡°But that¡¯s new. You didn¡¯t have that earlier. How did you do that? What have you done?¡± She¡¯s onto me. It¡¯s now or never. I bolted. My muscles snapped faster than they ever had before. Everything blurred as I charged her. I raised my arm blade and prepared to stab her in the chest. She jumped at my movement, but she seemed to be moving through molasses. Her body moved so slowly compared to mine. She summoned an ice shield just before my arm blade reached her. My sword slid through the shield like a hot knife through butter. It was almost surreal how easily I stabbed through the shield and into her. I slammed into the shield, and my blade punctured her chest. As we tumbled to the ground, the shield shattered. The demoness looked down with horror and shock. ¡°You killed my friend. I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± I pulled out and stabbed her again. This time, I think I got closer to her heart and stabbed all the way through until the stone stopped me. She grabbed my head. I could feel the cold biting into me as it got harder to think, but I could see fine until the frost started coating my eyes. My blade was stuck when I tried to pull it out, so I punched her face. There was a crack as something gave. Her hands released my head, and my nanites rushed to repair the damage. Her jaw hung loose as light blue blood started flowing from the corners of her mouth. She reached for my head again, so I punched her a second time. I broke her nose, and blood sprayed out. But she was still moving, so I punched again, and again, and again. Again, again, again, again, again, and again. I lost sight of what I was doing as I kept punching her face. Over and over, I didn¡¯t stop. I couldn¡¯t stop. Even when in the corner of my vision, I received ten stats and forty-two thousand seven hundred and seven shards. Killa is gone, and it¡¯s her fault. I took my pain out on her until her face was nothing more than an unrecognizable mess of broken bones, blood, splattered brain, and mangled flesh. I started feeling tired and struggled to remove my blade from her chest. But after I did, I cried as I sat next to her. The only time I stopped crying was when a shadow crawled from what was left of her mouth. The shadow reached for me, only to be pulled into a hole in the wall as it vanished with a pop. It¡¯ll be back. It¡¯ll keep coming back. And each time it does, it can kill the friends I make. This thing is my problem. I can¡¯t let anyone suffer and die by its hands. It¡¯s right. This needs to end, and I¡¯ll be the one ending it. Somehow. 39 Taking A Toll I wiped my face. The cold steel of my arms again felt alien. Then I looked at the blade protruding from my right arm. I did this to myself. Why? To live? Why do I want to live? Because I don¡¯t want to die? To keep Marc safe? Has that always been my problem? Is that why I kept stealing cell phones? I stared at Bark¡¯s corpse. His body and the surrounding blood was frozen over in a solid layer of ice. As twisted as his logic was, he had a purpose. He had a goal¡ªa reason to live. All he wanted to do was help his people. His life¡¯s mission was to escape the Nexus. But the ends don¡¯t justify the means. He attacked me and Killa all in the hope of something that, if, by some slim chance, worked, he stood a better chance of succeeding. But that, in the end, killed him. He did try to save me with his dying breath, but that doesn¡¯t absolve him of what he did. He¡¯s sill paid the price and died. I can¡¯t live with that same recklessness. His first attempt to gather friends and work together to climb the Nexus was far more honorable. And one I would have happily helped him with. Killa¡¯s body was still frozen and pinned to the wall. She really is gone, frozen solid. There¡¯s no way even she could survive that. I¡¯m tempted just to use my wish to bring her back if I can reach the top. For just one more hug. I miss you already, Killa. A tear rolled down my face as I turned away. The ache in my heart intensified the longer I looked at her. They say it¡¯s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. It sure doesn¡¯t feel that way. For the first time in my life, I had people who could walk with me. Now they¡¯ve been taken from me. I¡¯m alone again. Is that the fate of my existence? Am I supposed to be alone forever? Maybe it¡¯s for the best. That way, nobody else will get hurt when that body-snatching creature comes after me again. If he kills me, everyone who knows me will be next. I turned to the only other one in the room, Gary. His head was heavily damaged. One of the lights for his eyes had an icicle in it. Hundreds of gouges, dents, and scratches also decorated his little robotic head. ¡°Are you alright, Gary?