《Skill-Eater: Prison World Saga [Chapters Every Day] (Stubbing 5/31)》 Chapter 1: Pivot It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this. Edge wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. Not really here, in the flesh, wearing a body that wasn¡¯t his own. Although, if what the System said was true, this was his body now. His real body, or his original body at any rate, was now just a memory; destroyed along with the pod that was supposed to keep him safe until his adventure on this world ended with the death of his puppet. Edge never expected to find himself fighting for his life on the most dangerous planet in inhabited space, stranded by a magical disaster that had carried his consciousness across the stars. Not because of wildlife the size of kaiju, or continent-spanning natural disasters, though there are plenty of both to be found. No, the true terror of Ord is the people who live here. Or perhaps persist is the better word, since the whole damn planet is one gigantic prison. He didn¡¯t have time to worry about it now. If Edge wanted to find a way home, he had to live through the night first. He reached out to touch the chasm¡¯s wall, staring down at fingers that were slightly longer and thinner than the ones he¡¯d known all his life. Shaking his head at the strangeness of it all, he dug into his backpack and pulled out the final mealbox rattling around in the bottom of the bag. When he finished this meal, his options would dwindle down to four: hunt, forage, steal, or starve. The problem was, Edge wasn¡¯t strong enough to hunt, knowledgeable enough to forage, or stealthy enough to steal. Although he was pretty sure that he could ace the starving part. While he pondered his long list of problems, he opened the box, took out a sandwich, and started to chew. The meat was only minutes shy of rancid, and the bread was so stale that it could pass for a stone. He ate them anyway. Then he sucked up the crumbs hiding in the corners of the container and washed them down with a swig from his canteen. If he wanted to live, Edge needed every calorie contained within the cheapest food he¡¯d been able to buy. Even more important, he needed the magicytes infused within them. Without them, his new body would wither and die within a matter of hours. It¡¯s time to find out how long I have left. ¡°Status,¡± he spoke the command that let him access his menus. A few heartbeats later, a mote of golden light separated from his chest and started hovering in front of his face. It was Edge¡¯s Guide, the magical assistant that the System provided to everyone living on the planet, regardless of their classification or affiliation. A person could only see their own Guide, and they had a range of functions, only one of which was relevant now. The wisp of gilded radiance flattened and then expanded, forming a ghostly screen that was easy to read but didn¡¯t obstruct his view of whatever was behind it. Personal statistics: Edge Vasher Warning: your magicyte reserves are low. Time remaining until fatal magicyte depletion: 9 hours 52 minutes. Physical attributes
Power: 1 Reflex: 1 Endurance: 2 Perception: 1
Speed: 1 Control: 1 Durability: 1
Energetic attributes
Generation: 0 Amplification: 0 Disruption: 0
Core information (none) Core type: N/A Cycle: N/A Gear: N/A Ultimate ability: N/A Attribute points per cycle: N/A Skills Slash (basic): rank 1. Empower an attack when wielding a bladed weapon. Traits (none) Implants (none) System currency Credits: 0 Mortium: 0 When Edge dismissed the screen with a wave of his hand, his Guide sank back into his chest with a faint pulse of warmth. He let out a long sigh and picked up his backpack. Then he continued making his way through the ruins he¡¯d found at the bottom of one of the mysterious chasms that now scarred the western plains. There¡¯s no point in lying to yourself. This is a tight spot. If you can¡¯t find something worth selling down here, then cross the plains without being eaten, you won¡¯t live to see tomorrow. If you don¡¯t make it back to town before dawn, you¡¯re going to starve to death. Edge cursed his luck as he made his way through a series of moldering chambers whose contents had long since been reduced to rust and rot. As far as he knew, he was the first person to set foot down here in centuries. If he lived long enough to pillage these depths, he might find something that would help him survive. At least, that was what he told himself to keep despair at bay. Exploring places like this was insanely dangerous. Ancient structures were often home to vicious monsters, mechanical guardians, and devious traps. He would normally have never even considered it. But the stark truth was that it didn¡¯t matter if he was wagering his life on long odds, because this desperate gamble was the only game in town. He was dead the moment that the monsters roaming the once peaceful plains found him. Even if he somehow made it back to civilization, he couldn¡¯t afford food and shelter. On Ord, there was no such thing as a free lunch, and Edge had just eaten his last. Trying not to think about the fact that he would probably never see another sunrise, he lifted his lantern to check its reservoir. The well was nearly dry, only enough aether to burn for another few hours, tops. When it died, Edge would be flying blind on top of everything else. He had to scavenge the ruins, find something valuable enough to trade for a few weeks¡¯ worth of supplies, then get the hell out of here while he still could. Surviving had been hard enough before the anomaly unleashed its chaos upon the planet. But now that the surface had been shuffled like a deck of cards, Edge was woefully underpowered to face the danger that had risen like a wave to drown him in his own blood. Everything would be different if he had been able to find a power core before the disaster struck. One of those mysterious artifacts unique to Ord. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Binding a core allowed anyone to channel the planet¡¯s magic, transforming them from an ordinary person into something extraordinary. Or, more accurately, granting them the chance to become superhuman if they lived long enough to cycle-up their core and evolve it at least once. But most hardened prisoners never even found a basic core, let alone tourists like Edge, and almost everyone who did had been living here for years. He¡¯d been trapped on this world for less than a week. Barely enough time to condition his first attribute and earn a basic skill, let alone start searching for a core. He came to a stop when the passage widened, taking in what he could by the light of his lantern. The bright beam pierced the gloom like a spear, revealing the ruins ahead. Maybe this wasn¡¯t a city after all. It feels like everything here was set up to support that big building in the back. It might be a temple. Since it was clear that he wasn¡¯t going to find anything on the outskirts, Edge walked deeper into the ravine. He was heading for the intact structures in the distance, which were arranged along some manner of rise. He crept his way closer, slipping from corner to corner, praying that nothing was living down here but moving like it was. He couldn¡¯t do anything about the light, but most of the local predators could hear much further than they could see. Edge thought that he heard something in the distance at one point. But after going still and listening as closely as he could, he didn¡¯t hear it again. When he arrived fifteen nervous minutes later, he realized that this section of the ruins was terraced. Arranged along the back of the crevice were three distinct levels of stone. Each was round, perfectly flat, and large enough to hold the dozens of buildings spread out across them. He had never seen anything like it, not in the thousands of hours of Prison World footage he¡¯d watched before entering his puppet and waking up on Ord. The lowest ring was the largest by far. All the structures on it were made of wood. After a quick look at each, Edge knew that there wasn¡¯t going to be anything good inside. They had begun eroding decades ago, letting in the elements and wild animals. Judging from the decaying furniture, they were simple living quarters. Dwellings for the servants who had tended these grounds when the temple was in its heyday. No one who would have owned anything of value. The second tier looked more promising. Its buildings were bigger and made of stone, connected to one another by a series of marble walkways. Peering in through the closest window, he decided that they had once been the homes of the priests. They each had a common area and a bedroom, along with a kitchen and bath. To his immense disappointment, most of them were ruined too, although he finally found a room whose door was still sealed. After picking up a rock, Edge bashed the lock until the bolt gave way, terrified all the while that something nasty would hear the noise and come calling. But after the final echoes faded away, all that he could hear was his own rasping breath and racing pulse. Praying that this room held something of value, he cracked the door open and stepped inside, encouraged by the intact furnishings he saw within. Edge was so focused on the prospect of treasure that he screamed when he came across the skeleton. He raised his lantern before him like a talisman, heart pounding like a taiko drum, as an electric cascade of adrenaline washed over him. For a terrifying moment, he had thought that he¡¯d walked into a monster¡¯s lair, one of the lethal lifeforms created by the System. But it was clear at a glance that the person had died long ago, and not a violent death, judging by the condition of their remains. He ruthlessly suppressed his instinctual revulsion of graverobbing, then started patting down the corpse for anything of value. At first, Edge thought that he¡¯d struck out again. But he eventually spotted a silver pendant fastened around its neck and slipped it into his pocket. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t magtech jewelry. It looked like it would sell for a few days¡¯ worth of food at most. It wasn¡¯t enough to save him, and he was running out of time. There was only one place left to explore. On the highest tier of ruins sat an imposing edifice. It had a domed ceiling and had once displayed the temple¡¯s idol. It was the only adorned building, decorated with marble terraces and twenty or so statues. At least he thought they were statues. Edge couldn¡¯t be sure since each had been snapped off at the base with what must have required incredible force, leaving only ragged stumps of raw stone behind. If anything of value was hidden down here, this was where he would find it. To keep hope alive, he¡¯d been saving the best for last. Please, let there be something good inside. I don¡¯t want to die like this. As he walked over to the sprawling structure, he ran his gaze across a series of images chiseled into the walls. Carvings depicting people and events whose names he would never know. He stopped to take in a rendering of an immense creature covered in chains, captivated by its intricate detail. The piece resonated with him on a primal level. Touched something deep inside that he¡¯d never known was there. Edge realized in that moment that he had no idea where these ruins came from. If the System had created them with its magic, or they were part of the lost history of the planet. He honestly didn¡¯t care. It didn¡¯t change what he had to do, and uncovering the truth was way above his paygrade. But if he had to bet, he would wager that this place was the real deal. There was a sense of weight here, of sacred purpose, that made him feel like these walls had been standing for millennia. A few more steps saw him to the temple¡¯s entrance. The instant that he stepped past the threshold, Edge saw something slithering in the periphery of his vision, accompanied by a series of ghostly clinks. But when he turned to look, there was nothing there. The room was still and quiet as a tomb. The stress is finally starting to get to you. Keep your shit together for just a little longer. You can sleep for a week if you can loot enough to afford it. Guided by the light of his lantern, a wide beam that lit up the room, he began picking through garbage and muck, searching for anything of value buried in the debris. By the time that Edge made it to the back of the altar room, he was beginning to despair. The idol that had once been on display was nowhere to be found, and there wasn¡¯t anywhere else to look. Desperate, he began running his hands along the engravings, searching for anything that might reveal a concealed passage or hidden cache. He kept his breathing slow and steady, struggling to keep panic from consuming him. His lantern would die in a few short hours, and his hope for a future would die with it. Come on Edge, think. If you were going to build a secret door, where would you put it? It can¡¯t be along the walls since you already saw the other side of them. That was when it hit him. The altar. If there was anything hidden in here, it had to be concealed beneath the massive slab of marble in the middle of the room. He walked over to it, running his fingertips along every exposed surface. He began pushing, twisting, and pulling at the stonework, trying to solve the puzzle by brute force. Assuming that there was something to find to begin with. Just as Edge was about to give up and return to the surface with only the pendant, the section of marble beneath his finger moved, sinking in with a faint, yet oh so satisfying, click. He threw himself back, eyes wide from trying to look everywhere at once, certain that he¡¯d just set off a lethal trap. But then, to his overwhelming relief, a panel in front of the altar stone slid back, revealing a space below. On guard against danger from without and within, Edge walked over to the cavity, lifted his lamp, and looked inside.
There are moments when your whole life pivots. When the road you¡¯ve been walking down merges with something else entirely. Something new, beyond your wildest imagination. An instant where, when you¡¯re lying on your deathbed and contemplating your legacy, you can point to that moment and say, ¡°There. That was where it all began.¡± Most of the time, you don¡¯t recognize them until much later. But sometimes, in the blink of an eye, you¡¯re consumed by the overwhelming recognition that your entire existence is about to change. As for Edge, he knew. For just the ghost of a moment, he knew. Before the sensation gave way like a mirage drawn near, leaving him looking down into a cavity the size of a refrigerator, wondering what the fuck had just happened. All such thoughts were driven from his head the moment that he saw the reliquary. In the back of the hollow, a crystal pedestal rose from the floor. It was beautiful, with gleaming facets that cast wild checkers of light across the enclosure when lit up by his lamp. However, it wasn¡¯t the pedestal that made his heart race with the thrill of avarice, but the rune-covered sphere that sat on top of it, shining with its own inner light. At first, Edge couldn¡¯t grasp what he was looking at. It wasn¡¯t a chest or anything he had seen in the countless hours of puppet footage he¡¯d watched before buying his own. But then he remembered something he¡¯d read on an obscure forum long ago. A wild claim that rare repositories known as reliquaries would grant their finders the rarest and most powerful of cores. Cores sealed in glowing orbs bound by ancient runes¡­ just like the one that Edge was looking at now. His suspicions were confirmed when his Guide appeared without being summoned. It floated over to touch the ornate container before flashing a prompt in front of his disbelieving eyes. You have discovered a rune-bound reliquary containing core type: [R???????e???????d???????a??????c????t??????e???????d????????]. Would you like to break the seal and claim the contents? After a moment¡¯s confusion about the glitchy text, the first time that Edge had seen his Guide malfunction, the realization of what he was reading broke over him and a shiver went down his spine. His heart hammered in his chest. Pins and needles danced across his fingertips. Every fiber of his being resounded with the word ¡°core.¡± Just as he¡¯d begun to lose hope, a chance of living to see tomorrow had appeared. In that instant, Edge knew with complete and utter certainty that whatever was locked inside the reliquary would irrevocably change his life. That he was standing on the precipice of something far beyond his comprehension. With one small step, he would cross the threshold of fate, leaving his old self behind to become something new. Something greater. ¡°Hell yes.¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate for a heartbeat. It was the easiest decision of Edge¡¯s life. Because no matter what came next after this glorious moment of anticipation, it couldn¡¯t be worse than the alternative. Transfer of guardian seal acknowledged. Initiating shutdown of core containment field. The process will be complete in approximately: 5 minutes. A core. There really is one in there. He danced from foot to foot, eager to claim his prize before it slipped through his fingers. This was exactly the kind of opportunity that he¡¯d been hoping to find. No, it was far better than anything he could have imagined. Just when Edge was starting to believe that his luck had finally changed, he heard voices echoing out from the chamber behind him, sending a raging tide of adrenaline surging into his veins. ¡°Give us whatever¡¯s in the box, puppet. We know that you were able to break the seal. We heard the notification.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to die today, tourist. You¡¯re uncored, so killing you won¡¯t pay out mortium anyway. There¡¯s no reason that this has to get ugly¡­ unless you insist on doing it the hard way.¡± Edge didn¡¯t have to think to know the men were lying. Whoever they were, they wouldn¡¯t let him live after seeing their faces. Not if he was right about why they were down here and what was inside the reliquary. They didn¡¯t seem to realize that it hadn¡¯t been opened yet, or that Edge had found the receptacle for a rare type of core. They would kill him the moment they did. They were probably planning to murder him anyway. It wasn¡¯t a coincidence that they were down here with Edge and only revealing themselves now. I think those two are the only ones out there, judging by the sound of their footsteps. He considered his options while drawing his knife, trying to find a way out of this mess with his blood still inside his body. While this was a bad situation, he could still gain the upper hand. If the people coming for him weren¡¯t cored, he just might have a chance. The moment that Edge peeked one eye past the altar, he could see through the doorway. What he glimpsed filled him with an icy dread. Because what had him cornered was just as dangerous as any monster. Jailbirds. Cored, both of them. Chapter 2: Jailbirds When the prisoners stepped into the chamber, each carrying their own lantern, Edge knew that he was screwed. Both men radiated vitality and vigor. The aura of potency that binding a core bestowed. The bigger man was deeply tanned and built like a bull. He was clearly a full power build, every inch of his body covered in dense, corded muscle. He looked strong enough to punch right through Edge, which Edge realized, he probably could. He had a buzzcut and wore some kind of elastic armor that allowed for mobility in the joints. Like all prisoners on the planet, his left arm was covered in ink. The markings indicated that the big man was a D-class criminal, the lowest designation that a cored convict could have. The other man was tall and lean, as pale as his companion was dark. His wiry strength and agile movements suggested a heavy investment in speed and control. He was clad in leather and as graceful as a dancer, with tattoos revealing that he was D-class too. Edge had the impression that the tall man was even more dangerous than the big man. Fast enough that Edge had no chance of darting past or outrunning him. Either man could kill him with both hands tied behind their backs, even if they didn¡¯t use a single skill. They likely had several. Edge was certain that at their stages, they¡¯d be packing something better than his rank-one slash. There were accounts of uncored warriors defeating cored opponents, and he knew that it was possible in theory. With sufficient preparation, firepower, or numbers, trained uncored could handle enemies that were still at stage-one or two. None of which applied here. Edge was all alone, had been caught by surprise, and was armed with a knife that barely qualified as a weapon. His only hope was to distract them long enough for the reliquary to unseal. They hadn¡¯t spotted him yet, so he ducked back below the masonry. He knew that if he made a single mistake past this point, he was dead. That he would most likely die even if he didn¡¯t. But Edge wasn¡¯t going down without a fight. Not with his prize so close at hand. He had to do something to buy more time. They were right that he had no chance of holding his own in a brawl. Not against two regular men, let alone a pair of cored jailbirds. His best bet was to make them hesitate. Keep them talking and pray that whatever was locked inside the reliquary was powerful enough to give him a fighting chance. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer! The entire floor is covered with traps.¡± Edge¡¯s first attempt bought him seven seconds. ¡°Bullshit,¡± the tall man said. ¡°That¡¯s a transparent bluff. You don¡¯t have the stats or the skills to detect even a basic trap, let alone something that would stop us. It¡¯s the only reason that we followed your slow ass for this long to begin with. Just give up. You can¡¯t talk your way out of this one, tourist.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this. I won¡¯t last another day out there if I can¡¯t earn a few credits. I¡¯ll die if I give it to you.¡± Four and a half minutes to go. ¡°Die tomorrow or die right now,¡± the big man replied. ¡°Seems like an easy choice. Stop stalling and hand everything over, or I¡¯ll make this slow instead of fast.¡± Reluctantly, Edge stepped away from the reliquary, raising his hands as he revealed himself. He kept his posture meek, and his tone defeated. Like the treasure was already inside his pack and he was preparing to surrender his claim. He sighed dramatically. ¡°I give up. You can take everything. All I ask is that you let me leave with my life.¡± ¡°Not so fast.¡± The tall man smirked. ¡°How about we play a game instead? Two rounds, winner takes all. You¡¯ll face each of us in the contest of our choice. If you win, you get the chest and your freedom. If we win, we take the box¡­ and your life. Now that I¡¯ve thought about it, I want it after all.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The big man broke into a predatory grin. ¡°If you prefer, we can murder you now instead.¡± Edge could sense that he had to make this fun for them. That they would end his life the moment they grew bored. It was common for convicts to have sadistic tendencies. That was the kind of thing that got a person sentenced here in the first place. Most prisoners had several kills to their name as well, especially after arriving on Ord. As dangerous as this world was for tourists, the survival rate for its permanent residents was even worse. The combined result was that many of the killers here enjoyed playing with their victims. A bad habit that Edge was counting on to buy precious seconds while he waited for the reliquary to unseal. Since there are two of them, maybe I can find a way to play one off the other. ¡°Ok. I¡¯m in.¡± Edge took off his pack and set it on the floor beside his knife, looking down at the bag longingly before turning to face the men. ¡°What¡¯s life without a little excitement? Who''s up first and what are the rules?¡± He put everything that he had into acting scared but trying not to show it. Which he supposed wasn¡¯t acting after all, since it was exactly how he already felt. Four minutes. ¡°It¡¯s my turn to go first.¡± The strong man turned to the fast man. ¡°You killed the last two before I got a round.¡± ¡°Fine. But make it quick. I doubt that our new friend will last long enough to make this exciting anyway. His heart will stop long before the real screams begin.¡± It was around this time that Edge caught the scent of rotting meat riding the breeze. An electric tension buzzing in the air. He felt a premonition of bloodthirst rising from the ruins. A menace more primal than the jailbirds¡¯ cruelty. He didn¡¯t like it. But then again, he didn¡¯t like anything about this situation. All that he could do was deal with the problem in front of him and worry about the next when it came. The big man opened the front of his armor, exposing his muscular chest to the lamplight. ¡°Bring that little knife with you, or this won¡¯t be any fun.¡± Edge didn¡¯t trust a word he was saying. But every second that he could delay their wrath was one second less until the reliquary unsealed. He figured that his best chance to drag this out was to go with the flow, since the convicts were clearly enjoying his dilemma. He bent down to pick up the blade, then slowly crossed the room. Edge walked up to the big man, twirling the knife in time with the pounding of his heart. He looked the jailbird straight in the eye and grinned. ¡°If you want to play, I¡¯m game.¡± Chapter 3: Game Edge held the convict¡¯s gaze without looking away. By now, he was certain that they were planning to kill him no matter what happened. But he needed to act like he still had hope. Pretend that he¡¯d fallen for their ruse to buy as much time as he could. It must have been the right move. Because instead of lashing out then and there, the big man¡¯s smile grew. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, go out with a bang. I like you, little puppet. It¡¯s a shame that it has to be like this, but it is what it is.¡± The carnivorous gleam in the jailbird¡¯s eyes revealed the lie of his words. ¡°Listen up, here¡¯s how this goes. I want you to stab me as hard as you can.¡± The big man pounded his chest for emphasis. ¡°I¡¯ll let you take one good jab at my torso, anywhere you like. Heart? Lungs? Dealer¡¯s choice. Have a skill you can use? Go wild. If I move a muscle, you win. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll beat you to death.¡± The convict chuckled while looking Edge over, committing this moment to memory to enjoy later. ¡°Since I was going to end you anyway, it¡¯s a good deal for you. This way, you still have a chance. Maybe you¡¯ll kill me, then find a way to take down Slim. Miracles happen, right?¡± ¡°Now gather your courage and show me what you¡¯ve got.¡± The prisoner spread his arms wide, causing the rippling muscles along his chest to dance. There wasn¡¯t a single scar on his body, even though Edge was certain that he¡¯d given this speech many times before. Meanwhile, the tall man took his time examining the carvings along the walls, completely uninterested in whatever was about to happen. It was all the proof that Edge needed to know this game was rigged. Not that he had any choice other than to play along and hope for the best. ¡°Step right up, bet your life, and give it your all. It¡¯s time to find out what you¡¯re really made of.¡± Edge could sense that the man would erupt into violence if he hesitated or refused to do what he said. The gears of his mind furiously turning, Edge raised his knife before him and prepared to activate slash. Three and a half minutes until the reliquary unseals. He bought a few more seconds by staring at the big man¡¯s chest, nodding as if coming to a decision as to where he wanted to strike. He brought the knife back while preparing to thrust, then sent it darting toward the prisoner¡¯s heart. A bare second before steel met flesh, Edge whipped the blade up and concentrated, then lunged for everything he was worth. Instead of aiming for the man¡¯s torso, Edge had been planning to slit his throat all along. If by some miracle he was able to land this blow, then he needed to make it count. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He had never killed anyone before. But with his life on the line, Edge didn¡¯t hold back. He slashed the moment that the knife was in reach of the convict¡¯s jugular. Fast as thought, magic poured out of his body and into his arm, draining half his magicytes dry in an instant. In the blink of an eye, his hand sped up and the power of his blow multiplied. The simple blade went streaking for the jailbird¡¯s throat, Edge¡¯s prayers riding the air alongside it. For a single, glorious second, he thought it was going to work. But half a heartbeat before the blade could sever the convict¡¯s vein, a muscular hand moved to intercept the weapon, so fast that it blurred before his eyes. Instead of blocking or deflecting the knife, the big man caught the point with his bare hand. The steel tip disappeared into his palm before jutting out the other side in a bright spray of blood. The stench of rotting meat was growing stronger by the second, but Edge didn¡¯t have time to worry about it now. He leapt back, knowing that the inmate would attack at any moment. To his surprise, the man began laughing instead. With an exaggerated motion, he pulled the knife out of his hand, holding his palm up for Edge to inspect. To his horror, the sundered tissue began knitting itself back together. Shorn strands of muscle and skin reached out to each other before pulling tight, leaving only a pale pink line that disappeared a few seconds later. ¡°That was a smart move,¡± the big man said, savoring the dramatic moment. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have killed me, of course. But the blood I lost before my skill could repair the damage would have slowed me down and drained my mana. Smart, but also dumb. You broke the rules, tourist. Now it¡¯s time to pay the price.¡± Edge turned and tried to run. Before he could take two steps, the prisoner was in front of him. The cored convict drove his fist into Edge¡¯s gut so hard that he threw up, spasming as pain pulsed throughout his body like broken glass in his veins. What followed was the most brutal beating of his life. Punches and kicks fell upon him like rain, bruising, breaking, and pummeling him in an endless flurry of blows. The worst part was that he knew the man was toying with him. That any of these attacks could have ended Edge¡¯s life if that was what he wanted. Unfortunately and fortunately in different ways, the big man was enjoying torturing Edge to death instead. Three minutes. The next time he got hit, there was a bright flash of light and the world turned white. Edge must have passed out for a second. Because when he came to, he was lying on his back. A leather boot was digging into his face, pressing down hard enough that he thought his skull would crack like an egg. Edge¡¯s vision strobed from red to black. Pulse pounding as his bones began to break. ¡°Wait,¡± the other prisoner spoke for the first time in what felt like ages. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± The pressure didn¡¯t lessen, but it stopped growing stronger, preserving Edge¡¯s life for another handful of heartbeats. ¡°Naaa, I want to see what color his brains are. We¡¯re so close to the good part that I¡¯m getting tingly all over.¡± ¡°I said that¡¯s enough.¡± The tall man¡¯s tone was cold as ice, the threat of imminent violence infusing every syllable. The big man looked like he wanted to protest. Whatever he saw in the other man¡¯s eyes convinced him not to. With a grunt, he took his boot off Edge¡¯s face, then kicked to shake off some blood. Against the odds, Edge had survived round one, burning through several minutes along the way. But his ordeal was only half over. Now it was time for round two. Chapter 4: Crack ¡°You¡¯re no fun,¡± the big man whined. ¡°You never let me finish anyone.¡± ¡°You can play later,¡± the tall man replied. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to test the output of my elemental blade ever since I ranked-up the skill. Now a perfect specimen has appeared before our eyes. If there¡¯s anything left after my attack, you can have the rest.¡± While they were busy arguing, Edge looked at the floor and froze in place. He was doing everything that he could to avoid attracting their attention. Fighting back never even occurred to him. These guys didn¡¯t need their skills to kill Edge. With their cycled-up cores, they could take him apart with their bare hands. They¡¯d already proven that he couldn¡¯t inflict more than superficial damage, even if he managed to land a blow. He¡¯d lost track of the countdown while he was unconscious. But if he could stay alive for just a few more minutes and make it back to the reliquary, then maybe, just maybe, he could still turn this around. The tall man walked over to where he was lying on the floor. He looked down at Edge like he was vermin. An insect about to be squashed. ¡°Here¡¯s the rule. I¡¯m going to hit you with my skill. You can try to dodge, but it won¡¯t work. If you survive, you win. No one has yet, but there¡¯s always a chance.¡± With those words, the jailbird¡¯s core ignited. Mana went streaming into his hand, which began to glow with a pale blue light that reminded Edge of the heart of a glacier. Wreathed in billowing frost, a flawless blade of ice emerged from the center of his clenched fist, a stark white grip extending past the other side. Within the span of a breath, the elemental blade was fully formed. A three-foot sword so cold that it put a chill in Edge¡¯s bones, trailing fog behind it as it froze the moisture in the air. He looked up at the agile prisoner, who radiated a smoldering menace that was even more terrifying than his companion¡¯s cheerful bloodlust. He could tell the moment their eyes met that nothing he could say would stop the man from attacking with that deadly power. Over the last few seconds, the air around the iceblade had grown so cold that it made Edge shiver from where he sat. Distracting him won¡¯t work. Dodging won¡¯t either. The only chance I have is to deflect or block the blade. The seal should finish breaking any moment. That was all the time that Edge had to reflect on his situation. Because at that point, the tall man raised his sword of ice and then brought it down in a streaking slash. Unable to run, unable to dodge, Edge watched as the elemental blade descended toward his body. The moment that it touched his chest, it would freeze his heart and all the blood in his veins, killing him instantly. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Left with no other alternative, he reached out and grabbed his bag, twisting the fabric around his wrist with the canteen in front of his flesh. He brought it up in front of the iceblade with the contents facing forward. With an impact that reverberated throughout his body, he caught the sword of ice in his fabric-wrapped palm. He had hoped to knock the skill to one side, but it stuck the moment that it touched him. Weird, I expected that to hurt more. That was when Edge saw the dense layer of ice coating the bag and part of his hand. He realized in that moment that he couldn¡¯t move his fingers. Couldn¡¯t feel a thing past the end of his wrist. That was when the full horror of what had happened dawned on him. Despite the insulation that the bag had added, three of his fingers had frozen solid, faster than the blink of an eye. I¡¯ll lose half my hand if¡­ No sooner had that thought crossed Edge¡¯s mind than the jailbird let out a wicked cackle and pulled his iceblade back to his side. With a sickening crack that Edge would remember for the rest of his life, however short it may be, the frozen side of his hand shattered like glass, leaving rime-coated ruin behind. Only ragged stumps remained where three of his fingers had been, which would start bleeding the moment that ice capping them melted. ¡°You stopped one. I didn¡¯t think that you had it in you.¡± The tall man looked genuinely impressed, if no less inclined to murder him. ¡°But I¡¯m just getting warmed up. The next touch won¡¯t be on minimum output. You¡¯ll make a lovely statue, before my friend here starts venting his frustration.¡± The jailbird raised his elemental blade in a two-handed grip, ready to bring it down on Edge and consummate the kill. The chill in the air intensified as the iceblade began shining with a wintery wrath, wrapped in a coruscating sheet of arctic energy. The big man crossed the room with a protest on his lips, ready to argue for his right to beat Edge to death instead. In the end, neither of those things happened. As the tall man¡¯s sword came down, something too fast for Edge to track lashed out from the the doorway, gone again before the blade had descended halfway to his head. He had no idea what was going on, but the results were obvious to everyone. Two bloody lines appeared across the jailbird¡¯s forearms¡­ half a heartbeat before they detached from his body, severed as cleanly as by a surgeon¡¯s scalpel. Thus, instead of being frozen to the bone, a spray of hot blood engulfed Edge from head to toe. The stricken convict let loose an agonized scream, jamming his spurting stumps into the cavern¡¯s wall to try to slow the bleeding. The big man looked like he couldn¡¯t decide if he should help the tall man or finish him off, but was leaning toward the latter. Edge was judging the distance to the reliquary and the door, trying to decide if he had any chance of reaching either. Before anyone made their move, a piercing cry rang out. A warbling trill that could never have come from a human throat. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned as one, looking at the entrance to the room as the stench of rancid meat broke over them. As bad as the situation already was, what Edge saw made him feel even worse. Monster. Boiling dread rose hot in his throat. A suffocating foreboding beyond that evoked by the men who were trying to kill him. A sweltering horror that reached a crescendo three seconds later, when the monster walked into the room. Chapter 5: Monster The hulking brute was eight feet tall, broad enough at the shoulders that it had to twist to fit through the door. Even after entering the room, it had to hunch over, or it would have been even taller. The monster walked on two legs like a man, but there the resemblance to anything human, anything natural for that matter, ended and the stuff of nightmares began. Its powerful body was covered in long black feathers, palm-wide pinions that were oily and matted. Its legs were built like a bird¡¯s but far too tall, lemon-yellow skin ending in broad talons. Its arms were almost as long as its legs, muscular appendages leading to hands equipped with razor-sharp claws. Wicked weapons that were big enough Edge could have used one for a sword. The fifth claw was reversed and thicker than the rest, giving the set the appearance of a giant set of shears. The monster had jet black eyes the size of Edge¡¯s fists, with no whites or iris he could see. A serrated yellow beak jutted out from the middle of its head like the blade of a scythe, stained with countless splatters of blood in a crimson collage. He¡¯d been smelling the creature drawing closer for some time now, without knowing what it was. Up close, the stench of rotting flesh was overpowering. It would have made him retch until his stomach was empty, if he wasn¡¯t so scared that he barely noticed. It was difficult to look directly at the monster while it was moving. Its form seemed to blur around the borders, splitting the difference between shadow and solid matter like the creature was only halfway in this world. It left a trail of living darkness in its wake like a mantle of smoke, making it even harder to track its position. Most frightening of all, it exuded an overwhelming bloodlust. A seething malice toward anything free from the taint that had corrupted every fiber of its being. It made Edge want to curl into a ball. To crawl into a hole and hide. Unfortunately, the first option wouldn¡¯t do him any good, and the second wasn¡¯t available. All predators would kill to eat. Far too many would kill for pleasure. But he¡¯d never met anything until that moment that wanted to claim his life due to sheer, raging hate. Edge had never seen a monster in person before. But it was clear at a glance that this one was far more powerful than anything that would have wandered into the region before the disaster. That¡¯s at least mid stage-two. It must have crossed over from one of the swapped bits of land. He knew with complete and utter certainty that the creature could kill him effortlessly. That it would the moment it noticed him. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Shutting out the pain of his wounds, he averted his gaze and remained as still as a statue. He barely dared to breathe, lest it draw the fiend¡¯s attention to him. I was wrong. The jailbirds are bad. But this is much, much worse. At that moment, the creature¡¯s eyes seemed to light up. Not actually glowing, but intensifying, as if its stare had become deeply penetrating. It panned its gaze across the room, stopping to consider each of its prey in turn. Edge had the sense that the monster could see right through him. That it was scanning his attributes and skills, learning everything about him within a handful of heartbeats. Whatever it saw inside him, it clearly wasn¡¯t impressed. The nightmarish thing took one look at the critically wounded prisoner then dismissed him with contempt. It seemed satisfied that the most dangerous man in the room was now completely helpless. He can¡¯t use his elemental blade without his hands. It must have been what the monster was planning all along. Edge realized in that instant that while the jailbirds were stalking him, the monster had been hunting them in turn. That it had been waiting patiently until the convicts were distracted by torturing Edge before making its move. That this moment had been fated to arrive from the moment he¡¯d stepped into the ruins. The monster¡¯s gaze landed on the big man last. When it flexed his claws and began walking toward him, the uninjured prisoner went darting for the exit, terror writ clear in every crook of his features. As inexperienced as he was, Edge knew it was a bad move. There¡¯s no way that it¡¯s letting us leave. You just stepped into its kill zone. Sure enough, fast as thought, the shadowy horror surged back to block the entrance, lashing out with its scissor-claws. Snip. Snip. The midnight blades caught the fleeing jailbird square in the midriff. They closed around his armored top and flexed, shearing through plastic and flesh in turn before cutting through his spine and severing his torso at the waist. The big man screamed, convulsing on the floor in unimaginable pain. For a second, Edge couldn¡¯t understand why he was still alive. But then he saw that the shorn section of the man¡¯s torso kept trying and failing to seal, although the bleeding soon stopped. His regeneration skill can¡¯t keep up with a wound of that scale. But it won¡¯t let him die either. Not while there are still magicytes burning in his core. The monster examined the bisected convict with interest, then looked over at the prisoner who was dying in the corner, before stopping to consider Edge once more. He was bruised and battered. Helpless and lying in a pool of his own blood. The fiend must have decided that the fight was over. Because instead of finishing any of them off, it picked up the severed arms and legs and left the room. Or it started to¡­ The creature must have been worried that Edge would get away after all, because it blurred into shadows and then vanished from view. The next thing he knew, it was standing right beside him, claws extended and poised to strike. Edge tried to get up while getting ready to run, but it was already too late. Even if he had, it wouldn¡¯t have made a difference. Snip. Snip. For a moment, Edge didn¡¯t realize what had happened. Until the wet agony erupting from his stomach caused him to look down¡­ to where ragged gashes now marred the flesh of his abdomen, through which his guts began to spill. The monster issued a self-satisfied squawk, added Edge¡¯s fingers to its collection of parts, and then sauntered out of the room. The whole thing only took thirty seconds. Chapter 6: Reliquary ¡°Bastard,¡± the armless jailbird muttered. Anger warring with shock long enough to force the words past trembling lips. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see one, but that was a shadowreaver. It must have a lair nearby. It¡¯s the only reason to leave us alive. It wants to keep our meat fresh to feed its spawn. They can only eat live prey or newly severed flesh. It won¡¯t be gone long.¡± In that moment, Edge knew that he was dead. That he would either expire from blood loss now, or live long enough for the monster to drag him back to its nest and serve him to its young. Slipping into shock, the warmth fled his limbs. His thoughts grew dim as his lifeblood painted the floor in drips, and dribbles, and gobs. The reaver isn¡¯t as clever as it thinks. It cut too deep. I¡¯ll be dead long before it returns. He knew that there was something that he still needed to do. Something that kept the embers of hope burning in the depths of midnight hell. But what was it? It was so hard to fight through the pain and think through the haze. When he¡¯d realized he was dying, all other thoughts had left his head. But just before he grew too weak to stand, Edge remembered the reliquary. It will open any second. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s in there, but it¡¯s the only chance I have. Get up, Edge. Hurry up and fucking move. Rising back to his feet was the hardest thing that he¡¯d ever done. Walking across the room was the second. Edge started staggering toward the altar, dragging his guts behind him like a string of sausages. Twenty feet to go. Fifteen. When he was ten feet away from the altar stone, his legs gave out from under him, and he hit the ground hard. His vision flashed white when his head struck the floor, almost knocking him out again. He gritted his teeth and started to crawl, heading for the opening in the marble, through which light had begun to shine. By now, his vision was growing dim along the periphery. The world looked like it was at the other end of a long, dark tunnel. His body felt frozen, and he couldn¡¯t stop shaking. It was a battle to keep himself moving, each inch more difficult than the last. Edge realized that he was drifting off, and not into a dream. About to step into oblivion¡¯s embrace. A sleep from which there would be no waking. No. Not like this. Not without fighting until my last breath. Too weak to crawl, Edge began wriggling forward on his stomach, hands reaching toward the reliquary as he painted the floor in steaming gore. What must have only taken a couple of seconds felt like hours. Days. A lifetime. Each millimeter drove molten daggers into his shredded guts, while the rest of him felt like it was encased in ice and lead. It was so hard to move. To think. To find the will to drag his body those final few feet. But at last Edge found himself drawing near the concealed cavity, where something was glowing with a bright purple light. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. He thought that he heard the sound of chains rattling together. An endless clatter of link sliding along link, like all the chains in the world were contained within the space below. He¡¯d reached the alcove leading under the altar. All that was left was to get down there. As he peered into the opening, the voice of the System rang out. Not coming from Edge¡¯s Guide, but from the reliquary itself. The containment field has been deactivated. You may forge a pact and claim your [R???????e???????d???????a??????c????t??????e???????d????????] core. The word ¡°core¡± resounded across Edge¡¯s mind like a pair of dice rolling across the table. While a basic core wouldn¡¯t be enough to save him anymore, there was a chance, however fleeting, that the reliquary held a rarer variant. One that possessed an ultimate ability. He didn¡¯t know much about ultimates, since the details of their powers were fiercely guarded by the people who wielded them. But there was a possibility that the right ultimate could save him from his wound and then help him escape the reaver¡¯s territory. There¡¯s only one way to find out, Edge. What have you got to lose? He didn¡¯t have any more energy to drag himself forward. Instead, he tipped himself over the ledge and let himself fall, body rolling down the steep incline in a boneless tumble. He had just enough willpower to reach out after hitting the bottom, raising one hand with the last scrap of his strength. Just as Edge¡¯s heart beat for the final time, his fingertips brushed against something that he had no words to describe. It felt incandescent and electric. Solid and intangible. Chaotic and ordered, all at the same time. A prompt from his Guide appeared in front of his eyes, just as his vision faded to black. You have found an unbound power core. Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater]. Rarity: Unique. Category: Unique. Attribute points per cycle: 2. Ultimate ability: [Extraction] (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours. Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own. Core trait: Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement]. You can no longer acquire or rank-up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. Would you like to forge a contract with [Skill-Eater] and bind the core within you? Warning: you will no longer be able to acquire skills by normal means. Edge had never heard of a unique core before, or a core that came with strings attached. But there wasn¡¯t time to worry about that now. ¡°Yes,¡± he tried to say. But all that escaped his lips was a bloody bubble, and the darkness rose to swallow him whole. The System must have sensed his intentions and taken that for consent. Because just before his neurons stopped firing, Edge heard a voice that reverberated throughout every fiber of his being. Shook him to the very depths of his soul. ¡°The cage is open. The price has been paid and the seal has been transferred. A blood pact with Skill-Eater has been forged. Stand by for core ignition.¡± Chapter 7: Ignition Edge snapped back into his body and opened his eyes. For a second, he¡¯d thought that he was standing somewhere else, talking to something¡­ strange. He¡¯d had a vision of his heart burning to ash, replaced by an incandescent organ wrapped in living chains. I must be hallucinating from the pain¡­ That was when the realization of what had happened washed over him, driving all other thoughts from his head. The core! The System said that I claimed it. But how do I use it? And what was that about ignition? In that same moment, Edge¡¯s world erupted into flame. Searing pain engulfed his body, setting every nerve alight. There was a bonfire raging behind his ribs, burning him to embers. No, not a bonfire, a furnace. He had just enough time to scream before the agony shot up by an order of magnitude. Then again, until there was nothing but the limitless blaze roaring inside him. It felt like he had been hurled into the sun, threatening to shatter his sanity beneath the overwhelming intensity of the experience. It isn¡¯t all pain. A small, dissociated corner of his mind realized. There¡¯s something else too. And the fact that I¡¯m hurting means that I¡¯m still alive. Thump. Thump. Blood began pumping through his arteries once more, letting Edge draw a ragged gasp as life returned to his organs and limbs. The cataclysmic inferno receded to a pulsating warmth within his chest, and his thoughts began to clear. It let him realize that something about binding the core must have healed him a little, or was otherwise allowing him to function. But that was the extent of the good news. His guts were spilled across the floor. Blood was dripping from the ruins of his hand. The monster was coming back at any moment, and he was still fatally injured. Still running out of time. In short, Edge didn¡¯t have time to consider the implications of what he¡¯d seen or what he¡¯d read. While this fleeting moment of clarity gave him enough energy to move for another few seconds, he was well into the process of dying, and had far too little blood to sustain him regardless. He had another minute at most to turn this around, or he was dead despite his lucky break. That was when he felt his core flickering inside him, whispering that there was a way. That he still had a chance of living to see tomorrow. He could smell something wonderful in the air, stronger than the stench of sweat, fear, and blood. With no reason to resist, he listened to the voice telling him to get up and move. To fight for his life with everything he had. Holding on to that last glimmer of hope, Edge rose to his feet and staggered out of the alcove. Back toward where the pair of prisoners were experiencing their own version of hell. When his gaze landed upon the jailbirds, he felt a strange longing that he¡¯d never known before. Electric desire welling up from the space behind his ribs. He knew in that moment that his life had reached a crossroads. He could either give into the craving and become something new, or he could die. I want to live. Show me the way. He made his choice, and within Edge Vasher, a ravenous beast awoke. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. It was a hunger. A call. A need to consume something exquisitely delicious that he had no words to describe. Acting on instinct, he staggered across the room and stopped in front of the wounded convicts. The man with no arms was barely conscious. He seemed to be in the final stages of deciding whether he wanted to end his own life, although his arms had finally stopped bleeding. The beast inside Edge ignored the tall man for now, although he felt a surge of gluttony at the sight. What it wanted to devour was coming from the man who¡¯d been cut in half. Who was clearly in shock but unable to die, thanks to his own skill. Not while there was still mana flowing out from his core. The newly born instincts stirring within Edge knew that the big man had something he needed. Something that could save his life and would satisfy him in a way that nothing ever had before. A delicacy that could only be taken from the willing, or from those unable to resist. Half maddened by pain, tormented by desire, he reached out toward the man and surrendered to the beast howling inside him. Granting it permission to emerge and to feed. Activating ultimate ability: [Extraction]. The moment that he gave it leave, something deep inside his chest, dwelling in the core where his heart had been only moments before, began to build. Once more, heat was rising inside him, and Edge began to burn. The rattle of a thousand chains thundered in his ears, just as the energy reached a crescendo. Edge reached out, fingers stretching toward the big man, as something went sliding beneath the skin of his arms. From the ends of both wrists emerged a pair of glossy black chains, moving by their own will. He couldn¡¯t tell if they were solid or ethereal. Metal, magic, or just a shape projected by his subconscious to help him process what was happening. In the end, he supposed it didn¡¯t matter. Fast as thought, the twin chains surged forth like a pair of vipers, writhing and twisting through the air. Predators going in for the kill. Their ends reared back and then shot down¡­ plunging into the prisoner¡¯s chest with no appreciable resistance. Edge realized that he could sense them, like they were extensions of his own body. For just a second, he could feel the living links passing through flesh. Then they went diving into the core burning within the big man¡¯s chest, searching for something that Skill-Eater wanted so badly that it made his whole body shudder with need. In that instant, he was granted a vision of the convict¡¯s core. Edge found himself standing in a cozy living room, with a fire crackling in the hearth. He could smell something savory cooking in the kitchen. Hear the patter of rain falling outside. It was a comfortable home. A dwelling for something¡­ tasty. Because inside this strange space, whatever it was, were the big man¡¯s skills. There were several scattered across the room, but only one that his core wanted. He looked around with wide eyes, trying to understand what was happening. It all became clear a few seconds later, when the chains found what they were looking for. They went surging for something squirming in the far corner, hiding behind an overstuffed armchair. Something that desperately wanted to evade their pursuit. But with two chains working together, it couldn¡¯t get away. I think that they¡¯re hunting¡­ his skill! The snaking links circled their prey, cutting off all avenues of retreat as they wound tighter and tighter. They continued weaving back and forth, until the skill had been completely encircled by the chains linking Edge¡¯s core to the prisoner¡¯s. With blinding speed, they struck, wrapping tight around the pulsing mass, accompanied by a chorus of ghostly clinks. Before he could make sense of what was happening, the twin chains yanked hard. They ripped the skill free from the jailbird¡¯s core and began drawing it toward Edge, bringing the vision to an end. He found himself back inside his body, where less than a second had passed in the outside world. At this point, he expected the chains to withdraw into his wrists with the prize they had stolen. Instead, the chains deposited the squirming skill into Edge¡¯s mouth before retreating through his wrists into the space behind his ribs. With that act, it all became clear. Skill-Eater wasn¡¯t just the name of the unique core, it was how its bearer claimed them. Eating skills was a literal description of the process, rather than a turn of phrase. In that moment, he knew with complete and utter certainty that just holding the skill in his mouth wasn¡¯t going to cut it. If he wanted to eat the skill, Edge was going to have to chew. Chapter 8: Teeth The skill trapped in Edge¡¯s mouth squirmed like a living creature. It darted from one side to the other in a frantic attempt to escape. He could sense that it was still wild. Untamed. Unrefined. That if he wanted to claim it, make it part of himself, he was going to have to break it, then bend it to his will. It was a bizarre situation that he still only half-believed was really happening. But Edge didn¡¯t have time to process. To ponder, think, or understand. He¡¯d be dead within seconds if he didn¡¯t complete the procedure that the core smoldering inside him, Skill-Eater, had begun. In that moment, the skill almost burst free from his lips, slipping out halfway before he brought one hand up to his mouth and shoved it back inside. Before it could get away or slide down his throat and choke him, Edge cast his hesitation aside and started to chew. He brought his teeth together on top of the skill, tearing off a piece before the rest got away. It was vibrant and vital and oh so alive. It tasted like blood pumping strong in his veins. Of his organs working in perfect harmony. Of sundered tissue knitting itself back together. Getting knocked down and standing back up again. Having gotten a bite, Edge could tell what the skill did by rolling its essence across his palate. The skill tasted like health because it was health, or more specifically, healing. It was a skill that could repair shredded flesh and restore damaged organs. Even create new blood if given enough time. Not to mention, the most delicious thing that had ever passed through his lips. Now certain that salvation lay trapped between his jaws, he gave into his hunger and kept right on chewing, breaking the skill down one chomp at a time. It kept wriggling and regenerating, dying and being reborn every time that Edge brought his teeth together. It seemed the skill was healing itself too, acting in accordance with its nature. Eating regeneration was by far the strangest experience of his life. Weird in a way that was beyond the power of words to convey. It also presented him with an unexpected problem. The possibility that he would be stuck chewing forever, or at least until he bled out and died. But then he noticed that the skill had begun growing weaker over the last few bites. It stopped fighting back, no longer able to resist his assault. A bit more chewing and it went still at last, dissolving into a liquid that he could sense was ready to be digested. Under other circumstances, Edge might have entertained doubts. Thought twice about what he was about to do. But not now, when he was teetering on the brink of death. Thus, instead of hesitating, with the last of his strength, he braced himself and swallowed. The pureed skill slid down his throat. A ball of electricity gliding down, and down, and down. Instead of heading into his stomach like everything else he¡¯d eaten before, this time, the stuff kept right on going. It flowed past his belly, into a space that hadn¡¯t existed within his body until a few minutes ago. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Edge felt his core quiver in anticipation as the skill entered its domain, vibrating behind his ribs. Skill-Eater engulfed the strange substance, like a starving dog tearing into a pile of fresh meat. It began digesting the skill it had stolen, until its essence was ready to be absorbed. When it was done, a notification appeared in front of his eyes. You have extracted the skill: Regeneration [limited] (uncommon, rank 2). Digestion is complete. When extracting a skill higher than rank 1, a portion of its experience will be retained if you choose to keep it. Would you like to slot regeneration now? Warning: the skill will be lost if this option is declined. ¡°Yes. Fucking yes. Do it now!¡± By now, the world had begun growing dim once again. But then a strange thing happened. When he spoke those words, Edge was drawn into his own core. He found himself standing inside a dimly lit room, facing a massive furnace with a row of six alcoves set into one side. Somehow, he was certain that the furnace was his reactor. The place where magicytes were consumed to create refined mana. The recesses were his skill sockets. Conduits that let his skills absorb the mana released by the reactor and change its nature, giving his magic physical form. In one of the alcoves sat a small stone statue of a man holding a sword, which he could sense was the manifestation of his skill slash. Across from the reactor was a large brass tank. The reservoir that held the magicytes Edge absorbed from the environment until they were ready to be burned. Even now, he could feel them flowing in from outside, passing through tiny pores that his core had seared into his skin. His newly claimed skill flowed over to an empty socket, locking into place with a hearty click. It took the form of a beating heart, like the one that he had stolen from the big man¡¯s core. Although this version looked smaller, like it had lost some of its power when changing owners. Knowing that he was only seconds away from bleeding out, he willed regeneration to activate. Edge watched magicytes flow out from his reservoir and into his reactor, far more magic than he¡¯d ever had inside him before. They entered Skill-Eater and became its fuel, releasing an incredible discharge of mana. Power coursed within his core, flowing freely until it encountered that beating heart. When the mana entered it, the skill surged to life, altering the frequency of the magic before sending it coursing through his body. Out toward the ragged gashes in his stomach and the stumps where his fingers used to be. Now that he had digested regeneration, he found himself back in the temple. The entire experience had taken place in less than the blink of an eye. Body thrumming with mana, Edge felt a curious sliding sensation. He looked down in shock as his guts began pulling themselves back inside his stomach, living tissue casting off the dirt and debris stuck to it before heading over to where it belonged. When everything was back to where it was supposed to be, his torso began sealing itself up. He watched in awe as his organs and nerves, his muscles and veins, started sewing themselves back together. The severed fibers reached out to each other, grabbed hold, then pulled tight. His skin was last, and when it finished regenerating, not even a scar remained where the shadowreaver¡¯s claws had torn him asunder. He glanced down at his hand when it began to itch. The wounds closed and scabbed over, like they¡¯d happened weeks ago instead of mere minutes. Edge waited patiently, eager to learn if his fingers would grow back too. Before he had the chance to find out, his reserves ran dry, as the last of his magicytes were burned to stop the bleeding. When the mana stopped flowing, regeneration became dormant and his reactor began to cool, returning to a passive state. But it flared right back to life when he turned his gaze toward the tall convict. The man whose elemental blade had destroyed Edge¡¯s hand. Now that his flesh was whole once more, Skill-Eater was ready to claim the power it had noticed earlier. It was time to start the second course. Chapter 9: Iceblade Before anything else could happen, the big man spasmed and then went still. Now that his body could no longer regenerate, blood began flowing from his torso like a bucket with no bottom. It let the sadistic bastard die at last, after the torture he¡¯d endured. When the last glimmer of life finished fading from the jailbird¡¯s eyes, a message from the System appeared in front of Edge¡¯s. You have slain an enemy and gained experience. For defeating a cored opponent stage 2 or above, you have earned 1 mortium. ¡°What? No. I didn¡¯t kill him...¡± Edge stopped himself cold. When he thought it through, his actions had led to the death of the prisoner. Even if he was dying anyway and the end had been a mercy that he didn¡¯t deserve. ¡°By the gods¡­ What are you?¡± The tall man, face pale from blood loss, tried to back away. But he was so weak that he could only stagger a few steps before falling over. It was bizarre to see this lethal being cowering in front of him. A man who was more than human, a predator who¡¯d looked down on him with disdain only seconds before, was staring up at Edge with horror in his eyes, like he was the monster. A total reversal of their original roles. It made what had taken place over the last few minutes sink in in a way that it hadn¡¯t until that moment. Holy shit. This is really happening. ¡°Stay away! I¡¯d rather let the reaver¡­¡± Before the convict could finish his sentence, Edge felt a fresh surge of hunger, as his core demanded that it be given leave to feed. He wasn¡¯t a cruel man, but he wasn¡¯t inclined to fight it. This man had nearly killed Edge, and he would do so again if given a half a chance. Besides, as matters stood, the reaver would slaughter them both anyway. Edge wasn¡¯t about to let such a powerful skill go to waste. Not when he could claim it for his own. Extraction. He gave into the urge and bid his chains to fly free, black links bursting out from the ends of his wrists. They went snaking across the floor before plunging into the tall man¡¯s chest. The mysterious chains passed through his ribs then dove into his core, seeking their next meal. Once again, Edge¡¯s consciousness was drawn along with them. What he encountered wasn¡¯t anything like what had happened before. The interior of this man¡¯s core was an icy expanse, the wind so chill that it numbed Edge¡¯s bones. There were several skills buried in the snow, but only one that Skill-Eater wanted. Rising from the surface of this arctic wasteland was a glowing blue blade, formed from the pure heart of a glacier. It was so sharp that it could cut him in half with a touch. So cold that it would freeze the blood in his veins well before he got that close. Instead of running in terror as the chains drew near, this skill stood its ground, emitting a regal might like a monarch upon her throne. Edge could sense that the elemental blade was confident that it could slay anything that dared to challenge it, and it was easy to see why. He was afraid that the iceblade could fight off his ultimate, but those mysterious links proved impervious to chill and blade alike. They wrapped around the razored ice embedded within the core, drawing tight and then pulling hard. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. There was an incredible feeling of resistance, as the slot binding the skill fought to keep it from coming free. Its defiance enraged Skill-Eater. Edge¡¯s chains redoubled their efforts. They yanked so hard that he was drawn back into his body, where he had to brace himself so that he wasn¡¯t dragged down to the ground. After another mighty tug, the convict¡¯s core cracked, shattering the region that the skill was slotted into. With eager anticipation, the black chains dragged it out of the thin man¡¯s body. Something long and sharp that was glowing arctic blue. Before Edge could process the full implications of the evolving situation, the chains flung the iceblade straight into his mouth. It started slicing and freezing his gums like a subzero blender, leaving rime-coated ruin behind. The painful attack sent him reeling, unable to remember what he was supposed to do next. At least the assault seemed to cost the skill something, widening the cracks that his chains had inflicted. A few shattered fragments came loose and went sliding down his throat, gouging away as they fell into his core. This time, instead of digesting them, Skill-Eater tossed the shards straight into its reactor, breaking the skill experience down to produce an intense surge of mana. Eating elemental blade would have killed him if he didn¡¯t have regeneration and more magic to bring it to life. But it was just enough energy to repair the damage he was taking. The fire burning behind his ribs shocked him back to his senses. In that moment, Edge knew what he had to do. Not looking forward to the experience at all, he brought his teeth down hard and started to chew. Each bite drove razors into his gums. Froze his nerves to the core in an ocean of agony. But he could sense that his prey was growing weak, so he pushed past the pain and kept right on going. He could feel the skill breaking apart with every bite, along with the occasional tooth. The weird part was¡­ Ok, the whole thing was pretty weird. The weirder part was that although it hurt like hell, eating the skill tasted so, so good. It was impossibly cold and yet oh so satisfying. It had a pure flavor like the most intense mint. Frigid, and sharp, and clear. By now, regeneration was healing him faster than the iceblade was harming him, but his reactor was growing dim. If Edge wanted to finish his meal before he ran out of fuel, he had to hurry. Ten hearty chomps later, the skill cracked down the middle and lost its cohesion, sliding down his throat without further resistance. When it was absorbed by his core, another message from the System appeared. You have extracted the skill: Elemental Blade [ice] (uncommon, rank 3). Digestion is complete. This skill is damaged, and its experience has been lost. Would you like to slot elemental blade now? Warning: the skill will be lost if this option is declined. Edge tried to say yes. But his throat was numb, and all that escaped past his lips was a frozen chunk of blood. Skill-Eater must have taken that for permission, because it flickered to life once more, claiming the skill for its collection. Once again, Edge found himself standing inside his core. In that strange place where time crawled by. He watched as his new skill was guided to an open slot, beside the one occupied by regeneration. A blade of ice resting beside a beating heart and a small stone statue. He snapped back into his body a few seconds later. When Edge was aware of his surroundings once more, the tall prisoner was lying at his feet, flopping around like a fish out of water. It seemed that the rough [Extraction] had caused damage on a fundamental level and was incredibly painful to boot. Convulsing had reopened the wounds on the convict¡¯s forearms, which had finally stopped bleeding. It turned out that not even losing both arms was enough to kill a cored individual. But blood loss and Edge¡¯s ultimate had finished what the shadowreaver had started. Staring out toward a distant horizon that only he could see, the thin man let out a gasp and then went still. You have slain an enemy and gained experience. For defeating a cored opponent stage 2 or above, you have earned 1 mortium. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is: [1]. You have two attribute points awaiting allocation. Would you like to spend them now? Chapter 10: Cycle When the message from the System appeared in front of his face, Edge felt his core shudder. Skill-Eater flared to life of its own accord. It sent tendrils of power rippling throughout his body, driving all other thoughts from his head. There was a sense of a threshold being crossed. Of a power yet to be given form. A coiled tension like a tightly wound spring. The first step in a long journey to come. There was fire in his heart, but not like before. It was the hearth that wards off the chill of night instead of boundless inferno reducing him to embers. Edge put one hand up to his chest, marveling at the sensation of his core expanding, compressing, and then burning brighter still. The chains wrapped around his soul stirred in response, becoming just a bit faster, stronger, and longer than before. Through their bond, he could tell that the unique power core had become a fraction more complex, like an engine with more pistons or a computer with new circuits. Edge had been a fan of Prison World for decades, along with trillions of viewers throughout the galaxy. He¡¯d listened to thousands of descriptions of what it felt like when a core cycled-up, fantasizing that it was happening to him. Although he¡¯d never expected to experience it himself, it was enough to let him know what was happening when he felt his core change. Skill-Eater rumbled when its cycle was complete. It roared as it drew in magic from the world around him, transforming it into potentia, more commonly called attribute points. A type of energy that he could use to upgrade his body or core was ready to obey his command. Energy that had yet to be given shape. Edge didn¡¯t have time to process what had occurred within this room. The monster would be back soon. At any moment, the shadowreaver would come gliding through the door, ready to finish what it had started. But for the first time in his life, he had two attribute points to spend, thanks to his core cycling-up after the second prisoner died. He knew in that moment that this was the most important decision of his life, and he intended to choose wisely. Each attribute granted a unique form of strength. Picking the right one could mean the difference between finding some way out of this mess and being eaten alive. Before Edge was ready to commit to a course, he needed to know what else he had to work with. To survey his surroundings and come up with a plan. He had no chance of running from the nightmarish creature. His odds of fighting it off were worse, even with the new skills at his command. He didn¡¯t have enough magicytes to use his iceblade for long. Even if he did, his stats were laughable compared to the men that the reaver had defeated with ease. All he had was a fleeting moment to prepare, his wits, and¡­ Whatever the prisoners were carrying in their packs. He ran to the nearest body, the one with no arms, and started rummaging around in its backpack. He didn¡¯t let himself hesitate or think about the fact that he was in the middle of robbing a corpse. A man who had died by Edge¡¯s actions only moments before. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. But all that he found in the blood-soaked sack was a worn utility knife that was even worse than his own. By this point, he could hear scraping in the distance. The sound of talons sliding along stone, as the monster made its way through the ruins. Edge had to move faster. He was running out of time. He darted over to the remains of other man, or the top half of them at any rate, and tore into his gore-splattered bag. When his fingers touched the bottom, he found what he was looking for, a magicyte infused mealbox with its seal still intact. Edge ripped off the top and started shoving bread down his throat. He almost choked in his haste, before he took a drink from his canteen. The instant that the food hit his stomach, he pulled up his menus to check his reserves. Twenty seven percent. That¡¯s enough magic to use elemental blade and get in one good attack. He felt regeneration start using it up a few seconds later, preparing to restore his lost fingers. No. He shut the skill down with an effort of will. If he wasted his last bit of mana healing his hand, his chances of surviving would dwindle to zero. While he polished off the last bites of bread, Edge looked at his profile, reviewing his options one final time. He needed to decide how to spend his attribute points before it was too late. Physical attributes
Power: 1 Reflex: 1 Endurance: 2 Perception: 1
Speed: 1 Control: 1 Durability: 1
Energetic attributes
Generation: 1 Amplification: 1 Disruption: 1
Edge didn¡¯t have time to think through his choices at length, but he didn¡¯t need to consider them all. He was already certain that boosting his physical attributes wasn¡¯t going to cut it. There was no way that he would become fast or strong enough to prevail with only two points. The prospect of killing the reaver with a knife was so ludicrous that he nearly laughed out loud. The only chance he had was to rely on his skills, and slash was out of the running. Regeneration had granted him enough strength to land one good attack. It was up to elemental blade to finish the job. In short, Edge needed to choose the attribute that would make his iceblade more deadly. Everything else could wait. He voiced his intention to the System. ¡°I¡¯ll spend my points on amplification.¡± Acknowledged. Stand by for enhancement. Both bolts of potentia crackling within his chest were set free in that moment, surging toward the sockets where reactor met skill. When they arrived, they started forging fresh conduits. The transformative magic enhanced the connections between Skill-Eater and the skills it had slotted, making them thicker and more efficient than before. The process was over a few seconds later, and Edge could sense that his skills were stronger than before. Maybe, just maybe, his iceblade would be potent enough to hurt the monster, if he could get a clear shot at its vitals. That only left one question to consider in the handful of seconds he had left. How in the hell am I going to land the blow? Chapter 11: Ambush The scraping grew louder by the heartbeat, as the shadowreaver climbed the stone terraces and started walking to the temple. Edge had less than a minute to come up with a plan and set it in motion. The prospect of his imminent death sent his mind racing like never before, considering and discarding a dozen ideas in as many seconds. None of them would work and he was almost out of time. Then, in the heart of that dark moment, inspiration struck. The last time the reaver saw me, I was severely wounded. Both the prisoners are dead, and it needs to keep me alive to feed its spawn. I can use that to get past its guard. It will have to be gentle when it tries to pick me up. With no time for doubt, Edge reached down and scooped a double armful of gore off the floor. He sat down in the corner, then spread the crimson mess across his lap, holding his arms to his stomach like he was trying to keep his guts from spilling out. He had no way of knowing if this would work, only that he was dead if it didn¡¯t. The blood was a good start, but it wasn¡¯t enough. If his deception was going to have any chance of panning out, he needed to put on the best performance of his life. Look terrified and weak, like you¡¯re helpless and in shock. The scared part was easy, since Edge already was. For the rest, he unfocused his eyes and started moaning and shaking, just as the monster sauntered into the room. The reaver flowed into the chamber wreathed in living shadow, examining each of its prey in turn. It took its time, savoring the moment. The fiend chittered to itself as it stopped before the armless man, appreciating the carnage it had wrought. When the tall man didn¡¯t cower in its presence, it caressed his cheek with the tip of one claw. It worked the point below his skin and then dragged it across the bone. When the monster realized that the prisoner wasn¡¯t reacting to its torture, its entire posture shifted. All the satisfaction drained away until only fury remained. The creature bent down to prod the man¡¯s body with the blade of its beak, carving a ragged gouge across his chest to make sure that he was dead. It let out a growl of disgust, like it couldn¡¯t believe that the convict had expired so quickly. Then it opened its maw and began to feed. Evidently, while the shadowreaver needed living meat to nurture its spawn, it had no problem consuming a corpse itself. It was a horrifying, grisly affair. Edge had to watch, pretending to be too out of it to care, as the creature devoured the jailbird bite by bloody bite, until its bright yellow beak was stained ruby with glistening gore. He wanted to scream. To run for his life. To throw up everything that he¡¯d ever eaten. But he knew that if he did any of those things, he would join the tall man in the monster¡¯s belly. Instead, he bit his lip and prayed to anyone who might be listening. Edge repeated his plan over and over in his mind so that when the moment came, he would be ready to act. When the monster was done with its meal, it moved on to the other prisoner. It started probing the big man¡¯s torso with its claws, clearly confused as to why the wound was no longer healing. In the end, the result was the same. It let out a shrill shriek and began gnawing away at the corpse. The reaver watched Edge all the while, making sure that he still drew breath. He sat there, doing his best to keep it together while waiting for an opening to appear. It was a sight that would haunt his dreams, yet he couldn¡¯t look away. He had to time the next part just right and hope that his desperate plan would bear fruit. He was betting everything on the fact that the reaver thought he was mortally wounded. That it would want to carry him back to its lair as soon as it finished its meal. That it would be careful when it grabbed him, so he didn¡¯t die on the way. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The tortured moment seemed to stretch on forever, as the creature tore pieces free from its victim and then swallowed them whole like a bird. But it must have really only taken a couple of minutes until it was done devouring the big man, bone and all, and only scraps of bloody armor remained. Every instinct Edge had was urging him to rise. To run. To get away while he still could. But he refused to listen to those relics of his prior existence. He knew this was the only way. It was time to gamble with his life, and Edge was going all in. At last, the reaver let out a bloody belch and turned to face him. Its anger had begun to cool, and he could tell it was pleased that he was still alive. That it wouldn¡¯t return empty handed. It began sauntering over to him, drawing closer step by step, leaving gore-studded footprints behind. It took everything he had not to flinch. To act like he was so far gone that he no longer cared about the world around him. Please don¡¯t kill me. Just come in close to pick me up. The monster came to a stop in front of him, reeking of old death and new. It flexed its claws, trying to decide if it should carve off more pieces before dragging his body back home. That was when he remembered. Oh shit. I don¡¯t have to be alive if the meat is still fresh. In that moment, Edge was sure that he was dead. That the last thing he would feel would be those black blades carving him up again. But then the fiend lowered its hands and crouched down low. It must have concluded that he was light enough to carry already. It tilted its head and opened its beak, looking for the best place to grab hold. He knew in that instant that whether he lived or died would be decided within the next handful of heartbeats. He braced himself, not daring to breathe, waiting until the monster was within arm¡¯s reach, so that he wouldn¡¯t be able to miss. He sent his intentions into his core, getting ready to activate his newest skill. The reaver came close, then closer still. Another few inches to go. Just when its beak was about to touch his leg, the creature started to rear back instead. In a flash of panic-stricken clarity, Edge realized it had noticed that he was no longer bleeding. That events weren¡¯t proceeding as planned. It was further than he¡¯d planned, but he didn¡¯t have a choice. The monster would end him in between the drawing of one breath and the next. He had a split-second remaining, and he needed to make it count. Edge gathered his will and sent his remaining magicytes into his reactor. His core flared to life, pushing mana through elemental blade, giving the magic form as it went surging into his intact hand. A blade of frost six inches long emerged from his right palm, glowing with a pale blue light. A paltry knife compared to the mighty sword that the tall prisoner had wielded. The monster screamed at the sight, claws flashing down to cut him in half. But as close as those living weapons were to his body, Edge was closer still. Before the reaver could lash out, he struck, his hope for tomorrow riding alongside the mist-shrouded blade. Knowing that his rank-one skill could never hope to kill the creature unless he stabbed a vital area, he thrust his hand forward¡­ straight into the monster¡¯s blood-smeared jaws. He reached out and grabbed its neck with his remaining half-hand, gripping those oily feathers with everything he had. The monster was so surprised that it tried to pull back instead of shredding him to ribbons, creating the narrowest of openings. Edge didn¡¯t hesitate. He tightened his grip, then jammed his iceblade straight into the roof of the fiend¡¯s mouth, penetrating the soft tissue of its palate and then spearing its skull. The reaver screamed and threw itself back, slamming its body into the wall. The impact nearly cast him aside, and the serrations along its beak sliced into his arm. He held on with every scrap of his strength, prepared to sacrifice his hand if that¡¯s what it took. While elemental blade was small, it was still a formidable weapon, formed from magic far colder than ice. But it consumed mana at a rapid rate, and it wouldn¡¯t endure for long. Edge didn¡¯t know who would live and who would die, only that it was going to be close. The monster bucked and writhed, thoughts sluggish and steps ponderous as the blood in its head congealed. He kept the subzero blade lodged in its skull, until he felt the tissue beneath his fingertips freeze, half its brain encased in a layer of ice. He leapt back when the skill faltered and faded away. The monster came crashing to the ground a heartbeat later, wounded or dying, Edge didn¡¯t know. Either way, by the narrowest of margins, his plan had worked. In this moment, the monster was still alive but vulnerable. Unable to resist an intrusion into its core. It¡¯s checkmate, you big freaky bastard. Roused by the sight of fresh prey, Skill-Eater roared to life. It rendered him ravenous in an instant, the core¡¯s insatiable appetite resonating with his own. Edge shut out the pain radiating throughout his body. The blood coursing down his arms. He reached out with both hands with the last of his strength. Extraction. He willed the final charge of his ultimate ability to activate. Black chains slithered free from his wrists like a pair of serpents, as living links surged forth to devour shadow. Chapter 12: Rare Edge¡¯s chains reared back and struck, the metallic ripple of link against link reverberating across the stone chamber. This time, they had to fight harder, struggling to work their way through the monster¡¯s flesh before sliding below its skin. The mysterious manifestations wormed their way into the shadowreaver¡¯s chest, sinking into its core. His mind tried to follow along, before something got in the way. Skill-Eater was holding him back, shielding Edge from whatever was inside, warning him that it was dangerous in a way that he wasn¡¯t ready to understand. He couldn¡¯t watch, but he could still feel what his chains were up to. He had the sense that they were rooting around for something juicy, like bloodhounds on the scent of a tasty treat. The hunger that broke over him when they found what they were looking for was stronger this time. His core was impatient, eager to feed, vibrating in his chest like he¡¯d swallowed a beehive. He noticed that he was drooling. In that moment, he was struck by the realization that he was standing beside two gore-studded bloodstains in the middle of a monster-infested ruins, and he didn¡¯t even care. All he could think about was eating his next skill. Edge wasn¡¯t sure what to do with that insight. How he should feel about what was happening. What he should want and who he should be. Everything was so strange. So intense. So new. He had become something that he couldn¡¯t even have imagined just a few short minutes ago. All such thoughts were driven from his head when the chains went in for the kill. He had an impression of them cornering a giant eyeball with a piercing stare. The power the monster had used to scan them when it first appeared. The chains wrapped around the eye, then paused, like they were arguing with one another. They almost started pulling it out when they caught a whiff of something better. Something Skill-Eater wanted so badly that Edge could taste it on his lips. It sharpened his desire to the point where he wasn¡¯t sure he could resist. Not that he had any reason to try. This skill was something different. Something that could change his life forever. Something too potent to [Extract] on his own. His Guide appeared of its own accord, flashing a message in front of his face. To extract a rare skill, you must sacrifice two mortium. Would you like to proceed? ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. There was no hesitation at all. By now, Edge wanted the reaver¡¯s skill just as much as his core did. Even if he hadn¡¯t, he was afraid of what would happen if he denied Skill-Eater its prey. He had gotten more than he¡¯d bargained for when he¡¯d bound his core, but that was a problem for another day. It was a deal he would have been happy to accept regardless. While a mortium was a fortune by his current standards, obtaining a rare skill was priceless. The moment that he agreed, power congealed around his body, coursing through the ground and air. It surged into his core a heartbeat later, stoking the reactor to a white-hot flame. This was something different from the planet¡¯s magic. A type of power granted directly by the System instead. He couldn¡¯t begin to unravel its nature, but the effect was clear as day. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. In the blink of an eye, the might of his chains multiplied. They struck in an instant and wrapped around their target. The living links pulled themselves taut, but it wasn¡¯t enough. The reaver¡¯s skill was fighting back. He could sense that he had to act fast, or he¡¯d lose the chance, so he added his efforts to Skill-Eater¡¯s. Edge pulled with every scrap of strength in his body, digging in his heels and tugging as hard as he could. Unleashing a primal scream, he willed the chains to retract, dragging something dark and formless out of the shadowreaver¡¯s chest. He couldn¡¯t wait to devour the skill, but there was one more thing that he had to do first. While the chains were still slithering back across the floor, Edge rushed forward. He picked up his knife along the way and drove into the monster¡¯s neck, stabbing it over and over again. No matter what happened, he had to make sure it was dead. You have slain an enemy and gained experience. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [2]. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [3]. Rancid black blood spurted out, covering him in inky vitae. It was utterly revolting, but he barely even noticed the smell. By this point, every scrap of his attention was focused on the skill struggling to break free from Skill-Eater¡¯s embrace. Edge dismissed another message from his Guide without stopping to read it. He had something more important to deal with right now. His chains threw the skill into his mouth, then retracted through his wrists. The moment that he closed his lips, a battle began between his jaws. It felt like shadowy moths were fluttering between his gums, but he couldn¡¯t acquire a taste. Spurred on by his core, he kept trying to bite. But this time it wasn¡¯t so simple. The skill passed through his teeth like wisps of smoke, leaving him chomping at air. This power was far more potent than any of the others. It was exhausting Skill-Eater to keep it trapped in that form. He could sense that his window was closing. That he had to start chewing or [Extraction] would fail. That he¡¯d lose the rare skill and the mortium too. Acting on instinct, Edge rolled up the sides of his tongue, creating a shape like a bowl. The next time that the skill flew above it, he brought his tongue up fast, trapping the shadow moths like he was casting a net. They tried to break free from his fleshy embrace. Before they could push their way past, he pressed up hard, crushing them against the roof of his mouth. I¡¯ve got you now. He chomped down twice and then swallowed hard, as the flavor of twilight broke over his tongue. A taste of damp places and unseen faces. Of spaces behind and below. A sumptuous delicacy that put the other skills he¡¯d eaten to shame. A wave of relief broke over him when it slid down his throat and entered his core, setting his body tingling with anticipation. It would be an understatement of monumental proportion to say that Edge was excited to acquire his first rare skill. Each second stretched on and on as he waited for Skill-Eater to finish digesting its meal. He waited a bit longer, and then waited some more. But nothing had happened after five minutes had passed. What in the world is wrong? When Edge thought to check his updates, he found the answer waiting among his notifications. You have extracted a rare skill (unidentified, rank 1). It will take two days to digest it. During this period, you may not use [Extraction], although its charges will refresh. He let out a sigh of relief. While it was a bit anticlimactic, at least nothing had gone wrong. It made sense that there were limits and rules to what Skill-Eater could do. Unique or not, his core was still stage-zero after all. Fair enough, I suppose. I can¡¯t wait to see what it is. In that moment, his exhaustion caught up with him. The adrenaline from his close brush with death drained away, leaving only fatigue behind. He wasn¡¯t surprised. He¡¯d pushed himself harder over the last half hour than he had in his life, straining the limits of both body and mind. Now that Edge wasn¡¯t fighting for each breath, it was time to pay the price. First we eat and then we sleep, and then we¡¯ll eat some more. He realized that being intensely elated and incredibly exhausted at the same time was making him loopy. He sat down with his back against the wall, then buried his head between his knees. He didn¡¯t have enough energy to move away from the reaver¡¯s rank remains, not that he smelled much better himself. He closed his eyes and drifted away. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected to fall asleep beside the corpse of a man-eating monster. But that was exactly what happened. Less than five minutes later, Edge sank into a deep and dreamless slumber, and then he knew nothing at all. Chapter 13: Cored When Edge woke up, a monster¡¯s eyes were staring back into his own. Midnight orbs protruding from a feathered face that reeked of rotting meat. Only inches from his throat stretched a ragged yellow beak smeared with lurid gore. Finding himself face-to-face with a mankiller while only half-awake, Edge screamed and threw himself back, knowing that he would never get away in time. That he was already dead, experiencing the final moment of his all-too-short life. But to his surprise, then immense relief, instead of carving through his face like a hot knife through cream, the monster simply sat there. It was staring into space, showing no sign that it was aware of his existence. It didn¡¯t even blink. Edge tried to stop hyperventilating, recovering from the shock as his pulse pounded in his ears. When he began to calm down, the memories came flooding back. The prisoners¡¯ arrival and igniting his core. Killing both men and then slaying the monster. Claiming a rare skill, then passing out from exhaustion. It all returned in a flash, triggering a series of stunning realizations. The first was that he was still alive. Through quick-thinking, cunning, and luck, he had survived an encounter with two cored prisoners and a powerful monster. The second thing Edge noticed was that he was no longer starving from magicyte depletion. He was growing hungrier by the heartbeat. But it was the regular, ¡°I could really use a pizza right about now,¡± kind of hunger he had known all his life, not the agony of his body falling apart. That insight led to the third and by far the biggest mindfuck of the lot. ¡°I have a core,¡± he whispered in awe. Then louder. ¡°I found a core! It wasn¡¯t just a dream, it really happened.¡± At that point, Edge began to laugh. He stared down at the corpse of the shadowreaver, astonished by the remarkable turn of events. He felt utterly, indescribably alive. He was filled halfway to bursting with the feral joy that only people who have lived through certain death can know. The other half was brimming over with the overwhelming relief that only those who have stood at the bottom of the food chain before climbing the first rung ever experience. His whole world had changed within a matter of minutes, ending one chapter of his life and beginning the next. Edge¡¯s story had opened to a fresh page, pristine white and bursting with possibility. He had gone from being one of the weakest creatures on the planet to well-above average, and this was only the start of his rise to power. After all, he didn¡¯t just have a basic core. Skill-Eater was unique. Something that he hadn¡¯t even believed existed until today, although the feed was rife with rumors and legends. And oh, what a core it was. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Skill-Eater came with some significant limitations that he was only starting to wrap his head around. Not to mention its profound influence over his mental state. But what it offered in exchange more than made up for the trouble. [Extraction] was the strongest ultimate ability that he¡¯d ever heard of, especially for a stage-zero core. In less than an hour, Edge had gone from having a single basic skill to wielding two uncommons and a rare. Or he would when he was done digesting the reaver¡¯s skill sometime late tomorrow night. On top of that, his core¡¯s unique trait had doubled Edge¡¯s skill slots. It would offer him a level of firepower far beyond his stage when he finished filling them all. His core was also the reason why he no longer had to worry about starving to death. Even an unevolved core drew in enough magicytes to sustain a puppet body. However, he would have to wait for days before his reservoir was full, relying on its intake alone. Fortunately, there was a better option. Edge could restore his energetic reserves a great deal faster if he found some mana rich food. But that would have to wait until he climbed to the surface and was back on the Ivory Plains. It was around this time that he arrived at his fourth and final insight of the morning. Taking everything into account, he didn¡¯t actually feel superhuman yet. Ok, regeneration was pretty amazing. The gaping wound in his stomach had sealed shut, and his fingers should regrow once he had some more mana in the tank. But Edge had watched the jailbirds move with power and grace that took his breath away. Why don¡¯t I feel the same way? That was when he remembered the ability points that he¡¯d gained from cycling-up his core twice back-to-back. Points he had yet to spend. Maybe when he did, he could become like them. Or at least one step closer than he was right now. But how to best spend them? ¡°Status.¡± He summoned his Guide and opened his profile, staring at the list of attributes while pondering the value of each. He broke into a broad grin when he thought to check his updates. It seemed that cycling-up his core wasn¡¯t the only good news. For defeating a cored opponent stage 2 or above, you have earned 1 mortium. You have four attribute points awaiting allocation. You have accomplished a notable feat and have been awarded a trait. It turned out that he was walking away with a mortium after all. When Edge made it back to town, he could rest for a week and would finally be able to afford some decent gear. Better yet, he¡¯d earned his very first trait, and it was way better than the starter traits most people picked up at his stage. He danced with excitement, barely able to contain his glee as he opened the trait menu and kept right on reading. Trait: Triple tap. You¡¯re either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You won a fight against three opponents that were two stages higher than yourself, and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each. Effects: + 10% to power, speed, and control (minimum gain of 1). The luckiest what? Edge couldn¡¯t help but notice that the trait¡¯s description was more than a little odd. Instead of being clinically precise, the text was snarky, informal, and personal. It set a totally different tone from the rest of the System¡¯s messages. I suppose they were right after all. He¡¯d heard rumors that glitches had appeared within the planetary AI network in the aftermath of the calamity. But this was his first time experiencing one for himself. He wasn¡¯t sure what these changes foretold, although he doubted it was anything good. Regardless, it was a worry for another day. Right now, Edge needed to spend his attribute points, then get the hell out of the ravine and cross the plains while he still could. Chapter 14: Theory Edge picked up a lantern and walked out of the chamber. It was too hard to concentrate while staring at the remains of the reaver and the drying stains where it had eaten the jailbirds. He sat down with his back against the temple wall, letting the stone cool him off while he thought the matter through. It was time to decide which direction he wanted to grow in. Edge only had four attribute points and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste them. It made no sense to save them, and it was critical to his survival that he spent them wisely. The details of the attribute system were nuanced, but the basics were easy enough to understand. There were ten in total. Seven physical attributes and three energetic. The physical attributes could be divided into two broad categories. The first was known as vigor. It included power, the raw strength someone could exert. Endurance, which measured how much stamina they had. And durability, the attribute governing the body¡¯s innate resistance to damage. The second set was commonly referred to as dexterity. It was comprised of reflex, which influenced unconscious movements. Control, which enhanced agility and fine motor skills. Last came speed, which was true to its name, regulating how fast a person could move. The seventh physical attribute was perception, which some people included in dexterity, but others insisted belonged to a category of its own. Perception measured the strength of the senses, at least the classic five that most people were born with. Boosting it enhanced their raw sensitivity and their ability to pick out patterns and details from background noise. The big prisoner had clearly been a vigor build, with an emphasis on power. The tall man had invested heavily into dexterity, prioritizing speed and control. Edge wasn¡¯t sure which kind of build he wanted to work toward yet. Since it was too soon to worry about it just yet, he shelved the issue for now and finished considering his options. All three energetic attributes were related to the use and potency of skills. First came generation, which governed a core¡¯s recovery rate. Increasing generation let a core draw in more ambient magicytes from the environment, letting its bearer use skills more often. Next was amplification, which improved skills¡¯ mana efficiency and their maximum output. Last was the attribute that he understood the least, disruption. Having enough disruption would let a person counter skills that were used on or near their body. Right now, what¡¯s important is improving my combat ability. That means being able to hold my own in a brawl and generating enough mana to use my skills when I need them. Edge had studied Prison World theory long and hard before activating his puppet. The common wisdom for someone at his stage was to invest entirely in their physical attributes. After all, the more you could fight, the faster you could cycle-up. And the faster you cycled-up, the more you could fight. Skills required too much investment early on and were best saved for an emergency until you ranked them up. Specializing in certain tactics or skill combos could wait until your core had evolved to stage-one or two, when more attribute points came with each new cycle. There were various sub-strategies depending on what you were planning to fight and what skills you were using. But most cored individuals put at least three points into speed, power, and durability before spending them on anything else. However, that was working under the assumption that you would have regular access to mana rich food. Since Edge wasn¡¯t sure that it would be available after the anomaly, he decided to include generation in the mix. Fortunately, his perk had already improved his attributes, so he was ahead of the curve for his cycle. Wait. I don¡¯t feel any stronger after getting that trait. What¡¯s going on? He discovered the answer when he took a closer look at his profile and opened the trait menu. Available traits: 1. Trait slots: 2. Equipped traits: 0. Unequipped traits: Triple tap. Would you like to equip this trait now? Warning, traits cannot be removed unless specific conditions are met. All of this was news to him. Apparently, you had to equip traits in order to use them. He¡¯d always assumed that it was an automatic process, since the conditions for acquiring traits were tightly guarded secrets. The details were always edited out of the footage released on the feed. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Yes please.¡± He addressed the System, figuring that it never hurt to be polite to an entity incomprehensibly more powerful than yourself. Edge expected some sensations to come with equipping the trait, and indeed there were. But it wasn¡¯t like anything that he¡¯d experienced before. Instead of the surging rush of potentia permanently upgrading his body, it felt like power had been loaned to him. Energy from another place, instead of welling up inside. The System covered him in an invisible field of magic, bolstering his body¡¯s functions without altering them on a fundamental level. It reminded him of some of the support skills he¡¯d heard about, although the trait was even better. It cost no mana to sustain, could never be disrupted, and had unlimited duration. Either way, the result was the same, Edge felt stronger, faster, and more agile than before. It was like his top performance had become the new norm, and he could push himself harder and further than ever. It was awesome. But rather than getting used to the changes now, he figured that he might as well get the rest of them over with first. With that goal in mind, he summoned his Guide, opened his menus, and spent his attribute points. He put one apiece into durability and speed, and the other two into generation, then confirmed his choice. This time, the sensations were in line with his expectations, although they were far more intense than before. He felt his core ignite, growing hotter and hotter until Edge thought that he would literally catch aflame. I¡¯m burning up. Maybe I should have spent those points one by one. He opened his mouth to scream. Before the sound could pass his lips, he felt his body¡­ melt was the closest word that he had to describe it. His flesh and bones, muscles and organs, tendons and sinew, shifted like soft clay before reforming into a stable configuration. It took away the stress and pain that had been pounded into his tissue by days of rough living and surviving the fight of his life by the skin of his teeth. Ahh¡­ that feels incredible. Like a massage and a day at the spa all rolled into one. But that was only half of the show. While his body was being upgraded, his core was changing too. His attention was drawn to the channels running between his reservoir and the outside world. Tiny tunnels carved into his skin, commonly referred to as mana pores. He could feel them growing wider, drawing in more magicytes from the air. It was warm and cold at the same time, like a cool breeze blowing on a sunny day. He frowned when he saw that his reserves weren¡¯t refilling. But then Edge realized that his fingers were itching. Regeneration was powered up once more, draining his tank to finish healing his hand. My stomach feels tingly too. Apparently, there was still some internal damage from the reaver¡¯s talons shredding his guts. Now that the changes were over, he pulled up his profile. He was eager to check out his stats and be on his way. Personal statistics: Edge Vasher Physical attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits)
Power: 1 (2) Reflex: 1 Endurance: 2 Perception: 1
Speed: 2 (3) Control: 1 (2) Durability: 2
Energetic attributes
Generation: 3 Amplification: 3 Disruption: 1
Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater] Stage: 0. Cycle: 3/7. Rarity: Unique. Category: Unique. Attribute points per cycle: 2. Ultimate ability: [Extraction] (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours. Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own. Core trait: Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement]. You can no longer acquire or rank-up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. Skills Skill slots 6. Unused slots 3. Known skills Slash (basic): rank 1. Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. Elemental blade [ice] (uncommon): rank 1. Create a subzero blade of ice. Regeneration [limited] (uncommon): rank 1. Rapidly heal wounds. Limited regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed. An unknown skill (rare) is being digested. Traits Trait slots: 2. Unused slots: 1. Trait: Triple tap. You¡¯re either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You won a fight against three opponents that were two stages higher than yourself, and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each. Effects: + 10% to power, speed, and control (minimum gain of 1). Implants (none) System currency Credits: 0 Mortium: 1 Not bad Edge. He whistled in appreciation. Not bad at all. Chapter 15: Harvest Ready to leave this place behind him forever, Edge returned to the altar room. Before he climbed back to the surface, he needed to retrieve his pack and anything else of value. The once solemn chamber looked more like a slaughterhouse floor than a place of worship. He cast his gaze around the room, frowning at what he saw. He had originally been planning to loot the convicts¡¯ gear. But the reaver had torn it to shreds, along with all of their clothing. All that was left was their lanterns and an extra knife. He shrugged and put them inside his pack, glad to have a few more hours of light when he needed it. He went back to the alcove to search for the pedestal, but not a trace of the reliquary remained. Good enough, Skill-Eater was the real prize anyway. Edge took one last look at the reaver¡¯s body before heading out the door. While many monsters had valuable parts, the shadowreaver didn¡¯t have anything to harvest other than its feathers. There was no way that he was touching them again. Not only would plucking them be overwhelmingly disgusting, the smell would make him easy to track from miles away, drawing predators to his location. Wait. The talons and claws. I might be able to cut them free. He went back in and took out his knife. He wasn¡¯t sure if this was going to work, but it was worth a try. Edge set the blade behind one of the reaver¡¯s reverse claws, since they were bigger than the rest, right where it attached to its hand. He pressed down as hard as he could, but the blade refused to slice its skin. This is way tougher than its throat. It feels more like armor than flesh. He leaned in, putting the weight of his body behind it while working the blade back and forth. Eventually, something started to give. The knife cut through with a groan of tortured metal, and he was able to pull the claw free. He tried again with the other hand, which wound up being even harder than the first. Just when the big claw came loose, his knife snapped in half and the blade went skittering along the floor. That was when Edge noticed that the stench was getting worse. Heard the scratching of talons against stone. Oh shit. It¡¯s time to go. Pushing his luck would be suicidally stupid and he had already burned through a lifetime¡¯s worth since entering the ravine. He strapped both claws to his pack and began making his way out of the ruins, prioritizing speed over stealth this time. His recent encounter had the unfortunate side effect of turbocharging his imagination. Electric adrenaline surged into his veins as his heart began to race. It left him jumping at every shifting shadow. Diving for cover each time that he heard something echoing in the distance. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. But to his immense relief, Edge didn¡¯t run into anything more menacing than his own shadow on his way out of the temple complex. By the time that he passed through the entrance, he couldn¡¯t hear or smell anything. If there were more monsters out there, they didn¡¯t seem to be headed his way. While he didn¡¯t lower his guard, the observation let him breathe a bit easier. Edge left the ruins with a spring in his step, trailing gory footprints in his wake. Now that he wasn¡¯t distracted, he could truly appreciate the changes he had undergone from cycling-up his core and earning his first trait. He reveled in the way that his body responded to his commands. The added power and precision every time that he transferred his weight. He was stronger than before, a truth that was evident in every move that he made. Faster, nimbler, and able to withstand more punishment. Although it wasn¡¯t listed on his profile, all puppets started with a baseline of ten in their physical attributes. It meant that someone who had invested ten points into power was about twice as strong as a brand-new tourist, not ten times as mighty. But even a ten or twenty percent improvement was incredible compared to how he¡¯d felt only hours before. Edge could feel his gains in his bones. In the way that his muscles played over his joints every time that he took a step. It was flat-out amazing, and it made him hungry for more. If gaining nine attribute points felt this good, he couldn¡¯t wait to see what ninety would do. On top of everything else, his core was able to make its own mana, bolstered by his investment into generation. He could feel the magicytes flowing into his reservoir and then his reactor, creating more magic for regeneration to use. Now that he had a core, he didn¡¯t need to rely on his menus anymore. He could gauge his reserves any time in an instant. It would let him use his skills in the middle of battle without anything to distract him. While new Edge was far more potent than the prior version of himself, he couldn¡¯t afford to grow careless. Any of the monsters now stalking the plains could make a light snack of him, not to mention predatory beasts and bad weather. I¡¯ll have to watch out for more prisoners too. It seemed that the wardens weren¡¯t keeping them off the plains anymore in the aftermath of the disaster. Right now, he was still stage-zero. He had stepped into the big league after binding Skill-Eater, but the peak of power was still just a distant smudge on the horizon. On the other hand, Edge had reason to believe he wouldn¡¯t be standing at the bottom for long. The skills he had stolen were already helping him close the difference, even at rank-one. It was unheard of for someone at stage-zero to have two uncommon skills, let alone a rare, and he could slot twice as many as anyone else. Skill-Eater would give him even more of a boost once he [Extracted] enough skills to fill all six slots, cycled-up a few more times, and evolved his core to stage-one. At which point, he would gain five more slots and an extra attribute point per cycle. But eating more skills would have to wait until his core finished digesting the rare skill it had stolen from the monster. Right now, Edge would be happy to settle for a regular meal to fill his belly. By now, he was crossing the middle of the ravine, heading for the incline leading to the Ivory Plains. The knowledge that there were more monsters up there made the entire journey feel fraught with peril, which was probably an accurate read of the situation now that he thought about it. Not long after, Edge found himself looking up at a slice of blue sky. He¡¯d reached the bottom of the ramp, just one short climb away from the surface. Chapter 16: Light With a groan of exertion, Edge scaled the final stretch of slope leading to the grasslands. When he took that last step out of the ravine, the walls of earth fell away. He grinned as the Ivory Plains appeared before his gaze. Puffy white clouds danced across the azure heavens, the prairie stretching out in every direction for as far as his eyes could see. Although he was far from safe, leaving those lightless, monster-ridden depths felt like stepping out of a nightmare and into a dream. Looking up at those sunny blue skies, at the world of light he¡¯d thought that he would never see again, brought tears to his eyes. Edge spread his arms wide and took a deep breath in through his nose, savoring the sunlight caressing his face. He took in the scents of wildflowers in bloom all around him. Of grass and soil. Of life. The day was warm, but the wind was crisp, forming a perfect complement to one another. That was when he realized that the grasslands were glowing. Emitting not light, but magical energy, forming a living tapestry of shimmering power. He¡¯d been here before, but it hadn¡¯t been like this. Edge could see the planet¡¯s magic rolling across the prairie. Taste the vitality in the very air he breathed. Magicytes infused the clouds above his head and the soil below his boots, flowing into every living thing on Ord. He had heard that binding a core enhanced the five senses, but he¡¯d never imagined that it would be so intense. It was as if the world had been obscured by mist, and now he was seeing what lay beneath. This wasn¡¯t just the sharpening that came with raising perception, but an entirely new level of depth and complexity. A thousand novel sensations washed over him. A mind-boggling experience that he had no vocabulary to describe. The colors were scintillating. The scents so rich that he could taste them in the air. The sounds blended to form a living symphony, and that was just the beginning. Woven throughout it all, harmonizing and enriching the rest, was the magic of Ord. Now that his core was absorbing ambient magicytes, Edge could feel the planet¡¯s energy caressing his skin like a lover¡¯s touch, stimulating each of his senses in ways that he¡¯d never imagined possible. The air was so saturated with magic that he could see it swirling in the wind, amplifying the cries of animals in the distance. He could hear the chirping of birds. The buzzing of insects. The croaking of alien creatures that had no earthly equivalents. He listened to the music of the breeze stirring the grass, forming an endless roar. It was one of the most profound moments of his life. A memory that he would treasure until his final breath. With a smile on his face at the captivating, otherworldly display, Edge cast his gaze over the Ivory Plains like he was seeing them for the first time. Which, in a sense, it was. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Before the anomaly, he had merely been piloting his puppet, granting the environment the ambiance of an elaborate simulation, even though the fidelity was true to life. After the disaster, he had been too overwhelmed to focus on anything other than his immediate survival. But somehow, after looking death square in the eye, he¡¯d come to accept the terms of his new life. He was here. Really here. Standing on the surface of an alien world. More than that, he¡¯d found a core, and the boundless paths to power were stretching out in front of him. This was Edge¡¯s true beginning. His origin story. He was writing the first chapter of his new life. Stage-zero and packed with potential. He stretched out while taking it all in, running his eyes across the grasslands as he decided which path he wanted to follow. Walking straight through the overgrowth was out of the question. The Ivory Plains were named from the two varieties of tall grass that dominated the biome. One was a white plant that absorbed magic rather than sunlight. It was lush and soft and pleasant to walk on. The other was a pale yellow. It underwent photosynthesis like most plants from Earth, in addition to feeding on Ord¡¯s magic. Its blades were rigid, tough, and sharp enough to cut flesh. Traversing it was a nightmare for the unprepared. Together, the grasses gave the plains the hue of old ivory or bone, although there was plenty of color to be found. Out in the distance, he could see three massive pillars of stone jutting against the horizon, part of a formation known as the Guide¡¯s Fingers. There had been two more until the anomaly carried them off to a distant locale. Is it just me, or do they look smaller than usual? He shook his head. There¡¯s no point in worrying about it now. The fingers were formed from a mineral that glowed green in the dark. They were visible even at night, making it nearly impossible to get lost while crossing the plains. It was only one small item to cross off his long list of worries, but Edge would take what he could get. Alright, that¡¯s enough sightseeing. Which way should I go? While he was busy climbing back to the surface, he¡¯d reviewed everything that he knew about the area. He was in the southeast quadrant of the biome right now. He needed to reach the settlement on the far side of the fingers, about thirty-five miles as the crow flies. He had to get back to town as quickly as possible, but it wasn¡¯t his only concern. Edge needed to stick to familiar places and stay well away from any of the regions that had been brought here by the disaster. It wouldn¡¯t protect him from every roaming monster, but they were likely still concentrated around their native environments. Either way, it was the best that he could do under the circumstances. He wouldn¡¯t be safe until he stepped behind the warded walls protecting Puppet Town and was back among the cored guardians that called it home. Since he didn¡¯t have to worry about starving to death, it would be safer to proceed with caution and make the trip over two days instead of one. His first order of business was to find something to eat. Edge needed to fill his belly, and eating something rich in magicytes would help refill his reserves. He would be in real trouble if something attacked him while his reservoir was nearly empty. Such resources were often guarded by dangerous beasts, but that wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. As he journeyed, he needed to grow stronger, which meant that he was going to find himself in battle again sooner rather than later. He could grab a meal and cycle-up all at the same time. Fighting was a way of life for the cored inhabitants of Ord, and Edge was ready to step into the ring. Chapter 17: Hunt While he walked, Edge reviewed what little he knew of his situation. In addition to cutting off all long-range communication and transportation, the unprecedented disaster had reshaped the planet. It carved out swaths of terrain from across the globe and wove them together like a patchwork quilt, including high-threat regions from beyond the frontier. Within a matter of hours, the calamity had divided the factions, destroyed entire ecosystems, and upended the status quo. If rumor was to be believed, it also wound up freeing some of the most dangerous prisoners in human history, releasing them from maximum security biomes back into the general population. But none of that was the real problem-- the monsters roaming the plains. Thanks to the surface of Ord being reshuffled, powerful creatures from across the globe had become his new neighbors. Their numbers were growing by the day on the Ivory Plains, which had once been the safest biome on the planet. What had been a perfect place to train a newly arrived puppet only days before was now a lethal gauntlet. That was the bad news. The good news was that there were plenty of lesser beasts out here that Edge could hunt, letting him cycle-up before facing down some of the plains¡¯ stronger residents. Once he had a few more attributes under his belt and finished digesting the shadowreaver¡¯s skill, it would be time to start eating more, amplifying his power with every new [Extraction]. A prospect that he found to be absolutely¡­ delicious. Before, he had been easy prey for most of the predators roaming the plains. While he would have to be on guard against their deadly new residents, now Edge was a hunter too. When he made it back to town, he could recover from his ordeal and outfit himself with proper equipment. But before he got to any of that, his first goal was relatively simple. He needed to find his next meal. By this point, he would be willing to eat almost anything that he came across. The magic that Ord exuded in abundance was an integral part of its ecosystem. All the plants, animals, and beasts on the planet were infused with magicytes. But what he really wanted to get his hands on was harder to acquire, although it could be found in nearly every biome on the planet. Edge was hoping to kill two birds with one stone, filling his belly and his core at the same time. His goal was to find one of the plants that produced concentrated clusters of magicytes. They were called mana-seeds, berries, or fruit depending on their content, regardless of the form they assumed. He wasn¡¯t going to find anything better than a mana-seed out here on the plains, but that was more than enough. Eating just one seed would grant him the full use of his skills, at least for a short while. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Competition for such resources was fierce. Mana-rich plants were almost always guarded by cored animals, commonly called beasts. Tending to the fruit enhanced beasts¡¯ bodies over time, a form of symbiosis that still wasn¡¯t fully understood. He needed to find the smallest mana-seed that he could, the kind that were claimed by the weakest beasts on the plains. Stage-zero entities like Edge generally had to live off scraps until they were strong enough to fight for richer resources. Before, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to take on a creature beyond his stage, but now he had an ace up his sleeve. His new skills offered him advantages that weren¡¯t available to other comparably staged lifeforms, letting him punch above his weight class. That didn¡¯t mean it was going to be easy. Even lesser beasts could be deadly to someone who had yet to evolve their core. To make matters worse, since regeneration was still draining mana to finish healing up his wounds, Skill-Eater only had enough fuel to use elemental blade for a few seconds tops. Slash took far less mana, but its power was limited when using his knife. He¡¯d likely have a bit more in the tank by the time that he found what he was looking for, but it was still going to be a problem. He would have simply gone hungry and waited for his core to refill naturally as he made his way back to town, if it wasn¡¯t even riskier to do so. If he ran into a monster, prisoner, or beast with predatory proclivities, which was far more likely than not given the state of the planet, he was going to have a problem. Edge would have no chance of winning or escaping if he couldn¡¯t go all out with his skills. It made the danger of battling for a mana-seed less than going without. Besides, he had to cycle-up his core if he wanted to evolve and grow stronger. Picking a fight that he thought he could win, rather than waiting to be attacked, was the right move any way that he looked at it. Taking all that into account, Edge began walking east. He was heading toward a part of the plains interspersed with clusters of trees, a sub-biome known as the Violet Groves. It was one of the best places to find mana-seeds and he knew the details about most of the beasts in the region. As he walked, his fingers continued to regenerate. The wounds had already completely healed. But now he could feel bone growing along the missing pieces, stretching out as the minutes ticked past until they began to resemble stumpy fingers once more. An hour later, they had regained their full length and, after rebuilding the final tendons and nerves, he could move his digits once more. My hand is back. He reached for his knife and took a few experimental swings at the air, enjoying the extra power and precision granted by his attribute points. I just regrew my fucking hand. Not to mention all the internal damage to my torso. He laughed out loud at the wonder of it all, then returned his attention to the terrain ahead. Edge walked for another few hours, making his way along the stretches of white grass while heading due east, using the Guide¡¯s Fingers to keep him on a steady course. Before long, he could see a smudge of purple along the horizon. It¡¯s the canopy from the Violet Groves. Ten minutes later, he was nearing the tree line. The closest grove stretched on for at least a few square miles. That was when a wonderous scent broke over his palate. The aroma of something that smelled so good, his stomach didn¡¯t just growl in response, it roared. He had never felt anything like it. But in that moment, he knew with complete and utter certainty that it was the scent of a mana-seed riding the breeze. Edge grinned and picked up his pace. It seemed that his hunt was going to be successful after all. Chapter 18: Weasel Edge stepped beneath the canopy, his excitement growing by the heartbeat. It was cool within the trees¡¯ deep shade, towering growths with rich red bark and deep purple leaves. It was hard to concentrate with the seed¡¯s aroma urging him on, compelling him to claim the prize for his own. He forced himself to remain vigilant. To scan his surroundings for dangerous creatures, hazardous terrain, and other lethal threats. Giving in to such distractions was a recipe for disaster. The lure of mana-seeds had led countless creatures to their doom, and he was determined not to be one of them. He crept from trunk to trunk, judging each step before transferring his weight, careful not to snap fallen branches or disturb scattered leaves. He broke up his profile using the terrain, making it harder for unseen eyes to pick him out from his surroundings. At least, that was the idea. While Edge was familiar with the principles of moving silently, this was his first time trying to sneak through the woods with his life on the line. The few classes he¡¯d taken before coming to Ord were woefully insufficient for the task at hand. I¡¯ll just have to learn as I go. Either his efforts were enough to conceal his presence or luck was with him today, because he encountered nothing more menacing than a few small animals as he crossed the grove. He could tell that he was getting closer to his destination. Soon, the seed¡¯s scent was so strong that he could taste it on his lips. I should be there any¡­ His thoughts trailed off when he spotted a clearing ahead. A wide swath of open ground with a single mushroom growing in the middle. A mushroom so rich in magic that it warped the air around it, like waves rising from a sun-warmed stone. Even from this distance, Edge knew that he was looking at the mana-seed he¡¯d sought. It was more than just the mushroom¡¯s unusual appearance. He¡¯d read that beasts feel an instinctual attraction to the condensed magicytes that mana-food contains. Now that he had a core of his own, he could feel it too. A primal calling, deep in his bones, beckoning him with a siren¡¯s song. He would have run over and devoured the mushroom then and there, if it wasn¡¯t for one small problem. The cored beast lying beside it. The creature in question was half his size. It had sleek brown fur and an angular body. Wicked teeth and claws. Weasel. Edge recognized it from the Prison World footage he¡¯d studied, since they were one of the most common beasts on the plains. It was small enough that it might not have developed its first skill yet, but it was far from easy prey. Weasels are specialized toward speed, reflex, and control, with a lesser emphasis on perception. If it does have a skill, it¡¯s most likely bite or some manner of perceptual enhancement. He stood frozen in place while he inspected the creature from a distance. This weasel barely looked old enough to strike out on its own, likely having established a territory only days before. Better still, it was curled in on itself, forming a circle like a cat. It¡¯s asleep. What a stroke of luck. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. If he was able to get close enough to attack without waking it up, Edge might be able to win the fight before it started. Or at least score first blood and gain a considerable advantage. The tricky part was, he didn¡¯t have any skills related to stealth, while ones boosting perception were common for monsters and beasts alike. There was a big difference between reducing the noise he made while crossing the forest floor and moving quietly enough to evade the weasel¡¯s ears from only a few feet away. The extra point in control would help, and he had to take the risk regardless. This was the best opportunity that Edge was likely to find, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste it. He would just have to move as slowly as he could, watch where he put his feet, and hope for the best. If he wound up in a fight after all, his elemental blade should see him through, if he was able to keep it a secret. The beast wouldn''t expect someone at stage-zero to have two uncommon skills. But if he messed up and revealed them too soon, he would run out of mana before he could land a hit with his iceblade. Going forward, he needed to learn how to disable his prey. Let his chains invade while his target was helpless to resist the assault, then dine on their skills at his leisure. But it didn¡¯t matter what skills this beast had to offer. He couldn¡¯t [Extract] any more until the rare he¡¯d eaten finished digesting. Right now, all that mattered was that he got his hands on the seed. Since there was no reason to cripple his opponent, Edge went in for the kill. He drew his knife and began creeping toward the clearing as quietly as he could. His heart pounded in his chest as his adrenaline started to flow. He forced his breathing to stay slow and steady, trying not to dwell on the fact that his hands were shaking. That his palms were slick with sweat. This was his first time picking a fight with something that could kill him. A battle born of his own free will. It felt completely different from being backed into a corner, left with no choice other than to fight or die. It was deeply frightening but exciting too. A chance to find out what he could do and grow stronger along the way. Each cry in the distance, every time the treetops swayed in the breeze, nearly made him leap out of his skin. But Edge refused to panic. He ignored the countless ways this could go wrong that were playing through his head. His determination overruled his imagination, and he was able to focus once more. Instead of letting the stress overwhelm him, he broke his task into the smallest possible steps and focused on them one at a time. He shut out everything but the approach to his quarry and kept on walking as naturally as he could. Closer and closer he came until he could see the beast clearly. The powerful muscles running along its body. The sharpness of its fangs. Scars along its fur indicating that although it was young, this creature was no stranger to violence. Soon, there was only a short stretch of open ground left to cross. The decisive moment would arrive in just a few more steps. From here, the scent of the mana-seed was nearly irresistible, causing every cell of his body to pulsate with greed. Edge pushed all such distractions aside, moving inch by inch until he was looming over the sleeping weasel, with only a final two feet between them. What am I supposed to do next? He was afraid to activate his iceblade just yet. There was a good chance that the cold would wake the beast, and it took a few seconds to form. But slash should be almost impossible to detect. Edge nodded and unfolded his knife. He would land the first blow with his blade. He had never assassinated anything before. While the idea of stabbing the weasel in the eye, throat, or heart made intuitive sense, he didn¡¯t have the power or precision to hit two of those targets reliably. He had, however, had decent luck with the second. Throat it is. Knowing that every second he hesitated could cost him his life, Edge raised his knife before him. He leaned over until the blade was hovering in front of the beast¡¯s neck and ignited his core. Then he slashed as hard as he could. Concept Art Chapters 1-18 Hey everybody, I hope that your week is going well. I have a bit of bonus content for you today, some concept art from the early part of the book. This is something that I''ve been doing on Labyrinth of the Mad God for a while now, and while I don''t have the bandwidth to do weekly art for Skill-Eater right now, I do have a batch that''s already ready to go. Instead of releasing regular, comprehensive art chapters, I''ll try to drop a little here and there into this story just for fun. Just to be totally clear, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existance of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. Ruined temple Rune-bound reliquary You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. The big man The tall man Shadowreaver The Ivory Plains The Violet Groves Weasel and mushroom Chapter 19: Battle The instant that mana went surging out of Edge¡¯s core and into his arm, the beast¡¯s eyes snapped open. He wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d given himself away after all or was just plain unlucky. Either way, the result was the same. The weasel screamed in outrage while pulling its body back. His knife went lashing out, so quick that the blade was reduced to a metallic blur before his eyes. The beast was fast, but slash was faster. The weasel¡¯s hasty maneuver saved its life, but it didn¡¯t escape unscathed. Edge¡¯s weapon drew a ragged red line across its flank as it leapt out of the way. The cut wasn¡¯t too deep, but it was long and looked painful. He hoped that the wound would drive it away. That he could steal the mana-seed, refill his reservoir, then finish the fight with his full arsenal of skills at his disposal. But he¡¯d misjudged the situation. It seemed that both combatants held the same belief. The mana-seed was a treasure worth putting your life on the line. Instead of fleeing, the weasel darted back in with liquid grace. It opened its jaws as it slipped past his guard, then bit down as hard as it could. There was a flash of intense pain, as finger-long fangs penetrated the meat of his thigh with ease. Edge screamed, but he didn¡¯t lose focus. He took aim and jabbed with his knife, sinking the blade into the beast¡¯s shoulder, matching it blow for blow. The weasel hissed and pulled back, but it didn¡¯t go far, keeping him from claiming the seed. The first round of the fight was a draw, and the second was underway. The fact that the beast was tethered to the spot gave Edge an advantage. It wanted to nurture the seed, not eat it, forcing it to play defense instead of being able to move freely. Over the next few minutes, they jockeyed for position, circling each other while probing for weakness. They avoided the mushroom by an unspoken agreement, so that they didn¡¯t destroy what they were fighting for. They both took a few light wounds in the process, but nothing that would do more than slow them down. Edge was still bleeding, but not too badly, so he pushed through the pain and fought on. Although the bite hurt like hell, he kept regeneration off, so that the skill wouldn¡¯t sap his mana. He had trained long and hard for this moment before coming to Ord, and he didn¡¯t let the discomfort distract him. Whoever made the next mistake would likely lose the fight as well as their life. He didn¡¯t let the creature¡¯s feints or posturing faze him. He kept a level head and waited for an opening to appear. By now, he was starting to get tired. Sweat poured down his body and his breath came fast and shallow. In that moment, he understood that the beast was deliberately drawing this out. It had realized that it had more endurance than he did, and that Edge was low on mana. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The weasel was planning to claim victory in a battle of attrition, and its strategy was sound. He couldn¡¯t afford to let the beast have its way. He needed to find a way to end the fight, and he needed to do it now. The next time they came together and then broke apart, he stepped on a rock and his foot shot out from under him. In a flash of brown fur, the beast was upon him, biting and clawing at his belly. Its natural weapons tore into his flesh, scoring what should have been a lethal wound, or at least taken him out of the fight. While this outcome was blindingly painful, it was exactly what Edge had been counting on when he had deliberately decided to fall. The weasel was so close that he couldn¡¯t possibly miss, completely focused on ending his life. The beast had lowered its guard when it thought that it had him, failing to notice the blade of ice extending from the palm of his hand. To maintain the deception, he turned as if trying to get away, then jabbed the tip of his iceblade straight into the creature¡¯s furry throat. His elemental blade was a powerful weapon. It slid effortlessly into the weasel¡¯s neck. Subzero ice penetrated artery and vein, chilling tissue and restricting the flow of blood to its brain. It began spasming, but it wasn¡¯t dead yet. Edge pulled his hand back and brought his iceblade down hard. He carved into the beast¡¯s chest, slicing and freezing layers of skin, muscle, and organ in turn until its heart was encased in a block of ice. This was a blow that it couldn¡¯t endure. The weasel convulsed a final time and then went still. The moment that it stopped struggling, his Guide appeared with a message from the System. You have slain an enemy and gained experience. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [4]. You have two attribute points awaiting allocation. He dismissed the notice with a thought. He had more pressing matters to attend to first. Edge looked down at his savaged flesh and shrugged, turning regeneration back on. At least it¡¯s not as bad as last time. He still had a bit of mana left to keep him upright, and the bleeding was already starting to slow. He held his hands tight against his wounds for a few more minutes, minimizing the blood loss until the vessels finished reattaching themselves. The big man had inadvertently warned him that losing blood would take more time and mana to restore. Neither of which Edge could afford. While he waited until he could move without reopening the wound, he let what he¡¯d experienced wash over him. This was his first true battle. His first time facing off against another creature with claiming its life as the goal. It had been painful and frightening, which Edge had been expecting. What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was how thrilling it would be. The stark clarity that came over him when fighting with his life on the line. The electric cocktail of cortisol and adrenaline singing in his veins. The pulsating heat of his core burning in his chest like molten flame. Soon his reserves ran dry. It still hurt to move, but it wasn¡¯t too bad anymore. His reactor flickered and then died down, waiting for his reservoir to refill. Edge needed more mana if he wanted to heal, let alone be in shape for another fight. Fortunately, there was a convenient source of magicytes growing beside his boots. The mana-seed mushroom that the weasel was guarding. He¡¯d forced himself to ignore the temptation while he was healing, but the wait was over at last. Although it had been a bit too close for comfort, he¡¯d won his first fight. Now it was time to claim his prize. Chapter 20: Mushroom Edge stepped over the weasel''s corpse and walked over to the mushroom growing in the middle of the glade. He was relieved to see that it hadn¡¯t been harmed during the battle. Now that the adrenaline flowing through his veins was fading away, the scent was utterly intoxicating. The richest magic that he¡¯d ever seen was swirling around the cap, magicytes congealing as they were drawn down into the seed. It was weird and beautiful. Mystical and entrancing. He was curious how it all worked on some level. The physics and biology behind it all. But it was nothing compared to his anticipation of the glorious meal to come. His enthusiasm grew sharper by the footstep, as Edge internalized that the valuable resource was his to claim. That the empty feeling inside his core would soon be nothing but a memory. Not to mention his stomach. As he crossed the final stretch of soil, he took a closer look at the mana-seed, the object that he¡¯d wagered his life to obtain. He had never seen mana-food up close before. Even if he had, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to appreciate its true allure until he¡¯d bound his core. The two-foot-tall mushroom was striped with thin bands of what looked like living crystal. They were layers of solidified magic, deposits glowing with a soft brown light that somehow felt earthy and vital. Edge wanted to eat it, and his core did too, their gluttony mirroring one another. It was a different hunger than the lust to devour a new skill. A pure desire without a trace of compulsion. He reached down to touch the seed, savoring the tingle it left on his fingertips. Then he carefully began to dig. He wanted to unearth every last bite, instead of just breaking the stem. When he was done, he tapped the stalk against one hand to remove most of the dirt, then rinsed off the rest with a splash from his canteen. The seed was a lot bigger than he¡¯d originally thought, more than sufficient to refuel his core. If the situation were different, it might have been better to eat just one piece, saving the rest for when he knew he would need it. However, there were two problems with that plan. The first was that mana-food didn¡¯t last long after being picked. It would start to erode in less than a day. The second was the smell. Edge was still stage-zero. He wasn¡¯t strong enough to fight off the monsters and beasts that the mana-seed would attract in its natural state, without a specialized storage container to seal it away. Carrying raw mana-food in his pack would be more of a liability than an asset right now, so there was no reason to hold back. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Screw it.¡± Edge shoved the first bite into his mouth and started to chew, glad to be eating actual food for a change. The moment that the shroom touched his tongue, his eyes widened with astonishment and his stomach started to purr. Because the magic-rich mushroom tasted even better than it smelled. He¡¯d heard that mana-food was better than ordinary fare, once you¡¯d obtained a core. But he had never imagined that it would be this fucking good. Without a doubt, the mushroom was the best meal that he¡¯d ever eaten. It put everything that had come before it to shame, satisfying him in a way that nothing ever had until that moment. It was better than drugs. Better than sex. The only thing that could compete was the exquisite joy of devouring skills. While eating both mysterious substances was delightful, they were so fundamentally different that it didn¡¯t seem right to compare. Edge treasured every second of the wonderous experience. He chewed slowly, sliding each bite across his tongue. He committed the moment to memory, so that he could call it up when he needed a reason to get out of bed in the morning. The entire mushroom was delicious. But the crystalized magicytes in the middle were absolutely divine. They melted on his tongue like sugar before absorbing into his body to recharge his core. The congealed magic tasted sweet, savory, and earthy all at the same time, rich with notes of an alien spice that he had no words to describe. The closest he could come was electric sunshine. For the next ten minutes, all his suffering and his woe disappeared. During those magnificent seconds, the horror and loss of being stranded on a deadly alien planet faded away. The only two things that existed were the delectable flavor on his tongue and the rejuvenating warmth of mana burning in his core. That was amazing. Edge licked the last traces of oil from his fingertips. Now I see what all the fuss is about. And this was only one kind of mana-seed. There were countless others to try. Not to mention mana-berries and fruits, which were rumored to taste even better. An endless procession of new culinary delights to broaden his horizons. Something to look forward to over the coming weeks, if he managed to live that long. As his awareness returned to his surroundings, Skill-Eater roared to life. His core was overflowing with power, stuffed with more magicytes than his reservoir could hold. The last traces of his injuries vanished as regeneration worked its magic, now that there was plenty of mana to consume. He could tell that Skill-Eater was absorbing the excess, converting it into experience to fuel its evolution, unwilling to waste even a drop. Edge cracked his knuckles, then rolled his neck around with a series of pops. He stood up and stretched out, running his fingertips across the unbroken skin of his stomach. He frowned when he looked at the bloodstained remnants of his shredded shirt. Then he started to laugh. He felt better than he had since his ordeal had begun. He was free of pain, his belly was full, and his reactor was raring to go. Now he could fight and bring it all to the table. Throw down in a brawl with every skill that he had. Tomorrow, he would start cycling-up his core and hunting for more skills. But first, he needed to figure out where he was going to sleep before he started losing the light. Edge didn¡¯t want to meet any of the nocturnal denizens of the plains, especially with monsters on the prowl. It was time to find somewhere to hole up for the night. Chapter 21: Shelter Now that he had won his first true battle, followed by the best meal of his life, Edge stopped to inspect the clearing before he was ready to move on. It didn¡¯t take long. There wasn¡¯t anything growing nearby other than moss and a few scattered ferns. The mana-seed must have been claiming the lion¡¯s share of the available nutrients. It¡¯s probably what created the clearing to begin with. As for the beast, the weasel¡¯s body held nothing of value beyond its meat and hide. Edge didn¡¯t know how to harvest either. He had no way to cook the meat before it went bad anyhow. It meant that there was just one last thing he needed to do before he started searching for shelter. Spend his attribute points. He took a few minutes reviewing his options before he was ready to choose. He¡¯d been thinking the matter through while he made his way across the grasslands, pondering how he wanted to guide his development. Edge couldn¡¯t count on overcoming every opponent with deception alone. He¡¯d been lucky that it had worked at all. He needed to obtain a form of strength that he could rely on, both now and in the future. But what kind of strength is best? The more that he thought about it, the less sense it made to follow a physically focused build designed for basic cores. Even if he put all his points into dexterity and vigor, it would take quite a few cycles before Edge had the stats to hold his own against anything tougher than the beast he¡¯d just fought. Opponents that would only have basic and common skills. If he wanted to steal something better, he needed to take down more dangerous prey. To eliminate enemies well above his stage. It would be impossible for most people, but Edge wasn¡¯t most people anymore. His situation with Skill-Eater was completely unique. He could acquire new skills faster than anyone else, and just as important, he could use twice as many. It completely changed the pros and cons of investing in energetic attributes early on. In the end, Edge decided to break with conventional wisdom completely, although he planned to develop his physical attributes at some point. Since his core was a skill specialist, it made sense to create a custom build centered around that advantage. To make the most of his magic early on and focus on his other attributes later. Given how dependent he was on his skills to punch above his paygrade, and how many skills he could slot, having enough mana to keep them powered was critical. It was also vital that they had enough oomph to dish out real damage. Thus, Edge decided to place one point into generation and the second into amplification. He planned to do the same thing every cycle for the foreseeable future. He sat down and enjoyed the sensations that accompanied spending his points. His mind entered his core, offering him a front row view of his mana pores widening. The conduits coating his skill sockets becoming denser and more complex, able to draw in more magic from his reactor. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. When the potentia¡¯s work was done, he returned to his body and started scanning the surrounding terrain, ready to decide which way he should go. Should I head back out into the grasslands or deeper into the grove? Although Edge had only explored the plains in person for a few days before the disaster, he knew this landscape well. It wasn¡¯t the most popular location on the feed, but it had a rugged beauty that he¡¯d always found appealing. There were other low-stage biomes devoted to monster hunting, and those for hunts of a more sinister nature. There was one close to the frontier for exploring and dungeon-delving, and regions owned by the factions to use for their own purposes. The Ivory Plains and the small settlement known as Puppet Town were a bit different. They had no connection with the factions and weren¡¯t devoted to any specific aspect of the Prison World broadcasts. The plains were home to countless animals and beasts, but had few monsters, and modest natural resources. They were one of the few places on Ord without any convicts or wardens. It was a biome for tourists who were simply trying to make it day to day. People hoping to survive long enough to rack up some royalties from their feeds. To have the adventure of a lifetime before they died and were banished to their old lives. If they were fortunate, they¡¯d have made more with their puppet than they would in a century otherwise. If their luck ran dry, they wouldn¡¯t even cover the cost of the run, wasting the chance of a lifetime to drown in debt instead. While everything had changed in the wake of the disaster, Edge¡¯s knowledge of the region would still come in handy. The Ivory Plains was a large biome. He had a good sense for the terrain in general, but by no means knew every nook and cranny. Hopefully, he would be able to make his way to one of the safer regions. Places where he could sleep in the trees or hole up in a cave. While such shelters were often claimed by one beast or another, he was hoping to find one that wasn¡¯t in use. Given his location and the time of day, he had two realistic options. He could either stay in the wooded area or start heading toward the Guide¡¯s Fingers, where there were natural caverns all along the rock. Since he wasn¡¯t sure that he could make it to the fingers before he lost the light, he decided to stay in the woods until morning. He hadn¡¯t spent much time in the Violet Groves before. It was a place where feathery purple leaves formed a gorgeous, ever-shifting canopy, contrasted against the blood red bark of their branches. Where ferns in a thousand shades of amethyst and ruby covered the forest floor. What he did know was that the northeastern corner of the woods was quite a bit safer than the rest. His destination decided, Edge began walking, picking out a path between the endless ferns. It was a fiercely beautiful land. Despite the seriousness of his situation, he came to a stop from time to time just to take it all in. To celebrate that despite the disaster and everything it entailed, he was standing on Ord, having an adventure of his own. That the moment he¡¯d been dreaming of his entire life had arrived at last, albeit in a way that he never could have imagined. He kept his guard up and tried to walk as quietly as he could, but he didn¡¯t run into anything dangerous along the way. Eventually, as the shadows grew long with the end of day, Edge found what he was looking for. A tall tree growing where the biome¡¯s magic was thin. An unlikely place to stumble onto the lair of a monster or powerful beast. He¡¯d picked out a trunk that looked easy to climb with no other trees nearby. That will do. He scouted the area as thoroughly as he could, finding no signs of predators nearby. By now, the world was fading to grey. He walked back over to the trunk, picked out a series of handholds, and started to climb. He realized that he was smiling. In spite of the danger he¡¯d overcome, Edge had survived another day. Now it was time to rest up and try to survive the next. Chapter 22: Memories Ten minutes later, Edge found himself standing on the highest branch that would support his weight. A place out of sight from the animals prowling the ground below. While he was by no means safe up here, it was the closest that he was going to get. After he got used to his perch, he cast his gaze into the distance, enjoying the last fading glory of a spectacular sunset. He ran his eyes across bands of crimson and gold merging into the canopy below his boots, which was rolling like waves on the ocean. Then he began trying to figure out how to stretch out without falling out of the tree. After looping his pack around a branch and wedging himself between three more, he was confident that he wouldn¡¯t roll off. Edge put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, not sure if this was going to work. He was fast asleep only heartbeats later. His eyes snapped back open when a powerful gust of wind slammed into the trunk, setting the treetop rocking and the branches creaking. For a long, disorienting moment, he couldn¡¯t remember where he was or how he¡¯d gotten here. When he saw the ground stretching out far below his feet, he almost panicked. He nearly fell out of the tree before grabbing the nearest branch and holding on for dear life. A few seconds later, everything came flooding back. He began to laugh, adrenaline stampeding through his bloodstream like a wild stallion. Thanks to his scare, Edge was too amped up to go back to sleep. So, he crawled out a bit further along the broad branch he was resting upon. A spot where he could peer through the canopy and look up at the stars. The great silver moon hung full in the late summer sky, painting the surface of Ord in a thousand shades of silver and lead. It was surrounded by countless points of light, framed by ghostly nebulae. It was a breathtaking display, cementing the awareness that Edge was far from Earth, a home that he might never see again. His eyes traced the contours of foreign constellations, so different from those visible from the world of his birth. Everything was so crisp and clear, his senses sharper than ever before. In that moment, it felt like his old life was nothing but a waking dream, which he supposed wasn¡¯t too far from the truth. Edge wiped the sleep from the corners of his eyes, then set his gaze on the horizon. Judging by the color, it was only an hour or so before dawn. He wasn¡¯t going to be able to pass out again in such an uncomfortable, treacherous location. At least I got enough shuteye to recover from my exhaustion. He decided to wait for sunrise from the relative safety of the treetops. He watched the leaves ripple in the moonlight, wreathed by magic dancing in the air. He listened to hoots and cries all around him, as the creatures of Ord called out to each other. He looked to where the Guide¡¯s Fingers were glowing in the distance, pointing the way to town. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Then, for a long while, he let his thoughts grow still and simply took it all in, savoring the thrill of danger in the air. Sometime later, his mind turned from the present to the past. Edge had left his job and his family, his whole life behind him, when he¡¯d purchased his puppet and sent his consciousness to Ord. Of course, he hadn¡¯t expected it to be a one-way trip. But in that moment, he realized that despite the pain and hardship, the uncertain future ahead, he was having the time of his life. Now that he had bound a core and could use the planet¡¯s magic, he wouldn¡¯t go home if he could. Even if he lost his life tomorrow, it was better than the alternative. Back on Earth, his existence had been no more substantial than the memory of a dream. His only value had been providing a corporate AI with a face for its customers to complain to. One of the few jobs where a human touch was still valued. Even in that most trivial of tasks, his presence was hollow. Edge¡¯s every response, every word, had been scripted down to his tone and expression. It was all a polite fiction. He knew that he was fooling no one. Helping no one. Changing nothing and leaving nothing of value behind as he moved through the world. He had no friends, few relations, and Edge doubted that anyone besides his mother had even realized that he was missing. Except of course, the AI who had employed him. He was certain that it had already updated his status from extended vacation to terminated. Swapped out one defective cog for another that was unremarkable in any way. His only passion had been watching the Prison World broadcasts, which everyone called the feed. He¡¯d found joy in living vicariously through the women and men who fought for survival and fame every day. It was why he was willing to sell everything he had, save for years, and take out a loan with an interest rate that would make the devil blush. Everything he¡¯d done had been for this moment. His chance to live a life that mattered, no matter how short it may be. And oh, what a moment it was. Thanks to the events of the last twenty-four hours, Edge had a chance to carve his name into history, armed with a core beyond his wildest dreams. Thank you. He put one hand to his heart. Thank you so, so much. For just a second, he thought he felt Skill-Eater reply. A flash of a smile the size of a barn. Then the moment passed, and the wind began to howl, leaving Edge alone with his thoughts once more. He scampered back to the trunk and held on tight, laughing in exhilaration as a gust tried to pry him free from the branches and send him plummeting to the ground below. At least if he fell, regeneration could patch him back up. Although he didn¡¯t relish the prospect of breaking bones, even if the pain was temporary. As far as he knew, the skill could restore anything short of missing limbs or organs that were completely destroyed. Maybe even heal his spine if he broke his neck, though he would be helpless until the restoration was complete. This train of thought hammered home the realization of just how much he had changed. It made him wonder if he would even recognize the person he would become if he kept walking down this road. A prospect that he found to be intensely exciting rather than disturbing in any way. Edge was still surprised that he¡¯d let the weasel tear into his vitals to land a killing blow. An act that would have been unthinkable only a day before. He was already learning to rely on his new abilities. Well into the process of transforming into something new, beyond his most ambitious fantasies. He sat there, huddling in the branches while grinning from ear to ear, waiting for the sky to lighten. Chapter 23: Aurora Sometime later, a thin band of neon began glowing along the northern skyline. A curved slice of crimson that grew bigger and brighter with every second that passed. The light wasn¡¯t the sunrise, which wouldn¡¯t happen for another half hour or so. It was something that Edge had heard about but had never seen with his own eyes. It must be the red-shield aurora. He drank in the sight as the resplendent ruby field began stretching its way toward him, soon covering the heavens from horizon to horizon. It was utterly captivating and mind-bogglingly beautiful. A living sheet of magic on a scale that simply blew him away. The red-shield was a powerful forcefield that completely encapsulated Ord. It kept anyone from leaving without the wardens¡¯ permission, through both magical and conventional means. It was a cage on a global scale, locked and barred by the planetary AI known as the System. The shield prevented ships from entering the atmosphere and blocked all known forms of teleportation. It protected the System and stopped the prisoners from escaping, either on their own or with help from outside. The barrier was always up there. But it was only visible to the naked eye at certain times and places. When the thick band of magic refracted the sunlight, setting the whole field aglow. Edge had wondered if it was still functioning after the disaster. Apparently, not even the anomaly was enough to take the red-shield down. Witnessing the aurora was both fascinating and awe-inspiring. Power on a level that his mind couldn¡¯t even begin to process. That was when, to his astonishment, a sphere of rainbow light shimmered into existence, coalescing into the shape of a ship on the other side of the shield. His eyes went wide with surprise when he realized that it was a true assault vessel. A ship capable of independent teleportation, not just a receiver for the portal network like the barges that unloaded the planet¡¯s prisoners. It was a relic from the age of exploration. A vessel built before the portal network had been discovered, binding distant points across the galaxy into a unified tapestry. Only a handful of ships could travel between planets in the same system, let alone cross the space between stars. Most were comparable to ancient naval warships, able to attack from orbit like a galleon bombarding an island. They were incredibly rare, worth more than some planets, and Edge had never expected to see one for himself. It could only mean one thing. One of the factions is making a major play, gambling that they can break through the red-shield with the System under strain and the wardens in disarray. He had to admit it made sense. If someone wanted to challenge the might of the System, now was a perfect time to strike. It seemed that it was a night for wonders. A direct attack on Ord was a once in a lifetime event by any measure. Edge looked up at the sky, riveted by the approaching vessel, intensely curious to find out what would happen next. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. It has to be close for it to seem so big. A few hundred miles at most. They must be trying to free a class SS criminal, blowing a fortune in mana to penetrate the red-shield while the planet is consumed by chaos. But how are they planning to get through? The ship must be armed with some calamity class weaponry to even stand a chance. It seemed that Edge¡¯s guess was right on the money. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind, than four intense points of emerald light appeared at the corners of the colossal vessel. They grew brighter by the heartbeat, converging to form a single beam of concentrated magic. The wrathful green ray lanced out. It stabbed into the red-shield, pouring enough energy to power a country for weeks into breaking through the barrier. But despite the incredible onslaught, the shield held firm. It didn¡¯t so much as flicker as the ship fired time and time again. But then a second attack rose from the ground. A searing blue beam erupted from the surface of Ord, striking the shield in the same place from the other side. This time, the red-shield did flicker, fighting to maintain its integrity while being bombarded from two points at once. Holy shit. They might actually break through. That isn¡¯t supposed to be possible. While it might have been possible, it was not what happened. Just before a section of the ruby barrier gave way, the entire red-shield pulsed. A heartbeat later, a sheet of magic the size of a continent rose from the planet. It shimmered across the sky before converging in front of the intruder, like light bending along the surface of a lens. The assault ship realized that something was wrong. It flared its thrusters and turned hard, trying to maneuver out of the way. But it was already too late. The System¡¯s magic focused along the shield in front of the vessel, forming a crimson beam of incredible might. The magic laser struck the ship with the force of a natural disaster. Its own shield flared to life. A thin silver bubble that had to be an armada-class device to withstand the bombardment, even for a few moments. But then the red-shield¡¯s offensive intensified. The laser grew so bright that Edge had to squint to protect his vision, even watching from over a hundred miles away. The ship¡¯s shield wavered and then vanished completely, letting the beam carve off a section the size of a city. An incalculable loss of life and resources. The planetary defense weapon adjusted its aim and came arcing back down to finishing the invader off. Before it arrived, the ship flashed rainbow once more and warped away. Defeated and wounded, but core functions still intact. Edge had no idea who had taken such a risk. But they had failed in their gamble at an incredible cost, nearly losing everything in the process. It was a powerful message to anyone who was thinking about trying the same thing. But the System wasn¡¯t done yet. Magic gathered along the surface of the red-shield one final time, then came streaking back down toward the surface of Ord, following the path that the blue magic had taken. It was too far away for him to hear anything. But he imagined a blast of epic proportion, claiming the life of the prisoner who had dared to challenge the AI¡¯s might. That was incredible. With his own eyes, Edge had witnessed an event that would rock the sector, if anyone was able to broadcast and report it. It left him at a loss for words, so he just sat there and committed the moment to memory. Fifteen minutes later, the red-shield aurora began to fade, disappearing completely within another handful of heartbeats. By now, the horizon was glowing with the coming of dawn, as color bled back into the world. The Ivory Plains began to stir. Their nocturnal denizens returned to their dens and creatures of the day awoke. The cries of beast and bird rose to fill the crisp morning air. It will be light enough to see before much longer, and then I can be on my way. Concept Art: Chapters 19-23 Hey everybody, I hope that your weekend is going well. We got out so many milestone bonus chapters this week that I have another art chapter for you. I''m really glad that people enjoyed the last one, maybe I''ll wind up doing more of these than I originally planned. Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. Mana-seed mushroom Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The Guide''s Fingers Sunset over the plains Red-shield aurora The System strikes back Chapter 24: Horizon Edge watched the sunrise over the plains, then carefully climbed out of the tree. He made sure that nothing nasty was lurking nearby, then continued his journey to town. He was still absorbing everything that had happened the night before and he wondered what the day held in store. He knew the grove well enough to find a stream that ran along one side. Fast-running water that was safe to drink without boiling it. He drank his fill, refilled his canteen, then washed the gore and grime off his body as best he could. The stream ran red before he was done. Edge emerged from the water feeling remarkably refreshed, letting the warm sunlight dry him off as he walked. He was thrilled to no longer be covered in dirt and stinking blood, even if his clothing was falling apart. By the time he was done cleaning himself up, he had come up with a plan. He would head north toward the Guide¡¯s Fingers before deciding which path he would follow to town. From this corner of the Violet Grove, he could make it back before dark, even if he took it easy. By the time he woke up tomorrow morning, the power he¡¯d stolen would have finished digesting, giving him his first rare skill and letting him use [Extraction] again. Until then, he would be better off avoiding battle. So, Edge focused on remaining unseen rather than finding fresh prey. He needed to save his mana to take down a beast with the best skill he could find, using his last two slots as wisely as he could. I want to steal something that will let me disable my opponents first. Then either some manner of defensive magic or a ranged attack. Once I evolve to stage-one, I¡¯ll get five more slots. Then I can choose my skills carefully with the long-term in mind. He also needed to figure out how to rank-up the skills that he already had, since his core¡¯s trait had shut off the normal path of gradual improvement through use. But that was a problem for after he had a base of operations, geared himself up with proper equipment instead of the garbage he was wearing, and filled his last slots with two juicy new skills. With any luck, he would cycle-up a few more times along the way. His destination decided, Edge turned toward the fingers and started crossing the plains, sticking to the white grass and avoiding the yellow. While he hiked, he reviewed his performance, from the moment that he¡¯d obtained his core until now. He¡¯d survived his encounter with the jailbirds through luck alone, which wasn¡¯t his fault considering the circumstances. His victory over the shadowreaver had been an even mix of luck, quick thinking, and the courage to act, which was definitely a major improvement. But he wasn¡¯t satisfied with how his latest fight had gone. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Looking over his battle with the weasel with the clarity of hindsight, it was easy to see his mistakes. That could have gone a whole lot worse. If it wasn¡¯t so young, it would have kept a level head and sensed the iceblade coming. If it had pulled back at that point, I would have run out of mana and would be worm food by now. It made him realize that he needed to train, both with his new powers and the old-fashioned way. Trading blows with beasts is the worst way to fight. If the weasel had knocked me out, got my throat, or I lost too much blood, it could have killed me even with a full tank of mana. Now that Edge had thrown down with his life on the line, he understood that there was a vast chasm between having a skill and using it well. In addition to practicing with my skills, I need to learn how to fight to kill. Ambushes and assassination. Misdirection and deceit. Playing dirty, tricks and traps. It¡¯s all on the table out here. By now, the sun was high overhead. Edge¡¯s clothes had dried, and the fingers were growing large on the horizon. He was making good time and hadn¡¯t run into anything more dangerous than squirrels and songbirds, although he was careful not to lower his guard. Around this time, he realized that he already had the resources to obtain a weapon that was better than his knife. The shadowreaver¡¯s claws were virtually swords. He couldn¡¯t just grab them by the base, since both sides were razor sharp. They would cut his hands down to the bone if he tried swinging them like they were, but he could have them crafted once he made it to town. Maybe I can whip up something temporary along the way. Even a crude hand wrap would let him use the claw in battle. It would offer Edge a tremendous advantage to wield a weapon longer than his knife. Using it put his fingers far too close to his enemies¡¯ claws and the blade was already growing dull. He was starting to get hungry again. But he had a full tank of mana and was in good shape overall. With any luck, he would find some edible plants to fill his belly, although going a day without food wouldn¡¯t hurt him if he didn¡¯t. As he crossed the grasslands, he passed the time by working on some tactics that would make use of his new skills. Two hours later, the fingers were looming large. Edge judged that he should be there in another five miles or so. His progress made him optimistic that he could make it to town before long. He pushed himself to pick up his pace, marveling at how strong his body felt with its upgraded attributes. That was when he felt a cold wind blow over him, carrying a hint of something strange that he had never smelled before. He heard the rumble of thunder in the distance, then again a few seconds later. That was when it dawned on him that over the last five minutes, every living creature had disappeared. Something isn¡¯t right. When he looked over his shoulder, Edge saw that the sky had changed. The horizon had darkened, and an army of smudges was creeping its way across the southern skyline. Fuzzy patches that seemed to sparkle, glowing with their own inner light. It took him a few seconds to realize what he was looking at. When he did, a spike of adrenaline went surging through his veins. That¡¯s not just a storm, it¡¯s a living storm. If I don¡¯t find cover before it arrives, I¡¯m dead. It seemed that Edge¡¯s day was about to get a whole lot more dangerous after all. Chapter 25: Storm The clouds¡¯ rapid advance and unnatural radiance let Edge know what he was dealing with. It was a type of natural disaster that he¡¯d studied before coming to Ord, but never thought he would experience firsthand. He started running as fast as he could, sprinting toward the fingers for everything he was worth. Adrenaline flooded his veins like a dam bursting. His heart hammered in his chest and his breath came fast and shallow. He wouldn¡¯t have been so afraid if an ordinary storm was headed his way, although they could be dangerous for the unprepared. But a living storm was something else entirely. Living storms, also known as seeker storms, were a magical phenomenon that traveled at incredible speeds. They were infamous for catching people by surprise, ending their lives before they even realized that they were in danger. Although they seldom dropped much rain, seeker storms created gusts of winds powerful enough to send grown men flying. While that was reason enough for alarm, it wasn¡¯t the true threat posed by the storm. The reason that the sight of the storm on the horizon sent Edge running for his life was the wrath of the lightning they contained. Living storms were brimming over with concentrated mana, in a form that was naturally drawn to cored creatures. The storm¡¯s golden lightning didn¡¯t strike at random. It aggressively sought out people, monsters, and beasts, actively changing its path whenever it sensed them. Once it overtook its prey, the bolts would fall like rain, blasting time and time again until its target was blown to smoldering bits. Living storms were impossible to outrun by conventional means. The few people that survived being caught in one invariably boasted powerful skills, none of which Edge had. Seeker storms were incredibly rare on the Ivory Plains, though they were common along the frontier. Either the planet¡¯s weather had shifted since the disaster, or Edge was just unlucky. Not that the reason mattered. All that mattered was that he was going to die if he didn¡¯t have something solid over his head before the storm overtook him. By now, the wind was howling across the plains, sending violent waves rolling along the endless grass. That¡¯s not good. If Edge could feel the gale already, there wasn¡¯t a second to spare. There were only two reasons that he had a chance of surviving the storm¡¯s fury. The first was that he was less than five miles away from the fingers, while the stormfront was further out. The second was that living lightning behaved a bit differently from its mundane cousin. Once a seeker storm found a target, it linked with the mana welling up from the ground. The connection made the area where lightning was going to strike glow for a few seconds before the bolt discharged. You could get out of the way, if you saw it coming and moved fast. It didn¡¯t do much good when bolts were falling hundreds of times every minute. But on the periphery of the storm, where the magic was less intense, you had a chance of avoiding a strike. All this passed through Edge¡¯s mind within a matter of minutes as he made a mad dash for his life. The next time he looked over his shoulder, the storm covered half the sky; a battalion of angry blue clouds erasing the world of light from horizon to horizon. It would be overhead within five minutes at most, unleashing electric oblivion upon him. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. By now, the spires of green stone were looming large. Edge was less than two miles away from the Guide¡¯s Fingers. Before he could take another step, twilight rose to envelop him, as the storm crossed in front of the sun. Within another handful of heartbeats, it would find him, and the lightning would begin to fall. He had done well to make it this far. He¡¯d crossed the plains in a flash, thanks to his powerful new body and what felt like a gallon of cortisol coursing through his bloodstream. He¡¯d pushed himself hard, but it was clear by now that his best wasn¡¯t going to be good enough. I¡¯m not going to make it in time. The storm is already changing course and speeding up. It¡¯s got me in its sights. Sure enough, less than a minute later, the world around him began to glow gold. Oh shit. Oh fuck. His heartbeat kicked up another gear as Edge pushed his body into a greater burst of speed, knowing deep in his bones that his life was on the line. The auric radiance intensified as the smell of ozone filled the air, the very breeze crackling with electricity. The first bolt would land in another second or two tops. If he was anywhere near the point of impact, it would fry him to a crisp. It was hard to tell where the light was centered since it was so bright, and more than one bolt was forming at once. But Edge had no choice other than to take his best guess. He darted to one side and then sprinted away as fast as his feet would carry him. He took another four steps before the world behind him exploded. A flash so intense that it seared his retinas ensued, followed by a boom so powerful it rattled his teeth. The pulse of energy sent him flying. He was bewildered and battered, shaken and shocked. But Edge didn¡¯t have time to regain his bearings. He rolled back onto his feet and kept right on running. He was covered in bruises and burns. Regeneration was hard at work, erasing the damage before it could slow him down. It still hurt like hell, but Edge knew that he¡¯d been lucky. If that strike had been any closer, it would have turned his body into a conduit between the mana suffusing the ground and that comprising the storm, reducing him to cinders beyond any hope of healing. His train of thought was interrupted as another patch of earth began to glow, then a second a bit further to one side. Edge charted a path between them, praying that there was enough room to pass through. He had to risk it, running around or backtracking would get him killed for sure. Both bolts landed half a heartbeat apart as he sprinted past, casting him face first into the grass once more. He picked himself up and was running before his feet hit the ground. The world was already shining gold again, gilding the grass beneath his boots. He darted and weaved like a creature possessed, dodging another three strikes as he went. At last, he arrived at the base of the fingers. Relief flooded through every cell of his body as he took in the expanse of solid stone stretching out before his gaze. But his ordeal wasn¡¯t over yet. Salvation was close, but not close enough. Edge wouldn¡¯t be safe until he found a cave and ducked inside. While such caverns were everywhere along the base of the fingers, the heart of the storm was only seconds away from crossing over his head. When it reached him, he wouldn¡¯t be dodging scattered strikes, but dozens at a time. He wouldn¡¯t survive ten seconds past that point. He ran, heart pounding in time with the thunder exploding all around him, dodging stray bolts as he made his way along the perimeter of the massive spires of stone. The wind hit him like a fist, threatening to carry him away. But Edge gritted his teeth, lowered his profile, and kept on struggling with everything that he had. Just when he thought that he was done for despite his best efforts, he spotted an opening in the rock. A vision of deliverance just a hundred feet ahead. At that same moment, his entire world disappeared in a horde of golden lights, like the air had been replaced by neon honey. At least twenty bolts were landing within the next five seconds, clustered around his position. Edge pushed his body into a final burst of speed, knowing that this was going to be a split-second finish. He shut out his fear. His pain. His doubts. Poured every ounce of his will, every scrap of his strength, into making it in time. The world grew brighter by the footfall. A buzzing rose to fill his ears. A cataclysmic strike was coming down, and it was coming now. Mouthing a prayer, Edge flung himself forward and leapt for all he was worth. Chapter 26: Boom Edge¡¯s body went soaring into the cave half a heartbeat before the world disappeared in an ocean of crackling light. Boom! The thunder was so intense that it blew out his eardrums, leaving him deaf before regeneration kicked in. The shockwave sent him rolling along the cavern floor, until he struck the far wall and came to a stop in a jumbled tangle of limbs. In that moment, he was convinced that he¡¯d been hit. That he¡¯d taken enough damage that he wouldn¡¯t survive. His body burned, and blood ran down both sides of his face. But then Edge took a ragged breath, followed by another, and realized that he was still alive. He had dodged the reaper¡¯s scythe by the narrowest of margins and leapt to safety with milliseconds to spare. He lay there panting, stunned and dazed, terrified and exhilarated, as lightning landed in front of the cavern¡¯s mouth time and time again. The thunder rolled through him, roaring like a living being. It sounded frustrated, like a predator denied its prey. The storm raged outside as Edge crawled deeper into the enclosure. Eventually, the seeker lightning gave up and stopped targeting him. He could see bolts falling all across the plains, inflicting carnage upon the wildlife that had been too slow to find shelter. Ten minutes later, it was all over. The deep blue storm clouds retreated into the distance as quickly as they had arrived, leaving warm sunlight shining over the prairie once more. The only way he could tell that the storm had rolled through was the scattered patches of smoke where the grass was ablaze. The world seemed so quiet in the wake of the cacophony that it felt unnatural. Surreal. Edge was exhausted, scared, and overstressed. He wasn¡¯t in any shape for another confrontation right now, so he decided to stay put for at least a few hours before heading back onto the plains. He crawled to the back of the cave and shoved his body into a corner where he could face the entrance. Then he lay there for a good long while, recovering from the long run, stress, and sheer intensity of surviving the storm. Eventually, Edge began to breathe easy, letting him relax a jaw he hadn¡¯t realized was clenched. Come down from the adrenaline-soaked hypervigilance the experience had evoked. Small change of plan. The next time I cycle-up, I should take a few points of perception. I need to see danger coming before it sees me, especially if I¡¯m too slow to escape. When he sent his awareness into his core, his reservoir was about two thirds full. He¡¯d spent half of his tank healing the damage from being pummeled by the storm, and it was slowly filling up again. It was a lucky break by any reckoning. If that lightning had landed just a little bit closer, there wouldn¡¯t be anything left of me but dust in the wind. When his head was clear and his body was free from pain, Edge took a swig from his canteen, then poked his head out of the cave. It was eerily quiet on the prairie, especially compared to the barrage of thunder he¡¯d endured. Other than the wind stirring the grass, he couldn¡¯t hear anything at all. No buzzing of insects or chirping of birds. Every animal and beast had gone to ground to ride out the storm. Most were still cowering in their burrows, shaken by the experience. Even the mana flowing over the plains seemed timid, like enduring the turbulent weather had wearied the land itself. Part of him was afraid to step outside again. But Edge pushed past his fear and left the cavern, casting his gaze across the grasslands. He would take a good look around, then decide his next move. If he was fortunate, the rest of his journey would prove uneventful. He wasn¡¯t counting on it. Except for finding Skill-Eater, his luck had never been that good. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. On that note, when Edge looked outside, he grew quite confused. He kept searching for a familiar landmark, but he simply couldn''t find one. He eventually realized what was going on. The anomaly changed the terrain even more than I thought. The fingers got moved to the southeast too. I¡¯m more than a day away from Puppet Town, if it¡¯s still there at all. His stomach growled, reminding him that he¡¯d missed dinner, breakfast, and lunch since he had devoured the mushroom. Any way that he looked at it, he was going to have to find something else to eat before long, or he would start growing weak on top of uncomfortable. While this was a potential shelter, there weren¡¯t many plants growing in the rocky soil around the base of the fingers, and he needed to make it back to civilization as quickly as he could. Worse, the cavern¡¯s stone walls would protect him from the elements, but they would do nothing to shield him if a predator caught wind of his presence. Safe behind the warded walls of Puppet Town, Edge could plan out his next move, grow more familiar with his new core and the skills that he¡¯d eaten, and purchase proper gear to survive in the wild. While his lizard brain was terrified that the storm would come back, he knew that his fear was unfounded. Despite their freakishly animate qualities, living storms were formed from mana-laden moisture blown by the breeze. They rode the atmosphere, and always kept moving. Thanks to his desperate sprint, Edge had made it to the Guide¡¯s Fingers far faster than he¡¯d expected. Even after his rest in the cave, he still had at least three or four hours left before sunset. As he looked out over the plains, he decided that it was a perfect time to resume his journey. The local wildlife was subdued, providing a bit of extra safety in the wake of unexpected danger. He would have better luck in foraging in the deep grass or another grove too. A two-hour march would see him to the border of a wooded sub-biome. A place that would meet all his needs. His destination decided, he began walking northeast. He was heading toward the closest grove, planning to spend a second night up in the branches. The next hour was blessedly uneventful. Edge put some miles beneath his boots with no unpleasant surprises. He took advantage of the opportunity to start working on his makeshift sword, crafting away as he walked. When he took a closer look, he saw that one claw was better than the other. It was longer, thicker, and sharper than its mate. Hello, new weapon, he ran his fingers across the surface. Pleased to meet you. First, he found a few sticks that were round, straight, and the right length for a grip. Enough to encircle the base of the reaver¡¯s claw. Then he used his knife to gather stalks of yellow grass, careful not to slice his fingers in the process. The yellow grass was a lot tougher than the white and wouldn¡¯t break as easily under the strain. He might get a few small cuts while swinging the blade, but regeneration would heal them quickly. When everything was ready, Edge placed the sticks down first, arranged in a circle around the base of the claw. He bound the makeshift handle tight using long strips of grass and some scraps from his shirt to provide a bit of padding. He gave the black blade an experimental swing, savoring the way that the weapon tore through the air. It was a temporary solution at best, but it was a lot better than fighting for his life with a utility knife. Edge had to admit it was a crude job. The craftsmen in town would laugh till they cried if he showed it to them. But it should last a few swings before falling apart, at least when using the strength of his arm. The grip would probably come undone the first time he tried slashing with it, so he would save that option as a last resort. When he was done, he secured the claw-blade to his pack with an adjustable strap and continued on his way. While he walked, Edge kept the fingers at his back to guide his path, planning out his next move to pass the time. Once he was rested and geared, he would return to the plains to start hunting in earnest, taking his next steps along the myriad paths of power. He started reviewing every skill that the local beasts used, imagining how each would interact with the powers he already had. Edge had a unique opportunity to plan out his skillset, one with the potential for synergy and variety beyond anyone else on the planet. It was the chance of a lifetime, and he refused to squander it by making subpar investments. Eating the first skills he came across might be best in the short-term, but it would bottleneck his advancement in the long. Fantasizing about the various powers he might one day call his own was a pleasant pastime, but he didn¡¯t let it distract him. He kept a careful eye on his surroundings, doing his best to make sure that nothing dangerous was lurking nearby. Edge found a small bush not long after, with a few ripe berries hanging from the branches. They were tasty and sweet, and he thoroughly enjoyed them. It was barely a snack, but still far better than nothing. Three hours and twenty miles later, he still couldn¡¯t spot the grove. He must have veered a few degrees to one side or the other, despite his best efforts. While the fingers were a perfect navigational tool when he was heading straight toward them, it wasn¡¯t nearly as precise when heading away. Ok then, time for plan B. Look around and take the best option offered. Chapter 27: Burrow To get a better view of the region, Edge stepped out of the tall grass and cut across a field of pink and blue wildflowers. They had a spicy aroma that he found quite pleasant. While he walked, he started looking around to see what he could reach before he lost the light. He needed to cross into another sub-biome if possible. Staying in the grasslands after dark was a bad idea. It would be far too easy for a predator to approach him unaware. By now, the shadows were growing longer by the footfall. The sun was dipping below the horizon, like a great crimson eye that was slowly closing. The sunset was spectacular, but Edge didn¡¯t have time to watch. He needed to find somewhere to hole up for the night, and he was running out of time. On a brighter note, his reservoir was nearly full. By the time he woke up, Skill-Eater would have finished digesting the shadowreaver¡¯s rare skill. In addition to gaining an awesome new power, it would free up [Extraction] to start stealing more. Ten minutes later, color was fading from the world, but he¡¯d managed to come up with a plan. Edge was heading for a series of low hills in the distance. Ground covered in boulders and shrubs instead of an endless sea of stalks. It was still far too close to the grass. But if something found him there, at least he would be able to see it. He was hoping to avoid confrontation until the night had passed. While he couldn¡¯t do anything about his scent, he could duck between the rocks and try to stay out of sight. He would be safer with the boulders against his back anyhow. It was the best Edge could do in the little time he had left. At least most of the grass in this region was white, which was shorter than the yellow and easy to cross. Now he just needed to hike one last mile and wait for the sun to rise. First thing in the morning, he would look for something to eat, then resume his journey to town. Maybe I can hunt an animal or another small beast, then find some way to light a fire. The fantasy of grilled meat set his stomach growling, but it would have to wait at least a little longer. That was when matters took a decided turn for the worse. As Edge was crossing the final stretch of prairie between his location and the hill, he felt the ground rumbling beneath his boots. A faint vibration began to build, growing stronger by the heartbeat until the nearby flowers were shaking. That¡¯s not an earthquake, it¡¯s local. Hurry, Edge, it¡¯s time to go. He quickened his pace, hoping to get out of the way of whatever was happening. However, it was clear within a few seconds that something big was following him from below the soil. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He knew it was bad right away, but it took him a minute to remember the video where someone described the phenomenon. The clip had covered the skill that created it, and what manner of beasts used it to hunt. Something with burrow is coming for me. ¡°Shit.¡± Edge started running as fast as he could, as a crackling tide of adrenaline went racing through his veins. While not every beast that used burrow was dangerous, the fact that the rumbling was following him was a sure sign of a predator intending to ambush him from below. It was a bad matchup for his current skillset. Depending on what other skills the beast had, it might go for his legs. Or worse, launch an attack from within the soil, making it difficult to dodge and impossible to fight back. Lacking anything that could counter creatures dwelling underground, Edge knew what he had to do. The best outcome would be to outrun it before it gets too dark to see. Second best is to make it waste mana chasing me with burrow turned on, until it¡¯s forced to emerge and face me on the ground. At the very least, he needed to reach favorable terrain before the beast caught him. Ground that would slow it down or convince it to abandon the hunt. Solid stone would be best, but failing that, some rockier soil, or at least a big boulder to stand on. He kept on sprinting as fast as he could, cursing his low speed all the while, as the sensation of something digging up from below grew closer and then closer still. I¡¯m not going to be able to reach any of those, except maybe the last. While he ran, Edge started looking for the best place to make his stand. His gaze landed on a cluster of large boulders nestled between two hills. There. It wasn¡¯t ideal. But it was the best that he was going to get with the final few seconds at his disposal. If he was fast enough, once he was out of the grass, he could try circling the hillock, draining the beast¡¯s mana as planned. If that didn¡¯t work, he would get up on the rocks where he¡¯d be able to see its attacks coming. His burst of speed had let him open some distance from his subterranean stalker. But then Edge hit a patch of grass that was thicker than the rest. It was the damned yellow grass too, slicing his flesh as he forced himself past. He lost precious seconds before he broke through, pumping his legs like mad. By now, he¡¯d arrived at the bottom of the hillock, where the stalks were soft and thin. Although he had lost most of his lead, the beast hadn¡¯t been able to catch him. Unfortunately, he no longer had time to do anything other than head straight for the rocks. He sprinted with everything that he had, pulling ahead of whatever was trying to eat him. Just when Edge thought that he was going to make it after all, a creature stepped out from behind the boulder that he was planning to scale. Fuck me. It¡¯s a nymph. The instant that he saw what was waiting for him, Edge realized that he¡¯d been driven into a trap. Because the beasts coming for him always hunted in pairs. One was blocking the path to the boulder, and the other was closing from behind. I can¡¯t go back, and I can¡¯t go around. That only leaves me with through. His only chance was to hit fast and hit hard and pray that it was enough. He had to take the first nymph out, before he was caught in a pincer attack. As the last ray of sunlight vanished from the air, the next battle for his life began. Chapter 28: Native Edge didn¡¯t realize that he could run any faster. But apparently, he could. He charged, heading straight for the beast standing beside the boulder. As the world around him became a liquid blur of color and motion, everything that he knew about his assailants came back to him in the blink of an eye. He had studied and drilled, memorizing the profiles of hundreds of beasts. The long training that Edge had undergone before purchasing his puppet paid for itself in that moment. Although the name came from Greek mythology, nymphs were beasts that were native to Ord, not Earth animals that had adapted to life on a magical world. Their bodies were made of living wood and were generally humanoid in appearance, about the size of a ten-year-old child. They had delicate features and big brown eyes. They looked harmless enough from a distance, but nymphs were carnivorous creatures with razor sharp teeth. Relentless predators that claimed a few tourists¡¯ lives every year. They were tough and decently fast. They weren¡¯t the best fighters up close, although their arms ended in spikes that they could use like swords. All of that was bad enough. But what made nymphs truly dangerous, like most creatures on Ord, were the skills at their disposal. How the rest of this fight proceeded, including whether Edge lived or died, would come down to which and how many skills the nymphs had. Given their size, they were early stage-one, which meant that they only had one or two skills they could use. He already knew that the one behind him had burrow. It must be rank-one, or I would never have sensed it coming so easily. With at least one of their skill slots filled by a movement-based power, Edge could be facing up to three combat skills. Unfortunately, while he was aware of several possibilities, he didn¡¯t know what was coming. Beasts didn¡¯t always develop the same skillset, unless they were closely related. But he could make an educated guess. Given the way that the nymphs had positioned him, they didn¡¯t have anything with long range. Otherwise, they would simply have sniped him, instead of driving him into an ambush. That observation let him eliminate quite a few options. Others were far more likely given the tactics he¡¯d seen. That still left him with at least a half dozen possibilities to contend with. To figure out the rest, he took a closer look at the creature in front of him. Something in the nymph¡¯s posture told Edge that it was waiting for him to stop before using its skill. That it was holding back until the moment he turned away. It was enough to give him a hunch about what skill it was going to use. He decided to trust his instincts and bet everything that he had. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. He charged straight for the creature blocking his path, forcing it to spring its trap early instead of waiting for an ideal moment to strike. The instant the beast realized that Edge wasn¡¯t going to stop or turn to the side, he felt something slithering near his boots. In that moment, he knew what was happening. His guess had been right, and he threw his body out of the way. It¡¯s using entangle after all. He leapt just in time to avoid the vine lashing through the space where his ankle had been a heartbeat before. He dove as he tucked in one shoulder, then hit the ground and rolled. When he came back around, he sprang again, dodging a second grasping tendril with mere inches to spare. The nymph hissed and reared back, surprised that Edge had forced his way through. He hadn¡¯t had time to unstrap his claw-sword from his pack, which left him with only one way to attack. It was time for elemental blade to shine. Before the beast could get out of the way, Edge was upon it. His iceblade had just finished forming. With his upgraded stats, the blade was now a foot long, the wreath of mist around it glowing faintly blue. He took aim and stabbed it straight into the nymph¡¯s face, optimism rising as the skill struck true. He expected the subzero sword to kill the creature. Or at least deal some serious damage, like it had every time before. Although nymphs were made of wood, they were beasts, not plants. They needed their heads just as much as he did. But instead of falling down, the creature opened its mouth and screamed. Then it lunged, jabbing a wooden spike into his chest. Edge leapt back in time with the blow, taking a deep scratch along his ribcage instead of having his stomach punctured. Something¡¯s not right. His iceblade hadn¡¯t done nearly as much damage as it should. While it was possible that the nymph had some manner of defensive skill that he wasn¡¯t aware of, he suspected that the answer was simpler. Beasts that hunted other skill-using beasts often specialized in disruption. The attribute that weakened the skills of others. People on the feed always said that disruption was hard to understand until you could use it yourself. Edge only knew two things about it. The first was that it created a field that extended a few inches past the boundary of the body. The second was that creatures native to Ord tended to have more disruption than those originating from Earth. The moment that he felt it for himself, he realized that the nymph¡¯s disruption was interfering with elemental blade¡¯s ability to manifest. It¡¯s weakening my iceblade at the point of impact, preventing the magic from entering its body and freezing the tissue inside. This was a serious problem. His strongest weapon wouldn¡¯t do much damage, and he¡¯d wasted some mana to deal a superficial injury. Not to mention, given the beast behind him a chance to catch up. It was a bad situation by any accounting. One that was growing worse by the second. But Edge wasn¡¯t going down without a fight. It just meant that if he wanted to live, he was going to have to improvise. That rare skill should finish digesting sometime soon. Hopefully I can take them out without it. But if not, I need to buy as much time as I can. On the bright side, although the iceblade¡¯s output was reduced, it wasn¡¯t completely negated. The nymph in front of him was momentarily distracted by the painful, rime-encrusted wound, preventing it gathering the concentration it needed to use its skills. But the beast burrowing through the ground was another matter entirely. Concept Art: Chapters 24-28 Since everyone seems to be enjoying this. I''ll do weekly art chapters (every 5-7 chapters) after all, at least for now. Hope your Monday is going well. Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. Living storm Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Nymphs Entangle Iceblade (small/early version) Chapter 29: Nymph Acting on instinct, Edge leapt to one side, just in time to keep the next set of vines from tripping him up. Ah, hell. The one underground has entangle too. He kept moving, changing direction unpredictably, as more and more creepers burst free from the soil. The wounded beast came for him as he dodged like mad. It opened a mouth full of needle-sharp teeth and hissed, eager to settle the score. Edge didn¡¯t give it the chance. He judged the angle of its approach and then kicked the nymph hard in the chest, using his superior mass to send it sprawling in the grass. He slid his pack off his shoulders, pulling his makeshift sword free from its strap. Then he turned to face his assailant, reassured by the weight of the weapon in his hand. While this was still a bad situation, now he at least had a chance. His elemental blade wasn¡¯t a good match against these opponents. But slash wasn¡¯t vulnerable to the nymphs¡¯ disruption. Its use of mana was over the instant that the skill began, accelerating his strike and letting old-fashioned physics handle the rest. There wouldn¡¯t be anything left to disrupt by the time that his weapon closed the distance. On a less promising note, retrieving the blade had given his enemies time to reposition and recover. Before he could launch his next attack, two separate entangles came for him at once. There were far too many grasping tendrils to evade them all. He did his best to get out of the way, but one emerald creeper lashed tight around his ankle. Edge knew that he would be caught sooner or later and was already moving to counter the skill. He swung his claw-sword down, praying that it would be sharp enough to cut the vine. Relief flooded through him when the fibrous plant parted before the reaver¡¯s ivory. Before the nymphs could try again, he took aim for the beast charging at him, swung his blade, then activated slash. Fire burned behind his ribs as his reactor roared to life. Mana surged into his arms half a heartbeat later, multiplying the force of his blow. The black blade went screaming through the air. The weapon caught the wooden creature on the top of its shoulder, its big brown eyes widening in dawning realization. The skill-powered slice bit deep, nearly severing the nymph¡¯s arm before its momentum ran out. Edge yanked the blade free and raised it high, ready to claim the beast¡¯s head. Maybe I can win this after all. It turned out that his optimism was a bit premature. The underground creature had sensed him stop moving and used the opportunity to land a finisher of its own. Before Edge could follow up his heavy hit, the ground erupted as a dozen serpentine vines burst out from the soil. He was able to dodge the first few tendrils. But then one wrapped tight around both ankles, tripping him up and tethering him to the spot. He tried hacking with his sword to break free, but it wasn¡¯t enough. He got in one good swing, then the rest of the vines caught him. They looped tight around his body and pinned his arms to his sides. In that moment, he knew that he was well and truly fucked. Edge didn¡¯t have enough power to escape from the plants. He couldn¡¯t get away, run away, or use any of his skills. Hell, he could barely even breathe. If that wasn¡¯t bad enough, half of the vines were covered in thorns. The barbs bit deep into his flesh as the living lines drew tighter by the heartbeat, blood running down his body and into the soil below. His struggles were futile. His claw-sword fell from his fingers, landing beside his boots with a clatter. With every second that passed, the crushing and stabbing grew more intense, the pain ratcheting up notch by notch. Edge ruthlessly suppressed the urge to panic, kicking his brain into high gear while he still had enough room to draw a few ragged gasps. By now, he¡¯d realized what had happened. A possibility that he hadn¡¯t included in his hasty analysis. The presence of the thorny vines revealed that instead of developing a second skill like most early stage-one beasts, the wounded nymph had taken entangle to rank-two instead, adding offense to the disabling ability. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. While he stood rooted in place, the first nymph rose to its feet while clutching its wound. Then the second emerged from the ground. There was no reason to waste mana with burrow when their prey was down for the count. Although Edge was thoroughly restrained, they approached him with caution. They were making sure that he didn¡¯t have a hidden ace up his sleeve. Some skill that could kill them if they came close. It gave him a chance to take a good look at the creatures coming to eat him. To appreciate the stark contrast between their razored wooden teeth and their childlike faces. To ponder the difference between monsters and beasts. Like the reavers, the nymphs were vicious. But didn¡¯t seem angry or cruel. They would kill Edge and feed on his flesh. But they wouldn¡¯t torture him for sport, relishing his suffering until he drew his last breath. He found that while it made the situation no less horrifying, he couldn¡¯t hate them in the same way. He realized that his thoughts were drifting. Forced himself to focus on his dismal situation instead. On anything he might try that could still give him a chance. In those final seconds before the nymphs¡¯ uncertainty vanished and they closed in for the kill, Edge desperately sought out anything that would let him live through the day. It didn¡¯t work. Try as he might to come up with a plan, there was nothing that he could do. He couldn¡¯t use slash or elemental blade with his arms bound. Regeneration would only let him survive another few minutes of the vines¡¯ piercing embrace before his mana ran dry. Although I¡¯ll probably suffocate first. Not that the nymphs would leave him alone long enough for either of those things to happen. Any moment now, he would feel their arm-spikes pierce his throat, and then he would feel nothing at all. The beasts crept closer, hesitation fading as Edge did nothing but bleed, unable to so much as squirm. He still had about half a tank left in his reservoir. But with no way to use his three skills right now, it didn¡¯t help him at all. They raised their spikes and gathered their strength, then came charging in to end his life. Luck is a fickle mistress. Fortune¡¯s favor can change in the blink of an eye. While Edge was certain that he would be dead in five seconds, a lot can change in that time. In the heart of that black moment, Edge had forgotten one crucial fact. He didn¡¯t have three skills living in his core. If you included the shadowreaver¡¯s rare skill that he had eaten exactly two days before, the proper count was four. Although the battle hadn''t gone the way that he wanted, his attempts to draw out the fight had worked in the end. Just as the nymphs reared back, poised to bite and stab, a message from his Guide appeared. His eyes widened when he read those four golden lines, shining like a beacon of hope along a dark, desolate shore. You have extracted the skill: Shadow step (rare, rank 1). Digestion is complete. Would you like to socket the skill into your core? Warning, the skill will be lost if you decline to socket it now. ¡°Yes. Fucking yes. Do it. Do it now!¡± Time slowed down as Edge was granted a vision of his core. He found himself standing inside that small stone room, where a cloud of inky murk was flowing into one of the empty slots embedded alongside his reactor. The instant that shadow step finished merging with the socket, he was granted a sense of what it could do. It was love at first sight. When Edge snapped back into his body, he began laughing as he gathered his will. His new skill was exactly what he needed, and there wasn¡¯t a moment to spare. Shadow step. As the nymphs¡¯ natural weapons came lashing down, mere inches from turning his organs into kebabs, mana flowed out from his core in an incandescent rush. This time, instead of manifesting in a specific location, the skill¡¯s magic was distributed evenly. It sank into every cell of his body, along with the gear he was carrying. In between one breath and the next, Edge¡­ dissolved was the best word that he had to describe it. Like the world around him had turned into clouds, but in reverse. His surroundings faded to a misty grey, but he didn¡¯t have time to appreciate the bizarre state of being. Not with his life on the line. Contemplation could come later. Now was the time for action. No longer composed of solid matter, Edge slid free from the vines¡¯ embrace, passing between the beasts with a fraction of a second to spare. That was when he realized that mana was flowing into the skill at an incredible rate. His reactor was burning white hot as it drew in magicytes from his reservoir, siphoning a fair portion of his reserves before he could take two steps. It seemed that while shadow step was flat out amazing, the tradeoff was that it was a massive mana hog. Edge couldn¡¯t use it for more than a few seconds, or it would drain him dry. But he couldn¡¯t afford to squander this opportunity either. If he didn¡¯t take out one of the beasts now, he¡¯d find himself in the same situation as before. Only this time, there would be no escape. Chapter 30: Combo Until three seconds ago, Edge¡¯s body had always been solid. But that was no longer the case. Turning into shadows was incredibly bizarre, not to mention the most magical event of his life. But now wasn¡¯t the right time to explore the strange experience. With no time to waste, he flowed behind the closest beast. The one with the wounded arm and rank-two entangle. The instant that he was in position, Edge deactivated shadow step and sent mana surging into his hand. The nymphs were still staring at the writhing mass of vines that had held him, unable to figure out what had gone wrong. He wasn¡¯t about to give them the chance. Edge had to take control over the momentum of the battle, before the opportunity he¡¯d been granted slipped through his fingers like water through a clenched fist. Elemental blade. His magic sword emerged from the palm of his hand, gleaming glacial blue. His brief captivity had given him a chance to come up with a counter to the beasts¡¯ disruption. He just hadn¡¯t expected to be able to use it. Now it was time to find out if the idea would work out the way that he¡¯d hoped. While his iceblade couldn¡¯t land a killing blow alone, there was still a way for it to dish out real damage. The time had finally come for Edge to unleash his first skill combo. Skill combinations, where multiple skills were active at the same time, cost far more mana than using them separately. But they offered incredible potential in exchange, a process known as skill synergy. In this case, using slash could get his elemental blade through the beast¡¯s disruption field so fast that it would maintain its integrity. It should be enough to take the creature out, if everything worked out the way that he¡¯d planned. With no time to hesitate or second guess his decision, Edge sent a second wave of mana rushing into his arm and slashed, draining a huge chunk of his reserves to set up a killing blow. His iceblade abruptly accelerated, reduced to a frosty blue blur before his gaze. The wintery weapon went soaring straight for the wounded nymph, striking it square in the back of its head before it could turn around. He was pleased to learn that his theory was solid. The sub-zero sword bit deep and the nymph began to scream, transfixed upon the end of his skill. The beast didn¡¯t die right away, like the other creatures he¡¯d impaled. Wood and sap didn¡¯t freeze as easily as blood and brain. But it was still a grievous wound. By now, the nymph¡¯s disruption had kicked in. He didn¡¯t have enough mana to finish the job with his iceblade. But that wasn¡¯t a problem, since Edge wasn¡¯t trying to kill his prey to begin with. Shadow step wasn¡¯t the only thing he¡¯d gained when its digestion was complete. Skill-Eater was ready to claim new skills too. He felt his core¡¯s gluttony spring to life. Hunger that had been suppressed while its ultimate was out of play. He turned off his iceblade to preserve the last of his mana, then raised both arms before him. Extraction. Edge urged his core to dine before the other nymph recovered from its shock and pressed the attack. It was happy to oblige. The creature was barely alive. It was helpless to resist, scarcely able to keep its eyes open. By now, the other beast was coming to its aid, more vines emerging from the ground in a spray of scattered soil. Its entangle was fast, but Edge¡¯s chains were faster. They erupted from his wrists and went plunging into the nymph¡¯s body, sliding in through its wounds and sinking into its core. He found himself standing in a land where an endless jungle grew in eternal sunshine. Where a river provided all the water you could drink, and fat fish that were easy to catch swam along the shore. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The nymph must have been further developed than Edge had thought. There was another skill in here after all. Some manner of perceptual power that would enhance his sense of smell. But there was no question which one he wanted to claim for his own. Go for the vines, he urged Skill-Eater. We can use them to bind our prey and make it easy to feed. Either his core understood what Edge was trying to say, or it didn¡¯t prefer one skill over the other. His chains obeyed his command and went flying for the mass of vines slithering in one corner. The living links converged upon the animate tendrils, and they started to fight. Chains and vines began weaving back and darting forth, like two armies of snakes facing off on the battlefield. Even when studded with jagged thorns, metal beats wood any day of the week. Before long, the vines were trapped, wrapped up in glossy black bonds that they couldn¡¯t hope to break. His consciousness reentered his body half a heartbeat later, creating a moment of disorientation as he adjusted to the rapid change. By now, the uninjured nymph¡¯s vines were wrapping around Edge¡¯s arms. Before they could tighten, he willed his core to claim its prize. His chains retracted in a clinking flash. They came shooting back out of the mortally wounded beast, tossing something past his lips that felt like a mouthful of grass before sliding back into his core. Edge was starting to wonder just what the chains were. Where the living links resided and what was on the other end. It doesn¡¯t matter right now. Not with a fight for his life still underway. The skill squirmed across his tongue as he bit down hard. Tiny thorns pricked his gums, and the vines were remarkably tough to chew. But without soil to move through, they couldn¡¯t get away. Edge kept right on chomping until the skill broke apart and then he swallowed as fast as he could. The fibrous wad scratched his flesh as it slid down his throat, until it passed into his core and was ready to be digested. At least it tasted great. Kind of like a spinach salad with a splash of citrus and vinegar. But Edge didn¡¯t have time to appreciate the unique culinary experience this time around. The moment that Skill-Eater claimed its prey, a message materialized in front of his eyes. You have extracted the skill: Entangle (common, rank 2). When extracting a skill rank 2 or above, a portion of its experience will be retained if you choose to keep it. Would you like to slot entangle now? Warning: the skill will be lost if this option is declined. The wording was different from the other notifications he¡¯d seen. But it didn¡¯t change what happened next. ¡°Yes. Hurry.¡± Edge voiced his decision to his Guide, and the subdued skill began heading for an empty socket, roots growing down into the conduits once it crawled into place. The moment it was finished, his awareness leapt back into his body, where only a fraction of a second had passed. One arm was trapped, but he could still move. He took a quick look around and then leapt out of the way, letting the nymph¡¯s spike pass through the space where his stomach had been half a heartbeat before. He hit the ground running while reaching out with his free hand. His fingers brushed against the hilt of his claw-sword, and Edge sprang to his feet with the blade in hand. He pulled the vine restraining his arm taut. Then he brought the sword down and slashed, shearing through the creeper and then darting out of the way. The beast followed hot on his heels. It was far too close, inside his reach before he could swing again. Instead, he gathered his strength and lashed out with one boot, kicking the nymph in the chest with the weight of his body behind it. He nearly got his toes bitten off for his trouble. But the momentum pushed the creature back, just before its jaws snapped shut with a resounding clack. His foot ached like he was kicking a tree, but he didn¡¯t let up. Edge stabbed and he punched. He thrust and he kicked. He kept on pummeling the nymph to keep it off balance. He was down to the last drops of fuel in his tank, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste a single skill. But the nymph couldn¡¯t have much left in reserve either. Not after using burrow for so long. If he could convince the creature to use it all, he could close in for the kill. Recalling his battle with the weasel, Edge fell down on one knee like his leg had given out. He leapt to one side when the earth began to move, escaping the vines in the nick of time. One down. He dodged another two entangles, and got in a few unassisted hits with his sword along the way, leaving scratches along the surface of the beast¡¯s wooden body. It must be close to empty by now, just a little longer. But Edge wasn¡¯t the only one who was capable of misdirection. Deception was a way of life for the beasts that dwell on Ord. It saved the next skill for when his attention was elsewhere, launching an attack with another goal in mind. The next entangle caught him by surprise, used in time with the nymph¡¯s charge. Chapter 31: Entangle When Edge hopped back to avoid a thrusting spike, the next set of vines was already waiting. The beast had entangled the ground behind his back when he couldn¡¯t afford to look away, giving him no chance to dodge. Before his boots hit the ground, his body was wrapped up tight. Bound head to toe with no hope of escape. I stepped right into that one. I should have seen it coming. At least these vines don¡¯t have any thorns. While the situation was less than ideal, he wasn¡¯t too worried just yet. Edge still had two cards left to play. Better still, his opponent had no way to guess what was coming before he revealed his hand. The nymph staggered up to him, no longer hiding the extent of its injuries. It was wounded and weary. Eager to end the fight now that Edge was helpless to resist. This close, it could sense that he was almost out of mana, unable to use shadow step and escape. He was surprised to learn that the creature was smart enough to build a profile of his powers over the course of the battle, just like he had done. He supposed that it made sense, now that he thought about it. It was an inherent strategy to use when fighting other skill-using enemies. Something to keep in mind in the future. For the moment, he was happy to drain the beast¡¯s mana, although it seemed like entangle was fairly cheap to use. From the nymph¡¯s perspective, they¡¯d come full circle. Edge was trapped, with no means of escape. While this was a natural conclusion to arrive at, this appraisal was missing one critical fact. He wasn¡¯t the same person he¡¯d been just two minutes before. Not with a brand-new skill at his disposal. Before the nymph could run him through, Edge called on the magic within. On Ord, skills that grant mana physical form outside the body were often called spells. Now he had one of his own. He¡¯d dreamt of this moment all his life, and it had finally arrived. Entangle, he cast his new spell for the first time. His reactor ignited, sending tendrils of mana flowing through the skill and into the vines now bound to his core. He felt the magic pass through his feet and into the ground, heading for the spot he had chosen. Along the way, the magic took material form. It became something long and tough before Edge¡¯s awareness of the skill faded away. It seemed that once summoned, entangle went on autopilot, rather than responding to his conscious command. It¡¯s better that way, at least for now. I can drop the vines, then place all my attention into moving my body. The stage is set entangle, now show me what you can do. At that point, four vines burst out of the ground and wrapped themselves around the nymph. Its eyes went wide, shocked to discover that Edge was using its own skill against it. Since Skill-Eater¡¯s ultimate ability was a power unique on Ord, nothing could have prepared the beast for an opponent who could gain new skills mid-battle. Within a handful of heartbeats, they both were lashed tight and completely unable to move. Edge was pleased to learn that entangle was mana efficient after all, but he didn¡¯t have enough fuel in the tank to sustain it for long. It would have been a standoff to see who ran out of juice first if there wasn¡¯t one last card in play. One key fact that meant, although he was bound, Edge was far from helpless. Extraction. He willed his ultimate to activate once more, stomach rumbling in anticipation of his next meal. He felt an explosion of heat as his core roared to life, and his chains shot out from his wrists. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. This was his first time using the power on a creature that was fully conscious. It seemed to understand what was coming. The beast began bucking and writhing, desperate to escape as it let out a horrified scream. But no matter how hard it struggled, its small body couldn¡¯t break free from the vines. The living links closed the distance and then plunged into the nymph¡¯s chest, just as he had planned. But then something unexpected happened. Instead of being granted a clear vision, there was some manner of interference that Edge hadn¡¯t encountered before. He felt the black chains enter the beast¡¯s core, then battle with something inside. They were ejected without claiming a skill, slinking back into his wrists like a pair of whipped dogs. Apparently, the chains needed their prey to be on the verge of death or unconscious to steal a meal without a fight. It seemed that the creature¡¯s will could bolster the skills in their core. Good to know. Although he had used up a charge of his ultimate, it wasn¡¯t all bad news. In addition to learning some valuable details, repelling the chains had cost the beast something, leaving it utterly exhausted. It no longer stood in the vine¡¯s embrace. It sagged, dazed and confused. It wouldn¡¯t be able to put up a fight a second time, and he still had one round in the chamber. Extraction. He used the final charge of Skill-Eater¡¯s ultimate, and the chains surged forth once more. This time, they were able to enter the nymph¡¯s core without a problem, and he was granted an image of the strange space inside. It looked like a sunny glade populated by jet-black trees, with dead animals impaled upon the branches. It was weird and undeniably creepy, but Edge wasn¡¯t here to contemplate the view. As he had already known, this beast had two skills, entangle and burrow. Burrow was a skill that burned mana to let something pass through the ground without having to stop and dig. He realized in that moment, that he had a dilemma on his hands. Edge didn¡¯t really need to be able to stroll through the soil just yet. The power was expensive to maintain, and he didn¡¯t have the skillset to do anything complex, like hide and attack from concealment. His skill slots were a limited resource, and he wanted to pick powers that would synergize with what he already had. Not to mention, unlike the wooden beasts, Edge still needed to breathe. However, he already had entangle slotted in his core. Is there any reason to pick it again? But then he remembered that his core¡¯s unique trait had mentioned alternate advancement. The description said that his skills couldn¡¯t level through use, like everyone else on Ord. If his skills couldn¡¯t grow stronger the normal way, there had to be another route. It was right there in the trait¡¯s name after all. Given how his core¡¯s ultimate worked, what made the most sense was eating more than one copy of the same skill would grant it the experience that it needed to advance. Go for entangle, he encouraged Skill-Eater. Once again, his chains listened to his request. Just like before, they cornered and overpowered the writhing vines, then dragged them out and flung them into his mouth. Edge chewed and then swallowed. He was able to appreciate the flavor this time, especially without the thorns. There was a subtlety that he¡¯d missed the first time around. An aftertaste that was more of impression than a flavor. He savored the feeling of sunshine and mist. Of green grass, wood, and soil. Delicious. When the skill slid down his throat and entered his core, a new message appeared before his eyes. It seemed that his guess had been right after all. You have extracted the skill: Entangle (common, rank 1). You already have this skill in your collection. Its power will be added to your existing skill. It was exactly how Edge had been hoping that the mechanic would work. He was intensely curious to find out more. The instant that he acknowledged the prompt, his awareness was drawn into his core. Once again, he found himself standing in a murky stone chamber, facing the row of the skills slotted along his reactor. His attention was drawn to the cluster of burrowing vines that represented entangle, and to another set that was being pulled to where the other skill was slotted. Edge¡¯s adrenaline began to flow. Not in fear, but in eager anticipation. This was uncharted territory. He had no idea what was going to happen next, and he was excited to learn more about Skill-Eater and its unique powers. Chapter 32: Upgrade The instant that the vines met, they began to merge, melding into one another like they were made of soft clay. Edge was surprised to learn that he could feel the skill gaining experience as the process continued. The magic contained within entangle grew stronger. A sensation like water pouring into a cup. He sensed that when the cup was full, its contents would reach critical mass, and the skill would change on a fundamental level. Since he had digested a rank-two skill to begin with, the water in the cup was already near the brim. The added skill experience from the copy he¡¯d just eaten was enough to make up the difference. Confirming what he was feeling, a message from the System appeared, showing Edge a menu that he¡¯d never seen before. The skill (entangle) has advanced to rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Additionally, at rank 2 you may choose to upgrade the skill. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. Your vines will become tougher than before, resistant to being cut and torn apart.