¡± ¡°I¡¯m performing¡­¡± he trailed off. There was a lot more static in his voice. ¡°It seems some functions are in suboptimal¡­¡± The voice module has been damaged. Yet another that suffered at that thing''s hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that this happened to you. But can you still answer questions?¡± ¡°You have nothing to apologize¡­¡± There was a moment of static. ¡°Yes, I will answer questions as long as I¡­ One inquiry at a¡­¡± I nodded. ¡°Do you know what that thing was that possessed that demonic-looking woman?¡± There was a long pause. Did he stop working? The lights are still on. ¡°It is an intruder like¡­ Its ability to hijack a body from a soul shouldn¡¯t be¡­ The Soul Nexus¡¯s system should prevent such¡­ If perhaps the event should take place outside of the¡­ But I don¡¯t know how it can escape the punishment for dying in the¡­¡± I licked my lips and swallowed hard. ¡°He¡¯s taking other people¡¯s lives just to get at me. I can¡¯t let him do that again.¡± But how do I stop it? Do I climb faster than it and hope to reach the top? ¡°No, I have to kill it for good. Do you know how I can do that?¡± ¡°I have several possible¡­ Unless somehow the being¡¯s soul is tied to the body through a stronger method than the system, it will escape the¡­¡± I was about to ask another question, but Gary continued. ¡°The three floors up there¡¯s another terminal like¡­ The terminal will point you in the direction of one who knows who can help¡­¡± ¡°So I¡¯m back to climbing the Nexus. I¡¯m back to where I started.¡± I rolled my head back and stared at the ceiling. ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯ve got to get started if I want to be ready for when it comes back.¡± I looked back at Gary. ¡°Thanks for everything.¡± ¡°It is my responsibility to answer¡­¡± But there was a change in his tone that I noticed even through the static. ¡°Did Bark ever succeed in finding a way to release¡­¡± ¡°Release what, you?¡± I asked. ¡°Correct.¡± I never saw a memory of him talking about it. So either it was not important to him or it was one of the damaged ones. But I decided to keep me seeing his memories a secret. I sighed. ¡°If he did, he took that information to his grave.¡± Bark, you idiot! How can one stupid decision ruin all the good you could have done? ¡°Did he tell you anything about it?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t share any information with¡­¡± There was so much regret in his voice. I closed my eyes and clenched my fist. ¡°Is there a way you could, I don¡¯t know, piggyback on my nanites? Could Orange download you or something?¡± No. ¡°The entity controlling your nanites would not permit communication with¡­ It holds more authority in the system than¡­¡± That¡¯s something¡­ Orange we¡¯ll talk later. Maybe when I get back, clean up, and repair my clothes, I can spend some time talking to you. Now that I know what questions to ask. We acknowledge. I looked around the room and noticed that there was only one light source: the demon¡¯s eyes. Right, without Killa, I don¡¯t have a light source. I looked at my energy and saw that it was dangerously close to being empty. Bark did save my life. If he didn¡¯t do what he did, I¡¯d probably be dead righ now. As twisted as it is, he finally got to be the hero. It¡¯s just that he¡¯ll never know. No one can ever know of my nanites. I can¡¯t allow them to kill another person like that. What is the host going tell others who ask how they can heal like they do? Magic. That seems like an universal answer everyone will accept. After scrounging around through all of our packs, I grabbed all the food and stuffed it down my throat. There were even the two potions of the ¡°Meal in a Bottle.¡± One I gave to Bark and Killa as a spare from the ones that I chugged from that pack earlier, the other they had to have brought along with them. They didn¡¯t go to waste. When all was said and done, my energy had filled to about two-thirds. My eyes fell on Killa''s crystalline form. Gently, I reached out and touched Killa''s hand. The moment my fingers made contact, a shiver ran down my spine. Killa''s hand shattered like glass, raining icy shards to the ground at my feet. I gasped. I stared at the ice shards shimmering on the ground. I pulled my hand to my chest. Tears welled up in my eyes. "Killa..." The sound of my friend''s name hung in the air. She''s completely frozen. There''s no coming back from being a statue. Somehow, she looked like a monument to her own existence, albeit a temporary one. My hand groaned as I clenched my fist, unwilling to touch it again. The chance of survival is¡­ Don¡¯t! Orange, just don¡¯t. You wouldn¡¯t understand. You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to not have friends, get them only to see them betray you and die. So don¡¯t¡ªnot right now. Near the door, I saw Killa¡¯s bag of holding full of clothes. I was torn. That many clothes were impractical, but I couldn¡¯t just get rid of them. Also, the bag weighed more than I was expecting. Despite the increase in my power making me stronger, the bag had to weigh close to thirty pounds. I still stuffed it in my bag for sentimental reasons. I just can¡¯t let her go. Not like that. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. An item like a bag of holding has many practical uses. We were going to suggest the host take it regardless. Orange, not everything has to be about practicality. Emotions are real too. Emotions are temporary and frequently blind the host to practicality. A robot like you wouldn¡¯t understand. Nor should I expect you to. After consolidating what I could into one pack, I stood over the demoness¡¯s head. Now what do I do about this? Wasn¡¯t there a Greek myth about cutting Medusa¡¯s head off to use as a weapon against another monster? That¡¯s not a bad idea. I pulled the demon by the hair and used my arm blade to decapitate her. There was a lot more blood. But the most surprising part was her eyes still illuminated despite the condition of her face. Somehow, I never crushed them. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s lucky or something else entirely. I held the head up like a flashlight and began my hike back through the dungeon. My mind wandered as I walked through the dungeon. There is something wrong with me, mentally, at least. Or is it emotionally? It shouldn¡¯t have been that easy for me to cut off someone¡¯s head and use their eyes as flashlights. This blade is scary sharp, but that¡¯s not what I¡¯m worried about. This is so very messed up. No, stop. The host is in shock. In time, the host will resume normal cognitive patterns. I stopped the train of thought before I could fall into darker thoughts. It was hard since I had a stark reminder of what I had been through in my hand the entire way. Even for just a moment, I distracted myself by updating my status by putting all the points in resilience. It didn¡¯t last nearly long enough.
Name: Rina Lone
Level: 17 Augments:
Agility: 180 Cellular Regeneration
Arcane: 105 Synthetic eyes: lvl 1
Power: 63 HUD
Quickness: 265 Epidermal plating (arms) lvl 1
Resilience: 115 Epidermal plating (hands) lvl 1
Toughness: 130 Arm blade (right)
Unassigned Points: 0
Shards: 50389
The walk was longer than I wanted. It probably didn¡¯t help when I kept trying to distance myself from my emotions and what I was feeling. But after a long, long walk, I found myself finally staring up at the night sky and the millions of tiny, twinkling little stars. The air was colder, but it just felt so much better than in that stuffy dungeon. My head cleared up dramatically, but my emotions still threatened to derail me. Orange was silent too. At some point I almost wished they would talk to me, but with their emotionless way of thinking, it would¡¯ve upset me more. It¡¯s likely they knew that too. I pushed my emotions back down again and started back to town. I could feel the cold, but it wasn¡¯t bad anymore. It was bearable. Yeah, I¡¯ve gained ten whole levels, replaced the skin on my arms, and grown a blade from my arm while I was down there. Things will feel different. The surrounding air tingled, and I started thinking about the shaylip town where I met Killa. The world shifted as I saw the town walls. It wasn¡¯t that far to the gate, and two shaylips were standing there. One of them nodded to the other and pointed to me. The shaylip that walked towards me was far more muscular than anything else. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good. Rough night?¡± I arched an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s been a rough few days.¡± He nodded, then pointed to the head I had forgotten I was still holding. ¡°Do you want to explain that?¡± I looked at the head and then tossed it behind me. ¡°Not really.¡± The shaylip shrugged. ¡°Fair. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a story for that one that I¡¯d love to hear over some drinks.¡± I stared at his face. ¡°Or we could not.¡± He stood right in front of me, his hands on his hips. ¡°Why are you so glum? I¡¯m guessing you just returned from a dungeon. You¡¯re alive, so it must have been successful. Don¡¯t you want to celebrate?