  2. Your vines will appear and attack faster, making them more effective against quick and dexterous creatures.
  3. Your vines will be studded in thorns, allowing them to deal damage in addition to restraining your opponent.
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain unchanged and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. It was a best-case scenario. His experiment had paid off bigtime, and his newest skill was about to get even better. Edge had known that this question was coming. He¡¯d heard plenty of tourists talk about ranking-up their skills while watching the feed. But it was something else entirely to experience it for himself. The System¡¯s query wasn¡¯t just an abstraction. When each option was listed, he¡¯d been granted a brief vision. They let him know exactly what the skill would do if he chose to take it in that direction. It was far more information than he¡¯d been expecting. Now he could make an informed decision without having to interpret the vague text descriptions. Which one should I choose? Edge was already certain that he wanted to pick an upgrade. The mana efficiency route was almost always less powerful than specialization. There were rare exceptions involving complex skillsets, none of which applied to him. If he were making the decision based on the skill¡¯s utility alone, he would have gone for the thorns. Having an attack that he could use from range was something he desperately needed. But his situation was unique. He had to consider Skill-Eater¡¯s powers too. Given the nature of his chains, what Edge really needed was a reliable way to immobilize enemies while [Extraction] worked its magic. If they were already wounded when the vines grabbed hold, he would risk killing them too soon if he added the thorns. A juicy skill might die before he could eat it. He¡¯d also lose the option of restraining something without hurting it, which might come in handy sooner or later. With offense off the table, it was down to a question of enhancing entangle¡¯s speed or strength. Both sounded great and would help him out in the short-term. If he couldn¡¯t catch something with the spell, casting it was meaningless. But it wouldn¡¯t do any good if his opponent could break free with brute force either. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. He had to think of the future as well as the present. A day would come before too long when it was time to start eating rarer skills. The monsters, men, and beasts that had them were incredibly powerful, and almost all of them boasted considerable strength. Thus, Edge decided to make his vines tougher. To become more effective when hunting big game. He could work on landing the skill reliably, even if it wasn¡¯t fast. Set up traps and combos like the one the nymph had used to catch him. I¡¯ll take option one, durability. He spoke within his own mind this time. He¡¯d been wondering if the System could hear him, inside his own head, standing within a vision of his core. Apparently, the planetary AI had no trouble navigating this strange space or reading his synapses. It replied to his thoughts without missing a beat. Acknowledged. Upgrading skill (entangle, rank 2) along the desired path. At this point, his skill began to glow. The vines slotted into his core began shining before morphing into a new form. The burrowing tendrils became thicker, tougher, and denser. They changed from bright green to a browner hue, coated with a layer that was resistant to slashes and chops. When he looked at the upgraded skill, he could sense that its cup was empty once more and much bigger than before. Filling it again would require far more energy. Now that the upgrade was complete, his consciousness was drawn out of his core. When Edge popped back into his body, less than a second had passed while he was away. As he scanned his surroundings, he learned one final detail. Upgrading a skill canceled its effects, and the nymph was no longer bound. Fortunately, stealing entangle had taken the fight out of it. When it was freed from his vines, the beast slumped to the ground. Instead of attacking, it simply sat down. It held its head between its hands with an expression of existential dread, shrieking like a banshee all the while. The nymph kept right on screaming, wailing like a child whose puppy had died. Without the beast¡¯s mana to sustain them, its vines turned to dust a few heartbeats later, freeing him as well. Edge rose to his feet and brushed off his hands, ready to end the fight. Looking at the piteous creature, he had to remind himself that this was a vicious predator. An aggressive carnivore that had been only too happy to eat him until just a few seconds ago. That it would seek its revenge the moment that it recovered from the traumatic shock. He needed to finish this fast, while the nymph was distracted by whatever [Extraction] had done. Even without its skill, it was a formidable foe. With its arm-spikes and teeth, it could beat him in a straight exchange of blows. He had to put it down. Besides, he hadn¡¯t been the one to pick a fight. He needed to cycle-up and had no qualms about murdering the beast for experience under the circumstances. Edge didn¡¯t have enough mana left to use elemental blade, let alone another combo using slash. He could always reactivate entangle. But he wasn¡¯t sure that he could finish the job with the strength of his arms alone. But he did have enough left in the tank to use slash by itself three or four more times. One of the advantages of basic skills was that while they had a low ceiling on their maximum power, they were extremely cheap to use. He ducked down to retrieve his weapon, then charged. Edge raised his blade high and then brought it down hard, using slash to bolster its momentum along the way. He¡¯d been hoping to end this in a single blow, but it wasn¡¯t fated to be that easy. A bare heartbeat before his weapon struck true, the nymph snapped out of its daze, snarling as it turned to face him. It was too late to dodge, but not to triage. The beast held up one arm, sacrificing its limb to save its head. The blade carved through in a great spray of sap, shearing through wood with an impact that Edge could feel in his bones. It cut off the nymph¡¯s hand and kept right on going, slicing into its leg before running out of steam. He let out a cry and kept right on chopping, putting everything that he had into one last assault. His opponent was severely wounded, barely able to fight back. Edge wasn¡¯t about to give the beast time to recover. He kicked it hard to keep it off balance. Then he slashed with his makeshift claw-sword two more times, using the last of his mana to power the strike. Although they had performed far beyond his expectations, the crude bindings broke on the first swing, and the reaver¡¯s claw started cutting into his flesh. After his final slash, the cuts were so deep that they were scratching his bones. Edge didn¡¯t care. He kept on chopping at the nymph¡¯s head using only the strength of his arms. Swinging until its body went limp, and the life faded from its eyes. He turned to face the other beast, only to see that it had perished from its wounds. It¡¯s over, he let out a shuddering sigh. Edge had won his hardest fight yet, earning a rank-two skill in the process. Chapter 33: Aftermath While it had been touch and go for a while, today had been a good day. Edge would celebrate his victory in the morning. But not just yet. In that moment, his exhaustion caught up with him, leaving black spots dancing before his eyes. His shoulders sagged as the adrenaline faded away, bringing the pain of his wounds back in full force. It would be a while before he had enough mana to power regeneration, which meant that he would have to tend to his injuries the old-fashioned way. Edge retrieved his knife and cut the remnants of his shirt into strips, wrapping them around his wounds to stop the bleeding. Then he sat down in the dirt while gasping for air. He was drained dry and utterly spent. But in the end, it wasn¡¯t too bad. His core¡¯s generation should be enough to heal his impressive collection of cuts and bruises sometime during the night. Until then, he would just have to bear it and try to get some sleep. He grabbed his pack and crawled between a pair of boulders, dragging his blood-splattered sword behind him. He set his back to the stone, then drank the last of the water in his canteen. As the world outside faded from grey to black, Edge curled into a ball and closed his eyes. He was out like a light less than five minutes later. He awoke before dawn feeling remarkably refreshed, although he was hungry enough to eat almost anything. But that minor inconvenience didn¡¯t dampen his enthusiasm. The deep cuts across his hands had sewn themselves shut while he slept. He had a quarter tank in his reservoir, since regeneration wasn¡¯t draining it anymore. His reserves would recover throughout the day, as his mana pores sucked in the magicytes flowing across the plains. He wasn¡¯t sure how long it would take for his tank to refill with his current attributes, but he would know the answer before long. After making sure that nothing nasty was lurking outside, Edge crawled out of the crevice. He pulled himself up on top of a boulder, where he had a good view of the grasslands below. He scanned his surroundings while stretching out, enjoying a body that was free from pain. There weren¡¯t even any bruises left from his battle with the nymphs. It was flat out amazing to have healed overnight. To restore in hours what would have taken weeks before. He was grateful for regeneration, along with every other skill he had. This is so cool. He realized that he was grinning from ear to ear, filled with satisfaction for the present and hope for the future. He was still at the start of his transformative journey, but his rapid recovery was undeniable proof that Edge wasn¡¯t ordinary anymore. Thanks to Skill-Eater, he had become something more. He knew that he was still wrapping his head around everything that had happened since the moment he¡¯d bound his core. Adapting to his new life one step at a time. He had far more questions than answers right now, but he was eager to start learning more. He couldn¡¯t even imagine how much he would continue to change over the days ahead, although the prospect of finding out had him bouncing with excitement. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. While it was fun to imagine the weeks to come, he turned his attention to the hour at hand. As he waited for it to grow light enough to pick his path, Edge reflected on everything he¡¯d experienced the day before, seeking to learn from his mistakes so that he didn¡¯t repeat them. He had done his best to survive the onslaught of the living storm, emerging from that gauntlet by the skin of his teeth. While the encounter had been far too close for comfort, he hadn¡¯t made any errors that he could see with the clarity of hindsight. The battle with the nymphs had been more of a mixed bag. Edge should have realized that he was being driven into an ambush before he was surrounded. He¡¯d failed to consider how suspiciously easy it had been to sense the burrowing creature. Hadn¡¯t noticed that it was driving him toward the boulders. I can¡¯t afford to lose focus just because I¡¯m in danger. I need to keep a level head. He had been too fixated on reaching favorable terrain to process the clues embedded in the situation. Letting his opponents get the drop on him and set the terms of the battle was a worst-case scenario. One he would avoid at all costs going forward. On a brighter note, the fight itself had gone well. He had put in a solid performance during the melee that followed, although digesting shadow step at just the right time had been a lucky break by any accounting. All in all, the melee had been a valuable experience, and Edge wouldn¡¯t get caught by the same trick twice. He¡¯d made a mistake, recovered his footing, then turned the situation around. He¡¯d won in the end and defeated his foes, learning more about his core along the way. Best of all, picking up entangle was exactly what he needed to round out his skillset. Especially since he¡¯d been able to advance it right away. It was a valuable tool that would help him [Extract] more skills in the days ahead. He had a long way to go if he wanted to survive on Ord. But he was satisfied with how far he¡¯d come over the last two days. Edge was still overwhelmed and stressed out from his ordeal. But his confidence was beginning to grow. In addition to picking up more good skills than anyone else at his stage, he was rapidly cycling-up his core. Raising his attributes while racing toward the threshold where Skill-Eater would evolve and grow even more powerful. On that note, I should see if I have more attribute points to spend. Edge summoned his Guide and opened his menus, bathed in a soft golden glow that only he could see. He must have been too out of it to notice the messages when he¡¯d finished off his opponents. Because as he had hoped, the battle had been sufficient to cycle-up his core. You have slain an enemy and gained experience. You have slain an enemy and gained experience. I don¡¯t need that popping up each time I score a kill. It¡¯s distracting, redundant, and kind of annoying. Edge opened the customization menu and disabled the enemy defeated notification, changing it to a soft beep instead. He simplified the skill acquisition message, leaving the other settings unchanged. Then he returned his attention to the good part of the message. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [5]. You have two attribute points awaiting allocation. Great. That¡¯s just what I was hoping to see. Now how do I want to spend them? Concept Art: Chapters 29-33 This is a big one, and should get us completely caught up the the present (including a few things from a little further back in the story). Next art chapter will be a little later, after the climax of the first arc. Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. The black chains Potential empowered variants for later (let me know which effect you like best) Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Inside Edge''s Core The revisor The reactor Shadow step Regeneration Slash (making these captivated me for some reason and now I want some IRL) Chapter 34: Perception Now that he¡¯d had time to think the matter through, Edge was confident that his strategy was sound. Until he evolved Skill-Eater to mid stage-one, he would use the points he gained from cycling-up to improve his energetic attributes. He needed to ramp up the power of his skills, and he needed to generate enough mana to use them whenever he wanted. None of that had changed. Coming close to death more times than he could count on one hand had, however, broadened his perspective. Given that he¡¯d been ambushed by predatory beasts and deadly magical weather all in the same day, he decided to take a brief detour before continuing down the path he had chosen. His energetic attributes could wait one more cycle. He opened his Guide and put both points into perception, so that nothing could sneak up on him so easily again. It would also help when hunting for skills, so Edge was sure that he was making a wise investment. When he made his selection, the potentia trapped in the unspent points was released. The crackling energy came flowing out, ready to permanently change his body. Half went surging into his head, and half into his sensory organs. When boosting amplification and generation, the sensations had been centered around his core. This time, the changes felt different. First, every inch of his skin started to tingle. Rather than granting him a vision, Edge¡¯s attention was drawn into his body, immersed in the input of all five senses. In between the drawing of one breath and the next, the buzzing stopped, and the world became sharper. Like a series of blurred lenses snapping into focus. A twenty percent increase in a sense¡¯s acuteness is a big difference, adding considerable depth and detail. A twenty percent boost to every sense, is something else entirely. Holy shit. This is incredible. Edge¡¯s jaw dropped in astonishment. He stood there, taking it all in, feeling closer to the world than he ever had before. Everything he looked at evoked a sense of wonder, like he was seeing it for the first time. He could make out every blade of grass. The rich patterns texturing the clouds above, and the intricate whirls of his fingerprints when he looked down at his hands. He could smell the sweet perfume of flowers in bloom with a vibrancy that took his breath away. Feel the warmth of the sunlight on his skin with an intensity he¡¯d never known. Hear the complex music of wind stirring the grass and the rhythmic backbeat of blood pumping through his veins. And then of course, there was the magic of Ord. The dazzling bands of magicytes flowing across the plains. Shimmering layers, striating the soil and sky. This planet is beautiful. I feel so alive. It made him wonder how much more Ord had to show him. Sensations and delights that he had never known. Edge had a hunch that there was a whole hidden world out there. Things to feel and see, smell and hear, that he had never even imagined. Not to mention taste. He had already had some incredible culinary experiences since waking up on this planet. Now, his next meal should be even better. The extra information was disorienting at first. It would normally have taken weeks to adjust to the changes. But then his brain began filtering out the unimportant bits, preventing him from being overwhelmed by sheer sensory overload. Another benefit of raising perception, on top of boosting the raw power of his sensory organs. Half an hour later, Edge was starting to adapt to his upgraded senses. The crisp focus and rich filigree. It was, in a word, amazing. Once I reach stage-one, I¡¯ll have to get more. While he finished getting used to the changes, he pondered what he should do next. He was still heading for town, but he was no longer certain how long the journey would take. He had to be prepared to survive in the wild for at least a few more days. Before he started laying down plans, he decided to check out his profile. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Personal statistics: Edge Vasher Physical attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits)
Power: 1 (2) Reflex: 1 Endurance: 2 Perception: 3
Speed: 2 (3) Control: 1 (2) Durability: 2
Energetic attributes
Generation: 4 Amplification: 4 Disruption: 1
Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater] Stage: 0. Cycle: 5/7. Rarity: Unique. Category: Unique. Attribute points per cycle: 2. Ultimate ability: Extraction (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours. Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own. Core trait: Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement]. You can no longer acquire skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. Skills Skill slots 6. Unused slots 1. Known skills Slash (basic): rank 1. Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. Entangle: rank 2 (common). Path: durability. Create burrowing vines to bind your foes. Elemental blade [ice] (uncommon): rank 1. Create a subzero blade of ice. Regeneration [limited] (uncommon): rank 1. Rapidly heal wounds. Limited regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed. Shadow step (rare): rank 1. Transform into shadows. Traits Trait slots: 2. Unused slots: 1. Trait: Triple tap. You¡¯re either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You won a fight against three opponents that were two stages higher than yourself, and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each. Effects: + 10% to power, speed, and control (minimum gain of 1). Implants (none) System currency Credits: 0 Mortium: 1 Damn, Edge. That¡¯s some serious growth. If you can survive the next few days, gear up, and start eating more skills that synergize with the ones you already have, you might just make it after all. On that note, he turned his attention to his immediate needs. One way or another, it was time to start crossing the plains before his luck ran out. Although his body was feeling much better, Edge was still recovering from his latest fight. He was low on mana and sleep deprived. His makeshift sword had come apart, and his clothes were so shredded that he was practically naked. He had no charges of [Extraction] to steal more skills, and he wasn¡¯t in shape for another fight regardless. All that was left was to pick his path and be on his way. His boulder had an excellent view of the southern plains. But the hill was blocking his view to the north, the direction he was headed. He hopped off the rock and started climbing the hillside until he was standing on the crest. Edge turned his gaze to the north and took a long look around. He was glad that the vegetation in the region was relatively short, topping off at the height of his knees. After spotting nothing dangerous nearby, he charted a course that would avoid the bladed yellow grass and started walking down the hill. As he put the miles beneath his boots, he reflected on everything he¡¯d learned so far. I¡¯ll do better today. I¡¯ll pay close attention to my surroundings so that I don¡¯t get ambushed again. I¡¯ll use my upgraded senses to find something to eat and pick my next shelter a few hours before dark. Edge continued making his way back to town, his gaze on the horizon and his thoughts on the future. Chapter 35: Buffalo Three hours later, Edge found himself hiding within a mound of tall grass. He was careful not to move a muscle or make a sound while the buffalo crossed the plains a hundred yards ahead. It was a sizable herd, big enough to make the ground tremble beneath his boots. By his count, there were twenty stage-one adults, seven stage-zero calves, and a stage-two bull leading the march. While buffalo weren¡¯t predators, they were one of the most dangerous beasts on the plains, especially when traveling in a herd. Even a stage-one bull was a fearsome opponent. They were fifteen feet tall at the shoulder, covered in dense muscles that rippled as they walked, and armed with wickedly sharp horns as long as his body. Edge was sure that they already knew he was there. With that many beasts working together, several were bound to have skills that boosted their perception in one manner or another. The alpha can probably sense my presence without them, just from my scent and the sound of my breathing. If he didn¡¯t do anything to annoy them, the herd would probably leave him alone. Buffalo had a live and let live philosophy unless you got in their way. At least he didn¡¯t have to worry about frightening them into attacking. There was no way that a single beast would see him as a threat, let alone a score. Even most monsters gave the herds a wide berth, though the most mindless and crafty hunted calves on occasion. When their natural power was combined with the various charging skills that all buffalo developed, not to mention multiple attribute-boosting auras they could stack when threatened, those horns could punch straight through steel plates. Flesh and bones wouldn¡¯t even slow them down. If you were foolish enough to harm a member of the herd, you wouldn¡¯t just be facing one of the giant beasts, you¡¯d suffer the wrath of them all. On the Ivory Plains, if you messed with the bull, you got the horns. A mistake that few creatures made a second time, if they managed to survive the first. Watching the giants cross the grasslands, forming a solid wall of muscle and horn, it was hard to imagine that they had begun as simple animals, not much bigger than the average Earth cow. Like many of the beasts that now called Ord home, the buffalo had migrated from one world to another, becoming something else entirely after generations of absorbing the planet¡¯s magic. It all began back in the early days of the age of expansion. Just a few decades after a comet rich in magicyte deposits crashed into the Earth, triggering an evolutionary change in every lifeform on the planet and rewriting the rules of the universe as we knew them. Within a generation, magic had become a way of life, spells and magtech replacing existing technologies in any number of ways. Why bother to design a ship that could sail between the stars when a portal could take you there in the blink of an eye? If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The AIs were an exception to that rule. Not only had they survived the onset of magic, they had thrived in the years that followed. Able to cast spells of mind-boggling complexity, Earth¡¯s AIs were able to do the one thing they never could before, directly influence the physical world. They began using magic to supplement their computational abilities, establishing themselves as the dominant force on the planet in less than a decade. Working in concert with their digital overlords, humanity had learned how to access the intragalactic teleportation network. Those ancient energetic conduits, whose origins are shrouded in mystery to this day, let us cross the space between worlds in seconds instead of centuries. They granted access to thousands of inhabitable planets, which brought Edge back to the subject of beasts. Back then, we would travel from one colony to another, without following any of the contamination protocols that are in place today. Many animals from Earth, both intended and not, made their way to Ord by hitching a ride on the shipments we sent through the portals. After being exposed to the planet¡¯s concentrated magic, the survivors evolved the capacity to ignite cores, gradually transforming into the beasts we know today. Although there were some for the first few centuries, all uncored animals eventually died off. Organisms without cores simply couldn¡¯t compete, since all life native to Ord was cored from the start. In modern times, the word animal refers to a stage zero-beast. Creatures just starting out on their transformative journeys. Beasts don¡¯t have the same type of power cores that people do, but they serve the same purpose, transforming magicytes into mana to power a vast range of skills. Instead of a magtech implant, they can grow their own, core-like organ without requiring the System¡¯s intervention. It¡¯s the reason why beasts transform over time, growing stronger with each new stage. These mutations enabled domesticated beasts to become a powerful tool for settling the planet. They provided highly nutritious, magicyte-containing food and could defend uncored colonists from dangerous critters. With beasts at their side, humanity was able to protect the capital and the surrounding biomes, kicking off a century of prosperity before the System arrived and changed everything. But that was a story for another day. By now, the herd was only thirty yards in front of him, but they had already turned and weren¡¯t heading his way. Edge still had a few minutes before it would be safe to move, and any nearby predators would remain hidden until the buffalo were gone. It meant that he had a moment to himself when he didn¡¯t have to watch his back so closely. He took advantage of the opportunity to ponder a problem that he hadn¡¯t been able to solve. He still needed to decide what he was going to tell everyone when he got back to town. It was important that he didn¡¯t do anything that would make people suspect that he¡¯d found a unique core. Someone might try to draft him into their service or decide to kill him before he grew strong enough to become a threat. Edge was going to have to hide the existence of Skill-Eater, or he¡¯d wind up finding trouble that he couldn¡¯t talk his way out of. But how should I craft the deception? It wasn¡¯t just his ultimate that he had to lie about. Showing more skills than most people could slot would make it plain as day that something strange was going on. Even shadow step would draw unwanted attention. Obtaining a rare skill was unheard of for an early stage-one individual, let alone a stage-zero, especially considering all the other commons and uncommons that he¡¯d acquired. Edge rubbed his chin while watching the buffalo graze, trying to fashion a lie that would stand the test of time and keep his head on his shoulders. Chapter 36: Deception Edge began by reviewing everything that he knew about cores. He had been following the Prison World broadcasts for decades, with each tourist¡¯s puppet serving as a channel for the feed. As a result, he knew a lot about how basic cores functioned, and many of the common variants too. Power cores are a type of magtech known as living artifacts. Machines capable of refining themselves over time. Cores grant incredible power as they evolve, doled out at key milestones known as cycles and stages. Whenever a core acquires enough experience, it creates potentia, allowing its bearer to grow stronger in the aspect of their choosing. Each release of transformative power completes a cycle, commonly referred to as cycling-up one¡¯s core. The explosive growth provided by attribute points lets a core wielder perform at increasingly superhuman levels over time. This is the first of three reasons that cored individuals are so dangerous compared to ordinary people. Another reason why the cored are so feared is due to the second change that binding a core brings about, core evolution. Each time that a core goes through a number of cycles determined by its type, it gains the ability to mutate into something stronger. After reaching the final cycle and meeting conditions unique to each variant, cores can evolve and reach a higher stage. This process isn¡¯t well understood, despite a staggering amount of time and money spent analyzing it from the outside. While the details are murky, there are some rules that apply to all known cores. Uncored individuals are limited to two skill slots. When a person binds a stage-zero core they gain one more, and that is only the beginning. Evolving to the next stage increases the skill slots on the core by a number equal to its new stage plus one, allowing for complex and synergistic skillsets. Additionally, every time that a core reaches the next stage, it grants more attribute points per cycle and its ultimate becomes more powerful. Ultimate abilities are the third and final power granted by cores. They come in two broad categories, active and passive abilities. Active ultimates are more powerful in any given moment but have limitations on their use. Passives are always on, and thus utterly reliable under any circumstances. The exception to this dichotomy is the variant known as basic cores. Basic cores have no ultimate abilities unless they evolve into another type at later stages. But that doesn¡¯t mean they are worse than rarer cores. Basic cores grant an extra attribute point per cycle and have less restrictions for completing each stage. As any fan of the feed knows well, some of the most dangerous people on Ord started off with a basic core. Taking all of that into account, Edge needed to find a way to make his skillset seem normal, starting with which powers he would choose to reveal. Since how he obtained skills and ranked them up was completely unique, he had to come up with a plausible way to conceal the truth. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. He needed to decide what to show and what to hide right from the start, so that his deception wouldn¡¯t fall apart within days. I¡¯ll figure out the details before I get to town. It¡¯s time to start moving again. By this point, the herd was retreating into the distance, leaving manure and chewed grass in their wake. It¡¯s too bad I don¡¯t have the equipment to store their shit. I¡¯d be able to make some easy money. But there wasn¡¯t any point in worrying about his credits right now. He¡¯d work on generating an income during the next stage of his plans. By now, he had figured out where he was. Edge needed to cross two final sub-biomes and the river running between them, and he would make it back to town. The first was a stretch of swampy soil that ran along the south side of the river. The water wasn¡¯t deep, and the earth was covered in thorny bushes instead of grass. But there was lots of mud and shallow ponds. The soft ground would slow him down, and he would have to watch out for attacks from beasts living in the pools as well as the river. On the bright side, it wasn¡¯t a large area to cross. Edge should make it through within a half day¡¯s travel, if he could find one of the bridges spanning the waterway. The second sub-biome was the Sea of Grass. It was a place where the stalks grew to nearly twice their usual height, topping off well above his head. The only way to penetrate the dense foliage was to walk along the paths that had been carved into the verdant growth. It was a dangerous region, where predators could ambush him with ease. But it would take days to go around the long way. Time that he didn¡¯t have under the circumstances. Edge needed to fill his belly with something more substantial than an occasional root or berry. On that note, he started walking, keeping the fingers behind him to guide his path. His priorities were speed and stealth. He would eat more skills along the way if the opportunity presented itself, but he couldn¡¯t [Extract] more until the sun was ready to set. Edge wasn¡¯t ready to take on another stage-one opponent yet regardless, or anything with a good skill for that matter. Not until he had a full tank of mana and something better than his shredded clothing for armor and a sword that would cut him almost as deeply as his opponent. He also needed to think about what kind of skills he wanted to acquire. Although he could obtain them far easier than anyone else on the planet, he only had so many slots on his core. Right now, he only had one empty socket and he needed to make it count. Unless he came across a skill that he already had, it made sense to acquire something better than the starter skills that most low-stage beasts developed. Going forward, he needed powers that packed a punch and that synergized with each other. A comprehensive, well-rounded package that would maximize his odds of surviving in the short-term and lead him to steady growth in the long. After he made it back to town and was fully prepared, Edge needed to cycle-up two more times and evolve his core to stage-one, the minimum required to survive in the wild without being part of a team. When he did, he would gain five more skill slots, which meant that he had six more skills to pick out over the near-term. The miles passed beneath his boots while his mind was hard at work. By now, Edge had reached the border of the wetlands. Although he had to pick out a winding path that would take him past the countless pools, visibility was good, and food was easy to find. While he planned out the next stage of his growth, he stopped to pick any berries or mushrooms that he recognized along the way. Unfortunately, they were just the normal kind and not mana-seeds, but it was still far better than being hungry. He kept one eye out for ambush predators as he continued walking northeast. But so far, he hadn¡¯t run into anything more menacing than mosquitos and songbirds. Edge hoped that the rest of his trip back to town would remain blessedly uneventful, although he had a sinking feeling that it wasn¡¯t going to be that easy. Chapter 37: Spawn Since he had a pretty good idea of where he was by this point, Edge was able to find the river without too much trouble. He spent the next few hours crossing the wetlands and found himself standing beside its muddy banks by the time that the sun was hanging low in the sky. That was easy enough, but where do I go from here? There were two bridges across the river that he knew of, but only one was safe to cross. The other had been gradually falling apart for years. He¡¯d heard that the last cart that tried to use it had fallen through instead. Although it would still be better than wading through the shallows, given the prevalence of aquatic predators in the area. The problem was, Edge wasn¡¯t sure if he was east or west of the good bridge right now, or the bad bridge for that matter. He couldn¡¯t see any sign of either when he looked out across the water, so he eventually decided to head west. Walking upstream would be slightly safer. If anything living in the river decided to attack, it would have to fight against the current to chase him, giving Edge more time to get away if he saw it coming. His decision made, he began following the riverbank from the marshlands. He made his way carefully, staying far enough away that he didn¡¯t have to worry about being hit by skills from creatures dwelling below the waterline. While he still had a long hike ahead of him, Edge set out with a spring in his step. He was eager to escape the Ivory Plains and sleep in a bed for the first time since his new life had begun. He found himself growing more excited by the footfall. He had already crossed a fair chunk of the biome over the last two days, and he¡¯d managed to cycle-up his core and gain some good skills far faster than he had dared to hope. After finding himself stranded on the most dangerous planet in the sector, stuck inside an uncored puppet and standing at the bottom of the food chain, it seemed that things were finally looking up. Through luck, skill, and sheer persistence, Edge had come out the other side of one close brush with death after another. On top of everything else, he had just spotted a small beast darting into a nearby bush. He was planning to catch it and eat it. Maybe even steal a skill if it seemed like it had anything good. While smaller creatures weren¡¯t likely to have a combat skill, they often had powers that could prove useful in other ways. I hope that it has something that can enhance my movement or perception, or perhaps something to help reduce my presence. Maybe surviving on Ord won¡¯t be so bad after all. That was the moment when a premonition of danger washed over him. An icy chill ran down his spine, like the reaper had just stepped onto his front porch and was knocking at the door. He realized that the world around him had grown eerily silent over the last few minutes. The animals and beasts had gone to ground. Even the buzzing of the insects seemed subdued. When he took a deep breath, Edge caught the scent of rotting meat riding the breeze. The same rancid reek he had smelled just before obtaining his core. He ducked behind a cluster of dense brush, just as something monstrous appeared along the southern border of the wetlands. Creatures whose movements were shrouded in shadow. Edge took in the profiles of muscular bodies covered in feathers, punctuated by serrated yellow beaks and long black claws. Shadowreavers, five of them. Judging from their size, the reavers were still stage-one. They were smaller than the towering monster he¡¯d fought in the temple, birdlike creatures about the same height as himself. Although they were broader at the shoulders and far more massive. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. They were plenty big enough to drive their claws straight through him. Unless he got the drop on them, any one of the approaching monsters could end his life with ease. Against all five, Edge had no chance at all. He had to hide and escape the moment that an opportunity appeared. If the reavers found him, they were going to end his day in the worst possible way. They must be the spawn the stage-two reaver left behind in its lair. But why are they ranging this far out from their territory? They must have passed by countless beasts on the way here, many of which would be easy prey. He knew in that instant that the only possible answer was that they were stalking him. That the monsters had found his trail and tracked him across the plains. His suspicions were confirmed when they bent down to sniff at the ground, following the same path he had taken toward the river. Edge was fortunate that the reavers hadn¡¯t caught up to him while he was sleeping, but now his luck had run out. They are tracking shadow step. When the thought crossed his mind, it was almost like someone had been speaking to him, rather than his own observation. That aside, everything made sense if the monsters¡¯ behavior had something to do with [Extracting] shadow step, the reaver¡¯s rare skill. He didn¡¯t know much about monster ecology, since it was a subject that was restricted by the System on the feed. Even if he did, stealing skills with Skill-Eater was an entirely unknown variable. Almost every aspect of his core was still a total mystery. Maybe they needed to kill him to gain the power for themselves. Perhaps it would help them to evolve more quickly. Maybe they had enjoyed the taste of his flesh or were out for vengeance for killing their sire. Edge supposed that it didn¡¯t really matter. In the end, the result was the same. Five powerful monsters were hunting him, and they were already far too close. The only good news was that they hadn¡¯t spotted him yet. Every other aspect of his situation fell somewhere between bad and worse. Half the world was already barred off, since his back was to the water. There was no way to escape in that direction and little cover in which to hide. Trying to swim across the river was a veritable death sentence, although he would try it if left with no other choice. Edge wasn¡¯t sure if shadow step would take him along the bottom of the river or let him float across the surface. Either way, he would run out of mana well before he reached the far side, leaving him stuck in the water and totally defenseless. And for all he knew, the shadowreavers could swim faster than he could. Even if he were able to break through or sneak past the approaching monsters, they were clearly following his scent and fast enough to keep up with him as he crossed the plains. He couldn¡¯t outrun them or take them in a fight. They were headed his way fast, drawing closer by the heartbeat to the bush he was huddling behind. They would find him within a few minutes at most. Try as he might, Edge couldn¡¯t think of any way out of his predicament. None of his skills could save him. Trying to use slash or elemental blade would get him killed for sure. Entangle or shadow step might buy him time. But he suspected that the reavers could cut through his vines and would catch up within seconds either way. Edge needed to find a way to shake them off his trail and he needed to do it now. He watched on in horror as the reavers approached his location. Two hundred feet. One hundred. He wracked his brain, coming up with and discarding a dozen plans out of hand. None of them were good enough and he was running out of time. Fifty feet. By now, the monsters had spread out, poking their beaks into the bushes that they passed along the way. Soon, they were only a few dozen feet away, and one was heading right for him. Fuck. Oh fuck. What do I do? Just when Edge was deciding that he would have to plunge into the river and take his chances, he felt something brush against his leg. Something soft and warm and covered in fur. Half a heartbeat later, it was gone. He couldn¡¯t see anything nearby, but he knew what had happened. The beast that I was hunting is in here with me. It must have some manner of stealth-based skill after all. In that moment, he knew that he had a better option than fleeing with shadow step. Something that could help him evade the monsters¡¯ notice, both now, and during his journey to Puppet Town. But if wanted to take advantage of what he''d discovered, Edge had to work fast. There wasn¡¯t a second to spare. Chapter 38: Conceal Edge shut out his awareness of the monsters converging on his position. Ignored the pounding of his heart and the electric cascade of adrenaline flowing through his veins. He forced himself to look away, pouring every scrap of his attention into scanning the ground by his boots. There was no way that he could spot a beast using a stealth skill with his current perception. But that wasn¡¯t the only way to figure out where it was. He studied the layout of the intertwining branches and roots, looking for the perfect place for something small to hide. It will want to have some kind of cover over its head, and a way to see what¡¯s happening outside. Just as the reaver arrived at the other side of the bush and began circling around, he saw it. A gap under a thick root near his boot, with a bowl-shaped depression below. Gambling that his guess was right, Edge didn¡¯t hesitate. Trying not to make a sound, he raised one foot and then brought his boot down hard, right on top of the hollow. He felt the wet crunch of bones breaking and a fleshy sense of resistance. A heartbeat later, a rabbit-like beast appeared. Its fur changed color from a perfect match to its surroundings to a dull grey. His heart leapt into his throat when he saw the blood pouring from its nose. He was terrified that he¡¯d used too much force and killed the creature by mistake. But then he saw it twitch. It¡¯s seriously messed up, but alive. I can still make this work. By now, the monster was rounding the bush, and the others weren¡¯t far behind. He could see the tip of its yellow beak poking through the branches. Edge only had seconds to spare before it found him. He had to work fast. Extraction. He willed his core¡¯s ultimate to activate while reaching toward the wounded creature, urging his chains to be as quiet as they could. It seemed that Skill-Eater could sense his intentions or had another way of understanding what was going on. Instead of bursting from his wrists this time, the chains slipped softly out of his flesh. They crossed the final few inches between his hands and the beast¡¯s body, then slid inside its core, drawing his awareness along for the ride. It looked like some manner of sprawling underground burrow, with tasty mushrooms and roots growing everywhere. At first, the core appeared completely empty. But then Edge realized that a concealment skill would probably be hard to spot in this strange space too. Although the skill was invisible to his eyes, Skill-Eater knew exactly what to do. He wasn¡¯t sure what was going to happen until chains spread out and swung across the area, dragging themselves along the dirt until they touched something solid. The living links grabbed hold and pulled the skill out, dropping it into his mouth the moment that he was back in his body. For once, he couldn¡¯t feel anything on his tongue. I¡¯m not falling for that. He followed his chains¡¯ example as the monster crossed the final few feet, sniffing at the air with increasing enthusiasm. Edge started smushing his tongue and teeth around until they bit into something that he hadn¡¯t sensed at all. The subtlest of flavors broke over his palate, like the ghost of a memory of a taste. He caught an impression of standing unseen in the middle of a crowd, before the skill slid down his throat and fell into his core. You have extracted the skill: Conceal (common, rank 1). Would you like to slot it now? This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Yes. Do it fast or we¡¯re dead. When he was drawn inside his core, Edge willed everything to proceed as quickly as possible. Even in this strange place where time ran slow, his was almost up. Responding to his urgency, something blurry locked into his last empty skill slot. He snapped back into his body, just as the reaver squawked and surged into motion. The instant that the skill was ready, he activated conceal. Mana went gliding across his skin, just as a serrated yellow beak erupted through the side of the bush. The living weapon went streaking past his head, missing his nose by an inch before plunging into the ground between his boots. The razor-sharp bill pierced the beast¡¯s side, then pulled it out of the brush. The shadowreaver spread its beak wide, tearing the carcass in half before swallowing the grisly prize. There was a series of screeching hisses as the pack of monsters fought for the last bloody bite. Then they started searching for Edge again, passing by him so closely that they almost touched his arms. Several stopped to stare straight at him, trying to figure out why his trail had gone cold. When he digested the skill, he had learned more about it. Conceal erased his scent and heat signature on top of helping him blend into the background, but it wouldn¡¯t work if he moved. He knew from how he¡¯d found the beast that if the monsters made contact, they would feel him and figure out what was going on. Edge remained perfectly still, not daring to breathe as the confused monsters passed him by over and over again, their beaks coming within inches of his body on several occasions. They circled the bush at least a dozen times, unable to figure out how they¡¯d lost the trail when his scent had been growing stronger until a few seconds ago. Conceal devoured mana at a moderate rate. He could only keep it running for a few more minutes before his reserves ran out, leaving him even worse off than before. Fortunately, the reavers moved on before that happened. They gave up and disappeared into the distance, leaving Edge alone with his heart hammering in his chest and a dilemma on his hands. That was way too fucking close. I can¡¯t keep this skill up every time they draw near. I don¡¯t have enough generation for something like that. What am I going to do? As soon as the reavers were out of sight, he turned and started running in the opposite direction, desperate to make the crossing before the monsters returned. It was an outcome that felt inevitable by this point. If they were tracking shadow step residing within his core, he couldn¡¯t count on them giving up or being distracted by other prey. Conceal had been enough to save him once. But the more he used it, the more likely it became that the reavers would figure out what was happening. And if the monsters saw him before he was able to turn it on, they would find him and tear him apart. It seemed that Edge had to make it back to town even faster than he¡¯d thought. He prayed that the fiends couldn¡¯t see in the dark, or they would catch up to him no matter what he tried. Either way, if he wanted to live, he had to open some distance before they found his trail and started hunting him again. With his life hanging in the balance, he ran until sweat poured down his body and his feet began to ache, throbbing with every step he took. Although it was tempting, he couldn¡¯t afford to heal them with regeneration right now. He needed every drop of mana he had in case the shadowreavers showed up again. Edge sipped from the river when his canteen ran out, gambling that it was clean enough to drink. Not that he had much choice. The consequences of being caught were too great to worry about an upset stomach tomorrow. Despite his best efforts, the monsters found him again twice over the next half hour. Every time that he stopped to rest for more than a few minutes, the reavers appeared, drawing near before conceal erased his presence and they lost track of his scent. He could tell that they were learning with each new encounter, staying relatively close instead of ranging further out. When the last of the light began to fade, he started looking for shelter. He couldn¡¯t use conceal while he slept, but his reservoir would refill overnight. He fervently hoped that the monsters couldn¡¯t stalk him in the dark. I need to hole up somewhere that they can¡¯t reach me easily, in case they come while I¡¯m asleep. Ten minutes later, Edge found something that would work. He climbed into the branches of a tall tree surrounded by short white grass. It was a place where he could see the reavers¡¯ black bodies contrasting against the pale growth, even by the light of the moon. He stared into the distance until the world grew dark, jumping at every creaking branch and shifting shadow. He sent his awareness into his nose and ears, relying on them to let him know if he was in danger. But nothing appeared after another nervous hour. It seems that the monsters aren''t active at night after all. Edge didn¡¯t think that he would sleep at all, but he eventually drifted off and began to dream. Chapter 39: Chase Edge slept like shit that night, lost in memory and scattered fragments of dreams. Every cry in the distance, each gust of wind stirring the canopy, brought him back to full alertness with his heart hammering in his chest. He was groggy and miserable by the time that the sun began to rise. But at least he¡¯d recovered enough magicytes to use his skills if the reavers found him, improving his odds of surviving the next encounter by a fair margin. Investing in generation was really paying off, and he was glad that he¡¯d put three points into the attribute early on. Edge climbed down from the tree and continued his journey. He was tired enough that he was having a hard time paying attention to his surroundings. His bleariness made the situation even more dangerous than it already was. But things would only get worse if he didn¡¯t make it back to town before dark, so he put everything that he had into picking up his pace. Although he was ravenous by this point, he couldn¡¯t afford to stop and forage with the reavers on his tail. He took a swig from his canteen, gritted his teeth, and pressed on ahead, keeping an eye out for something to eat along the way. The monsters showed up again a few hours later, when Edge was making his way through another grove of purple trees. He noticed the silence descending upon the woodlands mere moments before the shadowreavers appeared, giving him just enough time to climb into the branches and activate conceal. The creepy bipedal birds followed his path all the way to the trunk, circling the base several times before peering up with their beady black eyes. Their sinuous tongues darted out from between their cruel yellow beaks, hunting for his scent on the breeze. For a terrifying moment, it seemed like the monsters would start climbing into the branches to take a closer look. But then they let out a chorus of frustrated squawks and left the way they had come, deciding that Edge had doubled back along his own trail instead of vanishing from view. That¡¯s honestly not a bad idea. I should start trying to confuse them with conventional tactics, instead of relying on my skills alone. They¡¯re already getting better at tracking me. At this rate, it won¡¯t be long before the reavers figure out the dynamics of conceal and come up with an effective counter. Over the morning and through the afternoon, he tried every trick he knew to throw the monsters off his trail. Edge began hiding his tracks within those of beasts. Walking through streams to break up his scent. Doubling back along his own footprints, like the monsters had thought he had done before. None of it did more than delay their pursuit by a couple of minutes, gaining him scarcely more time than he spent in the process. It would have gone better if they were tracking the odor of his body, instead of the energetic signature of shadow step welling out from inside his core. By now, sleep deprivation and hunger were taking their toll, making it harder to plan out his next move. Not that Edge had much choice other than to soldier on and hope for the best. They aren¡¯t going to give up, and they keep finding my trail, even if they lose it for a while. I¡¯m running out of ideas and out of time. On a brighter note, he came across a bridge not long after. Better still, it was the one that was in good repair. He was able to cross the river without another ordeal descending upon his head. Once he was on the far side, he left the marshlands behind him and entered the region known as the Sea of Grass. A place where the vegetation was unusually tall and dense compared to the rest of the plains. He came up with a few final tricks as he crossed the last sub-biome between himself and town, mining the thousands of hours of Prison World footage he¡¯d watched for anything that might buy him a few more minutes. But nothing worked for long. The reavers came back every time, drawing closer and closer before they moved on. He had the sense that they had finally figured out what he was doing, vanishing from view instead of evading their pursuit. On their last approach, he had seen them coming from a ways off, giving his presence more time to dissipate before they found the end of his trail. Even still, it had been a near thing. The monsters passed him by so closely that he could have reached out and touched them. Edge was dead certain that the next time they found him, the cruel creatures would pinpoint his location. Even with conceal, they would find a way to flush him out. He needed to get behind the town¡¯s warded walls before they crossed his path again. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. After watching the shadowreavers throughout the day, he was sure that he couldn¡¯t take them in a straight fight. Maybe one or two if he had the element of surprise, but he had no chance whatsoever of killing all five. He doubted that he could outrun them for long either. Being caught again would be a fatal occurrence. Since he was out of options, Edge abandoned stealth in favor of speed. He started jogging along the trail leading through the tall grass as fast as he could without exhausting himself in the process. As he ran, he kept expecting the reavers to appear around the next bend. For them to step through the walls of grass surrounding him on both sides. To launch an attack from the concealment of the foliage, or box him in along a section of the path where he couldn¡¯t see them coming. To his immense relief, he was able to cross the last handful of miles without being ambushed again. He knew exactly where he was as he emerged from the Sea of Grass. He¡¯d watched tourists passing through the region countless times before. By now, Edge could see the profile of Puppet Town along the horizon, grateful to have open space around him for the first time in hours. Another half hour of running, and he would be safe at last. After being chased for days and enduring far too many close calls and near escapes, he was finally going to get away from the monsters that were stalking him. Just one short stretch and you¡¯ll cross the finish line. Then you can finally eat a real meal and sleep in a bed. Keep it together just a little longer, Edge. You¡¯ve got this. While he wasn¡¯t out of the woods yet, there was genuine reason for optimism. When he looked over his shoulder, he couldn¡¯t see any sign of the feathered fiends. Although his instincts were certain that they were somewhere nearby, relentlessly hunting the rare skill inside him. Still, it was a good omen. If his luck held out for just a few more minutes, he would be home free. I should let the sheriff know that monsters are in the area when I make it back to town. That was when Edge caught sight of movement in the distance, along one of the main roads running through the grasslands. At first, he thought it was the reaver¡¯s spawn appearing from an unexpected direction. But when he drew a bit closer, the shapes revealed themselves to be four people walking beside a large cart that was pulled by a pair of beasts. He realized that he recognized them from the feed, although he had yet to meet them in the flesh. That¡¯s Trapper¡¯s crew. Edge was debating whether he should sprint back to town and have the deputies sound the alarm, or to head out of his way to warn the crew himself, when he saw five shadowy figures emerging from the tall grass. The monsters were headed in his direction. But Trapper¡¯s team would wind up passing between them sometime over the next few minutes. They couldn¡¯t see the approaching creatures from that angle, not with a thick patch of nose-high grass blocking their line of sight. If everything played out the way he expected, the shadowreavers were going to run right into the hunters. While the reavers were looking for Edge, he was dead certain that they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to attack anything that crossed their path. The monsters were far stronger than most of the beasts on the plains, there were five of them, and they were going to hit Trapper¡¯s crew with no warning whatsoever. It would leave the hunters with no time to run or prepare for a fight. If he didn¡¯t help them, they were going to be slaughtered before they even knew what hit them. Bad luck, but it¡¯s not my problem. He continued running for town. I¡¯ll go get help and send reinforcements to save¡­ whatever is left of them by the time the deputies arrive. Ten seconds later, Edge stopped dead in his tracks. ¡°Shit. God damn it. I just can¡¯t do it.¡± He had no desire to risk his life for a stranger and wouldn¡¯t be willing to in most circumstances. But this wasn¡¯t just a random situation that he¡¯d stumbled across. The entire chain of events had been set into motion by his choices. None of it was Edge¡¯s fault. But if he left Trapper¡¯s team to die a horrible death, it would be on his head. He held no illusions that he was a good person, but he wasn¡¯t a bad one either. More importantly, he had a code that he lived by, even if it hadn¡¯t come up often in his old life. It was a bit more nuanced in practice, but it boiled down to this. ¡°Clean up your own mess and don¡¯t fuck over anyone who doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡± Edge didn¡¯t want to die, but he didn¡¯t want to abandon his principles either. On top of that, he just didn¡¯t have it in him to let four innocent people suffer because of his actions. Not to mention, if the monsters were able to devour several cored individuals, there was a good chance that some of them would evolve to stage-two, becoming a threat to the entire town. Besides, this is a great opportunity to pick up some experience and take my core to stage-one, earning some goodwill from one of the town¡¯s major players in the process. I might even be able to extract a skill or two without anyone catching on. He let out a sigh and steeled his resolve. ¡°Alright you feathered fucks. It¡¯s time for some payback.¡± His decision made, Edge began running toward Trapper, screaming his head off while waving his arms above his head. In addition to attracting her attention, he was hoping that one of the deputies guarding the walls would hear the commotion and sound the alarm. At first, Trapper didn¡¯t see him. When she did, she thought he was saying hello, offering a friendly wave back. But then she realized that Edge was battered and afraid. That he was pointing to the winding path ahead of her, then making an X with his arms with increasing desperation. She reached for her weapon while issuing orders to her crew. They began preparing their skills and assumed a combat formation, just as the reavers came around the bend and fell upon them in a tide of bladed limbs. Chapter 40: Sasha Sasha thrust her flaming spear at the monster¡¯s face, driving it back so that it couldn¡¯t lunge with its cruel yellow beak or disembowel her with its scissor-claws. It seemed to have an instinctual fear of fire, or she wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep up at all. The creature was fierce and far too fast to defeat with such a straightforward attack. But it pulled back long enough to circle around, buying her another few seconds of life. Beside her, Trapper was facing off against two of the feathered horrors at once, sword meeting claw in a frenzy of blows. The veteran hunter was holding her own for now. But she was already hard-pressed, and the battle had just begun. This was the worst scrap that Sasha had been in since she joined the crew. She wasn¡¯t sure that they would all be walking away from this one, assuming that anyone survived at all. There weren¡¯t even supposed to be any monsters in the region, let alone ones this strong. But everything had been thrown into chaos by the anomaly. The crew had thought that they would have more time before anything nasty began roaming this close to town. An assumption that might well be the last mistake they ever made. There was a very real chance that Sasha was about to die, trapped inside a body that wasn¡¯t her own. Buried on a planet that was light-years away from the world of her birth without ever seeing her family again. Everything would be different if this engagement were a true hunt, and the monsters their intended prey. Trapper¡¯s skills were best when she had time to prepare them on the ground of her choosing, and worst in a situation like this. A blind ambush where their opponents had fallen on them unaware. If they had been given even a few seconds to prepare, Trapper¡¯s crossbow and Riller¡¯s poison arrows could have helped to even the odds. But Sasha didn¡¯t have time to indulge in what-ifs at the moment. Not if she wanted to keep her blood inside her body. She had just enough time to cast her gaze across the battlefield, bracing her weapon and raising her shield, ready for when her opponent came darting back into range. Riller and Jumo were fighting shoulder-to-shoulder, trading blows with a fourth monster, while Lucky and Blue, the crew¡¯s trained beasts, were engaged with the fifth. The fight had only been going on for a handful of heartbeats, but Sasha already considered it a miracle that no one had taken a serious injury. The first monster to appear had almost decapitated Lucky. But Trapper leapt in front of it at the last possible moment, silver blade flashing in the sunlight as it caught the creature¡¯s claws. Then she had disengaged, scoring a wound along the monster¡¯s body that sent a spray of inky blood flying into the air, accompanied by a furious caw. That cry marked the beginning of a frantic melee. Only their training and time spent together had kept the crew from being overwhelmed already. But when fighting weapon to claw against powerful monsters they¡¯d never seen before, creatures who specialized in close range combat, it was only a matter of time before someone was killed. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Their only hope was that the deputy manning the wall saw what was happening and came running to the rescue. Even in a best-case scenario, they were going to have to hold out for several more minutes before anyone from town could arrive. Sasha was filled with a grim foreboding that help wouldn¡¯t make it in time. She stuffed that thought into a box and locked it away. Shut out the electric adrenaline cracking in her veins. The stench of rancid meat riding the breeze. Everything except the spear in one hand, the shield in the other, and the creature she needed to kill. It¡¯s too soon to lose hope. We have to hold them off for as long as we can. The problem was, in addition to being stronger than they were, the monsters were faster too. If the crew turned to run, the creatures would chase them down and fall upon them from behind, creating a situation even worse than the one they were in now. All such thoughts were driven from her mind a bare second later, when the monster she was fighting came rushing back in. It darted in low, trailing shadows like smoke that made its movement hard to follow. Sasha adjusted her shield and lowered the end of her weapon, trying to get the flaming tip aligned with its face. But the creature was ready for just such a move. It reached out with both arms, parrying her spear with one set of claws, and pulling her shield down with the second. Then it reared back, ready to lunge with its beak and pierce her chest like an arrow. Sasha tried to leap out of the way, but it was already too late. Her efforts were laughable in the face of the creature¡¯s overwhelming speed. The monster¡¯s beak streaked for her breastbone, so fast that its serrated edge became a ragged yellow blur. Before she had time to draw another breath, she would feel it tear into her flesh before perforating her heart. A fatal blow by any accounting. In that moment, time seemed to slow down, giving Sasha a final moment to reflect on what was likely to be the last second of her life. She could feel the sunlight on her skin. Smell the perfume of wildflowers on the breeze, contrasting with the acrid stench of death. She traveled through space in a glacial procession, although even slowed down, the monster moved fast. It tipped its head up as it completed its strike, adjusting its aim to home in on her heart. Just before its beak sliced into her flesh, she saw something arrive from the periphery of her vision. A tide of darkness moving even faster than the monster lunging to end her life. Sasha had just enough time to wonder what was happening before the shadows morphed into the figure of a man. A man holding some manner of weapon between his hands, arced over his shoulder and poised to strike. While she watched on, entranced by the slow motion scene playing out before her eyes, a stray thought flitted across her mind. He¡¯s actually kind of hot. The monster was moving at an incredible rate, but the man moved faster still. She could sense mana flowing into his arms, as he activated a skill in time with his swing. It multiplied the speed of his attack, transforming his weapon into a glossy black blur. The blade came down over her head in a midnight flash, shearing off a few hairs in passing. It went streaking toward the monster¡¯s jaws, just as time resumed its full course. Before anyone had time to process what was happening, the man¡¯s skill-bolstered swing struck true. His weapon parted the creature¡¯s beak and carved deep into its face. It sliced straight through its skull with a hollow thunk, erupting out the other side in a great spray of stinking blood the color of coal. The monster¡¯s body plowed into her, knocking her to the ground. But the blow that would have claimed her life never came. It seemed that Sasha wasn¡¯t going to die after all. At least not yet. Chapter 41: Rescue (Thirty Seconds Earlier) Edge pushed his body into a burst of speed, adrenaline burning away his exhaustion in an electric tide of anticipation. He could see the walls of Puppet Town in the distance, the promise of safety so close that it made him ache for the end to his prolonged ordeal. But that wasn¡¯t the way he was headed. Right now, he was running toward danger instead of away, sprinting straight for the group of monsters he had spent the last two days struggling to avoid. He laughed at the irony while reaching behind his back to pull the reaver¡¯s claw free from his pack. He had his doubts that he¡¯d made the right call. But he had decided to help, and he intended to follow through. The problem was, Edge wasn¡¯t sure that anything he could do would make a difference, even if he was willing to reveal some of the skills that he¡¯d been planning to keep secret. The monsters had only engaged Trapper¡¯s crew a few seconds earlier, and the group was already in trouble. The reavers had driven the hunters apart in their opening rush, preventing them from teaming up or preparing any skills. It was only a matter of time before their formation collapsed. The moment that happened, the feathered fiends would tear into the crew like a chainsaw through cheesecake. Although he was sprinting as fast as he could, Edge wasn¡¯t going to make it in time. Not unless he burned through a huge chunk of his mana using shadow step. The first time that he used the skill he had learned that in addition to changing his body, it let him move far faster than he usually could. It was wildly inefficient compared to a mobility skill. But if he was willing to start the fight without a full tank, he could cross the last two hundred feet in a fraction of the time it would take him otherwise. ¡°Fuck it.¡± Edge gathered his concentration and ignited his core. Mana went surging throughout his body and the change overcame him, the world fading away to a soft grey mist. He knew that his body and gear had turned into shadows, although he appeared solid to himself in this form. His speed tripled in an instant. In addition to not having any wind resistance, he weighed less than a wet cough, letting every step launch him forward. I come back down to the ground just like normal, so gravity is still affecting me. All of this was fascinating, but he would have to ponder the dynamics of his rare skill later. Right now, he needed to focus every scrap of his attention on arriving in time, and on planning out his next move before he got there. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Edge was only supposed to have a maximum of three skills at his stage. He would keep entangle and conceal in reserve unless he was left with no other choice. He had already come up with a plan to explain shadow step while the monsters were stalking him. He wasn¡¯t sure if it would work, but it was time to find out. As these thoughts passed through his head, he surged across the grass in a shadowy blur, the magicytes in his reservoir draining into his reactor at an alarming rate. He wasn¡¯t going to have a lot left in reserve by the time he arrived, so he needed to make every skill count. He wouldn¡¯t be able to use any combos this time, but he already had an alternative in mind. Now, which of the reavers do I want to fight first? While he covered the last stretch of ground, Edge cast his gaze across the battlefield, taking in the events that had occurred over the last handful of heartbeats. One of the monsters was facing off against the crew¡¯s beasts. The first looked like a blue triceratops a bit bigger than an Earth donkey. She was fast and strong. Even the monster gave way when she charged or gored. The other was a shaggy red bear about half the size of its companion. He was having a hard time getting close enough to attack, due to the reach of the monster¡¯s claws. But whenever it turned away, he darted back in to rend and chomp. Both the beasts were stage-one and armed with offensive skills. Edge recognized them from the feed, along with the rest of the crew. Lucky and Blue seem to be holding their own for now. In the middle of the hunters¡¯ formation, Trapper was fighting toe-to-toe against two of the reavers at once. The leather-clad leader was hard-pressed, unable to use her signature trap skills, which required some setup before they could be activated. But the veteran hunter was nearly stage-two and adept with her sword. She was holding both birdlike creatures at bay for the moment. Two men were fending off the advance of the fourth shadowreaver. Jumo was armed with a spear and wearing some manner of chitin armor, and Riller was equipped with a pair of long knives and leather clothing. He had a longbow strapped to his back, which was his primary weapon. He seemed to be looking for an opportunity to pull back from the fight long enough to draw it. That left the final member of Trapper¡¯s crew, an athletic woman with strawberry blond hair and piercing green eyes. She was wearing dark wooden armor and carried a burning spear, which had to be the manifestation of a skill that Edge wasn¡¯t familiar with. She¡¯s the newest member of the crew. I think her name is Sasha. It was clear that Sasha was skilled with her weapon. He had thought that she was holding her own too. But then the monster circled round and darted in low. She moved to counter its rush but was outmaneuvered instead. The reaver created an opening with its claws while preparing to lunge with its beak. The disarming technique caught Sasha by surprise, breaking through her guard and leaving her chest exposed. In another second or two, the reaver was going to activate its skill and land a killing blow. None of the crew could make it in time, but Edge just might have a chance. Chapter 42: Slash After surveying the battlefield, Edge knew exactly where he needed to appear. He closed the last few feet of misty terrain while raising his claw-sword over his head in a two-handed grip. Then he deactivated shadow step, still running at full speed. The world around him snapped back into focus, the colors crisp and bright compared to the muted tones he¡¯d seen during his approach. The reaver was standing right in front of him, poised to end Sasha¡¯s life in between the drawing of one breath and the next. He knew that he would come crashing to the ground a bare second later. His body wasn¡¯t strong enough or fast enough to decelerate cleanly at this speed. Before he fell or the monster could finish its lunge, Edge took one big step and brought his blade down hard. He put everything that he had into the attack, combining the extra power provided by slash with the strength of his arms and his considerable momentum. In that moment, he didn¡¯t know whose strike would land first. If he was about to save a life, or watch it be extinguished. To his relief, his weapon struck a fraction of a second faster, cutting the reaver down in a spray of putrid black blood. His high-speed slash hadn¡¯t cost extra mana. It was two skills used back-to-back, instead of a combo. It was a good thing, since shadow step had already claimed a huge chunk of his reserves. The impact twisted his torso, just as his foot came down. Edge stumbled and then toppled forward. He lost his grip on his blade as he went rolling across the battlefield, doing his best not to snap his neck along the way. ¡°What the fuck just happened?¡± Sasha asked with wide eyes, surprised to discover that she hadn¡¯t been killed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Trapper replied while evading the monsters¡¯ attacks. ¡°Focus on the fight and worry about everything else after we win. If we lose, it¡¯s not going to matter anyway.¡± Edge wasn¡¯t able to watch what happened over the next few seconds. All his attention was focused on breaking his roll without breaking his arms in the process. The earth and sky changed positions with every beat of his heart, until he spread his legs wide and went skidding in the grass, eating a mouthful of dirt along the way. The instant that he regained control over his momentum, he looked up, trying to find his weapon while checking in on the fight. He realized that his fingers hurt like hell. Without a makeshift grip, that one slash had cut his hands all the way down to the bone. But regeneration was already sealing the wounds, costing him more mana in the process. It had to be done. Start planning out your next move while you have the chance. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. By now, Sasha had moved to help Trapper, stopping one of the monsters from circling around to attack her from behind. Sasha seemed to have learned from her mistake. She was prioritizing her shield work over offense, keeping one reaver busy while Trapper dealt with the other. Ten feet over, the men had managed to cut the monster they were fighting, but Jumo had taken a nasty slice along his forearm in exchange. He was still able to wield his spear, but his power and precision had taken a hit from the injury. Riller was looking for an opening to use his bow, but he couldn¡¯t disengage from the reaver¡¯s relentless assault. On a brighter note, the beasts were kicking ass. Blue kept charging to keep the shadowreaver off balance, following up with a thrust of her horns. Meanwhile, the furry ursine circled around to the sides, chomping at the monster¡¯s legs to hamper its mobility. Those two might win their fight without me. I should deal with the other three monsters first. Edge only had enough mana for another dozen slashes. Maybe ten seconds of elemental blade if he timed it just right. He couldn¡¯t afford to heal himself any more right now, so he deactivated regeneration. He would just have to deal with the pain until the fight was over. He needed to put himself where he would do the most good, without getting his guts carved out for his trouble. Right now, the best thing he could do was distract the reaver fighting the men, so that Riller could unlimber his bow and switch to his weapon of choice. Edge rose to his feet and picked up his blade, then started heading over to help tip the scales in their favor. Before he could close the distance, the monster went in for the kill. It drew its head back and took aim, murderous intent gleaming in its beady black eyes. Its cruel yellow beak went surging forward half a heartbeat later, as the monster activated its lunge. Edge thought that the attack would break through the spear-wielder¡¯s guard. Instead, he had a chance to witness a skill counter, his first time seeing one with his own eyes. Before the reaver¡¯s beak crossed the halfway point between them, Jumo activated a skill of his own, which was also a lunge by Edge¡¯s best guess. Mana swirled around Jumo¡¯s arms and the monster¡¯s head, as natural and manufactured weapons sped toward one another with incredible force. With a hearty thwack they collided and then came apart, their momentum carrying both combatants a few feet past each other before they regained control. Spotting an opening, Edge rushed in from behind and swung his blade, scoring a shallow slash along one of the reaver¡¯s muscular arms. It spun to claw him with disheartening speed. But the moment that it looked away, Jumo¡¯s spear darted back in, forcing the monster to turn aside. By now, the other man had reached for his bow, taking aim while putting an arrow to the string. Riller took a step back while activating an ability that made the tip of his arrow glow green, likely some manner of poison or disabling skill. He drew back his bowstring and fired, catching the reaver in the meat of its shoulder. The monster hissed, but it didn¡¯t go down. Hopefully, that skill will take effect quickly. The reaver is still in the fight for now, but that¡¯s a promising development. Since it seemed like the men could finish their opponent without him, Edge turned to help Trapper. Only to discover that the crew¡¯s leader didn¡¯t require his assistance after all. Concept Art: Trappers Crew The end of this arc has a lot going on, so I decided to split the art chapters. This one is just Trapper''s crew, I''ll drop the next one after the climax. Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. Sasha (in a few different styles) If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Trapper Lucky Blue (both realistic and anime forms) Riller Jumo (full and half chitin plate styles) Chapter 43: Bladewire Trapper reached behind her back, detaching something from her pack in a motion that had become smooth as silk through repetition. The instant that her attention was divided, the closest monster rushed in for the kill. It sent mana surging into its claws along the way, completing a skill combo as it closed the distance. The reaver¡¯s claws spread wide as they came up from below, mana congealing along their length as it activated the second skill. Likely disembowel, given the angle of the attack. Edge thought that he was about to watch the creature¡¯s black blades carve through Trapper¡¯s guts like a welding torch through a tub of butter, but that was not what happened. By the time that the monster began its disembowel, Trapper was already swinging her arm back around, gathering momentum along the way. She tossed what she was holding straight into the monster¡¯s path. The mesh spread out in an instant, revealing itself to be some manner of net. The reaver must have understood what was happening, because it aborted its attack and tried to dodge. But Trapper¡¯s move caught it by surprise, and it couldn¡¯t get away. The steel net enveloped the monster and wrapped tight around its body. The weighed cables pulled its arms down to its side and bound one leg in the weave. Then its momentum caught up to it, and the creature went down hard. Edge had thought that the net was merely a restraint. But then he saw that blood was draining from the shadowreaver¡¯s body like a river of ink. When he looked closer, he realized that each of the metal lines forming the net was covered in jagged serrations along their interior. That¡¯s not just a net, it¡¯s bladewire. It had to be incredibly sharp, because the woven wires sliced into the monster¡¯s body. Every time that it flexed its muscles trying to get out, the bladewire bit deeper still. The monster screamed and flailed as it tried to break free, lacerating itself with every move it made. But even that wasn¡¯t enough to stop it. The reaver brought its claws up and one set of talons. It braced all three limbs against the tension of the wire, and then pressed as hard as it could. With a groan of tortured metal, the net pulled apart in a series of snaps as the thin bands were stressed beyond their limits. The monster cried out in triumph and rose to its feet, ready to claim its revenge. Before it could finish untangling itself, Trapper was standing at its side. She took aim with her sword and then lunged with expert precision, penetrating the creature¡¯s eye, throat, and chest in three blurringly fast jabs. It didn¡¯t seem to be a skill, but a show of pure technique, leaving Edge in awe of the woman¡¯s ability. The fiend let loose one final scream and came crashing down a second time, dead before it hit the ground. During the handful of heartbeats it took for those events to play out, Edge moved to engage the reaver with an arrow sticking out of its shoulder. It had broken away from Riller and Jumo, trying to skirt the battlefield to hit Trapper from behind. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Edge stepped into the monster¡¯s path. He took a swing without using a skill to stop it in its tracks, conserving the last of his mana to land a killing blow. Jumo rushed in and launched an attack from the side, poking another hole in the monster while its attention was divided. While the two of them engaged the poisoned creature, everyone else focused on the uninjured reaver standing beside Sasha. With three on one, they should be able to dispatch it quickly, then deal with the one fighting the crew¡¯s beasts. This battle is going better than I hoped. We should be out of the woods before much longer. It sounded good in his head, but the monsters had other plans. The reaver in front of Trapper broke away in a flash, dodging a pair of Riller¡¯s poisoned arrows in the process. It must have activated a skill along the way, because the monster began leaving shadows in its wake like smoke from a torch, making it hard to track its position. For a moment, Edge thought that the birdlike creature was using the same rare skill that he had. But then he noticed that the ground was torn and scuffed wherever its talons came down. That isn¡¯t shadow step. It isn¡¯t incorporeal right now. Sasha jabbed at the monster with her spear, trying to trip it up and keep it from getting away. Her burning weapon only struck its blurry afterimage, allowing the creature to converge on the red beast in time with its kin. While the other monster attacked from the front to divert both beasts¡¯ attention, the newly arrived reaver sprang. It launched itself into the air, trailing shadows all the while. It landed on Lucky¡¯s back and dug in with its talons, anchoring itself to the space where bear¡¯s rear legs met its spine. Trapper, Jumo, and Sasha ran to help, but it was going to be a few more seconds before they arrived. Time that Lucky didn¡¯t have. The stricken beast screamed, bucking and twisting as the reaver on its back leaned forward. It started gouging away with its claws while plunging its beak into Lucky¡¯s flesh time and time again. Blue turned and tried to gore the clinging reaver with her horns. The instant that she looked away, the other monster came charging in. With one lightning-fast swipe, it claimed Lucky¡¯s left eye. Then it gouged out the right when the beast swung his head back around. Blue let loose a furious roar and drove the creature back with a powerful thrust, wounding the reaver as the hunters closed the distance. Trapper¡¯s crew tried to help the injured beast, but they didn¡¯t make it in time. The reaver on Lucky¡¯s back leapt off, claws slicing deep into his flanks all the way down. Then it leaned in and went for the kill. Its beak came surging forward in a streaking lunge, adding power and precision to the blow. The tip landed in the hollow where Lucky¡¯s left eye had been only moments before, sliding through the socket to pierce the beast¡¯s brain. The reaver pulled out its blood-drenched bill with a savage shriek of satisfaction. As Trapper cried out in horror, the red beast collapsed bonelessly to the grass, dead the moment that the last attack landed. Blue panicked at the sight of her fallen companion. She broke away from the battle and went running as fast as she could, pulling the cart behind her. While the loss of the beast was deeply upsetting to the people who knew him, it was only the beginning of their trouble. The pair of reavers let out raucous caws, consuming Lucky¡¯s flesh in a gluttonous frenzy. At that point, the battle went from moderately manageable to horrifically dire. The shadowreaver that had landed the killing blow began glowing with a foul purple light. The muscles beneath its feathered flesh pulsated and writhed. Its limbs stretched out, claws and beak growing thicker and sharper. ¡°Oh shit,¡± Trapper called out. ¡°Watch out. That monster is about to evolve. It¡¯s going to get stronger and spawn more of the smaller ones at the same time.¡± Her crew ran for the mutating reaver with their weapons at the ready, hoping to take it out before it finished its grim metamorphosis. But Edge could already tell that it wasn¡¯t going to work. Chapter 44: Evolution Edge had never witnessed a monster evolve until that moment. It was one of the subjects that the System always censored on the feed. He had read plenty of firsthand accounts of the process though, often describing the final seconds of a tourist¡¯s Prison World run. Even still, he hadn¡¯t expected everything to happen so quickly. Over the next three seconds, the reaver¡¯s body continued to swell, bathed in an otherworldly glow that wasn¡¯t mana or any other energy that he was familiar with. Its limbs bulged as its skeleton lengthened, muscles writhing like serpents were slithering through its veins. It shrieked and threw its head back. Arms spread wide, shuddering in something that blurred the line between agony and ecstasy. Somehow, he was certain that the changes to its physique were only half the story. That the monster¡¯s core was undergoing a similar transformation, burning hotter and drawing in more magic from the environment. Its skills are going to be stronger now too. That was when Edge realized that the reaver¡¯s stomach was grossly distended. Like it had become heavily pregnant, all within the span of a deep breath. The stench of rancid meat intensified in that moment, to the point that the reek was nearly incapacitating. Before anyone had time to launch another attack, two balls of feathers dripping inky black blood burst free from the evolved monster¡¯s torso. They landed in the grass with a pair of sickly squishes. Shit, there are two monsters in that spawn. Edge had been hoping for just one. As he watched with wide eyes, the mounds of meat began to expand. Bladed limbs broke through the surface, extending to form legs and arms. The spawnlings¡¯ heads emerged last, starting with the tips of their serrated yellow beaks. One of the reasons that monsters were so dangerous, besides the obvious consequences of their predatory proclivities, was that whenever a monster evolved, it spawned fresh progeny that were one stage lower than itself. The exact number varied from monster to monster, alongside other factors that weren¡¯t fully understood. When monsters attacked settlements, this process could snowball into a full infestation, killing hundreds within a matter of hours as the lethal lifeforms spread. Trapper¡¯s crew tried to rush the newborn creatures, but the other stage-one reavers blocked their way. The monsters unleashed a ferocious barrage of skills, heedless of the mana they consumed. They drove the hunters back, away from the evolving shadowreaver and its offspring. Edge took the opportunity to reposition, looking for a chance to score another kill before all hell broke loose in another few seconds. Before he could close the distance, things went from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. The moment that its spawn were born, the stage-two shadowreaver reared back and roared. It stretched up to its full height of nine feet, much broader at the shoulders than it had been only moments before. It¡¯s almost as big as the one I fought back in the ruins. He had been hoping that the fiend would take some time to adapt to its new form. It demonstrated no such impairment as it launched itself at the hunters in a frenzy, eyes gleaming with the anticipation of a hunger that would soon be sated. The hulking monster lashed out with its claws, swiping twice in rapid succession. The first set went streaking for Trapper¡¯s throat in a bladed blur. It would have been the end of anyone else, but the hunter¡¯s reflexes were second to none. She brought her sword up just in time, catching the black blades with her silvery weapon a fraction of a second before they tore out her jugular. Unfortunately, that was the extent of the good news. The force behind the blow sent Trapper flying into the tall grass, taken out of the fight for at least a few moments. By now, the reaver¡¯s second attack had arrived at its target as well. Its claws came up in a rising strike, set to gut Sasha from navel to sternum. But she had anticipated the move and raised her guard in the nick of time. Instead of sinking into soft flesh, the onyx blades tore into her shield. They cut deep into the wooden surface before deflecting to one side, sending splinters raining to the ground. The blow knocked Sasha off balance, but she tried to counter anyway. She thrust with her flaming weapon, launching an attack at the center of the monster¡¯s chest. It was a good move, but it wasn¡¯t good enough. Before her weapon landed, the reaver let loose a roundhouse kick with a heavily muscled leg. The tips of its talons pierced the woman¡¯s wooden armor before coming back out, dyed crimson with her blood. Another swipe of its claws caught the shaft of her spear, sending Sasha sprawling in the dirt. She was wounded and momentarily stunned. Helpless to defend herself from the creature¡¯s next strike. It raised a set of midnight scissor-claws high into the air, savoring the fear in her eyes as it got ready to bring the blades down with the full power of its body behind it. The stage-two reaver advanced while hissing in triumph, intending to finish the woman off before she recovered. Before it could launch another attack, an arrow came streaking toward its face, a second missile following a heartbeat behind the first. The monster leapt out of the way of the first shot, then knocked the second from the air with a contemptuous swat. It was only distracted for a few seconds, which was exactly what the bowman had been counting on. Riller¡¯s attack granted Sasha enough of a reprieve to cast aside the remnants of her shield and rise unsteadily to her feet, overcoming her exhaustion through sheer effort of will. ¡°I¡¯ll hold the big one back for as long as I can,¡± Riller cried out, firing another arrow every two seconds. ¡°Hurry and finish off the ones you¡¯re fighting. We need to bring the big bastard down before its spawn finish forming.¡± It was a perilous situation, where life and death were balanced on the blade of a knife. But after everything he had gone through, Edge was no stranger to betting it all on one final hand. The stakes were high, and the deck was stacked against them, but he was still in the game. Chapter 45: Power The momentum of the battle had swung back in the monsters¡¯ favor when the shadowreaver evolved, but the hunters weren¡¯t going down without a fight. Jumo had reengaged the poisoned monster after Lucky died, trading hits a few feet in front of where Edge stood. Taking Riller¡¯s warning to heart, he moved to attack the stricken creature, looking for an opportunity to land a killing blow. He realized that its movements were less coordinated than before. That the fiend had grown sluggish over the last few seconds, slow to react to the weapons coming its way. Good. The poison must be taking effect. The next time that Jumo lunged with his spear, Edge circled behind the reaver and slashed. This time, he landed a clean hit. But even with the extra power provided by his skill, the crude weapon was only able to score a shallow gouge across its feathered flank. It turned and countered with a swipe of its claws. He saw the attack coming and tried to dodge. But his back was up against the tall grass, and he couldn¡¯t get out of the way. He was only able to move a few feet before three burning lines were drawn across his chest. The wounds were painful, but not deep enough to cut through his muscles and reach the organs below. He darted away from the grass line and circled the monster, adrenaline singing into his veins. That was a close one. It could have been a lot worse. He needed to stop the bleeding before it made him weak. He couldn¡¯t afford to heal completely, since it wasn¡¯t enough to bring him down. Edge turned regeneration on just long enough to staunch the crimson flow, intending to save his last bit of mana for another few slashes or a surprise attack with his iceblade. That was when he realized that Jumo was looking his way, gesturing that Edge should keep on circling, so that they could come at the reaver from both sides at once. He nodded and sprang into motion, keeping just out of reach of the creature¡¯s claws as the other man moved into its blind spot. When they were in position, Edge feinted to draw the monster¡¯s attention, narrowly avoiding its beak in the process. The moment that it was distracted, Jumo lunged. His heavy spear surging forward to take the reaver in the back. The weapon bit deep, sinking into its torso. The reaver screamed and tried to escape, but pain and poison made it clumsy and easy to predict. Before it could get away, Edge slashed hard, claw-sword cutting into the side of its neck. He ducked below a wild swipe, then stepped out of the path for a second, bringing his weapon down on the monster¡¯s leg to hamper its mobility. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. When its head came down, he thrust, catching the creature in the eye. This time, it was enough to finish it off. He knew that it was dead because his Guide appeared in front of his face, displaying a message that he was able to absorb in a single glance before waving it out of existence. For defeating a cored opponent holding mortium, you have earned 1 mortium. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [6]. You have two attribute points awaiting allocation. Shit. If that one had a mortium, the reavers already killed someone on the way here. Mortium formed naturally when a monster or cored individual evolved to stage-two. They could only be obtained before then by defeating an opponent who had one. You couldn¡¯t spend your own core mortium point and beasts didn¡¯t use them at all. One of the little twists the System had developed that made Prison World so enticing to its viewers. But Edge couldn¡¯t afford to worry about any of that now. Nor did he have time to contemplate his options at his leisure. He¡¯d been granted a chance to grow stronger in the middle of a desperate battle, and he needed to spend his points fast. Right now, he had to choose whatever attribute would improve his odds of eliminating the stage-two monster that was rampaging a few yards away. His opening strike had barely been powerful enough to cut down a stage-one reaver. But it was a mana-intensive maneuver that he couldn¡¯t repeat given the state of his reserves. The rest of his slashes hadn¡¯t been able to inflict critical damage, and the evolved monster was even tougher than the rest. He needed to hit harder if he wanted to land a lethal blow, especially without the aid of his skills. Amplification wouldn¡¯t do him much good with so little mana in the tank, and the fight would be over well before generation could help to restore what was missing. It meant that in this moment, what Edge needed most was¡­ Power. He sent his intentions into his Guide, spending both attribute points at once. The instant that he confirmed his selection, potentia flowed out from his core and into his body. The transformative energy went surging into his muscles and tendons, burning like acid in his arteries. Edge could feel their fibers dissolving and then reforming, all within the span of a breath. While his muscles were only a bit bigger after the changes were complete, they were far more efficient than before, increasing the strength behind every move that he made. But that was the extent of the good news. Though they had taken another monster out of the fight, the spawn had finished forming during the interim. Two more stage-one reavers came rushing across the battlefield to fall upon the hunters in time with their kin. With Jumo at his side, Edge turned to face the shadowreavers, ready to make his stand with Trapper¡¯s crew. With a cry of rage, all four monsters rushed forward and attacked, spreading out to engage each of the hunters one-on-one. He raised his blade and prepared to take on the fiend headed his way. But with Trapper out of action, two of his impromptu allies wounded, and everyone down to the last drops of their mana, he didn¡¯t see any way out of this mess. Today had been an emotional roller coaster. Edge had gone from low, to high, to low again. But now he was taking a plunge deeper than any of the rest. He had a few final seconds to start climbing again, or they were all going to die. Chapter 46: Seven Edge had been hoping that the deputies would arrive in time to save them. But when he glanced in the direction of town, he still didn¡¯t see anyone coming. Meanwhile, the reavers surged forward in a tide of living shadows, scissor-claws poised to strike. Riller fired off a final poison arrow, scoring a glancing wound along one of the smaller monster¡¯s arms before dropping his bow and drawing his knives, ready to meet the creatures¡¯ charge. That graze couldn¡¯t have injected too much poison, but maybe it will slow the fiend down. Jumo and Sasha moved to guard the flanks of the hunters¡¯ formation with their spears, with Riller and Edge standing front and center. He raised his crude blade and tried not to panic, as the quartet of monsters came rushing at them, murderous intent clear in every crook of their features. The only bright spot in all of this was that the newly spawned monsters were less agile than the others he¡¯d seen. They were still learning to control their bodies and had no experience using the starter skill they had been granted at birth. But the hulking monster and the last stage-one from the original pack were going to be trouble. Based on what he¡¯d seen so far, none of the crew would be able to hold them back for more than a few seconds. After checking in with his core, Edge decided that he had enough mana left for three more slashes, or maybe five seconds of elemental blade. I might be able to pull off one combo using both, but it will only last a second. At this point, he would have been willing to reveal the existence of his other skills. But he didn¡¯t see how they would help under the circumstances. Within another few heartbeats, the monsters were going to hit their line as one. When they did, they were going to tear the hunting party apart. Edge kept looking for an opening, hoping to find a way to take out the stage-two monster before it struck again. But his luck had run dry. Without the element of surprise on his side, it simply wasn¡¯t going to happen. Not without the mana he needed to use his abilities to their full potential. He braced himself and steeled his resolve, knowing that this was likely going to be the final moment of his life. Even if it was, Edge was determined to take at least one more monster with him. He raised his blade and picked his target, ready to make his stand. Just before the reavers fell upon them in a bladed blitz, Trapper appeared in a flash. She leapt out of the grass as the monsters surged past, silver blade poised to strike. The closest reaver stopped to see what had happened, slow to realize that it was under attack. Before it could raise its guard, Trapper plunged her sword into the fiend¡¯s chest, stabbing it through the heart and killing it instantly. The other monsters heard its death cry and aborted their charge, pulling back to see what had happened. Edge felt his first glimmer of optimism since the shadowreaver had evolved. Four on four just became three on five. It still looks bad, but maybe we can pull this off. Not wasting a second, Trapper reached for her pack and threw her last bladewire net at the big reaver, razored mesh spreading out to take it from behind. He watched the device come flying for the monster, his prayers for survival riding the air alongside it. In that moment, it seemed like it was going to work. But his hope was fated to be stillborn a mere heartbeat after its conception. Just before the deadly net landed, the stage-two reaver turned into shadows and slid away, vanishing like smoke on the breeze. Edge knew in that moment what had happened. Something that shifted the odds firmly back in the monsters¡¯ favor. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Sometimes, when a creature evolves to stage-two, one of its skills will evolve at the same time. In this case, its other shadow ability had transformed into shadow step, the same skill that Edge had stolen from the reaver he¡¯d defeated in the ruins. To say that this was bad news would be an understatement of the highest order. Not only had Trapper lost the element of surprise and wasted her last net, the big monster was far more mobile than he had feared. It would be able to avoid the hunters¡¯ strikes and set up killing blows with ease. Not to mention, run down anyone who tried to get away. ¡°Oh shit,¡± Trapper said, her train of thought mirroring his own. ¡°It evolved a rare skill. I still can¡¯t believe that thing evolved mid-battle. It¡¯s too bad we can¡¯t do the same thing.¡± Or can we? Her words triggered an epiphany within him. In that moment, Edge knew that he still had one shot at surviving this mess. He wasn¡¯t sure if he could pull it off. But he didn¡¯t have a choice other than to try or die where he stood. Right now, he was at cycle six. If he could hit cycle seven and meet the requirements for evolving his core, he could evolve to stage-one, increasing Skill-Eater¡¯s power in an instant. He wasn¡¯t sure if one more kill would be enough to cycle-up again, or that he would be able to meet the conditions for evolution mid-battle. But it was the only thing he could think of that might give him a chance. As matters stood, someone was going to die within the next few seconds, and all of them would be meat for the monsters shortly after. Edge had to act fast, before the opportunity was lost. He needed to score a kill before the reavers recovered from Trapper¡¯s dramatic reappearance and started working as a team. He turned his gaze to the monster that Riller¡¯s arrow had grazed. The one with a bit of poison pumping through its veins. He waited until it lunged for Sasha, who was barely able to remain upright. Before the reaver¡¯s beak could claim her life, Edge leapt behind it, activating elemental blade and slash while still in midair. Mana went surging into his arms like a dam bursting, accelerating their motion as a sword of ice emerged from his hand, trailing mist as it froze the moisture riding the breeze. Now, it all came down to whose blow landed first. In that moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl. His entire world narrowed to the subzero skill in his hand and the monster before him. Just like before, it turned out that slash was faster than lunge. His attack landed first by the narrowest of margins. His iceblade hit the monster in the side of the neck. The extra momentum from slash let it carve deep into its feathered flesh, not stopping until it hit the creature¡¯s spine. The glowing blue blade froze the entire region solid, stopping the flow of blood to its brain just before Edge ran out of mana and the skill flickered out of existence. Half a heartbeat later, his iceblade broke down into particles that scattered into the wind. The monster collapsed and then went still, and he grinned in savage satisfaction at the sight. Although he had scored a kill and saved Sasha¡¯s life in the process, his gambit had come at a price. Before Edge knew what hit him, the big reaver¡¯s claws went plunging into his back, carving deep into his muscles and puncturing both his lungs. He tried to scream but broke into a wet cough instead. Unable to draw a breath, he toppled to the ground. Without air in his lungs, strength abandoned his body like a marionette with severed strings. He didn¡¯t have any mana left in the tank, so he couldn¡¯t heal the damage, even though his organs hadn¡¯t been destroyed. In another second or two at most, his heart would stop beating and death would claim him. In the final moment before Edge crossed the threshold of oblivion, his Guide flickered to life in front of his face. He read the words on the screen with a strange sense of detachment, just before his vision faded to black. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [7]. You have two attribute points awaiting allocation. Congratulations. You have reached the final cycle of your stage. The conditions for evolving to stage-one have been revealed. The requirements are:
  1. Fill all six slots on your core with skills.
  2. Advance at least one skill to rank 2.
You have met the conditions required for evolution. Would you like to ignite your core and evolve it now? Edge sent his intentions into the System as the abyss rose to claim him. A blink of an eye before that midnight tide could pull him under, he was drawn into his core instead. To that strange place where time flowed at a different pace. Chapter 47: Upgrade The instant that Edge acknowledged the prompt, his consciousness was peeled away from his failing body and pulled inside his core. He found himself standing in a place that he had begun to think of as the central chamber. Unlike many of the cores he had visited while [Extracting] a skill, his took the form of an enclosed space rather than a natural setting. The room reminded him of a blacksmith¡¯s workshop. It had a grey stone floor and a high, arched roof. There were no windows or doors, and a row of lanterns hanging from the ceiling provided a bit of light. Although the circular wall was continuous, portions of it were cast in deep shadow, too dark to see what lay beneath. The most striking feature of the chamber was the reactor jutting from the wall. The reactor was the heart of Edge¡¯s core. The place where magicytes were consumed to forge the refined mana that powered his skills. His reactor looked like an industrial furnace. It had a bulbous grate of black metal sticking out from the front, through which he could see an endless ocean of flame. A hellish horizon of searing conflagration, extending beyond the boundary of the wall with no end in sight. The reservoir was mounted across from the reactor, where magicytes were stored until they were ready to be burned. It took the form of a tall bronze tank, with a series of pipes connecting to the reactor. There was some manner of intake system on top, which continued past the ceiling. They were the tubes where the magicytes that were pulled in through his mana pores were deposited into the reservoir. The last component of the central chamber was his skills. All six of Edge¡¯s skills were socketed along the exterior of the reactor, arranged like a series of alcoves running along a museum wall. Each skill had a unique appearance. They all came alive when infused with mana, except for slash, which took the form of a small stone statue wielding a sword. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was because the skill was basic. Or perhaps because slash had been granted by the System, while the rest had come from living creatures. One of the many mysteries that he had no means of unraveling right now. That¡¯s odd. Everything seems the same as before. I would have expected some visible changes to come with something as significant as evolving to the next stage. Not to mention some notifications from the System giving me the details. No sooner had that thought crossed Edge¡¯s mind than the rumbling began. Soon, the entire chamber was shaking, like it was caught in the throes of a powerful earthquake. He could hear the cacophony of chains clinking together, as a howling grew to fill his ears. When the clamorous vibrations reached a crescendo, his reactor burst into flame. Not burning magicytes from his reservoir, but igniting of its own accord, filling the room with incredible heat. If Edge had been standing here in the flesh, it would have reduced him to smoldering ash within a handful of heartbeats. But since he was just a mental projection standing inside his own core, he was able to withstand the flames. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Everything grew more intense over the next few seconds, becoming louder, brighter, and hotter until he could see nothing but his reactor shining like the sun. The sensations were overwhelming despite his disembodied state. Edge lost all sense of self and time as his entire world was reduced to blazing oblivion and an endless roar. Somewhere in the distance, he had the impression that the room was expanding. That the components inside were growing larger and more complex. But he couldn¡¯t make out the details while blinded by the light. Eventually, the shaking stopped. The radiance and volcanic heat died down a moment later, until Edge found himself standing inside Skill-Eater¡¯s central chamber once more. His jaw dropped when he took in the extent of the changes. The room was far larger than before, with decorative tiles lining the floor instead of bare rock. The ceiling was so high that it was almost lost in the distance, and dozens of lanterns now hung from the crossbeams, brighter and more intricate than their predecessors. When Edge lowered his gaze, he saw that the reactor had grown in proportion with the room. The pitch-black surface was now covered in subtle engravings, reminiscent of the ones he had seen on the walls of the ruined temple. The grate in front was bigger too, large enough to let a buffalo pass through without feeling cramped. When he looked over to the other side of the room, he realized that the reservoir had grown an extra tank, doubling the volume of magicytes it could hold. The pipes had become thicker and more numerous, able to feed his reactor at a faster rate. The intake device didn¡¯t seem to have changed, likely because it was tied to his generation attribute instead of his core¡¯s stage. As remarkable as all of this was, the biggest change to the core¡¯s interior had taken place in the space where his skills had been. The recesses along the exterior of the reactor were gone. Instead, each skill slot was represented as a marble pillar rising from the floor. Edge counted eleven in all, including five that had empty sockets. But when he stopped to take a closer look, he realized that his skills weren¡¯t resting on top of them. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw where they were. Instead of being confined to one space like before, his skills were moving around the chamber of their own free will. Alive, even when mana wasn¡¯t running through them. His vines were crawling across the ground, and shadowy wraiths flitted through the air. Something small and hard to see darted beside a beating heart that was flopping around on the tiles, playing something akin to tag as far as he could tell. His iceblade was floating near the ceiling, radiating a stark chill that felt refreshing given the heat of the reactor. The only one that wasn¡¯t moving was slash, which still looked like a small statue of a man swinging a sword. It had, however, managed to move away from its pillar-slot. Slash was resting on top of his reservoir instead, watching the other skills play. It''s a skill garden, Edge realized, eyes wide with awe as he took in the collective changes. My core grew a garden at stage-one instead of stage-two. Skill gardens were a space where a cored individual could examine their skills at their leisure, learning more about them as they grew more powerful. He ran his eyes across the upgrades to his inner world, which far exceeded his expectations. He waited for a menu to materialize in front of his face, hoping to see some of the specifics. But the list of System updates failed to appear. In that moment, a cold truth came over him. This is fantastic, but it isn¡¯t enough. If I don¡¯t get something more substantial, I¡¯m still going to die. There must be more to this stage. A way to grow stronger still. Then it hit him. If the System wasn¡¯t going to give Edge the power he needed, there was someone else who could. ¡°Show yourself, Skill-Eater!¡± He yelled. ¡°I know that you have more to offer. I¡¯ve sensed you in there, watching, and I know you can understand me. We¡¯re both about to die and we need to work together. What are you waiting for?¡± Edge was so focused on communicating with his core that he didn¡¯t see the chains coming until they struck. Chapter 48: Skill-Eater To Edge¡¯s astonishment, something grabbed him and began to pull. It was the first time that anything had been able to touch him in this strange space. He thought that he was under attack until he realized that he recognized the sound it was making. By this point, he was intimately familiar with the metallic ripple of link sliding against link. No. That¡¯s impossible. But what else could it be? Sure enough, when he looked down, there was a pair of black chains fastened around his waist. The same chains that appeared whenever he used [Extraction]. They were dragging him toward an open door that he¡¯d never realized was there. One of the spaces in the central chamber that had been obscured by shadow until now. He tried to fight back, but Edge was helpless to resist and unable to break free. He had wondered what his chains were attached to for some time now. Now he was going to find out whether he wanted to or not. ¡°Fine.¡± He turned and walked toward the door, moving under his own power instead of by another¡¯s will. ¡°If that¡¯s how you want to play it, let¡¯s do this. I¡¯m not afraid of you, although maybe I should be. Like I said, we¡¯re in this together. It¡¯s time to start working as a team.¡± Despite his bravado, Edge knew that he was in grave danger. Or maybe graver danger? You¡¯re already about to die. He used black humor to overcome his fear of what was about to happen, stepping through shadow and into light. When he walked outside the chamber, he found himself standing on top of a cliff, staring across landscape that he¡¯d never seen before. The sky was filled with churning purple clouds, streaking across the face of the heavens at hurricane speeds. A frothing iron ocean stretched out far below his boots, endless waves crashing against a misty shore of dark stone. At that point, Edge thought that he had reached the end of the road. But his journey had only just begun. When the chains drew tight again, they pulled him into the sky, ascending thousands of feet in a matter of heartbeats. The wind whipped his hair around his face as he soared amongst the clouds, heading toward what could only be a manifestation of his core. He could feel electricity in the air, accompanied by the heady scent of ozone, like lightning was about to strike. While this vast alien landscape was mysterious and captivating, it paled in comparison to what Edge saw when he turned around. His eyes followed the blackened chains to their origin as his ride came to a stop. A colossal creature with a doorway in its chest that led to his central chamber. In that moment, he understood. The chains weren¡¯t dragging me toward Skill-Eater, they were pulling me away. The entity was immense. Bigger than a mountain. Tall enough to make a kaiju feel inadequate about its size. Even stranger than the rest, the entire thing was bound in endless black links, clinking and groaning as they restrained the titanic being. Somehow, he was certain that the whole thing was his core. That the giant looming before him was its entirety, and the central chamber just one small part. Edge cast his gaze upon Skill-Eater¡¯s true form. What he saw blew his mind. He stood there, stunned beyond thought, staggered beyond words, looking up at the bound behemoth, completely wrapped up in chains. He had the sense of incomprehensible power flowing through the writhing mountain of living metal, keeping the creature restrained. That the chains were holding back its insatiable hunger, lest it consume the world. There were so many black links that he couldn¡¯t make out any details. Couldn¡¯t even begin to guess at what lay below the countless loops and lines. Edge couldn¡¯t tell if it was a man or a woman, or a human or a beast for that matter. All he could say for certain was that it was big. The only feature that he could see clearly was the giant¡¯s mouth, where one of the chains had been severed, revealing a cavernous maw behind. Through the gap, he spotted the shadowy suggestion of teeth and a great ruby tongue. Both of the shorn lines were wrapped around him at present, holding him aloft before the humongous face. Edge had the sense that they were being controlled by the incomprehensible entity towering before him, unlike the countless thousands that were restraining its every move. This astonishing turn of events was so far beyond his understanding, beyond anything that he¡¯d ever imagined, that he would have stood there for hours if nothing else happened. But none of that compared to the shock that he felt when the mouth opened and started to speak. ¡°It is good to see you again Edge Vasher. Trouble always seems to follow you home. I think it¡¯s fair to say that you¡¯re dying. Quite a thorough job of it too.¡± He tried to respond. But in that remarkable moment, he simply couldn¡¯t find the words. Fortunately, Skill-Eater was more than happy to continue the conversation without him. It had been listening to his plea after all, and now he would hear its reply. Stolen story; please report. ¡°You want more power? You want me to save you? You should know by now that power never comes without a price. But in this case, the price has already been paid. I will abide by the terms of our pact.¡± The creature began to laugh, a booming chuckle that vibrated his bones. ¡°Rejoice. You have broken the first seal and restored a sliver of my true power. For the first time in centuries, I can glimpse the light of the world outside. How¡­ liberating. As promised, as I gain power, I will share it with you. I hope that our pact has proven¡­ satisfactory thus far.¡± The titan¡¯s words jumpstarted Edge¡¯s brain, allowing him to think once more. What in the world is happening? I¡¯ve never heard of anything like this before. Where am I, and what is this creature standing before me? Wait, before I worry about any of that, what pact is it referring to and how does it know my name? No sooner had those questions raced across his mind than the answer came to him. He had been here once before after all. Right after he¡¯d unsealed his core, down in the alter room of the subterranean temple. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right. Your mind was too damaged by the forced translation to Ord to grasp the truth of this place without shattering. But you¡¯re strong enough now. Dig a little deeper, and you¡¯ll realize that we¡¯re not strangers after all. We¡¯re practically old friends by this point. Don¡¯t you remember what you said, Edge? What you promised, and what you were given in exchange?¡± With that, the full memory came flooding back. To that first moment after he¡¯d accepted the System¡¯s prompt and claimed the core sealed inside the rune-bound reliquary.
(Four Days Earlier) He had been mere heartbeats away from dying, blood pouring out of the wreckage of his chest to paint the floor below. Then the temple vanished, and Edge found himself flying above this storm-wracked sea. Being addressed by this incomprehensibly vast entity, who had spoken the words that would change his fate forever. ¡°Your life will soon expire, little light. But it doesn¡¯t have to be that way. My true name is not for you to know. You may call me Skill-Eater, the ravenous lord bound in chains. I have awoken after dreaming for centuries, and I hunger for my freedom. All but a shard of my supremacy has been locked away. But even that fragment is enough to offer you a choice. ¡°Give me something that you can¡¯t afford to lose, and I will form a pact with you. Surrender that which you most treasure, and I shall grant you my blessing, the ability to devour the skills of others and make them your own. ¡°The cost will be immeasurable, and you will pay it more than once. But the power I offer is real and will change you in ways you can¡¯t even begin to imagine. When I evolve, you shall too, our fates forever intertwined. However, a pact must be forged with consent from both parties. If you prefer to die, I will allow it, and return to slumber once more. ¡°Now, little light, what will you offer me? If you aren¡¯t willing to lose something precious, then I have nothing to offer in exchange. I will not ask another time. What will you sacrifice to gain the power you seek?¡± Edge sensed that if he hesitated, even for a moment, Skill-Eater would reject him. Leave him to die in a forgotten corner of this godforsaken planet. Fade away without ever having the chance to live his dream. Instead, he had offered everything that he was willing to give. ¡°Anything but my mind and my will are yours for the taking. I¡¯d give you my face, but I¡¯ve lost it already. I can give you my honor or my name. My memories or my dreams. You can have my beating heart if that¡¯s what it takes.¡± The passion of his own plea shocked him, and every word that Edge had spoken was true. He had the impression that the colossal creature was smiling, though he couldn¡¯t say for certain with the chains in the way. ¡°A fascinating proposition. I was not expecting you to make such a worthy sacrifice. I find your offering intriguing, Edge Vasher. I accept.¡± For a moment, Edge wasn¡¯t sure which offer the giant was referring to. It all became painfully clear just a few seconds later. When a pair of black chains plunged into his chest, parting his ribcage to wrap around his beating heart. There was an incredible tearing ache as the living links retreated, his heart bound between their coils. Before he could process what was happening, the chains flung his heart into the gigantic mouth, through the space created by the severed strand. Since time flowed differently here, Edge was still conscious, at least for the moment. Although it didn¡¯t seem that he would be alive for much longer. It was rather difficult to survive without a heart after all. The entity must have guessed what he was thinking, because Skill-Eater began to laugh. A thunderous cackle that resonated across the roiling sea. ¡°Yes. It would be hard to hold up my end of the bargain if you were to expire on the spot. Since your heart is now a part of me, I will lend you mine for the duration of our contract.¡± Wait. What? That was as far as Edge got before the black chains reappeared, carrying something dark and pulsing between their clinking links. They dove back into his chest, implanting the object inside. When he felt searing heat erupt in the cavity where his heart had been only moments before, Edge began to scream.
(Back in the Present) The flashback faded away; the true nature of his pact revealed. It was a shock to be sure, but he had no regrets. A life with the power to matter was worth being tied to this creature forever. Edge and Skill-Eater now shared the same fate. They were bound more intimately than a lover. A mother. Linked tighter than his echo, closer than his own shadow. The giant¡¯s heart now served as his own. He wouldn¡¯t live another second if they were ever separated. It seemed that no matter what tomorrow had in store, he wouldn¡¯t face it alone. ¡°Good. You remember. While I would love to hold a conversation for the first time in this age, it will be quite some time before we can speak like this again. I am still weak and restrained, able to share only a wilted remnant of my might. But it doesn¡¯t have to be this way. ¡°To free me from my bondage, you must continue to eat. Gain powerful skills as you fight and evolve. The road ahead is winding and paved with thorns. You might perish long before you ascend to the peaks of power. But now you will face your trial with open eyes. I will be watching from the shadows, helping what little I can. ¡°I wish you luck Edge Vasher, scion of Skill-Eater. If you survive, I will see you again.¡± With that, Edge snapped back into his body. Or more accurately, the version of his body that was floating in his core, standing inside his skill garden. Now that he¡¯d met his partner face-to-face, the updates that he had been waiting for appeared before his eyes. Chapter 49: Overdrive Congratulations. Skill-Eater has evolved to stage [1]. Cycles required to reach the next stage have increased from [7] to [21]. Your core has gained the following powers: Attribute points per cycle have increased from [2] to [3]. Your core has gained a new trait. Trait: Devourer (unique). You may absorb an unwanted skill, freeing its slot and granting a fraction of its experience to the skill of your choice. Be advised, the return on this exchange is significantly less efficient than [Extracting] a duplicate of an existing skill. Your ultimate ability [Extraction] has improved. It will no longer be disabled while digesting a rare skill. The black chains have grown stronger. Your core has gained a new ultimate ability. Ultimate ability: [Overdrive] (active). Uses: 1. Cooldown period: 1 week. [Overdrive] increases your amplification by (10 x stage) for thirty seconds. Activating skills will not cost mana during this period. You will be severely exhausted for thirty seconds after [Overdrive] is complete. He had to go through the whole list twice before his mind was able to accept the reality of what he was seeing. Holy shit. I¡¯ve never heard of a core that has multiple traits or ultimate abilities. Skill-Eater is even more unique than I realized. Edge began processing everything he¡¯d just read, trying not to think about anything else that had happened. He was still in the middle of a fight for his life. He didn¡¯t have the bandwidth to deal with the consequences of that shocking revelation right now. Not if he wanted to see the sunset. There would be time enough to deal with everything else if he survived the shadowreavers¡¯ assault. Instead, he focused on the strategic consequences of his evolution and put his encounter with Skill-Eater aside. He had been hoping for a significant upgrade, but this was more than he¡¯d dared to dream. While he considered these incredible changes, he read the last line of text floating in front of his face. You have two attribute points awaiting allocation. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Now that his evolution to stage-one was complete, Edge could feel his consciousness being drawn out of his core. Back to the battle that was raging between the shadowreavers and Trapper¡¯s crew. Back to a body that was critically damaged and moments away from bleeding out. The tactical part of his brain, the part that had been watching the feed for decades while waiting for its moment to shine, knew that he needed to take advantage of the opportunity he¡¯d been given before it was too late. Starting with spending those points. Given everything that he¡¯d just read, he decided to put them both into speed. Dealing damage wasn¡¯t going to be a problem with [Overdrive] in effect. But Edge needed to close the distance and land a hit if he was going to turn this around. He only had thirty seconds to use Skill-Eater¡¯s new ultimate ability, and he needed to make them count. The moment that he made his selection, Edge¡¯s awareness was yanked out of his central chamber. He snapped back into his skin, where less than a second had passed since his evolution had begun. He felt his nerves and fast-twitch muscle fibers shift as they were infused with potentia from his core. He couldn¡¯t afford to let it distract him right now. Not if he wanted to live past the next few seconds. Before he could pass out again, he sent his intentions into his core, willing Skill-Eater¡¯s newest power to activate for the first time. Overdrive. The word resounded within his mind like a gong, ringing on and on. The instant that Edge issued the command, something stirred within his chest. A power that he had never felt before was revving up inside him. It reminded him of his core, but it felt completely different. Another device built by the same technology. When it reached out to touch Skill-Eater, the feeling grew stronger. He was overcome with a sensation of an engine roaring to life, fueled by something outside of himself. Of searing power flowing into his reactor from an external source. A stream of magicytes far more concentrated than anything he¡¯d felt before. There was an incredible pressure building within his core. As that mysterious machine opened the throttle, pistons started to pump, and gears began to turn. It forced more and more energy into his reactor until the entire mass ignited, burning so hot that he thought his body would burst into flame. Edge could hear the beast inside him laughing, until the heat became so intense that it seared his soul. Nuclear fusion, like the sun was burning inside his heart. The laughter and the sound of the engine blended together, until he couldn¡¯t tell where one ended and the other began. A bare second later, all that power came rushing through him. A tsunami of mana surged out of his reactor and went coursing into all six of his skills at the same time, granting them infinite energy and magnifying their strength. They were filled to bursting with that smoldering fuel. Unlimited might begging to be released. It was disorienting and overwhelming and he nearly lost his mind. But Edge fought through the torrent of raw sensation, struggling to stay in control. He overcame the noise and heat through sheer effort of will, turning his attention to the battle ahead. I can¡¯t waste this chance. There isn¡¯t a moment to lose. A savage red light was radiating from his body, his core burning so bright that he could see it straight through his chest. Awash in otherworldly might, he set his gaze upon the stage-two reaver, ready to settle the score. Plugged into a source of bottomless mana, regeneration kicked in once more, healing Edge far faster than normal thanks to the extra amplification from [Overdrive]. It brought him back from the cusp of unconsciousness, suffusing his mind with a feral lucidity. He could feel the sundered tissue of his torso drawing closed, sealing the holes in his lungs, and letting him breathe again. Meanwhile, the skill coaxed his marrow to create more blood, enough to get him onto his feet and back in the fight. Edge looked up in time to watch the big reaver step over him and go streaking for Trapper. She met its charge head on, ready to fend off its claws with her sword. He had to respect her bravery. She¡¯s drawing its attention, so that it doesn¡¯t target her crew. Before she could land a blow, the monster shadow stepped. It dissolved into inky mist and glided behind the woman, all in the blink of an eye. She started to turn, but the reaver was already drawing back its shadowy claws, poised to drive them straight through her back the second that it shut off the skill. If Edge didn¡¯t act now, the monster was going to kill Trapper, then tear her crew apart. The shadowreaver seemed to be savoring the moment, certain that the battle was already over. However, that wasn¡¯t quite the case. The fiend didn¡¯t know that Edge was back in the fight and raring to go, but it was about to find out. Chapter 50: Finale Edge sprang to his feet in a single motion, activating shadow step before his boots hit the ground. His body transformed into flowing darkness, moving faster than ever before. The world faded away to silvery fog, except for Trapper¡¯s crew, who looked washed out, and the reaver, which appeared completely solid. He knew in that moment that he would be able to fight the monster. That since they were both ethereal, they would be solid to each other. That the reaver hadn¡¯t realized what had happened and didn¡¯t see him coming. The fiend was focused on setting up a killing blow, ready to tear into Trapper¡¯s body with its beak and both sets of claws. But Edge wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. He went flying at his opponent like a bullet, iceblade erupting from his hand as he streaked across the soil. The glowing shard was three feet long, emitting arctic might like the wrath of winter personified. Elemental blade was sharper and colder than ever before, but it wasn¡¯t going to make it in time. Edge was just getting started. As he raced to close the distance, he cast entangle. Once, twice, then another ten times. The monster sensed the incredible release of mana and realized that something was wrong. It looked away from its intended prey, toward the man with the same power as its own. The reaver let loose an astonished squawk, shocked to see someone else who was solid in this state. Before it could recover from its surprise, Edge¡¯s spell arrived. The world behind the fiend erupted into grasping vines, so thick that he couldn¡¯t see the ground. They passed right through Trapper and her crew, shielding them from the reaver¡¯s wrath. It hasn¡¯t realized what¡¯s behind it yet. I need to keep it focused on me, then use the trick I learned from the nymphs. He yelled and raised his iceblade above him, slashing at the air as he ran. The creature looked down at the lethal weapon clasped in Edge¡¯s hands and then leapt back to open some distance. A move that carried it straight into the forest of vines that were bursting free from the soil. The monster might have been able to get away if it had turned off shadow step. But in that moment, its instincts betrayed it, and it tried using force instead. It managed to dodge the first dozen strands. It cut its way through the next, using talon, beak, and claw to sever the tough tendrils. But no matter how many plants it sliced and diced, there were always more behind. As he made his approach, Edge hadn¡¯t stopped casting entangle for a second. Surrounded by dozens of skills, the monster began to panic. It kept swiping in a frenzy of feathered limbs, desperate to get away before it was bound. A blizzard of shorn vines rained to the ground, as more surged for the creature like an army of angry serpents. It bought Edge enough time to finish closing the distance. He flew across the final few feet with his iceblade poised to strike. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Meanwhile, the last hole in his chest pulled itself closed. His torn flesh sealed shut, leaving healthy pink skin behind. Bolstered by regeneration, his bone marrow kept making fresh blood, sharpening his mind and adding more strength to his body. By now, the reaver was sparring with a score of grasping vines, too encumbered to break away. Edge looked it in the eye as he made his move, iceblade trailing mist like the tail of a comet. It¡¯s time to bring you down. It wasn¡¯t just an aspiration. It was a promise he knew he could keep. When his brain fog burned away, he had realized that his ultimate didn¡¯t just let him use endless skills. He could use them all at the same time. Three-skill combos were something that people spoke of with reverence on the feed, although they almost never happened. The mana cost of using three skills at once was exponentially higher than two, making it wildly inefficient and prohibitively expensive. But such concerns were trivial to Skill-Eater. The drain was nothing compared to the torrent of mana that [Overdrive] was pumping out. He cast another entangle at the monster¡¯s feet as he brought his iceblade down hard, adding slash to the power of his swing. The whole thing was surreal. Edge had never expected to execute a triple combo, but he had just pulled one off without breaking a sweat. Actually, I think that was four. Shadow step is still going full blast. The reaver crossed its claws and braced itself to receive the blow, catching the elemental blade mere inches in front of its throat. He tried to push harder, but the subzero sword wouldn¡¯t budge. Even now, the monster¡¯s strength was shocking to behold. Edge was running out of time and needed to work fast. As a fresh set of vines burst through the ground and bound the monster¡¯s legs, he disengaged then came darting back in, slashing again and again. The reaver parried every strike, filling him with doubt. But then the vines reached its arms, pulling them down and out of the way. His next slash connected clearly, carving deep into the creature¡¯s flank. The iceblade left sundered tissue in its wake, frozen solid before it had time to bleed. Down to only a single weapon, the reaver pulled its head back and lunged. It wagered its life on one last strike¡­ only to realize that Edge was nowhere to be found. He had taken advantage of the moment to duck low and use conceal, shrouding himself from the monster¡¯s sight. The instant that its beak went streaking through the space that his throat had occupied half a heartbeat before, he put everything that he had into one final barrage. He slashed and brought elemental blade up in a rising strike, putting the full power of his new body behind it. It sliced the reaver from hip to shoulder, leaving rime-coated ruin behind. Edge slashed a dozen more times in half as many heartbeats. His arctic blade came down time and time again, freezing more of the monster¡¯s body, until only its head remained. He could feel the fire in his reactor cooling. The great engine drifting back to sleep. There were only two seconds left on [Overdrive], something that he could sense on an instinctual level. It was two more seconds than he needed. He could finish the reaver off anytime that he wanted, but Edge had another plan in mind. Extraction. He willed his other ultimate to activate, hoping that he would be able to use both powers at once. As it turned out, he could. Accompanied by an insatiable hunger, his chains came slithering out of his wrists and went plunging into the reaver¡¯s core. Once again, Skill-Eater stopped his mind from following along. It wasn¡¯t a problem. Their desires were aligned. Without waiting to receive a command, his chains ignored the other skills and went straight for shadow step. They struck in a flash and grabbed hold tight, pulling the skill out of the core before flinging into his mouth. He crushed the flitting shadows and swallowed, as the flavor of dusk broke over his tongue. Edge spent the mortium required to digest the rare skill. Then he drove his iceblade straight into the shadowreaver¡¯s head, stealing the life from its eyes. Chapter: 51 Thanks [Overdrive] cut off a fraction of a second after the reaver¡¯s brain froze solid. The searing power filling his chest faded away, and shadow step deactivated the moment that the mysterious engine stopped feeding it mana. Edge and the reaver¡¯s corpse materialized in front of Trapper¡¯s crew half a heartbeat apart. He was relieved to see that the hunters had come together to finish off the last monster, overwhelming it with their skills while the big one was out of the picture. Sasha had been the one to land the killing blow, judging by the burns covering the reaver¡¯s body. In the aftermath of the intense battle, everyone simply stood there, staring at one another with wide eyes. Their expressions contained a pungent mixture of relief and disbelief. He felt exactly the same way. Their confusion was inevitable, considering what had just happened. From their perspective, hundreds of shadows had been surging across the grass before two turned back into solid objects. Far more shocking, the stage-two monster that had nearly killed the crew was dead, while Edge was still breathing. Before anyone broke the silence, the shadowreaver toppled to the earth, its frozen body wreathed in icy mist. A red wave of exhaustion plowed into him a heartbeat later. A rising fugue that nearly dragged him down into unconsciousness. He sank to his knees, barely holding on, as the realization of what had taken place hit him like a slap to the face. When it did, he broke into a beaming smile, despite the ringing in his ears and the dark spots dancing in front of his eyes. It¡¯s over. I did it. We won. Not only had Edge survived his toughest fight yet, he had managed to evolve Skill-Eater along the way. His unique core had grown even stronger, granting a portion of that power to him. Better still, thanks to shadow step obscuring the finale, Trapper¡¯s crew hadn¡¯t been able to follow the action. He hadn¡¯t given away several of his powers, including either of his ultimate abilities. He might still be able to keep the existence of Skill-Eater a secret after all. ¡°No, seriously. What the fuck just happened?¡± The strawberry blond hunter asked for the second time. ¡°I have no idea, Sasha.¡± Trapper let out a long sigh. ¡°But we¡¯re still alive, and it¡¯s clear that we have this man to thank for it.¡± She turned and walked over to his side. ¡°Your name is Edge, right? I saw your face on the new arrivals board just before the world went crazy.¡± He nodded, still too weak to speak, waiting for the side effect of using [Overdrive] to wear off. I need to be careful. Getting hit by this mid-battle would be a death sentence. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Are you going to be all right? I saw that monster run you through a few seconds before¡­ whatever the hell just happened.¡± He looked up at Trapper, the first time that he had met the woman eye to eye. While he was a stranger to the crew¡¯s leader, Edge had been following her feed for years. She was tall and lean with athletic curves. Trapper had stormy grey eyes and prominent cheekbones. Strands of her dirty blond hair were poking out from under a wide brim hat, the back tied up in a no-nonsense ponytail. The woman was famous for her ready smile and easy laugh. She was friendly and open, but she didn¡¯t suffer fools lightly or let anyone take advantage of her crew. She was direct and honest, at least by the standards of Prison World. No one on Ord survived long without guile, especially hunters. Trapper bent down and looked him straight in the eye. She clearly wanted to help, but not without being invited to do so. ¡°Would you mind telling us how you were able to do that?¡± By now, he was starting to feel better, as the mind-numbing tide of exhaustion retreated, leaving ordinary fatigue in its wake. Edge had an explanation ready to go, the lie on his lips waiting for that exact question. ¡°My shadow core¡¯s ultimate and the monster¡¯s skill made us incorporeal to you but solid to each other. It thought that it was invincible and didn¡¯t see me coming. I was able to take it by surprise and land a lucky blow.¡± He kept one arm folded across his chest, where the reaver¡¯s claws had cut deep, hiding the unbroken skin below. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be alright. As soon as I can recover some mana, my regeneration skill will heal the rest of these cuts. If you could spare a bandage so that I can staunch the bleeding, I would deeply appreciate it.¡± Edge was already fully healed thanks to [Overdrive]. But he didn¡¯t want to raise any questions about how he had used the skill after being drained to the dregs of his reservoir. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s the least I can do after you saved us.¡± She tossed him a clean bandage from her pack. ¡°I would like to talk to you later, but I need to go find Blue before she gets into trouble. We¡¯ve already seen more than our fair share of it today.¡± She turned to face her crew. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you inside in an hour or two. But before I go.¡± Trapper pointed to the monsters and said, ¡°If you are planning to harvest the valuable bits, you¡¯re going to need a knife. Here.¡± She reached into her pack and tossed him something that glinted in the sunlight. When Edge caught it, he realized that it was a folding knife, made of some alloy that he didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°That blade is a masterwork. It¡¯s wicked sharp and hard as diamond. A tool that will serve you well if you choose to follow the path of the hunter. Consider it my way of saying thanks for risking your life to help save mine.¡± Edge let out a soft sigh of relief as she turned to go. It seemed that he had gotten away with his deception after all. But then Trapper came back with a shrewd look in her eye and asked a question that set his heart racing. ¡°Considering your unusual weapon, you¡¯ve already run into those monsters while crossing the plains. Do you think there are more of them out there?¡± Be honest. Don¡¯t say anything that will make her suspicious of your skills. ¡°There might be, but not in that spawn. They followed me out of a ravine that was brought here from the frontier. It¡¯s several days away. At least thirty miles southwest of the fingers. I doubt that you¡¯ll run into more so close to town, at least not until the plains¡¯ new residents have some time to migrate. Be careful out there though. The world we knew is gone, and Ord is changing by the day. It might not be safe to wander far from town for much longer.¡± ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll take that advice to heart. You might already know, but on Ord, I go by Trapper.¡± ¡°Edge Vasher.¡± He rose to his feet to take her outstretched hand, offering a firm shake. Concept Art: Arc 1 Finale Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. Upgraded reservoir Upgraded reactor Chains carrying Edge away This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The world outside his central chamber \ Skill-Eater: The ravenous lord bound in chains I just wanted to preface this one, since it''s such an important part of the story. These images are not meant to replace your mental image of Skill-Eater, which is bound to be far cooler. They are not a perfect match for my version either (lots more chains needed). So please, just think of them as one potential concept out of many. They were however, the only images the AI would give me that look remotely right, and they are kind of cool, so I decided to include them. Shadowreaver pack Stage 2 More CGI style Chapter 52: Wall ¡°Please be careful not to disturb Lucky¡¯s remains. I¡¯ll pick them up on the way back. See you around, Edge.¡± Trapper waved and then disappeared into the tall grass, following Blue¡¯s trail across the prairie. He had to admire the woman¡¯s courage. Heading out alone after coming so close to losing her life took guts and nerves of steel. She must care a lot about her beasts. He looked down at Lucky¡¯s shredded carcass, feeling bad about his role in the creature¡¯s demise. Edge sighed and then shrugged. It hadn¡¯t been his fault, not really, and he had done everything that he could to save them. He had gambled with his life to take out the monsters and rescue the crew. And though it had been touch and go for a while, he¡¯d won in the end. Now it was time to go back to town, scour himself with running water, eat till his stomach was ready to burst, and then sleep for a day. Before he got to any of that, there was one last thing that he needed to do. Harvest the reavers¡¯ remains so that he would have some credits to his name when he made it inside the walls. He was bone-weary and ready to pass out, but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. When he opened the knife Trapper had given him, Edge noticed that the blade shimmered strangely in the sunlight. It must be made of some high-grade material that I¡¯m not familiar with. Extracting the monsters¡¯ beaks, talons, and claws turned out to be a lot easier this time around. Using the peculiar knife was a dream compared to the piece of shit starter blade the wardens had included with his kit. He was able to retrieve the natural weaponry from the fiends in just a few minutes of labor. He briefly considered harvesting their feathers, before deciding that it wasn¡¯t going to happen. They were the source of the reavers¡¯ foul odor, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to touch their oily nastiness. Besides, it would take far more effort than he had to give right now, and he doubted that they had much value anyway. When he was done putting everything into his backpack, he took the bandage that Trapper had given him, smeared it in his blood, and then wound it across his chest. Then he turned and followed the road leading to the southern gate of Puppet Town. Edge followed Trapper¡¯s crew as they all limped their way toward the gate. Or the three of them limped at any rate. He was completely healed already, although he was trying to keep that fact to himself. It meant that walking wasn¡¯t a problem, though he was weak and weary, and his pack was now far too heavy to comfortably carry. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. On top of that, he was starving, sleep-deprived, and covered in the filthy rags that had once been his clothing. Not to mention dead broke until he sold the various objects jingling in his pack. So, he supposed that everyone had their problems. The hunters had a considerable head start on Edge, since he had stopped to harvest the reavers¡¯ resources. He almost caught up to them by the time that they made it to the gate and were waved inside by the deputy on duty. As he crossed the final stretch of roadway, he looked up at the protective barriers that covered the town, awash in the most profound sense of relief that he had ever experienced. At long last, after enduring the most trying days of his life and nearly dying more times than he could count on one hand, he stood before the gates of Puppet Town. His joy was so intense that it brought tears to his eyes. The thick metal wall that skirted the settlement was famous on the feed. Its base was formed of high-grade steel and mana-fortified cement. This durable foundation was reinforced with a variety of materials harvested from beasts and monsters, increasing its durability and resistance to a wide range of elements. Edge ran his eyes across tiles of red shell, interspersed with purple chitin plating. There were layers of leather, scale, bone, and dozens more that he couldn¡¯t even begin to guess the origin of. It was customary for each new generation of tourists to add something that made the barrier even better than when they¡¯d found it. A tradition stretching back hundreds of years. Thanks to the valuable resources and devoted craftsmanship that had gone into its construction, the wall had never been breached in the history of Prison World, although this was in part due to the other defenses protecting the town. Two of which were pointed at Edge right now. Jutting up beside each gate loomed a pair of automated turrets, built to deter the occasional kaiju that wandered onto the plains from more dangerous biomes. Their power was more than sufficient to vaporize any of the stage-one-and-two threats that inhabited the region, be they monster, man, or beast. He had never seen the big guns in action. The details of each settlement¡¯s defenses had been censored on the feed for obvious reasons. He¡¯d heard that the magtech weapons were a sight to behold, unleashing high-grade plasma that looked like searing bolts of cerulean flame. Above the wall, he could see some of the town¡¯s taller buildings stretching toward the sky, including Ann¡¯s General Goods, the Pioneer, City Hall, and the crafting collective known as the Forge. Arching above the top of them all buzzed the town¡¯s third line of defense. Edge took in the faint green glow that marked the boundary of the dome. A potent magtech barrier that protected the settlement from hostile magic and unauthorized teleportation, preventing infiltration by jailbirds or anyone else on the Sheriff¡¯s shitlist. A tri-layer defense combined with a cored deputy manning each gate meant that no one could sneak into Puppet Town or climb over the wall and let themselves in. It was expensive to run the defenses that kept the settlement alive on a deadly outlaw world, and the Mayor took exception to anyone who tried to circumvent paying their fair share of the bill. Maybe things were different now that the anomaly had trapped everyone in their puppet bodies for the rest of their lives. But for now, it was better to play it safe. Before he could enjoy the protections he¡¯d inspected, Edge needed to check in at the gate. Chapter 53: Mel Edge approached the deputy on duty, a muscular redhead named Melenia who went by Mel. She was armed with a massive two-handed axe, which she could swing hard enough to shatter a boulder without using a skill. He was a little nervous, since he didn¡¯t have the credits to pay for his passage. However, he was fairly confident that he could talk his way in, given the value of the goods in his pack. When he approached the gate and raised a hand in greeting, he learned that his worries were unfounded. ¡°Edge, right?¡± He nodded. ¡°Trapper¡¯s crew just offered to pay your way in. But there isn¡¯t a fee anymore. Not while we try to figure out what in the hell is going on and what we¡¯re going to do about it.¡± She looked him in the eyes and smiled. ¡°Glad to know that you¡¯re still among the living. You were uncored when you left, so I figured that you were done for after the anomaly hit us. Did you really find a rare core out there and a pair of uncommon skills?¡± Damn, Mel is thorough. I need to play this smart. Edge clasped one hand to the bandage around his chest, wincing like he was putting pressure on the wound. ¡°I got lucky in more ways than one,¡± he answered honestly. ¡°Did anything else change while I was away?¡± ¡°You mean besides everything? The Sheriff and the Mayor are trying to keep the uncored from panicking. Everyone else is still going through the motions, at least those who haven¡¯t barricaded themselves in their rooms while having a nervous breakdown.¡± Mel laughed, then looked at Edge with a serious expression, the levity vanishing from her tone. ¡°I doubt that you¡¯ll cause us any trouble, but I¡¯ll tell you the same thing that I¡¯m telling everyone. Keep your hands to yourself and stay out of trouble. We¡¯re fresh out of second chances for anyone who breaks the rules. Already had to banish two people and execute a third, and I wouldn¡¯t want to have to add your name to the blacklist.¡± He took the warning to heart, but he didn¡¯t plan to find himself on the wrong side of the law. Not right now at any rate. Edge had little to gain and everything to lose by trying anything that could get him banished to the wilderness. ¡°I¡¯ll behave. I promise. Right now, I just want to get something to eat and then sleep for a week. It¡¯s fucking awful out there and it¡¯s only going to get worse.¡± Mel sighed at those words and then waved him through the gate. ¡°I¡¯d add a change of clothes and a bath to that list. You smell like shit, and those pants look like they¡¯re one wrong step away from falling apart completely.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I know. I will. The monsters we fought fucking reeked.¡± ¡°Tell me the story sometime and I¡¯ll buy you a beer. Sorry, by the way. By the time that we saw the commotion, the fight was already over. With only two of us guarding the walls, it can take a few minutes in between passes. We did send a runner to Doc, and she¡¯s in her clinic if you need to get stitched up. Although, you seem to be in surprisingly good shape considering what jumped you.¡± ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll heal on my own once I have some magicytes in my tank. Take it easy, Mel.¡± With that, Edge passed through the dome and stepped onto the streets of Puppet Town, glad to leave his ordeal on the plains behind him and begin the next chapter of his adventure. He walked through the gate and emerged onto South Street, which ran between the commercial and residential districts. When he stepped out from under the wall, he found Trapper¡¯s crew sitting by the side of the road, dealing with the exhaustion that arose in the aftermath of an adrenaline-soaked battle. They had removed their armor to tend to their wounds, and a fair amount of blood was now staining the stones below. Thankfully, none of their injuries looked life-threatening and they were already starting to recover. Edge was still pretty dazed himself. Although thanks to regeneration going into [Overdrive] at the end of the fight, his body didn¡¯t hurt at all. The strawberry blond spear-wielder caught him smiling at the realization. She must have thought that he was smiling at her. She broke into a beaming grin, walking over while offering her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met. My name is Sasha. I¡¯ve only been in town for a few weeks.¡± ¡°Edge. I¡¯m new too.¡± He took her hand and gave it a firm shake. It never hurts to make new friends, especially in trying times. Without her wooden armor, it was easy to see that Sasha was lean and fit. She had bright green eyes, a short, sharp nose, and a face dusted in freckles. It was the first time in years that a pretty girl had smiled at him, and even longer since one had looked at Edge the way that Sasha was looking at him now. ¡°Pleased to know you. That was one hell of an entrance back there. We owe you our lives. Come by our place sometime soon so that I can thank you properly. I¡¯m sure Trapper will want to see you too. We¡¯re headed over to Doc¡¯s to get patched up, then I¡¯m ready to pass the fuck out.¡± She walked back over to Riller and Jumo, who had recovered enough to keep moving. After helping her friends to their feet, Sasha turned to him and waved. ¡°See you later, Edge. Don¡¯t be a stranger.¡± He waved goodbye, feeling a bit guilty that she thought he was their savior when he¡¯d been at least partially responsible for what had happened. Though to be fair, he had come running to the rescue, at considerable risk to himself. Let¡¯s just call us karmically even this time. Either way, the encounter had been a lucky break. Not only had fighting alongside Trapper¡¯s crew let him defeat the monsters that had been stalking him for days, he¡¯d evolved to stage-one and collected enough resources to put some credits in his pocket along the way. Not to mention earned the crew¡¯s goodwill. A resource that would be just as valuable as credits during the difficult days ahead. Chapter 54: Apple As soon as the hunters were out of sight, Edge sat down on a barrel and summoned his Guide, watching as the mote of golden light detached from his chest and went darting around his head. He pulled up his menus with a command, the speck of radiance centering itself within his view before flattening to form a screen. He had wanted to check out his updates as soon as the battle was over, but it had been more important to get behind the walls as quickly as he could. As he had been hoping, there was a fat pile of notices awaiting his perusal. Congratulations, you have evolved to stage [1] and your cycle has reset to [0]. For defeating a cored opponent stage-two or above, you have earned 1 mortium. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [1]. You have three attribute points awaiting allocation. By conditioning your body, your durability has increased by 1. By conditioning your body, your endurance has increased by 1. All of that was good news, and in line with his expectations. But the next block of text was something that Edge hadn¡¯t been expecting. He kept on reading, experiencing several contrasting emotions by the time he reached the last word. You have accomplished a notable feat and have been awarded a trait. Trait: Wanted. You have found one of the 21 unique cores in existence and have broken the first seal. Your actions have not gone unnoticed, and someone just painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something that you should do sooner rather than later. There¡¯s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can¡¯t wait to watch. This trait might help you live just a little longer, but I¡¯m not holding my breath. Effects: + 10% to endurance, durability, and disruption (minimum gain of 1). That can¡¯t be good. I mean this trait is awesome, but something is definitely wrong with the System. Although most of its functions seem to be working the same as usual. He let out a long sigh. That bit about the bounty board is downright fucking ominous. But I¡¯m not going to worry about it until I¡¯m cleaned up, have a hot meal in my belly, and get a real night of sleep for the first time in days. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Edge still needed to check out his profile. But that could wait until he wasn¡¯t ravenous and wearing stinking rags. He would spend his attribute points later too, after he had taken care of his other needs and could think the matter through with a clear head. That left him with one last matter to consider. The one that he¡¯d been avoiding until he was safe behind Puppet Town¡¯s warded walls. The vision he¡¯d received when he evolved to stage-one, culminating in a conversation with his core, Skill-Eater. Don¡¯t think about how bizarre and menacing the situation is right now, Edge. Just objectively list the pros and cons, then figure out a way to deal with everything calmly and rationally. On the plus side, you not only managed to survive, you¡¯ve obtained a core and evolved, just like you always dreamed. You finally have a fighting chance against most of the beasts roaming the plains. Better still, you have two ultimates. The best you¡¯ve ever heard of. On the slightly less than plus side, your core is alive. It¡¯s apparently some kind of talking kaiju that ate your heart and whose own is now beating inside your chest. He was trying to brush it off, but it didn¡¯t work. In that moment, the full realization of what had happened hit him like a sledgehammer to the gut. His life had changed in the blink of an eye, in ways that he couldn¡¯t even begin to understand. He had bound his fate to something other, an incomprehensible being with its own agenda. Edge sighed and lowered his head between his hands, wondering what the future would hold. What in the world is happening to me, and what in the hell am I supposed to do about it? ¡°Sorry to interrupt such masterful brooding. But you look like you could use an apple.¡± ¡°What?¡± He turned to look at a woman sitting on the next barrel over, whose arrival he hadn¡¯t noticed until she spoke. She appeared to be somewhere in her early twenties, with alert yellow eyes and medium skin. ¡°This.¡± She gestured to the fruit in her hand, speaking slowly for emphasis. ¡°Is. An. Apple. You look like you could use one.¡± She tossed him what did indeed appear to be a shiny red Earth apple. Edge thought about telling her that he already knew what an apple was, then decided to let it go. While the woman was a bit strange, he was starving and the apple looked good, so he just shrugged and took a big bite. He chewed and swallowed, savoring the delicious sweetness as the juice broke over his tongue. He devoured the fruit in less than a minute, core and all. He was still licking his fingers when the woman smiled and continued to speak, as if they were well acquainted instead of complete strangers. ¡°Now,¡± she said. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Actually, I think I feel a tiny bit better.¡± ¡°Glad to hear it. Friendly bit of advice. When life seems overwhelming, don¡¯t think about your situation as a whole. Break the problem down into the smallest possible steps and take them on one at a time.¡± ¡°Oh, and if you decide to go hunting on you own, I recommend that you head north and target a jobo. One male in particular. It has an injured paw and can¡¯t use its combination strike, so it¡¯s only got leap. It should be a lot easier to take down than any of the rest. I¡¯ll send the coordinates to your Guide.¡± Edge was having trouble adjusting to the rapid change of topics. But the part of his brain that was still in working order pricked up at those words. That is honestly an ideal target if that info pans out. ¡°Err.. thanks. For the apple, the advice, and the tip.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. We need each other to survive what¡¯s coming.¡± Edge was about to ask the woman who she was and what she meant. But she abruptly hopped off the barrel, disappearing into the crowd before he could voice the question. He wasn¡¯t sure what to make of the bizarre encounter, but it had pulled him out of his ruminations. Which was a good thing, since he wasn¡¯t ready to face the fact that his core could talk. That it had another form and a will of its own. That Edge had struck a bargain that he didn¡¯t understand. So instead of pondering any of that, he took the woman¡¯s advice and turned his attention to something far more pleasant. The next small step that he needed to take. Earning some credits for the first time since arriving on Ord. Chapter 55: Stroll Now that Edge was feeling a little less overwhelmed, he slid off the barrel and rose to his feet. He was eager to complete a few quick transactions, stuff his face, and then sleep like the dead. That was when he caught sight of his reflection in a windowpane. Damn. Is that really me? He looked like he had fought his way through hell and back, scaling a few mountains of garbage along the way. He stared down at his clothing with a critical eye, sighing at what he saw. His shirt had long since been reduced to rags, or whatever you called something when rags would be an upgrade. By this point, it was just a collection of loosely connected threads that were stained with mud and grass. Not to mention the blood of several different species, including generous amounts of his own. The only reason that it was still attached to his body at all was the bag trapping it against his back. Edge¡¯s pants were in marginally better shape. Both legs were shredded, and he was one torn seam short of exposing himself to everyone he walked by. His bag was barely holding together too. The cheap material was woefully insufficient to contain the bladed monster bits inside. The fabric had been soaking in the reavers¡¯ stinking blood for days, and some was still dripping down from one corner. He doubted that the smell would ever come out. No wonder everyone on the street is giving me such a wide berth, he shrugged and started walking. It explains all the unfriendly stares too. Edge wasn¡¯t in the mood to go shopping right now. He was worn out and half-starved, but he didn¡¯t have much of a choice. If he wanted to acquire a meal, a bath, and a bed, not to mention something to wear that didn¡¯t look like a beggar¡¯s castoffs, he needed to have some money in his pockets. Or more accurately, registered to his Guide. At the moment, he didn¡¯t have a credit to his name, but he did have a bag full of potentially valuable items. What he needed to do now was head to one of the establishments that would buy what he was selling. He took a quick look around while deciding where to go. Although he¡¯d only been here once before, he knew the town well, thanks to his obsession with the feed. The settlement was divided into four main districts, also referred to as quarters. They were separated by two major roads running in cardinal directions, and several ring roads that ran along the interior. They included the residential district to the southwest, where the town¡¯s citizens lived. The commercial district to the southeast held most of the settlement¡¯s shops, including the Night Sky market. It was home to various forms of entertainment, hostels, and the shippers¡¯ outposts. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. To the northeast, the crafter¡¯s district was comprised of the town¡¯s various industries. And the hunter¡¯s district was in the northwest, populated by the professionals who went toe to toe with the myriad dangers of Ord. While Puppet Town was home to numerous venues that would buy monster and beasts parts, Edge needed to get paid right away. The best places to turn such resources into credits without bartering at the market were the Crafters¡¯ Consortium and Ann¡¯s General Goods. Since the Consortium only bought materials that its members had need of, which may or may not include the items in his backpack, Edge decided to head for Ann¡¯s. Not to mention, Ann had a famously sunny disposition, which meant there was a chance that she wouldn¡¯t kick him out on the spot. A warmer welcome than he was likely to receive anywhere else, given his appalling condition. He could sell his wares and pick up some necessities at the same time, then worry about finding a meal and a room for the night. His stomach grumbled as he walked north toward the town square, but it was just going to have to wait a little longer. That was when Edge remembered that he did have one other type of wealth, a single mortium registered to his Guide. While the thought perked him up, it didn¡¯t help him with his problem. Mortium could only be spent at special locations. Letting the wrong person know that he had one would attract the kind of attention that he was desperately hoping to avoid. He made his way down South Street, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight against his skin. The bustle of people ambling down the road, engaged in conversation as they went about their day. When he looked a little closer, Edge noticed that there was tightness to their expressions that hadn¡¯t been there before. A pervasive tension in their tone. A wariness as their eyes scanned their surroundings for hidden danger. It was clear that the disaster had profoundly impacted everyone on the planet. But he was far too tired to ponder any of that right now. Especially when he was still riding the high of surviving the last few desperate days. He deserved to feel good for at least a few hours, so he turned his thoughts to more pleasant topics instead. It was so nice not having to watch his back. Not having to worry about something trying to eat him or another disaster descending upon his head. Edge was free from the threat of being hunted by hungry monsters and beasts. Nothing was going to stop him from enjoying it, not even the apocalypse. Not that being in town was completely safe by any means. There were plenty of people who would be happy to take advantage of him, including some who would rob him blind if given half a chance. Even assaults and murders happened from time to time, although those were rare, given the consequences. If the Sheriff¡¯s deputies caught the perpetrator, they would either be banished or find themselves hanging from the gallows if the offense was serious enough. Since he was hungry and covered in grime, Edge didn¡¯t stop moving and kept to himself. He was already drawing more stares than he was comfortable with, given his unique situation. He kept his head down as he crossed the town square and walked to the end of Main Street, heading toward one of the largest buildings on the block and the solution to several of his problems. Chapter 56: Ann鈥檚 Five minutes later, Edge found himself standing in the shadow of his destination, looking up at a sign running along the top of the sprawling wooden building. A hand painted shovel and pickaxe were crossed over the name of the shop, which was written out in bright red letters. The store¡¯s full name was ¡®Ann¡¯s General Goods,¡¯ although everyone called the place Ann¡¯s for short. Everyone in town shopped at Ann¡¯s from time to time. There were dozens of other stores in the commercial district, along with the weekly Night Sky market. But Ann¡¯s boasted the widest range of basic supplies and had a reputation for fair prices without the need to negotiate. She also provided several services that helped make Puppet Town run, one of which Edge wanted to take advantage of sometime within the next few days. He stopped by the scraper to wipe the mud off his boots as best he could, then stepped through the door. He gave his eyes a few seconds to adjust to the lower level of light, then made his way toward the long wooden counter running along the back wall. He passed by several people along the way, who were browsing the aisles full of tools, supplies, and sundries, ignoring the disgusted stares that he collected along the way. As Edge had been hoping, the proprietor of the establishment was working the register, instead of one of the store¡¯s other employees. He ran his eyes across her as he continued walking toward the back. Ann appeared to be somewhere in her late-twenties, thanks to the power core smoldering in her chest. He knew that she was at least two decades older, making her one of the town¡¯s longest surviving residents. In addition to granting attribute points and extra skill slots, binding a core extended a puppet¡¯s natural lifespan, making them look younger than they actually were. Not that it mattered much in the end, since dying of old age was practically unheard of for jailbirds and tourists alike. Ann¡¯s face was framed with flowing hair the color of honey, drawn up in a thick ponytail. She had baby blue eyes, a button nose, and round features. Right now, she was wearing a yellow sundress with a floral print and a thick leather apron tied to the front. Although she wasn¡¯t a hunter, Ann was remarkably fit. Edge had the sense that she was more than capable of holding her own in a fight. She must have put at least a few points into power and control to look that athletic, but I suspect that most of her figure is the result of diligent daily exercise. Ann had probably smelled him coming the moment that he¡¯d walked in the door, and definitely had by now. She raised one golden eyebrow at his disheveled appearance but didn¡¯t voice a complaint. She just kept humming to herself while tallying her receipts, not saying a word until he came to a stop in front of her. ¡°Good day, Edge. Wasn¡¯t sure that we¡¯d be seeing you again. At least not in one piece¡­ more or less. Glad to know that you¡¯re still kicking.¡± ¡°Hello Ann. It¡¯s nice to see you too.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°What can I do for you today? Some new clothes perhaps? Maybe a bar of soap or two?¡± ¡°Actually, both of those sound great, although I¡¯ll have to sell before I can buy. Before we get to that, do you think we could get a little privacy?¡± ¡°Sure thing, hun. Give me just a second.¡± Ann¡¯s face scrunched in concentration, and a bubble of mana spread out from her location. When it was big enough to engulf Edge, all the sound in the room abruptly cut off. Ann had several unusual skills that were useful for running this place, and her privacy bubble was famous on the feed. It blocked light in one direction and sound in both, letting her mind the store while she dealt with customers whose transactions required discretion. When it was ready, she broke into a broad grin, reaching out to give his shoulder a playful punch. ¡°Holy shit, Edge. You look good. I mean, you look like shit, but your presence has some real weight to it that wasn¡¯t there before. You did it, didn¡¯t you, you mad bastard? You actually found a core out there. Unless I¡¯m mistaken, and I rarely am, you¡¯ve already cycled-up enough to evolve it to stage-one.¡± Since he wasn¡¯t going to be able to keep that much a secret after fighting alongside Trapper¡¯s crew, he saw no reason to lie. Besides, Edge liked Ann and wanted to stay on her good side. ¡°I did. I really did. I almost died more times than I can count, but I¡¯m finally cored. Hit stage-one less than an hour ago.¡± ¡°I already heard about your fight with the monster and its spawn. Trapper¡¯s crew owes you big time. I never thought that you had an ounce of heroism in you, but you have my thanks as well. Puppet Town wouldn¡¯t be the same without them. Now, what are you really here for? Although that bit about the soap wasn¡¯t a joke. You smell like rancid vomit, and that¡¯s being generous.¡± ¡°Sorry Ann. The worst of it is the reavers¡¯ blood, but it¡¯s been rough living out there all-around. Everything has changed so much since the disaster, and I have the sense that this is only the beginning. I don¡¯t have a credit to my name, so I haven¡¯t been able to get a room and shower yet. Which is why I¡¯m standing here, stinking up your lovely establishment. I have some monster parts that I want to sell, and I¡¯m in dire need of a change of clothes.¡± ¡°Show me what you¡¯re packing. I¡¯ll give you the best price that I can. But just so you know, the planet-wide trade grid went down with the rest. Supply and demand are changing by the day, and I can¡¯t pay as much as I normally would.¡± Ann reached below the counter and pulled out a large metal tray, so that he could spread out his items without making a mess. ¡°I understand. Just do the best you can.¡± With that, Edge sat his backpack down on the tray and opened the flap. Then he pulled out the reavers¡¯ claws, talons, and beaks, along with the items he¡¯d retrieved from the ruins. The necklace that he¡¯d found on the corpse, and the pair of lanterns he had taken from the convicts. Ann¡¯s eyes went wide as she took in his haul. She began sorting everything into different piles, muttering to herself as she went about her work. ¡°How many monsters did you kill? And I¡¯ve never seen these parts before. You really did fight something that was brought here from the frontier. Wait, judging by the number of those big claws¡­ you didn¡¯t. But how else could you have acquired them?¡± At that point, Ann stopped to look Edge straight in the eyes. ¡°Some of those parts are too large to have been harvested from a stage-one monster, and there are too many to have collected them all from the ones you fought today. ¡°You killed another stage-two monster, which must have happened before you evolved to stage-one. A stage-zero puppet took on a stage-two monster¡­ and won. That shouldn¡¯t be possible. Not without years of hunting experience or gear lightyears better than what you¡¯re wearing.¡± A shiver went down his spine as Ann finished her analysis with an air of finality. ¡°Not to mention, two more blood-spattered lanterns than you had before you left. It simply doesn¡¯t add up, Edge. You must be hiding something big.¡± Oh shit. He let out a sigh. I didn¡¯t think about it like that. Chapter 57: Favor Listening to Ann¡¯s words, Edge¡¯s heart began to race. She had uncovered far too much of the truth in almost no time at all, just by studying the contents of his pack. He had been in town for less than an hour, and he had already revealed far more than he¡¯d intended. I should have sold half of the claws somewhere else and left the lanterns alone. At this point, he didn¡¯t have a choice other than to trust her and hope that revealing a piece of the story would keep her from digging any deeper. ¡°I didn¡¯t fight that monster alone. There were some extenuating circumstances that I¡¯m trying to keep under wraps. I¡¯d appreciate it if you kept that insight to yourself.¡± Ann gave Edge a long, lingering look, staring deep into his eyes without saying a word. He had the sense that she was weighing the content of his character. Evaluating what it would mean to protect his secret instead of making it known. Appraising not only the value of his haul, but his own worth too, both present and potential. She must have decided that his future was a good investment, because in the end she nodded. ¡°These lips are sealed. But I wouldn¡¯t tell anyone else what you had in that bag.¡± With that, she went back to the business at hand, showing no indication that the last exchange of words had ever happened. ¡°Before we get to pricing the parts, we may as well deal with the miscellaneous items first. That¡¯s an interesting piece of jewelry.¡± Ann held the necklace in a beam of sunlight to take a closer look, running her fingertips across the etchings on the medallion. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize the make or the symbol, and I can identify the work of most of the artisans on Ord. My guess is that it predates the System colonizing the planet.¡± She handed the necklace back to him. ¡°It doesn¡¯t appear to be either magtech or runic. I can give you some credits for the silver, but you should probably hold onto it. It might be worth a lot more to a collector.¡± She reached down to inspect the lanterns, after Edge indicated that he wanted to keep the third. ¡°Two basic magtech lanterns, mild damage to the casings, are worth fifty credits each. Another ten for the aether in the tanks. Now, let me work my magic and I¡¯ll tell you what I can offer for the rest of the pile.¡± Edge took a step back and gave Ann her space. She was known to be prickly if you bothered her mid-appraisal. He watched with interest as her eyes began glowing with a pale purple light. Wisps of mana flowed across her face as she activated a high-rank informational skill, whose details were a carefully guarded secret. ¡°Hrm. Yes. I see.¡± She picked up the beaks, made a few notes onto a pad of paper, then examined the talons and claws. ¡°Those beaks aren¡¯t worth much. They¡¯re too brittle for making weapons. We can sell them as an F-grade alchemy ingredient for some perception potions, but all I can give you is a thousand credits for the lot. No point in negotiating, it¡¯s honestly the best I can do. The small claws are an E-grade crafting component. I¡¯ll offer you another seven thousand for the set. The big ones are low D-grade and worth a thousand credits a piece. ¡°Now this one.¡± Ann held up the claw that Edge had been using as a sword. ¡°It''s unusually high quality, somewhere in the mid D-grade. It will sell for quite a bit more than the others, but you¡¯d be best served by keeping it for yourself and getting a weapon crafted at the Forge. Unfortunately, the talons don¡¯t have a use in alchemy or gear crafting. I can sell them to the tanner to make glue, so call it two-fifty, given the weight.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Thanks Ann. I¡¯ll sell everything but the necklace and the claw you¡¯re holding. If you could store it behind the counter for now, then have someone deliver it to the Forge, I would deeply appreciate it. I think I will commission a weapon out of it like you suggested, but I need to take care of a few things first.¡± ¡°Alright. You owe me a favor for the delivery, but my discretion is free. That brings your total for today up to seventeen thousand, three hundred-sixty credits.¡± ¡°Throw in a change of clothes and a pair of boots and it¡¯s a deal.¡± Ann laughed at his attempt to haggle. ¡°Alright, I can budge that much. Pick out something your size from the rack on the way out. Oh, and that bar of soap is on me. Call it charity for the entire town.¡± She was about to deactivate the privacy bubble, but Edge stopped her with his next words. ¡°Before I go, I need to use the downstairs bathroom.¡± Both golden eyebrows went up this time. ¡°Extenuating circumstances indeed. It¡¯s out of order. Come back in two days, after we close for the night.¡± A casual observer might have been confused by this exchange, if they had been able to pierce Ann¡¯s skill and overhear what was being said. Which was exactly the point. That phrase was a code known only by a few, passed on in secret to people they trusted. Edge had obtained the information by paying a hefty sum before starting his run, but Ann only nodded. ¡°You really have been through hell out there, haven¡¯t you? It just goes to show that nothing lasts forever. The disaster threw the entire world into chaos, upending the old order and beginning the new. Some fortunes topple, while others rise. Just remember who helped you out when you¡¯re rich and famous.¡± ¡°Will do Ann. And thanks, I mean it. You really are the best.¡± She grinned, and then her expression turned hard as steel, a flash of killing intent making him take a quick step back from the counter. ¡°I have a good feeling about you, so I¡¯m willing to gamble on your future. Don¡¯t make me regret it.¡± She smiled again like nothing had happened and the feeling faded. She put the tray behind the counter, summoned her Guide to transfer the credits into his account, then let the privacy screen go. ¡°A pleasure doing business. Now get out of here, Edge. You¡¯re fouling up the place.¡± She threw a bar of soap at him, which he caught without looking, earning him a round of applause from the people browsing the isles. He picked out a new shirt, pants, and pair of boots from the racks. He had Ann wrap them up, then left through the front door, practically vibrating with excitement. In addition to having cashed in his very first haul, he was on track to get his first implant too. Asking to use the downstairs bathroom was a code for requesting to use the establishment''s secret service. The one that was reserved for monster and bounty hunters. People who were able to acquire the dangerous currency known as mortium. Edge had really been asking to access the mortium exchange, hoping to acquire one of the starter implants the System awarded when a tourist turned in their first lifecoin. He entertained the fantasy for a few seconds, before letting it fade with a sleepy yawn. He didn¡¯t have the energy to focus on anything in the future, now that he could afford to buy a bath, a meal, and a room for the night, not necessarily in that order. Seventeen thousand credits wasn¡¯t a fortune by any means. But it was far more cash than he had expected to make in his first month on Ord. It was enough to get a nice room with meals included for several weeks running. Edge suspected that prices would keep rising as the aftermath of the anomaly reshaped the economy. But that was a worry for another day. Chapter 58: Stinky After he left Ann¡¯s, Edge walked back down Main Street. He turned right at the corner, then continued for a few more blocks, mulling over his options as he crossed into the commercial district. There were several places in town where you could rent a bed, and none of them were cheap. He could have saved a few credits by renting a lot on the common green or staying at a hostel like the Tourist¡¯s Rest. But tonight, he wanted something better. He was going to celebrate his survival in style with a tasty meal in a private room. And the only place he knew of where he could get both was the Pioneer. The hotel was located on one of the circular streets dividing the district, not far from the border of the crafter¡¯s quarter. The Pioneer was more upscale than the handful of dives in town, but its meals weren¡¯t nearly as pricy as the restaurants. More importantly, it had rooms to rent upstairs. Accommodations with locking doors and a cored guard who lived downstairs. Edge walked down the street, glad that he wasn¡¯t carrying the bloody, bladed collection of resources in his bag anymore. That he no longer had to worry about pricking himself with every step, and far more critically, revealing just how extraordinary the last few days had been. Ten minutes later, he found himself standing in front of the entrance. He could hear people talking from a block away, along with a piano playing in the background. Both grew louder by the footfall as he crossed the front patio and made his way inside. The Pioneer was built from a dark, lustrous wood, with rich swirling patterns to the grain. The ground floor was filled with a bar, featuring dozens of tables and a stage big enough to hold a band. The front had sliding panels to let the air in, and saloon style doors. Despite the uncertain times that had descended upon the planet, or perhaps because of them, the bar was packed. Filled with people coming to unwind over a drink and discuss the unprecedented changes to their world. The interior was brightly lit. Warm, welcoming, and clean. Carvings of beasts adorned the walls, interspersed with vivid paintings displaying a vast range of biomes. The rich colors contrasted against the dark wood of the walls, making the artwork pop. The owner of the building was tending the bar. A middle-aged man with glasses, who went by the name of Sam. Edge walked up to the counter and raised a hand in greeting, anticipating a less than warm welcome this time around. Sure enough, before he could say a word, Sam started yelling. ¡°Get the fuck out of my bar! You reek. You¡¯re going to drive all my customers away. They want to escape the end of the world, not stare at a walking posterchild for it. Besides, you look dead broke, and the Pioneer has nothing to offer to people who can¡¯t pay.¡± Edge flashed a sheepish smile, then tried to win him over. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s not my usual style. But like you were saying, it¡¯s rough out there. I was caught out on the plains when the disaster struck and just made it back to town. But credits, Sam? Credits won¡¯t be a problem. I need a room for a week with meals included, if you have one to spare.¡± Sam¡¯s expression brightened at those words, although he still looked pissed about the mess. ¡°Get out. Now. I have one available, and meals won¡¯t be a problem. We can discuss the price after we hose you down. You¡¯re fucking filthy and I¡¯ve never smelled anything so bad. What did you do, cover yourself in rotten meat and then roll around in monster shit?¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°That¡¯s closer to the mark than you think. Monster blood mostly. Nasty bastards called shadowreavers.¡± ¡°Damn, that must be quite a story. Tell it to me later and the first round is on me. But I won¡¯t sell another drop while you¡¯re standing by the bar. Rita!¡± Sam bellowed. ¡°Go around back with this gentleman. Spray him with the hose until he won¡¯t curdle milk as he walks past. Be quick about it, I can¡¯t spare you for long when it¡¯s this busy.¡± One of the servers, a middle-aged woman with long black hair and a cloth apron tied around her waist, set down her tray and walked over to the counter. ¡°That¡¯s the weirdest thing I¡¯ve heard all day, and I¡¯ve been dealing with hallucinating drunks who thought that the stage minimums on Jenny¡¯s brews were only a suggestion. But I wouldn¡¯t mind a break from the press.¡± ¡°Come on, Stinky.¡± She pointed at Edge. ¡°Let¡¯s just get this over with and then never speak of it again.¡± He followed her out the back and into a small courtyard. Rita had Edge set down his parcel, then reached for a rubber hose connected to a large tank of water, pinching her nostrils with her other hand. She sprayed him down until the water ran clear, which took the better part of ten minutes, considering all the grime and gunk caked onto every inch of his body. He started looking for a towel to dry himself off, but there was none to be found. Instead, Rita gestured and burned some mana. The next thing Edge knew, water was streaming off his body, leeching out of his clothing and hair until he was completely dry. She must have some manner of water manipulation skill. Something like that could come in handy. When she let him back inside, he walked over to the bar to negotiate the price, settling on three thousand creds for the week. It was far more than he could have afforded before binding his core, but it wasn¡¯t too bad considering the credits he¡¯d made today. Once they had sealed the deal, Rita came back by and handed Edge a key and a vacuum-packed mealbox. Then she pointed to the stairwell and left him to find his own way. Which wasn¡¯t a problem since there were only twenty rooms for rent, and the number was engraved on the key. He climbed the stairs and opened the door to his room. He stepped inside, savoring how the clamor cut off the moment he closed it again. Now that¡¯s quality. He hung his pack on a hook by the door, stripped the remnants of the rags from his body, and peeled off his cheap starter boots. He washed his hands and then opened the mealbox, relieved to discover that it held far better fare than what the wardens had provided. Inside was a thick sandwich. Grilled meat, vegetables, and cheese layered between soft brown bread made from the local grain. It was delicious and nutritious. He devoured it down to the last crumb within two minutes flat. He was still hungry, but he was too tired to worry about it until morning. That only left one item on his pass-the-fuck-out-checklist. Even more than he wanted to sleep, Edge yearned to be clean. The hosing had been a good start, but he needed to soak and scrub before he would finally feel like himself again. He walked into the bathroom, stepped into the tub, and turned on the water. Thanks to the building¡¯s magtech heater, the flow came out warm from the very first drop. Edge closed his eyes as the bliss of hot water washed over him, seeping into his body. The heat helped him let go of layer after layer of stress that had been pounded into his muscles by days of rough sleeping and almost dying on far too many occasions. Regeneration could heal him, and that was great, but it couldn¡¯t help him relax. At long last, Edge was able to savor the uncomplicated joy of being somewhere warm and safe. Quiet and comfortable. He was finally able to come down from his survival-induced hypervigilance and let it all go. Or the first big chunk of it at any rate. Then, for the next twenty minutes, he stopped thinking entirely, enjoying the lightness of his submerged body and the sublime pleasure of being clean. After almost falling asleep in the bath for the second time, he got out of the tub and toweled himself dry. Then he slipped beneath the covers, groaning at the luxury of a soft mattress beneath his back instead of hard earth or branches. Edge was out like a light thirty seconds later. The memories of how his strange journey had begun flitted across his dreamscape, like bubbles rising to the surface of a storm-wracked sea. Chapter 59: Backstory (One Year Earlier) The story of how Edge wound up on the most dangerous planet in inhabited space had begun a little over one year ago. Back then, he was drifting through life in an endless daze, every bland day the same as the last. His tepid existence was defined by his meaningless job. His impact on the world was no more substantial than the shadow he cast. Day by day, Edge had grown ever more dissatisfied with AI-governed society. His only escape was the Prison World broadcasts. The thousands of individual channels forming the feed. He only had a few acquaintances, all of them online. People who shared his passion for the life and death adventures that took place on Ord every day. It was better than nothing, but his so-called friendships were only a millimeter deep. Paper-thin bonds lacking any true intimacy. The only bright spot was his relationship with his mother. The only family he had left after his father and brothers had died in a freak transport accident. But she was lost in a daze of her own, addicted to simulations of happier times. Living in that bittersweet past was far too painful for him to join her, although they met up in the real world from time to time. Lacking any reason to get out of bed in the morning, Edge became increasingly obsessed with the magical world of Ord and its vivid outlaw society. It was the place where they sent the worst of the worst. Criminals powerful enough to destroy entire cities and decimate factions. Of course, not everyone trapped there was a mass-murderer. There were plenty of lesser undesirables too. People infamous or unlucky enough to have received the death penalty on thousands of planets throughout the galaxy. Before the catastrophe, there were endless lines of portal-ferries floating in orbit, waiting to offload their condemned. The reason that the wardens were always happy to host them was simple. Thanks to puppet tourism and the simucast relay network, Prison World was the biggest entertainment industry in the sector by an order of magnitude. The feed became Edge¡¯s obsession. He was addicted to a way of life that was a stark contrast to his own shallow existence. Enthralled by a planet where peril and mystery lurked around every corner. Where every decision mattered, and fortunes were won and lost in the blink of an eye. Eventually, he reached his breaking point, unable to take another day of his endless tedium. A glacial treadmill governed by unfeeling machines. He took out the biggest loan he could get and combined it with his life savings. Then he wagered it all on a series of high-risk, high-return investments, gambling his future on the long-shot chance that he would be able to buy a puppet and finance a Prison World run. For the first time in memory, Edge had felt something stir. A twinge of excitement when he signed his name on the dotted line. On that fateful day, he had drawn a line in the sand. Now, there was no going back. He¡¯d either make it to Ord, or he would spend the rest of his life in debtors¡¯ prison on one godforsaken rock or another. Either way, his dreary existence would come to an end. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. He had watched his investments constantly, hitting refresh every minute while praying for the numbers to change. But the first set went bust, and the second as well, his chances dwindling down to nearly nothing. Then, during the lowest weeks of his life, fortune had chosen to smile upon Edge at last. In defiance of the odds, several of his riskiest investments panned out, multiplying his savings within a matter of days. He put his profits into something safer, and those had worked out too, letting him reach his goal by the end of that month. When the realization came crashing home that he¡¯d actually done it, his deep depression had transformed into manic joy. At long last, he could afford to create his own channel on the feed. He was heading to Ord after all. In that moment, his entire worldview changed. Edge found an endless well of determination inside himself that he had never known was there. The patience and resolve to take hold of this chance with everything that he had. To lay the groundwork for success before he left his home world behind. He paid back his loans and kept working to make up the difference, taking extra shifts to afford a full course of high-quality training modules and expanded access to the feed. He trained for an entire year with unwavering diligence, practicing every skill he thought might help him survive on an alien world. Edge achieved basic proficiency in tracking and outdoorsmanship. Bartering, fighting, and dozens more. He spent every waking moment that he wasn¡¯t working learning everything that he could about the people who lived on Ord. Studying their profiles and the choices they made, so that he would be able to fit in once he arrived. He decided that he would start his run on the Ivory Plains, using Puppet Town as his base of operations until he was strong enough to head toward the frontier. Then at last, the day arrived. Edge received word that his puppet was fully grown and ready to be imprinted. That a stasis tank and bandwidth on the simucast relay was reserved for his use in one month¡¯s time. During those final four weeks, he spent several hours with his mother every day. Making new memories and saying goodbye, just in case they were seeing one another for the last time. She was in good health and still had another hundred years ahead of her in ideal circumstances. But you never knew what tomorrow would bring. Despite everything, his meaningless life, and his perennial frustration and dissatisfaction, Edge loved his mother fiercely. They were the only family that the other had, and she¡¯d always treated him well. At least when she was living in the present. His mother told Edge that he was special, and he knew that she meant it. Even when every other aspect of his life made it clear that he wasn¡¯t. She rode with him to the stasis facility the day that his consciousness was transmitted across the stars. Her hand holding his own was the last sensation that his old body had ever felt. Her smiling face was his final vision. A whispered, ¡°I love you Edge,¡± was the last sound that his ears ever heard. After he hugged his mother for the last time, the pod closed as he waved goodbye, sealing him inside. Gas had flooded the chamber, and then he felt nothing at all. The drugs kicked in, his pod froze his body, and an endless void had risen to engulf him. At least he¡¯d had the foresight to forward the royalties from his feed to her account. Whatever he¡¯d earned before the disaster should have been transferred to her already. It wasn¡¯t much, since his run had only just begun. But it was his way of showing his appreciation to the one person who had actually believed in him. Edge wouldn¡¯t be standing here today without her support. I love you mom, and I miss you. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be forever. Chapter 60: Tutorial (Eleven Days Earlier) The next time that Edge opened his eyes, he found himself on the other side of the galaxy, wearing a body that wasn¡¯t his own. It took him a moment to realize that he was looking out through the eyeballs of a puppet that had been cloned for his exclusive use. His new home for the duration of his stay on Ord. Although you were allowed to select the gender, the appearance of each puppet was randomly generated, and they all began their runs at age twenty. He had been lucky that its body was close to the same size as his own, or making the transition would have been far less pleasant. The technician on duty had helped him to sit up, then ran a battery of tests to make sure that everything was in working order. She gave him a few minutes to get used to the change, before tossing him a pile of clothing and a backpack. Then she kicked him out of the facility with a perfunctory, ¡°Good luck.¡± Edge got dressed and walked out the front door. The moment he was outside, he set his gaze upon the heavens, looking up at a sky subtly different than the one he¡¯d known all his life. He stood there with a shit-eating grin on his face, basking in the fact that he had done it. That he was standing on the surface of an alien world. The lawless planet that he¡¯d dreamed of exploring all his life. Whether his run ended today or a decade from now, culminated in triumph, tragedy, or somewhere in between, would be determined by the choices he made from this moment on. Though he¡¯d never say no to a bit of help from lady luck. He found himself standing beside a large group of tourists. Everyone who had been simucast in the same batch. He took in the faces of women and men from across the galaxy. People here to make their fortune or die trying. Some began chatting right away, trying to build connections right from the start. Edge didn¡¯t bother. There wasn¡¯t much point in making friends unless you were going to the same starting zone, and his destination was one of the least chosen. Even then, a random stranger was just as likely to stab you in the back as lend a helping hand. He had no desire to trust his fate to another. Not when for the first time in his miserable life, his destiny was in his own hands. He would head to the Ivory Plains alone. Meet his future on his own terms. Instead, Edge started reviewing his plans and working out. He needed to get used to the subtle differences that came with piloting flesh and bones that had different proportions from the ones he¡¯d known all his life. He also needed to condition his new body as quickly as possible. To simulate the natural ability of human bodies to grow stronger with regular exercise, all puppets could improve their physical attributes up to five points each through a process known as conditioning. Points gained from conditioning resulted from the gradual accumulation of biological reactions, rather than a core¡¯s magic manipulating the body. With conditioning, the extra points on your profile were the recognition of changes that had occurred, rather than their catalyst. Although this was a slow process, it let even uncored individuals perform at a level far above their starting, baseline stats. While he put his puppet through its paces, Edge¡¯s mind was hard at work. He was already planning out his next move. Reviewing how to minimize the risks he took over the next few weeks, when he would be the most vulnerable. He wouldn¡¯t have much time to think after his tutorial came to an end, so he needed to do it now. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. This was the only period of guaranteed safety that he was going to get, and he wasn¡¯t going to waste a second. The Prison World administration provided no support for tourists beyond the tutorial, basic starting gear, and a week¡¯s worth of food. Following that train of thought, he opened his bag and saw fourteen mealboxes inside. Magicyte-infused rations that could support his puppet for half a day apiece. The only other items were a canteen, a pair of boots, and a utility knife. Edge watched his pack like a hawk, clutching it to his chest instead of strapping it onto his back. While the wardens would step in if people tried to hurt each other before heading out, they wouldn¡¯t do anything to stop them from stealing from, manipulating, or tricking one another. Not long after that, the bus arrived that would take everyone to their tutorial. An experience that would teach them the basics of the System, magic, and skills. He already knew all the relevant information, but he was still bouncing with excitement as they drove down the road. The bus dropped them off in front of a tall tower with no windows and only one door. Then a warden¡¯s aide came by and showed them how to use their Guides. When Edge opened his menus for the very first time, he broke into a broad grin as he read about the quest to climb the tower. Each person was led through the entrance one at a time. Inside was a series of rooms, each designed to illustrate a simple concept. There was a tutorial on mana, cores, beasts, skills, basic combat, Guide functions, and System currency. At the top of the spire was a simulated enemy, a combat dummy in the shape of a person. It was there to help new arrivals get used to the idea of fighting and killing their own kind. The twist was that if you didn¡¯t win, you wouldn¡¯t get the reward. A way of weeding out the weak right from the start. Thanks to his training back home, Edge won the match easily, and was offered a range of basic skills. He picked slash without stopping to consider his options, having already made his decision long ago. While there were strengths and weaknesses to each skill on the list, slash was a combat skill that was decently powerful for its rarity and incredibly mana efficient. A perfect choice for a new puppet with limited magicytes and no credits to his name. When he was done, he was asked which starting zone he wanted to be transported to. Edge had chosen the Ivory Plains, one of the first people in his cohort to make their decision. Without further ado, the world dissolved in a flash of white light. The next thing he knew, the endless prairie was stretching out before his eyes. He wanted to simply take it all in, but his trial had already begun. Half of all tourists died before the end of their first week, either to carnivorous beasts or predators of the human variety. Edge needed to make some credits fast. Earn enough to get some decent gear and more food, then acquire a second skill as soon as he could. Once he was stronger and had reached the limits of what conditioning could offer, he could start searching for a core. The next major barrier to surviving on Ord. He made his way to Puppet Town, adrenaline surging through his veins all the while. He narrowly avoided being hunted on two separate occasions before stepping through the gates. Those first few hours passed in a blur, filled with the high of surviving his first test. Edge introduced himself to some of the settlement¡¯s major players, people he had been watching on the feed all his life, thrilled to be a part of it all. But he soon discovered that there was nothing there for him to do. Puppet Town had little to offer someone without credits or something to trade for them. He had already known that he would have to work if he wanted to live. He solicited advice from the few people who were willing to offer it, including the Sheriff and Ann. He traded a mealbox for the right to spend the night camped inside the walls, before heading out early the next morning. Over the next few days, he was able to make enough credits to keep himself alive, hunting some of the weakest animals on the plains to sell their meat. But it wasn¡¯t even enough to keep his supply of mealboxes from slowly dwindling away. At that point, Edge had no choice but to accept a medium-risk contract. He had chosen a resource request that would take him to the other side of the plains, searching a distant sub-biome for plants with alchemical properties. It was a roll of the dice that he would have preferred to avoid. But if it worked out, he would be in good shape to survive the next month. He was almost at his destination when the anomaly had occurred, upending the old world and beginning the new. Chapter 61: Catastrophe (Four Days Earlier) The sky turned black, then white, then both at once. A clamorous roar filled his ears, like the world was breaking in half. Electricity buzzed in the air, the ground shook, and Edge was drenched in a tide of magic so thick that he could taste it even without a core. Then, for just a second, he saw something inexplicable. A vision of the planet from far above the surface. He could sense that the world¡¯s energy was being rerouted, as the immensely powerful spells that shielded Ord were unwoven and remade. Before any of the details became clear, the image dissolved into shrieking static, and he blacked out. He woke up in a world that had descended into chaos. A way of life developed over centuries had been erased within a matter of hours, leaving Ord¡¯s inhabitants scrambling to make sense of the changes that had occurred. The first thing that Edge saw when he opened his eyes was a message from the System floating in front of his face. The words he read shocked him to his core. He sat down hard, shaking as their implications pierced his soul, revealing a truth that had been too overwhelming to absorb all at once. The most pressing matter was the notice informing him that his original body had perished, along with every other puppet on the planet. Their connection to the simucast network had been severed from the wrong end, resulting in a terminal desync. Every stasis pod had been destroyed by a massive surge of mana that conducted across the entire relay at once, wreaking havoc upon hardware and wetware alike. Something like that wasn¡¯t supposed to be possible. Not with trillions of credits worth of failsafes and a dozen top tier AI¡¯s monitoring the grid at all times. There hadn¡¯t been a single fatality related to simucasting in decades, and now tens of thousands had happened at once. The silver lining was that Edge hadn¡¯t simply died without ever knowing what hit him. His consciousness was still intact. His mind was permanently bound to the puppet he¡¯d been piloting, transforming what was supposed to have been a survival vacation into a genuine life and death ordeal. He didn¡¯t have time to ponder that dire proclamation at length. He just kept on reading before figuring out his next move. The next detail Edge learned was that several vital components of the System had been destroyed when Ord¡¯s magic went haywire. The AI had implemented a planet-wide lockdown while it assessed the damage and tried to recover. On top of everything else, the planet¡¯s link to the intergalactic transportation network had been unmoored. The red-shield wasn¡¯t letting anyone in or out, even the wardens¡¯ vessels. It meant that no one down here was going home the long way either. Everyone who was standing on the surface was stuck on Ord for the foreseeable future. The prison administration wasn¡¯t responding, and they had begun fortifying their holdings, killing anyone who tried to approach. If that wasn¡¯t enough to deal with, all long-range transportation on the surface had been shut down too, including the airships and most other vehicles. Most baffling of all, the geography of the planet had been reshuffled, mixing the frontier with bits and pieces of the colonized biomes. Since only a slim fraction of Ord had been tamed over the last few centuries, the foothold that mankind had established had been effectively erased. Without the buffer biomes and magical shields protecting the settled regions, powerful beasts and monsters were already spreading into the starting zones. Last but not least, the feed was rife with rumors that some of the planet¡¯s SS criminals had escaped and their whereabouts were unknown. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. It was a lot to take in at once. In addition to being stuck on the planet for the foreseeable future, life on the surface was about to become even more dangerous than it already was. If he didn¡¯t make it to a settlement, his odds of survival would dwindle from slim to none within a matter of days. Edge¡¯s feed stayed on for another half hour, letting him learn more about what was happening before it abruptly cut off. At that point, he got another message from the System, informing him that more of the planet¡¯s infrastructure had been critically damaged. That the AI¡¯s mana was being rerouted to protect its core. Communication magic wasn¡¯t working either, thanks to some manner of interference that had arisen in the wake of the anomaly. The Prison World broadcasts had ceased, and no information was coming in from the outside. One of the most profitable ventures in human history was no more, and an economy bigger than most solar systems had crumbled into dust. Finally, due to the losses the System had taken during the surge, most of his Guide¡¯s functions had been disabled. It left Edge completely on his own, stranded in an alien wilderness that was growing more deadly by the hour. Standing on the surface of a hostile world, staring out over the Ivory Plains with no way home, there wasn¡¯t any way to sugarcoat what had happened next. It was a dark, desperate moment, forcing him to face the truth that he was probably going to die in one horrible manner or another. He wanted to freak the fuck out. Curl into a ball and cry or start screaming at the stars. But he didn¡¯t do any of those things. Because at that point a cold clarity had descended upon Edge, infusing him with the awareness that if he didn¡¯t plan his next move carefully, he was going to die sooner rather than later. Even in the aftermath of the calamity, he knew that he wouldn¡¯t be able to endure the hardships ahead without some credits to his name. Since he was already in the region and didn¡¯t have any other good options, he continued looking for the plants that he was supposed to find before making his way back to town. But when he reached the closest hillock, he learned that the entire area had been remade in the wake of the disaster. The Emerald Grove was gone, and a mountain stood in its place, jutting up toward the sky like the beak of a gigantic bird. Making a bad situation even worse, he soon discovered that it wasn¡¯t just the grove that had changed locations. The patch of ground he¡¯d been standing on had been moved when the surface was reconfigured. While he was still on the Ivory Plains, Edge was far to the southwest of his original location. Puppet Town was now at least a three-day journey, if the settlement was still there at all. The only thing that kept him from losing his shit at that point was the profile of the Guide¡¯s Fingers on the horizon. Even if the fingers looked different than before, they let him know which way he needed to go. He spent two desperate days heading toward the fingers, knowing that every hour could well be his last. In addition to being easy meat for the predators roaming the grasslands, he had little food, no money, and no easy way to make more. Even if he made it back to town, he couldn¡¯t afford provisions or shelter. On Ord, relying on the charity of others was a sure road to a short life. Edge had to do something that would change his situation within the next twenty-four hours, or he was going to die, either from magicyte depletion or between a monster¡¯s jaws. That was when he came across a series of deep ravines. A feature that hadn¡¯t been a part of the plains until the anomaly had occurred, likely brought here from the frontier. The biomes near the capital and prison administration had been picked clean decades ago. Their quests completed and dungeons long-since delved. But beyond the frontier, there were still countless artifacts that had been seeded by the System in the early days of its inception. Chests hidden in dangerous locations and other secret rewards. He knew in that moment, that he was facing the most important choice of his life. Edge could either head back to town emptyhanded, or he could stop and search for something valuable enough to help him survive the dark days ahead. He was probably going to die either way, so he decided to go with the option that offered a slim possibility of a genuine solution. He started walking along the scars in the grasslands, looking for something interesting within their shadow-ridden depths. Just when he was about to give up, he saw the ruins beckoning to him from below. They were unlike anything he¡¯d seen before. A remnant from the planet¡¯s past that had likely never been explored by prisoners or tourists, and thus a prime location to find something valuable. At that point, Edge had decided to gamble his life on the chance that he would come across an opportunity that would change his fate, beginning the series of events that led him to his present situation. Safe in bed after surviving an incredible ordeal. Chapter 62: Reflection (Back in the Present) Edge woke up late the next morning, catching up on the sleep that had been in chronically short supply since arriving on this world. He rose from his bed feeling remarkably refreshed, ready to face the day and the challenges it would bring. As he looked out the window with a smile on his face, the realization broke over him that he had actually done it. He had survived the disaster and the ordeal that had followed in its wake. He was still breathing, despite the procession of predators that had done their best to claim his life. Only a few days ago, he had been powerless and dead broke. Starving and lost in a deadly alien wilderness. In that short span of time, his existence had changed on a fundamental level, opening the door to a future that he could never have imagined. Possibilities far beyond his most ambitious fantasies. Today, Edge had a core of his own. One more powerful than any he¡¯d ever heard of. He had six solid skills, including two uncommons and a rare. A staggering rate of progression by any reckoning. He had credits in his account and had begun making a name for himself, laying the foundation for becoming a major player instead of an extra on the set. He had arrived in Puppet Town at long last and made a few friends along the way. He had been too exhausted until this moment to truly appreciate the fact that he was standing behind the town¡¯s warded walls, safe at last. He had a lot that he still needed to process. But not just yet. No matter what troubles tomorrow might bring, Edge felt really fucking good right now, and he was going to enjoy it. After using the bathroom, he took a long shower, basking in the sensation of warm water running over his skin. After being coated in blood and grime in every color of the rainbow, he had never expected to feel so fresh again. After stepping out of the shower and toweling himself dry, Edge caught a glimpse of his own reflection in the mirror. When he saw how much his figure had improved since obtaining his core, his eyes went wide with surprise. He stopped dead in his tracks to take a long, lingering look. His puppet body had been completely unremarkable when he first arrived on Ord. He wasn¡¯t fat and he wasn¡¯t thin. Neither short nor tall. His frame had flabby muscles and pale skin. He hadn¡¯t grown any taller since binding Skill-Eater, but everything else had changed. Now, every inch of him looked lean and fit. His muscles were tight, tanned, and toned, granting him a physique like a professional athlete. More than his impressive stature, there was an aura of power that hadn¡¯t been there before. There was fire burning in his eyes. A sense of coiled energy waiting to burst free. He looked strong, wild, and dangerous. The surging vitality that a core bestowed. While he was taking in the changes to his appearance, Edge raised his gaze to examine his face, the first time that he¡¯d really taken a good look at his new features. He was only twenty years old by Earth standards. He had spiky black hair straight out of an anime. Light brown eyes peering out from above a short, sharp nose. High cheekbones and thick eyebrows set at an angle. Stolen novel; please report. Not quite what I was expecting, but it could be a lot worse. Although it was still weird as hell to see a stranger¡¯s eyes staring back into his own from the other side of the mirror, Edge had to admit that he looked good. With some nicer clothes and a professional haircut, he might even turn a few heads when he walked through the crowd. Or maybe Sasha¡¯s head in particular. He grinned. She was awfully cute, and there seemed to be a spark between us. When he was done admiring the view, he walked into the bedroom and opened the parcel he¡¯d gotten from Ann¡¯s, containing his new clothes and boots. It was just a simple shirt and pants woven from brown cloth, but they fit well and seemed decently durable. The socks were comfortable, and the shoes fit him perfectly, which wasn¡¯t a surprise at all. One weird thing about the puppet system was that all their feet were the same size. Any shoes he found would fit, unless they were made by a convict. It was a major upgrade from what he¡¯d been wearing before, and it would do until he could afford to buy something better. Now, where can I get that meal that was included with the room? Edge opened his front door, only to find a mealbox already waiting for him. He brought it inside and broke the seal, stomach growling as the scent of fried eggs and beast bacon washed over him. It was still hot, courtesy of some skill that he wasn¡¯t familiar with. After thoroughly enjoying his breakfast, it was time to check out the rest of the notifications that he¡¯d been too exhausted to deal with the day before. Starting with equipping his new trait. Trait slots: 3. Equipped traits: 1. Available traits: 1. Unequipped traits: Wanted. Trait: Wanted. You have found one of the 21 unique cores in existence and have broken the first seal. Your actions have not gone unnoticed, and someone just painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something that you should do sooner rather than later. There¡¯s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can¡¯t wait to watch. This trait might help you live just a little longer, but I¡¯m not holding my breath. Effects: + 10% to endurance, durability, and disruption (minimum gain of 1). Would you like to equip this trait now? Warning, traits cannot be removed unless specific conditions are met. While the text was worrying in both content and tone, Wanted was another fantastic trait. The bonuses were top tier, at least for a low-stage tourist. Since no one could see his profile without his permission, Edge had no reason not to accept, he confirmed his intentions and equipped the trait. Just like before, it felt like a coat of energy had been wrapped around him. Although the power seemed different this time, in a way that he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. He had a sense of magic leeching out of the air to infuse his body, bolstering his attributes without altering his tissue on a deeper level. After a few seconds, the strange sensation faded away, leaving him tougher than before. He nodded in satisfaction. More defense is always welcome. Now that his new trait had been taken care of, the next item on his agenda was deciding where he wanted to spend the attribute points he¡¯d obtained from scoring the kill on the stage-two reaver. Although he had deviated from his plan due to extenuating circumstances, he was ready to get back to it and invest in his energetic attributes. After a moment of consideration, he put two points into generation and one into amplification. He sat down while the System went to work, turning the transformative energy into permanent upgrades. He lost himself in the sensations that came with widening his mana pores and increasing the density of the energetic connections running between his reactor and his skills. Part of the way though, it struck him just how bizarre it was to feel changes occurring to a part of his body that hadn¡¯t existed a week ago. Edge shrugged and then laughed, savoring the strangeness of it all. When he was done, he pulled up his profile, taking in the full extent of the gains that he had made over the last day and some change. Concept Art Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. Mel Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Woman with the apples Ann''s General Goods Ann Chapter 63: Plan Personal statistics: Edge Vasher Physical attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits)
Power: 3 (4) Reflex: 1 Endurance: 3 (4) Perception: 3
Speed: 4 (5) Control: 1 (2) Durability: 3 (4)
Energetic attributes
Generation: 6 Amplification: 5 Disruption: 1 (2)
Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater]. Stage: 1. Cycle: 1/21. Rarity: Unique. Category: Unique. Attribute points per cycle: 3. Ultimate abilities [Extraction] (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours. Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own. [Overdrive] (active). Uses: 1. Cooldown period: 1 week. [Overdrive] increases your amplification by (10 x stage) for thirty seconds. Activating skills will not cost mana during this period. You will be severely exhausted for thirty seconds after [Overdrive] is complete. Core traits Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement]. You can no longer acquire or rank-up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Devourer (unique). You may absorb an unwanted skill, freeing its slot and granting a fraction of its experience to the skill of your choice. Be advised, the return on this exchange is significantly less efficient than [Extracting] a duplicate of an existing skill. Skills Skill slots 11. Unused slots 5. Known skills: Slash (basic): rank 1. Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. Conceal (common): rank 1. Erase your scent and heat signature while you remain still. Visually, you will appear to blend into your environment. Entangle (common): rank 2. Path: durability. Create tough burrowing vines to bind your foes. Elemental blade [ice] (uncommon): rank 1. Create a subzero blade of ice. Regeneration [limited] (uncommon): rank 1. Rapidly heal wounds. Limited regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed. Shadow step (rare): rank 1. Transform into shadows. You have a rare skill presently being digested. Traits (2 of 3 trait slots are filled) Triple tap (equipped) You are either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or are the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You managed to win a fight against three opponents at least one stage higher than yourself and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each. Effects: + 10% to power, speed, and control (minimum gain of 1). Trait: Wanted. You have found one of the 21 unique cores in existence, which has painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something you should do sooner rather than later. There¡¯s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can¡¯t wait to watch it all play out. This trait might help you live a little bit longer, but I¡¯m not holding my breath. Effects: + 10% to endurance, durability, and disruption (minimum gain of 1). Implants (none) System currency Credits: 14,360 Mortium: 1 Leaving the more troubling aspects of his situation aside, it was flat out amazing to take in just how much he¡¯d grown since waking up on Ord. Gaining eight cycles, six skills, and two traits within a matter of days was an incredible accomplishment. Not to mention five mortium and a pile of credits. A run that would make any tourist green with envy. If Edge were still connected to the simucast network, his Prison World channel would be racking up an incredible number of views by now, earning him enough royalties to make him one of the richest people on Earth. Even though he would have to give up on his goal of obtaining fortune and fame on the feed, it didn¡¯t kill the joy he felt in watching the numbers go up. Once he cashed in his credits and began to gear up, he would be strong enough to start hunting the beasts roaming the plains, raking in cycles and skills along the way. If he was careful and played his cards right, his star would continue to rise. On that note, he spent the next few minutes lying in bed thinking about the future. Pondering the direction that he wanted to grow in, given his unique situation. Eventually, he nodded to himself and rose to his feet, having figured out enough to set his goals for the immediate future. He would start rigorously conditioning his body to boost his physical attributes, increasing his combat prowess along the way. Since he was planning to invest in his energetic resources for a while longer, he needed to get stronger the old-fashioned way. Other than that, he needed to obtain more practical experience. In both beast hunting and using the various powers granted by his skills. While he had gained some great new abilities, Edge was a novice in their use. He still didn¡¯t have a good grasp of how they worked. Over the coming weeks, he needed to devote considerable time to training with his new powers and learning their ins and outs. Understand their strengths and weaknesses. Utility and limitations. He had to develop an instinctive sense of how much mana they would drain. The advantages of activating them in combination and in what circumstances, until relying on them became as reflexive as breathing. I should try to find some passive skills soon, or active skills that have uses outside of a fight. Picking up too many combat skills won¡¯t do me much good until I have more generation and get better at using the ones that I already have. Although I¡¯ll never say no to something juicy. Now that he had ironed out his plan for his progression, Edge needed to decide what he wanted to do today. On the top of his list was buying some gear and finding a job, preferably something that would give him cover as he continued to cycle-up. That was when he remembered the text that had come with his newest trait. Before he did anything else, he needed to stop by the bounty board and find out what the ominous message was referring to. Come on Edge, daylight¡¯s burning. Let¡¯s go hear the bad news. Chapter 64: Bounty Edge walked downstairs and said hello to Sam, who was a great deal friendlier now that Edge was clean and wearing proper human clothing. The Pioneer was calmer during the early part of the day. There were a dozen people eating at the tables. A few more were already sitting at the bar, nursing their drinks while trying to forget their troubles. He stepped outside, only to find the noonday sun hanging high in the sky. Apparently, Edge had slept in even later than he¡¯d realized. Then he turned down the road and made his way through town. The bounty kiosk was located inside a small building on the north side of the town square, only a ten-minute walk from the Pioneer. Today, it was easier to notice the changes that had occurred while he was away. As he walked toward the heart of the settlement, he took a long, hard look at the people around him. There were far fewer individuals out on the street than before the disaster. Most of them traveled in groups, especially the uncored. They made a beeline from one place to another, not stopping to banter, barter, or flirt. There were a handful of wagons rolling down the road, pulled by a variety of beasts. But without any traders coming in or out of town, the traffic was only a trickle compared to what he was used to watching on the feed. Edge realized that the entire settlement had transformed while he was fighting to survive, becoming something that he barely recognized. That the anomaly had erased an entire way of life overnight. Now, the town¡¯s long-term residents and newly arrived tourists alike were sailing into uncharted territory. Puppet Town had a population of two to three thousand at any given time. A blend of locals, traders picking up resources to sell elsewhere, and fresh arrivals trying to learn the ropes and earn enough income to keep their puppet bodies running. Edge had no idea how many of each had been in the area when the calamity had occurred, or how many had died in the days that followed. Right now, he was more worried about the future than the past. After asking Sam, he¡¯d learned that the bounty kiosk had been reactivated early yesterday morning. One of the first damaged parts of the System to come back online. Whatever the planetary AI wanted him to see, the news hadn¡¯t had time to spread. He took a lap around the square before approaching the small stone chamber holding the kiosk, making sure that no one was paying attention to him before entering. While it wouldn¡¯t look too strange for him to head inside, Edge wanted to avoid attracting attention, given everything else that had happened. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. When he walked in, the door automatically closed and locked behind him. A whirring filled his ears before the sounds from outside faded away, as the magtech privacy function kicked in. He sat down in front of the kiosk, which was just a screen mounted to a metal pillar holding the machinery inside. When he tapped the screen, his Guide automatically appeared, ready to interface with the kiosk and report his latest adventure. The golden mote danced around the bounty board. It seemed excited, like it was saying hello to an old friend. When it was finished, a notice appeared, informing him that he had two rewards ready to collect. It seemed that both convicts he¡¯d fought had bounties registered to their name. Although he hadn¡¯t thought about it, it wasn¡¯t too surprising. Most of the jailbirds on the planet had enemies who were willing to pay to see them dead. Since Edge had technically been the one to kill them, the rewards in question were now his. His jaw dropped when he read the number on the screen. Another twenty thousand credits. It was far more than he would have earned in a month before finding his core, and enough to get a new weapon commissioned at the Forge. While this was welcome news, it wasn¡¯t the reason why he had stopped by the kiosk. It didn¡¯t explain the warning in his trait. He rubbed his chin while navigating the various menus, noticing that there had been quite a few changes over the last few days. Five minutes later, he found what he was looking for, an update that was clearly what the System was referring to. Attention, all residents of Ord. A bounty has been placed on cores of epic rarity and above, bound or unbound, dead or alive. Payments of 75,000 credits will be issued to anyone capturing or destroying an epic core. The reward is 250,000 credits for a legendary, and 10,000,000 credits for anyone subduing or eliminating an individual wielding a unique core. ¡°Oh, shit. That¡¯s not good.¡± The words passing Edge¡¯s lips were the understatement of the century. With that many creds on the table, almost anyone would be willing to turn on him if they suspected that he had something better than a rare core. Let alone the fortune that would be awarded to someone who caught the bearer of a unique. He had no idea who had that kind of money to throw around, or what their goal was in placing these bounties. It honestly didn¡¯t matter; the result was just the same. In the end, the equation was simple. If Edge fucked up and his secret got out, he would find himself hunted by countless individuals who would never give up the chase. Many of them far more powerful than himself. If the existence of Skill-Eater was ever revealed, his new life was over, and nowhere on the planet would be safe. Even the thought set his heart racing and sent adrenaline coursing through his veins. He took a few deep breaths, trying to talk himself down. There¡¯s no reason to panic. I just need to play this smart, and not give anything else away. If I don¡¯t draw more attention to myself than is strictly necessary, I should be able to make this work. Edge closed the kiosk¡¯s menu and started heading for the door, ready to move on to more pleasant pursuits. While this development was reason for concern, he had more credits than he¡¯d expected to make all season, and he knew exactly how he wanted to spend them. When he opened the door and stepped outside, a manslayer was blocking his path. Chapter 65: Manslayer Edge forced himself not to freeze up or run. Not to show any emotion on his face. He¡¯s not here for you. He¡¯s just waiting to use the board. Walk on past and he¡¯ll leave you¡­ ¡°Edge Vasher. Well, fancy that. It¡¯s just the person I was hoping to see. I¡¯m sorry to interrupt. But before you go about your day, I¡¯ll need you to answer a few questions first. It won¡¯t take long, friend, and I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to insist.¡± With that, the man smiled. An icy grin that barely reached his lips, let alone his eyes. A gesture that somehow conveyed an immense capacity for impending violence. Edge knew he was a manslayer because he recognized the speaker. It was Warren Ellington, one of the most famous bounty hunters on Ord prior to the disaster. A stage-two warrior with a capture list as long as his arm and a kill count well into the double digits. A man known for being relentless, perceptive, and utterly merciless. It was clear in that moment what Warren was doing here. He must already be hunting for the cores mentioned in the notice I just read. That means he¡¯s hunting for me. Be cool, Edge. Play into his expectations and don¡¯t give anything away. What would a cocky young tourist still riding the high of binding a core say? Full of yourself, but not willing to antagonize an experienced manslayer. Edge met Warren¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°Forgive me if I don¡¯t feel particularly inclined to give a damn about what you do, or do not insist.¡± The smile slid from the bounty hunter¡¯s face. ¡°But in the interest of our newfound friendship, I could see my way to answering a few questions.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± The smile never came back, which was a promising sign, and his tone warmed by a degree or two. They took a seat on a nearby bench, giving Edge a chance to take a good look at the problem in front of him, his first time seeing the manslayer in the flesh. Warren looked young, with a puppet somewhere in its late twenties. According to rumor, he had lived for well over a century before starting his Prison World run. The man had ice blue eyes to match his temperament. Fair skin that was covered in scars and less identifiable markings. He had reddish brown hair peeking out from under a white, wide brim hat. The bounty hunter wore a red vest covered in magtech devices and had an oversized canteen hanging from his belt. Completing his look was a white leather poncho, a thick bandolier filled with potions in shatterproof vials, and his signature weapon, a massive magtech pistol. Edge didn¡¯t think that Warren would make a move on him inside of Puppet Town. Not with access to the outside world cut off at any rate. But he wasn¡¯t taking it for granted. He was prepared to activate shadow step the second that the manslayer reached for the revolver holstered at his hip. There were no conventional firearms on Ord. None that worked at any rate. The System had decided early on that guns were bad for ratings and had instituted a blanket ban. Plenty of people had tried to make them since, but no one had been able to find a solution. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Gunpowder wouldn¡¯t spark under the red-shield. Electric slug throwers couldn¡¯t maintain a charge. Even the engraved runes powering magtech devices faltered if they tried to form anything that fired a shot faster than a bow, although there were plenty of skills that could launch a powerful projectile. No, the pistol at Warren¡¯s hip didn¡¯t shoot bullets. Filling its six chambers were crystalized spells. Giving spells physical form for long-terms storage required exotic resources, powerful skills, and vast amounts of mana. Spellshots were rare and incredibly expensive, impractical to use for anyone except the wardens and the richest people on the planet. Warren didn¡¯t fire them often, since a single shot was worth more than most bounties. But if he figured out that Edge was cored with Skill-Eater, the cost of firing every round he owned would be immaterial compared to the reward. Edge didn¡¯t know what spells the manslayer was packing. He was certain that getting hit by any of them would prove fatal, regeneration or no. ¡°It¡¯s mighty generous of you to lend me a moment, Edge. You don¡¯t mind if I call you Edge, do you?¡± Warren didn¡¯t wait for a reply. ¡°My first question is simple enough. You seem awfully nervous. You¡¯re sweating a lot given the heat, and your heart rate is accelerated by a remarkable degree. Why?¡± Be careful. He probably has a skill that can detect lies or read body language and facial expressions. Fortunately, Edge knew a simple strategy to keep himself from giving too much away, even if that was the case. Be completely honest while keeping part of the truth unsaid. ¡°Anyone would be nervous to find a stage-two bounty hunter blocking their path. Especially now that we¡¯re stuck here for good, and death is the end of the road. I just got my power core a few days back, and I¡¯m used to treading lightly around cored individuals.¡± Warren let loose a mirthless chuckle. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about little old me¡­ unless of course you¡¯re wanted. But that does bring me to my next question. That mysterious shadow core of yours. A brand-new puppet finding a rare core is rather remarkable. An unknown variant no less, never before seen. You wouldn¡¯t mind sharing the story of where you found it, would you?¡± ¡°Bits and pieces of the surface have been swapped out all over. If you walk to the southeastern corner of the plains, you¡¯ll find a series of ravines that wasn¡¯t there before. I took a risk, explored one, and got lucky. I almost died more than once pulling it off.¡± ¡°That does sound like quite a tale. Let¡¯s say that I believe you and leave it at that. Last question, then we can both be on our way. What are you doing looking at the bounty board?¡± Fortunately, Edge had anticipated this one, and had a half-truth ready to go. ¡°I heard that the board was back online and wanted to see if I could learn anything about what is happening to the planet by looking through the updates. Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t piece anything together based on what I saw. Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I have business to attend to.¡± With that, Edge rose to his feet and walked off, praying that he had played his cards right. That he had revealed enough to alleviate suspicion, then left before he was asked point-blank about his core¡¯s rarity. A question that he had been dead certain was coming next, no matter what the manslayer said. For a second, a flash of irritation crossed Warren¡¯s face. But then the moment passed. He turned and started walking in the opposite direction, whistling as he went. Edge let out a long sigh of relief. He was safe for now, although something told him that their paths were fated to cross again. Chapter 66: Job That was way too fucking close. Warren probably knows that I¡¯m hiding something, but I don¡¯t think that I gave Skill-Eater away. Going forward, I¡¯ll have to be extremely careful not to tip him off. Or anyone else for that matter. I can¡¯t let people find out about the first monster I killed, not to mention the pair of jailbirds. I can¡¯t display more skills than a rare core could slot, and I need to have an obvious source of income before I cash in all those credits. Next on the list, when I start hunting on the plains in earnest, I¡¯m going to grow stronger far faster than a normal puppet. I¡¯ll need to hide some of my gains. The rest need to have an explanation that people won¡¯t find suspicious. One that covers for my rapid cycling-up and the extra credits I make on the side. In short, Edge needed to find a job. Something that paid well and involved fighting at least every now and again. It would be even better if it was something that could teach him how to survive in the wild or become a better hunter. The obvious place to start his job hunt was City Hall, where a list of everyone who was hiring or contracting was posted. He¡¯d never been inside the building but had passed by it several times. It was located on the opposite corner of the town square, just a few minutes away from where he was standing. Edge walked in that direction as if he didn¡¯t have a care in the world, since you never knew who was watching. He soon found himself standing in front of the building in question. It was a tall, two-story structure, made of high-grade blond lumber with big windows lining the walls to let the sunlight in. As usual, the place was packed at this time of day, people heading in and out in a constant stream. It was the beating heart of the settlement. In addition to the job board, City Hall was home to the mayor¡¯s office, as well as the sheriff¡¯s. The bottom floor was filled with desks staffed by representatives from the largest organizations in town, along with the aides that kept the place running. Edge walked in through the front door and stepped into the lobby. It was a big, open room filled with chairs, low tables, and a cooler in the corner where you could refill your canteen with cold water. He looked around, trying to find the job board. But there were too many people in the way to simply scan the interior. When he made eye contact with a woman sitting behind a desk facing the entrance, she set down the paperwork she was reviewing and motioned for him to come over. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Edge put on his most winning smile and walked up to the desk. ¡°Welcome to City Hall. How can I help you?¡± ¡°Hi. I was looking for the place where they list the jobs that are available to non-residents.¡± ¡°Oh, you want to head over to that little cubby in the corner. But that board is mostly for day labor, odd jobs, and one-off contracts. With the disaster sticking everyone here for good, I assume that you would be interested in something more permanent.¡± ¡°That would be ideal. Do you happen to know of anyone who is hiring?¡± ¡°Your name is Edge, right? The man who helped Trapper out when those monsters attacked?" ¡°Yes. That¡¯s me.¡± ¡°In that case, I just might. Trapper thought that you would find your way in here before long. She said that if you were interested, they could add another member to their crew. The only caveat is that you¡¯ll need to go through basic training and pass a live exam.¡± The woman gave him an appraising look, like she was curious to find out what all the fuss was about. ¡°Personally, I suggest that you take her up on that offer. Beast hunting is going to become even more central to the town¡¯s economy now that the supply routes have been severed. We expect a rapid uptick in both prices and demand. Would something like that interest you? It¡¯s dangerous work, but the pay is good. I think someone with your skillset just might have what it takes.¡± ¡°Actually, that sounds perfect. Would you mind giving me directions to her place? That reminds me. You already know my name, but I didn¡¯t catch yours.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Emily, one of the mayor¡¯s assistants.¡± They shook hands and she told him where to go. ¡°Pleased to meet you, Emily. Take care and thanks.¡± Edge turned and started to leave. Before he could make it to the door, Emily¡¯s voice calling his name stopped him dead in his tracks. ¡°Please don¡¯t go just yet. Come this way instead. There are some people who would like to meet you.¡± He wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled by this development. He was trying to keep a low profile, especially after drawing so much attention to himself the day before. But it would be even more conspicuous if he ignored Emily or refused the request, so he just smiled again and walked back over. Of course, that wasn¡¯t his only motivation in staying on the good side of the people who worked at City Hall. On Ord, a person¡¯s reputation was everything. There were so few rules and enforced laws, especially outside the walls, that your standing was a key ingredient to a long, prosperous life. The regard in which the various factions held you was just as important as any of the stats listed on your profile. Your reputation played a role in nearly every aspect of life on the planet. Everything from being offered the best assignments, to which goods and services were provided. It was especially important that Edge maintained a sterling rep now that the rest of the planet was cut off, since it seemed that he would be living in Puppet Town for the foreseeable future. Trying not to let his reluctance show on his face, he followed Emily down a hallway behind her desk and into a large conference room, where a group of people were standing around a stone table carved from a bright red mineral. "Dialla. Edge Vasher is here to see you." Chapter 67: Mayor Inside the chamber, two people were addressing various aides, who went rushing out the door shortly after he entered. When they left, only a woman and man remained. Edge knew them both from the feed, although he¡¯d never met them in person. The woman¡¯s name was Dialla, and she was the Mayor of Puppet Town. Though she was uncored, you would never know it by the way she carried herself. The authority and self-assurance radiating from her posture. She was one of the town¡¯s oldest residents, with a puppet body well into its forties. Dialla had long chestnut hair with streaks of gray and dark brown eyes. There was a series of scars running down one side of her face. Trophies earned from fighting off a group of convicts who had been preying on the settlement¡¯s shipping lanes. Standing beside her was Earl. He was the man in charge of the local peacekeepers, but everyone called him the sheriff. Earl was one of the town¡¯s heavy hitters, a stage-two warrior with an earth attuned core. He had dark skin, bright green eyes, and a broad chest. Even more than most core-bearers, every inch of his body radiated power. Earl the Earthhammer was a legend on the feed. He was probably even more dangerous than Warren, although he was known to have a friendly disposition to everyone who managed to stay off his shit list. His signature weapon was strapped to his back. A massive war hammer made of high-grade stone that was shiny and black, like obsidian with tiny silver flakes. He wore heavy leather armor adorned with a variety of magtech devices, enhancing his already impressive lethality to terrifying new heights. Edge¡¯s heart began to race when they both turned to regard him, giving him long, lingering looks without saying a word. Do they know about Skill-Eater? Is this going to be some manner of interrogation? He tried not to look anxious, although the sheriff likely had a skill that would let him know Edge was uncomfortable. ¡°Relax, Edge. Have a seat.¡± Dialla smiled and took the chair across from him. The sheriff set his weapon down on the table with a hearty thud. He plopped down in a chair and offered Edge a welcoming grin, while the mayor kept talking. ¡°Sorry, we didn¡¯t mean to ambush you. When I heard Emily say your name, I figured that it would save us both time to take care of this now. Say something, Earl. You¡¯re making him nervous.¡± She fell silent and let the sheriff pick up the conversation. ¡°We¡¯re trying to have a friendly little chat with all our new residents. Since this has become a life and death situation, the old way of doing things isn¡¯t going to work going forward. We wanted to let you know that if you follow the rules, you won¡¯t be evicted just because you can¡¯t afford a room. Camping on the public green will be free from now on, along with passing through the gates.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Dialla smiled and chimed in. ¡°We¡¯re also providing rations to the poorest among us, so that no one dies from magicyte depletion syndrome. I won¡¯t sanction people starving to death. Not with our last lives on the line.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t have to worry about that, do you?¡± Earl turned to look him in the eyes, staring at Edge with a probing gaze. ¡°You¡¯re not one of the uncored anymore. You not only found a rare core that¡¯s not in the registry, but a pair of uncommon skills as well. An unheard-of windfall for a fresh tourist, at least before the planet changed. What did you find, one of those mythical reliquaries that everyone likes to speculate about, but no one has ever seen?¡± In that instant, Edge knew that he was being tested, even if this inquisition was far friendlier than his last. He forced himself not to react to the word reliquary, willing himself to forget its meaning until he started to believe it. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean. But I did find some unexplored ruins and was lucky enough to come across a sealed chest. I think it was one of the ancient ones seeded by the System during the early days, moved onto the plains from somewhere on the frontier.¡± Earl stared at Edge for a long while. He eventually nodded like the story had been in line with his expectations. ¡°Quite the lucky find either way. I¡¯m glad to have more core-wielders in town, regardless of the details. Something tells me that we¡¯re going to need all the help we can get before long.¡± It seemed that his answer had satisfied their curiosity, because they both smiled and stopped probing the issue. The mayor reached into her pocket, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to Edge. Inside was a voucher, worth three thousand credits at any shop in town. ¡°That¡¯s all that we wanted to speak with you about. That, and to thank you for what you did out there. Trapper¡¯s crew is a core part of our economy. We need the resources she brings in if we¡¯re going to survive what comes next. Not to mention, she¡¯s a model citizen and a good friend.¡± Something in the mayor¡¯s expression told Edge that there was more to the matter, but it wasn¡¯t the right time to ask. He just listened as Dialla kept talking. ¡°As a token of our appreciation, we wanted to give you some creds to help you gear up, in the hope that you¡¯ll be willing to contribute more in the days ahead. We were also wondering if you were looking for work.¡± ¡°Emily suggested that I talk to Trapper about joining her crew. I think I¡¯ll head over to her place now.¡± ¡°Wonderful. That¡¯s just what we were hoping to hear. I won¡¯t keep you any longer, but it was nice to meet you, Edge. I¡¯m sure that we¡¯ll be seeing more of each other soon.¡± While that was the last thing that he wanted, he smiled and pretended that it was great news. He was genuinely thankful for the credits though, so he didn¡¯t have to fake his gratitude. They said their goodbyes and then he walked outside. Edge started heading across town to the hunters¡¯ district to talk with Trapper, reflecting on his day along the way. Another three thousand credits with an easy explanation. That¡¯s going to come in handy. I¡¯ll decide how to spend them after I see about getting a job. Concept Art Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. The Pioneer If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Sam (Classic and Western attire) Rita First bath in a new life Warren the manslayer City Hall Chapter 68: Hunters Edge made his way out of the town square, heading west toward the hunters¡¯ district. As he walked, he let the sights and sounds of Puppet Town wash over him, taking the temperature of a settlement that was changing by the hour. Prison World had never been a game. With the convicts roaming the planet and the high stakes of every run, it had been something in between a survival retreat and a once in a lifetime opportunity for its tourists. A run was a chance to live on the wild side. To escape from the tedium of the daily grind and have a true adventure. A story to pass down in your family for generations to come. Although their runs had very real and lasting consequences, everyone in Puppet Town had known that they would be going home one day. That death on Ord would only mark the return to their old way of life. But the disaster had changed everything. Now, everyone was here for real. If they died to the myriad dangers that called this world home, it was the end. Now and forever. Looking at the faces of the people walking by, Edge could tell that many were still in shock. That their fear was warring with disbelief as they struggled to adjust to their dramatic change in circumstances. What had once been a combination of a dream vacation and a chance to strike it rich was now a struggle with their survival hanging in the balance. He could see it in the tightness of their expressions. In the way they looked over their shoulders every few steps, staring up at a sky far removed from the world of their birth. He was sure that over time, they would begin to adapt. But right now, the planet was in flux and change was in the air. These were days of chaos and ash. Tumultuous weeks standing in the memory of the past and the shadow of an uncertain future. It was a time of dusk and mist. A requiem to a monolith and a prelude to the new order that would follow. The residents of Puppet Town were only one sentence into this new chapter of life on Ord, staring at the great expanse of the blank page that lay ahead. On top of everything else, now that all communication with the outside world had been severed, the town¡¯s economy was in the process of being reorganized from the ground up. The hunters¡¯ district, however, was busier than ever. In addition to catering to tourists, the town had always made a fair portion of its income from hunting beasts and gathering various resources from the Ivory Plains and surrounding biomes. With trade out of the picture, the hunters were now the settlement¡¯s only source of sustenance, other than a handful of farms spread out along the northern plains. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Beast meat was a core staple of people¡¯s diets. The resources harvested from their bodies were used in everything from construction materials, to alchemy, to the creation of weapons and armor. As such, the hunters¡¯ quarter was the biggest district in town, subdivided into dozens of different industries and professions. Edge made his way past the Skinner¡¯s Row, wrinkling his nose as he walked past several tanneries. He stopped for a few minutes to watch the skinners work beneath the noonday sun, taking on a project that was too big to handle in their usual facility. They had a fifty-foot snake stretched out on a long row of tables, whose body was so thick that he couldn¡¯t have wrapped his arms around it. It was a diamondback, a venomous beast with scales made of living gemstone, too hard for most blades to pierce. The skinners took it apart scale by scale, using high-grade tools that they wielded with surgical precision. Within a few hours, they would have the entire beast broken down, sending the meat to the butchers, the scales to the armorers, and the venom glands and other various organs to the alchemists. Maybe I should pick up a trade skill at some point. It would be a good way to increase the credits I make when hunting beasts. Something to keep in mind after I solidify my combat skillset. Edge resumed his journey, heading past the Butchers¡¯ Lane and then over to the beast hunters¡¯ side of the district. There were five different types of hunters on Ord, although many of them dabbled in more than one subspeciality. In no particular order, there were the beast hunters, the bounty hunters, the monster hunters, the resource hunters, and the treasure hunters. In Puppet Town, the beast and resource hunters far outnumbered the rest, although each group was represented to at least some extent. As he headed deeper into the district, Edge passed by dozens of rugged individuals who exuded an air of menace. The mantle of might that came with having a core in stage-one. There might even be some stage-two hunters among them, since battling monsters and beasts were some of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. It wasn¡¯t easy to tell the difference between higher stages at a glance, especially since most cored individuals kept the details of their advancement to themselves to preserve their competitive edge. He knew some of the faces from the feed, but the broadcasts had censored critical information to keep new arrivals from having an unfair advantage. Edge was still getting used to the fact that he was one of them now. That most uncored individuals would instinctively get out of his way. He got a few long looks and some appraising nods from the hunters he passed, but no one challenged his presence. In this part of the district, the blocks were filled with plots of crops and pens for beasts, in addition to the buildings. Many hunters worked alongside beasts in the field, and tamed creatures were a valuable commodity. They were able to play a wide range of roles, thanks to the skills they could use. Soon, Trapper¡¯s Den came into view. It was a massive lodge made from some manner of redwood, with white clay tiles lining the roof. The facility was geared toward beast hunting with some resource collection on the side. Trapper specialized in trapping, but her crew did plenty of old-fashioned hunting too. They were usually out stalking a wide variety of beasts that called the plains home, along with the occasional monster that wandered into the region. When he walked through the front gate, a familiar face was there to greet him. Edge came to a stop, careful not to make any sudden movements as a triceratops the size of a donkey came trotting over to meet him. Chapter 69: Offer ¡°Hello Blue,¡± Edge said in a soothing tone. ¡°I¡¯m here on invitation. Trapper asked me to stop by, so I¡¯ll just head on over and say hello, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± The beast couldn¡¯t understand his words, but she must have decided that Edge was a friend after their battle with the monsters. The azure dino licked his face and nuzzled his chest before walking back over to her pen to feed from a trough full of grass. He had expected to see the crew hard at work, but no one seemed to be around today. He walked over to the front of the den, then knocked on the front door. After a voice told him to enter, Edge stepped inside the building. He¡¯d never seen the interior before, since the inner workings of tourists¡¯ operations were censored on the feed. He took a long, lingering look as he crossed the room, heading for a table in the back where Trapper was making some adjustments to her massive magtech crossbow. There were trophies lining most of the walls. Not the heads of actual beasts, as those were too valuable to waste on vanity. Instead, there were gorgeous hand-painted sculptures, fashioned from stone and clay. Edge took in the exquisite detail of what appeared to be a giant hedgehog with the head of a snake, a native beast called a ripper if he remembered correctly. Trapper looked up from her work, smiling when she realized who had walked through the door. ¡°Edge, just the man I was hoping to see. Come take a seat and have a beer on me. There¡¯s something that I would like to discuss. I gave everyone the day off to recover from the fight, so we have the whole place to ourselves.¡± ¡°Thanks, Trapper. Don¡¯t mind if I do. I haven¡¯t been able to enjoy a cold one since my new life began.¡± He crossed the room and sat at the table, while she walked over to the refrigeration unit in the kitchen and cracked open the door. She took out two bottles of beer and flicked the caps off with her thumb, then handed him one before taking a seat beside him. ¡°Cheers.¡± They clinked their bottles together. ¡°To new friends and timely arrivals.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that.¡± Edge brought the rim to his lips and took a long slug, sighing in contentment as the flavor broke over his palate. It was by far the best beer that he¡¯d ever sampled. Rich notes of grain were dancing alongside hints of something he could almost, but not quite, identify. ¡°Delicious.¡± He smiled, then took another sip. ¡°Isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s my own recipe. Each barrel gets a small piece of a mana-seed worked into it. It makes each batch taste different depending on what kind it was.¡± Then, for a long moment, they just sat there enjoying their drinks. It was a companionable silence, without the need for small talk or posturing. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. When they finished the first bottle, she brought them a fresh round. Then she thanked him again for his help and asked him how he was doing. Edge found that he enjoyed Trapper¡¯s company. She was direct, honest, and friendly, but not pushy at all. Eventually, they reached the bottom of their beers and she turned to him and said, ¡°I can guess why you¡¯re here. You stopped by City Hall and had a chat with Emily or Dialla.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He set the bottle down after sucking out the final drops hiding in the crevice. ¡°Since it seems like Puppet Town is my new home, I¡¯m looking for a job. I heard that you might have one lined up for me.¡± ¡°I might indeed. Although we¡¯ll have to train you and give you a trial run before we make it official. Don¡¯t get me wrong. I¡¯m grateful for what you did, and you clearly have potential. But beast hunting takes more than luck and a few good skills.¡± She gestured toward the various creatures depicted along the walls. ¡°It takes dedication, teamwork, and attention to detail. Sitting in uncomfortable fucking places for hours at a time, without losing patience or lowering your guard. If I can¡¯t rely on you in the field, then I can¡¯t take you with us. No matter how much we all appreciate you risking your hide to save ours.¡± ¡°I understand. That¡¯s more than fair. I¡¯m game for any training or trials you have to offer. But I think that I have what it takes. After being out there alone and making it back by the skin of my teeth, I respect the danger and am eager to be part of a team.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just what I wanted to hear. You should get as much rest as you can and come back at dawn the day after tomorrow. We¡¯ll train you for ten days and then take you out on a big game hunt. If you pass, you can have a bunk in the barracks. But until you¡¯re one of us, you¡¯ll have to find another place to rest your head. If you¡¯re free right now, I¡¯ll feed you before you go. I have some ripper steaks that are simply to die for.¡± Edge accepted her offer and they moved into the kitchen, enjoying a meal of grilled meat and several more rounds of beer. Eventually, he realized that hours had flown by while they were shooting the breeze and getting to know one another better. ¡°Shit. I need to take off. I still need to run by the Forge before they close for the day. Thanks again, Trapper. I¡¯ll see you soon.¡± ¡°Likewise, Edge.¡± They shook hands, and she clapped him on the back. ¡°I have a feeling that this is the right place for you, but no one gets a free pass.¡± He left Trapper¡¯s Den feeling better than he had all week. Not only had he found a form of employment where he could cycle-up and steal skills on the sly, he genuinely liked the veteran tourist¡¯s style. Both her personality and her hunting philosophy. A lot of people were too caught up in cores and skills, and undervalued knowledge and ability. Edge needed to know how to hunt powerful beasts if he wanted to make the most out of his core, and this was a place where he could learn from the best. Hunting with Trapper and her crew, he could work his way up from smaller quarry to bigger game. Best of all, it would provide cover for any extracurricular activities he engaged in on his own, keeping trouble like Warren off his back. Making some friends would be nice too. It made the prospect of being stranded on a lethal alien world feel a little less lonely. But that would have to wait another two days. Now that he¡¯d found a way to make some money and acquire training in the process, it was time for Edge to spend the credits he¡¯d earned on something that made him giddy with anticipation. It¡¯s finally time to gear up. First on the list, turning that high-quality reaver claw into a useful weapon. Chapter 70: Smith Edge started walking toward the east end of town, heading over to a portion of the crafters¡¯ quarter that was known as the Iron Boulevard. His surroundings changed the moment that he crossed the street dividing the hunters¡¯ and crafters¡¯ districts. Although both quarters were industrial in nature, the ambiance was rather different between them. Instead of plots filled with beasts and crops, there were boxes and cranes lining the streets. Wagons filled with ore and coal were making deliveries to the foundries, and the scent of oil hung heavy in the air. The buildings were made of stone and brick, rather than wood like the rest of town, to reduce the odds of fire spreading if there was an accident. The quarter was filled with chatter and bustle, busy people going about crafterly things. The tension wasn¡¯t as bad as it had been in the commercial side of town, as people lost themselves in their work instead of ruminating on their problems. He made his way past a long row of factories, smoke rising from the chimneys like a host of dragons was slumbering inside. Edge could hear the music of the Forge well before it came into view. The heavy clang of a hammer working over an anvil formed a vibrant rhythm that he could feel in his bones. The various crafters that called the Forge home had formed a collaborative workspace, with each member specializing in different substances, techniques, and products. Complex jobs often required the skills of two or more craftsmen, and this setup let them get the job done faster and cheaper than would otherwise be possible. It was a big building surrounded by a cluster of auxiliary structures. There were pipes and ducts running along the walls and smokestacks jutting from the roof. Most of the space was for members only. But there was a section up front where people could come in and request custom orders, like Edge was doing today. He walked in and came to a stop in front of the counter, content to observe the various projects underway. In addition to a pair of forges, there were benches outfitted for woodworking and leatherworking. Ceramic and glass. Machinery and stations whose purpose was beyond his ability to identify. He waited for someone to get to him, knowing that many of the skills used in these processes couldn¡¯t be interrupted, or it would ruin the result. It shouldn¡¯t take too long. Edge could leave the request with any of the senior members. They would negotiate a price, then figure out who was best suited to the task. Twenty minutes later, one of the smiths working the anvil pulled his latest work out of the fire. He ran a critical eye across it from every angle, before dipping it into a pool of oiled water to temper the steel. Then he took off his gloves and made his way over to Edge. ¡°Thanks for your patience. Since the disaster struck, we¡¯re getting twice the requests with half the raw materials to work with. I¡¯ll warn you now, unless you can provide them yourself, the cost of the job is going to be sky-high, regardless of what you¡¯re looking for.¡± ¡°Thanks for the heads up. Luckily, I do happen to have my own mats, or the bulk of them at any rate. There should be a package that was delivered from Ann¡¯s with my name on it. What I want to have crafted is inside. I¡¯m Edge, by the way.¡± ¡°Ander.¡± The smith¡¯s eyebrows rose in reply, curious what Edge had to show him. He went into the back and returned five minutes later with a bundle in his arms. They walked over to a table and Ander removed the reaver¡¯s claw. Ann had been kind enough to wrap it in cloth so that prying eyes wouldn¡¯t know what was inside. He set the claw in front of them and began running his fingertips across it. While he worked, Edge took a closer look at the smith. He was somewhere in his late thirties, with dark grey hair and bright blue eyes. His expression was alert. Edge had the sense that the man saw more than most in a fraction of the time. An impression that only grew stronger when Ander started to speak. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Weapon-class keratin, monstrous in origin. Middle D-grade, excellent condition.¡± The man lowered a lens attached to his headgear and continued appraising the claw, not waiting to hear Edge¡¯s explanation. ¡°Rare, even on the frontier. Unheard of in these parts. You must have found something nasty that got swapped here during the anomaly. Early stage-two¡­ No, Given the density, mid stage-two shadowreaver.¡± Edge¡¯s jaw dropped. He would have to be incredibly careful around this man. Ander saw the astonishment on his face, laughed, then kept right on going. ¡°I would ask how in the hell you killed it, but I know you¡¯ll just lie. Not that I blame you, I¡¯d do the same. Given that your gear is garbage and these bloodstains along the base, I¡¯d say that you tried using this as a weapon already and want to turn it into a proper one now.¡± If he deduced so much from that one look, who knows what he will figure out if I say something stupid. Rather than take the chance, Edge just nodded. Fortunately, Ander didn¡¯t seem interested in uncovering his secrets. The smith was already moving on to the next step, testing the material with a set of specialized tools. He listened while tapping the claw with a small hammer, then scraped it with various materials to judge the hardness. Edge kept his mouth shut and waited patiently. Which wasn¡¯t hard, because he found the process fascinating. Maybe I can pick up something useful, just from observing. When Ander was done half an hour later, he set the claw down and gave Edge his undivided attention. ¡°I¡¯d say that you have two good options, which you may or may not be able to afford. The first is a large sword. I¡¯ll skill-mold the claw and optimize the shape, enhancing the curve to create maximum pressure along the cutting edge. It will be a solid weapon, especially for a beginner like you. Superior reach, penetration, and durability. ¡°The other option would be a spear. Another solid choice for a fresh stage-one. There would even be enough material left over for a dagger. A spear is better than a sword against most beasts, and worse against other weapons. The main advantage is that you can do your fighting from further back, making it harder to bite, claw, or gore you.¡± Edge took a few minutes to consider his options, weighing the pros and cons of each. The spear wouldn¡¯t work with his slash skill, and he had trained some with a sword before coming to Ord. But a sword wasn¡¯t well-suited to beast hunting, which was how he planned to spend the coming weeks. The more that he thought about it, the more certain he became that neither weapon suited him perfectly. He eventually asked a question. ¡°Would it be possible to split the difference? Keep the blade but also the stick.¡± ¡°A polearm?¡± Ander rubbed his chin. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting request. Taking the shape of the claw into account, along with its unusual durability, and yes, I think it could work. Thirty thousand, paid up front, and not a cred less. I can have it ready within the week. ¡°I¡¯ll need to collaborate with Elow on the shaft. But I¡¯ll find something nice that I¡¯ll include at that price. A durable material that will offer a good grip, even when wet. I¡¯ll add a guard to protect your hands, and a strap that will let you wear it on your back.¡± ¡°Can I pay part up front and the rest when I pick it up?¡± Edge had the credits in his account. But he didn¡¯t want to reveal the bounty he had collected for killing the jailbirds, given the scrutiny he was under. ¡°Depends. How much do you have?¡± ¡°I can give you twenty thousand today and the rest on delivery. I¡¯ll go hunting again in the morning.¡± Ander ran his fingertips across the claw, humming while he considered the proposal. Eventually he nodded and said, ¡°Fine. It should be fairly easy to sell if you die, and I¡¯ll get to keep the down payment to offset the cost of the other materials. No offense.¡± ¡°None taken.¡± While Edge was reluctant to give up nearly all the credits he had made thus far, he knew it was a good offer, especially with all the extras thrown in. He¡¯d get his hands on a serviceable weapon and multiply his threat value in close combat, letting him dish out real damage without relying on his skills. ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± They shook hands, and then summoned their Guides to initiate the credit transfer. He left the Forge behind after bidding Ander farewell. While he no longer had enough money to buy the rest of the gear he needed, having a reliable weapon made from high-grade materials was a worthy investment. I need to make some more credits sooner rather than later. Not to mention, cycle-up and eat some more skills. Although he was excited to receive Trapper¡¯s training, he wasn¡¯t going to delay his plans to grow stronger, especially with Warren on his trail. He would head back to his room and begin preparing to head out onto the plains, somewhere relatively close to town. Bright and early tomorrow morning, Edge was going hunting. Chapter 71: Tip Edge crossed the streets of Puppet Town in the misty morning light. Although it hadn¡¯t been long since the sun had risen, people were already up and about. Most were on their way to eat breakfast or taking care of one chore or another. The day started early in a settlement centered around hunting and gathering, and not even the apocalypse could overcome the power of routine. Today, Edge was trying to keep a low profile. He avoided the main thoroughfares and didn¡¯t engage anyone along the way. The fewer people who saw him leave, the fewer might wonder what he was up to. Why he was heading into the grasslands alone and unarmed, save for a knife and his skills. He still had another day until he started Trapper¡¯s training. The crew was out on another hunt, and he wasn¡¯t ready to join them yet. Having the day to himself suited him just fine, since Edge would have a hard time stealing skills on the sly with so many perceptive people nearby. After talking the matter through over dinner the day before, he had to admire the crew¡¯s resilience. Trapper¡¯s team had come close to death, only days after finding themselves stranded on Ord. But they were willing to learn from the experience and refused to surrender to their fear. They were determined to keep growing stronger. To push past their prior limits, before the wilderness became even more dangerous than it already was. Edge was of the same mind. He was certain that the shadowreavers were only the first new threat to appear. Since the surface of Ord had been reconfigured by the anomaly, the magic flowing across the plains was growing stronger by the day. With that much mana to sustain them, more monsters and high-stage beasts would wander into the biome from beyond the frontier. Before long, what had once been one of the safest places on the planet would be populated by lethal predators. Trapper was one of the first people to come to grips with the truth of their new circumstances. If the residents of Puppet Town wanted to survive what was coming, they would have to push themselves harder than ever before. They needed to cycle-up, gear up, and rank-up their skills, before the storm that was coming broke over their heads. Even given all of that, it couldn¡¯t have been an easy decision to make. To willingly step beyond the gates of town, and into a wilderness filled with tooth, fang, and claw. A world where disaster was only a single mistake away, and death lurked behind every corner. It took a whole lot of bravery and perhaps a splash of madness to keep on hunting on the plains, now that they were playing for keeps. Not that Edge had room to talk. He was doing the same thing and was probably taking a bigger risk than they were, all things considered. Going into the wild alone was a risky venture at best, even with a stage-one core. But he needed to be able to use entangle and conceal without anyone finding out, and far more critically, [Extraction]. Today, he would engage in his first solo hunt since evolving Skill-Eater, and Edge was looking forward to stealing more skills and cycling-up his core. He had thought long and hard about what powers he wanted to claim next, coming up with a list in order of priority. There were several beasts that he had in mind. He wouldn¡¯t commit to a target until he found one that had a suitable skill and was in a favorable location with no dangerous creatures nearby. He¡¯d come too close to death in his prior fights to take a risk when the odds weren¡¯t stacked in his favor. The weapon he¡¯d commissioned wasn¡¯t ready yet, but he still had elemental blade and entangle. Not to mention Trapper¡¯s knife for some mana-efficient slashing. Edge figured that he would be alright if he chose his prey carefully and hunted it using appropriate tactics. While these thoughts passed through his head, he made his way through the northern gate. After checking to make sure that no one was following him, he continued on his way. The plains spread out before his gaze, a land of ethereal ivory in the hazy light of dawn. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Edge planned to stay close to the settlement today. He wanted to have a line of retreat in case he ran into roaming monsters, or fucked up his hunt and bit off more than he could chew. It would also let him carry his kill back to town more easily, increasing the profit he made. That was the reason why he was carrying a large sack over one shoulder, which he had purchased for a few credits the night before. He could range further out once he had more attributes under his belt, or ideally, a mobility skill that would let him escape from anything too tough to take down. Since he didn¡¯t have any better leads, he decided to start off by trying out the tip that the woman who had given him the apple had shared. He¡¯d seen her twice since. But each time that he tried to approach her to feel out her intentions, she was gone by the time he arrived. Edge still didn¡¯t have any idea who she was. She wasn¡¯t one of the town¡¯s long-term residents, since he hadn¡¯t seen her on the feed. Regardless of the details, he couldn¡¯t deny that her advice was sound. Since he was poorly geared and didn¡¯t have much experience fighting beasts with his new powers, he wanted to play it safe. Taking on a stage-one jobo would have been far too risky if the creature had a viable attack skill. But if it was down to just leap and its natural abilities, he thought he could win without getting into too much trouble and steal its powers along the way. Just because the beast couldn¡¯t use its skill with an injured arm, didn¡¯t mean that Edge couldn¡¯t [Extract] it. Both leap and combination strike would be useful to acquire. He would be happy to add either to his collection. Besides, if they didn¡¯t work out as well as he¡¯d hoped, he could always absorb them to improve the skills that he already had. His first order of business was to find the territory of the beast in question. Then he would wait until nothing else was around, and the jobo was vulnerable. When the time was right, he would launch an attack from ambush. Maximizing his chances of success and minimizing the risk he took in exchange. Edge had taken Trapper¡¯s warning to heart. While they were chatting and sipping their beers, the woman had revealed her hunting philosophy. Laying it all out over a table topped with platters of grilled meat. ¡°Nothing that survives on a planet as hostile as Ord fights fair. Most beasts outweigh you, have superior physical attributes, and skills that will either let them kill you in the blink of an eye or stop your attacks from landing. ¡°Letting them get the drop on you is the worst possible outcome. If a monster or beast is going in for the kill, you can be certain that they have the means to follow through. Don¡¯t wait around long enough to find out what they¡¯re planning. Run for your life and consider yourself lucky if you survive. ¡°A spontaneous brawl is better, but still far too risky a venture. It becomes an impromptu contest of technique, strength, and skills, along with variables like weather and terrain. If you¡¯re lucky, your skillset will be effective against the creature in question. If you¡¯re not¡­ well let¡¯s just say that hunters who battle head-on too often are destined to die young. ¡°The only true way to hunt is to strike from the strongest possible position. Come up with a strategy after studying the nature of your foe. Watch them. Track them. Learn where they live. Where they eat. Where they drink. Select the right equipment, prepare the field, and come at them on the ground of your choosing. Create a moment where you¡¯re at your best, and they¡¯re at their worst.¡± Trapper stopped to drain the final drops from her bottle, then leaned in close to share one last bit of wisdom. ¡°Never let them see you coming, Edge. And never, ever fight fair. Use tricks and traps and psychological warfare. Use tools and tactics and play as dirty as you can. ¡°Hit them when they''re sleeping, eating, fucking, and fighting. Bait them with lures. Strike from their blind spots. Target their sensory organs and attack from places where they can¡¯t fight back. Make no mistake, predators will come at you from a position of strength, and one day, they will likely succeed. Give each moment your all when stalking your quarry and hold nothing back. That¡¯s what it means to be a hunter on Ord.¡± It was solid advice, offered from the heart. The distillation of a way of life from someone who had survived here for over a decade. An approach that Edge intended to study until it came to him as naturally as breathing. He knew that it would take time to appreciate the true wisdom of her words. But he would try his best to follow in Trapper¡¯s footsteps until he had enough experience to develop his own approach. There were countless creatures on Ord that could kill him without breaking a sweat, Skill-Eater or no. But that didn¡¯t mean Edge couldn¡¯t bring them down. His goal was to win and claim their skills for his own, not to overpower monsters and beasts in a contest of raw strength. Although, if he fucked up and couldn¡¯t get away, that¡¯s exactly what would happen today. He knew that despite his best efforts, he would be getting into plenty of fights over the coming weeks. But he intended to give himself every advantage he could before the battle began. On that note, he turned his thoughts away from the future and back to the task at hand, taking out the jobo with the wounded paw. He walked north for another twenty minutes, until he saw the hillock that the girl had mentioned. Edge¡¯s first solo hunt was officially underway. Chapter 72: Jobo The jobo¡¯s territory should be around here somewhere. Sure enough, after climbing the hill and taking a long look around, Edge spotted the creature he was seeking. A burly pink beast bounding through the grass with one hand tucked against its chest. He ran his eyes across his prey while trying to remember everything that he knew about jobos, a beast that was native to Ord. They looked a bit like hairless kangaroos, with twice as many muscles and a bad attitude. They had giant ears, and a long, thick tail. Swordlike talons, and a bite that could chew through steel rebar. They were tough for their size, which was well over twice his own. But Edge knew their characteristics well and had a plan to handle any of the attacks that the beast might throw his way. Jobos were aggressive, territorial, and not too bright. If he got into a fight, it wouldn¡¯t try to run unless it was critically injured. It saved him the trouble of tracking the creature to its lair, a feat that was likely beyond him. Lacking any manner of long-range attack, his best chance to take control of the situation was to land an entangle before the beast knew he was there. Then close the distance once it was disabled and score a critical wound. Once that was accomplished, all that was left was to knock it out and find out what was on the menu. He felt a pulse of gluttony from his core at the thought. A hunger for power that was a mirror to his own. Be patient. Neither of us will benefit if I die making a careless move. Now that Edge had sighted his prey, he just had to wait until there weren¡¯t any beasts nearby that could interrupt their fight and the jobo was ready for a nap. They generally slept in the hottest part of the day to conserve energy and were most active at dusk and dawn. He kept one eye on his quarry while scanning the surrounding terrain, looking for dangerous creatures, or anyone who might learn his secret from watching the fight. Ten minutes later, he was as certain as he could be that nothing of note was nearby. By now, the jobo was in the middle of chowing down on a bright purple plant that was sweet like sugar cane. Edge settled down to wait, practicing some of the patience that Trapper held in such high regard. He passed the time by running scenarios through his head. He was deciding how to handle as many eventualities as he could imagine, so that he could act without hesitation when the moment arrived. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. When the beast was done eating, it hopped into the shade of a tree and sat down, leaning against the trunk before closing its eyes. Edge waited another few minutes to make sure that it was sound asleep, then began creeping closer as carefully as he could. He wanted to immobilize his foe right from the get-go. Then he would rush in and land a hit with elemental blade while it couldn¡¯t get away. If everything went well, he would secure a significant advantage before the jobo knew he was there. Maybe even win the fight before the battle began. Right now, entangle had a range of about fifty feet. But he needed to be a bit closer if he wanted to control where it would appear with perfect accuracy. It took five seconds for the vines to emerge from the soil after he activated the skill, and he couldn¡¯t change its location after he spent the mana and set it loose. At least not at its current rank. Now that the battle was imminent, his heart began to race as adrenaline surged into his veins. Edge forced himself to keep his breathing slow and deep, not advancing until he¡¯d regained control over his mental state. When he was calmer, he resumed inching forward, coming to a stop forty feet from his prey. The jobo was in a perfect position, snoring away while propped up against the tree. It couldn¡¯t jump back with the trunk in the way, limiting its range of motion. He was confident that with its rank-two upgrade, his entangle could bind the beast for at least a few seconds. Plenty of time to make his next move. He took one last look around while drawing his knife, making sure that the coast was clear before committing to the fight. Everything looks good. There¡¯s no reason to hold back any longer. He gathered his concentration and willed the skill to activate, visualizing his target without breaking his gaze. Entangle. His core roared to life in response. His reactor began burning magicytes from his reservoir, as warmth blossomed behind his ribs. Then a surge of mana went flowing through the skill, out of his body, and into the ground. Five seconds later, four thick tendrils burst free from the soil, ready to wrap themselves around the beast and bind it tight. But that was not what happened. Their prey was already gone. Three seconds after Edge sent his mana into the dirt, the jobo had opened its eyes and looked straight at him. It brought its legs together and leapt high into the air, just as his skill rose from below. The beast went sailing beyond the range of his vines before they could reach out and grab hold, sending a blizzard of leaves and shorn branches raining from the canopy. He knew in that moment what had happened. Ah hell. That jobo is mana sensitive. That¡¯s not good. While all beasts, monsters, and cored individuals could sense mana to at least some extent, some creatures were unusually perceptive. Individuals from any species could be mana sensitive, although the ability was relatively rare. Which meant that he was just plain unlucky on that count. The beast wasn¡¯t going to get hit by entangle, especially now that it had seen the skill in action. He might still be able to set up some manner of trap, but planning out the details would have to wait. Right now, Edge had an irate jobo to deal with, who was eager to settle the score. Concept Art Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. Ander Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Jobo Chapter 73: Brawl The jobo roared and came charging straight in. It bounded across the grass in alternating steps that launched it forward in a furious blur of talons and naked pink skin. Shit. It¡¯s really pissed off. That must have been a good nap. Edge didn¡¯t panic as his heart began to pound. He just readied himself for a fight. It¡¯s going to be a brawl after all. Although this engagement wasn¡¯t going the way that he wanted, he¡¯d known that there was a good chance this would happen, given how little he¡¯d used his skills and his limited hunting experience. He found that a part of himself relished the impending violence to come. The chance to put his new body to the test. Edge had grown an incredible amount over the last few days. Now it was time to find out what he could do. His muscles were stronger and more responsive than before. His upgraded eyes could track the beast¡¯s movement with crystal clarity. His double-tank reservoir was overflowing with magicytes, and his reactor was ready to burn. Don¡¯t get cocky and keep your head in the game. It¡¯s time for plan B. Even with his recent gains, the jobo was stronger and faster than he was. It had him beat as far as weapons went too. Edge was still confident that he could win. It just meant that the battle was going to come down to how he used his skills. Right now, he had a significant advantage. He knew what skills the beast could use. But other than entangle, his were a mystery to it. On top of that, he had far more skills than someone his stage should be able to slot, which would make his moves impossible to predict. He would save shadow step for an emergency escape or to set up a killing blow. It made sense to keep the mana-intensive skill a surprise, since he couldn¡¯t afford to use it often anyway. Edge had used regeneration to trick his opponents before, and he would try it again if given the chance. But it would be better not to get hurt to begin with if he possibly could. He wouldn¡¯t be able to land entangle against a mana-sensitive opponent unless he managed to score a disabling wound. But it might still come in handy later in the fight. That meant he had to create an opening using slash and elemental blade, wounding the beast badly enough that it couldn¡¯t leap away. The basic skill was cheap to use, but it only increased his offense by a modest amount. His uncommon iceblade did excellent damage and could cripple with its chill, but the skill drained his mana too quickly to use it carelessly. Edge didn¡¯t have his claw-sword this time around, since it was being refined at the Forge to make something better. What he did have was the knife that Trapper had given him. It only extended his reach by about six inches, but it was the sharpest blade that he¡¯d ever seen. If what she had told him was true, and it probably was, the weapon was incredibly resilient too. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It might not be easy to slash with the knife and deal a serious wound. But it would score long cuts with ease. Painful injuries that would distract his opponent for the rest of the fight. They would bleed if he landed a solid attack, wearing the jobo down over time. All of that passed through his mind in the blink of an eye. He raised his blade, waiting for an opening to appear. Edge thought that the jobo would keep coming straight at him. He began planning out a counter while getting ready to move out of the way. Which left him completely unprepared for what actually happened. When it was still a good twenty feet out, the beast switched up its stride. After one last bounding step, it brought both feet together and set them down at the same time. Then the jobo ignited its core and made an explosive leap, transforming its forward momentum into a rising arc. It was so fast that it caught Edge by surprise, although it was one of the moves that he¡¯d been planning to deal with. He looked up to track the creature¡¯s progress, as adrenaline sang in his veins... Only to find himself staring straight into the sun, nearly blinding him before he closed his eyes. In that moment, he learned a valuable lesson. Powerful senses could be a double-edged sword. The big bastard did that on purpose. I¡¯ll have to remember that trick. The jobo would come streaking back down a heartbeat later, wicked talons slicing deep with the weight of its body behind it. The problem was, Edge couldn¡¯t dodge what he couldn¡¯t see. He could shadow step, but he would reveal a critical card without gaining much in exchange, placing him at a severe disadvantage for the rest of the fight. But then he realized that he had another move he could make. Maybe two can play that game. Conceal. He turned on the skill as he dropped to the ground. He curled into the tightest ball he could make before looking up again, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. All within a fraction of a second. Edge wasn¡¯t sure how well the skill would perform against something that already knew where he was. But he figured that this was worth a shot. The jobo couldn¡¯t alter its trajectory mid-flight and had been targeting him center mass. If this didn¡¯t work, he would call it his loss and retreat using shadow step. Then come back another day with a better plan and better gear. But conceal must have had at least some effect. Instead of correcting to cut him to ribbons, the beast¡¯s talons came screaming through the space where his throat had been half a second before, leaving the creature off balance when it didn¡¯t encounter the resistance it had expected. Edge had been ready to turn into shadows and make a break for it. He let out a sigh of relief when the beast went soaring over his head before landing with a ground shaking thud. He had dodged its talons with inches to spare, although it had been far too close for comfort¡­ which reminded him that the jobo was longer than it was wide. Before he could get out of the way, the tail came down with a hearty smack, sending him rolling in the dirt. It would have been worse if it had been a planned attack instead of an incidental hit, but it still really fucking hurt. Chapter 74: Even The jobo growled in frustration when its opener failed to connect, but it didn¡¯t let up or back off. It had lost its momentum, and leap wouldn¡¯t be as effective up close or without the sun at its back. But the beast still outweighed Edge by a good two hundred pounds. It was capable of far more than just rending with its talons. It turned to face him and came rushing right in, using that springing stride to devour the ground with every step. Is it going to bite? Hit me with its tail? No, it¡¯s going to¡­ That was all the time for thought that he had before the beast was in front of him. It ducked down low and planted both feet to gather its strength. Then it unleashed a tremendous uppercut, using its good arm to transfer the force like a rocket taking flight. If the blow had connected cleanly, it would have clipped his chin, knocking him out if not breaking his neck. But Edge had realized what was happening in the nick of time, throwing his body back as the jobo¡¯s fist came soaring up. Instead of a direct hit, the powerful punch grazed his ribs, bruising the shit out of them in passing before flying past the tip of his nose. That could have ended me in a single blow, he realized. And it wasn¡¯t even using a skill. If the beast had two good arms, it would have finished him then and there, clocking him with a straight jab hard enough to crack his skull. Let alone the carnage it could have wrought with combination strike. But it couldn¡¯t follow up quite as fast with just one paw, giving Edge a chance to counter. After stepping away, he leaned back in, taking aim as he closed the distance. He lashed out with his knife, slashing the moment that the beast¡¯s fist went whizzing through the air in front of his face. The speed and power behind the motion multiplied as mana surged into his arm, reducing the knife to a streaking blur. The weapon struck true, slicing the jobo diagonally across its flank and onto its chest. The ridiculously sharp blade parted skin with ease and bit deep into the muscle below. The jobo screamed and hopped out of reach, hairless body glistening as blood ran down its side. But it darted right back in before Edge knew what was happening. The beast banked hard and went whirling around, pivoting on one foot after landing in front of him. It transferred the momentum into a roundhouse attack with its tail as the weapon. Although he had known this might happen, he couldn¡¯t get out of the way in time. The whiplike appendage caught him square in the chest. The impact sent him flying and cracked several ribs, knocking the wind out of him in the process. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Battered inside and out, electric pain blossomed across his body. Edge was momentarily stunned and couldn¡¯t move. But he had turned on regeneration at the start of the fight, and the skill went to work without needing to be told. Mana flowed out of his core and seeped into his savaged tissue, mending his sundered bones and erasing his bruises. The jobo had clearly expected him to stay down after taking such a heavy hit. It was sitting there, enjoying its victory, staring at him in savage satisfaction. The beast looked utterly shocked when Edge rose to his feet, dusted himself off, and resumed his fighting stance with a crack of his neck. Truth be told, he was nearly as surprised himself. He had already gotten used to the idea that regeneration could heal wounds that would normally cripple or kill him. But he hadn¡¯t realized how much faster the skill could delete the damage he received, thanks to his recent investments in amplification. The beast gave him a long, lingering look, unnerved by his unnatural vitality. For a moment, its confidence wavered. But it must have decided that it was just a fluke, because it screamed again and came charging back in. This marked the beginning of a brutal exchange. The jobo had five living weapons. Two taloned feet, one fist, a heavy tail, and a nasty bite. Any of them could take Edge out of the fight. He only had his knife, his skills, and his wits to work with. But he had the advantage of having studied his opponent ahead of time. He was familiar with the beast¡¯s physiology and its various tells. The motion of its shoulder preceding a punch. The twist of its hips when it lashed out with its tail. The fact that it couldn¡¯t raise its talons high enough to thrust, only slash when coming down from above. The kicks, on the other hand, were a real problem. Although the beast could only kick backwards, they were insanely quick and hit like a sledgehammer. Even a glancing blow was enough to break bones. A direct hit could shatter his limbs or crush his ribcage. Regeneration could handle cuts and bruises, even mend fractured bones, but it couldn¡¯t heal smashed organs. He put everything that he had into dodging its feet and its teeth, accepting that he was going to take some hits from its fist and tail in exchange. Over the next breathless minute, Edge racked up a painful collection of wounds, landing another pair of slashes along the way. Before cycling-up his core and evolving to stage-one, he would have been running low on mana by this point. So tired that he could barely move. But his upgraded reservoir was still half full, and his reactor was burning bright. His body had enough stamina to push on, and he was perceptive enough to see the jobo¡¯s attacks coming. By now, the beast had begun moving more slowly, as exhaustion and blood loss caught up to it. But it wasn¡¯t going down without a fight. It was prepared to bet it all on one last barrage. End the conflict before it ran out of steam. Edge hadn¡¯t revealed his most powerful skills, and he was ready to use them now. Catch the creature by surprise and then bring it down. The moment he decided that it was time to go all in, something strange happened. He could sense mana congealing in the jobo¡¯s core. Not fueling its skills but serving some other purpose. It all became clear a few seconds later. The beast sent its tail whipping around in a high arc, leaving him scrambling to get out of the way. But the move was just a feint. After knocking him off balance, it darted in low and got right in his face, lashing out with a lightning-fast jab. A muscular fist powered by a skill that Edge had never seen before. Chapter 75: Surprise When Edge looked up and got ready to dodge, there wasn¡¯t just one fist headed his way, there were two. What¡¯s going on? Did it somehow manage to heal its hand? But it wasn¡¯t the beast¡¯s wounded paw that was streaking toward his face like a bolt of pink lightning. Its good fist had multiplied instead. Each set of knuckles was slightly blurry, like he was seeing double. He was so surprised that he didn¡¯t have time to do anything besides continue with his evasive maneuver and hope for the best. Edge was able to lean out of the way of the first punch. The second caught him square in the face. Crunch. The beast¡¯s knuckles broke his nose and then slammed into his skull. He saw a bright flash of light, followed by a searing jolt of pain. The impact knocked him off his feet, and he went flying back to go sprawling in the dirt. Dazed, and confused as to what had happened. As he fought to regain his senses, the answer came to him. That jobo is mid stage-one. It just learned its third skill. An attack that it can use with only one hand. Regeneration was helping to clear his head, but he didn¡¯t have time to recover. After watching him shrug off the last heavy blow, his opponent was going to make sure that Edge stayed down for good. While he was unable to move out of the way, the jobo was planning to hit him as hard as it could and not let up until he breathed his last. With a triumphant roar, the beast leapt high, launching itself over twenty feet in the air. It completed its arc and descended like a meteor falling from the heavens, both sets of talons poised to rend him asunder. This time, he didn¡¯t have a choice. Edge shadow stepped without a second thought. Energy went streaming out of his core and the world shifted into smoke and mist, just as the creature¡¯s feet hit the ground. He didn¡¯t have enough mana to keep it going for long, so he flowed behind the jobo and deactivated the skill. Knowing that this was his last chance to take control of the fight, he used slash and elemental blade in combination. The glowing glacial sword burst out of his palm and went streaking for his enemy in the blink of an eye, his reactor roaring to life as it burned through his reserves. The jobo knew that something was wrong and tried to leap out of the way. But it was already too late. The impact reverberated throughout his arms as Edge¡¯s iceblade scored a solid hit. The magical manifestation cut deep, drawing a long line of frost down the beast¡¯s back and across one leg, freezing the tissue below. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The jobo couldn¡¯t abort its skill in time. It went soaring up in an uncontrolled jump, then landed a heartbeat later. It hit the ground hard, unable to brace itself with a frozen knee. There was a sharp crack and its limb twisted at an unnatural angle. The beast screamed in agony, then it turned to face him with murderous intent. It seemed enraged by its injury and came limping back in, planning to take Edge out before he could take advantage of the wound. He raised his knife but didn¡¯t have a chance to attack. It was all he could do to stay out of the way as tail, fist, and teeth came at him in a blurring barrage, some of the strikes doubled as the jobo used its new skill. But without being able to leap or kick, it was easy to anticipate the creature¡¯s moves. This is everything that it has left. Wait for an opening, and you can put it down for good. Edge took several glancing blows along the way, encouraged that the beast was growing weaker by the second. But he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. He was exhausted too and was running low on mana. One good hit could eliminate the advantage he¡¯d won. By now, he had developed a good sense of his opponent. On top of being worn out, dazed from blood loss, and in serious pain, the creature still had one frost-numbed limb. It couldn¡¯t focus as well as before, and all its concentration was devoted to landing another big hit. It¡¯s coming. Any second now. That was when the jobo¡¯s leg gave out from under it. It almost fell before it recovered its balance, looking away for a second. Edge knew that his moment had arrived. It was time to make his move and take the beast out of the fight. He gathered his will and cast entangle. After dodging a doubled tail lash that almost caught him by surprise, four vines burst out from the ground, nearly trapping the beast before it hobbled out of the way. But it had failed to notice the second spell he¡¯d cast right after the first, the moment that he knew where the jobo was going to move. It looked down at a second patch of writhing tendrils, an expression of dawning realization appearing on its hairless face. But the creature couldn¡¯t do anything about it and stepped straight into the vines with a terrified shriek. It tried to fight its way free, but the skill was already closing around it. This time, entangle was able to catch its prey. The serpentine vines wrapped around the beast¡¯s legs and then pulled themselves tight, tethering it to the ground. The next set of tendrils went for its arms, binding them to its body so it couldn¡¯t punch. The jobo was in a perfect position to land a finishing blow, but Edge had another goal in mind. He wasn¡¯t planning to kill the beast yet. Not until he claimed its skills for his own. He felt a surge of hunger emanating from his core as Skill-Eater sensed that its next meal had arrived. He had to fight the impulse to activate [Extraction] right away, wrestling down the urge to feed for another few seconds. He had learned the hard way that creatures could resist his chains unless they were completely vulnerable. He needed to weaken his quarry further before he ran out of mana. Since time was of the essence, he decided to take the direct approach. Edge walked over, picked up a rock, and smashed it into the beast¡¯s head until it stopped struggling, careful not to kill it or get bit in the process. See, he told his grumbling core. That wasn¡¯t so bad. Now we can dine at our leisure. Chapter 76: Double Once the jobo was lying limp in the vines, Edge willed [Extraction] to activate. His chains came slithering out from his wrists and went flying toward the bound beast, eager to hunt and feed. When they appeared, he noticed that the living links were faster, longer, and stronger than before, just like the System had promised. Since their prey was unconscious and in no shape to put up a fight, the chains were able to penetrate the jobo¡¯s core without resistance, granting him a vision of the interior. Edge found himself inside a shady grove with a creek running through the middle. The sun was just starting to set, and the air was nice and cool. It was a quiet place, full of tasty plants to eat and soft spots to stretch out and sleep. He wondered what made each core appear so different from one another. For beasts at least, he was beginning to suspect that the strange space was an idealized form of their favorite place. The spot where they felt happy and safe. It made what he was doing feel a bit more sinister, but it wasn¡¯t going to stop him from acquiring his next skill. On that note, there were three of them in there, just like he¡¯d been expecting. One was a pair of legs that was bursting with energy, bouncing around like crazy. That must be leap. What about the other two? Edge looked around to see what else was on the menu. One of the skills took the form of a pair of fists, with one placed in front of the other. The leading appendage was small and fast, while the second was massive by comparison. That has to be combination strike. A rapid jab sets up the heavy hit that follows. The final option took the form of taloned feet. There was a second set superimposed over the first, like there were two sets of weapons occupying the same physical space. That must be the power it just acquired. I¡¯m not sure what it¡¯s called. It seemed to multiply the power of a strike. It looks like feet, but the jobo was able to use the skill on its fists and tail too. It must be fairly flexible with its target. The third skill must have been rarer than the other two, because it was the one that his chains wanted most. Since Edge suspected that it was the best of the bunch, he didn¡¯t try to resist their pull. He watched with eager anticipation as the black links converged upon the doubled talons like a pair of serpents. Since it wasn¡¯t particularly large or agile, the chains had no problem trapping their prey. They wrapped tight around the blurry blades and then pulled them out of the jobo¡¯s core, tossing the skill into his mouth before sliding back into his wrists with a satisfied flourish. The jobo opened its eyes and let out a horrified scream, as if its very soul was shattering. Edge steeled himself and hardened his heart, eating the skill while covering his ears. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not stopping. It will all be over soon. Despite his intentions, the skill didn¡¯t intend to go down without a fight. While it had been easy enough to remove, he had to struggle to digest it. It scratched and stabbed as his teeth went to work, shredding his tongue and cheeks. Each slice it made opened two in his flesh. Since he knew what to expect this time around, Edge just spat out the blood and kept on chomping, letting regeneration heal the damage he took. The taste was weird, more of an impression than a flavor. A sense of one becoming two and then one again. Of a single blow packing twice the punch. Of being in more than one place at the same time. Oddly enough, the flavor was doubled too, the aftertaste just as strong as the initial sensation. It hurt. But it wasn¡¯t nearly as unpleasant as eating elemental blade, so Edge kept right on chewing. After breaking the talons to pieces, the skill went limp. It slid down his throat without further resistance. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. When it entered his core, he was granted a sense of what the skill did. It¡¯s another uncommon after all. Badass. He grinned as his mouth finished healing, because this ability was even better than he¡¯d been hoping. The skill straight out doubled the power of the paired attack, while spreading it over a wider area. Effectively landing two, slightly staggered blows for the price of one. All of that was in line with his expectations, but the skill¡¯s other property was even more versatile than he¡¯d thought. Edge could use it on any attack that he chose, both parts of his body and weapons held in his hands, including skills like his iceblade. It seemed to be fairly mana intensive. But it could add considerable lethality to a given blow, while making it harder to dodge, and he was thrilled to have it in his collection. You have extracted the skill: Double strike (uncommon, rank 1). Digestion is complete. Would you like to slot double strike now? When Edge confirmed his intentions, the skill was drawn into his garden and linked to his core. Once it was slotted, the feet changed shape, becoming a doubled blade that was identical to the knife he was holding. Neat, although I¡¯m not quite sure what to make of that. With that, he was drawn back into his body. The rapid change of location wasn¡¯t quite as jarring this time around. I think that I¡¯m starting to get used to this. The jobo let out an agonized whimper, moaning in horror despite its heavy concussion. Its suffering made him feel vaguely guilty. But since the creature would have been happy to tear him to pieces, and Edge was planning to end its life in another few seconds, he didn¡¯t feel too bad. Extraction. He sent his chains back in, only to discover that the jobo¡¯s core had changed dramatically over the last handful of heartbeats. What had been paradise only moments before, was now something from out of a fever dream. The trees had lost their leaves and looked barren and diseased. The rivers ran thick with putrid fluid and the scent of blood hung heavy in the air. Stealing a skill must damage a core on a fundamental level, he realized. It was Edge¡¯s first time witnessing the aftermath of Skill-Eater¡¯s ultimate ability from the inside. Since the jobo¡¯s skills seemed unaffected by these changes, he had no reason to do anything other than claim his prize. This time, he directed his chains to go for leap, which precipitated a chase as the living links surged after the agile skill. They might not have been able to catch it if they weren¡¯t faster than before. But with their newfound power after reaching stage-one, they were able to close the distance. After chasing the skill around the core, they managed to wrap around it, stripping it of leverage and then dragging it out. On this occasion, everything inside between his jaws went how Edge had expected. The skill bounced around like a jackrabbit on steroids, pressing hard against his tongue and slamming into the roof of his mouth. It took him several tries to chomp it between his teeth. After he got in a few good bites, leap shattered and stopped moving, letting him swallow without resistance. It tasted like the wind flying through his hair. That feeling you get when you hang weightless in the air, before falling back down to the ground. Of going and going, then going some more. When it entered his core, there weren¡¯t any surprises this time around. As its name suggested, this skill sent mana into his legs to let him unleash a powerful jump. You have extracted the skill: Leap (common, rank 1). Digestion is complete. Would you like to slot leap now? Yes please. When the process was finished, the bestial feet shimmered, turning into a pair that looked just like his own. They went leaping around his garden, playing with double strike and the other skills that called Edge¡¯s core home. Satisfied that everything was proceeding as it should, he moved back into his body and got ready for round three. He had planned to claim the jobo¡¯s final skill, even if he wasn¡¯t sure that he wanted to keep it. But when he snapped back into his skin, the beast let out a blood-curdling wail, eyes wide with horror and foaming at the mouth. Before he could send his chains out for a third time, the jobo spasmed and then went still, the life fading from its eyes. Apparently, in addition to being an awful experience, [Extraction] was harming its victims after all. To the extent that a second invasion had been enough to finish off the wounded creature. While he hadn¡¯t been able to steal a third skill from the same quarry, Edge had claimed two good ones and picked up some valuable information along the way. And his gains didn¡¯t stop there. After he took each of his new skills for a quick test drive, it was time to harvest what he could from the jobo¡¯s corpse, adding some credits to his gains for the day. Chapter 77: Leap Edge decided to start with leap, eager to try out his first mobility skill. After taking a long look around to make sure that nothing of note had arrived while he was busy, he sent his intentions into his core and activated his new power. He felt his reactor flicker to life, burning magicytes from his reservoir. Skill-Eater filtered the flow of mana through the skill, and then sent magic surging into his legs. It filled them with a rush of power, combined with an irresistible urge to bring his knees together and press both feet into the ground. When Edge was in position, the mana was consumed to create an explosive release of power. He went flying straight up, sailing higher than he¡¯d been expecting. After rising ten feet into the air, he realized that he might have a problem, since the skill offered no assistance on the landing. At fifteen feet, he was really starting to get worried. Fortunately, he came to a stop another foot and a half later. He hung weightless for the barest fraction of a moment, then Edge found himself falling. Don¡¯t panic, this isn¡¯t that bad. Just try to land cleanly enough that you don¡¯t break your ankles. You can¡¯t afford to waste the mana it would take to heal them. He braced himself as the ground came rushing up to meet him, then hit the dirt hard half a heartbeat later. The impact sent pain lancing into his joints. Luckily, his bones held firm, although he had some bruises that regeneration took care of a few seconds later. The points of durability he obtained were already making a difference. This skill is neat, but I need to be careful until I can take it to rank-three and can control how much mana I put into each jump. Skills didn¡¯t have a fixed cost anymore once they hit rank-three. Instead, their output could be fine-tuned. You could burn more mana for extra power or reduce the flow as needed. Experienced skill-wielders could use this feature to change up the behavior of their powers on the fly, making the most of their abilities while keeping their enemies off balance. The rank-one choice might solve the problem too. With leap out of the way, it was time to try out his second new skill. He was intensely curious to watch double strike at work, since it was the first power he could use on any part of his body. But he wanted to see what it could do with a weapon even more. Edge raised his knife and walked over to the tree, then willed the skill to activate. To his delight, the magic gathered around his weapon, exactly where he had been visualizing. The blade in his hand vibrated and began to blur. It looked like his eyes were unfocused, or he¡¯d had a few too many shots at the bar. Two copies of the knife were overlaid on top of one another, slightly offset. After the initial expenditure, the skill didn¡¯t cost more mana to maintain. Although Edge had the sense that the effect would dissipate if he didn¡¯t strike soon, wasting the energy he¡¯d spent. Before that could happen, he lashed out with the knife, drawing the blade along the bark. As he¡¯d been hoping, a pair of scars were left in its wake instead of just one. That was awesome. The skill straight up doubled the effectiveness of my attack. I think I¡¯m really going to enjoy this one, even if it¡¯s a bit of a mana hog. Edge broke into a beaming grin, thrilled by his gains for the day. Both new skills were incredibly useful, and double strike would let him dish out some amazing combos, especially when he used it with [Overdrive]. Stolen novel; please report. He entertained a brief fantasy of combining elemental blade, slash, and double strike while leaping into range. Then he turned his attention to the task at hand, harvesting what he could from the jobo and returning to town before something unpleasant found him. Edge had never skinned or dressed a kill before, but he had studied the process and simulated it during his pre-run training. Even still, having the cooling carcass beneath his fingertips was another matter completely. There was no way that he could carry the whole jobo back. He didn¡¯t need to worry about removing the guts this time, just separating the limbs and head. Thus, his first goal was to cut the creature into manageable pieces. Then he would attempt to skin the torso and try not to mess up the hide in the process. Following that train of thought, he looked down at the gouges he had carved into the beast¡¯s body. At the frost-rimed gashes running alongside the cleaner cuts of the knife. Maybe it¡¯s a bit too late for that last one. I¡¯ll do my best, just for practice. The meat and talons should still be worth something. Using Trapper¡¯s knife, he began figuring out how to take the body apart, trying not to think about the blood and doing his best to ignore the visceral scent. I need to isolate the joints of its hips and shoulders, and the one where the base of the tail connects to the spine. After placing the blade against the areas in question, he inserted the tip and drew the knife around. Edge cut through skin and muscle, fat and tendon, until he was all the way down at the space where two bones came together. Since he wasn¡¯t sure how else to separate them, he burned some mana to slash at the joints. With that much power behind it, the blade was sharp enough to cut bone. Each limb took two or three slices to sever, followed by some vigorous pulling. But in the end, he had all five removed. The head was trickier and even more disgusting to detach, although it came free after a bit more effort. I¡¯m lucky that this blade is so good, and I had some mana left at the end of the fight. When he was done, he picked up the pieces by the intact ends, and hung them out to bleed on a branch of the tree. Then did the same with the head by using the crook where a heavy branch forked. While everything was draining, becoming lighter in the process, he moved on to his last objective. Over the next fifteen minutes, Edge tried his best to remove the beast¡¯s hide. He cut straight down the center of its chest, then pulled the skin free from the muscle beneath. It was gross, and he tore the hide in multiple places. But with a bit of effort, he was able to work it free. He thought that it was a decent first try without being trained, thanks to the incredible sharpness of the blade he¡¯d been given. He scraped the inside with a flat rock, then rolled up the skin and put it in his sack. By now, the jobo¡¯s limbs had stopped bleeding. Edge took them down and added them to the bag, then went back to retrieve the head. After taking a last look around to make sure no predators were nearby, he swung the sack over his shoulder, whoofing at the heft. It was heavy, even with his new and improved body, but he thought he could manage for a few miles. He could feel the limbs inside bouncing with every step he took. It was weird, but he had to get used to it sooner or later. Carrying game was part of hunting after all. Maybe I should buy a cart when I have some credits to spare. If I take it with me on my hunts, I can increase my profits from every kill, especially after I get some hands-on training in skinning and butchery. On his way back to Puppet Town, he pulled up his Guide, thrilled to learn that the fight had been enough to cycle-up his core. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [2]. You have three attribute points awaiting allocation. By conditioning your body, your durability has increased by 1. The battle had shown him how important it was to land a big hit early on, and he planned to move on to more dangerous prey before long. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to put all three points into amplification this time. He already had enough generation that his reservoir refilled in less than a day. While he would always want more fuel in his tank, it could wait until he had a bit more oomph to his attacks. He sat down, enjoying the sensation of the conduits connecting his skills to his reactor growing denser and more complex. Then Edge picked up his sack and continued on his way. Concept Art Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. I went ahead and did Dialla and Earl, since I didn''t get to them last week. The Ivory Plains The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Earl the Earthhammer, Sheriff of Puppet Town Dialla, Mayor of Puppet Town Chapter 78: Butcher Half an hour later, Edge entered town through the north gate. After saying hello to the deputy on duty, he made his way over to a building located on the border of the hunters¡¯ district and the town square. Izzio¡¯s Delicatessen was a two-story, red brick affair with living space on top and a shop below. There was a banner over the front door displaying the name of the establishment, and a sign in the window listing the day¡¯s specials. A large part of Puppet Town¡¯s economy revolved around processing, trading, and utilizing valuable beast parts, which meant that Izzio¡¯s offered some services beyond that of a traditional butcher. In addition to taking apart a kill and selling the meat, they would extract the pieces with other uses and package them in a marketable form. Since he was selling instead of buying, Edge walked around to the attached workshop, where Izzio the butcher performed his craft. The man was already hard at work on another project, but he looked up and smiled when Edge walked through the door. Izzio was a medium-skinned man with long blond hair, wearing a white apron that was splattered with blood. He had a cleaver in one hand, a rag in the other, and goggles over his eyes. ¡°Welcome to the best butcher shop in town. We¡¯ll take your beast apart with precision. I guarantee that you won¡¯t lose a sliver of meat or a scrap of material in the process. We pride ourselves in our work.¡± He set down his tools and gestured to an open table in the corner. ¡°Why don¡¯t we start off by showing me what you¡¯re carrying?¡± Edge set down his sack and then removed the contents, placing the arms, legs, tail, and head on a sheet of waxed paper while Izzio nodded to himself. ¡°Stage-one jobo, border of early and middle. I see that you weren¡¯t able to bring in the torso, but did you happen to retrieve the hide?¡± ¡°Yes, but this was my first time taking apart a kill. The results leave something to be desired.¡± Edge retrieved the skin from the bottom of the bag and set it beside the rest. ¡°I see what you mean. It seems like it was quite a fight to take the big fellow down.¡± Izzio stuck his finger through one of the larger tears. ¡°We won¡¯t be using this for anything fancy, but scrap leather still has a bit of value. Will you be paying us directly for our services, or with a percentage of the yields? We charge fifteen percent of the parts for a job of this scale, plus another ten if you want us to sell them, although I¡¯ll buy the meat without adding that charge.¡± ¡°Actually, I was wondering if you could pay me up front for the lot. I¡¯m saving up credits for some better gear and was hoping to start shopping today.¡± ¡°Hrm... yes.¡± The butcher eventually nodded. ¡°I would be willing to make that work. But I¡¯ll charge you another fifteen percent for the service, meaning that I¡¯ll pay you a little over half of what I expect to make in profit.¡± ¡°That seems more than fair. How much do you think you can give me?¡± Edge waited for Izzio to weigh and inspect the lot. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°I can offer you two thousand for everything combined, since the teeth can be traded to the crafters.¡± ¡°Sold.¡± With that, Izzio took off his gloves and washed his hands. Then they shook to seal the deal. Since it was still fairly early in the day, Edge decided to see if he could learn something useful while he was here. ¡°Do you mind if I watch you work for a while? I need to know how to salvage the best parts from beasts that are too big to carry back whole.¡± ¡°Sure. The more the merrier. On that note, if you ever want to learn the basics of butchery, come back after you score a big haul. I¡¯ll put a knife in your hand and show you how to use it. But for your first taste of the craft, just pull up a stool, sit back, and enjoy the show.¡± With that, Izzio went to work. Instead of returning to his project in progress, he started off fresh with something that one of his assistants had just wheeled in on a cart. It must have been a domesticated animal that was raised in town. It had only been dead for a couple of minutes, judging by the color of the blood. The butcher began by inspecting the creature, which appeared to be some manner of marsupial the size of an Earth pig. It was hard to be certain with the head already removed, which must have been how it was killed. He stretched the beast¡¯s body out on the table, then picked out a long knife from a rack on the wall. Izzio ran his fingers through the fur, nodded to himself, then seemed to come to a decision. He flipped the body over and cut from the tail all the way up along the spine. Then he pulled off the hide like he was removing a jacket. Damn, he is way better at that than I am. Edge let out an appreciative whistle, trying to commit the technique to memory. Now that the skin was out of the way, Izzio carefully cut into the abdomen to remove the stomach, intestines, bladder, and a few other organs that Edge couldn¡¯t readily identify, placing each into its own container. When he was done, he took the body outside, then hung it over a bucket to drain the blood. After letting Edge ask a few questions, they walked back inside, and the butcher turned to face him. ¡°While you¡¯re here, do you want to try eating a piece of the beast you brought in? We could grill up a pair of skewers right now.¡± ¡°Sure, that sounds wonderful. I¡¯m hungry and curious, and that will solve both problems at once.¡± Izzio chuckled and then cut into one of the jobo¡¯s legs with expert precision, slicing two lean steaks out of the haunch. He gestured, and Edge followed him into the back, where a cast iron grill was sitting against the wall. The butcher fired it up, explaining how the right fuel added flavor to the meat, along with a pinch of salt and herbs. Before long, the sound of steak sizzling on the grill filled the air. A delectable aroma wafted across Edge¡¯s palate, setting him drooling and his stomach growling. He took a long sip from his canteen, listening to Izzio explain the properties of various cuts while they waited. Not long after, the steaks were ready. The blond man pointed to a pair of chairs and then handed Edge his portion, along with a knife and fork. He cut off the first bite and stuck it in his mouth. Delicious. He sighed in contentment. It was, without a doubt, the best steak he¡¯d ever eaten. While it was clear that Izzio was as skilled at cooking as he was at butchery, Edge had the sense that part of the magic was¡­ well magic. It seemed that having a core and boosting his perception had enhanced his appreciation for anything that contained magicytes, not just mana-seeds. They chatted while they ate until the last bite was gone. Then Edge bid Izzio farewell and left the man to his work, enjoying the warmth of a full belly and the extra credits in his account. Credits that he was ready to spend. Chapter 79: Bee Now that Edge had made some credits that were easy to explain, it was finally time to gear up. Or at least take the first step in what would become a lifelong pursuit of improving his equipment. While he couldn¡¯t afford to buy a full kit today, he could pick up some necessities and start planning out what he wanted to add as he continued hunting on the plains. Only the vendors involved would know the details of each transaction. Spreading his purchases out would let him spend some of the creds he¡¯d earned from convicts¡¯ bounties without anyone realizing that he¡¯d paid quite so much at any given store. The logistics involved were a lot like money laundering, which made him laugh when he had the thought. With that goal in mind, Edge walked over to the commercial district with a spring in his step. He was looking forward to having some useful tools at his disposal, instead of the garbage that the wardens gave tourists at the start of their runs. The district was undergoing some dramatic changes in the wake of the anomaly, a little more every day. Since contact with the rest of the planet was cut off for the time being, the constant wagons running along the main road were a thing of the past. At least for now, the residents of Puppet Town were entirely on their own. Its industries were struggling to fill the holes in their supply chains and start selling products that met the settlements¡¯ evolving needs. The price of goods and services was shifting by the hour, as a new way of life began to take shape. With the traders unable to import goods, certain products and resources would become far scarcer. Others would run out completely before long. At least the credit management aspect of the System still worked, although barter had always been a popular alternative to a direct exchange. The good news was that the settlement had the potential to be self-sufficient, since its hunting and crafting industries were already well-established. Edge took in the sights and sounds of the commercial quarter as he walked down the street, waving to the vendors lining the sides of the road. Minor merchants who couldn¡¯t afford their own shops. In addition to the smaller stalls, the district was home to a few dozen stores, as well as two restaurants, several bars, and a caf¨¦. The weekly Night Sky market took place here too, although he wasn¡¯t sure when it would resume given the circumstances. While he reviewed what he wanted to buy, he headed toward a large, central building shared jointly by the Crafters¡¯ Consortium. It was a sprawling one-story structure made of brick and dark wood. Inside, a range of goods from various vendors could be found. Items intended for general use instead of custom jobs like his weapon. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Edge walked in through the front door. He said hello to the young woman sitting behind the counter, who had short black hair and bright purple eyes. Her name was Bee, and she was authorized to haggle on behalf of the craftspeople whose wares were on display. He ran his eyes across the room, trying to decide what he needed now and what could wait until he had more money. ¡°Is there anything in particular that you¡¯re looking for?¡± Bee walked over to stand beside him. She seemed glad to have something to do, since Edge was her only customer. ¡°I¡¯m ready to start working on my first set of gear. What I buy today depends on how many items on my list I can afford.¡± ¡°What are your priorities?¡± ¡°Number one is a new backpack. The one that the wardens gave me was garbage before I filled it full of holes and used it to carry raw monster parts. Beyond that, I¡¯m looking for anything that will help me survive in the wild while I go about low-threat hunts in the vicinity of town.¡± He pointed toward a rack in the corner. ¡°After that, I could really use some armor. Something that will help me hold my own against stage-one beasts. Once that¡¯s out of the way, I¡¯ll start adding gear that will let me embark on multiday excursions. Although it¡¯s going to be at least a few weeks before I¡¯m ready to take that step.¡± Bee nodded as he spoke, taking notes onto a pad of paper. ¡°As far as specific items go, I saw Trapper using bladewire nets to great effect. I know that hers are a custom job, but I wouldn¡¯t mind some basic models to help restrain my prey. Beyond that, I could use some extra clothes, since I seem to ruin mine on a regular basis, and a poncho and hat to help shield me from the weather.¡± Edge turned to Bee and smiled. ¡°I already have a high-quality utility knife. But that¡¯s all I¡¯ve picked up so far besides the clothes on my back. Let me know what else you¡¯d recommend, then I can figure out what to buy today, and what to come back for when I earn more creds.¡± When he was done talking, she looked up and said, ¡°All of that makes sense. I do have some suggestions to help round out your kit. Even if you can¡¯t get them now, you should add them to your list.¡± She led him around the room so that he could inspect each of her recommendations in turn. ¡°The most important piece would be a toolbelt. It will let you access various items without having to go digging through your pack. Useful in general, and potentially lifesaving if you get caught by surprise. The first thing I¡¯d add to it would be a couple of stink bombs. They work great as deterrents, especially against beasts with a powerful sense of smell. Hunters use them to get away from predators, or when their hunt goes bad, although smoke bombs can come in handy too.¡± Bee handed him the list when she was finished. ¡°I would also recommend a waterproofing set so that you can coat your boots, pants, and poncho. Last, I would invest in a magtech firestarter and water purifier, although those can wait until you¡¯re ready to range further out. Possibly a wayfinder too, if you plan to head into terrain with poor visibility.¡± After asking some questions about the price of each item and engaging in a bit of haggling, Edge decided to buy a new backpack, a toolbelt, a poncho, a hat, a single stink bomb, and the waterproofing kit. It came to a total of ten thousand credits, but he knew it was money well spent. When he had some more cash, he would come back for the rest, starting with a set of inexpensive leather armor that Bee said was unusually durable for its grade. After Edge tried everything on, they summoned their Guides, and he transferred the credits into her account. Then he walked over to a mirror mounted to the wall and took a long look at his new gear. Chapter 80: Gear Edge nodded in satisfaction, pleased at what he saw. He finally looked like a hunter instead of someone who had survived the aftermath of a disaster. Each of his new items was well-made and was vastly superior to what he¡¯d been wearing before. The poncho was crafted from buffalo leather. Although no one was crazy enough to fuck with the herd, one of the calves or elderly members died from time to time. A renewable source of mid-grade materials that the town depended on. The hat was tightly woven and wide-brimmed, perfect for keeping the sun and rain off his face. It had a drawstring that hung below his chin, so that it wouldn¡¯t get carried away in the stiff breeze that blew across the prairie. Edge would be far more comfortable outside than he¡¯d been before, especially once he applied the waterproofing. The pack was some sort of plastic-rubber composite. The material was waterproof and resistant to scratches and punctures, although not so great against acid or flame. It had a separate compartment that could be removed for easy cleaning, designed to hold messy monster parts without fouling the rest of the gear inside. His new belt was fashioned from a deep green snakeskin. It featured several loops and smaller pockets in front, and a pair of big pouches on the sides. The waterproofing was an ointment that came in a jar, with a set of instructions taped to the lid. He slid it into his belt pouch for now, planning to apply it soon. Last on the list, the stink bomb was an oblong silver object the size of a fat Earth grape. It had a little tab on top that twisted off. After that, you just needed to throw it at your target and try not to be anywhere near where it landed. When it burst, the bomb would release a strongly-scented fluid that would reek for a few hours before dissipating. Satisfied with his haul, Edge bid farewell to Bee and headed back to the Pioneer, although he still had one more goal to cross off his list before he was ready to call it a day. When he stopped by his room and opened his menus, he saw a message that he¡¯d been waiting for all afternoon. The moment that he acknowledged the prompt, he was drawn inside his core. A rare skill has finished digesting. You have digested (shadow step, rank one). You already have this skill in your collection. Its power will be added to your existing skill. Information regarding rare skills wasn¡¯t widely available. But one thing that was commonly known was the rarer the skill, the more experience it took to rank-up. Most people were able to accomplish this by training intensively with the skill in question, with even more experience gained when using it in battle. But since Edge could only [Extract] and absorb, the only way that he could rank-up a rare skill quickly was to eat a duplicate. Absorbing random commons and uncommons to get the same results would have taken far longer. It would be better if he used them to rank-up his other skills instead. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. That was the reason why he had been willing to pay the mortium to [Extract] shadow step a second time. Although he wasn¡¯t sure that Skill-Eater would have given him a choice if he¡¯d tried to refuse. The compulsive need to devour came over him when his core caught the scent of choice prey was almost impossible to resist. While these thoughts passed through Edge¡¯s head, the newly claimed skill flowed over to his existing one. The flocks of shadowy moths met and began to merge, just like what had happened with entangle. The original skill he¡¯d eaten must have been close to rank-two, since it had come with some experience. Adding the new one was enough to let it advance. Or maybe the exchange rate is better, since I must spend mortium for every rare I steal. When the melding was complete, a new update appeared in front of his face. The skill (shadow step) has advanced to rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. You gain resistance to skills that can harm ethereal creatures while in shadow form.
  2. You can detect living creatures more easily in shadow form.
  3. The additional cost of transforming your gear will be greatly diminished.
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain as it is and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. Edge had been hoping to get an option that would let him attack solid opponents while he was in shadow form. But he had already known that it wasn¡¯t going to happen. At least not at rank-two. Every even rank offered an opportunity to change the properties of a skill in one manner or another, in addition to boosting its overall efficiency. The odd numbered ranks granted other benefits, such as the ability to fine tune the amount of mana used that came with rank-three. Rank-two allowed for relatively minor alterations, but they were still vitally important. The first few upgrades chosen could take the same skill in wildly different directions. When you received your rank-two upgrade, you weren¡¯t just choosing what you wanted the skill to do right now. You were also shaping the trajectory of its future development. Ideally, each choice was made with the rest of your skills in mind, creating powerful, synergistic skillsets over time. For example, Edge had chosen a path of maximum restraint when he had taken entangle to rank-two, as opposed to agile movement or dealing damage. Although all three options sounded useful, he eventually decided on the third. The first two were rather situational, but the third would always come in handy. He would be obtaining more gear over the coming weeks, including a set of armor and his new weapon. He suspected that using shadow step with everything equipped would become prohibitively expensive without the upgrade he¡¯d chosen. Edge wanted his transformation to be as useful as possible in battle, starting by cutting down the cost. He wouldn¡¯t have time to strip in the middle of a fight, let alone an ambush. After confirming his intentions, the skill began to change. The shadowy moths came together to become a shadow man. It had a heavy backpack and a knife in its hand. Like several of his other skills, shadow step had changed to look more like himself. It was a curious occurrence, but nothing that he needed to worry about now. Edge nodded in satisfaction as he snapped back into his body. Combined with the boost to its efficiency, he should be able to use shadow step a lot more often, increasing the combat utility of his most powerful skill. While he waited for the shops to close and everyone to head home for the day, he went ahead and applied the waterproofing ointment to his gear. It had a sharp, piney scent that made him sneeze until he opened the window. He stopped downstairs to pick up his dinner while the coating dried, deciding to eat in the common area instead of taking his meal up to his room. He spent the better part of an hour chatting with Sam at the bar, trading the story of his adventure for that free drink he¡¯d been offered. After checking the clock on the wall, Edge saw that it was time to head out. He left the Pioneer with a rising excitement, ready to turn in his mortium and purchase his first implant. Chapter 81: Mortium By the time that Edge stepped outside, the shadows were growing long, and a cool breeze was blowing in from the east. Any second now, the town¡¯s magtech lanterns would spring to life, lighting up the main streets like glittering strings of jewels. Puppet Town never truly slept. But around this time, most shops closed, and people stopped working for the day. With so much foot traffic crossing the districts, cutting through the alley behind Ann¡¯s shouldn¡¯t raise any suspicion. He hid behind a barrel after turning the corner, making sure that he hadn¡¯t been followed. Then he looked up to where a man was sitting in a chair on the balcony above, seemingly fast asleep. His eyes cracked open to meet Edge¡¯s gaze, then he nodded once and closed them again. It was a signal that the coast was clear, so Edge walked down the set of stairs behind the building. A few seconds later, he was standing in front of a door leading to what most people assumed was the basement of Ann¡¯s General Goods. Which it was, but that wasn¡¯t the reason why he was here tonight. He was heading down one more level, to a subbasement that only a handful of people knew about. When he reached out to knock, the doorway cracked open on its own. He let himself into a small enclosure that seemed to be totally empty. ¡°Hello?¡± He looked around in confusion. ¡°This is the right place, isn¡¯t it? I told Ann that I was coming.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t know everything,¡± a woman¡¯s voice replied. ¡°That means you came across the info by chance rather than a trusted source. The question is, can I trust you, Edge? Do you know the rule?¡± ¡°Never talk about this place unless I know that the other person has mortium to spend and won¡¯t run their mouth.¡± ¡°That is the essence of it. You haven¡¯t told anyone else, right?¡± The question must have been rhetorical, because the voice didn¡¯t wait for a reply. ¡°Your reputation is sterling after saving Trapper, and Ann seems to like you, so I¡¯m willing to work with you on a trial basis. But if you cause me any problems, you won¡¯t be causing them a second time. Last step before I let you through. It¡¯s time to prove that you have the goods and aren¡¯t here on another agenda.¡± With that, a panel opened along the far wall, exposing a complex magtech machine formed of crystals, wires, and plates. ¡°Stick your hand on a plate. It doesn¡¯t matter which one.¡± This was starting to feel a lot more dangerous than Edge had expected. But he had the sense that if he backed out now, he¡¯d be dead before he made it to the door. Trying to radiate sincerity all the while, he walked over to the machines, swallowed hard, then put his hand on one of the metal plates covering the exterior. There was a combined jolt of electricity and magic, making his whole body tingle before it faded away. ¡°You can take your hand out now. You have a mortium to spend after all. Not only that, you turned some in to the System already, so it seems like a fair wager that you¡¯ll be able to collect more.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure how she could tell, and he was afraid that he had just revealed far more than he¡¯d bargained for. Her next words made him feel a bit better. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Edge. I won¡¯t pry into your secrets, if you play me straight. It¡¯s all part of the package.¡± With that, a nondescript section of the floor dilated. It opened to reveal a spiraling staircase, through which he could smell the faint spice of incense. Glad that things seemed to be going well after all, and intensely curious as to what he was walking into, Edge started heading down the stairs. All he knew was that this was a place where you could spend lifecoin for things that you couldn¡¯t get anywhere else. That the first time you earned a mortium and entered an exchange, you would complete a hidden quest and be awarded an implant. But that was the extent of his info. Who was running the store, and the contents of its inventory were a total mystery. He took the last step and passed through an open doorway leading into another small room, excitement growing by the heartbeat. He had the impression that he was being scanned again, for hidden weapons or active skills this time, then the far door opened. He stepped into an enclosure that was easily the size of Ann¡¯s above, jaw dropping at the sight that awaited his gaze. Every inch of the walls was covered in exotic displays. Edge ran his eyes across magtech items of every shape and size. A vast array of machines and tools stood beside racks filled with high-grade weapons and armor. Sets of gear that had to be worth several small fortunes each. Standing in the middle of such an extensive arsenal made him shiver with greed, although he would have to restrain himself this time. No one fucked with System-linked services and lived a long and happy life. ¡°Most of that is way out of your price range, at least for now.¡± He turned his head to follow the sound. To where a woman was sitting behind a long counter, forming a shadowy parallel to the store above. ¡°Lillian? Is that you?¡± Edge was shocked to learn who was running the exchange. Lillian was Ann¡¯s sister, or that was what they called each other at any rate. By day, she was a handywoman who took care of repairs around town. She was famously shy and didn¡¯t have any friends. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Surprise.¡± She stuck out her tongue when she caught him staring. ¡°This is the real me. And call me Lilly when I¡¯m down here or in the field.¡± Although Edge had seen her on the feed a handful of times, this was more words than he¡¯d heard her speak by an order of magnitude. More than that, her entire persona had changed. Tonight, Lilly was direct and fearless, the amusement in her tone suggesting a wry sense of humor. While she had seemed uncored the other times he had seen her, now Lilly had an aura of power radiating past the boundary of her body. So intense that the air seemed to crackle around her head. Edge was sure in that moment that she was cored, early stage-two at the least. That she was strong enough to guard her store, and likely had other secrets too. With the salary she was paid for running the exchange, Lilly had to be one of the best geared people in town, armed with a range of powerful skills. She had a gleaming magtech boltcaster resting on the counter, but showed no sign that she was inclined to use it. She doesn¡¯t have a guard posted inside because she doesn¡¯t need one. On top of everything else, Edge was certain that she had some high-grade implants installed and other weapons within easy reach. That she could kill him twice before he could blink if she thought he would pull any shit. Note to self, never piss Lilly off. Although they were sisters, Lilly was a study in contrast to Ann. Her hair was short and black instead of long and blond. She had dark eyes, sharp features, and was a full foot shorter than Edge, who topped off around six feet in this body. The only things that the siblings shared were a friendly smile and a perceptive gaze. Lillian was wearing something rather different from the grease-stained overalls she wore above. A formfitting combat suit made from some manner of elastic purple material. It was probably tough enough to stop his best attack cold, all by itself. ¡°If you¡¯re done staring, why don¡¯t you let me know what I can do for you today? I¡¯ll tell you right now that I won¡¯t do a straight exchange for credits. You would never be able to explain where you got them, and it would draw too much attention my way.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s alright.¡± Edge shook his head to gather his focus. ¡°I¡¯m here to turn in the quest. But first, let me make sure that I understand what you do here. You sell magtech comparable to what wardens can get their hands on. And from what I can see, a range of other high-end gear too. I¡¯m guessing that since you can install our first implant, you sell other, more expensive models as well. Maybe even potions or high-grade aether.¡± ¡°Most of that is right on target.¡± She nodded along with his words. ¡°The gear on the walls can only be purchased for lifecoin. But I can sell you the aether to recharge your implants for credits, although it doesn¡¯t come cheap. ¡°I don¡¯t deal in potions at all. It would cause too much friction with the alchemists. You will have to visit their store if you want to buy any. I can give you more details another time since you¡¯re going with a starter implant. If you pull up your Guide, you can complete the quest right now.¡± He took Lilly¡¯s advice and willed his menus into being. Just like she¡¯d said, he had an update waiting. You have met the conditions for the hidden quest, ¡®First steps.¡¯ Requirements:
  1. Collect your first mortium.
  2. Find an authorized mortium exchange.
Quest reward: Receive a starter implant for the discounted price of 1 mortium. There was a list attached to the bottom, but Edge didn¡¯t need to read it. He had memorized its contents long ago. He had already thought long and hard about which implant he wanted and narrowed it down to two options, both of which performed a similar function. A brain-guard held an aether charge that could be expended to form a powerful shield around the brain when the implant sensed impending damage. It could take quite a few small smacks or a couple of big ones before it needed to be recharged, which Lilly had told him was relatively expensive. The heart-guard did the same thing for his heart. Two critical organs that would drop him if they were damaged, and that regeneration couldn¡¯t heal quickly enough to save him. Edge asked Lilly for more information, trying to determine which would offer him the most insurance in a fight. While he considered the pros and cons, she asked him about his skillset. ¡°If you want to make the best possible decision, I suggest that you tell me about the skills you¡¯ve managed to obtain and the specifics of your core.¡± After a moment of consideration, Edge gave her the details about everything but entangle, double strike, leap, and conceal, although he implied that shadow step was his core¡¯s ultimate. The same lie he had told Trapper and Mel. ¡°A rare shadow core with an unregistered ultimate? Not to mention two fantastic, uncommon skills. You¡¯re just full of surprises, Edge. Taking all of that into consideration, I would recommend the heart-guard. You can wear a helmet to protect your brain, but lots of beasts have armor-piercing skills that go right for the heart.¡± That logic made sense to him. ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± When they called up their Guides to make the exchange, he tried to haggle. ¡°Do you think that you could give me a discount, and throw in one of those mana-food containment coolers too?¡± ¡°Those cost a lot more than you think, and I¡¯m not authorized to negotiate on the System¡¯s behalf. I¡¯m just a technician and the middleman. I don¡¯t own most of what you see.¡± Edge¡¯s disappointment must have been clear on his face, because Lilly laughed when his frown turned upside down when she finished her next sentence. ¡°I do, however, have a defective unit that I can give you. But not for free. You¡¯ll have to owe me a favor. Its seal isn¡¯t complete, which means that it will smell a little. It will only extend a seed¡¯s life by a couple of weeks instead of indefinitely. It will still let you harvest mana-food to sell or use as a rapid recharge for your magicyte reservoir.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it. Thanks Lilly, I really appreciate it. What do you want me to do?¡± He was worried for a second, but it turned out that she was hooking him up after all. She grinned and said, ¡°You can return the favor by not dying. Puppet Town needs all the help it can get right now, and I have a sense that you haven¡¯t even begun to realize your true potential.¡± Then she pointed to the door. ¡°Now get out of my shop and let me work. You can pick up the cooler when you come back to get your implant installed. I¡¯ll have Ann let you know when it¡¯s ready to go, but it will be a few days before it¡¯s attuned to the biosignature I collected on the way in.¡± Edge thanked Lillian again and then made his way outside, taking one last, wistful look at the magtech on the walls. Something to look forward to later, if I live that long. Chapter 82: Riller Edge was woken before dawn by a knock at his door, a service that he¡¯d paid Rita a few credits to arrange. He found a mealbox waiting when he poked his head into the hall, with a smiling face drawn on a scrap of paper. Cute. He let out a sleepy yawn, then got dressed and rinsed his face in the sink. He took a sip from his canteen, opened the box, and picked up what turned out to be some kind of beast meat sandwich. It was made from two thick slices of bread with a slab of cheese on the side, smeared with some kind of creamy sauce. It was tasty and easy to eat as he walked out of the building. News of his new job must have already made it to this side of town. A timely reminder that rumors spread fast in a settlement of this size. It meant that he could get out the door a few minutes faster, chewing contentedly as he made his way down the street while heading for the hunter¡¯s quarter. Edge was careful to stay within well-lit areas and kept one eye over his shoulder. While murder and assault were rare within the walls, going down backstreets in the dark could still end quite badly for him. Perhaps because he was cored now, people would leave him alone, but there was no reason to push his luck. He made it to Trapper¡¯s with time to spare. By now, color had begun bleeding back into the world and the horizon was glowing with the coming of dawn. When he stepped through the gate and gave Blue a pat on the head, he saw two people sitting on a bench, talking softly while waiting for him to arrive. Edge walked over to Trapper and Riller, raising a hand in greeting. When he came to a stop, Trapper turned to him and said, ¡°Here¡¯s how this is going to work. Over the next ten days, we¡¯re going to teach you the basics of hunting. You get to spend two days training with each member of the crew. We will try to teach you a little of our specialties, along with our hunting philosophy.¡± He nodded along with her words. ¡°At the end of the series, we¡¯ll take you into the field for a final exam. Some manner of big game hunt, whose details I¡¯ll reveal a little later. You¡¯ll be starting with Riller and ending with me, and we¡¯ll train you from dawn until midafternoon. ¡°The rest of your time will be yours to do with as you please. I advise that you spend it conditioning your body as best you can and making enough credits to round out your kit. Although it seems that you¡¯ve already made a good start on that front.¡± She rose from the bench and came to a stop in front of him. ¡°You won¡¯t be paid until you¡¯re on the team, but there will be opportunities to make some creds while you¡¯re training. That¡¯s it from me, so I¡¯ll pass you over to Riller. Good luck, Edge. I really hope that this works out.¡± ¡°Thanks. I feel the same way.¡± With that, Trapper headed inside while Riller rose to his feet. Edge took the opportunity to take a long look at the hunter in front of him, who returned his regard in kind. Riller was a short man with dark skin, curly black hair, and steel blue eyes. He was lean and fit, especially for an uncored individual. He gave the impression that his gaze took in everything that happened nearby. When they were done taking the measure of one another, Riller smiled at Edge and stuck out his hand. ¡°You¡¯re with me today. We didn¡¯t get a chance to introduce ourselves before, when all that shit went down. The name¡¯s Riller. I¡¯m the team¡¯s lookout and scout. Thanks for the save back there. We would have bled a lot more without you.¡± ¡°Edge. Pleased to meet you.¡± He shook Riller¡¯s hand and then followed the man away from the den and toward the south gate of town. ¡°I¡¯m going to do my best to teach you the fundamentals of concealing your presence and detecting creatures that are trying to hide. I tend to take a light approach, so try to learn what you can by following my example.¡± Stolen story; please report. Riller looked over his shoulder from time to time, like he was waiting for Edge to ask where they were going and why, then smiled again when it never happened. He might be testing my patience. They made their way out the gate, then stopped to watch the sunrise. By this point, he had noticed that Riller never made a sound. That the man flowed across the ground like he was blown by the breeze, moving in time with the grass and trees around them. Edge was certain that if he took his eyes off the hunter for an instant, he would lose track of his position. ¡°That¡¯s not a skill, is it?¡± He broke the long silence, gazing up at a sky that had become a work of art, the rising sun painting the heavens crimson and the earth gold. ¡°No.¡± Was the man¡¯s only reply. That¡¯s impressive. I have a hard time sensing his presence, even when I¡¯m looking right at him. If he was trying to hide, I doubt I¡¯d ever notice he was there. I wonder how he does it. Riller started walking again, quiet as a whisper. It made Edge feel like a bull in a China shop by comparison, although he did his best to follow the man¡¯s example. Twenty minutes later, they came to a stop along a strip of land where a cluster of boulders intersected a small grove of trees. Riller set down his pack and Edge did the same. When he looked up again, the hunter was nowhere to be found. Where in the hell did he go? He must be close, I only looked away for a second. He poked his head around the closest rock, but there wasn¡¯t anything there. He looked down at the grass, trying to see if the man had left any tracks, before giving it up as a loss. If Riller had left some trace of his passage, Edge lacked the skill to read anything more subtle than a footprint. When he looked up again, Riller was standing beside him, so close that Edge could have reached out and touched him. He startled at the sight, then let out a laugh. Ok. I think I understand what the game is. Over the next six hours, Riller and Edge played hide and seek, without exchanging so much as a word. At first, he couldn¡¯t come anywhere close to spotting the stealthy hunter. Riller would vanish and reappear as if by magic, although he was certain that the man wasn¡¯t using any skills. Edge didn¡¯t have any better luck hiding. Every time he thought that he¡¯d managed to duck out of sight undetected, Riller would find him within seconds, standing right behind him the next time he turned around. It was both deeply impressive and rather frustrating. But eventually, Edge began to get a sense for Riller¡¯s movements. The way that he would head in one direction before stepping behind an obstruction, changing his heading the instant that the line of sight was broken. How he avoided terrain that was likely to give his position away, stepping around dry leaves and sticks. It let him predict Riller¡¯s general direction, although he still wasn¡¯t able to win. The only times the man made a sound, Edge was certain it was deliberate, using it as cover to conceal his true intentions. As the sun rose high in the sky, they stopped to break for lunch. A meal consisting of wild mushrooms and berries that were growing in the grove. Then they put in another hour of training before calling it quits for the day. By now, Edge had a hunch that Riller¡¯s technique was a combination of quiet movement, organic motions, and strategic misdirection. The man was always aware of exactly what Edge could see at any given moment. Of which parts of his profile were broken up by the terrain. His movements told a story. A lie that he was intending to head one way, when he was planning something else entirely. Riller was a master of drawing Edge¡¯s attention to certain details, leading him to false conclusions countless times. While it was embarrassing to be so bad at something, Edge learned a lot in the exchange. Most notably, that a stealthy beast could ambush him with ease. If he wanted to improve, he didn¡¯t just need more perception, he needed to put himself in the hunter¡¯s perspective. Learn to spot potential ambush points and hiding places well before he drew near. Once he figured out the trick, it would teach him to hide better too. Improve his ability to approach his prey without giving his presence away. It made him wonder if his scent was playing a role too. If Riller always knew where Edge was because he could smell him as well as hear him. I¡¯ll see if I can do something about that. They bid each other farewell after walking back through the gate, leaving him the rest of the day to use as he pleased. Tomorrow, he might head back out to hunt on his own, but today, Edge intended to take Trapper¡¯s advice. It was time to start conditioning his body as quickly as he could. Concept Art Just a reminder, this is AI-generated concept artwork that I use to help myself visualize. It will never be sold or profited from in any way and will disappear whenever the book gets published. I understand that some people don''t enjoy the existence of AI art in any form (and others just don''t want to see it), so it will never be placed beside the text of the story and will come in separate chapters that are easy to opt out of. I hope that this is a reasonable compromise that respects everyone''s divergent preferences. Not every detail will be a perfect match with the text and it will never be as good as your imagination. If something you see doesn''t work with the version in your head, go with your imagination instead. Thanks for everything and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the arc. Izzio''s Delicatessen (Main Store) Izzio (dirty) Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Izzio (clean) Bee Chapter 83: Conditioning When Edge made it back to his room, he pulled up his profile while deciding where to begin. He was surprised to find that he already had an update waiting for him. By conditioning the connection between your body and brain, your perception has increased by 1. Awesome! Riller¡¯s training must have had that goal in mind, on top of teaching me the basics of stealth. With any luck, I can train up several more attributes before it¡¯s time for my final exam. Edge was sure that his journey across the plains had played a role too. It normally took weeks of diligent, daily exercise to increase an attribute via conditioning. The first few points came easily. The last two were generally hard, to the extent that most tourists never got them unless they were related to their specialty. If he was lucky, he could pick up another dozen or so conditioning points during the next few months, and the rest over the coming year. He was willing to work hard to reach that goal, saving his attribute points from cycling-up to boost his energetic stats instead. That way, he could improve his body and skills at the same time, increasing his effectiveness across a broad range of situations. Pleased by his progress, Edge summoned his Guide and went into his settings. He enabled the conditioning menu and popup notifications in his profile. Then he took a quick look at his progress to date. Physical conditioning (Attribute points may be conditioned up to five points each)
Power: 0 Reflex: 0 Endurance: 2 Perception: 1
Speed: 0 Control: 0 Durability: 2
After today¡¯s session, Edge had a lead on how to condition his perception, and he knew the basics of how to improve most of the rest. Power could be increased by general strength training. Endurance and speed could both be improved by running, although sprints were better for speed and marathons for endurance. He could work on both at once by alternating his pace. Durability came from recovering from injuries, and reflex and control from taking dexterous actions in various settings. He wasn¡¯t sure what kind of training would work best to boost them, since such knowledge was valuable and a closely guarded secret on the feed. While he was mulling it over, Edge decided to start off by working on his power. He got down on the floor and started doing pushups, pleased that he was able to pump out a round sixty before he collapsed from exhaustion. Far more than he could have done before coming to Ord. He moved onto sit-ups, then crunches, ending the session with a set of back lifts. By the time he was done, he was sweating and shaking, so weak that he could barely rise from the floor. Wincing at the soreness encasing his body like a mantle of thorns, he decided to call it a day. When Edge went to drink some water, a stray thought crossed his mind. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. I¡¯m lucky that I can heal wounds so easily. It should make it easier to pick up some extra durability over time, just from surviving the fights ahead. That was when it hit him. Wait¡­ Regeneration should be able to heal the damage I take from intense exercise too. Muscles grow when they are broken down through use, then the fibers heal stronger and denser than before. Normally, it takes time for the torn tissue to repair itself before the process can be repeated. But Edge had a way to restore his muscles to prime condition within a matter of minutes, if he was willing to burn a little mana to boost their recovery. In short, he might be able to use regeneration to condition his body far faster than would normally be possible. He just had to wait long enough to catch his breath, and he could keep right on going, racking up days¡¯ worth of progress in a matter of hours. It seems sound in theory. Let¡¯s give it a shot. Edge turned on the skill, eager to see what would happen. Two minutes later, the pain in his limbs subsided and his strength began to return. With that, he got down on the floor, placed his hands shoulder-width apart, and began doing pushups again. Ten. Twenty. Around forty pushups, he was really feeling the burn, pleased to learn that he could do just as many this time around. Sixty. At sixty-five pushups, his arms gave out from under him, and his chest hit the floor with a thud. He moved on to his other exercises, coming to a stop when the last set was complete. Ok, that part worked. Now it¡¯s time to find out if my muscles are improving the same way they normally would after an intense workout. Edge repeated the process for the better part of three hours, reflecting on his adventures as his sweat dripped down to the tiles below. He soon fell into a meditative trance. His world was reduced to the pumping of his arms. The rise and fall of his breath. The warm tingle he felt when using his healing skill. Edge was drawn out of his reverie when a message from his Guide appeared in front of his face. He broke into a beaming smile as he pulled himself into a seated position, because it was exactly what he¡¯d been hoping to see. By conditioning your body, your power has increased by 1. He laughed out loud as he read the words, realizing that he¡¯d just condensed a week¡¯s worth of growth into a matter of hours. He was so excited that he wanted to dance. If this method was as promising as it seemed, he could max out his power in a matter of weeks. Months faster than everyone else on the planet. Encouraged by his success, he decided to devote at least a few hours every day to the practice. If Warren wound up coming for him after all, Edge would have a surprise in store for the manslayer. Several cycles worth of additional power. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t think of a comparable way to raise control or reflex by this rapid-healing technique. He would just have to train them the old-fashioned way. Maybe I¡¯m missing something obvious, I should try asking around. But speed and endurance were another matter. I¡¯ll work on them next. If I push myself hard running around town, they should be easy to raise. On that note, Edge took a cold shower and drank his fill. Then he dried himself off and made his way over to the public green. The green was set along the south side of the town square. It was a place where people could mingle and camp. Where the peace was kept by patrolling deputies, and you didn¡¯t have to watch your back quite so closely. Beasts were only allowed on one portion of the grass, and their owners were required to clean up after them or they would lose the privilege of using it. Since the mayor had decided to waive the overnight fee, the green held far more people than normal, mostly fresh tourists who were stranded by the anomaly. They sat on blankets surrounded by tents, tending small cookfires while talking to one another. None of that was why Edge was here. In addition to public restrooms and showers, the green had exercise equipment that anyone could use, including a track around it for people to jog. He made his way to the track and then started to run, taking it slow at first to warm himself up. Once he was ready, he began pushing himself hard, working up a sweat until his legs burned. Then he healed himself while catching his breath, drained his canteen, and kept right on going. He wasn¡¯t expecting to raise his endurance tonight, since he had conditioned it two points already. But speed was still on the table. On that note, he switched to wind sprints, jogging between each set while he cooled down, then regenerating his injuries and throwing himself back into motion again. Sunset came and went, and the magtech lanterns flickered on. Edge picked up a few spectators along the way, but at least his performance had an explanation that had nothing to do with his core. Just as he was about to give up for the night, the message he was hoping for appeared. By conditioning your body, your speed has increased by 1. Badass. Thrilled that he would be able to condition his body far faster than he¡¯d ever dreamed, Edge walked back to the Pioneer. He picked up his dinner on his way to his room and then called it a night, planning to push himself even harder tomorrow. Chapter 84: Rematch Edge woke up bright and early the next morning, eager to continue his training. After he ate breakfast and left the Pioneer, he stopped to make a purchase from one of the merchants standing beside the road. A woman who sold tubes of cream that reduced a person¡¯s odor, a simple alchemical concoction favored by monster and beast hunters alike. He worked it into his skin and under his arms, hoping that it would improve his odds of winning a few rounds of hide and seek. Alright, Riller. It¡¯s time for a rematch. Edge made it to Trapper¡¯s a few minutes before sunrise, reflecting on everything that he¡¯d learned the day before. Riller was already outside, carving away at a pile of wooden strips. It seemed that the man made his own arrows, which was bound to come in handy in the field. He said hello without looking up from his work, having sensed Edge well before he walked through the gate. When Riller was finished with the shaft he was carving, he put his supplies away and grabbed his pack. The men began walking out of town, heading the same way as before. Edge intended to beat the stealthy hunter at least once before the day was done, and he was ready to throw everything that he had into the effort. But first, he wanted to see if he could learn more about the man¡¯s unusual technique. This time, instead of simply following, Edge did his best to emulate Riller¡¯s movements as they walked through town in the hazy light of dawn. He paid close attention to the way that the hunter scanned the street ahead. The logic to where he place his feet and the underlying rhythm of his steps. Building on the insights he had gained yesterday, Edge didn¡¯t just place his attention inside his own body. He tried extending his awareness into his environment at the same time, moving with the world instead of merely through it. It must have made a difference. Most of the people on the street didn¡¯t notice the pair until they were right in front of them, resulting in a series of startled expressions and several soft curses. The guard at the gate didn¡¯t have any problem seeing them coming though, a powerfully built deputy that Edge didn¡¯t recognize. He tipped his hat and waved them through after exchanging a few soft-spoken words with Riller. After a few minutes on the road, it was clear that they were heading back to the same spot to pick up where they¡¯d left off. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. When they made it to the stones, Riller moved them deeper into the grove before they got to it, adding the element of the trunks to the boulders lining the ground. The shadows were thick below the canopy, especially at this time of day. Edge would have to rely less on his eyes and more on his other senses this time around. As an added twist, Riller closed his eyes and let Edge start off by finding the best place he could to hide. Then they began their game. The complex terrain made it easier to duck out of sight but harder to see what was coming. He tried his best to sense the other man¡¯s presence, although it felt like tracking a ghost. While he never caught Riller hiding, Edge managed to evade the hunter for several minutes on two separate occasions. Enough of an improvement to feel satisfied with the result. When Riller found him after the second session, he stopped to offer a rare word of advice. ¡°I think that you¡¯ve figured out the heart of it. How to watch the environment through the eyes of a predator as well as its prey. Keep observing the natural world and the creatures moving through it, and you should grow more proficient at both spotting and hiding.¡± He paused for a moment before finding the right words. ¡°Reducing your noise and the tracks you leave behind is something that can only be learned through experience. But now that you¡¯re aware of the need, you should continue to improve on your own. It was clever of you to mask your scent. It¡¯s a clear sign that you¡¯re expanding your thinking beyond what¡¯s in front of your face.¡± Riller must have been tracking me by scent after all. He¡¯s probably using each of his senses to some extent, even touch. Edge knew that many beasts could sense vibrations through the ground and other mediums, even without a specialized skill. They called it a day after breaking for lunch, a few hours earlier than yesterday. They bid each other farewell after making it back to town, leaving Edge a fair portion of the day to use as he chose. He didn¡¯t get another point of perception from the training session. But he had a hunch that if he kept practicing what Riller had taught him throughout the rest of the week, he would be able to gain another point soon. Before deciding what he wanted to do next, Edge spent a few minutes reflecting on what he¡¯d learned. Apparently, conditioning perception came from straining his senses to their limits. Focusing intently while clearing his mind. A practice that was sure to prove useful when hunting as well. He would continue to work on paying attention to what was actually there, instead of what he expected to see and hear. Learn to place himself into the mindsets of both predator and prey. While he was thinking it through, he went back to his room and engaged in a few hours of strength training. Then he spent another few hours jogging around the public green. He didn¡¯t gain any more conditioning points, although he sensed that he was getting close. In part because he didn¡¯t push himself quite as hard as the day before. The reason why was simple. He wanted to conserve a portion of his mana for training a different attribute instead. He¡¯d had another insight while his body was busy. It was time for Edge to start boosting his durability too. Chapter 85: Beatdown A few hours earlier, a realization had come to him. If Edge wanted to condition his durability, he didn¡¯t have to wait until he was injured in the field. He could train the attribute while he was safe behind the town¡¯s warded walls instead. All he had to do was let someone beat the shit out of him, then regenerate the punishment he received. Letting a beast wound him on purpose was an idiotic and borderline suicidal idea. But if Edge found someone he could trust, who was willing to bring the pain and back off when he¡¯d had enough, it might just be crazy enough to work. He doubted that most people would be disposed to knocking the stuffing out of him over and over again, but he did know one individual who probably wouldn¡¯t mind. Melania the deputy was known to enjoy a few rounds of bareknuckle boxing from time to time. The rumor was that she enjoyed hurting people a little too much. But in this situation, that tendency was more of an asset than a liability. If Edge was being honest with himself, he had some reservations about whether this plan was wise, and he wasn¡¯t looking forward to the pain. But after what he¡¯d already been through, he wasn¡¯t afraid of it either. It would be far better to take his licks now, than to receive a critical wound in the wild. A few points of durability could mean the difference between taking an injury that regeneration could heal and one that would cripple or kill him. In the end, he decided that he was willing to bleed some today to bleed less tomorrow. It¡¯s also a good chance to work on pain management. To learn how to keep thinking and moving when you¡¯re hurt, without letting the intense sensation overwhelm you. To not let the anticipation of suffering make you hesitate to go all in during a critical moment. After crossing the town square, he walked by the peacekeepers¡¯ headquarters to see if Mel was around. He didn¡¯t have her schedule memorized, but he thought that she was working the dayshift and got off around now. Sure enough, a few minutes after he entered the big brownstone building used by the Earl and his deputies, Edge found Mel clocking out for the day. She was surprised to see him and looked ready to head home. But when he explained what he was attempting and offered to throw a few thousand credits her way, she broke into a beaming grin that was honestly rather frightening. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant, Edge. I don¡¯t know of a way to learn regeneration or anything similar without a skill gem, or we would already be using the same method. You wouldn¡¯t mind letting me know how you got it, would you? If you teach me the requirements, I¡¯ll train you for free.¡± ¡°Sorry, Mel. My skill came from a gem that I found in a sealed chest. I have no idea how to acquire it without one. If it helps, there are bits and pieces on the plains that were brought here from elsewhere on the planet. The one I came across had some ruins inside. I didn¡¯t see any other chests. But I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there were other valuable finds scattered across the biome.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad. I wish that I had time to go treasure hunting. I can¡¯t leave town while things are so hectic. I doubt that many people will be venturing far from the settlement anytime soon, so maybe a few of us can make an excursion of it in a few weeks. On a more promising note, I have a method in mind that won¡¯t just condition your durability. It will help raise your reflex and control too.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. His ears pricked up at those words. While they talked, Mel led him through the building and into an open room that the guards used for training. It was a large space, with good lighting and a high ceiling. It had exercise equipment set along one wall and a boxing ring in the corner. He set down his pack, then they stepped into the ring. Edge¡¯s heart started racing as he steeled himself for what was coming. She put on a pair of thin leather gloves, then gave him a serious look. ¡°Before we try this, are you absolutely sure that you want me to do this? You have to promise that you won¡¯t get mad.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure and I promise. Now what did you have in mind¡­¡± Edge¡¯s words were cut off as Mel drove her fist into his stomach, hard enough to bruise his ribs and knock the wind out of him. He looked up in dawning realization, only to catch a punch square in the nose, breaking the bone and sending blood spraying out of both nostrils. He nearly fell before catching his balance, backing away to open some distance. It only bought him a heartbeat. The veteran guardswoman followed hot on his heels, laying into him with far too much enthusiasm. Her fists felt like leather-wrapped bricks, pulverizing tissue and cracking bones with every punch. Edge raised his hands and tried to fight back. Although he managed to take a few wild swings, he never had a chance. Over the next five minutes, he received one of the most savage beatdowns of his life. Certainly the most intense pounding that he¡¯d ever taken from someone who wasn¡¯t trying to kill him. At least, I think she isn¡¯t trying to kill me. Dark humor aside, he had the sense that each of Mel¡¯s attacks was carefully controlled and precisely aimed. That she was spreading the damage she dished out across his body, making sure not to knock him out or pulp any organs in the process. When Edge couldn¡¯t get up anymore, Melania handed him a pitcher of water. He drank half before pouring the rest over his head. ¡°Holy shit, Mel. Remind me never to piss you off. Give me minute to catch my breath and I¡¯ll be ready to go another round.¡± She waited for regeneration to heal the damage, then started laying into him again. Since he was getting the shit beat out of him already, he figured that he might as well try to learn a little of her technique in the process. Though he¡¯d taken some self-defense courses before leaving Earth, Edge had never boxed before. Although he supposed that this was probably considered kickboxing, since Mel was happy to use her knees, elbows, and feet. Until he had the basics down, he didn¡¯t bother trying to land another hit. He just did his best to get out of the way until he was out of mana and so exhausted that he could barely walk. When they stepped out of the ring and he pulled up his menus, a pair of notifications was waiting for him. By conditioning your body, your durability has increased by 1. By conditioning the connection between your body and brain, your reflex has increased by 1. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± He pumped his fist, shared his gains, then thanked Mel again for her time. ¡°Can we do this again sometime soon? I want to earn a few more points before I take Trapper¡¯s exam.¡± She seemed happy to be able to practice her technique without having to hold back her strength. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll even teach you a few moves if you¡¯re interested. We can develop your coordination along with your knowledge of the fundamentals. Since we know that this method is going to work after all, I¡¯ll charge you a thousand credits for each session.¡± Considering that Mel was helping him to condition three separate attributes and teach him the basics of hand-to-hand combat, the price was more than fair. He paid it gladly and arranged for several more sessions over the coming week. They said their farewells and Edge went back to his room, so exhausted that he fell right into bed and slept like the dead. Chapter 86: Jumo When Edge showed up at Trapper¡¯s lodge, Jumo was already in the yard. While he was waiting for Edge to arrive, the hunter had been working with Blue, taking the beast through a range of exercises. ¡°Good morning.¡± Jumo raised a hand in greeting. ¡°I¡¯ll be done soon. You should watch while you wait. I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ll find this educational.¡± With that, he turned his attention back to Blue. After observing for a few minutes, Edge realized that they were going through a series of combat drills. Jumo was calling out commands while pointing to a line of straw-stuffed dummies posted around the yard. He ordered the dino to use her offensive skills, thrust, charge, and gore, interspersed with signals to advance, fall back, change targets, or guard a certain location. It was Edge¡¯s first time watching a combat-trained beast at work, and he found the process fascinating. Blue had been too shocked by the death of Lucky to obey commands during the fight with the reavers, but it was clear that she was capable of far more than pulling a cart. Blue has some incredible power at her disposal, and her speed is impressive too. Splinters and straw went flying as the beast tore the targets to shreds without breaking a sweat. Then she trotted back over to bask in Jumo¡¯s praise. When they were done, he put Blue back in her pen, gave her some fruit as a treat, and then walked over to Edge¡¯s side. ¡°Thanks for waiting. She hasn¡¯t been the same since Lucky died. We¡¯re trying to spend more time with her to help get her back on her feet. They were with each other since they were pups, and it was a hard bond to lose.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Edge replied, taking a close look at his instructor for the next two days. Jumo was several inches taller than Edge, with broad shoulders and rippling muscles. His skin was tanned a deep bronze hue. He had hazel eyes and a nose that had been broken at least a couple of times. His head was clean shaven, and his body was covered in intricate tattoos in a style that Edge didn¡¯t recognize, which meant that the man probably wasn¡¯t from Earth. Unlike Riller, Jumo was cored, somewhere between early and mid stage-one. Every move that he made projected a palpable aura of strength. It was clear at a glance that he had devoted long hours to conditioning his body, on top of the points he¡¯d gained from cycling-up. He wasn¡¯t as fast or as nimble as Riller. But he was far more powerful and tough as nails, with enough durability to soak up considerable damage and the endurance to fight for far longer. Although everyone on Trapper¡¯s team could use a bow or crossbow, Jumo was a melee specialist. His role was to protect the party in case of an ambush, or to finish off prey if a hunt turned sour. Edge hoped to pick up some pointers from the man over the next forty-eight hours. Tips on how to fight against beasts up close. After they shook hands, Jumo went to grab his gear. He began strapping on his armor, which was formed from red chitin plates that must have come from some manner of giant insect. That material looks light and strong. I should consider having something similar made when I can afford it. Jumo¡¯s spear was carved from a dense, dark wood. It had to be incredibly tough, given the latticework of scratches that covered every inch of its shaft. Edge ran his eyes across the legacy of hundreds of fights, deeply impressed by what he saw. The tip was fashioned from sea-green ivory, harvested from some manner of beast that he wasn¡¯t familiar with. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. When Jumo was done, he turned to Edge and said, ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be training you on team tactics. Which is fine, and I will. But if it¡¯s all the same to you, I¡¯d like to use this opportunity to make some credits too. I need to buy some more gear before we head into the field next week.¡± ¡°That sounds good to me. I¡¯m in a similar position and I¡¯m happy to follow your lead.¡± ¡°Great. Let¡¯s take a cart with us today so that we can bring back our haul. We can take turns pulling it. I¡¯ll go first, since you haven¡¯t done it before. That way, you won¡¯t need to worry about bumping into anything while we make our way out of town.¡± Jumo tossed his weapon into the cart and stowed his pack, then gestured for Edge to do the same. He added his new backpack to the pile, glad to have the weight off his shoulders. Once their gear was secured, they began heading for the north gate. While they walked, they discussed potential targets. Jumo began listing beasts that lived within a few miles of town, along with various resources they could collect along the way. When he was done, he turned to Edge and said, ¡°We might as well take this opportunity to get to know each other better. To start with, what have you battled so far besides the reavers? Hopefully, we won¡¯t run into more monsters anytime soon.¡± ¡°I fought a weasel, a pair of nymphs, and a jobo so far. I ran into some buffalo out on the plains, but I¡¯m not crazy enough to mess with the herd.¡± ¡°Nymphs, eh?¡± Jumo¡¯s eyebrows went up. ¡°Nasty little shits. They¡¯re never alone and there¡¯s nothing worth selling on them unless you have alchemical training and can extract the parts while they¡¯re still fresh. Since you¡¯re already familiar with jobos, why don¡¯t we hunt one today? I know where an early stage-one male lives. I can teach you some tactics along the way, and we can split the profit for the kill.¡± ¡°I¡¯m good with that, lead the way.¡± With their target decided, they moved on to discussing their skills, attributes, and gear. Since he was the team¡¯s melee specialist, Jumo¡¯s skillset was designed to engage powerful beasts and deal with opponents that could take a beating. Jumo had a basic core, so he had more attributes than Edge but no ultimate ability. He was high in power, durability, and endurance, with a lesser emphasis on control. In addition to his spear, he carried a pair of nets and a brace of throwing knives in his kit. That way, he could always attack from range to at least some extent, increasing his strategic options. As far as skills went, Jumo had lunge to break through an enemy¡¯s guard or penetrate heavy armor. Rapid barrage was perfect for overwhelming agile opponents. Second wind was a passive ability that burned mana to remove fatigue, allowing him to stay at his best during a prolonged exchange. Rounding out his skillset was dash. It let the warrior reposition as needed. Take advantage of openings as they appeared in the fluid tide of battle or move to defend his team if they were threatened. It also gave him a head start if he was forced to flee from something nasty. Jumo told Edge that he was saving his fifth skill slot for a power that would either let him heal or deal with a swarm of small opponents. Edge shared the details of slash, elemental blade, and regeneration. He was keeping the existence of his other skills a secret for now, although he implied that shadow step was his ultimate. That it drained a lot of mana and could only be used once a day. Jumo nodded along until he was finished. ¡°Since you¡¯re still waiting on your new weapon, you¡¯ll be relying on your iceblade today. Try to target your prey¡¯s limbs, otherwise you will lower the value of the remains. But if you find yourself in a tight spot, don¡¯t hesitate to go all out. It¡¯s not worth risking your life for a few thousand credits.¡± ¡°Thanks, but I think that I can kill it cleanly this time around.¡± Apparently, Edge¡¯s word was all that the athletic hunter needed. ¡°That sounds great, man. I can¡¯t wait to see you in action.¡± Chapter 87: Teamwork For the next few miles, Edge took his turn pulling the cart. It was heavy and awkward dragging it behind him, but it wasn¡¯t too bad, all things considered. At least while it was empty. Walking with Jumo was a rather different experience from traveling with Riller. Jumo was open and friendly. Outgoing, without being pushy about it. It was obvious that he was curious about the details of how Edge had found his core and his skills, but he didn¡¯t press the issue. Instead, the man shared small things about himself. His favorite foods and funny stories of hunts gone wrong. In exchange, Edge told Jumo about waking up alone in the middle of the plains, realizing that he was stuck here for good. He glossed over the part where he had found Skill-Eater, telling the same story about a sealed chest that he had told everyone else. He went into more detail about surviving the living lightning and his fight with the nymphs later that day. By now, they were nearing the territory of the beast in question. After climbing to the top of a low hill to get a better view, Jumo turned to Edge and said, ¡°Trapper told me that this is your first time hunting as part of a team. Working with other people opens up all kinds of tactics and strategies that you can¡¯t use by yourself, some of which go all the way back to the dawn of human history.¡± Jumo gave Edge a minute to ponder his words before continuing. ¡°Before I make any suggestions, how would you use an extra hunter to set up this kill? Bear in mind, we don¡¯t have any traps or ranged attacks other than my throwing knives and nets.¡± Edge thought it through for a moment, then replied. ¡°In that case, I think that one of us should act as a diversion. Get the beast¡¯s attention and then lure it in to an ambush. Jobos are viciously territorial. If we can get it to chase one of us, we should be able to draw it over to where the other person is hiding. They can strike from its blind spot and land a heavy hit, ideally wounding its legs so that it can¡¯t leap and won¡¯t be able to charge. If things go wrong, we will need to watch out for whatever skills it has, especially its attacks. As far as I know, jobos can¡¯t learn any spells. No matter what happens, it should close the distance at that point. Then we can hit it with a net and finish it off while it¡¯s bound. That way, we won¡¯t ruin the hide, like you were saying earlier.¡± Jumo nodded along with Edge¡¯s words, and then said, ¡°That plan seems solid to me. I¡¯ll do the luring if you don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll put a knife in one leg to enrage it. It will be easier to keep my distance with dash that way, and the pain will make it less likely to notice you. I want to see what you¡¯re capable of, so I¡¯ll let you decide the location and details of the ambush. But before we get to that, we need to find our quarry first.¡± It took them the better part of two hours to locate the jobo, since the beast had a large territory. As the men made their way deeper into the grasslands, they stopped talking and tried not to draw attention to themselves. Edge took advantage of the opportunity to practice Riller¡¯s training, reducing his presence while putting himself in the hunter¡¯s mindset. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Jumo must have noticed what he was doing, because the man looked impressed even though he didn¡¯t say anything. When they finally sighted their target, they parked the cart under a tree and then stopped to take a closer look. The hunter pointed to a patch of short grass, where the jobo was chowing down on some manner of massive yellow tuber. ¡°That fellow is bigger than I remembered,¡± Jumo said. ¡°I was wrong about the stage. It¡¯s likely mid stage-one instead of early. There¡¯s a good chance that it has already learned a third skill. Since I¡¯m supposed to be training you, I feel like I should take a moment to point out the difference between a textbook hunt and what we¡¯re planning to do today. Trapper would tell you to watch the beast for at least a few hours before making a move. To do everything that you could to figure out its exact skillset before forming a plan and engaging. To prepare the field and then come at the creature from a position of strength. It¡¯s the smart play and definitely what I would recommend when fighting beasts that you don¡¯t know well.¡± At that point, Jumo looked at Edge and grinned. ¡°But since we¡¯re both familiar with the range of skills it¡¯s likely to have, I suggest that we skip all that and try our luck with the direct approach. If the fight doesn¡¯t seem to be going our way, let¡¯s hit it with a flashbang and then get the hell out instead. Let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t come to that, I could really use those credits.¡± Edge had been worried that he wouldn¡¯t get a chance to steal any skills today. But it seemed like it was going to happen after all. ¡°No problem. I feel the same way.¡± They spent a few minutes making sure that nothing else was nearby and getting the lay of the land. When they were done, Edge said, ¡°Why don¡¯t I hide in that patch of tall grass right there? You can hit the jobo with a knife to get its attention, then run it past me. I¡¯ll wait until I¡¯m beyond its field of view, then pop out and try to land a good hit with my iceblade. Once I impair its mobility, we can take it from there.¡± ¡°That sounds like a plan to me. Here¡¯s to our first hunt together, and hopefully many more to come.¡± With that, they bumped fists and Jumo went off to lure the burly beast. Edge worked his way into the dense grass as his adrenaline began to flow. Although the imminent battle was still a bit frightening, he found the prospect of fighting with an ally by his side to be deeply comforting. After disabling the jobo, I will need a few seconds alone with it to steal its skills. The grass should provide enough cover, especially while Jumo is heading in the other direction. That was all the time for thought that he had before an enraged scream broke over the grasslands, followed by the thudding of a heavy body leaping across the ground. It sounds like he got its attention, now it¡¯s time to do my part. With that, Edge turned on conceal and remained as still as possible, ready to strike the moment that his target was in range. He tuned out his racing heart and sweating palms. Ignored everything except for the sounds of pursuit growing closer by the second. Without further warning, the hunter emerged from behind a big bush and went dashing past Edge¡¯s position, feet moving so fast that it was hard to follow his movement. ¡°Get ready, it¡¯s coming!¡± Five seconds later, the jobo appeared, chasing Jumo with that bounding stride the species favored. Wait for it. A little longer. Now! Concept Art Lillian''s Mortium Exchange You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Jumo working out with his spear Soft white grass City Hall meeting room Chapter 88: Takedown Jumo went streaking past Edge¡¯s position, the furious jobo hot on his heels. The instant that the beast drew near, he made his move. Instead of combining slash and elemental blade, he decided to try out a combo using his new skill. It was a good opportunity to find out what double strike could do, since Jumo was running in the opposite direction and wouldn¡¯t be able to see him use it. Edge took aim and dropped conceal. He activated elemental blade and double strike at the same time, stepping into the blow as his reactor roared to life and mana went surging into his arms. His subzero sword emerged from his hands, then blurred before a second weapon appeared beside the first. Each bladed crystal radiated elemental might, cold enough to make him shiver. It turned out that the drain of unleashing this combination was huge, and it wasn¡¯t well-suited for repeated use. It wasn¡¯t a problem on this occasion, since Edge was planning to end the fight in a single blow. His attack wasn¡¯t as fast without slash, and it didn¡¯t hit quite as hard. But his iceblade didn¡¯t need the extra momentum to inflict considerable damage, thanks to its piercing chill. Half a heartbeat later, both frost-swords landed on target. They hit the beast¡¯s leading leg, right below Jumo¡¯s knife. At that point, Edge learned something interesting about his new combo. Doubling his elemental blade let the cold work twice as fast. Instead of just chilling the area near the point of impact, the strike frosted everything between the dual blades, freezing half the leg solid in the blink of an eye. The jobo screamed as his magic ran rampant throughout its tissue, turning muscle and blood to ice. Caught by surprise and overwhelmed by pain, it reflexively tried to leap away. A move that sealed its fate. With an incredible crack, the beast¡¯s leg shattered, broken into a dozen pieces from the power of its own skill. It hit the ground hard and went sprawling in the grass. It moaned and tried to crawl away, but it was dazed and in shock from losing the limb. Edge quickly walked over and conjured his iceblade again. He pressed the tip into the beast¡¯s throat, restricting the flow of blood to its brain. He turned off the skill when its movements grew weak, so that he didn¡¯t kill it too soon. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. He could already hear Jumo coming back and knew that he had to work fast. Before the man could see what was happening, he activated [Extraction]. When he found himself inside the beast¡¯s core, which looked a great deal like the spot where they had parked the cart, he saw three skills inside. One was combination strike. The second was tail lash at his best guess. He sent his intentions into his chains and stole leap. As soon as they threw the skill into his mouth, he began to chew, using his ultimate again the moment that he swallowed. When he found himself back in the jobo¡¯s core, the trees had lost their leaves, and all the grass was dead. There was a foul odor riding the breeze, and he was glad that he didn¡¯t have to stay here for long. He just needed to pick between the other two skills inside. Since Edge didn¡¯t have a tail, it was an easy decision to make. Go for combination strike. When he made his selection, his chains yanked the mismatched fists out of creature¡¯s core and tossed them between his gums. They tried to punch their way free, every other hit far stronger than the first. But the common skill couldn¡¯t break through his teeth, and it gave up the fight after a couple of chomps. While his jaws went to work, Edge looked down at his prey. Just like before, claiming a second skill had finished the beast off, unable to withstand the shock to its system. He didn¡¯t have time to appreciate the dual-layered flavor, because Jumo showed up a moment later, with a net in one hand and his spear in the other. When the hunter saw that the jobo was already dead, he lowered his weapon and began to laugh. ¡°Damn Edge, that was amazing. One of the cleanest kills that I¡¯ve ever seen. Riller said that you were a quick study, but you really have a knack for stealth. I will admit that I had my doubts when I saw you in there at first. But by the time I came back with the jobo, I couldn¡¯t sense your presence at all. For a second, I thought that you had bailed on me. I turned around when I heard it scream, but you were so fast that I didn¡¯t see you land the second blow.¡± He walked over to pat Edge on the back. ¡°Well done. We¡¯re going to rake in the creds with this haul. It¡¯s Trapper¡¯s call in the end, but it¡¯s clear to me that you have what it takes.¡± ¡°Thanks. I had a good teacher, and I couldn¡¯t have done it without you. Give me a second. I just cycled-up and need to spend my attribute points.¡± ¡°Oh shit. Me too. Looks like today is lucky for both of us.¡± While that was true, it wasn¡¯t his most pressing concern. Edge needed to see if leap had gained enough experience to rank-up, so that he could choose an upgrade before time ran out. When he checked in with his core, he could tell that it was close, but not quite there yet. With that out of the way, he did want to spend his points while he had the chance, since you never knew when the next fight would begin. Chapter 89: Variation While Edge thought the matter through, he opened his profile and read his updates. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [3]. You have three attribute points awaiting allocation. You have extracted the skill: Leap (common, rank 1). You already have this skill in your collection. Its power will be added to your existing skill. You have extracted the skill: Combination strike (common, rank 1). Would you like to slot combination strike now? When Edge confirmed the prompt, he had a vision of combination strike flowing over to join his skill-garden, and the new copy of leap merging with the original. Then he snapped back into his body, ready to make his decision. He was finally reaching his target range for generation and amplification. He still planned on investing in his energetic attributes more than anywhere else. But now he was ready to put a few points in other places again. All his options were good, but he wanted to start out by shoring up some weak points in his build. Given everything that had happened, Edge decided to place the first two points into reflex and control. It was where they would have the biggest effect, given the low values. Besides, he needed to improve his coordination if he wanted to learn how to fight. Having better reflexes would help him to get out of the way of attacks, reducing the drain of using regeneration so often. Additionally, his first fight with a jobo had taught him that part of using skills effectively was being able to react fast enough to use them at the right time. To be accurate enough to land the hit. So, the investment still made sense in the context of becoming a skills specialist. After sending his intentions to the System, Edge sat down and waited for the changes to play out. He grinned as the potentia went surging out of his core, and the transformative energy was converted into permanent enhancements to his body. As always, he was intensely curious to find out what improving the attributes would feel like. Each upgrade came with a unique sensation, some far more pleasant than others. This time around, his body began to tingle. He felt a bit twitchy, as the potentia rewired his nerves, making them faster and more responsive while simultaneously enhancing his fine motor control. After a long moment of consideration, Edge decided to put the final point into perception. Sharper senses would always be useful. Right now, the best way to avoid a fight that he couldn¡¯t win was to see his enemies coming before they saw him. It would also help him notice dangerous weather from further out, giving him more time to find cover. His close call with the living storm had stayed with him, and he was determined not to let something like that happen again. Now he just needed to adjust to the enhanced feedback that boosting his perception provided. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. It turned out that Jumo had split his points between perception and speed, so he was going through the same thing. During the process, the hunters spent a few more minutes congratulating each other. Then they rose to their feet and rolled up their sleeves. By this point, Edge had decided that he enjoyed Jumo¡¯s company. With any luck, they would form a true friendship over the days ahead, adding another entry to the short list of people he could trust¡­ at least with a part of the truth. He felt bad about hiding the existence of conceal and double strike. But he couldn¡¯t afford to let any clues slip that might let people figure out that there was something special about his core. Not with the insanely large bounty hanging over his head like an executioner¡¯s axe. Eventually, a situation would arise where Edge was forced to reveal another skill. But unless he showed six or more, nothing would seem out of the ordinary for someone at his stage. Not counting shadow step, which he had claimed was his ultimate ability. That being said, he couldn¡¯t explain away getting another new skill so quickly. The tale he had spun about finding two skill gems along with his core was already stretching it. Adding any more bloat to that lie would arouse some serious suspicion. Now that the changes that came from spending their points had finished taking place, the hunters moved on to retrieving their kill. They still needed to cart it back to town if they wanted to get paid. The longer they were out here, the more likely it became that they would attract the attention of something that wanted to claim the meat for itself. This time, Edge had only caused minimal damage to the jobo¡¯s pelt, although the shattered leg wasn¡¯t going to be salvageable. After a quick survey of the area, Jumo turned to him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s gut it, bleed it, and then hurry back and cash in our haul.¡± With that, the hunter pulled out a knife and slit the carcass¡¯s stomach. While Edge watched on with interest, Jumo removed the organs from that area, leaving them behind for the scavengers. When he was done, he reached into the cart and retrieved a thick rope and a series of pullies. After dragging the body over to the closest tree, which took considerable effort and the better part of ten minutes, he showed Edge how to create a harness and secure it to the remains. They looped the rope around several thick branches, positioned the pullies, and cut off the jobo¡¯s head. Then they pulled the torso up and let it bleed, recovering from the fight and subsequent labor in the shade. While they waited, Jumo imparted some basic techniques to use with a spear, both for fighting solo and as part of a formation. He showed Edge how to hold the weapon and what stance to take. Where to position the tip to keep an enemy from slipping past or dragging the spear out of his hands. Since a long spear was similar to the polearm he had ordered, Edge watched on with interest. Maybe when it¡¯s ready, I can start sparring with Jumo every now and again. When the blood stopped flowing, it was time to put the carcass into the wagon. Hanging it from the tree had the added benefit of making it easy to load, which would have been tricky without being able to lower the heavy body into the bed from above. Getting the cart back to town proved to be the day¡¯s greatest challenge. Even with both men pushing and pulling for all they were worth, it was a slow, grueling ordeal. But they kept on shoving, and it started rolling. It got a lot easier when they made it back to the road, and an hour later they stepped through the gate. After making sure that Jumo didn¡¯t have another vendor in mind, they headed over to Izzio¡¯s to make the sale. The butcher¡¯s eyes lit up when he walked out of his workshop and looked in the cart, impressed by the improvement since the last time Edge had stopped by. ¡°Well now. Another jobo. The whole thing this time. And that hide is in pristine condition.¡± The butcher finished his inspection, named his price, and they all shook hands to seal the deal. ¡°I can have your share of the profits ready in two or three days.¡± With that, Edge turned to Jumo and said, ¡°I¡¯d like to stay a while and learn a few tricks from Izzio, if you don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll push the cart back to Trapper¡¯s when I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Sounds good. Enjoy the rest of your day and I¡¯ll meet you back at the lodge in the morning.¡± After a final farewell, Jumo left to celebrate their success. He was already spending the creds in his mind, although they wouldn¡¯t collect them for another few days. When the hunter was gone, Edge followed the butcher into his workshop, eager to learn the art of the knife. Chapter 90: Knife When they were out of the sun, Izzio called for one of his employees who was working in the main building. A woman who had a refrigeration skill that could keep the jobo¡¯s carcass fresh until the butcher had time to take it apart. She walked out of the shop and then reached out to touch the remains. Mana conducted through her hands, and the meat began billowing with frost a few seconds later. ¡°She¡¯s a real lifesaver,¡± Izzio explained as the woman left to help some customers who had just arrived. ¡°That power lets me take on several big jobs at once, without spending a fortune on magtech freezers. Now pull up a chair and let¡¯s get started, daylight¡¯s burning.¡± With that, the butcher returned to his work in progress. He waved Edge over, then began laboring beside two of his apprentices, who were in the middle of carving up a pig the size of a small wagon. Edge was glad that the man didn¡¯t mind an audience. It was highly educational to observe a master of the craft in his element. Edge watched on as the team took the beast apart, limb by limb and joint by joint. Expertly separating muscle from bone, tendon from fat, organ from... whatever it was that held organs in place. Izzio stopped from time to time to explain what he was doing, showing which technique worked best with the part in question. After an hour, he stopped cutting and turned to face Edge. ¡°I think that will serve as an introduction. You won¡¯t learn nearly as much unless you try it yourself. There¡¯s plenty of work to go around, so why don¡¯t you join in for a while?¡± That was exactly what Edge had been hoping to hear. He washed his hands in the sink and walked over to Izzio¡¯s side. ¡°Grab a knife and let¡¯s get started. The first step is to get used to the experience of slicing flesh. The feeling of muscle parting before a knife. The texture, presence, and smell of it all. I¡¯ll give you something to work with, and you can do whatever comes naturally. Don¡¯t worry about messing it up, these parts are intended for stew and sausage anyway. Once you have some experience under your belt, I¡¯ll move you on to more difficult tasks.¡± With that, the butcher plopped a tall pile of meat onto a nearby table. Then he left Edge to it. He spent the next two hours slicing and dicing, trying to remember what little he knew of the process. He tried his best to cut along the grain. To separate muscle and fat from other types of tissue that weren¡¯t suitable for consumption. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Meanwhile, Izzio¡¯s crew continued butchering the pig in a frenzy of slicing and sawing. Cutting and chopping until only the skeleton remained. When he was done with the pile he¡¯d been given, Edge turned to Izzio and said, ¡°You were kind enough to give me this crash course, but I think I want to learn more. Is there any chance that I could help you out for a few hours a week, whenever I have time to spare? You could teach me my way around a knife as payment. I won¡¯t ask for anything else. I need to learn how to butcher and skin if I¡¯m going to make the most out of being a hunter. I¡¯ll work hard, without complaint.¡± The man sized him up for a long moment before replying. ¡°You seem sincere enough, and you¡¯re right about needing to know more. A hunter who can take his prey apart and preserve the best parts can make twice as much as one who doesn¡¯t. I¡¯m willing to give it a shot if you pull your weight. And while I¡¯ll happily take you up on the offer not to pay you, I¡¯ll feed you every day that you work.¡± After agreeing to Edge¡¯s request, Izzio offered him another piece of advice. ¡°At some point, I suggest that you make Talia the tanner the same pitch. I can teach you how to break down a beast, but not how to preserve its hide like she can. ¡°It won¡¯t matter when you¡¯re hunting near town and bringing your kills straight to me. But if you start ranging further out and need to preserve parts for longer, it will really pay off. High quality pelts and skins can boost your profits even further, which is why I always let her work her magic on my most expensive products before I carve up the rest.¡± The butcher¡¯s voice was full of enthusiasm as he warmed to the topic. ¡°Then, if you really want to round yourself out, see if you can get the alchemists to teach you the basics of their craft. Not the mixing and preparation of medicines and potions, but how to identify the best monster and beast parts and extract them in a way that maintains their value.¡± Edge nodded along until the man ran out of steam. ¡°Thanks. For the advice, and the education.¡± Izzio smiled and said that he wouldn¡¯t have time to get to the jobo until morning, but that Edge was welcome to join them for dinner. The offer made his stomach rumble. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not about to pass up a free meal. When he was done washing up, the butcher picked up the pile of pig he¡¯d been carving. Thick strips of marbled meat. He walked over to a magtech stove in the corner and then threw them into a pan, putting his tools away while the ham steaks fried. Soon, the air was filled with a mouthwatering aroma. When they were done cooking, Izzio handed Edge two thick pieces of crispy fried meat, which tasted every bit as good as they smelled. He thanked the butcher for the savory treat and then bid the man good night. While he was heading to the door, Edge¡¯s Guide appeared of its own accord. He rubbed his chin as he read the words on the screen. Well now. Isn¡¯t that interesting? Chapter 91: Gathering While he was at Izzio¡¯s, Edge had received a message from his Guide, along with everyone else in town. The Mayor had used her authority to let everybody know that a settlement-wide meeting was taking place tonight. It wasn¡¯t mandatory, but she said it was important, and had urged everyone who was available to show up. Edge debated whether he wanted to go. In the end, he decided that it was worth giving up an hour or two of conditioning to find out what was going on. Besides, it was a good opportunity to strengthen his relationships and improve his standing with the community. The meeting was being held on the public green. The only place in Puppet Town that could host its entire population. He made his way over and arrived a few minutes before sunset. He wanted to get there early to network and see if he could pick up any interesting rumors or leads. He could hear the murmur of the masses well before they came into view. The roar of thousands of excited voices talking at the same time. People were streaming down the streets, all headed in the same direction. It was the first time that Edge had felt crowded that he could remember. He rounded a final corner, and the green came into view, revealing a sea of bodies spread out along the grass. He hadn¡¯t seen so many people in the same place since arriving on Ord. It seemed that almost everyone in the settlement had come to see what information would be revealed, the cored and uncored alike. He cast his gaze across the gathering, taking in worried faces and people comforting one another. There was a huge bonfire blazing in the middle of the green, behind which a raised platform had been erected. The fire threw shifting patches of light and shadow across the crowd. That must be where Dialla is planning to give her address. He saw Ann speaking with Trapper and her crew, with Lilly standing awkwardly to one side. When she saw Edge looking, Lilly turned to him and winked before burying her nose in a book that she had brought with her. She was pretending to read by firelight, although he was sure that she had enough Perception to see in the dark. Earl and Mel were standing near the fire along with the rest of his deputies, except for the pair that were guarding the gates. Edge even saw the girl who had given him the apple. Although as usual, when he went to say hello, she was gone by the time he got there. The only person he didn¡¯t spot was Warren, although he had a hunch that the manslayer was somewhere within earshot, lurking in one shadow or another. After taking a lap around the track, trying to get a better sense of the mood, he walked over to stand beside Trapper, curious to find out what was about to happen. Not long after, the mayor stepped up to a microphone mounted to a podium. A simple magtech device that amplified her voice. ¡°Hello everybody. Thanks for coming. I think that everyone is here who is planning to show up. I¡¯ll get started now so that I don¡¯t waste any of your time. If you know anyone who couldn¡¯t make it tonight, please relay this information to them when you get a chance.¡± The crowd simmered down as people focused on Dialla¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m sure that the topic of our first official town meeting will come as a surprise to no one. We¡¯re here to discuss the disaster that has befallen Ord, and what our lives will look like moving forward. First and foremost, we¡¯re all here for the long haul. Our old bodies are dead and buried in the ground. These puppets are who we will be for the rest of our days.¡± Worried whispers broke out at this point, although no one voiced a complaint. It was something they all knew to be true, no matter how hard it was to accept. ¡°I know, it¡¯s a bitter pill to swallow. But we must look these hard truths square in the eye if we want to survive the changes that are occurring to our world alongside our bodies. As far as I can tell, the Prison World broadcasts have ceased. The feed has been completely cut off, along with all shipments to and from the planet. Hell, we haven¡¯t even been able to get in touch with the closest settlements, and all trade has ground to a halt. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°In short, we¡¯re stranded down here, and we will be on our own for the foreseeable future. Our old way of life, centered around puppet tourism, no longer makes sense. We aren¡¯t tourists piloting puppets any longer. We are castaways who must become settlers and survivors. Rugged individuals trying to carve out a place for ourselves on a magical planet that has become our new home, and all the dangers that come with it. ¡°Some major changes are coming to Puppet Town, and I¡¯m here to discuss them with you now. To start, no one will be denied a meal or a place to rest just because they don¡¯t have enough Credits to afford them. Our lives are now limited, valuable resources. We can¡¯t have people dying because they don¡¯t have a job or ran into a spell of bad luck.¡± At this point, Edge could hear relieved murmurs from the crowd, as the town¡¯s poorest members learned that they wouldn¡¯t starve or be forced outside the walls. ¡°That being said, we can¡¯t afford to have our residents preying upon each other. We¡¯re all in this together, and we won¡¯t survive unless we can work as a team. From this moment on, theft and assault will result in banishment from town.¡± Dialla¡¯s tone shifted from welcoming to harder than steel. ¡°Make no mistake. Murder and the like will see you swinging from the gallows. Earl and his deputies have been authorized to play the roles of judge, jury, and executioner. If you have a problem with that, or how he goes about his business, come see me and we will talk it out. ¡°Moving on, our supply, trade, and communication lines have all been disrupted. It could be weeks, months, or even years before we rebuild them, meaning that we need to be self-sufficient going forward. The economy will be shifting by the day as a result. For some of you, this won¡¯t make much difference in your day-to-day activities. For others, your old occupations will change radically, or may no longer exist at all.¡± Edge ran his eyes across the assembled masses, curious how they were taking the news. He saw fear and denial, but excitement too. Some people even seemed to relish the challenge ahead. Kindred spirits to himself. ¡°Monsters and mid-stage beasts are beginning to appear along the Ivory Plains. Some have already been sighted near town. I¡¯d like to tell you that this is as bad as it¡¯s going to get, but it¡¯s not. Not by a long shot. Our lives are going to grow more dangerous by the hour, and we need to be ready to face the coming storm before it breaks over our head. ¡°I recommend that you find someone to train you in a trade if you don¡¯t have one already, or you¡¯re going to be sleeping on the ground and eating bread. It¡¯s the best we can do for people who aren¡¯t pitching in. ¡°If you have fighting experience, consider joining up with the sheriff or one of the beast hunting crews. Maybe even the monster hunters if you savor the thrill of danger. There are also openings with the resource hunters, if you¡¯re willing to head beyond the walls, but aren¡¯t itching for a scrap.¡± Conversations broke out at this point, but the mayor spoke above them. ¡°Even if you¡¯re not up for those tasks, you need to learn how to defend yourselves before it¡¯s too late. A day might come sooner than you think when the barrier, wall, and turrets won¡¯t be enough to keep us safe.¡± The mutters rose on hearing those words, as people contemplated a future where they might have to fight with their lives on the line. ¡°That brings me to the final item on tonight¡¯s agenda. We¡¯re going to send out survey teams soon. We need to learn more about the changes occurring within the Ivory Plains and adjacent biomes, and reestablish contact with our neighbors. Parts of the System are down, including intra-settlement communication. But the core aspects seem to be working, minus a few odd glitches. ¡°That means you will still be able to activate skill gems, rank-up skills, and cycle-up your cores if you have one. With any luck, we will know more soon. I¡¯ll hold another meeting as soon as we learn anything concrete. Before we wrap things up, does anyone have any questions?¡± After answering a few inquiries from the audience, Dialla bid everyone good night. Most of the crowd dispersed and began heading home, although there were plenty of people who stayed, continuing their conversations in light of what had been revealed. Edge mingled for a while, making sure to say hello to everyone who he was trying to build a relationship with. Then he went back to his room to eat dinner and get in some strength training before he called it a night. Two hours and several thousand push-ups later, it happened. By conditioning your body, your Power has increased by 1. Edge collapsed, grinning while he waited for regeneration to heal the damage. Then he took a hot shower and passed the fuck out. Chapter 92: Sakura Sakura watched from the shadows as Warren followed Edge through the streets of Puppet Town, occasionally fingering the spellslinger at his hip. The manslayer was in a foul mood today¡ªa truth that was revealed in every crook of his posture. Some of Warren¡¯s irritation was due to simple bad luck. But the lion¡¯s share was the result of Sakura¡¯s diligent, daily efforts. While the bounty hunter stalked Edge, Sakura trailed Warren. She flitted across the rooftops, silent as a ghost, keeping an eye on the manslayer who was hunting the man she was trying to protect. The man with a unique core that had the power to change the world. Sakura didn¡¯t care about the world. She only cared about herself and the small group of people she called family and friends. Right now, Edge Vasher wasn¡¯t counted among them. But she hoped that one day soon, he would be. That they would form an alliance to their mutual benefit. While she wasn¡¯t willing to reveal her powers to him yet, she was doing everything that she could to give Edge a fighting chance. Starting with a tip on where to find a jobo that was on the verge of learning double strike. Edge¡¯s potential aside, Warren was a common enemy. One day, Sakura would turn around to find the manslayer standing behind her. A threat that would grow more likely by the day if they didn¡¯t put an end to him now. With the bounty he would earn for turning in Edge¡¯s core, Warren would become powerful enough that she couldn¡¯t hope to evade his notice, let alone stand against him. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason why she hoped that the scion of Skill-Eater would come out on top. Sakura had her eyes on the future too. Edge would grow more powerful at an incredible rate, assuming that he survived long enough to evolve to a higher stage and flesh out his collection of skills. Once he did, he would have the strength to protect her from the overwhelming danger that was coming in the days ahead. Sakura intended to make herself valuable enough that he would want to. She planned to keep him alive and forge a partnership that would benefit them both, along with everyone living in Puppet Town. Right now, that meant keeping Warren away from Edge for as long as possible, giving his powers time to mature. One day soon, the bounty hunter would decide to claim Edge¡¯s head. Even if he didn¡¯t discover the existence of Skill-Eater, he would inevitably reach the conclusion that the man was hiding something about the nature of his core. For a stone-cold killer like Warren, that would be reason enough to pull the trigger. When that day arrived, Sakura would make sure that Edge knew the manslayer was coming and do whatever she could to tip the scales in Edge¡¯s favor. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Today, that meant disrupting the skill-summoned drone that was following him, trailing the man from the sky. Then she needed to delay the bounty hunter before he figured out what was happening, buying Edge enough time to slip out of the gate unfollowed. She wouldn¡¯t be able to keep them apart for much longer. Every distraction carried the risk of revealing her presence. One way or another, the men were headed toward a showdown, and Sakura was dead certain that only one of them would be walking away. *** After eating breakfast downstairs and spending a few minutes chatting with Sam at the bar, Edge met Jumo in front of Trapper¡¯s lodge. They grabbed the cart and then made their way out of town, heading for the south gate this time. Since neither of them knew where to find another jobo, they decided to range out and hunt whatever they ran into along the way. However, fortune wasn¡¯t on their side today. The few beasts they spotted caught wind of their presence, darting to safety before the duo could close the distance. It left Edge feeling rather frustrated, but Jumo told him not to get discouraged. Some days were lucky, others were not. That was the life of a hunter. ¡°It sucks that we didn¡¯t bag a beast, but it doesn¡¯t mean that we¡¯re home emptyhanded. While it isn¡¯t as profitable as beast hunting unless you¡¯re an expert, a bit of resource hunting on the side is an easy way to score a few creds.¡± While expounding on his philosophy, Jumo walked with Edge to the boundary of the river lands sub-biome, where a type of herb grew that could be used to make medicinal poultices. Relieved that today wasn¡¯t going to be a total bust after all, Edge paid close attention while his teacher showed him what they were looking for. It was a broad-leafed plant that looked a bit like orange tobacco. To protect itself from grazing animals like buffalo, it grew hidden between tall tufts of bladed grass, which made harvesting it a painful chore. Since Edge could heal cuts by burning a bit of mana, Jumo did most of the foraging and let Edge handle the retrieval. He showed Edge how to sever the top of each plant without killing the roots, so that the leaves would grow back the next time that it rained. Over the next four hours, they sliced and diced, gradually filling the bed of the cart. The herbs had a pleasantly minty smell, and the work was honest if a bit tedious. He cut himself on a dozen different occasions, barely even noticing the pain before regeneration stitched him back up. The experience provided Edge with a grudging respect for the yellow grass that gave the Ivory Plains their name. He supposed that he could jump into a thicket if he was ever in danger, and let the bladed stalks deter whatever was chasing him. While they worked, they shared a bit about their pasts. Edge revealed how much he had hated his old life. How alone he had felt, with no one other than his mother to talk to. It was the first time that he had told anyone about it, and it felt good to get it off his chest. He learned that Jumo had been on Ord for nearly three years by this point. The hunter had been a mechanic in his prior existence, servicing models that were so old the AIs didn¡¯t bother to deal with them. Unlike Edge, Jumo had a large family, and the man had been supporting them with his royalties from the feed. He was worried about them, still grappling with the fact that he couldn¡¯t go back. But Jumo was trying to keep his chin up and his eyes on the horizon. Edge had to respect the courage it took to brave the dangers of the wilds when the hunter had so much to lose. They called it a day a little after noon and made the trip back in silence, each man lost in thoughts of their own. Concept Art The Ivory Plains Bigger Iceblade with higher Amplification If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Edge learning the art of the knife Bladed yellow grass Chapter 93: Absorb When they got back to town, Jumo led Edge over to a corner of the commercial district that he hadn¡¯t entered before. A fenced off section of the quarter where the settlement¡¯s alchemists brewed their concoctions and peddled their wares. After being waved through the inner gate by a cored guard, they parked the cart in front of a big stone building with two men standing out front. They inspected the herbs when Jumo waved them over, and after using some manner of skill to appraise their quality, weighed the haul and paid the hunters up front. The plants were only worth two thousand Credits for the lot, but it wasn¡¯t a bad profit for a half day of labor. On their way out, Edge took a closer look at his surroundings. Most of the structures in the alchemists¡¯ ward were built from stone, clay, and brick, to prevent fire from spreading in case one of their experiments ended in spectacular failure. There was a faint, acrid odor riding the breeze, alongside the smoke from dozens of fires. He only knew the basics of what went on here. Alchemy was even more skill intensive than other forms of crafting. Its practitioners used magic to draw out the innate powers of various substances, then shape them into a useful form. There was some chemistry involved in the process, along with several other magical sciences. Edge was more familiar with their wares. Their most famous products were various medicines, and potions that granted a temporary boost to attributes. But that was only the beginning of what they could do. The town¡¯s alchemists produced a vast range of substances. From mortar and cement that were far harder than the normal kind, to fuels that could create an intensely hot flame. Most forms of industry were reliant on at least some alchemical products. Their recipes were carefully guarded secrets, managed by a complex guild whose workings were a mystery to most outsiders. That must be the reason why their windows are heavily tinted, to keep anyone from looking inside. Edge realized that he could hear the hum of magtech privacy screens, preventing anyone from spying on the alchemists with skills either. He decided to come back when he had more Credits to his name, to see if some of their merchandise could round out his toolkit. But not just yet. He still needed to buy the rest of his core kit first, starting with that set of leather armor he¡¯d been admiring. The alchemists¡¯ ward wasn¡¯t a place that encouraged people to linger, and he didn¡¯t have a reason to do so today. On that note, there were at least a half dozen cored guards roaming inside the walls, and he felt their eyes on him the entire time he was there. After they pulled the wagon back to Trapper¡¯s, Jumo bid him farewell, giving Edge the rest of the day to himself. Now that he was done working, he planned to condition his body like crazy for the rest of the evening. To push himself as hard as he could until he ran out of mana to fuel regeneration. At the top of his list was another sparring session with Mel. But before he got to that, there was one thing that he wanted to do first. Try out Skill-Eater¡¯s absorption ability for the first time and see if he could give up combination strike in exchange for taking leap to rank-two. After [Extracting] a second copy of leap the day before, the skill was almost there. One small push should do it. Since they hadn¡¯t found another jobo today, Edge was ready to give absorption a shot. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. While a part of him wanted to hoard every skill that he came across, he knew that he was going to have to let go of less desirable powers if he wanted the others to grow. Other people could rank skills up through diligent training, but Edge¡¯s core offered an alternative path of advancement. He was planning to fill all eleven skill slots sooner rather than later, so he would have given up the skill at that point regardless. Over time, he would have to decide how many slots he wanted to fill with attack skills, and how many with defenses, passives, utility, knowledge, trade skills, and all the rest. Fortunately, he would pick up another seven slots when he evolved to stage-two, but that wasn¡¯t going to happen for a while. Since he only had so much mana to work with, three attack skills were plenty for now. Besides, combination strike only worked with his fists or dual wielding short weapons, neither of which were a good idea when hunting big beasts. Slash, elemental blade, and double strike were better suited to life as a hunter, and Edge was certain that he would be picking up a wide variety of attack skills during the days ahead. Combination strike was only a common skill, and he knew where to find it. It would be easy to steal again if he changed his mind. With that goal in mind, he returned to his room and opened his menus. Ok, let¡¯s give this a try. He sent his intentions into his core. Go ahead and Absorb combination strike. For a moment nothing happened. But then Skill-Eater began to stir. Edge was drawn into his central chamber as his reactor flickered to life of its own accord. He watched as combination strike was removed from its socket¡ªsomething that most cores couldn¡¯t do without spending Mortium or other equally expensive methods. There was a pull from his reactor, a sensation like wind blowing through his hair, then the pair of fists was drawn out of the skill garden and through the grate of his reactor. Into that infinite plane of fire beyond. There was a pulse of heat as the skill was consumed. A sensation of energy being released. Skill-Eater kept most of it, living up to its name. But a portion came back out and went flowing into leap, filling its cup with experience. It wasn¡¯t a lot compared to merging with a duplicate, but it was enough to trigger the change. A few seconds later, leap began to glow, ready to become something more. Edge grinned as a message from the System appeared in front of his face. The skill (leap) has advanced to rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Additionally, at rank 2 you may choose to upgrade the skill. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. Gain increased Perception while airborne.
  2. Gain increased Durability for ten seconds after using the skill.
  3. Increase the velocity and height of each jump.
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain as it is and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. Considering how much it hurt when he landed, and that he would already be leaping higher as the skill ranked-up, Edge decided to go with the second option. It should help his body to withstand the force of the impact and would have some utility in battle too. When he snapped back into his body, he took a quick trip outside the walls. He walked far enough away that he was sure no one else was nearby, then tried out his new and improved leap. Edge pressed his feet into the ground as mana surged into his legs. He jumped high, appreciating how the skill let him see further out, before coming back down with a thud. This time, he felt some mana flow back the other way and linger in his body, forming a protective layer. When he hit the ground, it didn¡¯t hurt at all. The extra Durability lasted for a while before the mana dispersed¡ªlong enough to get in one or two attacks. Not bad. That¡¯s a big improvement, especially with the increased mana efficiency. I should be able to use the skill freely now, without having to worry about breaking my own legs. Satisfied with his choice, he walked back into town and made his way to the guardhouse. Edge was ready to get the stuffing knocked out of him, condition his attributes, and learn a bit about boxing along the way. Chapter 94: Boxing Edge stepped into the guard station and waved to the deputies working in the lobby¡ªa pair of cored fighters whose names hadn¡¯t stuck in his head just yet. Then he made his way through the locker room and walked into the gym. Melania was already waiting for him while going through a series of drills. Her fists darted out in a blur, unleashing a sequence of lightning-fast jabs that were far more vicious than anything she¡¯d thrown his way¡­ yet. She followed up with a sweeping kick that transitioned into an uppercut, before darting away in a flash. Edge watched her warmup for a few more minutes before she waved him over. He said hello, took off his shirt and shoes, and then stepped into the ring. There wasn¡¯t any point staining the rest of his clothes with the sweat and blood he was certain to be covered in by the time that they were done. He took a deep breath, centered himself, and assumed his stance. Alright, Edge. Let¡¯s give this your best shot. Instead of charging right in this time, Mel stopped to take a long, lingering look at his body, nodding to herself while checking him out. He felt a bit self-conscious from the attention, but he didn¡¯t lower his guard. When she was done, she looked him in the eyes and said, ¡°You look amazing, Edge. This rate of progression is nothing short of incredible. I can actually see the changes taking place day by day. I¡¯m sure that other people have stumbled onto this method before. But I think you will wind up maxing out your conditioning points faster than anyone I¡¯ve ever heard of. ¡°If healing skills weren¡¯t so rare, and Doc¡¯s fees so expensive, I¡¯d try it out with our new recruits. A fresh batch volunteered to join us after the mayor¡¯s speech, but most of them are still as green as the sea.¡± He blushed at her intense scrutiny, then a bit more when she licked her lips. Mel let loose a throaty chuckle to show that she was teasing, then took mercy on him and got down to business. Maybe mercy is too strong a word, considering that she¡¯s about to beat the ever-living shit out of me. Right on cue, Mel came in fast and hard, raining endless blows upon him. Although she didn¡¯t stop punching until Edge couldn¡¯t get back up, she explained what she was doing this time around, so that he could learn more from the experience. While she was working him over, Mel went through the basics of stances and the mechanics of using your own body as a weapon. How to throw a punch and land a kick. When to use an elbow or knee instead. How to protect your vital points, and when to go in for the kill. Grappling was beyond the scope of their session, but it was still a solid education of the art of the brawl. Not so much the individual moves, which would take time to learn, but practical experience in fighting an opponent who knew what they were doing and intended to do him harm. Edge was sure that if he ever found himself in a fistfight, he would be far less intimidated by the prospect of pain or taking a blow. This time, he tried punching back whenever he saw an opening. Not because he had any hope of landing a hit, but because he wanted to work on his Control along with Durability. Combined with his largely futile efforts to dodge, he was sure that he was conditioning his Reflex too. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Sure enough, near the end of the session, the messages he was hoping for appeared. By conditioning the connection between your body and mind, your Control has increased by 1. By conditioning the connection between your body and mind, your Reflex has increased by 1. He had a hunch that another round or two would raise all three attributes, and he arranged for another hour of Mel¡¯s services sometime soon. She had to work harder to take me down this time. This method is really paying off. On his way out of the ring, she stopped him with a hand on the shoulder and said, ¡°One of these nights, you should come and have a few beers with us. Get to know Earl and the deputies better. It will be a good opportunity for you to develop relationships with the key players in town and have some fun along the way.¡± Although Edge would rather spend some quality time with Mel alone, he agreed to join them whenever he had time to spare. But it would have to wait until after he passed his exam. She collected her Credits and showed him where he could take a shower. Then Mel left him to get cleaned up, after one last catcall that had him blushing beet red. He was still getting used to the idea that most people would find him attractive, which had never really happened in his old life. Given the dynamics of the puppet system, casual relationships were common on Ord, something that he hadn¡¯t wrapped his head around just yet. When Edge stopped to look in the mirror, he realized that he did look better than before. There was a marked improvement since the last time he¡¯d examined his body. His torso was lean and toned, the contour of each muscle clearly defined. If he was back on Earth, he could have made a living as a model, which kind of blew his mind. It made him wonder how he would look when his conditioning was complete. Something to look forward to over the days ahead. He still had a few hours left before bedtime and some magicytes in his tank, so Edge decided to keep on going. He walked over to the green and started running on the track. This time, he focused exclusively on wind sprints, trying to push his body into picking up another point of Speed. Sure enough, by the time he was ready to call it a night, it happened. By conditioning your body, your Speed has increased by 1. Hell yes! He came to a staggering stop, fighting for breath, as his exhaustion went to war with the endorphins from his run and the euphoria that always came from watching the numbers go up. After draining his canteen, he pulled up the conditioning menu to check his progress to date. Physical conditioning (Attribute points may be conditioned up to five points each)
Power: 2 Reflex: 2 Endurance: 2 Perception: 1
Speed: 2 Control: 1 Durability: 3
Encouraged by his best day of training so far, Edge went back to his room and fell asleep with a smile on his face. Chapter 95: Tracking When Edge made it to the lodge and stepped through the gate, he found Trapper and Sasha standing out front. The women had their bows out. They were taking shots at straw dummies and playing fetch with Blue while waiting for him to show up. Before he could say anything, Sasha set down her weapon and walked over to him with an appraising gleam in her eye. ¡°Wow Edge, you look great. Even better than before.¡± Sasha¡¯s cheeks reddened when she realized what she¡¯d said. But she didn¡¯t correct herself and met his gaze head on. Trapper joined them after throwing a stick all the way over to the far end of the yard, trying to keep Blue busy for at least a few seconds. The crew¡¯s leader had him turn in a circle, occasionally prodding his muscles with her fingertips. ¡°Sasha¡¯s right, even if her opinion is a bit biased in your favor. You look a lot stronger than when we first met¡ªlike a real hunter instead of a fresh tourist. You¡¯re conditioning your body at an incredible rate, faster than anyone else I know. I wish that we had a regeneration trainer in town or knew the conditions to unlock it. Although from what I¡¯ve heard, it¡¯s only available from a skill gem.¡± Edge forced himself not to back up when the women stepped even closer, running their eyes across ever inch of his body. They took pity on him a few heartbeats later, chuckling at his expression. He laughed along with them, enjoying the attention, even if his reaction to it left something to be desired. It¡¯s not my fault. Until I came to Ord, I hadn¡¯t been around anyone other than my mother in years. Especially not two beautiful women at the same time. Trapper opened her mouth to say something. Before she could get a word out, Sasha cut in. ¡°You¡¯re mine for the next two days, Edge. Wait, that didn¡¯t come out right.¡± She blushed again, then kept right on going. ¡°I mean it¡¯s my turn to whip you into shape. No, that sounds even worse.¡± ¡°You might want to stop while you¡¯re behind,¡± Trapper replied. Edge had the sense that she was trying as hard as she could not to burst into laughter as she looked at each of them in turn, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eyes. ¡°Well then. I¡¯ll leave you to it. Try not to get distracted, Sasha. This is important.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll teach him everything that I can in the little time we have. I¡¯ll do it right. I promise.¡± With that, Trapper went inside, shaking her head at the folly of youth with a wicked grin on her face. When they took a seat on the bench to discuss their time together, Blue came over for scritches, nuzzling his hand until he complied. While Edge pet the big blue beast, Sasha went into teaching mode. Her demeanor changed in an instant. She lost her awkwardness and stopped staring, her tone all business as she let him know what she had planned. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°My specialty is tracking, although I¡¯m learning trapping from the boss too. The two disciplines are intimately connected. You can¡¯t place a trap unless you know where your prey will pass through. Or better yet, where it eats, shits, or sleeps. I¡¯m not going to teach you how to build or bait traps during basic training. That¡¯s an advanced subject we can talk about another time. Instead, we¡¯ll begin with the tracking side of things.¡± Edge nodded along, eager to learn some techniques that were certain to come in handy sooner rather than later. ¡°I¡¯m going to show you how to identify the habits of your quarry. I¡¯ll have you start off by learning how to spot a trail. It¡¯s the place where everything begins. Once you¡¯re able to follow the tracks of your prey, you can learn where they live. Where they hunt and forage, burrow or nest. Once you locate their habitat, you can observe them directly. Study how they move through the biome. How they respond to the presence of a predator or prey. ¡°Predicting the behavior of your target is the essence of hunting. Today, we¡¯ll see if you have what it takes to pin down something that you haven¡¯t seen before. We¡¯re going to stalk river rats. A type of beast that is notoriously difficult to spot, not to mention delicious. We¡¯ll start by heading into their territory. Then we will look for a likely place, find some tracks, and follow them back to the nest. Then we can either kill our prey while its sleeping or set up an ambush.¡± Edge¡¯s ears pricked up when she told him their target. That sounds just like the beast I stole conceal from. Maybe I can pick up another copy while we¡¯re out. ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, we will make a decent pile of creds on the side. I¡¯ll also do my best to teach you how to move without advertising your presence to everything in the area. Not so much moving silently, since that¡¯s Riller¡¯s forte. Rather, concealing your tracks, masking your scent, and disturbing your surroundings as little as possible as you pass through the area.¡± With that, Sasha rose from the bench and motioned for him to follow. While they walked down the road leading out of town, Edge took a good look at his partner for the next two days. He decided that he was rather looking forward to spending some time together with no one else around. Sasha was tall and lean, with an athletic build that revealed a serious effort to condition her body since she had arrived on Ord. She had lustrous strawberry blond hair, usually tied up with clips. He took in her piercing green eyes, freckled nose, and long, shapely legs. Instead of her wooden armor, she was wearing something better suited to hunting small game. A set of green leathers that looked comparable to the set that he was planning to buy from the Consortium, although the material had been harvested from a different beast. Edge had already known that Sasha was cute. But now that she was wearing something less cumbersome, and not covered in the grime of battle, her appearance was striking. He had to stop himself from staring at the curve of her hips, along with quite a few other pleasantly contoured parts. He would have felt awkward about the situation if she didn¡¯t keep stealing glances his way too. Every time that he looked away in fact. It made their interaction almost like a game, to the extent that he was having fun with it rather than becoming embarrassed. Eventually, they compromised, looking ahead while walking side by side, close enough that their fingertips occasionally brushed against each other. Edge didn¡¯t overthink it and just went with the flow, looking forward to what the day would bring. Chapter 96: Rat Now that he was done admiring her appearance, Edge ran his eyes across Sasha¡¯s gear, curious to see what she was taking into the field today. He started off by examining her weapons and armor. The hunter was carrying a long spear that doubled as a walking stick. A short bow was strapped to her back, along with a pair of quivers filled with arrows. On her left arm, Sasha wore a new shield made from what turned out to be diamondback leather. When she noticed that he was checking out her equipment instead of her body, she told him about her new armor. ¡°After getting my ass handed to me during the fight with the shadowreavers, I decided to upgrade my shield to something with better resistance to slashes and thrusts.¡± After Sasha went through the rest of her kit, Edge told her about everything that he had on him, then they moved onto another topic. ¡°Before we head outside the walls, I should tell you about my skills, all of which are rank-two. I have flame imbuement, which lets me add a fiery aura to any of my weapons, including arrows or even my fists. Whenever I land a solid hit, the magic will spread onto my opponent, burning them until the mana runs dry or they manage to put it out. ¡°Next is shield bash, which I might eventually replace, once I fill my other slots. It creates a shockwave at the point of impact. It¡¯s good for forcing an enemy back, knocking them off balance, or stunning them if I get in a solid smack to the head. And then I have this.¡± Sasha¡¯s core ignited and her words abruptly cut off. Edge couldn¡¯t hear her speaking, although her lips never stopped moving. I can¡¯t hear myself either. He could still make out the town in the background, but not the hundred small sounds of his body in motion that he normally filtered out without thinking about it. She deactivated the skill and turned to look at him. ¡°Unlike a lot of stealth skills, I can use silent step while moving, without increasing the drain. The range is only as far as you¡¯re standing from me. If I knock something over, you¡¯re still going to hear it. But not the sound of my footsteps, breathing, or heartbeat. It also lets me fire off arrows without the twang revealing my position. It¡¯s useful when stalking prey and helps me hide from anything that I¡¯d rather not tangle with.¡± Edge asked a few follow-up questions, paying close attention to her replies. Then he let her know about the skills that he had revealed to the crew so far, wrapping things up as they stepped through the southern gate. ¡°Like I mentioned earlier, today we¡¯re hunting river rats, which use a different kind of stealth.¡± Sasha went into detail as they started walking down the trade road. ¡°They are almost impossible to spot with their skill on, unless you¡¯re a Perception specialist or are packing some manner of counter. Their meat is tasty, and their hides sell well for beasts of their size. The rats are a perfect target for today¡¯s lesson, since you won¡¯t be able to catch them unless you can track them to their dens first. I¡¯m hoping that you can bag a few today, but either way, I¡¯ll show you how to cook small game over a campfire. Which is something that every hunter needs to learn.¡± Once they made it to the tall grass, they stopped talking so that they could focus on their surroundings. Their battle with the reavers had taken place near here, and the close call was still fresh in their minds. Besides, with the danger on the plains growing by the hour, they couldn¡¯t afford to lower their guard once they were beyond the turrets¡¯ range. But on this occasion, fortune smiled upon them. They made it through the grasslands without encountering anything more menacing than a ground squirrel. It made for a pleasant change of pace, especially considering the company he kept. It was a gorgeous morning. The sun was shining bright in the azure sky, and the breeze carried the heat away. A perfect day to get to know a new friend better. After they passed through a final patch of grass, the river stretched out before their eyes. As they entered the wetlands, they stayed far enough away from the water that they didn¡¯t have to worry about the skills of the aquatic predators lurking below. Now that they had arrived at their destination, Sasha began teaching Edge about her specialty. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Tracks can take countless forms besides the classic footprint. Dung, feathers, and hair. Cropped grass and territorial markings are all tracks too. Anything that reveals the existence of a creature passing by and the direction it was heading. ¡°Locating tracks is an integral part of hunting. A lot of the time, you won¡¯t be able to spot a beast unless you already know where to look. Even when you¡¯re certain that they¡¯re somewhere nearby, finding something that¡¯s trying to hide in its native habitat can be challenging.¡± He nodded along with her words, committing everything to memory so that he could ponder it later. ¡°It becomes even more complicated when it¡¯s a creature that you¡¯re not familiar with. But reading the signs that something leaves behind can mean the difference between life and death. Not to mention going home with a full cart versus emptyhanded. Some types of terrain will reveal far more than others. That¡¯s why I¡¯ll teach you how to anticipate where your prey will leave tracks based on trails, water, and available food. ¡°Which brings us to the final topic of today¡¯s lesson. One of the benefits to understanding the traces that living creatures leave as they move through the world is learning how to reduce your own signature. To make it harder for beasts, monsters, and jailbirds to notice that you passed through an area, and tougher for them to home in on your exact location even if they do.¡± Edge listened intently as Sasha continued to explain. While he already had an advantage in this area thanks to conceal, leaving less behind to begin with would only increase the skill¡¯s usefulness. ¡°The first step is the most obvious and the most important. Watch where you step. You will always want to walk in places where you won¡¯t leave a clear print on the ground. But that¡¯s only the beginning. You need to be acutely aware of everything that you touch in passing, as well as anything that might drop off your body. ¡°Scuffed soil, a bent stalk, a broken branch. Any one of these doesn¡¯t mean much. But two or more, heading in the same direction? You¡¯ve just given away your heading. Some skills can track a target from a single hair or drop of sweat, and there isn¡¯t much that you can do about it at your stage. But everything else can be reduced or eliminated, including your heat signature and scent.¡± Sasha wound down a few minutes later. ¡°That¡¯s enough explaining for now. It¡¯s time to flip the lens and apply the same logic to tracking your prey. I¡¯ll give a single clue to get you started. See if you can follow the trail without any additional help.¡± She pointed to a series of tracks in the mud, which belonged to a beast not much bigger than a standard Earth rat. They only went on for a few feet before the creature had moved to drier ground. Edge bent down to take a closer look, memorizing the prints¡¯ shape so that he could recognize them later. Those tracks aren¡¯t enough to work with. There should be something else I can use. He swept his gaze across the region, looking for anything that the beast had left behind. Eventually, he spotted a small oblong pellet. That must be one of its droppings. Sasha broke into a beaming smile when he found it, then she backed up to give him room to work. He tried looking at her to see if her gaze would give anything away. She had clearly anticipated the move and was already staring straight at him. Sasha stuck out her tongue before turning the other way, leaving Edge to track his quarry by his own instincts. *** Edge came to a stop where the tracks disappeared, then pointed to a nest hidden by thick brush. Sasha raised her bow, took aim, and put an arrow right in the spot he had indicated. When the missile landed with a hearty thunk, a beast let out a shrill scream and expired a few seconds later. When it died, the mana powering its skill dissipated, revealing the form of a river rat transfixed by the shaft. As they went to collect the carcass, Sasha turned to him and said, ¡°That makes five in four hours. You¡¯re really starting to get the hang of this. I can tell that you already put several points into Perception. But you have solid instincts for placing yourself into the mindset of your prey too. You¡¯re quite good at finding and following tracks, at least for a complete beginner. A few months in the field and you should have the makings of a true tracker.¡± ¡°Thanks, you¡¯re a fantastic teacher.¡± They were both getting hungry by this point, so they decided to break for lunch. As she had promised, Sasha lit a small fire and showed Edge how to cook the rat. She removed its skin and guts, then skewered it with a sharpened stick to grill the rest over the open flame. When the meat was golden brown, she cut it in half and handed it to him. His eyes went wide as he took his first bite. As she had promised, the river rat was delicious, especially considering that she hadn¡¯t added any spices. When they were done with their meal, she smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s all the time we have for today. I have another appointment in town. We can either head back together, or you can keep practicing on your own.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll spend a few more hours out here integrating everything that you taught me. Thanks for today, Sasha. I really appreciate it.¡± ¡°No problem, Edge. I had fun too. I¡¯ll see you in the morning and we can pick up where we left off.¡± They shook hands before splitting the rest of their kills. With that, Sasha began walking back to town. After watching her go until the grass obscured her figure, he wiped the grin off his face, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work. While he did want to practice what he¡¯d learned while it was still fresh, he had another reason why he wanted to stay. As he had hoped, the river rats were the same beasts that he had stolen conceal from while being chased by the reavers. Edge was going to hunt enough of them to take the skill to rank-two before he called it a day. Chapter 97: Conceal Edge walked along the wide swath of open ground bordering the river, keeping one eye on the water and one on the land. After being ambushed by the shadowreavers not far from where he stood, being in this sub-biome made him nervous. But he had a compelling reason not to give into his fear¡ªupgrading one of his most valuable skills. Besides, he wasn¡¯t the same person he had been only a few short days ago. If Edge ran into something nasty out here, he should be able to handle it. He took one last look around, then turned his attention to the task at hand. After his lesson from Sasha, he was certain that there were plenty of river rats residing in the region. Before he was forced to head back to town by the setting sun, he intended to hunt at least three of the stealthy beasts and max out [Extraction] for the day. On that note, he soon spotted another trail¡ªa long line of prints in the mud leading toward a towering bush covered in fat purple berries. The tracks cut off well before entering the foliage, but it was enough to point him in the right direction. As he followed the markings to their source, Edge ate a few berries while pondering the nature of his prey. Although many beasts grew larger and more powerful to survive the dangers of Ord, there were plenty of smaller creatures too. Beasts who used the planet¡¯s magic to persist in other ways, such as hiding, running, or flying away. Critters who specialized in deception, Speed, or stealth, instead of bulging muscles or deadly attacks. Carnivores were more prevalent on Ord than most inhabitable planets, but there were still countless herbivores and scavengers filling other niches in the ecosystem. Though there were numerous species of giant insects, especially out on the frontier, ones the size that Edge was used to from Earth still pollinated the plants, and tiny worms helped form the soil. While plenty of small critters could punch above their weight class, the beast he was hunting was relatively harmless. River rats were omnivorous scavengers that kept themselves alive by remaining undetected. Given the nature of conceal, he wouldn¡¯t be able to rely on his senses to bag his quarry. Edge would have to use his head instead, combining what he¡¯d learned from Sasha with what he¡¯d discovered from using the skill himself. Although he didn¡¯t have a bow to finish them off, the rats couldn¡¯t move with conceal active, at least not at rank-one. They would freeze in place when they sensed him drawing near instead of trying to run, relying on their power to remain hidden. If he didn¡¯t give away his intentions and struck without warning, he could land a hit before they knew what was happening. On that note, he came to a stop and scanned the bush in front of him, looking for the creature¡¯s den. After a few minutes of observation, he spotted a nest made of loose sticks and leaves. It looked empty at a glance, but Edge was certain that its owner had already noticed his arrival and activated its skill. He stepped closer without looking at the nest again, trying not to tip his hand that he¡¯d managed to home in on his quarry. Once he was standing beside the beast¡¯s hiding spot, he raised his foot and brought it down hard. While the crude technique might fail five times out of ten, it was good enough for today. When he slammed his boot down, instead of meeting empty air, there was a squishy crunch, followed by a squeal of pain. The instant that the rat lost focus, it dropped conceal, and its furry form wavered into existence. Stunned and suffering from organ damage, it was helpless to resist his chains. Edge activated [Extraction] and sent the living links slithering into the creature¡¯s chest. They wormed their way into its flesh before entering the core beyond. In what was becoming a familiar experience by this point, he found himself standing inside the creature¡¯s core. Since the beast was early stage-one, it only had a single skill, the one that he¡¯d come to steal. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. His chains swept the core¡¯s interior until they made contact, then wrapped tight around something that was nearly invisible. All he could see was a faint patch of distorted air, like air rising from a hot stone. The skill was helpless to resist as they pulled it out and tossed it into his mouth. Just like the last time, he couldn¡¯t feel conceal on his tongue at all. Sorry. That¡¯s not going to work. He closed his lips tight and kept right on chewing. Eventually, his teeth connected with something solid, reducing the skill to goo in a single bite. The taste was so faint that he could barely appreciate it. Just a hint of an impression of small spaces that appeared empty to the eye. When he swallowed and the skill entered his core, a message from the System appeared. You have Extracted the skill: Conceal (common, rank 1). You already have this skill in your collection. Its experience will be added to your existing skill. Without further fanfare, the new skill flowed across his garden to merge with its twin, filling its cup about a third of the way to the brim. Good, that¡¯s just enough experience to make this work. Edge judged that if he [Extracted] two more copies today, it would be sufficient to let conceal advance to rank-two. On that note, he spotted another trail that was visible from where he stood. He followed it to a hollow below the root of a tree¡ªa narrow enclosure that was just big enough for a rat to fit. Then he raised his boot and got ready to repeat the whole process again. *** Two hours later, Edge found his third victim. After stunning it and activating [Extraction], he found himself standing inside the river rat¡¯s core. He noticed that even when a beast¡¯s core revealed the same environment, there were subtle differences. The first rat¡¯s inner world had featured the riverside more prominently. The second was filled with a sunny patch of grass, and the third was covered in bushes laden with ripe berries. He wondered if these images represented the creatures¡¯ homes, or perhaps their favorite places. He was curious why there was such a stark difference between the inner worlds of beasts and men. Not to mention his own unique situation. Lacking any way to solve the riddle at present, Edge shrugged, returned to his body, and started to chew. As he had hoped, when he finished eating his third copy of conceal, it was enough to advance its rank. After he was drawn inside his core, the skill began to glow, and an update from his Guide appeared. The skill (conceal) has advanced to rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. When you activate conceal, the last 25 feet of your trail (scent, tracks, & heat signature) will be erased. Choosing this option will give conceal an up-front mana cost in addition to the drain while it¡¯s active.
  2. You can move slowly while concealed without losing its protection. The mana drain while moving will be significantly higher than while stationary.
  3. You may extend the effect of conceal to another person if you are touching them. This will double the drain of keeping the skill active.