¡± I tried to walk around him, but he stepped in front of me. ¡°If it¡¯s all the same to you, I don¡¯t feel like celebrating. Not after that hell. Not seeing my friends die. Instead of badgering me, could you just let me in? I want to be alone right now.¡± The muscle-bound idiot snorted. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for being attached to your friends. Temporary allies are useful, but you shouldn¡¯t get attached. And it looks like you learned your lesson.¡± I learned something alright. ¡°Are you going to let me in or not?¡± I glared at the shaylip. ¡°I don¡¯t have all night.¡± He held out one hand. ¡°After you pay the toll.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°There wasn¡¯t a toll last time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because it wasn¡¯t me who greeted you.¡± He nodded to his hand. ¡°Pay up; thousand shards should cover it.¡± I noticed that the other shaylip was circling around as the bigger guy tried to keep my attention. ¡°If I don¡¯t pay, you¡¯ll do what? Kill me?¡± He shrugged. ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, maybe. There¡¯s nothing anyone will do if I kill you. You¡¯re tired and weak. We¡¯re well rested and outnumber you.¡± I clenched my fist. From the footsteps behind me, the other guy was likely in position. ¡°Does that go for you too?¡± I earned those shards, and they were given to me by Killa. These two can¡¯t have them. If I want a chance to defeat them, I have to make the first move. The host is learning, that¡¯s good. Not now, Orange. His eyes went wide, and he went to draw a sword from his hip, but his movements were pathetically slow. I swiped my arm blade and cut the inside of his leg. While the big shaylip was falling to his knees, I darted past him while pulling my gun from my pocket with my left hand. There was a grinding sound as the second guy had his four daggers drawn as he chased after me. I aimed my gun at him, and he froze. ¡°Do you always try to rob people who try to enter the city?¡± I took a step back so that they were both within my vision and I was out of their reach. ¡°What does it matter to you?¡± the smaller of the two shaylips asked. That¡¯s confirmation enough. ¡°Because theft should be a last resort. But seeing you two, it¡¯s just to feed your greed. Leave me alone. I don¡¯t want to do this.¡± ¡°Then don''t. Just pay the toll," the muscle shaylip said. ¡°You can¡¯t judge us.¡± The smaller shaylip lunged for me. ¡°You sniveling little..." I interrupted the smaller shaylip by shooting him in the head. I gained three thousand eight hundred and thirty-four shards, but no stats from him. The bigger shaylip starred as he watched his partner collapse, dead. He turned to me, just as I aimed at his head. ¡°Let me in.¡± My voice felt hollow. He stood up and pushed on the gate, opening a small crack. ¡°You¡¯ll be sorry.¡± He¡¯s a threat. He opened his mouth, but I fired before he could get another word out. His death earned me two thousand one hundred and sixteen shards, but no stats. There was a hollow feeling in my heart as I watched them bleed out on the sand. They were criminals stealing from others. The irony of my thought hit me hard. I wasn¡¯t that bad. I had no other choice. I tried everything else. They were just lazy and greedy. I¡¯m not like them. I looked down at the gun in my hand¡ªthe murder weapon. But I just killed them. I took things into my own hands and decided that they needed to die. Now their souls were claimed by the Nexus. This isn¡¯t a game. There are real stakes with real consequences. Even if it makes me a hypocrite, I can¡¯t let anyone take my hard work away from me. If I¡¯m to stop that creature hunting me, I need everything I can get. I put my gun back in my pocket and walked through the gate. But now that I can make my own way in this world, I don¡¯t have to resort to petty theft to live. I will earn my life, whatever life that is. But first things first, I need to stop that monster from hurting others to get to me. Step one: take a bath. Step two: fix my clothes. Step three: get as much food as I can. Step four: head to the next level, and work my way until I reach the fifth floor. Thankfully, the streets were empty. Making my way through the streets to Killa¡¯s house was much less eventful compared to the last time I walked through the streets at night. I stumbled into Killa¡¯s house and filled the bathtub. I didn¡¯t even take my clothes off, as I let it fill up. With the tub full, I leaned back and relaxed. Orange, is there a way we can talk, you know, face-to-copied face? Run preview simulation? Yes.