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain as it is and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. He pondered the matter for a while before coming to a decision. In the end, Edge chose option one. Erasing his trail would be a major upgrade, preventing enemies from homing in on his location using conventional means, even if they suspected that he was nearby. It would let him hide on short notice, making conceal far more effective when setting up an ambush or attempting a quick escape. The movement option had been tempting too. But he could already use shadow step to reposition without drawing attention to himself if he was willing to spend the mana. After he confirmed his choice, the skill began to change, momentarily becoming visible. When Edge took a closer look, he realized that it was a tiny version of himself, hiding in a patch of grass. As he watched, conceal became transparent once more. It soon reached the point where he couldn¡¯t spot it at all, even when he was staring right at it. The only reason he could tell that it was still in his skill garden at all was his energetic connection to it. A bond that let him feel his powers like they were living extensions of his own body. That was when he realized that he had another update awaiting his perusal. By conditioning the connection between your body and brain, your Perception has increased by 1. Awesome. What a perfect way to wrap up a hunt. Immensely satisfied with his upgrade, Edge snapped back into his skin and continued about his day. He collected the river rat¡¯s remains, then decided that it was time to head back to town and cash in his haul. Concept Art Hunting with Sasha River rats Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Boxing with Mel Chapter 98: Fun While he was still several miles away from Puppet Town, Edge took advantage of his privacy to do something that he couldn¡¯t do within the walls. It was finally time to get in some training with the skills that he was keeping hidden for now. He needed to become more familiar with his powers, so that he could use them effectively in battle. He was getting to know regeneration, elemental blade, and slash fairly well by this point, but the rest of his abilities were still relatively new to him. Edge needed to develop a better sense of what each of his skills could do. Try them out in a range of situations and test out a few ideas that he¡¯d been wondering about. After taking a long look around to make sure that he wasn¡¯t being observed, he started off with entangle. He began casting the spell on random animals he passed by, getting a feel for the timing and speed of his vines. He soon found out that they were too slow to catch anything by themselves, at least without a plan. On a brighter note, after paying the cost to manifest the skill, he could keep the vines going for only small drain to his mana. A loss that he barely even noticed after the recent improvements to his Generation. He also learned that the tendrils were more than happy to wrap around a stationary target, like a boulder or tree. It might offer some utility as a stabilizing force in certain situations. When Edge tried entangling himself, he discovered that he could control how tightly the tendrils gripped him. He could use the skill as an anchor if something ever tried to drag him away. With shadow step, there was also an upfront cost followed by a constant drain, which meant that it was more efficient to use it in one long stretch than in several short bursts. After burning through a quarter of his tank flitting amongst the tall grass, Edge moved on to his next skill. He was pleased to learn that the upfront cost of using conceal wasn¡¯t too bad. Unfortunately, its drain was too high to use the skill for a prolonged period, at least at his current stage. It also took about a second to reach its full effect. Anything that watched him disappear would probably be able to figure out that he was still there. A limitation that he would keep in mind when he tried using it in battle. When Edge deliberately left some tracks in the mud and then activated the skill, he watched on in delight as the marks erased themselves. The dents in the ground filled back in, all in the blink of an eye. The stalks that he broke in passing didn¡¯t grow back, but they rearranged themselves so that the damage no longer looked recent. He was thrilled to see that the changes remained when he deactivated the skill. This is really going to come in handy. After keeping conceal running for several minutes straight, animals began to appear¡ªcreatures that normally hid as he moved through the area. He watched several small critters pass by so close that he could have reached out and touched them before moving on. Last but not least, came leap and double strike. Now that it didn¡¯t hurt to land, Edge soon discovered that leaping across the grasslands was really fucking fun. The skill didn¡¯t just give him vertical height, it also let him move faster than he could run. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. If he leapt several times in a row, he could really get going. He soon reached the point where he was afraid of a nasty crash, even with the bonus Durability the skill granted and regeneration standing by to pick up the pieces. The downside was that jumping around revealed his position to anything in the area. It would also leave him vulnerable to ranged attacks, since he couldn¡¯t change his trajectory midflight. But if he was fighting in melee against a beast on the ground, it would let him rapidly reposition, providing a means of evasion as well as an emergency retreat. As an experiment, he tried whipping out his knife and double striking on the way back down. Edge was happy to learn that it didn¡¯t count as a skill combo, even with leap¡¯s secondary effect still active. But he was going to have to put in a hell of a lot more practice if he wanted to turn the move into a viable attack. He came to a stop after one last jump. By now, he was panting for breath and as low on mana as he was comfortable being out in the wild. It was at this point that Edge realized he had a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. Using his powers, just for the sheer joy of it, was an incredible experience. It really drove home the fact that he was standing on an alien world, able to use the magic that he had always dreamed of. What a great day. He picked up his kills and started walking back to town. I really needed that. When he took his haul by Izzio¡¯s shop, the butcher gave him an impromptu lesson in dressing smaller game. The most interesting part was how to remove their hides. It was a bit like peeling off a sock. The technique left an intact sleeve that could be used to make a variety of products. Since the man could sell the hides and the meat in his shop without having to barter at the market, he went ahead and paid Edge up front, without charging him extra this time. On top of that, Izzio had finished selling the jobo parts that Edge and Jumo had brought in, and he had the creds waiting for them to collect. After shaking hands, they both summoned their Guides to initiate a credit transfer. Edge walked away with another six thousand, seven hundred sixty Credits in his account, which wasn¡¯t a bad bonus for a rewarding day of skill hunting. Not to mention a free lunch in the company of a delightful woman. Now that he had enough Credits that he could explain away, he decided that it was time to make a major purchase that he¡¯d been looking forward to for several days now. He made his way over to the store run by the Crafters¡¯ Consortium and said hello to Bee. While she was helping another customer, Edge walked over to the racks of armor, running his fingertips across the various materials. He took in the textures of chitin and leather. Steel plate, chain, and silk. There were even a few pieces made from exotic substances, like seashell and what felt like some manner of incredibly dense rubber. When Bee came over, he pointed to the suit he was considering. The one made from a rugged blue leather she had shown Edge the last time he stopped by. While he thought the matter over, she told him about the armor, going into more detail this time. He listened to her pitch while trying it on. The first set was a little small, but she had another in the back that was just the right size. The hue was so deep that it was nearly black, and although it was waterproof, it didn¡¯t reflect much light back. It wouldn¡¯t give away his position, and seemed decently tough, especially compared to his own tender flesh. It consisted of a pair of pants and a long-sleeved jacket, with a high collar that could be zipped up to guard his neck. The skill-treated leather wouldn¡¯t stop a powerful penetrative attack. But it would reduce the incidental damage he took from tooth and claw, while distributing the force of blunt attacks over a wider area. Using regeneration wasn¡¯t cheap, and Edge wanted to have more mana available for his other skills if it came down to a brawl. After a bit of haggling, he got Bee to throw in a firestarter for the original price she¡¯d quoted. It was a basic magtech model, which would work for hundreds of lights before needing to be refueled. Five thousand Credits well spent. Satisfied with the purchase, Edge ate dinner in the common room of the Pioneer. He spent an hour chatting with Rita and Sam, then went up to his room for a few hours of conditioning before passing out. He fell asleep dreaming of Sasha, snoring away with a smile on his face. Chapter 99: Close Edge followed Sasha through the endless expanse of grass. He kept his eyes on his surroundings through sheer effort of will, trying not to get lost in the way that her hips tapered to form her pert, perfect ass. The curve of her breasts visible through the contour of her armor. So far, she had only caught him looking twice. Instead of the rebuke he¡¯d been expecting, Sasha hadn¡¯t said a word. She just smiled, shook her head, and kept on walking. Most puppet bodies were attractive, especially once they started conditioning their physical attributes. But Sasha was just Edge¡¯s type, in personality as well as proportion. The dusting of freckles scattered across her nose, riding below those striking emerald eyes, did wonders for his morale. The possibility that she felt the same way only encouraged his hormones. The fact that he was in a body that was physically in its early twenties only made things worse¡ªor better, depending on your perspective. Edge shook his head, amused by his attraction, then forced himself to return his attention to the task at hand. It was dangerous out here and getting to know each other better would be off the table if they both wound up in a monster¡¯s belly. Besides, he needed to pay attention if he wanted to rake in some Credits and pick up another skill. Sasha had chosen something completely different for today¡¯s lesson. They were in the middle of tracking a pack of mud puppies, following the beasts¡¯ trail from their watering hole to their nest. Instead of being specialized in stealth, these amphibians were built for agility and speed. Edge wouldn¡¯t be walking up and kicking them this time. She had told him earlier that, ¡°They move across the grass so fast that you can¡¯t keep them in sight. You¡¯ll have to rely on other means if you want to find where they sleep and take them out.¡± I wonder what the best way to kill them is. Sasha might get one or two with her bow if she can catch them napping, but maybe there¡¯s a way to down the whole pack instead. He thought the matter through carefully, considering and discarding a half dozen plans out of hand. As he walked, he took in the sensation of his new armor wrapped around his body. It was comforting to know that there was something substantial standing between his skin and a world filled with teeth and claws. It was a bit warm beneath the sunlight, but thanks to his recent improvements to Durability, it didn¡¯t bother him at all. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the border of the tall grass. Ahead was a field full of flowers¡ªpalm-wide blossoms in electric shades of crimson and violet. They filled the air with magicyte-infused pollen, rippling across the ground in waves of glowing perfume. It was a gorgeous and otherworldly display. One of the most beautiful things that Edge had ever seen, or smelled for that matter. They stood there for a long while, simply taking it in. Enjoying the pleasure of each other¡¯s company and the natural splendor of Ord. Not long after, he saw the tip of a tail scurrying between the flowers. Then a second and a third. They were all heading in the same direction¡ªa massive tree with sprawling roots over on the far side of the clearing. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. That must be the mudpuppies¡¯ nest. Edge took one step out of the foliage, opening his mouth to reveal what he¡¯d found¡­ when Sasha grabbed him by the hand and pulled him down into a patch of thick grass. ¡°Be quiet and don¡¯t move a muscle,¡± she breathed into his ear. Her voice was so soft that he could barely hear the words, even though her lips brushed against his earlobe. The warmth of her breath against his skin sent a shiver down his spine that had nothing to do with the threat he assumed they were under. For a second, he¡¯d thought that something else was happening. But then he saw the fear in her eyes. Realized that she had activated silent step the moment she¡¯d issued her warning. Focus, Edge. Sasha¡¯s an experienced hunter and she isn¡¯t messing around. Even if you can¡¯t see it, there¡¯s something out there. Something dangerous. He froze in place, casting his senses into his environment. Trusting her judgment even though they didn¡¯t know each other well. He was ready to draw his knife and start using skills, but he needed to understand what they were dealing with before he made a move. Everything became clear a few seconds later, when a giant boar stepped out of the overgrowth a hundred feet ahead. It was a powerful beast, likely late stage-one, with brisling fur and long, jagged horns. It began enthusiastically devouring the flowers, showing no sign that it had noticed their presence. While it was a nasty customer, Edge was certain that he could take it. He idly wondered what skills it had, and how he might slip away to steal one. But then he realized that Sasha wasn¡¯t even looking its way. That her gaze was riveted on a patch of grass closer to the tree. As it happened, it wasn¡¯t the pig that had the hunter wide-eyed with fear after all. It was the immense cat that was stalking it. He had no clue that the beast was there until it struck in flash of tawny fur. A display of stealth that put his fledgling efforts to shame. While Edge noticed the attack a bare instant before it landed, the boar never saw it coming. One second, the pig was chewing away without a care in the world. The next, a feline the size of an Earth rhinoceros went streaking through the air before landing on its back. The big cat wrapped its furry arms around its prey, tearing into its neck with razored claws and dagger jaws. The boar took two staggering steps, blood pumping out from the ruins of its throat, before it collapsed to the ground. It remained trapped beneath the powerful feline¡¯s weight until it grew too weak to struggle, then bled out a handful of heartbeats later. ¡°Stone lion,¡± Sasha breathed into Edge¡¯s ear after deactivating silent step. ¡°Likely mid stage-two. What an incredible hunter. It didn¡¯t even use a skill.¡± She stepped out of the grass and slowly rose to her feet. ¡°It should be safe now. Those lions don¡¯t kill for sport, and the pig is more than enough meat to fill its belly. If there were any other predators in the area, they¡¯re long gone now. We¡¯re lucky that it found the boar before it found us.¡± Sasha rubbed her chin and frowned. ¡°Stone lions live in an adjacent biome. They don¡¯t usually cross into the plains, since there aren¡¯t enough ambient magicytes here to support their cores for long. Something must have driven it out of its territory for it to range this far.¡± ¡°Something stronger than that?¡± Edge rose to his feet, heart pounding for a blend of reasons that he couldn¡¯t even begin to separate in that moment. ¡°The bordering biomes have bigger beasts, some late stage-two or even early stage-three. But since the surface of Ord has been rearranged, there could be anything out there. With the old currents of magic disrupted, the plains will soon have more magicytes flowing across them. It means stronger beasts will migrate here before long, and likely monsters too. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here. Those mudpuppies will have scattered to the wind by now. We can try hunting something else a bit closer to town. Wait till we tell Trapper. She will be jealous that she didn¡¯t get to see the lion herself.¡± As the duo turned to leave, the great cat raised its head to look straight at them. Edge took one last glance at the majestic beast as it bent down to eat¡­ a heartbeat before a thirty-foot tongue materialized from thin air and struck in a flash. Chapter 100: Tongue The rubbery pink appendage lashed out in the blink of an eye, wrapping around the stone lion and binding it tight. The cat¡¯s torso turned gray a fraction of a second later, flesh shifting to solid rock to protect its organs from the crushing embrace. The cat¡¯s defensive skill kept it from being slain in an instant, but it wasn¡¯t enough to save it. Although it screamed, and struggled, and bit at the tongue, it couldn¡¯t get away. That was when Edge saw what the other end was connected to¡ªa chameleonlike beast that was sixty feet long and as wide as a whale. His breath came fast and shallow as an electric tsunami of adrenaline surged into his veins. He froze in place as he took in the sight of the biggest predator that he¡¯d ever seen. Its leathery skin was a patchwork of mossy green and pale yellow, and its bulging eyes seemed to look in every direction at once. Spikes the size of scimitars jutted out from the end of its tail, and its claws were heavy enough to tear trees apart. Although they were formidable threats, the true danger of the beast didn¡¯t come from its impressive natural weaponry. It was so stealthy that the stone lion, a master of the art of ambush, never even knew it was there. Not to mention the other skills it was packing. It was focused on devouring the big cat for now. But Edge was certain that if the giant lizard caught wind of their presence, it would end them before they could hope to get away. That they¡¯d be dead the moment it struck. He had a handful of heartbeats to come up with a plan, or they were both going to die. We need to do something that will confuse our trail, then hide until it leaves the area. We can¡¯t possibly outfight or outrun it. Even if we sprint the whole way, it will catch us long before we make it back to town. He wracked his brain as they turned to flee. It was a perilous situation that was growing more deadly with every second that passed. When he looked over his shoulder, he realized that they had even less time than he¡¯d thought. The beast was a fast eater. The massive lion was already disappearing down the colossal lizard¡¯s gullet, the tip of its tail sliding into its mouth like a string of spaghetti. The last thing that Edge saw before his vision was obscured by grass was the deadly reptile staring straight at them with predatory intent, sniffing at the breeze flowing over the field. Shit. It already has our scent. In another minute or two tops, it¡¯s coming for us. I might have had a chance of getting away if Overdrive was ready to go, but it still has a day on the cooldown. ¡°Sasha. Do you know what that is? Anything that might help us escape?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. His question pulled her out of flight or fight mode. She looked at Edge with eyes wide with fear, then mastered her terror and answered. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that it¡¯s a padamas¡ªa creature native to Ord. I never thought that I would see one with my own eyes.¡± She took a deep breath and focused as they rushed to open some distance, granting them another few seconds of life. ¡°It has decent eyesight and hearing, along with an incredibly powerful sense of smell. That¡¯s all I know, except that it can attack with its tail along with its tongue. This is bad, Edge. What are we going to do? We can try to hide, but silent step isn¡¯t going to cut it.¡± ¡°It already knows we¡¯re here. We need to find something that we can use as shelter. Otherwise, it¡¯s going to take us out with that tongue before we can try anything else. Once we¡¯re behind something solid, we can come up with a plan to help us wait it out or drive it away.¡± ¡°That big tree is the only thing in the area. We¡¯ll have to crawl into the mudpuppies¡¯ den and pray that it¡¯s deep enough to shield us.¡± While Sasha led him through the grass, Edge kept right on thinking. He already knew that this wasn¡¯t going to work, but it would buy them a moment to search for a solution. They made it to the base of the tree thirty seconds later, an immense trunk that was at least twenty feet across. Sasha guided him beneath one of the larger roots, which led to an enclosed space that continued below the soil. There was a trio of mudpuppies cowering in one corner, but they were too frightened to object to the hunters¡¯ intrusion. By now, Edge was certain that the padamas was headed their way. He could feel the ground shaking with every step that it took. Hear it sniffing at the air as it followed their scents to the tree. Since we¡¯re already cornered, it must have decided that it doesn¡¯t need to ambush us. It¡¯s taking the direct approach instead. As soon as it reaches the end of our trail, it¡¯s going to tear away the roots with its claws and drag us out with its tongue. By now, he had calmed down enough to come up with a plan. He didn¡¯t know if it was going to work, but it was the only chance they had. I need to reduce our presence before it arrives. Confuse it enough that it stops to take a closer look. I can use conceal, but it won¡¯t work on Sasha. What can I do that will lure it in? Think fast Edge, it¡¯s going to be here in a couple of seconds. Maybe conceal will have some effect if part of her body is covered by mine. With no time left to ponder the matter, Edge wrapped his arms around Sasha, enveloping her as completely as he could. She looked up at him in with a question in her eyes but didn¡¯t pull away. When he activated conceal, Sasha seemed to understand what was happening. She pressed her body against his, letting their limbs intertwine. A sensation that would have been extremely pleasant under almost any other circumstances. Right now, Edge was too scared to appreciate it. Sasha turned on silent step, adding her skill¡¯s power to his own. Conceal had erased his presence, and hopefully helped to mask hers too. But it was a half measure at best. It might delay the inevitable, but he suspected that the lizard had enough Perception to pierce his ruse. Hopefully not until it gets close. His thoughts were interrupted by a thunderous crack. Dirt and splinters rained down as a big piece of the root overhead was ripped away, revealing the padamas in its full, fell glory. Before Edge had time to react, its tongue shot out, streaking into the den like a bolt of pink lightning. Chapter 101: Intense In that moment, Edge thought they were dead. But the lizard¡¯s tongue slammed into the opposite side of the enclosure, pulling away a heartbeat later. When the elastic appendage retracted, two of the mudpuppies were stuck to one side, bound by some manner of sticky fluid. The next time that its head appears, it¡¯s coming for us. A crystalline clarity came over him now that the decisive moment had arrived. Edge had one chance to turn this around. If he messed up or his plan fell through, he would have to break free using [Overdrive] and leave Sasha to her fate. He couldn¡¯t kill something that big in 30 seconds, even with unlimited use of his powers, and he would be dead meat the moment that the exhaustion hit him. He would fight for every second no matter what happened, but even if he managed to get away, he was certain that the padamas would catch him. It was too big to outrun, and its powers far outranked his own. In short, if this didn¡¯t work, they were both going to die. With no time left to second guess himself, Edge didn¡¯t hesitate. His hand shot down to his new toolbelt, immensely glad that he had let Bee talk him into buying it. That he had practiced reaching for the various pockets until the motion was natural. He flicked his thumb and opened the pouch that had his stink bomb inside. Then he pulled it out and got ready to throw, without looking away from the gaping hole in the roof. Edge turned his body so that his arm was in position and waited for his target to appear. He could hear the beast chewing, pulverizing the mudpuppies between its jaws. The snap of shattering bones accompanied by a wet smack, followed by a hearty gulp. It¡¯s coming back for us now. I hope that our skills confused it enough that it pokes its head inside. On that note, he could hear its massive snout sniffing at the air, drawing closer and closer. Wait for it. Wait. The tension was unbearable, but he didn¡¯t lose focus. Then a gigantic eye appeared, trying to locate the prey that the beast had trouble sensing, its mouth half open to taste the breeze. Now! He twisted the top off the silver device and tossed it straight at the lizard¡¯s head. Edge pinched his nostrils shut without looking away, his prayers riding beside the metallic bomb. Time seemed to slow down when the object took flight, as he waited to see if his story was over or had only just begun. When the shell hit the padamas¡¯s snout, it shattered, releasing a bright yellow liquid that rained to the ground. Its odor washed over him half a heartbeat later. Even holding his nose, it was the worst thing that Edge had ever smelled. A foul, cloying scent like rotten eggs and sour milk but a hundred times stronger. He had to fight not to retch as he stared at the padamas looming above him, uncertain what would happen next. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The beast had been moments away from striking, jaws cracked open as it took a huge whiff. Trying to figure out why their scent had grown weaker. As a result, it got some of the fluid in its mouth, and even more stuck to the side of its head. The effect was immediate. The lizard began gagging and whining, rubbing its face on the ground and fighting for breath. It cast its head around, trying one last time to find them before fleeing from the horrible stench. The instant that it did, the last mudpuppy made a break for it, disappearing into the grass in a flash. It¡¯s going to head for water to wash off the fluid before it does anything else. With any luck, its sense of smell will be impaired for a while. Hopefully, it won¡¯t be able to track us before we make it back to town. That was when Edge realized that his body was still wrapped around Sasha¡¯s. That their faces were so close that their noses were touching. Their eyes met and she stepped away, cheeks flushed as she reached up to pinch her nostrils shut. Sasha took a deep breath, which she must have been holding the whole time. Then she turned to him and said, ¡°Holy shit. That was intense. The beast. That smell. All of it. That was quick thinking Edge, even if we¡¯re going to reek for hours. Thank you. But where did you get that skill? You didn¡¯t mention it before.¡± Edge had been thinking about what he would say if he was forced to reveal another skill for days by this point, and he had an answer ready to go. ¡°I traded the Mortium I got for fighting the reavers for a skill gem. There is a lifecoin exchange in town, but please keep that info to yourself. I¡¯ve been trying to keep the skill a secret, since Warren threatened me the other day. I don¡¯t want to do anything else to attract his attention.¡± It turned out that Trapper¡¯s crew already knew about Lilly¡¯s exchange. ¡°Given that insane bounty for unusual cores, I can see why he¡¯s keeping an eye on anyone who¡¯s been advancing faster than normal. I won¡¯t tell anyone, but when you think it¡¯s safe, you should let Trapper know about conceal. You can trust her, and that¡¯s a fantastic skill for a hunter to have. It should make you even more attractive than you already are.¡± She walked over and gave him a quick hug. ¡°That¡¯s twice you¡¯ve saved my life now. I¡¯ll have to find some way to thank you. Let¡¯s get the fuck out of here. That thing is still out there.¡± They crawled out of the den and then ran for their lives, racing across the grasslands. To their immense relief, they made it back to town without running into anything else that wanted to eat them. Better still, Edge hadn¡¯t caught any sign that the giant lizard was headed their way. Although that didn¡¯t mean much, considering the nature of its skills. When they walked through the gate, they reported what had happened to the deputy on duty. He went darting off as fast as he could, letting the sheriff know that a giant stage-two predator had migrated onto the plains. With that, Sasha and Edge bid each other farewell. He was eager to get cleaned up and decompress from his close brush with death. Once he made it to the Pioneer, he let Sam know about the padamas, so that the man could start warning his customers and help spread the word. When Edge stepped into his room, he found a note under his door, informing him that his custom weapon was ready to be picked up at the Forge. After taking a long shower and hanging his armor to air out by the open window, he decided to distract himself from the stressful encounter by checking out his brand-new polearm. Chapter 102: Naginata Edge walked into the Forge with a spring in his step, so excited that he was dancing from one foot to the other every few paces. Every hour that had passed since he¡¯d commissioned the weapon had felt like an eternity. At long last, the wait was finally over. He¡¯d spent hours imagining how awesome it would feel to hold the polearm in his hands. How great it would be to be able to inflict serious damage from further out, beyond the reach of rending claws and snapping jaws. No matter how the weapon turned out, it was guaranteed to be a considerable upgrade from the claw¡¯s original form, which had cut his own hands nearly as badly as his enemy. But Edge had chosen the Forge due to its reputation for excellence. He had high hopes that the crafters had given the project their all and come up with something truly special. One of the apprentices saw him coming and went running into the back. Not long after, Ander the smith walked out, carrying a cloth-wrapped bundle between his callused palms. Through the top, Edge could see a scabbard peeking out, and from the bottom, a length of wood so black that the word hardly did it justice. Ander untied the cord holding the bundle together, then unwrapped it with a flourish, pride in his work clear in every crook of his posture. Edge grinned from ear to ear as he took in the weapon cradled in the smith¡¯s hands. The scabbard was made from yellow leather¡ªsome manner of serpent judging by the texture of the scales. The patterning was beautiful, the finish left dull instead of polished. Sunlight shining on it wouldn¡¯t give away his position, and the color would blend in with most environments. The shaft was thick and looked sturdy enough to block a heavy blow. The densely spiraling grains were gorgeous, accentuated by a series of decorative etchings that ran all the way down its length. There was more leather wrapped around where his hands would go to improve his grip, and a metal cap on the end that could be planted into the ground. Ander set the polearm down on the counter with an air of reverence, slapping at Edge¡¯s hands when he reached out to grab it. ¡°Don¡¯t spoil the moment, lad. Although I can¡¯t blame you for being excited. This is one of the best pieces we¡¯ve made in years. A modified naginata. Can¡¯t beat the classics. The shaft is a little over three feet by default, and the blade is two and a half. She¡¯s as sharp as a breath of winter air and as beautiful as she is deadly. ¡°Go on now. Bare the blade. Gently.¡± At the smith¡¯s urging, Edge reached forward and removed the scabbard. It slid off the end of the naginata, accompanied by a ringing hum. He let out an appreciative whistle as he ran his eyes across the jet-black blade, taking in the elegant contour of his new weapon. After working the reaver¡¯s claw over with various skills, the crafters had altered the shape and drawn out the material¡¯s latent properties, making the keratin harder and less brittle. The curve had been modified to maximize the pressure along the cutting edge, while leaving the tip straight enough to allow for a powerful thrust. He had the sense that the midnight blade was sharper and denser than before. That it wouldn¡¯t break unless he subjected it to incredible force. This is good enough to take out most beasts, even without a skill. Edge picked up the shaft, relishing the weight of the weapon in his hands. The aura of lethality that the blade radiated. The balance was perfect, and the polearm felt natural in his arms. When he assumed a battle stance and imagined taking a swing, a shiver ran down his spine, like someone had walked over his grave. This was a killing tool, ideal for facing big game in the field. It was a weapon deserving of fear and respect, and he was proud to call it his own. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± Edge¡¯s eyes drank in the sight of his new naginata. ¡°It¡¯s better than beautiful.¡± The smith let out rumbling laugh. ¡°It¡¯s bloody fucking perfect.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more.¡± ¡°Wise words lad, but you haven¡¯t seen the best part.¡± At Ander¡¯s urging, he handed the weapon back over. When the smith reached down to touch a bit of engraving that Edge had thought was ornamental, something incredible happened. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Before his disbelieving eyes, the wooden shaft shrank, collapsing from three feet to one within a matter of seconds. When Ander stroked it again, it grew, not coming to a stop until the black pole was over five feet long. ¡°One of our members just took her modification skill to rank-four. Combine it with some rare wood that we had imported from the frontier before the calamity, and you have an adjustable shaft. It will always work best at its natural length, but you can shrink it to make it easy to carry or extend it if you need to increase your reach. I should have charged you twice the price for the labor, but it was just too much fun not to give it our all.¡± Edge wanted to give it a swing then and there, but there wasn¡¯t enough room inside. The smith must have read his mind. Because the next thing he said was, ¡°Come out back and show us what you¡¯ve got.¡± He followed the man through the Forge, heading through a door in the back that he hadn¡¯t realized was there. It led to an interior courtyard, where dummies and posts of various lengths were piled up in the corners. ¡°Welcome to our testing range. Not everyone gets to see this. I¡¯ll make an exception because I think you like that weapon even more than I do.¡± By now, more than a dozen individuals had made their way into the courtyard. More people than Edge had realized were working inside the Forge. Apparently, this was a show that they wanted to watch. ¡°Start over here.¡± Ander led Edge to the middle of the enclosure. Then he worked a wooden post into a slot in the floor that was clearly designed for that purpose. Once it was locked in place, the smith stepped back to give him some room. ¡°Go ahead and swing it as hard as you can.¡± He lifted the naginata above his right ear, gripping the shaft with his hands shoulder-width apart. He assumed his stance, squared his hips, and then brought the blade down at an angle, putting the full power of his newly upgraded body behind it. The modified claw came down like the reaper¡¯s scythe. It sheared through the post and kept right on going, completing the strike with no appreciable resistance. ¡°Now that is a work of art,¡± the smith said with a note of reverence. ¡°Not you so much. Your technique is sloppy, but the blade will carry you until you¡¯ve learned to master it. That post was meant to simulate the natural resistance of a stage-zero animal or uncored individual. It¡¯s the softest wood we sell. Let¡¯s try stage-one next.¡± With that, he put another post in place. A darker wood with some manner of leather wrapped around the exterior. ¡°Alright, lad. Give it a go.¡± Edge waited until the smith stepped back and then gave it his best shot, marveling at how perfectly balanced the polearm felt in his hands. His technique was a little tighter this time, and he hit the post with a wicked chop. The blade stuck in the wood, but he was able to force it through with a push from his arms. ¡°So far, so good. Now for the real test. Stage-two.¡± Ander slid in a post of silvery wood that shimmered with a metallic sheen. By this point, Edge was growing more confident, vaguely aware that bets were being placed behind his back. He took his stance and raised the blade. Then he gathered his strength and brought the naginata down in a vicious arc, with the full power of his body behind it. It didn¡¯t help at all. With a hearty thwack, the blade hit the post and was stopped cold, almost rebounding back into Edge¡¯s leg. He had to drop the weapon and hop out of the way, earning him a round of laughter from everyone watching. To his profound embarrassment, the post wasn¡¯t even dented. He picked up the polearm and gave it another go, judging his strength more carefully this time. While he didn¡¯t lose control, he still couldn¡¯t do more than leave the faintest of scratches along its length. ¡°Ok, Edge. Now use that slash skill everyone knows you have. Don¡¯t worry, it should be enough to get through, even at rank-one.¡± Trusting the smith to know his business, Edge raised the naginata for a third time, widened his stance, and took aim. Once the blade was sailing toward its target, he willed slash to activate. As mana poured out of his core and into his arms, his swing abruptly sped up, multiplying his momentum along the way. The polearm went screaming for the post and caught it by the cutting edge. This time, he didn¡¯t hold back, following through with everything he had. To his delight, the blade cut through cleanly and went sailing out the other side. The top of the post slid down at an angle and came clattering to the floor half a heartbeat later. Everyone watching burst into applause, causing Edge to blush from the attention. Ander walked over and clasped him on the back. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call a blade.¡± After that, they wouldn¡¯t let him leave without staying for dinner. An offer that he was happy to accept. In the end, Edge was immensely glad that he had decided to join them. Not only was it a great chance to meet some of the most skilled crafters in town, it was a warm, happy scene. Full of light and love. Good company and good cheer. Most of the people who worked at the Forge had known each other for years. Over time, they had formed a new family. At least for the duration of their stay on Ord. Trapper¡¯s crew had a similar vibe, but he hadn¡¯t had the chance to hang out with them as a group just yet. It was a timely reminder that he could build a life for himself here. Find other people who were important to him and unwind from all the stress of violence that had become a part of his daily life. While Edge needed to use Puppet Town as a base while he collected skills and cycled-up his core, the place was growing on him fast. He left with a full heart and a full belly, looking forward to what the future would bring, both on and off the battlefield. Concept Art Mud Puppies Padamas (people for scale) If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Chapter 103: Spark When he returned to his room, Edge threw himself into an intensive strength training session. After almost being eaten by the giant padamas, he was highly motivated to improve his stats as fast as he possibly could. He also wanted to be strong enough to get the most out of his new weapon. An hour into putting his body through its paces, a message from his Guide appeared before his eyes. By conditioning your body, your Power has increased by 1. Awesome. That¡¯s just what I was hoping to see. Encouraged by his progress, he walked over to the public green and started doing laps, focusing on Endurance training this time around. Two hours later, just as he was about to give up for the night, he received another update from the System. By conditioning your body, your Endurance has increased by 1. Fantastic. Gaining two points of conditioning made him feel better about missing out on the chance to cycle-up earlier in the day. As he took one last lap to cool off, he wondered how Sasha was holding up, relieved that they had both come out of the dangerous encounter alive and whole. Edge decided to call it an early night and passed out not long after. *** He was woken an hour later by a knock on his door. Half dazed from being dragged out of dreams, he crossed the room and cracked it open, expecting to see Rita or maybe Sam. Thus, Edge was rather surprised to discover that Sasha was standing in front of him. Instead of her usual hunting attire, she was wearing a sheer, low-cut black dress. It showed off every inch of her athletic curves, leaving nothing to the imagination. ¡°It¡¯s going to be hard to come in if you keep blocking the doorway.¡± Still trying to pull himself together, he stepped aside so she that could enter his room. ¡°Sasha.¡± He tried not to stare, failing miserably before fixing his gaze squarely upon the center of her forehead. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I came to see you, of course. There aren¡¯t a lot of other reasons for me to show up at your room.¡± Edge might have been able to come up with a witty reply under other circumstances. But since he had been caught by surprise in more ways than one, he just nodded like that answered everything. That was when he realized that he was shirtless and only wearing a pair of briefs. He flushed and turned away before he really managed to embarrass himself. ¡°Just give me a second to throw something on.¡± Sasha stopped Edge dead in his tracks with her next words. ¡°That probably won¡¯t be necessary.¡± ¡°What?¡± At this point, his heart began to race, as his subconscious started putting two and two together. ¡°You¡¯ve saved my life twice now, and like I said, I wanted to thank you properly this time. I don¡¯t own anything of value and transferring a few Credits didn¡¯t feel like the right way to show my appreciation.¡± Edge was still having trouble following the conversation. But it all became clear when Sasha unfastened her dress, and it fell to the floor. She blushed, but met his gaze boldly, waiting to see how he would react. ¡°I¡¯ve felt a spark between us since the first time we met. I¡¯m pretty sure that you feel it too. Even still, I want to be clear. This is just a one time thing, not an open invitation. But if you¡¯re not interested, I¡¯ll see myself out and let you get back to sleep.¡± She was every bit as beautiful as he had imagined, and he drank in the sight of her. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°No.¡± Edge stopped her before she got the wrong idea and started to get dressed. ¡°Stay. Please. I want you to. I really, really want you to.¡± Sasha turned to him with a shy smile and then crossed the distance between them. Her first hesitant touch sent a thrill coursing throughout his body like electricity, burning away the last bit of fog clouding his mind. But even that was nothing compared to their first kiss. Edge gave himself fully to the moment and wrapped his arms around her, beginning what would prove to be the best night of his life thus far. *** Sasha was gone by the time he woke up, having slipped out of bed sometime during the night. She must have used her skill so that she didn¡¯t wake me. As the memories came flooding back, Edge got out of bed with a grin that just wouldn¡¯t go away. He took a shower and ate breakfast, more relaxed and in a better mood than he could remember being... hell, maybe ever for that matter. When he decided to check out his profile in full to see how far he¡¯d come, his smile only grew wider. Personal statistics: Edge Vasher Physical attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits) Power: 6 (7) Reflex: 4 Endurance: 4 (5) Perception: 6 Speed: 6 (7) Control: 3 (4) Durability: 5 (6) Energetic attributes Generation: 6 Amplification: 8 Disruption: 1 (2) Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater]. Stage: 1. Cycle: 3/21. Rarity: Unique. Category: Unique. Attribute points per cycle: 3. Ultimate abilities [Extraction] (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours. Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own. [Overdrive] (active). Uses: 1. Cooldown period: 1 week. [Overdrive] increases your Amplification by (10 x stage) for thirty seconds. Activating skills will not require mana during this period. You will be severely exhausted for thirty seconds after [Overdrive] is complete. Core traits Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement]. You can no longer acquire or rank-up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. Devourer (unique). You may Absorb an unwanted skill, freeing its slot and granting a fraction of its experience to the skill of your choice. Be advised, the return on this exchange is significantly less efficient than [Extracting] a duplicate of an existing skill. Skills Skill slots 11. Unused slots 3. Known skills: Slash (basic): rank 1. Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. Conceal (common): rank 2. Path: erasure. Erase your scent and heat signature while you remain still. Visually, you will appear to blend into your environment. The last twenty-five feet of your trail will be removed on activation. Entangle (common): Rank 2. Path: Resiliency. Create burrowing vines to bind your target. The vines are resistant to cuts and tears. Leap (common): rank 2. Path: assault. Jump with explosive force. Increased Durability for ten seconds after activation. Double strike (uncommon): rank 1. Create an offset double of any melee attack. Elemental blade [ice] (uncommon): rank 1. Create a subzero blade of ice. Regeneration [limited] (uncommon): rank 1. Rapidly heal wounds. Limited regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed. Shadow step (rare): rank 2. Path: Armored shadow. Transform into shadows. The cost of transforming your gear is greatly reduced. Traits (2 of 3 trait slots are filled) Triple tap (equipped) You are either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or are the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You managed to win a fight against three opponents at least one stage higher than yourself and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each. Effects: + 10% to Power, Speed, and Control (minimum gain of 1). Trait: Wanted. You have found one of the 21 unique cores in existence, which has painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something you should do sooner rather than later. There¡¯s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can¡¯t wait to watch it all play out. This trait might help you live a little bit longer, but I¡¯m not holding my breath. Effects: + 10% to Endurance, Durability, and Disruption (minimum gain of 1). Implants (none) System currency Credits: 1060 Mortium: 1 After saying good morning to Rita and Sam, Edge made his way out of the Pioneer and walked over to the hunters¡¯ district. When he arrived at Trapper¡¯s, he learned that due to his encounter with the padamas, there had been a change of plans. Chapter 104: Quartermaster Edge expected Trapper to be waiting for him to arrive, since she was supposed to conduct the final two days of his training. He was surprised to find someone else standing in the yard instead¡ªa woman who he hadn¡¯t met before. Thanks to his obsession with the Prison World broadcasts, Edge knew that she was Violet, the final member of the crew. Violet played several supporting roles that kept the team running at peak efficiency. Although she didn¡¯t go into the field as often as the others, she was still a vital member of the team. First and foremost, she was their quartermaster, in charge of obtaining, maintaining, and repairing their equipment, and keeping the wagon in good condition. She was the person who had crafted Trapper¡¯s bladewire nets. Although Trapper had the last say, Violet made most of the day-to-day decisions, and handled the crew¡¯s finances and negotiations with prospective clients. She was also their beast tamer and trainer, the person who had taught Blue to obey commands, and Lucky before he was killed by the reavers. Last but not least, Violet was the crew¡¯s cook, at least while they were out on multiday excursions. Edge introduced himself and they shook hands. Then she motioned for him to take a seat at the bench and explained what was going on. ¡°Your run in with the big lizard set into motion a series of events that affects the whole settlement. Although several oversized critters have been spotted recently, none have come close enough to threaten the town until now. Trapper and other leaders from the hunting community are meeting with Dialla and Earl as we speak, trying to decide what to do about these threats, now and going forward. ¡°She won¡¯t be available today or tomorrow. But the day after that, she will be handling your final day of training as planned. Today¡¯s lesson will be a one-day affair, although I¡¯m going to keep you here a little longer than usual. Tomorrow, you can have the whole day off to train on your own. ¡°To prepare for your exam, I¡¯m going to teach you a variety of things that are important to know when going into the field to stalk big game. I¡¯ll show you how to load and unload the cart. How to care for your gear and familiarize you with the equipment we take with us on hunts. ¡°I¡¯ll demonstrate some techniques for storing beast parts, so they don¡¯t rot before you can sell them in town. I¡¯ll also be working with you on basic hand signals, which are how we communicate at a distance or when we can¡¯t afford to make a sound. That¡¯s enough talking for now, it¡¯s time to get to work.¡± As promised, she spent the next three hours educating Edge on a broad range of topics. He soon learned that Violet took her work seriously. She made sure that he understood the importance of each item on her list, and how to go about it in the proper manner. While their hands were busy, he used the opportunity to get a good look at his instructor for the day. Violet¡¯s body was in its late forties, making her one of the town¡¯s oldest residents. She had platinum hair that was so light it was almost white, broad shoulders, and the striking purple eyes that she had named herself after. Her humor was dry and sharp enough to draw blood, although there was a kindness to her expression that offset her rougher aspects. All the while, she kept filling his head with information, all of which was valuable and relevant to his situation. ¡°Your armor will crack if you don¡¯t oil it on occasion. That pack will grow all kinds of nasty microorganisms if you don¡¯t use boiling water to wash out the part-pouch every time that you use it.¡± She showed him what to use to clean his gear¡ªsubstances that wouldn¡¯t reveal his presence to beasts with sharp senses. How to tie a knot, pitch a tent, and build a proper campfire that didn¡¯t make much smoke. When they were done with his orientation, Violet let Edge know what was on the menu for the second half of his training. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°If you want to understand beasts, it¡¯s important that you interact with them. Get to know them in ways beyond just hunting, fighting, and killing them. For the rest of the afternoon, you¡¯re going to spend some quality time with Blue. Your goal is to play nice and make friends. To show her that it¡¯s safe to trust you. If you can get on her back by the end of the day, I¡¯ll consider it a pass.¡± Edge wasn¡¯t sure what this method was supposed to teach him. But it was the first chance he¡¯d had to get up close and personal with a beast that wasn¡¯t trying to eat him. One of his favorites from the feed no less. He knew that Violet wouldn¡¯t waste his time, so there had to be an opportunity here somewhere. Figuring it out must be part of the process. He walked into the back yard, where the azure dino was in the middle of kicking a ball around the grass. Since he had seen Trapper doing it, he picked up a stick and gave it a toss. Blue watched it sail in a lazy arc¡­ Then she took off in a flash, using charge to tear up the ground and get under the stick before it came down. To Edge¡¯s delight, she brought it right back. After waiting to receive his praise and a pat on the head, she motioned for him to give it another toss. ¡°Alright, Blue. Go long.¡± After playing with Blue for the better part of an hour, Edge decided to see if the beast would let him ride her. He put a hand on her back and got ready to hop on¡­ only to scramble back at the deep growl that rattled his teeth within his jaw. ¡°Easy there, girl. I hear you. You¡¯re the boss.¡± She forgave him after some particularly good scritches behind her horns. A good twenty minutes of begging and petting later, Blue relented, lowering herself so that Edge could put one leg over her back. Then she rose to her feet and began to trot. He let out a whoop of joy as they picked up speed, basking in the glory that only those who have ridden a dinosaur bareback can know. When Violet came out to check on him, she let out an appreciative whistle at the sight of Edge riding across the yard. ¡°Not bad. Blue doesn¡¯t let just anyone ride her. You must be quite skilled with your fingers. Sasha is a lucky girl.¡± At that last line, Edge flushed beet red, finding himself at a complete loss for words. Violet laughed so hard that she had to fight for breath, and nearly collapsed to one knee. ¡°I knew it. After slipping out last night dressed to kill, I knew that she was hunting game of another sort. I mean she¡¯s always dressed to kill, but you know what I¡¯m talking about. Ah, to be young again.¡± When she had regained control of her body, Violet walked over and showed Edge how to signal Blue to kneel. He hopped off, thanked the dino for the ride, then turned to face his instructor. ¡°That concludes your training for the day. Come back the day after tomorrow and Trapper will give you your last lesson before the big exam.¡± Edge took advantage of the opportunity to high tail it out of there before Violet managed to embarrass him further. He put in a solid night of conditioning, including another round of sparring with Mel that took him down to his last 60 Credits. They began by reversing their roles. Edge took the offensive and tried as hard as he could to break through Melenia¡¯s guard. He rained blows upon the muscular woman, but he might as well have been punching the earth. Not a single hit got through and each impact stung his hands. He did eventually get her to take a step back, after a rapid combination of jabs followed by a reverse kick. ¡°Nice one, Edge.¡± A beaming smile crossed Mel¡¯s face. ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn.¡± After mopping the floor with him until he was running low on mana, they decided to call it a night. A friendly fist bump followed by a cold shower later, he left the station, pleased with his gains for the day. By conditioning your body, your Control has increased by 1. By conditioning your body, your Durability has increased by 1. After turning the corner, Edge walked over to the town square, ready to get in one last bit of training before bed. This time, instead of running on the track, he took his naginata out on the green to start familiarizing himself with the weapon. He spent the next two hours moving it around his body, learning how to slice and thrust at various angles. Then he moved on to some training with slash and elemental blade, two skills that everyone already knew he had. He didn¡¯t have enough in the tank to practice for long, so Edge did his best to work on using his skills as efficiently as possible. After all, the same situation could come up in a real fight, and he needed to be prepared. When he finally made it back to his room, he had a coded message from Ann waiting for him. His heart-guard had arrived, and Lilly was ready to install it. Edge¡¯s pulse began racing with excitement. It seemed that his night wasn¡¯t quite over after all. It was finally time to get his first implant. Chapter 105: Implant Edge crept his way through the heart of Puppet Town, ducking down alleyways and dimly lit side streets instead of taking the main thoroughfares. He wanted to keep a low profile, because tonight he was heading back to Lilly¡¯s exchange to install his first magtech implant. On his way, he tried to remember everything that he could about magic-based technology, generally referred to as magtech. Broadly speaking, all magtech devices could be divided into low and high-grade gear, although the details were far more complex. Low-grade gadgets were common throughout the galaxy, granting anyone access to magic without the specialized training and arduous study required to perform even the simplest of incantations. Over time, they had replaced most other forms of technology that were in use prior to the discovery of magicytes. Low-grade items ranged from simple tools like his lantern and firestarter, to the generators, filters, and pumps that supplied the town with light, running water, and a thousand other needs. Such devices were powered by copper-class aether, a cheap and widely available distillation of various magicyte containing substances. On Ord, high-grade magtech, including implants, was heavily regulated by the System. Rare exceptions aside, the only way that a person could get their hands on a piece was by delving into dungeons, opening sealed chests, or acquiring Mortium, any of which were always a risky endeavor. Implants contained runic assemblies that were powered by silver or gold-class aether. A potent form of refined magicytes that could only be produced with expensive resources and high-rank skills. While they could only be used a limited number of times before needing to be recharged, implants provided a range of benefits, many of which couldn¡¯t be replicated by skills. Other high-grade magtech gear, such as weapons, armor, and tools, could be acquired with Mortium as well. But since he only had a single lifecoin to spend, they were well outside of Edge¡¯s price range for now. There were limits to how many implants a person could have and removing them required spending Mortium too. But he was certain that he had chosen wisely and was eager to have his installed. Given the limitations of regeneration, having a heart-guard could save his life from an attack that he wouldn¡¯t be able to heal. He was looking forward to having an added layer of protection that could stop all but the most powerful of blows. While these thoughts passed through his head, he crossed the last few streets and found himself standing at the stairwell leading down to Lilly¡¯s store. He didn¡¯t see the sentry tonight, so after a quick look around to make sure that no one had followed him, Edge walked over to her door and knocked. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. He suspected that she had another means of watching the street outside, and had noticed him approaching while he was still several blocks away. But he figured that it never hurt to be polite. His heart began to race as the door cracked open and he stepped into the empty room beyond. He was excited to get the upgrade, and nervous about the operation that would be required to install it into his body. They weren¡¯t called implants for nothing. He jumped when the door behind him bolted shut, and the secret entrance slid open. He took the final stairwell and then stepped into the exchange. He stopped to run his eyes across the arsenal of magtech weapons and armor lining the walls, fantasizing about taking a piece home with him one day. ¡°Hello, Edge.¡± Lilly¡¯s voice echoed across the enclosure. ¡°Everything is ready on my end. Now we just need to cut you open and weld the implant to your rib.¡± ¡°Thanks. Although I¡¯m nervous enough already, without you making this even creepier than it already is.¡± She let out a chuckle, full of dark mirth, then waved him over. This time, Lilly led Edge out of the main showroom and through a door behind the counter. Inside was a stone chamber featuring a metal chair with leather restraints for the neck, arms, and legs. Beside it was a tray filled with surgical equipment, along with a small silver box that had his implant inside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± She grinned, enjoying his rising discomfort. ¡°This is a straightforward procedure. The odds of anything going catastrophically wrong are¡­ not high at least.¡± Edge sighed and tried not to shudder, since it was clear by now that Lilly wasn¡¯t going to let up until she had finished milking the moment for everything it was worth. Instead of protesting, he just took off his shirt and lowered himself into the chair, shivering as the cold metal pressed into his back. ¡°Are those restraints really necessary?¡± ¡°Yes. But not for what we¡¯re doing today. Some of the more extensive upgrades, to the skin or the nervous system for example, can result in quite a bit of involuntary movement, even while sedated. Now, you have a choice to make. Do you want to do this awake or asleep? With an implant this size, I can let you watch if you promise not to freak out. Although I¡¯ll warn you now, that it¡¯s going to hurt like hell.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll watch,¡± he replied. ¡°I can handle the pain and regeneration should take care of the rest.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said. ¡°That makes things easier, and you might learn something along the way.¡± Lilly¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Don¡¯t turn that skill on until the operation is complete, or you¡¯ll fuck things up royally. Do you have any questions before we begin?¡± ¡°Just one. How do I refill the device¡¯s reservoir? I know that the same copper-class aether I use in my lantern won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°This is a simple implant that runs on silver. Interfacing with an active implant requires a specialized machine. You¡¯ll have to come back to a Mortium exchange or aether distillery to refill it. It¡¯s not cheap though. A dose of silver runs about five thousand Credits, depending on supply.¡± Edge nodded along with the explanation. ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s get this over with, and thanks. I know this is your job, but I really do appreciate it.¡± Lilly offered him a wicked smile, running her eyes across his body long enough to make him blush. Then she turned away and got to work. Chapter 106: Surgery Lilly pulled on a pair of surgical gloves, then reached for the tray and picked up a swab of cotton. After dunking it in alcohol, she rubbed it across his chest, right below where his ribs came together. The chill liquid made goosebumps break out across his skin. Edge hadn¡¯t expected to find himself sitting next to another attractive woman with most of his clothes off again, especially not so soon. But he was far too nervous to appreciate the experience, let alone say something witty or anything he might regret. Instead, he just took a deep breath and steeled his nerves. Now that she was ready to begin the operation, Lilly was all business. She opened the silver box sitting on the tray and let him look inside. He was intensely curious to see his first implant, and it helped to take his mind off what was coming next. The heart-guard was a rust-red ball the size of a pea, with a circular patch of a bronze-colored metal embedded on one side. That must be the part that touches my heart to generate the barrier. Edge¡¯s apprehension returned in full force when Lilly picked up a short steel tube with a sharpened end. It reminded him of a bladed version of the straws he used to drink bubble tea back on Earth, and apparently worked much the same way. She took a few measurements with a device that he didn¡¯t recognize, then turned to him and said, ¡°Whatever you do, don¡¯t flinch during this part. We don¡¯t want to nick your ticker, even if you would probably survive it.¡± He wasn¡¯t brave enough to watch what happened next, closing his eyes as Lilly picked up the bladed tube and angled it into position. He didn¡¯t know how she was going to insert it, and he didn¡¯t want to. ¡°Be still now. Ready in three¡­¡± Edge had been expecting her to stab on two, but she went in on three instead, sliding the tube into his chest before he had time to tense up. It hurt, but not as badly as he was anticipating. Or maybe he was just getting used to various objects perforating his body. Another sign of how fast his life was changing by the day. Now that the worst part was over, he opened his eyes. He was just in time to watch Lilly slide the implant into the tube, using another tool to guide it to the right spot. It was at that moment that he realized there might be a complication that he hadn¡¯t fully considered. Edge was worried that since his heart had been replaced with Skill-Eater¡¯s, she would notice that something was out of the ordinary. But it was too late to stop, and she didn¡¯t say a word. It seemed that everything still looked the same, at least from the outside. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. When the implant was in position, Lilly used the tool to adhere it to the back of one of his ribs. Then she reached forward with a wire that she tapped his skin, right on top of his new heart-guard. ¡°First charge comes included with the price of purchase,¡± she explained. ¡°I could have filled it ahead of time, but this way you can get used to the experience.¡± When she flipped a switch on the wall, a flow of aether conducted from the wire to the contact on his implant. It tickled, like a bee was buzzing around between his ribs. When it was fully charged, he felt a subtle sense of pressure around his heart, which faded away over the next few seconds. ¡°There, all done.¡± Lilly took off her bloodstained gloves. ¡°You can go ahead and regenerate the damage now and everything will be ready to go. It¡¯s nice not to have to stitch someone back up for a change.¡± While Edge was healing, she offered him some additional information, which he greatly appreciated. ¡°The implant¡¯s field will protect your heart until the aether runs out. It¡¯s got enough juice to block several direct hits or one really powerful attack. Although, if you fight something crazy strong, it might not be enough to completely absorb the damage. At least until you can afford to upgrade it. ¡°These implants are tough, but they can be broken, or lost if something tears it out of you. If it runs out of power, you will feel it vibrate in a preset pattern. Otherwise, you¡¯re all set, and it should last for decades without requiring maintenance.¡± When she led him back into the shop, Edge took advantage of the opportunity to ask about something that had been bothering him for days. ¡°Lilly, do you know anything about Warren the manslayer? I seem to have attracted his attention after my battle with the shadowreavers.¡± She frowned when she heard the name¡ªthe first time he had seen her look so serious. ¡°Yea, I¡¯ve known him for years. Creepy bastard. I can¡¯t tell you anything about my customers. It would violate the terms of my contract with the System. All I can say is that if he¡¯s after you, watch out. His strength is the real deal, and he won¡¯t hesitate to kill, even if he¡¯ll talk your ear off the entire time.¡± ¡°Thanks Lilly, for the advice and all the rest.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Before you go, I have that portable stasis chamber that you wanted. The one with the defective seal.¡± She reached below the counter and retrieved a copper cube a bit bigger than a mealbox. ¡°It will preserve anything that you put in there for about two weeks, and it¡¯s got enough aether to last for a year.¡± Edge held the device up under a light to take a closer look and then put it into his bag. ¡°Thanks again. If you ever want to hang out, just say the word. I¡¯d like to get to know the real you better.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. Maybe I¡¯ll introduce you to the rest of my crew sometime. But not tonight. Now get out of here, I still have some paperwork to do. While you¡¯re good company, I always work better alone.¡± Edge bid Lilly farewell and then walked out the door with his brand-new implant inside him, filled with the rush that always comes with taking another small step on the long path to power. Chapter 107: Slash Edge had the next day all to himself, and he intended to make the most of it. He went to bed early and got up before sunrise. He washed his face, strapped on his gear, and walked down the stairs. After helping Rita move a few tables around in the bar, he left through the back before the common area opened for business. He stopped by Trapper¡¯s to borrow a cart and said good morning to Blue. Then he stepped through the south gate shrouded in the misty morning light, slipping out while most of the town was still waking up. Edge was eager to steal some skills, cycle-up his core, and make some Credits along the way. He walked back through the gate six hours later, pulling a cart so heavy that he could barely move it. Today had been one of his most successful hunts yet. At least in the sense that he had taken down his prey without being seriously wounded in exchange. First, Edge had battled a native beast that looked like an emu with jet black feathers and bright purple talons. Calling the encounter a hunt was a bit of a stretch if he was being honest with himself. A spontaneous brawl would be more accurate. They had seen each other coming from quite a distance away, and neither had been willing to back down. It gave him plenty of time to draw his naginata and move to favorable ground. But then things had taken a turn for the worse. When it drew near, the avian predator attacked with blinding speed. It caught Edge off guard, forcing him to use shadow step right from the start. The beast¡¯s assault put him on the defensive for several hectic minutes. But once he acclimated to the creature¡¯s dexterity, he was able to hold it back with his polearm, using the long weapon to keep the bird from closing the distance and attacking with its natural weaponry. There was a vicious back and forth before Edge found an opportunity to shadow step behind it and land a solid slash, slicing deep into the creature¡¯s torso. The blow had been enough to end the fight, but the bird was so badly wounded that he had only been able to steal one skill before it died. Worse, it had been a choice between peck and something that involved fluffing up your feathers to attract a mate. Edge wasn¡¯t sure that the second skill would do anything for someone with a human body, and he had no desire to find out. He socketed peck, which took the comical form of a giant nose in his garden. Then he went ahead and gave it a try, just to satisfy his curiosity. After his core ignited, mana gathered in his neck and nose, forcing him to drive his face straight ahead with considerable speed. He got a quick laugh, and a nasty case of whiplash out of the experience. As regeneration healed him up, he decided that the skill was worthless. Since Edge had a nose instead of a beak, it seemed more like a way to serve himself up to a hungry beast than a viable form of attack. It made him realize that many beasts had highly specialized skills that would be useless to him, other than Absorbing them to fuel his existing skillset. Which was what he had planned for peck, and likely the second skill he¡¯d obtained today too, savage bite. While bite would theoretically be usable, once again, getting his face that close to a wild beast seemed like a short road to a quick death. Besides, too much of his life already involved eating a wide variety of very strange substances, and he had no desire to make things worse than they already were. He''d picked up the skill from a weasel that looked a lot like the first beast Edge had ever fought. It was an early stage-one male, just strong enough to claim a territory of its own. This time around, Trapper would have been proud of him. He had managed to kill his quarry by sneaking up and entangling it while it slept. The same plan he¡¯d tried on the mana-sensitive jobo he¡¯d stolen leap from. But this beast hadn¡¯t been able to sense the spell coming. It didn¡¯t know that it was under attack until the vines burst out from under it, binding it tight within a handful of heartbeats. At that point, Edge had simply walked up and used his iceblade to restrict the flow of blood to its brain. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. It was an effective killing move that didn¡¯t damage the hide, and had the added benefit of being relatively humane. He was willing to fight and kill to grow stronger, but he wasn¡¯t a sadist who enjoyed bathing in his enemy¡¯s blood while savoring their dying screams. The cold knocked the creature out fast, rendering it helpless to resist his [Extraction]. While he had plenty of time to peruse its core, he¡¯d only stolen one skill because it was all that the weasel had. On a brighter note, this beast had been guarding a mana-seed too. Some manner of golden berry that was now sitting in the preservation unit he¡¯d gotten from Lilly. When Edge put his nose up to the seal, he could catch a faint whiff of something that smelled absolutely divine. He was sure that some beasts would be able to detect it from quite a bit further off. But in exchange for that small risk, he now had a way to refill his reservoir on demand. After the second fight was over, a message from his Guide appeared. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [4]. You have three attribute points awaiting allocation. Edge had been tempted to put all three points into Power, just to make it easier to push the heavy load down the road. But he resisted the urge and stuck to the plan he¡¯d formed over the last few days. First, he put one point into Endurance. He was planning to take it high enough to be able to run or fight for hours at a time, which would require an investment beyond maxing his conditioning. He felt his lungs and muscles shifting, taking on a more efficient configuration. Then he tossed one point into Amplification, to keep powering up his growing collection of skills. He had decided to put the third point into Disruption, after recalling how effective it had been in his battle with the nymphs. As Edge progressed to fighting stronger opponents, he would start encountering more spells that could kill or disable him in a single hit. Not to mention countless other skills that would be extremely unpleasant to receive at full strength. Since Disruption was effectively skill armor, he needed enough to be able to withstand dangerous skills. To give him time to shadow step away and regenerate after taking a big hit, and to take less damage in general. The sensation that came with increasing Disruption was¡­ strange to say the least. It called to mind several metaphors, none of which quite fit. It felt like the silence had become louder. Like the space between noises had acquired more depth. A murmur in the background had died down to a whisper. He thought the effect might be a result of shielding himself from the waves made by countless skills across the planet causing ripples in the flow of magicytes. Or maybe small particles of refined mana that were mixed into the environment were being filtered out by his disruptive field. Either way it was soothing¡ªone of his favorite new experiences so far. After spending his points, Edge went by Izzio¡¯s to drop off his haul. He took the cart back to Trapper¡¯s, then returned to his room in the Pioneer. While he was sitting in bed, he Absorbed peck and savage bite, putting the skill experience he gained in exchange into slash. As he¡¯d been hoping, Absorbing two rank-one commons was enough to rank-up the basic skill, which had become a core part of his fighting style. It also gave him a better sense of the rate of exchange. If Edge wanted to improve elemental blade and regeneration, he needed to [Extract] some uncommons, or the process was going to take forever. His choices for taking slash to rank-two had been a tough call. He was given the option to increase its speed, its penetration, or to generate a field that extended the length of a blade by a foot while the skill was active. After his experience slicing the posts at the Forge, Edge decided to go with penetration. He was planning to take on more stage-two beasts soon, and it was vital that his polearm was able to hurt tougher opponents. Besides, he had other ways to increase the speed of his attacks and his naginata already offered considerable reach compared to most weapons. Being extremely careful not to damage his room and evoke Sam¡¯s wrath, he went ahead and gave it a try. The way it worked was that a thin coating of mana flowed out over the cutting surface of the blade, honing the weapon on a molecular level to make the edge sharper for the duration of the skill. When Edge entered his core to peruse his skill garden, the statue representing slash was bigger, buffer, and more detailed. It also had his new naginata in its hands, instead of his original sword. He was sure that there was an important reason for the change, but he had no idea what it was. Slash was still an inanimate object, but it had managed to leave its pedestal and was sitting on top of his reservoir when he dropped by to check things out. ¡°Looking good, little dude.¡± Edge spent a few minutes watching the skills play in his garden before returning to his body and catching some well-deserved Z¡¯s. Concept Art Violet Stolen novel; please report. Blue Historical Naginatas (credit Wikipedia, most of them are missing the shaft due to erosion) Chapter 108: Warren Warren Ellington made his way through the streets of Puppet Town, on the hunt for his prey. The crowd parted as he crossed the town square. Even cored individuals walked to the other side of the street when they realized who was headed their way. When they saw the expression on the manslayer¡¯s face, they ran. Today, Warren wore a dark scowl instead of his infamous icy grin. While he usually kept his emotions bottled up inside, it had been years since he had felt so frustrated. So thwarted. So¡­ denied. Disappointment and setbacks were old friends to every professional bounty hunter. Just another part of the difficult, dangerous job. But he had never suffered anything like this before. Despite having a specialized core and decades of experience, he had failed to track a bounty so inept that he normally could have claimed it in his sleep. Not just once or twice, but for the better part of a week. Running into problem after problem out of the blue was enough to make him see red. What should have been an easy kill had gone wrong in more ways than he could have imagined possible. To the extent that Warren wondered if the universe was conspiring against him, or the System was fucking with him. Or perhaps another party has decided to intervene. While he had been able to collect several smaller bounties over the last few days without the deputies catching wind of his involvement, the true prize he was seeking, Edge Vasher, had slipped through his fingers time and time again. Just being angry wasn¡¯t reason enough to strike. Warren needed to be sure that Edge was wanted first. He only killed in the pursuit of bounties or in his own defense. It was the code that he had lived by his entire life, long before setting foot onto Ord. Even that had taken far longer than it should have. Following the man and gathering information had come with several unusual interruptions. Stranger still, he still had no clue what had happened. His skill-summoned drones had been disrupted on three separate occasions, and Edge had shown no sign that he even knew they were there. But now, now he was sure. Yesterday, Warren had finally been able to keep a drone in the air long enough to follow Edge out of town and into the grasslands. At first, his actions were no different from that of any hunter, albeit a particularly green one. But then something strange had occurred. Edge had been forced to use the shadow ability that was supposed to be his core¡¯s ultimate early in the fight. Then, near the end of the brawl, he used it again, when it should have been on cooldown for the rest of the day. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. And that discrepancy was just the beginning. After the battle, Warren watched as mana gathered around Edge¡¯s neck. When his face lunged forward, Warren realized that the man had used peck. The same skill as beast he¡¯d just fought. A skill that only beasts should be able to learn to begin with. At that point, Warren¡¯s body began to tingle. A shiver ran down his spine¡ªa thrill that only arose when he was hunting the juiciest of prey. I knew it. He was sure in that moment that there was something special about Edge¡¯s core. That turning it in would pay out the biggest bounty that he¡¯d ever made. He suspected that it was more than an epic. That the man had somehow gotten his hands on a legendary core or even a unique. At that point, the manslayer understood that the clock was ticking. A core of that caliber meant that Edge was far more dangerous than his average quarry and would become even more so at a remarkable rate. He would have headed out then and there. But at that point, his drone had been disrupted again and he lost track of Edge¡¯s trail. No matter. Next time I¡¯ll follow him out myself. If Warren wanted to take Edge, he needed to move fast, before the man¡¯s powers grew or someone else got to him first. Right now, the manslayer was still a whole stage ahead of his prey. He had higher attributes and superior gear, including several high-grade magtech devices. All his skills were rank-three or four, and most important of all, he had Betsy holstered at his hip. Each chamber in his six-shooter was filled with spellshots that would put down almost anything below stage-three in a single round. At last, their dance had reached the final steps. The manslayer was finally going to bring this hunt to an end. The information-gathering phase was over, and now it was time for Warren¡¯s favorite part, ending the life of a wanted man. He¡¯d still offer Edge a chance to surrender, of course. That was part of the ritual after all. But regardless of whether he gave up, Warren was going to put him in the cold, hard ground. Just because Edge was here in the flesh wasn¡¯t a reason to stop killing. In fact, it only made the prospect more exciting. This was how hunting a man was supposed to feel. It made everything that had happened before the anomaly trapped them in their puppets look like a washed-out photograph compared to the gore-splattered masterpiece he was painting. Now he just had to wait for the right moment, say his piece, and strike from concealment, ending the fight before it began. Then he would use the Credits he earned to find a way off this planet and make his way back to his people. While he was eager to strike, he couldn¡¯t afford to let his bloodlust get the better of him. Warren had to wait until his quarry was alone. Edge had been training with Trapper¡¯s crew part of the time, and the manslayer wasn¡¯t willing to risk taking out a core member of town if they decided to join Edge¡¯s side. One dead puppet alone on the plains wouldn¡¯t attract any notice. But an experienced hunter disappearing at the same time would be another matter entirely. Since contact with the other settlements had been severed, Warren couldn¡¯t afford to get run out of Puppet Town or risk sparking a confrontation with Earl the Earth Hammer, one of the few people in town he wasn¡¯t sure that he could take in a straight fight. And several of the deputies were plenty dangerous in their own right. The next time that Edge stepped through the gates alone, Warren would make his move. It was time to add another name to his list and get rich beyond his wildest dreams in the process. Chapter 109: Trapper Edge made it to Trapper¡¯s right on time, thrilled by how well the last few days had gone. He had made significant progress with his skills, cycle, conditioning, and Credits. He was eager to complete his training and head into the field on his first big game hunt. He was also curious to learn what the veteran hunter was going to teach him, and to find out what she¡¯d been up to over the last two days. He found the crew¡¯s leader waiting on the front porch, trying to soothe an irate Blue. ¡°I¡¯m sorry girl, but I said no, and I meant it. You need to stay out front today. It isn¡¯t safe for you to join us in the yard.¡± She handed the grumbling dino a giant piece of fruit as an apology and then motioned for him to follow her. Trapper walked with Edge around to the back of the lodge, toward the large field where he had spent the day working with Blue. When he rounded the corner of the building, he caught sight of someone who he hadn¡¯t expected to run into. Ann was sitting on a bale of hay with her nose buried in a book. Today, she was wearing a broad straw sunhat and a bright yellow dress. When she heard them coming, she dog-eared the page to mark her place, hopped to the ground, and waved. ¡°Hello, Ann. It¡¯s good to see you. What are you doing here? It¡¯s rare to find you away from your store at this time of day.¡± ¡°Edge, always a pleasure. I have one of my employees minding the register. I¡¯ll let Trapper explain the rest.¡± ¡°I invited Ann to assist with your training. I figured that you wouldn¡¯t want to show everything that you can do in plain sight of anyone who walks by. Most people prefer to keep part of their skillset to themselves, and Sasha mentioned that Warren has been giving you trouble.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, and I appreciate the consideration. I trust Ann, but how can she help? I didn¡¯t know that she had a detection or reconnaissance skill.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Ann shrugged. ¡°But what I can do... is this.¡± With that, she ignited her core. Mana came surging out of her body in a growing hemisphere as she cast privacy bubble. When the skill-summoned dome crossed where Edge was standing, all sound from the outside abruptly cut off. He expected the bubble to stop spreading after ten feet, but it kept right on growing. Soon it was twenty feet in diameter, then fifty. It eventually came to a stop well over a hundred feet across, at which point the entire yard was shielded by her sensory-blocking magic. Ann laughed when she saw his jaw drop. ¡°You didn¡¯t think that my skills were only good for interacting with customers, did you? I wouldn¡¯t slot anything that didn¡¯t have other uses too. Ord is too dangerous to specialize purely in commerce, unless you belong to one of the factions at any rate.¡± Trapper motioned for Edge to join her on the green. ¡°Now that we have the place sealed from prying eyes, let¡¯s get this show on the road. We have a long day ahead of us, and far less time to train you than I would like.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. He followed the lithe hunter through the gate, wondering what all this was about. The instant that he stepped onto the grass, he felt something shift beneath his feet. Accompanied by the creak of a rope drawing taut, an object rose from the ground, which had been concealed by a layer of straw. Ah, hell. He knew in that instant that he had stepped into one of Trapper¡¯s devices, and that the day¡¯s training had already started. The old Edge would have been caught in that moment, unable to sense the danger or react fast enough to the evolving situation. But thanks to the rapid progress he had undergone over the last week, the new Edge was far quicker and more perceptive than that. He sprang to one side, just in time to jump over a rope that went sliding across the ground, preventing the trap from sweeping his feet out from under him. A move that placed him squarely in the path of the net that Trapper had thrown the instant that she knew where he was going to land. He yelled and threw up his hands, but he wasn¡¯t able to adjust his trajectory in midair. Edge couldn¡¯t do anything other than activate shadow step, which he wasn¡¯t willing to do just yet. When his feet came down, the net spread over him and drew tight, leaving him stuck inside. He pretended not to hear Ann¡¯s snort of amusement as Trapper walked over to help him out. She tried not to grin at his flushed face, then asked, ¡°Tell me, Edge. What was the point of that exercise?¡± He gave it some thought before offering a reply, realizing that the experience had been informative as well as embarrassing. ¡°Traps aren¡¯t only about luring prey into a device. They can also be used to capture their attention and control their behavior. The real trap wasn¡¯t getting caught by that rope. After springing it, my reaction was far too predictable, making it simple to hit me with a ranged attack. That net could have just as easily been a spell or an arrow.¡± Both Ann and Trapper looked impressed by this reasoning. ¡°Very good. An important lesson, and one better learned through demonstration than words. But that wasn¡¯t the reason why we¡¯re meeting out here today. The real goal of our training is something that you need to experience if you want to survive in the wild. Combat against predators of your own kind.¡± While she talked, Trapper walked out to the middle of the yard. She came to a stop where several bales of hay had been arranged in a line. ¡°It¡¯s not just monsters and beasts out there. People will hunt you too. Jailbirds, manslayers, even other tourists will try to kill you on occasion. You need to be ready when it happens, or you¡¯ll be dead before you even know what hit you. ¡°Fighting for your life against a thinking, skill-using opponent is something else entirely from battling a beast. Tactics, misdirection, deception. You need to know what it¡¯s like to go head-to-head against another core-wielder, using the full range of your powers against theirs.¡± Trapper reached down to pick up a crossbow, which was resting on a haybale. Thankfully, it was the normal variety, instead of the massive magtech weapon she took into the field. ¡°Every fight between cored individuals will be different. Your competing skillsets will offer distinct advantages, weaknesses, and opportunities to win or lose the fight in the blink of an eye. You need to be able to analyze in an instant, act without hesitation, and pick the right skill at the right time, combined with traditional attacks and defenses. ¡°So today, Edge, we¡¯re going at it. You against me, in a worst-case scenario, where your opponent has the home field advantage. Don¡¯t worry about hurting me. If you manage to set up a lethal blow, I¡¯ll counter your skill with Disruption. And I¡¯m tough enough that a hit from that polearm won¡¯t take me down.¡± With that, Trapper loaded her crossbow. ¡°Since you have regeneration, I won¡¯t hold back from anything that isn¡¯t a killing strike. I apologize ahead of time, but this is going to hurt.¡± At that point, she lowered her sights and fired, and Edge knew that his next lesson had begun. Chapter 110: Lesson Edge dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding the shot as the missile went whizzing past his ear. By the time that he reoriented on his opponent, Trapper had already reloaded her crossbow and was getting ready to fire again. He knew that darting from side to side was a losing proposition. She was going to tag him with a bolt sooner or later. Instead, he charged straight for the agile hunter, trying to weave unpredictably to make himself harder to hit. There were bound to be more traps buried out here. But there was nothing that he could do about it other than trust his instincts and be ready to dodge at a moment¡¯s notice. The world fell away as he narrowed his concentration, focusing on the ground by his feet and the woman who was trying to perforate him. Edge was able to evade the next two shots, closing half the distance between them in a flash. But the next time that his foot came down, he felt the soil open beneath his boot. He realized that he had just stepped into another trap¡ªa pitfall this time. His rear foot was still on solid ground, so he pushed off it and jumped while he had the chance. He was certain that there was another trap ahead of him too, so he aimed for the rim of the pit, where there wasn¡¯t room to place another device. By now, Trapper was locked and loaded again, taking more time to line up the shot since he¡¯d managed to dodge the others. Edge ducked and spun, trying to keep his feet where he¡¯d already stepped, so that he didn¡¯t walk into another trap. His respect for the hunter multiplied in that moment. Just the possibility of them being in the area is limiting my movement and reducing my options. Trapper is a terrifying opponent once she¡¯s taken control of the field. She had only begun to ramp up the pressure. Instead of firing, the hunter tracked him with her weapon, drawing his attention while waiting for him to make a mistake. Edge wasn¡¯t about to go down so easily. I need to close the distance while I still can. He resumed his charge, every scrap of his concentration devoted to watching the finger that was curled around the trigger. The instant that he saw the muscles in Trapper¡¯s hand begin to flex, he dove to the ground¡ªthe bolt passing so close to his head that it tore his hair in passing. Edge tried to tuck in one shoulder and roll. But the naginata got in the way, nearly causing him to lose the fight in that instant. A bolt grazed his leg and struck the dirt beside it. Only his armor kept it from opening his flesh along the way. At that point, he tugged the release on his harness and abandoned his weapon. It wasn¡¯t well-suited for this kind of fight, and he needed to use his full range of motion. ¡°A wise decision.¡± Trapper nodded in approval. ¡°That polearm isn¡¯t good for getting up close and personal with another warrior, although it''s brilliant for hunting beasts and fighting as part of a formation.¡± As Edge rose to his feet, he jumped again, aiming for a bale of hay beside the hunter that was unlikely to be trapped. When she saw him coming, Trapper dropped her crossbow and drew the slender silver sword sheathed at her hip, raising the tip to track his form. At this point, he realized that he had a problem. There wasn¡¯t any way that he could defend himself against a sword with his bare hands. It was time to start using his skills. He ignited his core, mana streaming into his palms as Edge activated elemental blade. Fog-shrouded ice met gleaming metal as Trapper¡¯s sword caught the subzero weapon and deflected it to one side. He noticed that she was careful not to let them touch for longer than a heartbeat. She must be worried about the cold conducting through the metal. I¡¯ll have to remember that. He hopped down from the bale and kicked some loose hay into her face, buying him enough time to assume his stance. He knew that Trapper was far more skilled in close combat than himself. His only chance was to keep her off balance and rely on his skills to make up the difference. Since his reservoir was far larger than before, he was able to keep his iceblade manifested as they traded a series of blows. The only time that Edge came close to scoring a point was when he combined slash and elemental blade for the first time in the fight. But Trapper stopped the combo cold only inches from her face. That was when a powerful gust of wind hit him in the chest, as the hunter unleashed a skill of her own. It only pushed him back a few feet, but it caught him by surprise and left him unable to dodge. She lunged, the point of her sword catching the meat of his shoulder and digging deep. She followed up with a blindingly fast roundhouse kick, trying to clip his chin and rattle his brain. Edge stepped back and ducked beneath the blow, his eyes never leaving her body. Ann let out an enthusiastic whistle, and Trapper looked impressed too. ¡°Very good. Most people would have been distracted by the painful wound. You¡¯ve already learned how to stay focused on your opponent no matter what else is happening.¡± They traded another series of strikes. By this point, Edge was certain that she was holding back. That she could have taken him down but was testing his limits instead. Trying to find out what he was made of. Trapper drove him back with another gust of wind, shoving him into a section of the yard that he hadn¡¯t passed through before. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. On his way back, he was forced to use leap to avoid falling into a spike-lined pit. ¡°Hah. I knew that you had something in reserve. Smart to keep it to yourself. A mobility skill will come in handy both on and off the battlefield.¡± Edge gritted his teeth and growled in frustration. Even though this was just an evaluation, he wanted to score at least one point before they were through. That was when he saw a gap in Trapper¡¯s defense. The sun was shining behind his falling form. She had to avert her eyes or be blinded by the light. He shadow stepped the moment that his boots hit the ground¡ªthe world turning into smoke and mist as he flowed around a haybale to come at the hunter¡¯s blind side. The same move that the shadowreaver had used when it nearly killed her. As he got into position to strike, he heard her say, ¡°Not this time.¡± In that same moment, mana came surging out of Trapper¡¯s core, releasing a pulse of energy that felt different from any skill that he¡¯d seen before. When it broke over him, it forcibly deactivated shadow step. Something that he hadn¡¯t realized was possible until that moment. Edge found himself in a solid state once more, with the hunter¡¯s blade pressed against his throat hard enough to draw blood. He froze in place and raised his hands in surrender. ¡°That was a good move. But even the best move isn¡¯t going to work if your opponent knows it¡¯s coming. After almost being taken out by the reavers, I thought long and hard about what to do to counter that kind of power. ¡°That was called a Disruption pulse. It¡¯s incredibly mana intensive to pull off without a specialized skill. But if you have enough Disruption, you can expand the field around your body for an instant, canceling the skills of your enemy if they¡¯re weak enough.¡± Trapper removed the sword from his neck and slid it back into its sheath with a metallic rasp. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. I think you understand what fighting another skill-user is like. You did remarkably well, considering how long you¡¯ve had that core. Once you take it through a few more cycles and have a chance to rank-up those skills, you¡¯re going to be a force to be reckoned with.¡± She picked up her crossbow, watching on with interest as regeneration healed the cut on his neck. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside and eat lunch, then we can let Ann get back to work. Ann, if you would be so kind as to share your own observations while we eat, I¡¯m sure that Edge would benefit from them.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Trapper. Just watching that scrap was enough to work up an appetite. I brought an apple pie for dessert. Jumo already put it in the refrigeration unit.¡± ¡°Apples?¡± Trapper asked with interest. ¡°Where in the world did you find them? They don¡¯t grow on Ord as far as I know, and the anomaly cut off all shipments from Earth.¡± ¡°There is a girl who comes into my shop from time to time who sells them. I have no idea where she gets them, but they¡¯re genuine and absolutely delicious.¡± When Ann stepped inside the lodge, Edge stopped Trapper with a hand on her shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s something that I wanted to talk to you about while we have some privacy.¡± He went on to reveal the existence of conceal, since Sasha already knew that he had it. It meant that he would have to keep entangle and double strike hidden, which suited him fine. He told the same story he¡¯d used with Sasha, claiming that he¡¯d picked it up from the Mortium exchange. Sasha was right, Trapper was thrilled to learn that Edge had a stealth skill, as it was an ideal power for hunting. This led to an impromptu lecture. ¡°Before I forget, I should let you know how contested skills work. When two competing skills are at odds with one another, say your conceal and my sense life, which one wins is determined by a number of factors. First and foremost is skill rank. A rank-one skill is going to lose against a rank-four skill in almost every situation. ¡°But if they¡¯re closer in power, it becomes more complicated. A lot of it will come down to how you go about using them. For example, covering yourself with mud would make conceal more effective against a skill that detects heat, but it wouldn¡¯t help much against sense life. On the other hand, if you were hiding inside the hollow of a tree, it would be harder for me to sense you.¡± While he thought the matter through, they went inside to eat lunch. When he stepped inside the building, he found the whole team seated around the table. It was Edge¡¯s first chance to interact with the crew as a group, and he quickly decided that he liked what he saw. He smiled at some gentle teasing, encouraging words, and the clear affection between them. He realized that just like the crafters at the Forge, Trapper¡¯s crew was a family. One formed through choice rather than blood. He learned that the others had been watching through the windows while he dueled with Trapper, and each of the hunters had some tips to share. While they discussed his performance at length, Violet brought in a steaming pot from the kitchen, and they started to eat. The main course was a thick vegetable stew, with tubers and spices that Edge couldn¡¯t even begin to identify. It was tasty and filling. He helped himself to seconds before helping to clear the table. Then it was time for dessert. Ann¡¯s pie was every bit as wonderful as promised. It made him curious about the girl who had provided the apples, since he was sure that she was the same person he¡¯d met shortly after arriving in town. They chatted for a while after their meal, then Ann and Edge left the lodge after saying their goodbyes. He stopped by Izzio¡¯s to buy some dried meat to take into the field, only to learn that his latest haul had already sold. Since he had enough Credits, he walked over to the Consortium¡¯s store to buy a few more items for his kit, including a replacement stink bomb and an extra change of clothes. He also picked up a pair of gloves and some boots that were far more comfortable than the pair the wardens had given him at the start of his tutorial. Edge spent the rest of the night conditioning his body and practicing with his naginata on the green, along with some skills training with slash and elemental blade. Then he stopped by the common room of the Pioneer to eat dinner¡ªchatting with Rita and Sam for an hour or so before heading up to his room. He decided to pass out early, ready to give it his all tomorrow, since it was his last chance to improve before his exam. When he opened his menus, he saw that his training with Trapper had been valuable in more ways than one. By conditioning the connection between your body and brain, your Perception has increased by 1. By conditioning your body, your Reflex has increased by 1. Wearing a satisfied grin, Edge stretched out beneath the covers and closed his eyes. He was out like a light only five minutes later. Chapter 111: Fate Sakura flitted across the rooftops of Puppet Town, quiet as a whisper. She came to a stop at the end of the last block, watching as Warren left through the north gate. The same gate that Edge had passed through not twenty minutes ago. When the manslayer vanished from sight, she let out a long sigh, wondering what was about to happen. She had no clue what fate had in store today. What she did know was this: Sometime within the next few hours, their three-way game of cat and mouse would come to an end. No matter what went down when Warren found Edge, only one man would live to see the sunset. If Sakura had to bet, she would reluctantly wager everything that she owned on Warren. The bounty hunter had decades of combat experience, while Edge was still a novice. Warren¡¯s gear was better, and his skills were stronger. Although Edge had undergone explosive growth over the last week, he was still far behind the man who was hunting him. Despite all of that, she was certain that Edge had a chance of making it back alive. Something that wouldn¡¯t have been possible only a few short days ago. The deck was stacked in Warren¡¯s favor, but that was only half the story. Both men had powers that the other wasn¡¯t aware of, most notably the true nature of Edge¡¯s ultimate ability [Overdrive]. Sakura had gone out on a limb to keep them apart, granting Edge every minute she could to grow stronger and come into his own. But matters had reached the point where if she did anything more, she would set the manslayer on her own trail. An outcome as certain as dusk following dawn. Yesterday, Warren had finally caught wind of Skill-Eater¡¯s existence. Now, matters were coming to a head like two freight trains colliding. With any luck, Edge would be strong enough to survive the impending conflict, removing the bounty hunter from the board once and for all. Her last act had been to set the stage, making sure Edge knew that the manslayer was coming. Before Edge left town, she had slipped a note into his belt. Warning him that Warren was hot on his heels and looking for blood. Sakura had included everything that she¡¯d been able to uncover about the bounty hunter¡¯s skills, tactics, and gear, including the first spellshot chambered in his revolver and an educated guess about the second. While part of her wanted to follow them and lend aid from the shadows, the risk involved was far too great. No matter what happened, she couldn¡¯t afford to tip Warren off. He would come after her if he suspected that she was interfering in his work, let alone caught a whiff of her own special core. If Edge died today, she should be able to remain anonymous for a while longer. Sakura was hoping to form an alliance with Edge. But if he wasn¡¯t strong enough to defeat the manslayer, then he wasn¡¯t the person she was looking for after all. She would mourn his loss and start looking for a new partner instead. But she had a good feeling about Edge, and more than that, she liked him. He was a good person, although he wasn¡¯t a hero, which suited her fine. What she wanted was an antihero. Someone who was willing to do what it took to survive but didn¡¯t always enjoy what doing so would entail. Psychopaths and white knights were fated to short lives on Ord, and she needed a champion who was neither. Sakura sat down with her back against a rain barrel, where she had a good view of the gate. Then she pulled out a book and began to read, waiting to see what would happen. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. *** Edge walked through the tall grass that gave the Ivory Plains their name, keeping one eye on the horizon and the other on the ground by his feet. It was a hot day. Even with a hat to keep the sun off his face, he was sweating bullets. It made him glad that he had decided to travel light. He had left the cart at Trapper¡¯s, so that he could cover as much ground as possible. After some consideration, he had decided to head into the northeastern grasslands for his final day of hunting before his exam. He had explored the area south of town recently and hadn¡¯t run into another promising beast. There were bound to be more out there. But Edge was looking for another late stage-one predator, since he was prioritizing filling his empty skill slots and cycling-up over earning Credits today. With that goal in mind, he was heading toward a sub-biome that offered excellent visibility, where his view wouldn¡¯t be obstructed by the endless prairie. While he walked, he practiced reaching for his naginata. He needed to make the motion required to free the polearm from its harness as natural as possible, so that he could use the weapon to defend himself at a moment¡¯s notice. He was having a hard time with the maneuver so far, but he was starting to get used to the extra weight hanging from his back. Half an hour later, he was drawing near his destination. The shoulder-high grass came to an end just a little further ahead. Edge was about to leave dense foliage and step into a region covered in cracked red earth and bright yellow flowers. Man, it¡¯s a real scorcher today. I wonder if I can find a skill to help me deal with the heat. When he reached down to take a sip from his canteen, he noticed that a slip of paper was sticking out from one of his belt pouches. What in the world? He grabbed the end and pulled it out, realizing that the strip was covered in writing in a clean, compact hand. When Edge read the first line, he froze in place. Adrenaline poured into his veins as his heart began pounding like a kettle drum. ¡°Warren knows about Skill-Eater. He¡¯s coming for you and will attack before you make it back to town. -Sakura.¡± He had no idea who Sakura was, how she knew about his core, or why she had left the note. He didn¡¯t have time to worry about it now. If what she had written was true, his life was in danger and there wasn¡¯t a second to spare. He knew from the feed that Warren preferred to ambush his prey. If the manslayer was hunting Edge, he needed to hide, or he¡¯d be dead before he knew what hit him. He activated conceal and kept on reading, glad that the skill didn¡¯t obstruct his view of whatever he was holding. The rest of the paper contained a partial profile of Warren¡¯s capabilities. It listed several of his skills, pieces of gear, and preferred tactics. It was all useful, but Edge was most interested in two key pieces of information. The first was the contents of Warren¡¯s spellshot revolver. Or more accurately, the details of the first two shots that he typically loaded into its chambers. The second was a warning. ¡°Warren has a Disruption skill that will disable your shadow step if you enter its range. He will try to trick you into closing the distance, then take you out the moment that the field deactivates your skill. It costs a lot of mana to maintain, so he will try to time its use rather than leave it on.¡± Edge would have loved to consider the profile at length. Or better yet, to make it back to town, come up with a plan, then face the manslayer on the ground of his choosing. But a half-dozen frantic heartbeats later, the ink began fading away. Even if it hadn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t have had a chance to browse it at his leisure. Because at that very moment, Warren¡¯s voice called out to him, letting Edge know that his time was up and a fight for his life had begun. ¡°Vasher, I know you¡¯re out here. I¡¯m impressed that you sensed my presence, but it¡¯s already too late. I¡¯m collecting your bounty and there¡¯s nothing you can do to stop me.¡± His manner was casual, almost friendly. But there was an eagerness behind the words that made Edge¡¯s skin crawl. ¡°Since it¡¯s dead or alive, I¡¯m willing to offer you a single chance to do this the easy way. Come out from wherever you¡¯re hiding and reach for the sky. There¡¯s no point in running, I¡¯m taking you in.¡± When Edge glanced down, his shadow was hiding between his boots, which meant that the sun was directly overhead. A high magic showdown at high noon was about to commence, and only one man would be walking away. Chapter 112: Showdown ¡°I don¡¯t want to shoot you, Vasher. But if you¡¯re not willing to surrender peacefully, then you leave me with no choice.¡± Something in Warren¡¯s tone told Edge that the manslayer was only trying to distract him. That he had no intention of letting Edge walk out of this encounter alive. No sooner had that thought crossed his mind than the bounty hunter appeared before his eyes. Warren strolled across the cracked earth, grinning like he didn¡¯t have a care in the world. His revolver was holstered on one hip and his short sword was sheathed on the other, hanging next to an oversized canteen. The manslayer hadn¡¯t drawn either weapon. He didn¡¯t seem to be looking for Edge either. He just kept on walking, like he was out for a stroll instead of itching for a fight. Edge fought down the urge to bolt when the bounty hunter unholstered his revolver and pointed it in his direction. Getting hit by that gun was a death sentence. A threat far greater than anything he¡¯d faced before. But for some reason, Warren was waiting to fire his spellslinger and unleash the lethal magic contained within its chamber. When Edge thought about what he¡¯d just read, the answer came to him. His drone must not have had a good view of me, thanks to the tall grass. He only has a rough idea of where I am and is hoping that I will give myself away. Warren¡¯s posture was completely unguarded. Every so often, the manslayer turned one way or another, leaving his back wide open. He even reached down to flip the lid off his canteen, although he didn¡¯t raise it to take a drink. Edge was tempted to rush in and launch a surprise attack. To land a critical blow before Warren figured out where he was. He would have tried it if wasn¡¯t for Sakura¡¯s warning and Trapper¡¯s training. This is what the note was talking about. Everything he¡¯s doing is a trap. Warren¡¯s watching through his drone instead of his eyes. He took advantage of the moment to think as fast as he could. Those spellshots are too expensive to waste. He wants you to shadow step in and get hit by his Disruption field first. Warren is waiting for you to appear in front of him, so that he can take you out from a range where he won¡¯t have to worry about missing the shot. Don¡¯t get sucked into his mind games. Learn what you can from observing and get ready to make your move. ¡°Come now, Vasher. This is pointless. That stealth skill is draining your mana, making you weaker the longer you wait. You¡¯re practically doing my job for me. All I have to do is enjoy the scenery until your reservoir runs dry and you reappear.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He knew that Warren was trying to manipulate him, but Edge had to admit that the man had a point. He couldn¡¯t afford to sit here forever. Conceal was gradually depleting his reserves, shifting the odds further in the manslayer¡¯s favor with every second that passed. But acting in haste and engaging Warren without a plan was a recipe for disaster. He had to come up with something that could get him out of this mess before it was too late. Edge kicked his brain into high gear, eyes never leaving his foe. That was when something went streaking through the air a few feet in front of his face. It tore stalks of grass free in passing before slamming into the trunk of a tree with incredible force, sending splinters and leaves raining down. He almost dove out of the way, which would have given his position away. Instead, he remained frozen in place, barely daring to breathe as he tried to figure out what had just happened. That wasn¡¯t a shot from his revolver. It must be some kind of skill¡ªone that wasn¡¯t on Sakura¡¯s list. When Edge looked closer, he saw that a trickle of water was flowing up from Warren¡¯s canteen. It formed a small globe that floated in the air in front of him before it went flying off in a different direction, shredding more grass in its wake. He must be using something that can manipulate water. That explains the big canteen he always carries. Judging by the size of the shots, there must be enough for hundreds of attacks in there. Given how little mana it¡¯s putting off, he can probably keep this up all day. Edge, on the other hand, could only afford to keep conceal running for a few more minutes before he would lose a significant portion of his reserves. He needed to concoct a strategy, and he needed to do it fast. Since Edge was weaker and had far less experience, the only thing that might tip the scales back in his direction was an advantage in information. Warren doesn¡¯t know that I know about any of his skills, other than the one he just showed me. Even if he¡¯s been watching me for days, he shouldn¡¯t know about the heart-guard, since Lilly won¡¯t talk, or Overdrive, because I haven¡¯t used it since arriving in town. Although the manslayer¡¯s reservoir was bigger than Edge¡¯s, Warren couldn¡¯t afford to waste mana either. I doubt that he can keep his drone in the air indefinitely, but I should assume that it¡¯s watching me right now. If I want to land a hit, I need to throw him off balance first. If I play into his expectations, then do something else at the last moment, I might be able to surprise him. By now, a plan had begun forming in his mind. Another few seconds, and it might be good enough to save him. That was the moment when a stick under Edge¡¯s boot gave way, releasing a distinct crack. It wasn¡¯t a loud sound, especially with the noise of the wind blowing across the grass. He got ready to run, but Warren just kept grinning and walking, showing no sign that he had heard¡­ Right up until he pointed his revolver spellslinger straight at Edge and pulled the trigger. Concept Art Warren and his spellshot revolver A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Chapter 113: Inferno With a puff of displaced air, something came streaking out of the end of Warren¡¯s gun. Alarm bells went off in Edge¡¯s mind in that instant. His instincts were screaming that he was dead if he was standing anywhere near where the spellshot landed. They were certain that shadow step wouldn¡¯t protect him from the high-rank skill contained within the lump of crystal. After digesting the rare skill, he had learned that while transforming into shadow made him impervious to physical attacks, most spells could still harm him. But it could still help him get away in time. Edge leapt and then immediately stepped. The world turned to smoke and mist as he soared into the air, landed, and leapt again¡ªincreasing his velocity several times over by executing the hasty combo. He flew over the cracked earth at breakneck speed, heading away from where he thought the shot would land. Since the crystalized spell moved slower than a bullet, he was able to open fifty feet of space before it activated a heartbeat later. It was just enough distance to save his life, placing him in the periphery of the blast that ensued instead of dead center. Sakura¡¯s note had warned him that the first shot in the manslayer¡¯s gun would be rank-five inferno. Edge learned two things in that moment. The first was that her information was good. The second was that the spell lived up to its name in every sense of the word. The world around the point of impact was consumed by living flame. It wasn¡¯t an explosion. Rather, the air itself had been replaced with fire, incinerating everything inside and catching the nearby grass ablaze. It looked like a star had landed on the plains, as molten conflagration the color of the rising sun erased everything within inferno¡¯s radius. If Edge hadn¡¯t been incorporeal, airborne, and leaping in the opposite direction, he would have died on the spot. Even if he was further out, the spell would have seared the air in his lungs while consuming all the oxygen in the area. But since he weighed next to nothing in his shadow form, the cushion of pressure that was formed as the hot air expanded shoved him along with it, carrying him another hundred feet over the next few seconds. That was the extent of the good news. The burning mana seared his skin, eating away at his flesh and hair, scorching his armor and pack. His eyes were scalded, blinding him after his eyelids were consumed. He hit the ground hard, unable to see his surroundings, although he could tell that he had landed in the tall grass. Holding his breath, Edge was forced to drop shadow step and activate regeneration. Blessed relief engulfed him as his burns began to vanish. The light of the world returned when his eyes were healed a few seconds later. Thankfully, the heat had only seared their surfaces and hadn¡¯t been enough to destroy them. As soon as he turned regeneration off, he activated conceal. He cast his senses into the world around him, praying that Warren¡¯s drone hadn¡¯t been able to find him due to the magical interference created by the powerful spell. Edge had traded a fair chunk of his mana for one of Warren¡¯s rounds. He wasn¡¯t sure who had come out ahead in the exchange, but he didn¡¯t have time to worry about it now. Either way, he was lucky to be alive. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. He needed to find the bounty hunter before the man found him. Edge turned off conceal and began crawling on his belly, heading for the border of the grass a few feet ahead. When he got there, his jaw dropped at the panorama of devastation that awaited his gaze. By now, inferno had run its course, leaving only char and ruin behind. Edge was fortunate that he had flown so far. A huge swath of the grasslands had caught ablaze, and the fire was spreading fast. If Ord wasn¡¯t a magical planet, the bounty hunter would have just sparked off a natural disaster, endangering the town and every living thing for miles around. But due to the seeker storms that occasionally swept across the region, the biome had a way of dealing with fires on the prairie. Edge could sense the flow of magicytes in the region shift. Moisture began gathering in the air around the burning grass, as the plains¡¯ magic acted to prevent the ecosystem from being destroyed. Steam billowed into the air as water met fire and contained the spread, clouding the area and obfuscating his view. It made him wonder if the grass was able to use some manner of skill by working in concert. If each stalk had its own tiny reactor buried deep inside. Then he realized that oxygen deprivation was making him loopy. Since the fire was dying down and a cool wind was blowing, he took in a deep breath, trying not to cough as wisps of smoke entered his lungs. That was when Edge caught sight of Warren¡¯s drone for the first time. It was a sky-blue sphere the size of a small bird, hovering in the air above where inferno had touched down. At the moment, it was swaying back and forth in the wind created by mingling bands of hot and cold air. It would have been impossible to spot if not for the smoke billowing into the air behind it. No wonder I never noticed it until now. The drone took off a heartbeat later. It began sweeping the area, making progressively bigger circles as it went. Judging by its behavior, Edge was certain that the device could tell that he hadn¡¯t been caught in the blast. That Warren was already hunting him again. Since it would be a few minutes before the skill-summoned drone made it this far out, he dropped conceal to save mana. He started scanning the area for the bounty hunter as he fought to gain control over his racing heart. To collect the composure that had been shaken by his close brush with death. Edge saw the man a few seconds later, creeping along the grass line, using the rising mist to obscure his form. His icy smile was gone, replaced by a frustrated grimace. Edge wasn¡¯t sure if Warren was annoyed by his escape or by wasting the round, but he could tell that the manslayer was pissed. I can¡¯t afford to let him fire off any more spellshots. Inferno would have been the end of me if I didn¡¯t know what was coming, and the next one sounds even worse. Past that point, I¡¯ll have no idea what to expect and my odds of surviving the attack will fall somewhere between slim and none. Instead of burning more mana with conceal, Edge worked his way deeper into the foliage, moving slowly so that he didn¡¯t draw attention to himself. He covered his body with loose grass and dirt, freezing in place when he heard the drone go whizzing over his head. For a second, he was terrified that the device had spotted him. But it kept right on going. It just cleared this area. I need to make my move before it comes back. That was when Edge saw his chance. A big cloud of steam and smoke wafted over the manslayer¡¯s position, causing him to cough while obscuring his view. Edge didn¡¯t hesitate. He shadow stepped and went charging in, streaking straight for Warren¡¯s back like a bolt of black lightning. On the way, he reached behind his shoulder and freed his naginata from its harness, touching the section that made the shaft expand to its natural length. Judging by his experience with the reavers, Warren would be able to see him coming, but Edge¡¯s movements would be hard to track. With any luck, the bounty hunter wouldn¡¯t be able to make out the polearm, especially if Edge¡¯s advance had caught him by surprise. However, he wasn¡¯t counting on luck this time. Which wound up being the only thing that saved his life. For a moment, it seemed that the manslayer had failed to notice Edge¡¯s advance. But it was just a ruse. Before he could enter striking range, Warren spun around, drew his sword, and activated a skill. Chapter 114: Pull A pulse of Disruption expanded from Warren¡¯s core, widening to a ten-foot hemisphere in the blink of an eye. It reminded Edge of the technique that Trapper had performed, only bigger, faster, and stronger. Just like what had happened when he was fighting the crew¡¯s leader, the instant that the antimagic field touched his body, shadow step was forcibly deactivated, and the color of the world returned. Warren¡¯s sword came up in a flash, gleaming beneath the light of the noonday sun, ready to bury itself in Edge¡¯s guts. The manslayers face wore a look of immense satisfaction¡ªthe triumphant joy of a predator going in for the kill. But Warren¡¯s hunt wasn¡¯t fated to end so simply. He had failed to account for one key fact. This outcome was exactly what Edge had been expecting. Instead of being disoriented and panicking in that moment, he leapt the second that he rematerialized. Rather than jumping up, he leaned forward and launched himself straight at the manslayer with incredible speed¡ªthe point of his polearm leading the way. Warren realized that he¡¯d been tricked at the last possible moment. He raised his sword to shield his body while ducking to one side, just as Edge slashed for all he was worth. The hasty parry was enough to deflect the angle of the naginata by a few degrees. But thanks to the force Edge had put behind the blow, it wasn¡¯t sufficient to get out of the way. The black blade bit into Warren¡¯s shoulder, cutting through his leather armor and sliding across his deltoid in a bright spray of blood. He swore and almost dropped his sword, giving Edge a chance to follow up. He transferred his forward momentum into a wicked horizontal slash. He planted one foot and kicked off with the other, then came back around in a streaking arc. It was an impressive move considering his limited experience with the weapon, but it wasn¡¯t good enough. Warren darted back in the nick of time, causing the blade to slice off the tail of his jacket rather than lacerating his body a second time. He leaned back in and then thrust with his sword, catching Edge in the side of his chest. Thanks to the extra Durability he¡¯d gained from using rank-two leap, the tip glanced off his ribs instead of sliding between them. That shoulder wound is sapping some power from his blows. If I press the attack, I might be able to break through. Edge was about to stop-thrust with the butt of his weapon, when Warren¡¯s core ignited. A dense wave of mana sent Edge flying back a bare second later¡ªlike a giant had caught him and then flung him away. At first, he thought that it was a skill that he hadn¡¯t seen before. But when a pair of watery blasts erupted into his stomach, he realized that the same power was responsible for both effects. He pushed me away by targeting the water in my body. Taking the hits hurt like hell. But they weren¡¯t strong enough to break his bones through his armor while Edge was flying in the same direction. On a less promising note, the opening gave Warren plenty of time to draw his revolver, take aim, and then fire his second spellshot of the battle. Ah hell. Not again. The instant that his boots hit the ground, Edge leapt back and activated shadow step. If Sakura¡¯s information was accurate, this round was even more dangerous than inferno. He had to get away before the crystalized spell activated after travelling a preset distance. Edge was able to open another sixty feet before that happened. When he glanced over his shoulder, he saw that Warren was running in the opposite direction, desperate to reposition before he was caught in his own attack. But since the shot had been coming toward Edge, he was much closer to its terminus. When the spellshot burst, he knew that Sakura had guessed its contents correctly. It¡¯s ocean¡¯s prison after all. He resolidified, having been warned that remaining in shadow form would leave him even more vulnerable this time around. Unfortunately, she hadn¡¯t been able to provide any additional details, other than that he needed to stay as far away as possible until the skill ran out of juice. While Edge fought to open more distance, a ball of water began to congeal in the air above their heads. Ocean¡¯s prison was growing larger by the second, as the mana contained within the skill assumed a liquid state. Once Warren had retreated a few hundred feet, he came to a stop, grabbing onto the trunk of a tree for support. The frosty grin was back on the man¡¯s face. That can¡¯t be good. Whatever is going on, he thinks that he¡¯s regained control of the fight. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. By this point, Edge realized that each step was more difficult than the last. That it took more and more effort to keep moving forward. It gave him some insight into what was happening. That spell isn¡¯t just making water, it¡¯s pulling me toward it. As he fought for every inch, Warren began to speak. He seemed happy to explain what was happening, since there wasn¡¯t anything that Edge could do about it. Lilly was right. That bastard really loves the sound of his own voice. ¡°Ocean¡¯s prison is one of my favorites. I¡¯m sure that it will come as no surprise to learn that there are plenty of creatures on Ord that are so tough that it isn¡¯t practical to take them out with raw damage alone. But that doesn¡¯t mean they won¡¯t die. No matter how much Durability your prey might have, most of them still need to breathe. And no matter how big they are, gravity will still yank just as hard.¡± While the bounty hunter monologued, he started firing off watery blasts. Several came close, but none landed on target. Edge saw that instead of arcing down to the ground, they were curving up toward the spell in the sky. ¡°Half of the mana creates a big sphere of water. The other half gives it an immense gravitational pull. Since the spell¡¯s gravity is stronger than Ord¡¯s, it drags everything nearby into the center. Then simple water takes care of the rest. The best part is, Disruption won¡¯t help, since the prison¡¯s effect is generated at the point of impact. Not to mention, it leaves the bodies intact for easy looting.¡± By this point, Edge couldn¡¯t take another step. He had to fight with everything he had simply to remain in place. He drove the blade of his naginata into the ground, then gripped the shaft for dear life, praying that his strength would hold out longer than the high-rank skill. He didn¡¯t much like his odds, since the spell was growing more powerful with every beat of his heart. When he looked over his shoulder, pieces of the plains were rising from the ground and sinking into the prison. Rocks, loose grass and dirt, even whole trees near the epicenter went sailing into the air before they were trapped within the floating sphere. And while he saw plenty go in, nothing came back out. Even still, it seemed like Edge had a chance until one of Warren¡¯s water bullets hit him in the chest, then two more in rapid succession. Unfortunately, the man was getting better at adjusting his aim to account for the various forces at play. When another shot hit Edge¡¯s hands, he lost his grip, and his body started to rise. He almost went flying to his death in that moment. He grabbed at the nearby stalks until they gave way, pulling himself lower with each handful, then reached out to dig his fingers into the dirt. He began gliding back, digging long furrows in the earth, sliding faster and faster toward the ocean¡¯s prison. The watery trap was now a good twenty feet in diameter, although it had finally stopped growing. It was more than enough to end him either way. With the rate that the pull was increasing with proximity, Edge was certain that if he entered the water, he would never come out again. The only good part of this situation¡­ well maybe good was too strong a word. The only not completely terrible part was that Warren had to stay back, or he would get caught in his own trap. His blasts were no longer reaching Edge¡¯s position either. The man tried firing off a few more, but the pull of the prison had become too strong to arc them over. Edge looked over his shoulder, desperately seeking some way to open more ground before it was too late. That was when he saw a tree about ten feet behind him. It was the only thing within reach that just might give him a chance. When the pull broke his grip, he ran at an angle, which let him catch the trunk instead of flying past. He wrapped his arms around it and held on as tight as he could. It bought him another few seconds, but it wasn¡¯t going to be good enough. Edge¡¯s arms would give out before long, and the tree¡¯s roots were already coming loose from the soil. He struggled and strained, pulling himself onto the side of the trunk that was opposite the prison. He planted his feet, took aim for the closest tree, and then leapt. He barely made it. Instead of landing near the trunk, he went arching up¡ªgrabbing some of the highest branches instead. Although it was further away from the spell in the sky, this tree wasn¡¯t as deeply rooted as the last. Within a matter of seconds, he could feel it start to rise, as its roots came free from the earth. In that desperate moment, a flash of inspiration struck. Entangle. Edge cast the spell twice in a row, targeting the base of the trunk. Eight vines emerged from the soil and wrapped around the roots, holding the tree in place for another few seconds. It was better than nothing, but it wasn¡¯t going to buy him enough time. The pull was too strong this close to the prison, and he was running low on mana. Edge began working his way through the branches, pulling himself down to the trunk. Along the way, he cast entangle about twelve feet further out. Once the vines were in position, he braced his feet against the bark, body parallel with the earth, and leapt. He misjudged the pull and almost didn¡¯t make it. Just before his momentum expired, the roots reached out and wrapped around his arms, since Edge had set their target for his own body. He cast the spell again and again, until he was completely covered in writhing tendrils, anchoring him to the spot. He was lucky that he¡¯d made it this far away from the prison, or it would have pulled him out of the ground, vines and all. As it was, he was barely able to remain tethered to the earth. By now, the gravity was growing weaker, and Warren began to swear. He fired off more watery blasts, but they were absorbed by the hearty vines and didn¡¯t do much damage. Edge knew that the spell had run its course when the giant sphere of water came crashing to the ground, flooding the area below. He shadow stepped into the closest patch of grass and kept right on going. He had survived, but he was running on fumes. His mana would run dry within another few seconds at most, leaving him at the manslayer¡¯s mercy. Or the distinct lack of it in this case. But Edge wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. Using the last of his reserves, he activated conceal and got ready to reach into his pack. Chapter 115: Trap Edge took a deep breath, shutting out the adrenaline-soaked instincts telling him to rise and run before he got hit again. He forced himself to calm down and remain perfectly still, ignoring the stalks of bladed yellow grass that were slicing into his skin. He needed to keep a level head if he wanted to survive. To take advantage of this moment to calm down and think, although he only had enough mana to stay concealed for a few final heartbeats. Surviving Warren¡¯s assault had been far too close for comfort, and he hadn¡¯t found an opening to use [Overdrive] yet. If Edge was going to have any chance of winning the fight, he had to wait for the right moment to strike. Until he whittled down the manslayer¡¯s mana, Warren¡¯s Disruption pulse would counter most of what Edge could do, even with unlimited use of his skills. While it was powerful, Skill-Eater¡¯s ultimate only lasted for thirty seconds. If he couldn¡¯t win before it ran out, not only would he have no chance of winning, the bounty hunter would put an end to him the moment that the exhaustion from using [Overdrive] kicked in. But Edge still had another card he could play. A way to make this the midpoint of their showdown, rather than the end. Before Warren could find him, Edge turned off conceal, reached into his bag, and removed the magtech preservation unit Lilly had given him. He cracked open the seal, and the wonderous odor of the mana-seed broke over him. It smelled kind of like strawberries and mangos, only a hundred times more delicious. He didn¡¯t have time to appreciate it right now. He scooped out the fruit and shoved most of it into his mouth. He swallowed while praying that the sumptuous flavor wasn¡¯t the last thing that he would ever experience. The seed¡¯s concentrated magicytes flowed into his core the moment that they entered his stomach, filling his reservoir to the brim in an instant. His reactor flickered to life as the excess magic overran from his tank. Before it could go to waste, he activated regeneration. As his bruises and cuts began sealing themselves shut, Edge acted on instinct. He leapt back, angling his jump long instead of high, just as a water bullet went screaming through the space that his head had occupied a fraction of a second earlier. Warren must have another drone in the air. He saw me the moment that I dropped conceal. He¡¯s finding me faster every time. I should assume that he knows exactly where I am going forward. Conceal won¡¯t work again, unless I use it while he¡¯s distracted. On the other hand, if his perceptions are in his drone right now, he won¡¯t be paying close attention to what¡¯s happening near his body. I might be able to catch him by surprise. Edge shadow stepped to obscure his hands, then flowed out onto the cracked red earth, dodging a trio of water bullets along the way. The moment that he caught sight of Warren, he took aim, deactivated the skill, and threw as hard as he could. A wad of concentrated magic went streaking for the manslayer¡¯s position, causing him to flinch as he pulled his senses back into his own body. He flared Disruption pulse hard, but it didn¡¯t do anything at all, letting the object land on target. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The reason why was simple. Instead of using a skill, Edge had flung the last piece of the mana-seed he was holding. He was gambling that since Warren¡¯s attention was divided, he would assume that the incoming mana was some manner of attack and respond as such. When the Disruption skill didn¡¯t work, the manslayer tried again, then darted back to open some distance, confusion clear in every crook of his features. He wiped a bit of mush off his jacket, sniffed at it, and then let out a laugh. ¡°Did you just throw a mana-seed at me, Vasher? I must admit, I haven¡¯t seen that one before. I¡¯m not sure what you were hoping to accomplish, other than wasting some of my reserves¡­¡± Warren¡¯s words were cut short as Edge¡¯s polearm came sailing through the air like a spear, heading straight for his chest. The bounty hunter jumped to one side, throwing his body out of the way of the naginata at the last possible moment. He must have sensed that something was wrong. Some instinct developed through a lifetime of hunting. He twisted his body and tried to scramble away the instant that his boots touched the ground. But it was already too late. The moment that Warren used his Disruption pulse a second time, Edge had cast entangle. He was gambling that since the bounty hunter was off balance and had just wasted a huge chunk of mana, he would be slow to realize that his opponent had cast the spell. Especially with the concentrated magic of the seed wafting out from his location. At last, Edge had managed to use the lessons he¡¯d been taught to maneuver Warren into a trap. Twelve thick vines, three separate castings of entangle, burst free from the soil, converging on the bounty hunter like an army of serpents. Even caught by surprise, Warren was remarkably agile. He ducked and leapt and dodged like a man possessed, almost making it out of the skills¡¯ reach before they could close the distance. Fortunately for Edge, in this case, almost wasn¡¯t good enough. One of the vines wrapped around the man¡¯s leg and pulled hard, making him stumble and take a hasty step. A step that came down beside another pair of tendrils. They slipped around his ankle and grabbed hold tight, rooting Warren to the spot. The rest of the vines followed suit a heartbeat later, winding around each of his limbs and then tugging with considerable force. The manslayer struggled, but he couldn¡¯t get away. His pulse flared again, causing the vines to freeze up a second¡­ before springing right back to life. He cursed as he tried to slash with his sword, but he lacked the leverage to take a good swing. Thank god for Sakura¡¯s note. It had let Edge know that Disruption wouldn¡¯t stop his vines once they had taken physical form. He must be running dangerously low on mana by now. For a moment, Edge thought that it was over. He started walking closer, getting ready to activate his ultimate and land a killing blow. But Warren must have been able to reach one of the magtech devices strapped to his body. Edge saw something shimmering in the air. A cloud of gold-class aether that was beginning to take form. He knew that something was wrong and leapt away just in time. As he flew out of range, the aether solidified into an array of razored blades, protruding from the surface of Warren¡¯s clothing. They sprang into motion, spinning with incredible force to form a blender of magical energy. The vines parted with ease before the powerful apparatus¡ªshorn segments flying toward the sky before raining back down. The device turned itself off a few seconds later, its charge of aether expended. The mana-forged blades stopped turning and then faded away. But it had served its purpose and freed him from Edge¡¯s trap. Warren took a step, then another, releasing himself from the weight of the plants that were gradually turning to dust. He brushed himself off, then looked right at Edge and grinned. ¡°Not bad, Vasher. But not good enough.¡± Chapter 116: Brawl Edge was already running, heading toward the spot where his naginata had landed. He dove and slid the last few feet, causing a pair of water bullets to go streaking over his head instead of hitting him in the face. The instant that his hands closed around the shaft, he shadow stepped and charged, heading straight for Warren with his weapon at the ready. Right now, Edge didn¡¯t care if the skill got disrupted. He was on guard against rematerializing without warning, and using up the last of the manslayer¡¯s mana would boost his odds of winning the fight. But that wasn¡¯t what went down. Warren raised his sword with one hand and reached for his bandolier with the other. He backpedaled to open some distance while sliding two crystal vials free from their bindings in a single motion. One of them held a pale lavender brew, with flakes of something golden suspended in the fluid. The other was metallic silver, like mercury with a faint blue sheen. Whatever manner of potions they held, Edge couldn¡¯t afford to let the man drink. He dropped his skill and lunged with his polearm, but Warren ducked out of reach. Edge brought the weapon back around in a horizontal arc, executing a slash that the man barely dodged. As he scrambled to recover his balance, Warren popped the corks and then downed the potions in a single motion. A move that he must have made hundreds of times for it to be that smooth. Oh shit. Edge leapt back and raised his guard, unsure as to what he should do. That can¡¯t be good. For a second, nothing happened. Then the manslayer abruptly sped up, becoming more dexterous at the same time. He began to advance as Edge gave ground. Each movement Warren made was as smooth as oil gliding over water. The tip of his sword began darting forward like the tongue of a viper, testing Edge¡¯s guard. He was sure in that moment that the alchemical concoctions had boosted the manslayer¡¯s already impressive Speed and Control. Possibly Reflex too. While there were rare potions that had other effects, most of them provided a temporary boost to physical attributes. The power, duration, and side effects of such brews varied greatly, depending on their quality. While even the best potions only lasted for a few minutes at most, Warren had just become even more dangerous than he already was. Edge couldn¡¯t afford to trade blows while his opponent was potion-boosted. He needed to get away and open some distance. Play defense until the concoctions wore off. His enemy had other plans. One second the manslayer was grinning at Edge in contempt. The next, Warren was right beside him, short sword poised to strike. He leapt out of the way, enhancing his Durability in the process. Edge moved fast, but Warren moved faster still. Before his boots left the ground, he felt the red agony of a blade biting into his gut. It cut deep, but thanks to his armor, skill, and momentum, the sword didn¡¯t reach his organs. Regeneration would be able to patch him up before he bled too much, if he managed to evade the bounty hunter¡¯s next attack. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Edge soared across the parched earth, with Warren only a few steps behind. He leapt again the moment that he came back down, then again, building up speed with every use of the skill. The manslayer followed in his wake, as relentless as Edge¡¯s shadow, looking for an opening to land a killing blow. When he saw Warren reach for his revolver, Edge knew that he couldn¡¯t afford to keep running. That spellslinger was even more deadly than the potion-enhanced sword. He landed hard, coming to a skidding stop as his boots dug into the dirt. Before Warren fired, Edge leapt again, coming straight at the man with his polearm leading the way. He swore and dove out of reach, returning his gun to its holster. Edge slashed, bringing the naginata down in a powerful vertical chop. Instead of trying to dodge, the bounty hunter stepped into the attack. He dropped his sword and caught the shaft mid-descent, grunting as he absorbed the force of the skill-bolstered swing. Although he wasn¡¯t a Power build, Warren was still far stronger than Edge. He started pulling the naginata out of Edge¡¯s grasp. Within another second or two, he was going to be disarmed. He thought that the potions were starting to wear off, but they would last long enough for Warren to strip him of his weapon. Rather than engaging in a contest of Power that he was certain to lose, Edge let go of the shaft with one hand. He reached back, made a fist, and then punched Warren as hard as he could. The manslayer saw the blow coming, and effortlessly ducked under the first fist¡­ which put him square in the path of the second. Edge had activated double strike the second that he saw which way the man would move. Warren didn¡¯t know that Edge had the skill, and it caught him by surprise. Ghostly knuckles met nose with a hearty crunch. It wasn¡¯t enough to do much damage to the smug bastard¡¯s face, given the difference between their Power and Durability. But it still hurt like hell, and more importantly, transferred some of the shock to his brain. Edge followed up with a jab to the man¡¯s stomach, then kicked him square in the shin. When he tried to punch his face, Warren¡¯s hand came up to block the blow cold¡ªright before his headbutt hit Edge square in the jaw. Fortunately, the potions had run their course by this point. Each man still had one hand on the shaft of the naginata¡ªkeeping the other from using it while they attacked with the rest of their bodies. Both were able to land hits, since it was hard to dodge when they were so close to each other. This marked the beginning of a brutal exchange of blows. Edge wanted to use elemental blade and get in a combo with slash or double strike. But it took several seconds for the skill to form, and he couldn¡¯t afford to stop swinging his fist unless he wanted to surrender his weapon. Besides, there was a good chance that Warren still had enough mana to counter the iceblade with Disruption pulse, along with shadow step. By now, blood was running down both of their faces. Edge was starting to run low on magicytes again, but he thought that the bounty hunter was in even worse shape. Ten seconds later, Edge discovered that he had underestimated the extent of the other man¡¯s reserves. Because that was when Warren¡¯s core ignited, sending a blast of mana surging out. This time, instead of Disruption pulse, it was his water manipulation skill. It picked Edge up and sent him flying back, the naginata falling to the ground with a clatter. Before he could decide what to do next. Warren raised his spellslinger, took aim, and fired. Chapter 117: Heart The barrel of Warren¡¯s revolver flashed, unleashing his third spellshot of the battle. This time, he pointed the gun straight up, instead of trying to hit Edge directly. The move caught him by surprise, but the reason for it soon became as plain as day. This skill wasn¡¯t anything like the first two. Rather than generating a wide-area attack, the crystalized spell contained within the round took a different approach. The shimmering mass of mana began to congeal, assuming a physical form. Three spears made of a creamy white stone shimmered into existence in the same moment that Edge¡¯s boots hit the ground. He watched them out of the corner of his eye as he started sprinting to open some distance. It was clear that they were no ordinary weapons. In addition to hovering in the air, their points were formed from glowing gemstones, radiating enough magic to warp the air around them. I really don¡¯t like the look of that. Edge kept right on running, glancing over his shoulder as he desperately tried to dart out of range before the spears started moving. He doubted that it would work, but every second he could buy to study the spell and come up with a counter was an invaluable resource at this point. He could tell from the manslayer¡¯s smirk that the man was confident. Whatever was about to happen, Warren was certain that it would end the fight. He didn¡¯t seem concerned about what Edge was doing at all, which solidified his certainty that the spell didn¡¯t have any strict limits on range or duration. The bounty hunter was a chatty bastard when he thought he was in control. He was savoring the moment, happy to explain the dynamics at play, since he sure that Edge was about to die either way. ¡°There are lots of skills out there that allow their wielder to heal. Some are quite a bit more powerful than your low-rank regeneration. When you¡¯re fighting an enemy that can erase most forms of damage, one of the most effective ways to take them down is to target a vital organ. When your attacks can¡¯t destroy tissue faster than it can regrow, the best counter is to remove it from the body completely. ¡°Very few skills can restore a missing heart or brain for example, which is where this round comes in. Heart-render is a rank-five beauty that I just know you¡¯re going to love. When I give the signal, each of the spears will home in on their target, heading straight for your ticker. They¡¯re fast, but even if you dodge one, it will just circle round and keep on coming. One should be more than enough, so three is probably overkill. Oh well, I¡¯ll just have to deal with the mess. ¡°There is no time limit or maximum range. Feel free to run. Turn into shadow if you like. They¡¯re going to pierce your chest, no matter what you do. Solid, ethereal, it makes no difference at all. When they catch you, the spears are going to scoop your heart clean out before shredding it to pieces. Now, as fun as that sounds, spells that take physical form do suffer from a number of limitations. There are quite a few ways that you can counter them with the appropriate tactics or skills, none of which you have at your disposal. Say your prayers to whatever gods you believe in, Vasher. This ends here and now.¡± With that, Warren snapped his fingers, and all three stone spears came streaking for Edge, faster than an arrow in flight. He dodged the first by the narrowest of margins. He leapt over the second, and shadow stepped out of the way of the third with inches to spare. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Even in shadow form, the heart-render spears looked completely solid. Warren was telling the truth. He knew in that moment that they would be able to pierce him, even while incorporeal. This is bad. Really bad. He had blown through far too much mana just to dodge the first pass, and the skill-summoned weapons showed no sign of running out of steam. At that point, Edge knew he was in trouble. Worse, there was no end in sight. Each of Warren¡¯s spellshots had been more powerful than the last. Whatever he had waiting in the final three chambers was certain to be even stronger. Something that could kill Edge instantly and that he wouldn¡¯t be able to dodge. The heart-render spears were bad enough. He had to put the manslayer down before he fired again. Though the bounty hunter was confident that the fight was already over, Edge had one last hand to play. Thanks to his implant and his ultimate, he might have a way of surviving this spell and get the drop on Warren at the same time. Edge wasn¡¯t sure if his plan would work, but it was the only chance he had. Knowing that this was going to hurt like hell, he scanned his surroundings and then dove to the ground, like he had tripped over a root in his haste. He rolled to a stop by the trunk of a tree, then got ready to make his move. A bare second later, the first stone spear went plunging into his chest. Like Warren had advertised, it aimed unerringly for his heart. When the crystal tip tried to pierce the organ, he felt a warm pulse of aether, as his heart-guard¡¯s barrier kicked in. It drained the mana powering the spear and deflected the point to one side, which went sliding out of his back without damaging his heart along the way. The second spell-summoned weapon met a similar fate, gouging his guts without inflicting lethal damage. When the third spear hit him, Edge felt the barrier fail. The implant vibrated, indicating that it was out of aether. The heart-render¡¯s tip came so close to killing him that he felt it brush against his heart on the way through. But his implant had been just enough to keep the manifestation from landing on target. All three weapons disintegrated a few seconds later, as the magic giving them material form dispersed into the wind. Edge activated regeneration for just a second. Then he turned it back off, like he had tried to heal his missing heart and died a moment later. It was sufficient to stem the internal bleeding, but not long enough to repair his sundered skin. From Warren¡¯s perspective, Edge¡¯s corpse was propped up against the trunk, sitting in a pool of his own blood. All of which was accurate, except for the corpse part. Don¡¯t blink. Don¡¯t breathe. Don¡¯t move a single muscle. Let him think that you¡¯re dead. This is your only chance to draw him in close and end the fight. If you fuck this up, it¡¯s game over. It¡¯s as simple as that. As those thoughts passed through Edge¡¯s head, Warren sauntered over to him with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. He looked so pleased with himself that he might burst into song. Of course, in that moment, the manslayer found something to say. ¡°You were a worthy adversary after all, Vasher. You lasted far longer than most of my prey. A phenomenal performance given your inexperience. I enjoyed that far more than I expected. I¡¯ll speak of you fondly when I share the story of your death, and I¡¯ll write your name on my list with pride. Let¡¯s see if you have anything worth looting, then it¡¯s time to return to the bounty board and get filthy fucking rich.¡± Edge was lucky that bounties had to be collected at the kiosk, or Warren would already know that he wasn¡¯t dead. If the man had been paying attention to his updates instead of gloating, he would have noticed that something was wrong. That Edge¡¯s heart was still beating, and his core was still intact. He was terrified that the manslayer would pull away at the last moment. Start stabbing with his sword or using his skills. Instead, Warren reached down and started going through Edge¡¯s backpack. He didn¡¯t seem to think that he would find anything good, but he was having fun anyway. The instant that his opponent looked away, Edge knew that his moment had come. Warren was standing right beside him, his guard was down, and his tank was running on fumes. It was time to find out which man would live to see tomorrow. To go all in and let the chips fall where they may. Overdrive, Edge sent his intentions into Skill-Eater, screaming as his reactor burst into flame. Concept Art Inferno If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Ocean''s Prison Warren caught by Entangle Chapter 118: Ultimate Edge had been saving his ultimate for the right moment, and now it had arrived. Warren was running on the dregs of his mana. He thought Edge was dead and was standing within arm¡¯s reach. It was a perfect time to take him by surprise and end the fight in a flash. Sometimes, when life and death are balanced on the edge of a knife, time slows to a crawl. The senses open and the mind speeds up, letting each second float by in a glacial procession. It gave Edge time to process what was happening in crisp, clear detail. To take in the warmth of the sunlight against his skin. The cool breeze blowing across the plains. The expression of dawning realization on Warren¡¯s face when he discovered that instead of looting a corpse, Edge was still very much alive. Within his chest, he could hear Skill-Eater laughing, reverberating across his soul. Edge¡¯s core approved of the deception and was eager to watch it bear fruit. The alien cackle was accompanied by the sound of an engine roaring to life. Of an endless river of incandescent might flowing into his reactor from beyond the door that led to the place where a giant was bound in endless black chains. Pressure was building within Edge¡¯s chest as the temperature continued to rise. As that mysterious engine called [Overdrive] snapped into place alongside his core, the device revved up. Pistons started to pump, and gears began to turn. It forced more and more magic into his reactor, until all he could hear was the crackle of flame. In less than a second, the impossibly dense energy hit critical mass¡ªburning so bright that Edge could see his core glowing through his skin. By now, the confusion on Warren¡¯s face was shifting to fear. ¡°What the fuck¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, the pressurized mana was set free. It erupted from Edge¡¯s reactor and went flowing into every skill that he had, granting him unlimited use of their power while making them stronger than ever before. Regeneration kicked in of its own accord, turbocharged in that moment¡ªerasing Edge¡¯s wounds in the blink of an eye. As time resumed its full course, Warren turned to run while fumbling for the spellslinger holstered at his hip. He knew that something had gone horribly wrong and was desperate to get away. Edge wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. He rose to his feet while casting as fast as he could. He used entangle time and time again, tossing his vines in every direction in sync with his racing heart. In that moment, he learned that his opponent had been maintaining a deception of his own. It turned out that Warren had more mana left than Edge had thought. The manslayer flared Disruption pulse hard, running the skill at maximum output. He doubted that the bounty hunter could keep it going for long, but it was enough to prevent him from being overwhelmed in an instant. The antimagic field kept the vines from manifesting beneath the manslayer¡¯s feet, but it couldn¡¯t stop the rest. A forest of living ivy burst free from the soil, hundreds of members strong. They encircled the men in a ring of grasping tendrils with a clear space in the middle. A ten-foot stage for the final act of their saga. While he hadn¡¯t been able to disable his foe, Edge had stopped Warren from getting away. And entangle was only the first skill at his disposal. Elemental blade emerged from Edge¡¯s palm, weaker and smaller than he¡¯d been expecting, flickering as it fought to retain its form. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It seemed that the boost to Amplification from [Overdrive] and the effect of Disruption pulse were evenly matched. Just enough to cancel each other out. But it couldn¡¯t stop the rest of what his ultimate could do. While the suppressive field kept Edge¡¯s skills from being stronger than normal, he could still use them without restraint for the next twenty-five seconds. Now he just needed to make them count. He held his iceblade in one hand and drew Trapper¡¯s knife in the other, naginata lost somewhere among the countless vines. Unfortunately, Warren¡¯s sword was lying near his feet. When he bent down to retrieve it, Edge scored a glancing blow along one shoulder, leaving his armor encrusted with ice. Warren didn¡¯t know what was happening, but the man¡¯s mind was needle sharp. You didn¡¯t live for decades hunting other people if you weren''t as quick on the uptake as you were on the draw. He could tell that Edge was using far more skills than he¡¯d expected. That Disruption pulse wasn¡¯t working the way that it should. But the man had no way to anticipate the full extent of what [Overdrive] could do¡ªenabling skill combos that would normally be impossible to pull off. Edge had no intention of letting him adapt. He feinted with the knife, using double strike to throw Warren off balance. He dodged, rather than try to parry the doubled blade. Before the manslayer could recover his stance, Edge followed up¡ªunleashing triple combo with elemental blade, slash, and double strike. Warren raised his sword up just in time to save his life, catching both iceblades on the end of his weapon. Then he swore and stepped back, as the metal conducted the cold into his hand, nearly freezing it solid before he knew what was happening. Edge attacked in a flurry, using both weapons, and even his feet. Every attack was doubled, every swing was a slash. He even leapt and concealed unpredictably, boosting his defense while keeping his opponent off balance. Edge abandoned defense, trading blows instead. Every cut he took healed in an instant, while Warren had no such recourse. The man tried reaching for his potions and his spellslinger, but Edge refused to let him draw. He slashed and kicked like a demon, blood and ice spreading across Warren¡¯s body as he racked up the hits. Each time that the bounty hunter blocked the dual iceblades, he was thrown back by the force of the triple combo, nearly falling into the vines waiting at the periphery of the ring. Edge began mixing in shadow step, abruptly speeding up to attack from unexpected directions. The manslayer was on his last legs, but Edge only had ten seconds left on his ultimate. He had to finish this fast, or he could still lose it all. He put everything he had in a final barrage, using every skill he could wield in a seamless combination. Just when he thought that his best wasn¡¯t going to be good enough, Edge felt Warren¡¯s Disruption pulse falter and die, as the man¡¯s reservoir ran dry at last. His iceblade grew a foot as the interference faded away, glowing a wrathful blue while chilling the air with winter¡¯s wrath. Certain that the other man had nothing left in his tank, Edge executed his final combo of the fight. He unleashed elemental blade, slash, and double strike in unison, each skill far more powerful than they had been only a moment ago. Fresh vines burst through the ground, binding the bounty hunter¡¯s feet. The pair of frozen swords went screaming through the air. Warren''s blade blocked his sword at the last possible second, but Edge¡¯s skills cut straight through, biting so deep that they didn¡¯t stop until they hit Warren¡¯s spine. The dual iceblades carved straight through the man¡¯s stomach along the way, turning his guts into a tangle of frozen shreds. The manslayer looked down at his ruined chest and then straight into Edge¡¯s eyes. Warren seemed surprised, then annoyed. Then his trademark grin spread across his face for the final time. He winked. Like he had one last trick to play, and it was going to be a good one. In that moment, Edge sensed an incredible amount of aether starting to take shape. Waves of gold began pouring out from the hole in the manslayer¡¯s chest, growing more intense with every passing second. He could tell that something was wrong, but it didn¡¯t change what he was going to do next. Before Warren died and his core died with him, he was going to steal every skill that he could. Extraction, he extended his wrists and bid his chains to fly free. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in hell, Vasher.¡± Warren¡¯s words formed bloody bubbles on his lips, just as Edge¡¯s chains went plunging into the bounty hunter¡¯s chest and dove deep into his core. Chapter 119: Boom That was one hell of a fight, manslayer. You better have some good skills after everything you put me through. A fraction of a heartbeat later, Edge¡¯s consciousness followed the black chains, and he was drawn inside Warren¡¯s core. He found himself standing in front of a small, well-maintained farm. There was an orchard of pear trees growing along one side of the property, and tall rows of corn arranged along the other. He could see a big barn and a farmhouse in the distance, with a river running behind them. Warren¡¯s core was peaceful, rustic, and surprisingly pleasant. It wasn¡¯t anything like what Edge had been expecting, and he honestly wasn¡¯t sure what to make of what he was seeing. He shrugged, then turned his attention to the task at hand. He wasn¡¯t here to learn about the mortally wounded man, let alone admire the view. He was here to take what he could, while he still had the chance. He was hoping to steal three good skills before the bounty hunter died, unless [Extraction] killed him first. Either way, Edge needed to work fast. He could see a half dozen skills from where he stood, and more were ranging further out. All of them were high-rank, and several seemed to be uncommon or rare. He didn¡¯t have time to inspect Warren¡¯s skills at his leisure. It wouldn¡¯t be long until the man breathed his last, even in this mysterious space where time trickled past. He needed to make his first pick fast and then come back for another. That being said, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste this opportunity either. Before he did anything else, he swept his gaze across the core, trying to see if any of Warren¡¯s skills stood out above the rest. The moment that he took a closer look, Edge knew that something was wrong. The sky along the horizon was burning, and the flames were headed his way fast. A crackling conflagration was spreading across the interior of the core in a flash, tinged with an aura of gold-grade aether. The pear trees were already burning, and the farmstead was next. He had never seen anything like it before and wasn¡¯t sure what he should do. That was when he realized that his chains were afraid. Skill-Eater conveyed an impression to him¡ªwarning him to leave this place while he still could. He knew in that moment that something terrible was happening. Something that would kill him if he didn¡¯t get away. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. When he remembered the manslayer¡¯s last words and the fact that time moved so slowly in this place, Edge thought that he understood what was going on. ¡°Shit.¡± It seemed that the battle for his life wasn¡¯t over yet after all. Warren just activated another magtech implant. Judging by how fast his core is being consumed, it must be some manner of bomb. The sadistic bastard must have installed it so that he could end his own life if he was dying anyway. Even if the other person survived the blast, they¡¯d lose all his loot, Mortium, and the experience from winning the fight. It meant that Edge¡¯s existence was in imminent danger. Within a fraction of a second once he left the core, or another minute or so if he stayed, the explosion was going to blow him to bits. Not to mention destroy everything that he stood to gain. He fought down the urge to panic, knowing that a single mistake would lead to his death, but unwilling to surrender his claim. In the time it took him to reach this conclusion, the golden destruction had spread. Half the sky was burning bright, as the bounty hunter¡¯s core was eaten away by a coruscating wave of aether. The farm was ablaze, and the corn was burning, along with several skills that were slow to get out of the way. Edge had to escape if he wanted to live. But there was no way that he was leaving emptyhanded. Since he didn¡¯t have time for a lengthy hunt, he ordered his chains to grab the closest skill¡ªa fat globe of water that was floating in the air. He was lucky that the living links could catch non-solid states of matter, or he would have had to flee with no skills at all. Sensing his urgency, the black chains struck, wrapping around the ball of fluid and dragging it out of the core. While they were busy, Edge finished planning out his next move. The instant that he snapped back into his skin, he activated shadow step and then leapt as high as he could, just as the last vestige of [Overdrive] flickered and faded away, leaving him running on fumes. The ultimate-boosted skill combo sent him rocketing through the air at an incredible rate, half a heartbeat before Warren¡¯s body exploded with the force of an artillery shell. Edge¡¯s chains tossed the skill into his mouth as a plume of golden flame reached out to engulf him. His world disappeared into searing aether, eating away at his skin. Since he had nothing better to do while he waited to see if he would live or die, Edge began to chew. When he tried to bite down, some strange force kept his jaws from closing. He didn¡¯t have the strength to fight it, but since the skill was made of water, he just swallowed it whole along with the air in his mouth. As a result, he didn¡¯t get much of the taste, just the impression of standing dry in the middle of the rain, before the full force of the blast caught him and drove every thought from his head. The shockwave carried Edge up and out, streaking through the sky like a comet¡¯s shadow before his mana ran out and he rematerialized. When the skill finished digesting, a prompt from the System appeared. Before he had time to read it, something hard hit him from behind, and oblivion rose to embrace him. Chapter 120: Jackpot Edge woke up sometime later, surprised to discover that he was still alive. When he groaned and opened his eyes, he saw that he was covered in burns from head to toe, along with generous amounts of his own blood. His whole body ached, and his head was pounding. He felt like he had been run over by a truck. Then it had backed up and run him over again for good measure. He must have been straddling the verge of death for some time before regaining consciousness. Regeneration had automatically kicked in as his mana-pores drew in ambient magicytes from the environment, gradually healing him over time. If he had even one less point of Generation or Amplification, he doubted that he would have made it. In the end, Edge¡¯s efforts had been just enough to save him. The blast had nearly killed him outright, before the landing took its turn. But he¡¯d survived both hits and hung on by a thread. While it felt like most of his organs had been damaged in one way or another, none of them had been destroyed outright. Holy shit. That was insanely close. It would be a while before he regained enough magic to heal his wounds. But the bleeding had stopped, and his condition was slowly improving. Since moving seemed unwise, he stayed put, grappling with the intense emotions that arose from his close brush with death and hard-won victory. That was when the full realization of what had happened washed over him. I did it. I actually fucking did it. I took out Warren the manslayer and lived to tell the tale. It¡¯s too bad that I didn¡¯t get anything from it other than that skill. As his mind began to clear, Edge came to grasp two rather important facts. The first was that his Guide was flashing in the periphery of his vison, letting him know that he had a list of updates waiting to be read. The second was that his hands were full. When he was able to appreciate the full implications of both details, a surge of adrenaline washed through him, shocking him back to full alertness. Not because he was afraid, but because he was excited. No. More than excited, so ecstatic that he wanted to howl. After all, he had just won the motherfucking jackpot. As it happened, Edge had been quite wrong in his initial assessment. He had, in fact, gained more from the fight than a single skill. He¡¯d wound up with the best prize of them all. Alight with the thrill that came from obtaining the biggest reward of his life, he looked down at his hands, which were filled with two pieces of Warren¡¯s gear. In his left was a bright pink potion that occasionally flashed like voltage was running through it. A vial that he had reflexively removed from the man¡¯s bandoleer just before entering his core. While he was curious to know what it was, all such thoughts were driven from his mind when he saw what he was holding in his right. Cradled between Edge¡¯s battered fingers was Warren Ellington¡¯s spellslinger. A special edition spellshot revolver that was famous on the feed. When he opened the cylinder and looked inside, he started to laugh. Oh, hell yes! It was a best-case scenario. Sakura was only certain that three rounds were loaded, which meant that there could have been anywhere between zero and three spellshots left. But it turned out that all six chambers had been full at the start of the fight, leaving three still holding crystalized spells¡ªlikely the best of the bunch. While Edge had no idea what skill they contained, they were certain to be rank-five or above. Far more lethal than any of his own abilities, at least in the short-term. Although it hurt like hell, he began to laugh. He couldn¡¯t help it, he had just obtained the weapon of his dreams, and gained the power to punch way above his paygrade. An alternative to using [Overdrive] to take out dangerous prey or save his life in a jam. If he wielded the spellslinger wisely, he might be able to use it to steal rare skills from beasts that would have been impossible to bring down without it. To deal with manslayers, jailbirds, and monsters far above his stage. Which brought him right back to the other reason he was so excited that he was shaking. It stung like hell under the circumstances, but he was too electrified to care. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. He opened his menus and read the notifications a second time, basking in the words that appeared on the screen. The pain was nothing compared to the joy he felt upon reaching the end of the list. By conditioning your body, your Durability has increased by 1. By conditioning your body, your Endurance has increased by 1. The conditioning points were nice, but they were just the appetizer to the pile of gains they preceded. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [5]. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [6]. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [7]. You have nine attribute points awaiting allocation. And then, most wonderful of all. For defeating a cored opponent stage 2 or above, you have earned 1 Mortium. For defeating a cored opponent holding Mortium, you have claimed it for your own. You have earned 9 Mortium. Ten Mortium and three cycles. That¡¯s insane. Extraction must have killed him before the bomb went off. Edge could only dream of what high-end magtech gear he could buy from Lilly¡¯s exchange with that many lifecoins registered to his Guide. He could pick up another powerful weapon. A full set of armor. Maybe some of those awesome utility devices or more lifesaving implants. He wasn¡¯t sure that was how he wanted to spend them, although the temptation was nearly overwhelming. That Mortium would also let him steal five rare skills, which would add incredible power and versatility to his skillset. It¡¯s a good problem to have. I¡¯ll think it over long and hard before I decide. Besides, I¡¯m not sure that I want anyone to know that I took out Warren, even Lilly. At that point, I might as well scream that I¡¯m wielding an unusual core. While it was pleasant to consider his options, it was time for Edge to be going. He was still far too close to the site of the battle, and he wanted to get out of here before anyone else arrived. Before he was ready to head out, and deal with the world of pain that was sure to be involved in that process, there was one last notice that demanded his attention. It was time to find out what skill he¡¯d stolen half a heartbeat before being blasted across the grasslands. You have Extracted the skill: Repel water [versatile] (uncommon, rank 3). Digestion is complete. Would you like to slot repel water now? Luckily, the System had extended the deadline to make his decision while Edge was unconscious. But now he had to move fast, or he would lose the chance. He wasn¡¯t sure that he wanted to keep such an odd skill, but there wasn¡¯t a reason to say no. I may as well give it a shot. When he confirmed his intentions, his awareness was drawn into his central chamber. He ran his gaze across the floating ball of water he had [Extracted] while Warren¡¯s core was in the middle of being obliterated. When it flowed into his skill garden and locked into its socket, he was granted an instinctive sense of what it did. The more that he thought about it, the more convinced Edge became that he had gotten something great after all. Repel water might not look like much at first glance, especially at rank-one. But there was a depth to it that he hadn¡¯t grasped until that moment. For starters, it was his first versatile skill. Many skills only had one specific function, like slash, leap, and all the rest. Versatile skills, on the other hand, were guided by intention and visualization. Each of them could perform a range of functions, making them useful in various situations. For example, he could use repel water to fire water bullets or shove someone back, like Warren had done during their fight. At least in theory. It would likely take a lot of practice and several rank-ups before Edge could do it too. But that was just the start. He could also use the skill as an umbrella to keep the rain off his head, a shield to deflect water-based attacks, or a barrier to keep steam from scalding him. And that was just what he could come up with off the top of his head. Moving on, the more specific that a skill was, the more power it contained. At a comparable rank, repel water would produce a greater effect than the manipulate water skill Rita had. The tradeoff was that it could only push water away from the user¡¯s position, whereas her skill could push it, pull it, or cause it to take on a variety of shapes. On top of everything else, repel water was almost ready to evolve. Absorbing even a single basic skill would do it. Apparently, Edge couldn¡¯t start with a skill that was higher than rank-one, no matter how high it had been when he stole it. But it could come brimming over with experience. He decided that he preferred it that way, since it would let him take full control over the direction of each skill¡¯s development. Instead of being locked into whatever skillset its original owner had chosen, he would have the freedom to chart his own path. Now that repel water was his to command, Edge¡¯s mind was carried back to the outside world. He had been too focused on his gains to take a good look around, but now it was time to find out where in the hell he was. Chapter 121: Aftermath When Edge snapped back into his body, he realized that he was high in the branches of an enormous tree. Not so much hanging from them, as transfixed by them. Apparently, plunging through the canopy had broken his fall and saved his life. It had also impaled him in a half dozen places. He had a shorn branch jutting through the meat of his shoulder, and another sticking out of his thigh. A third was piercing his neck, millimeters short of having nicked his jugular and sealing his doom. Well, that explains why I hurt so fucking much. If Edge tried to free himself, he was going to cause some serious damage and probably fall to the ground, which might just finish the job in his condition. He was slowly regenerating, but it was going to take quite some time to patch him up at this rate. He wasn¡¯t ready to move just yet, which brought him to the only other thing he could do to improve his situation. Spend the nine attribute points he¡¯d earned from killing Warren and cycling-up his core. Under the circumstances, my only priority is getting down from here alive. After a moment of deliberation, Edge decided on an even three-way split. First, he would take three Durability, to mitigate the damage he suffered while extracting himself from the branches that were impaling him. Having more Durability would be welcome regardless, since it would help prevent a similar situation from arising in the future. Then Edge would grab three Amplification, so that regeneration could patch him up faster, and three Generation, so the skill had enough mana to do so. Since he was already close to passing out from sheer sensory overload, he spent the points one at a time. Normally, he would have enjoyed the feeling of his tissue reconfiguring. Of the components to his core growing more efficient and complex. As it was, he just focused on his breathing and tried to get through this rather unpleasant moment without screaming. When the bolts of potentia were released from his core, Edge closed his eyes and waited for the upgrades to work their magic. An hour later, he was in considerably better shape. He was still run through by several big sticks and sprawled out in the least comfortable position of his life. But his wounds had closed, and his organs weren¡¯t so bruised. His reservoir was slowly starting to fill, since there wasn¡¯t any more damage for regeneration to heal until he removed the foreign objects from his body. Fuck it. It¡¯s time to get down. He probably should have waited until his reserves were full, but by this point, Edge had experienced all the pain that he could take. The first thing that he did was move his neck to one side, trying not to scream as the wood was pulled through his flesh in the opposite direction of his vein. When the gruesome task was finished, the cut began to seal, and he didn¡¯t have to worry about bleeding out anymore. Now that he could look down, he did, relieved to find that he was only fifteen feet in the air. He had been afraid that he was stuck higher up. Now he didn¡¯t have to worry about the fall killing him either. He activated shadow step, so that he could slide his body through the branches without pulling them out one by one. He continued down to the ground, absently noting that although he didn¡¯t feel like he weighed anything while in shadow form, he still hit the dirt just as hard as he normally would, so a longer fall would probably be bad news. I¡¯ll figure out the physics later. I need to get back to town before anything finds me out here. I don¡¯t want anyone to know what happened, and I¡¯m in no condition to fight off predators drawn by the scent of blood on the wind. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Edge resolidified, and immediately put pressure on the holes where the branches had been. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose too much blood before regeneration sealed them up. A few minutes later, his flesh was whole, and his tank was empty, but he was good to go. Out of the tree and free from pain at last, he took a long look around. His jaw dropped when he witnessed the devastation that had been wrought to this section of the grasslands. Now that he wasn¡¯t caught up in fighting for every breath, he could appreciate how much firepower the manslayer had brought to bear. How lucky he was to have survived, although quick thinking and determination had played a role too. One massive patch of grass was razed to the ground. Steam and ash still wafted through the air, although most of the smoke was gone. If the plains¡¯ magic hadn¡¯t been able to contain the blaze, the whole region would have burned, and Edge along with it. A big patch of yellow flowers was torn to shreds. Casualties of the magtech device Warren had used to escape entangle. The adjacent area was flooded, where he had used the ocean¡¯s prison spellshot. The thirsty earth had begun to absorb the moisture, turning red earth to wet clay. The ground by his feet was free of loose sticks and rocks. They had all been sucked into the prison before falling back down, forming a massive pile. The final section of soil he inspected was simply gone. The place where Warren¡¯s body had exploded was now a smoking crater ten feet deep in the middle. Edge swallowed as he realized how close he had come to getting caught in the blast, joining the man in death. Crazy bastard. Who would waste Mortium and implant slots just to take out whoever managed to kill them? Edge had no desire to linger in the area for long. The intense mana released during the fight was sure to draw attention sooner or later, and he was in no condition to deal with curious critters. Not to mention the questions that would arise if another person found him out here under the circumstances. But he wasn¡¯t leaving without his gear. His pack had come off while he was trying to get down from the tree, and everything he owned was inside. He set down the revolver and potion, then climbed back up to retrieve it¡ªglad that the flap was shut tight. He put everything inside and then moved on. That just leaves my naginata. He eventually found his polearm sitting in the flooded area. After he shrank the shaft and strapped it onto his back, Edge spent a few minutes looking for Warren¡¯s body, on the off chance that more of his gear was still intact. But he quickly gave it up as a lost cause. He couldn''t find so much as a scrap of leather or fragment of bone near where the manslayer had detonated the powerful magtech implant. He shrugged and then started walking, with a wide grin plastered on his face. It was impossible not to be satisfied after escaping with his life, claiming the most valuable item Warren owned, stealing one of his skills, all his Mortium, and picking up the experience from the kill. As Edge started heading south, he took a closer look at his inventory, ready to find out how much damage the fight had done to his equipment. His pack was a bit melted but still ok, and his belt was only a little singed. But his armor was in bad shape. While it was probably salvageable, he would need a skilled leatherworker to repair the rents and holes. Not a bad deal at all. The cost of repairing his gear would only be a fraction of what he¡¯d made from the fight. His clothes, on the other hand, were a ruined mess. They were covered in tears and burns. Stained with grass, mud, blood, and a few exotic colors he wasn¡¯t honestly sure what were. Fortunately, he had a change in his pack. After taking a quick look to make sure that no one was around, he stripped to his skin, rinsed himself off with the last of the water in his canteen, then changed. Rather than carrying the evidence of the fight with him, he dug a shallow hole, activated conceal to erase the trail leading to the spot, then buried his shirt and pants. He used the skill again after moving away, eliminating all signs that he had passed through the area. Since he didn¡¯t want anyone to know that he had been involved in what had happened, Edge circled the grasslands for the next hour, planning to enter town through the south gate this time around. On his way, he stopped to kill a few small animals, so it would look like he¡¯d had a poor day of hunting instead of returning emptyhanded. When he came across a shallow pool, he removed his armor and washed it off as best he could. Then he rolled it up and strapped the bundle to his pack, so that no one would see how badly it had been damaged and wonder what had happened. He didn¡¯t think its condition would reveal anything suspicious, but the timing would raise eyebrows for sure. He took his hat out of his pack and put it on his head, then continued on his way. Today had been the most dangerous day of Edge¡¯s life, and also the most rewarding. Now it was time to celebrate the fact that he was still alive before his exam began. Chapter 122: Safe After entering town, Edge started walking along South Street. He did his best to look frustrated and bored instead of euphoric. As if nothing more exciting than a poor day of hunting had occurred while he was out on the grasslands. He kept expecting word of Warren¡¯s death to catch up to him, or news of the devastation that their battle had wrought upon the prairie. But nothing of the sort had happened by the time that he made it to Izzio¡¯s to drop off his haul. Since the butcher knew him better than most by this point, Edge left his meat with one of the apprentices, so that he didn¡¯t have to worry about the man noticing anything unusual about Edge¡¯s appearance or mental state. He told the woman to have the butcher pay him whatever seemed fair the next time he passed by the shop. His next stop was the bounty kiosk, since he was certain that there would be Credits waiting for him there. One of the little ironies of Prison World was that most of its bounty hunters were wanted themselves, especially manslayers as infamous as Warren. Plenty of people who had lost a friend or lover were willing to pay to get their revenge, and Warren was no exception. Edge waited until no one was nearby, then ducked inside the building. When he stepped inside the kiosk and the privacy screen flickered to life, his Guide appeared of its own accord. It floated over to interface with the bounty board, flittering about as it updated the registry with his latest accomplishment. He let out a low whistle when he saw how many Credits had been added to his account. Another 50,000 creds. Warren had more enemies than I¡¯d realized. He would figure out how to spend the bulk of them later. If Violet could repair his armor, Edge only needed to buy a few small items to round out his kit right now. Everything else would be provided by Trapper¡¯s crew. He would add whatever he made on the hunt to his total, then make a big purchase when he got back to town. Right now, he was too tired, stressed out, and elated to even think about it. All Edge wanted was to head back to his room to decompress from his close brush with death. He got a strange look from Rita when she passed him on the stairs on the way to his room. Shit, did I forget about something obvious? When he stepped into the bathroom, he realized that he had. A large patch of his hair was missing, along with one of his eyebrows¡ªseared away by inferno or the explosion from the manslayer¡¯s implanted bomb. Whoops. At least only Rita and Izzio¡¯s assistant got a good look at me, and my hat is covering the worst of it. He was about to shave his head to hide the evidence, but then an idea struck him. Although it wasn¡¯t damage in the traditional sense, maybe regeneration would restore what he¡¯d lost if Edge could convince the skill that his missing hair was a form of injury. After all, generating new hair cells shouldn¡¯t be all that different from the countless other kinds of tissue that the skill could restore. He decided that it was worth a shot. First, he sent his awareness into his core. Once he was standing in his skill garden, he walked over to the beating heart that represented regeneration. Curious if trying to communicate with his skills could make a difference, he knelt beside the heart and started to speak. ¡°Hey there, little guy. I almost got blown up today on two separate occasions. Thanks a million for stitching me back together, and, you know, all the other times that you saved my ass. I was wondering if you might be able to help with my hair and eyebrow situation too. To heal my appearance, so to speak. I understand if it¡¯s not possible. But if it is, I would really appreciate it.¡± To Edge¡¯s surprise, the heart started rolling around in excitement. He had the sense that it was able to understand him, if only on the most basic level, and that it had agreed to his request. The idea of developing relationships with his skills in such a literal sense was a totally novel idea to him. He spent a few minutes talking to each of them, complimenting their powers and thanking them for their service. When he was done, he left his core and turned on regeneration, eager to find out if anything would happen. To his delight, his skin began to itch, and then fresh hair began sprouting out from the bald patches on his scalp. Not only was the skill able to repair the damage, it stopped the growth at exactly the same length that it had been at before. Soon, he couldn¡¯t tell that anything had happened, except that his new hair was pristine, while the rest of it was matted, tangled, and dirty. Laughing out loud at the strangeness of it all, Edge proceeded to strip and then stepped into the tub, ready to wash his troubles away. He sat down in the basin, then turned the shower on at full blast, making the water as hot as he could stand and then letting it all go. The stress, the fear, the certainty that he was going to die, all melted and then flowed down the drain, leaving him feeling immensely better than before. Before he turned the water off, he decided to give his brand-new skill a try. He imagined the flow parting around him instead of breaking over his head, then activated repel water for the first time. It turned out that using a versatile skill was going to take some practice. Instead of diverting the flow like an umbrella, a bubble of mana extended past his body. A transparent barrier that threw all the water onto the floor, hard enough to fling it into the next room. Edge was so surprised that it took him a second to react, letting water spread across the floor before he shut off the skill and the faucet. He scrambled, using every towel in the room to soak up the mess before it could drip down into the floor below. Shit, Rita is going to kill me. I¡¯ll have to find a way to make it up to her. With that out of the way, he slid into bed and closed his eyes, letting the sounds of Puppet Town coming in through the crack in his window wash over him. For the next few hours, he just lay in bed, savoring the fact that nothing was trying to kill him. Enjoying the sensation of being warm, clean, and as safe as he was likely to get in his new life. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. He tried to pass out early but gave up an hour of tossing and turning later. Edge was far more relaxed. But he was still too keyed up from his battle with Warren, and excited by the prospect of heading into the field on his first big game hunt, to sleep when he wasn¡¯t actually tired. Instead, he began replaying the showdown in his mind, doing his best to learn from the fight. Both from the mistakes he had made and from what he had observed while battling the experienced manslayer. When he was done reviewing everything that had happened, grading each move that he¡¯d made, Edge pulled up his profile to check out his progress, taking in the incredible gains that he had acquired in such a short span of time. Personal statistics: Edge Vasher Physical attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits)
Power: 6 (7) Reflex: 5 Endurance: 6 (7) Perception: 7
Speed: 6 (7) Control: 4 (5) Durability: 9 (10)
Energetic attributes
Generation: 9 Amplification: 12 Disruption: 2 (3)
Physical conditioning (Attribute points may be conditioned up to five points each)
Power: 3 Reflex: 3 Endurance: 4 Perception: 3
Speed: 2 Control: 2 Durability: 4
Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater]. Stage: 1. Cycle: 7/21. Rarity: Unique. Category: Unique. Attribute points per cycle: 3. Ultimate abilities [Extraction] (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours. Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own. [Overdrive] (active). Uses: 1. Cooldown period: 1 week. [Overdrive] increases your Amplification by (10 x stage) for thirty seconds. Activating skills will not require mana during this period. You will be severely exhausted for thirty seconds after [Overdrive] is complete. Core traits Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement]. You can no longer acquire or rank-up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. Devourer (unique). You may Absorb an unwanted skill, freeing its slot and granting a fraction of its experience to the skill of your choice. Be advised, the return on this exchange is significantly less efficient than [Extracting] a duplicate of an existing skill. Skills Skill slots 11. Unused slots 2. Known skills: Slash (basic): rank 2. Path: penetration. Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. The edge of the weapon will be magically sharpened while the skill is active. Conceal (common): rank 2. Path: erasure. Erase your scent and heat signature while you remain still. Visually, you will appear to blend into your environment. The last twenty-five feet of your trail will be removed on activation. Entangle (common): Rank 2. Path: Resiliency. Create burrowing vines to bind your target. The vines are resistant to cuts and tears. Leap (common): rank 2. Path: assault. Jump with explosive force. Increased Durability for ten seconds after activation. Double strike (uncommon): rank 1. Create an offset double of any melee attack. Elemental blade [ice] (uncommon): rank 1. Create a subzero blade of ice. Regeneration [limited] (uncommon): rank 1. Rapidly heal wounds. Limited regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed. Repel water [versatile] (uncommon): rank 1. Push water away from the user. The shape of the repulsive field can be changed at will. Shadow step (rare): rank 2. Path: Armored shadow. Transform into shadows. The cost of transforming your gear is greatly reduced. Traits (2 of 3 trait slots are filled) Triple tap (equipped) You are either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or are the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You managed to win a fight against three opponents at least one stage higher than yourself and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each. Effects: + 10% to Power, Speed, and Control (minimum gain of 1). Trait: Wanted. You have found one of the 21 unique cores in existence, which has painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something you should do sooner rather than later. There¡¯s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can¡¯t wait to watch it all play out. This trait might help you live a little bit longer, but I¡¯m not holding my breath. Effects: + 10% to Endurance, Durability, and Disruption (minimum gain of 1). Implants Heart-guard (common) Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: Silver. Charge: Empty. This implant generates a barrier to protect the heart when it detects incoming damage. System currency Credits: 50,060 Mortium: 10 What an insane day. Edge let out a long sigh. I hope that my exam goes a bit smoother than my training. Friday Concept Art Two final takes on Warren Heart-Render This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Warren''s Core Now a little more on fire Repel Water inside Edge''s core Chapter 123: Favor Edge¡¯s day had been long and stressful. His body was bone-weary, but his mind was so overstimulated that it was racing with manic energy. He decided that his best chance of getting a full night¡¯s sleep was to work it all out of his system by putting his body through its paces. With that goal in mind, he walked over to the public green, letting the magtech lanterns guide his path as he replayed the fight in his head. He was still processing everything that he¡¯d learned. The mistakes he¡¯d made and the split-second decisions that had saved his life. How close he¡¯d come to dying on far too many occasions, and his massive pile of gains. On top of everything else, he was intensely curious to learn who Sakura was, how she had known so much about Warren, and why she had decided to help him. Since that was a mystery that he had no way of unraveling at present, he shelved the matter for now. When he arrived at the green, Edge stepped onto the track and started doing laps. He was the only one working out at this time of night, although there were lots of people camped out on the grass. He let the evidence of their lives wash over him. Voices telling stories around the fire. The smell of a late dinner frying in a pan. The enthusiastic moans from tents where people were getting up close and personal and didn¡¯t care who heard. He pushed himself hard as he circled the track, not bothering to regenerate his muscles this time around. Tonight, he wanted to completely exhaust himself. To let the burn in his legs take his mind off the day¡¯s ordeal. At last, panting and shaking, he came to a stop, enjoying the crisp evening breeze blowing across his sweat-soaked body. Edge did one last lap to cool off, and took a shower in the adjoining facility. Then he walked back to the Pioneer, where he stopped to eat dinner in the common room. He enjoyed the free beer that Sam offered him when he saw the expression on Edge¡¯s face, then spent a few minutes chatting with the other patrons. He heard a few people talking about a fire in the grasslands, but so far, no one had noticed that Warren was missing or connected the two events, much to his relief. Then he went up to his room for a long soak in the tub, letting the hot water melt the last of his troubles away. When he toweled himself off and slipped between the covers, he was able to relax and let go this time around. He fell asleep not long after, curious what the morning would bring. Edge woke up early, washed his face, and packed up his belongings. Then he wrote an apology note and set it beside the towering pile of sopping towels that he had left in the bathtub, promising to tip Rita a few hundred Credits the next time he saw her for the trouble. He walked down the stairs and took a seat at the bar. He made small talk with Sam while eating breakfast, then closed his tab and turned in the key to his room. If all went well, he would be sleeping at Trapper¡¯s lodge when he got back, although he planned to stop by the Pioneer every now and again. He¡¯d grown fond of the tasty food and the cheerful ambiance, not to mention Sam and Rita¡¯s company. On his way out the door, Sam shook Edge¡¯s hand and then handed him a roll of dried sausages to take on the trip. When she saw he was leaving, Rita walked over and tossed him a small pouch filled with handmade candy. They both wished him luck and then he continued on his way. He opened the pouch and tried one of the sweets as he crossed the districts. It was hard and tasted like honey and cloves, with just a hint of citrus. These are fantastic. I¡¯ll share the rest with everyone after we make camp, to celebrate our first night in the field. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. On his way to Trapper¡¯s, he made a quick stop by the Consortium¡¯s store. When he stepped inside, he found Bee in the middle of wiping down the countertops. Edge chatted with the cheerful shopkeeper for a few minutes, then bought a pair of flashbangs, a smoke bomb, another stink bomb, and two regular nets. After a bit of consideration, he went ahead and purchased the magtech water purifier he¡¯d had his eye on. He might not need it on this excursion, but it would come in handy sooner or later and the device only weighed a few pounds. When he arrived at the lodge, everyone was already out front. The hunters were hard at work, going about various tasks as they got ready to head into the field. Riller was packing a crate with extra arrows, fletching, and bowstrings. Jumo was moving some big barrels filled with provisions from the storeroom to the yard, carrying the heavy containers two at a time. Edge waved to both men, then went to ask where he could make himself useful. When he saw Sasha walking though the yard, he tipped his hat as she sauntered past. He didn¡¯t say anything other than, ¡°Thank you again for the thoughtful gift. It was exactly what I needed.¡± She smiled at him, then left without a word, leaving him to believe that he¡¯d managed to play it right. He wasn¡¯t sure what was going on between them just yet, but he was excited to find out when they got back. Regardless of what the future might hold, it was nice to have another reason to get out of bed in the morning. Before he talked to Trapper and started pitching in with anything that still needed to be done, Edge moved over to where Violet was loading the wagon, crossing items off a list as she added them to the bed. It was clear from the concentration on her face that the woman took her duty as quartermaster seriously. After some consideration, he decided that he trusted her enough to ask for a favor. She might eventually connect it with Warren¡¯s disappearance, but he was already planning on sharing more of his secrets with the crew once they were in the field. He got Violet¡¯s attention, drew her aside, and said, ¡°I was wondering if you could help me out with something while we¡¯re gone. I managed to do a number on my new armor and was hoping that you could show me how to patch it up, at least long enough to last through this trip. I would be happy to pay for your services.¡± He took off his pack and unfolded the blue leather suit, wincing as he took in the copious burns, tears, and holes marring its once pristine surface. Violet set it down on a bench to inspect the damage, eyes going wide when she realized just how much punishment the durable armor had taken during his fight with Warren the manslayer. ¡°Holy shit, Edge. What in the hell happened to you yesterday?¡± ¡°I ran into a bit of unexpected trouble, although I¡¯m trying not to advertise the fact.¡± He could see a dozen questions blossom in her mind, but the purple-eyed hunter just nodded and said, ¡°You are one mysterious bastard Edge Vasher, and you have a rare gift for understatement. I¡¯m surprised that you¡¯re still alive after all that, regeneration or no.¡± She ran her fingers across the savaged suit of armor with expert precision, testing the strength of the material between her calloused palms. When she was done, Violet handed it back. ¡°The good news is that¡¯s its salvageable. It will last for at least a few more fights before it falls apart. It won¡¯t be perfectly waterproof anymore and it¡¯s going to be an ugly job, but I can stitch her back together and patch up what¡¯s missing. Don¡¯t worry about paying me. Keeping the crew¡¯s gear maintained is part of my job, and I have a skill that will help to restore some of the lost integrity.¡± She clasped him on the back and then grinned. ¡°Consider it my investment in your future with us. I¡¯ll work on it while we¡¯re camping and have it ready by tomorrow night. If you ever feel like sharing the story of what happened, I would love to hear it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Violet. Really, I mean it.¡± ¡°No problem, Edge. Happy to help. Now stop flapping your gums and help me finish loading the wagon. It¡¯s time to get out there and find out what you¡¯re made of.¡± He hung his pack from a fencepost, where it would be easy to grab on the way out. Then Edge rolled up his sleeves and got to work, glad to have made another friend. Chapter 124: Speech Half an hour later, Edge had worked up quite a sweat. After securing a final crate, the wagon was fully loaded. He helped Violet stretch a waterproof tarp over the top and held it in place while she tied it down. He sat down at the bench to catch his breath while the crew¡¯s quartermaster started strapping Blue into her harness. When everyone was ready to go, Trapper had them gather in front of the wagon. She stopped to rub the skin behind Blue¡¯s horns and then turned to face the crew. ¡°Alright people. The big day is finally here. Before we leave, I wanted to fill you in on the details of where we are going and outline what we¡¯re hoping to accomplish.¡± Everyone gave Trapper their full attention. He could tell from the expression on her face that something was weighing on her mind. ¡°We are still conducting Edge¡¯s final exam as planned, but the situation on the plains has grown even more complex over the last few days. The settlement needs every core-wielder living within the walls to lend a hand during these trying times. In short, we have another job to take care of while we¡¯re out there.¡± This was news to him, although it seemed like most of the others already knew what Trapper was about to say. ¡°We¡¯ve received a commission from the Mayor. One that is vital for the future of the town. Our mission has two parts. The first is to survey the changes that have taken place on the Ivory Plains in the wake of the disaster. Especially near the northern border of the biome, which is where we¡¯re headed. ¡°The second part of our job is a big game hunt, and two of you have already seen our target up close. That¡¯s right people.¡± Trapper grinned. ¡°We¡¯re going after the padamas¡ªthe giant lizard that has migrated onto the plains from god knows where. After Edge and Sasha drove it off, the sneaky bastard left the area around town and wandered into the northeastern corner of the plains. ¡°It¡¯s been wreaking havoc in the region and has already taken out two resource-gathering parties that we know of. We would have gone after it sooner, but it was on the move for days and it took us a while to locate its new territory, thanks to its high-rank stealth skill. This is a dangerous creature, and it¡¯s far too aggressive to leave it alone. Now that we¡¯ve pinned down its whereabouts, it¡¯s time to take the predator out before more lives are lost.¡± Edge was surprised to learn that they were going after such a big beast with such a small team. But after training with the crew, he trusted Trapper¡¯s judgment. If she thought they could do it, he was willing to give it a shot. His core clearly felt the same way. He felt a pulse of hunger from Skill-Eater, just thinking about stealing some of the lizard¡¯s skills. ¡°While we have a preliminary analysis of the padamas¡¯s capabilities, it¡¯s a powerful, late stage-two beast. It¡¯s sure to have several more skills that no one has seen. Facing off against an opponent with unknown powers will make our hunt that much more dangerous. But it¡¯s an excellent chance to gain experience, grow stronger, and find out what Edge has to offer along the way. ¡°That¡¯s the bad news. The good news is that we¡¯re getting triple pay for this mission. Once for scouting the border of the plains, once for taking out the big bad, then again for whatever parts we salvage from the remains. As usual, the pay will be an even split of the profits, minus the cost of supplies. ¡°This is a high risk, high reward mission. But someone needs to do it, so it might as well be us. The mayor trusts me to get the job done and I trust you. We¡¯re going to eliminate the threat, harvest its resources, then come back home to celebrate in style. No one is allowed to die out there, not even me.¡± Edge looked at the other members of the team in turn, curious to see how they were taking the news. They all seemed a bit nervous, especially Sasha, but the hunters were clearly excited by the upcoming mission. He could see the passion in Trapper¡¯s eyes reflected in the rest of her crew. Brave women and men he was proud to fight alongside. Trapper¡¯s expression grew serious as she continued to outline the mission. ¡°I¡¯m not going to lie to you. This hunt will be far more dangerous than normal, beyond the threat posed by our quarry. Like Edge said, the shadowreavers were only the beginning. Who knows what manner of monsters and beasts we will find out there in the wake of the anomaly? A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°But I firmly believe that in addition to helping the entire settlement, pursuing this goal is in our own best interest. It is vital that we grow as strong and as rich as possible before things get even worse out there. An outcome that seems as inevitable as dusk following dawn.¡± At this point, her tone shifted, filled with determination and resolve. ¡°This fight is only a taste of what¡¯s coming, as the consequences of the disaster continue to play out. If we don¡¯t take advantage of this transitional period, this patter of rain before the deluge, we¡¯re not going to survive. We need to cycle-up our cores and rank-up our skills aggressively. Collect high-grade materials to forge better weapons and armor. We need to grow powerful enough to survive in the new age that is dawning before our eyes. Individually, as a crew, and all of Puppet Town combined.¡± Edge found himself getting swept up in the moment. Trapper¡¯s ambition resonated with his own inclinations, and she was a gifted speaker. ¡°Make no mistake. A storm is coming. Whether we endure its wrath or are swept away will come down to taking advantage of opportunities before they slip through our fingers. To choices just like this one.¡± At this point, the woman stopped to look them each in the eyes in turn. ¡°I won¡¯t force you to go on this hunt or kick you out of the crew if you refuse. But I am asking you to join me. To risk your lives and tread boldly down the path of power. Don¡¯t say yes unless you mean it. Look inward and listen to your heart. To your gut, your bones, and your blood. Make a decision that you won¡¯t regret, because who knows if any of us will live to see tomorrow?¡± Her words had lit a fire inside him, and Edge didn¡¯t hesitate. He took that first step toward Trapper with no reservations whatsoever. After all, her assessment and her philosophy mirrored his own. He needed to grow stronger for all the reasons she¡¯d listed. Not to mention the danger he would face from people hunting his unique core. Her crew didn¡¯t hesitate either. Each of them looked straight ahead and walked to join Trapper¡¯s side. They were ready to take their first steps into an uncertain future. A future where they must fight for the right to survive and forge their own destiny, starting here and now. Trapper¡¯s face broke into a beaming smile at the sight, and Edge saw her wipe a tear from the corner of her eye. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m proud of you. There are a few final details to go over and then we can leave. It¡¯s not just the padamas terrorizing the Ivory Plains. More troublesome beasts have appeared in different areas, and other hunting crews have been dispatched to eliminate them. We shouldn¡¯t run into any of their targets in the field, but it¡¯s important to know it could happen. ¡°Moving onto Edge¡¯s exam. Given the emerging situation, time is of the essence, so we¡¯re going to be doing things a bit differently than usual. I still want you to observe Edge¡¯s performance. To share what you¡¯ve seen when the test is complete.¡± At that point, Trapper turned to address him directly. ¡°We would normally head out without food and water, and finding both would be the first stage of your test. Instead, we¡¯re leaving fully loaded. We¡¯re still going to be living off the land, but not until the second half of the trip. It will be a bit compressed, but you¡¯ll still get a taste of what it¡¯s like to live in the field, far away from town. ¡°Normally, I would have you call the shots from here on out. Instead, you¡¯ll be learning something even more important. What it means to hunt with people¡¯s lives hanging in the balance, and not just a pile of Credits. This isn¡¯t some kind of arbitrary ritual. I¡¯m grading you on your ability to survive, contribute to our collective success, and work as a team. I don¡¯t need anyone who can¡¯t do all three, but I have a good feeling about you, Edge. Use your head and remember your training, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do just fine. ¡°That just leaves one last item. Further complicating matters, there are a dozen or so farms that are being evacuated as we speak. It¡¯s too dangerous for them to remain isolated under the circumstances, so they are moving everything they can carry to relocate closer to Puppet Town. Several groups are behind schedule, and we think the padamas is the reason why. There might still be survivors out there, so we need to enter the region and kill the lizard before it kills anyone else. ¡°We don¡¯t know what new beasts and monsters have moved into the biome, so be on the lookout for anything once we¡¯re out in the wild. It¡¯s quite possible that we¡¯ll be running into jailbirds from now on, since the wardens aren¡¯t around to keep them out of the starter zones.¡± Trapper picked up her pack and motioned for the crew to do the same. ¡°That concludes today¡¯s briefing. I¡¯m thrilled to have you along for the ride, Edge. I look forward to getting to know you better, and I know Sasha does too.¡± Everyone burst into laughter at that point, even Sasha and Edge. They looked at each other, blushed, looked away, and then laughed again. ¡°It¡¯s time to hunt, boys and girls. Let¡¯s roll out.¡± With that, Violet climbed onto the wagon, took the reins, and issued a command. Blue began to pull, and the wagon started to move, marking the start of their adventure. Chapter 125: Sendoff The crew walked beside the wagon as they left the hunters¡¯ district, heading for the north gate of town. Edge let his mind wander, listening to the rattle of the wheels rolling along the cobblestones, the creak of Blue¡¯s harness, and the footsteps of the people walking beside him. He found himself growing more excited by the footfall, savoring the anticipation of the trial to come. With any luck, he would secure a place on the team, eat some awesome new skills, and pick up a ton of cycles along the way. Best of all, he didn¡¯t have to head into the field alone. This time, he would have other people to share the danger and watch his back. People he was coming to trust, although he hadn¡¯t known them for long. While Edge had his secrets, it felt good to have a place to belong¡ªor at least the chance to earn one. He intended to do everything he could to make sure that he passed this test and earned the crew¡¯s respect. As they crossed the districts, it soon became apparent that word of their mission had spread throughout the settlement. When they drew near the north gate, he was shocked to see that hundreds of people were waiting to see the crew off¡ªwaving and offering words of encouragement. Wishing them luck and a successful hunt. Among them were some familiar faces. Edge saw Ann and Lilly standing beside the gate, along with Rita, Izzio, Sam, and Bee. He even saw the girl who had given him the apple watching from a nearby rooftop. When she saw him, she winked, waved, and then disappeared. I wonder, could that be Sakura? The crew stopped for a few minutes to engage with the well-wishers, accepting small gifts of food and supplies to aid them on their trip. They must know that we¡¯re leaving to take down a beast that is threatening the town¡¯s future. Edge shared a few words with everyone he knew. Then he bid them farewell, glad to have made some friends on this strange new world. The last person to greet them was Mel, who was standing guard beside the gate. She said hello to Trapper, then pulled him in for a bear hug that creaked his ribs. ¡°Knock them dead, Edge. Use what I taught you and I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ll manage to pull this off. Smash that lizard to smithereens, and I¡¯ll buy you a round when you get back.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mel. I¡¯ll take you up on that offer. I wouldn¡¯t have made it this far without you.¡± The crowd cheered as the crew stepped through the gate¡ªa roaring tide of emotion that warmed his heart to hear. He wasn¡¯t used to people knowing who he was, let alone relying on him and believing in him. It was something that he¡¯d been missing all his life without ever knowing it, and he wiped away tears from the corners of his eyes. A few steps later, everyone was beyond the barrier and out on the Ivory Plains. They made their way down the northern trade road¡ªthe first wagon to roll along it in days. Before long, the warded walls of Puppet Town were nothing but a memory. Edge cast his gaze into the distance, examining the route they would follow for the next several hours. It was a good day to begin a long journey. The sky was overcast, lowering the summer heat to a comfortable temperature. The wind was crisp, and the breeze was blowing, sending the surface of the grass heaving like waves on the sea. Wildflowers were in bloom all around him, painting bright colors across the ivory canvas of the grasslands. As they put the miles beneath their boots, the hunters practiced the various formations they would use throughout their trip. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. This part of the plains was patrolled daily by the deputies, so they weren¡¯t expecting to run into anything too dangerous just yet. But the crew wasn¡¯t taking that for granted. They had already learned the hard way that new threats were spreading across the biome, a little further every day. Edge was caught up in the moment, ready to enjoy his first true adventure instead of being forced to survive one catastrophe after the next. It felt completely different heading out into the wilderness on a hunt, instead of being hunted himself. It was reassuring to have Trapper, Sasha, and Riller watching out for trouble. If something like the padamas or shadowreavers appeared, this time, Edge and his team would be ready. Despite their abundance of caution, the first few hours were uneventful, and they made good time crossing the prairie. Riller ranged out a few miles ahead of the wagon, occasionally circling back to let them know that the way was clear. Everyone kept their eyes busy scanning their surroundings, while discussing which tactics they would use across a wide range of situations. For his part, Edge just listened while asking an occasional question. He paid close attention to Trapper¡¯s crew, trying to absorb everything that he could by watching them in action. In part because he wanted to pass his exam, but mostly because it was a fantastic opportunity to learn from people who had been surviving here for years. Working with an experienced team was a night and day difference from exploring the plains solo. There was a clear competency in every decision the crew made¡ªchoices built on trust and hard-won knowledge. The hunters operated like a well-oiled machine. Each person played their role to form a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts. Edge knew that he didn¡¯t really fit into it, at least not yet. But the more he watched, the more certain he became that he wanted to, at least some of the time. He would always prefer to hunt solo on occasion, so that he could cycle-up fast and steal skills without being caught. But he was picking things up working with the crew that he never would have figured out alone, or not nearly as fast at any rate. More than that, it was nice to have someone to talk to. To share the wonder of traversing an alien planet. Not to mention people he could trust to stand guard while he was sleeping. Sasha had only been part of the crew for a little over a month, but they already treated her like family. With any luck, by the time they got back, he would be one step closer to joining her. They crossed a quarter of the distance during that first day, miles passing beneath the gentle clatter of the wagon¡¯s wheels. Blue kept right on trudging along, never once showing signs of fatigue. Edge kept his eyes open but let his mind wander, taking in the sights and sounds of a world so different from the planet of his birth. The fierce beauty of the plains, and the breathtaking magic of Ord. That first day proved to be blessedly uneventful. The handful of predators they encountered wanted nothing to do with a party of that size. They saw buffalo in the distance on three separate occasions, but the herds were far enough away that the crew didn¡¯t need to change their course to go around. They camped for the night on the top of a rocky hill, where they had an unobstructed view of the grasslands for miles around. Trapper set traps to guard their position, adding another layer of protection to the lookouts¡¯ sharp senses. Meanwhile, the rest of the team dug a deep pit for their campfire, then banked it with a ring of rocks so that the light wouldn¡¯t give their position away. While they had to be on guard against predatory beasts and monsters, they didn¡¯t have to worry about the padamas just yet. Although the predator they were hunting had a powerful camouflage ability, Trapper had told them that it couldn¡¯t hide the grass it flattened in passing. They were safe from ambush until they crossed into a different sub-biome, even if the lizard happened to range back in their direction. Once the fire was lit, they spent an hour sharing stories and enjoying each other¡¯s company. Violet cooked dinner, making stew with some fresh vegetables and the sausage Sam had gifted them. It was savory and delicious, and Edge fell asleep with a full belly. He didn¡¯t have a watch shift until tomorrow night, so he took the opportunity to get a full night¡¯s sleep. He let out a sigh when his head hit the pillow, enjoying having a sleeping bag under him instead of lying on the bare earth for a change. A man could get used to living like this. Chapter 126: Travel Edge woke up before dawn, eager to resume his adventure. Most of the crew was still asleep, so he rose from his bedroll, left the cave, and tiptoed over to where Trapper was standing watch on the hillcrest. She waved hello and he took a seat on a nearby boulder, stretching out his body while they waited for the sun to rise. They passed the time in a companionable silence, letting the music of the plains wash over them. He cast his senses into the distance, listening to the hoots and howls of nocturnal creatures returning to their dens, and the ceaseless roar of the wind blowing across the prairie. The magicytes flowing through the region glowed faintly in the dark. The swirling bands of living magic shimmered in every color of the rainbow, along with a few that he had no words to describe. Edge took a deep breath and let his mind go still, doing his best to listen for anything big headed their way. He lost himself in the natural splendor of Ord, filled with the most exquisite sense of wonder. Of being alive, and excited to discover what the day would bring him next. It was such a marked contrast to his old existence on Earth, that his past felt more like a dream than a memory. He was completely engaged, a little bit frightened, and utterly content. Even if he died tomorrow, his life was filled with the splendorous joy that only those who are living their dream can know. A pleasantly uneventful half hour later, the other hunters began to rouse. They greeted each other as they packed up their bedding, then Riller lit a fire so that Violet could put on a pot of porridge sprinkled with fruit and nuts. Ten minutes later, she handed Edge a steaming bowl of mush that tasted a lot better than he was expecting, given its plain appearance. After everyone had finished eating and checking their gear, Jumo helped Violet hitch Blue to the wagon. They erased all signs of their presence, so that nothing could follow their trail, then the crew walked down the hill and stepped back onto the trade road. They were on their way by the time that color started seeping back into the world. Several miles later, the team stopped to watch the sunrise¡ªradiant bands of pink and orange lighting up the clouds striating the azure sky. They resumed their journey a few minutes later, heading north on their hunt to eliminate the gigantic beast that was terrorizing the region. They soon left the grasslands and crossed into a sub-biome covered in cracked red earth and patches of dense brush, similar to the spot where Edge had won his showdown with Warren two days prior. His heart began to race, and adrenaline started pumping through his veins when they left the tall grass behind. In open terrain, they could only rely on Trapper¡¯s sense life to detect the lizard¡¯s presence while its stealth skill was up. Even Riller¡¯s eagle eye wouldn¡¯t be able to help. She thought that her power would be sufficient to pierce its camouflage, but she wasn¡¯t certain how close the beast could come before that happened. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Since there was a chance that they would find themselves ambushed with only a few seconds of warning, the crew had to remain on guard against attack at all times. They proceeded in a combat formation, weapons drawn and ready to use their skills at a moment¡¯s notice. While the danger was growing thicker by the footfall, you wouldn¡¯t know it by looking around. The Ivory Plains were never safe, even at the best of times, but Edge couldn¡¯t spot anything out of the ordinary as they made their way along the road. The sun came out from behind the clouds an hour later, and the temperature started to climb. He was glad for his sunhat, although the heat bothered him less and less the higher that his attributes climbed. It was worse for Riller and Violet, the crew¡¯s uncored members. They rode inside the wagon¡¯s bed during the hottest part of the day, so that they would be fresh if the team was ambushed along the way. Sasha took a turn as lookout, scouting ahead while Riller was resting. Edge was worried about her, since the big lizard had ambushed her once already. But it wasn¡¯t his call to make, and he trusted the crew¡¯s judgement. After all, Sasha was a hunter with far more experience than himself. A woman who had survived on her own for months before joining Trapper¡¯s crew. All he could do was wish her luck and hope for the best. At least she had silent step to reduce her presence, and a flare that she could fire if she ran into trouble. Later that afternoon, they discovered signs that the padamas had crossed through the region not long ago. The wagon rolled past a patch of earth that was deeply scarred and stained with blood. Trapper took a close look and determined that the giant reptile had taken on another sizable predator. Something that had given it more trouble than the stone lion, judging by the markings. The other was a small grove where half the trees were snapped off near the base. The claw marks revealed that the padamas had forced its way past to devour something that had been hiding inside. In both cases, the trail signs were several days old. But it was proof that they were heading in the right direction, and served to remind Edge just how dangerous the beast they were planning to kill was. Not long after, they entered a region where the ivory grass grew tall, letting everyone breathe a bit easier. They stepped out of combat formation and into something that was better suited for a prolonged march, although they didn¡¯t lower their guard. While they didn¡¯t have to worry about being ambushed by the padamas, they still had to watch out for the biome¡¯s resident predators. Not to mention anything or anyone who might have crossed into the region after the anomaly reshuffled the surface of Ord. On that note, every time that they encountered terrain that wasn¡¯t originally part of the plains, they stopped to inspect it from a distance¡ªupdating the map Trapper had brought with them and adding as much information as they could. They didn¡¯t draw near any of the swapped parts, since it was beyond the scope of their mission. But several of them looked interesting, including what appeared to be a ruined tower jutting up from the middle of a swamp. Edge decided that he would come back and check them out later, once he had a few more skills and cycles under his belt. There might be treasure to be found, along with beasts with unknown powers to steal. He felt Skill-Eater salivating at the thought. Easy, big guy. Let¡¯s deal with the meal in front of us before we worry about dessert. Chapter 127: Bonds A few miles later, the trade road began to narrow, and its surface grew rougher by the minute. They had already passed major forks branching to the east and west. Before long, the trail was just a rough swath of cleared ground that was barely wide enough for the wagon to pass through¡ªa backroad leading to the northern farmsteads. Now that the tension had been lowered by several notches and only one person needed to serve as a lookout, everyone began passing the time in one manner or another, although they all kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. Edge took the opportunity to observe the crew in action. He¡¯d had a chance to work with each of them individually, but this was only his second time watching them as a group. It was clear from their affectionate banter and supportive interactions that Trapper¡¯s crew cared deeply about each other. That they were as much of a family as a collaborative commercial enterprise. As the brave women and men passed the miles beneath their boots, he began to get a better sense for the nature of their bonds. Edge knew that he had only seen enough to scratch the surface, but it gave him a better sense of everyone¡¯s respective roles. For example, Riller and Jumo acted like siblings. Jumo played the part of a supportive older brother, and it was clear that Riller looked up to him. Although the young hunter was generally quiet as a ghost, he opened up around Jumo¡ªsharing small jokes and laughing as they teased one another. Violet and Trapper had been working together for years. The women had developed a rock-solid partnership based on their long history and mutual trust. Even though Violet was older, at least as far as her puppet body was concerned, Edge had the sense that the woman held a deep admiration for the crew¡¯s boss. She occasionally offered advice or a dissenting opinion but was happy to follow Trapper¡¯s lead. Although everyone spent some time walking beside Blue, the crew¡¯s senior members were especially close to the friendly beast. He saw them reaching out to rub the space behind her horns every now and again¡ªa spot the intelligent dino couldn¡¯t reach herself. Blue liked everyone, but could be temperamental at times, holding a grudge until you won her over with compliments and scritches. Jumo respected Trapper and treated her as the first among equals. Whereas Riller seemed to view the woman as more of a mentor, deserving of deference and respect. Violet and Jumo were surprisingly competitive. They were always trying to one-up each other when they shared stories and played traveling games, like seeing who could spot the most beasts within a given span of time. Although the man never voiced a complaint, or spoke much at all for that matter, Edge had the sense that Riller found Violet to be a little crude and brash for his taste. The man didn¡¯t seem to dislike the crew¡¯s quartermaster, but her loud banter occasionally rubbed him the wrong way, and he would drop back to open some distance between them. Edge had the hardest time figuring out how Sasha fit into the team. In part because she had only been with Trapper¡¯s crew for about a month before he showed up. Violet saw herself in the younger woman, sharing advice based on the exploits of her youth. Trapper and Sasha seemed to get along, although their interactions were more formal than the rest of the crew. He had the impression that Jumo and Sasha regarded each other as fellow warriors and brawlers, and they seemed completely comfortable around one another. There was a natural kinship and trust between them. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Riller would occasionally sneak glances at the athletic woman when he thought that no one was watching. Edge had a hunch that the man had a crush on Sasha, which he hoped wouldn¡¯t cause any problems after the night they¡¯d spent together. But he couldn¡¯t sense any hostility or resentment from Riller, so maybe he was overthinking the matter. The going was slower than the day before, given the state of the road. But Trapper said that it was faster than going the long way around, and they might run into some of the missing farmers along the way. When the crew took a break to rest their feet and eat lunch, Riller moved to stand watch while Jumo and Sasha got in a light sparring session. Edge watched on with interest at the contest of spear versus spear taking place before his eyes. He was eager to pick up a few pointers with his naginata from observing the warriors in action. It was educational and entertaining to watch them go at it. They were both quite good. Far better than himself, given his limited experience wielding his new weapon. Although it was just a drill, the hunters engaged one another with enthusiasm, trying to best the other with technique, rather than a sheer show of Power. Jumo had the advantage in attributes, since he was mid stage-one, but Sasha had an affinity for the spear that almost evened the odds. Edge watched spellbound, eyes tracing their blurringly fast jabs, parries, and dodges. He committed each technique to memory, trying to figure out how each move would translate to using his heavier polearm. When Jumo noticed his interest, he invited Edge to join in the fun. While Sasha went to eat a sandwich that Violet had prepared a few minutes earlier, he detached his polearm from his pack, pressed the section of the shaft that made it extend, and then took up his stance. When Jumo saw the naginata grow from travel-sized to its full length, he let out an appreciative whistle. ¡°Damn, Edge. That¡¯s a great weapon, especially for someone who is just starting out. The materials seem solid, the craftsmanship is top notch, and that extendable shaft is incredibly convenient. Who did you work your charms on at the Forge to get such a nice piece after just a few hunts?¡± Edge laughed, buying time while he decided how much to reveal. ¡°Ander took the order, although I don¡¯t know how many people were involved in the crafting. I don¡¯t think it was anything special on my end. The man just loves his work, and the project excited him enough that he was willing to offer a price I could afford. Before we get started, I just wanted to say that I¡¯m a bit nervous swinging this thing at a friend. I can heal any stray blows, but I don¡¯t want to hurt anyone by accident.¡± Jumo nodded along with his words, then flashed a fearless grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Edge. Unless you use a skill that catches me by surprise, you shouldn¡¯t be able to dish out anything that I can¡¯t handle. At least until you have more experience under your belt. Besides, even though I can¡¯t heal like you, I am pretty durable. You would have to land a heavy hit to deal any serious damage. So, don¡¯t hold back and show me what you¡¯ve got.¡± That marked the beginning of a vigorous sparring session. Edge focused on keeping his weapon under control, and trying to block the various blows that Jumo sent his way. The man moved slowly at first, telegraphing each strike so that Edge could bring his weapon to bear in time, then gradually picking up the pace as he pointed out flaws in Edge¡¯s stances or swings. Even though Jumo was taking it easy on him, the experience was humbling and helpful in equal measures. He hoped to spar more with the experienced warrior during the trip. Maybe Sasha too, if she is so inclined. Half an hour later, they were ready to move on. Edge drained his canteen and took the sandwich Violet had saved for him, eating on the march as they resumed their trek north. Not long after, Trapper looked up at the sky and said, ¡°We need to find shelter. A storm is coming.¡± Edge couldn¡¯t see anything out of the ordinary, but Trapper¡¯s Perception was lightyears higher than his own, and the woman had been living out here for years. Fifteen minutes later, he could see the sky darkening along the horizon and hear the distant rumble of thunder. They picked up the pace as the wind began to howl, racing the rising storm. Chapter 128: Fireside Edge soon learned that another advantage of traveling with an experienced hunting team was that their knowledge of the Ivory Plains far exceeded his own. They knew this terrain inside and out, minus the changes that the anomaly had wrought, including the best spots to take shelter along the roadways. Violet and Trapper stopped to confer, then took the next turn when the road forked. Half an hour later, he found himself standing at the base of some giant rocks formed from a pale pink mineral. They weren¡¯t as prominent as the Guide¡¯s Fingers, but still topped off over a hundred feet above his head. Trapper led them around the perimeter, to an opening that was hard to spot from the trailside. The cavern was big enough to hold the crew with room to spare, including Blue and the wagon. The enclosure had a sandy floor that was reasonably comfortable, and it didn¡¯t have any residents other than a few harmless serpents. By the time that everyone was inside, the storm was almost on top of them. Edge could feel the pressure dropping deep within his ear. Hear the roar of thunder all around him. This time, the clouds were the normal gray color, instead of the bluish ones that accompanied a seeker storm. So far, living storms don¡¯t seem to be appearing more often than normal. I was just unlucky before. While Trapper set some alarms to guard the approach to their location, Jumo and Riller got a fire going. Edge stood guard while Sasha helped Violet unstrap Blue and shove the wagon against the wall. Then they all gathered by the cavern¡¯s mouth to watch the stormfront roll in. A few minutes later, the rain began to fall. It started off as a gentle patter, which transitioned into a heavy downpour over the next half hour. It grew even more intense not long after. The wind rose until it was shrieking across the grasslands, bending the ivory stalks down to touch the soil below. The gale-swept deluge was heavy enough that Edge doubted he could have endured it without being blown away. Thank the gods that I wasn¡¯t alone out here this time. Getting caught in that would have been awful, even without the living lightning. ¡°It should pass us by before morning,¡± Riller said. He trusted the man¡¯s judgement, although he had no idea how Riller could tell. Trapper walked over to Violet and helped her unload the tents from the bed of the wagon. Edge lent them a hand, and when everything was unpacked, the crew¡¯s leader turned to the others and said, ¡°We still have a few hours before sunset. We should use this opportunity to rest up and prepare ourselves for the ordeal to come. We will enter the padamas¡¯s territory sometime late tomorrow afternoon. After that, sleep might be in short supply for a while.¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. It was good advice, but since it was too early to pass out, everyone began relaxing in other ways, taking the weight off their feet while they watched the storm raging outside. There wasn¡¯t a need for a lookout, not with the intensity of the downpour and the devices Trapper had set. The crew sat down to enjoy each other¡¯s company. Edge spent some time talking to each of them, getting to know them better. But he mostly observed, curious to see how the team interacted when they weren¡¯t on the road and didn¡¯t have to watch their backs. He stretched out and got in some strength training while taking in the hunters¡¯ antics. Riller and Jumo were having a blast, playing a game that they called Reflex versus Speed. It was a complex version of the slaps game that Earth children play. The men took alternating turns, swapping between two roles they called the striker and the defender. The defender would place their hands in various configurations, determined by rules that Edge hadn¡¯t quite figured out. He could tell that there was betting involved, and that some positions were worth more Credits on a successful hit. Meanwhile, the striker put their hands behind their back and announced the start of the round. Once it began, the defender waited until the striker moved to attack, then tried to pull their hands out of the way in time. If the defender was successful, Credits changed hands, and the men swapped roles. If not, the striker got paid and then took another turn. Edge watched the pair exchange a series of lightning-quick slaps, laughing at their colorful banter and creative cursing. He was impressed that Riller could keep up, considering that he was uncored while Jumo was mid stage-one. Jumo was faster, but Riller had amazing reflexes and an impeccable sense of timing. I suppose it makes sense. Jumo probably put his attribute points into other places. After witnessing another few rounds, Edge decided that Riller was naturally better at the game. That he wasn¡¯t just relying on his body, he was actively anticipating Jumo¡¯s moves, giving him an extra fraction of a second to get out of the way. Edge eventually got bored, and moved over to where the women were sitting around the fire. Violet had placed her bedroll down beside Blue, who was curled up in front of the firepit. The quartermaster was stretched out with her head resting against the beast¡¯s belly, getting some nuzzles and face licks in while enjoying the warmth of the blaze. It was a touching scene, reminding Edge that Blue was just as much a part of the crew as he was. Sasha and Trapper invited him to take a seat beside them and went out of their way to include him in their conversation. It turned out that they had been talking about their old lives. The people they had left behind on coming to Ord. Wondering how they were doing, and how they had reacted to the news that the hunters weren¡¯t coming home. At least not anytime soon or in their original bodies. Edge didn¡¯t know what would happen if a puppet left Ord, since it had never happened as far as he knew. He supposed that if there was enough magic in the environment, their bodies would function like normal. Although their magicytes were bound to generate slower, since Ord had the highest concentration of any discovered planet. It was an interesting topic, and he added what little he could, sharing a bit about his relationship with his mother as they watched the hypnotic dance of the flames. Chapter 129: Tales Since there was still another hour or so before sunset, no one was ready to call it day. While Violet stepped into the wagon to grab the cookpot and tonight¡¯s ingredients, Trapper went to place some kill traps in front of the cavern¡¯s entrance to supplement her earlier efforts. He hadn¡¯t had a chance to witness the process before, so Edge followed the crew¡¯s leader and watched her work her magic. First, Trapper studied the lay of the land, examining the composition of the soil and the angle of approach. When she was finished, she walked over to a spot that was sheltered from the rain, ignited her core, and cast manifest trap. Mana went flowing out of her hands and into the ground below. Not long after, the earth began to sink, forming a deep pit. But that was only half the show. From the bottom of the depression, long spikes of a crystalline substance arose¡ªwicked barbs big enough to make even a padamas think twice about pressing its advance. More of the mineral formed a thin shell along the interior, keeping water from leeching in from the sides. When the pit trap was complete, she burned more mana and a latticework of sticks and leaves shimmered into existence over the top¡ªtight enough to stop the rain from flowing in and ruining her construction. Then she sprinkled a layer of dirt over the lattice, which quickly turned to mud and hid the device. Edge let out an appreciative whistle. They don¡¯t call her Trapper for nothing. She laughed at his antics, then said, ¡°I know it looks impressive, and manifest trap is a great, versatile skill. The downside is that it requires a lot of set up, eats a ton of mana, and everything will fall apart in twelve hours or so. One of the limitations of creating materials with pure mana instead of infusing something with it. Still, it should be enough to keep us safe until morning.¡± When he walked back inside, everyone was sitting in a ring around the fire, chatting about their day, their prey, and their pay. Along with what they expected to find when they crossed further into the biome. Edge decided that it was the right time to break out the bag of candy that Rita had given him and share it with the team. The spiced confections were a big hit. Everyone seemed to enjoy them, even Riller, who didn¡¯t care for sweets. When Blue saw that everyone was getting a treat except her, she let out a pleading whine. The dino stared up at Edge with those big brown eyes, making herself as cute as possible. Which he had to admit, was pretty fucking adorable. After checking in with Violet and Trapper to make sure it was alright, he walked over and fed Blue a pile of homemade candies. She licked them off his hand and began to chew with enthusiasm, then reached up to nuzzle his face before settling back down with a sleepy yawn. While Violet began making her customary stew, the hunters passed the time by telling stories, each taking a turn going around the fire. Riller and Jumo went first. Like many of their interactions, they turned the telling into a contest, playing a game they called, ¡°Remember that time?¡± Most of their tales were humorous accounts of hunts gone spectacularly wrong. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The crew laughed as the men warmed up to the sport, although it was clear that the other hunters had heard the stories several times already. Before long, everyone was chuckling along with the teller¡¯s words, helping to dispel the pervasive tension of being in the field while stalking a deadly beast. Edge¡¯s favorite story was the time when Riller and Jumo had been hunting warblers on the western border of the Ivory Plains. A bird that was known for having delicious eggs and valuable feathers. Part of the way into their hunt, a pack of mist wolves had shown up to contest the prize¡ªfar too many beasts to defeat in a brawl. Faced with an enemy that was faster and stronger than themselves, the men had sprinted for the nearest tree and climbed high into the branches. Although the wolves couldn¡¯t climb, they waited at the base for days. At that point, Jumo took over, and finished the rest of the tale. ¡°We were growing so hungry that Riller started teaching himself how to imitate the calls of the local birds, including the ones we were there to catch in the first place. There we were, wolves ringing the trunk like they had front row seats to a concert, and Riller was up in the branches, chirping and whopping for all he was worth for hours on end. It took two days before the beasts finally gave up and left the area. ¡°But the best part was, it actually worked. By the second day, Riller could imitate the warblers¡¯ call flawlessly. He got a dozen of them to come investigate¡ªstanding perfectly still and then snatching them out of the air when they drew near. We wound up feasting the moment that the wolves were gone and walked back to town with a decent haul, despite the circumstances. Ahh. Good times.¡± Trapper went next, sharing a story that had taken place during her early days on Ord. Everyone listened closely when the crew¡¯s leader began to speak, since only Violet had heard the tale before. She wove a gripping narrative about going out on a solo hunt and running into a pair of jailbirds that had hunted her instead. She had survived by the skin of her teeth, using every trick she knew to evade the convicts¡¯ pursuit. It was enough to delay the inevitable, but Trapper couldn¡¯t get away. At that point, she knew that she had to go all in. She wagered her life by luring the prisoners into the territory of an aggressive predator¡ªa giant badger that could spit boiling mud. The crew leaned in, following her every word as the story reached its climax. The beast had made its appearance, and Trapper made her move¡ªcatching one of the jailbirds in an improvised trap she had made with natural materials. While the beast devoured the bound woman, the other prisoner and Trapper had run for their lives. The struggle wound up clearing the condition that granted the crew¡¯s leader her signature skill, which is how Trapper wound up learning manifest trap. Violet had another funny one. Of a time before she had joined the crew and was traveling as part of a trader¡¯s caravan. When they were making dinner, someone had accidentally picked the wrong herb, substituting part of their meal with a psychedelic drug. Everyone had spent the night giggling like idiots while lost in vivid visions. Fortunately, the effects wore off by morning and no one got hurt, or it would have been a much darker tale. That just left Sasha and Edge. For his part, he shared the only story he had, going through his experiences on Ord to date. He went into more detail this time, only glossing over the part where he had killed the convicts and the stage-two shadowreaver. Implying that he had come across the aftermath of their battle instead of participating in it. By now, everyone was getting sleepy, so Sasha shared a quick yarn about her first hunt gone wrong. She had been tracking a weasel, but before she could score the kill, a ripper had ambushed them both, and she barely got away with her life. Edge went to work setting up his tent, glad for Violet¡¯s training. He wasn¡¯t tired enough to sleep just yet. Instead, he propped his head against his bedroll. He watched the falling rain while reflecting on how far he¡¯d come in just a few short weeks. Eventually, the ceaseless roar of the storm carried him away. Chapter 130: Company Edge was woken sometime later by Sasha¡¯s hand on his shoulder. ¡°The rain is softer now, so we need to stand watch,¡± she whispered, so as not to wake the others. He nodded and stepped out of his tent. They walked over to the front of the cave, switched places with Jumo and Riller, and then sat down next to each other where they had a good view of the approach. Edge hadn¡¯t had a chance to speak with Sasha since their wild night together, other than a brief greeting the day before and some small talk while they hiked across the plains. He honestly wasn¡¯t sure where they stood right now. How she felt about him or him about her. He liked Sasha, and thought she was incredibly attractive. But he honestly had no idea what he should do about it, or even what he wanted. While relationships between tourists were common, there weren¡¯t any families on Ord. At least not in the traditional sense. Puppet bodies were sterile, and children weren¡¯t allowed to pilot them. Though romantic, sexual, and platonic relationships were just as prevalent as anywhere else, there generally wasn¡¯t an expectation of commitment or settling down for the long-term, since anyone could die any day and return to their old lives. Now that they were here for good, things would probably change over time. But it was still too early to know how that would play out. All Edge was certain of was that he knew Sasha well enough that he wanted to be friends. He realized that he was ok with whatever form that friendship took in the end. Ok with not knowing what would happen or how she felt about him. Although he had to admit that he was curious to find out. No matter what the future held, there would be plenty of time to figure it out once they made it back to town. Edge didn¡¯t want to ruin what they already had by making things awkward and pushing her away, so he decided to enjoy Sasha¡¯s company and not overthink the matter right now. They sat in silence for a while, before Sasha turned to him and said, ¡°I never expected to find myself out here with my life on the line. Knowing that if I fucked up, my story would end inside a predator¡¯s belly or on the tip of a jailbird¡¯s blade. It¡¯s strange and its frightening, but it¡¯s exciting too.¡± ¡°I know what you mean,¡± Edge replied. ¡°I used to fantasize about coming here all the time. Not just piloting a puppet, but being here for good. I never thought it would really happen. My old life was so trivial, and now everything is so urgent, intense, and new. I¡¯m scared, but I wouldn¡¯t go back if I could. Especially now that I have a core and can use the planet¡¯s magic.¡± After discussing the present, they moved onto the past, sharing a bit about their old lives before waking up on Ord. Sasha had lived on Eris, a planet whose economy was built around tourism. Not the puppet tourism that made Prison World famous across the galaxy, but the in-your-own-body kind that had been popular for centuries. She had taken groups of off-worlders around to see the sights, and spent the offseason studying abroad. She had a background in biological sciences, with an emphasis on magical ecologies. That was why Sasha had wanted to come to Ord to begin with. To observe the most concentrated source of magical energy in the known galaxy, and get up close and personal with all the wonderous creatures it had given birth to. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. While she spoke, Edge listened while considering the woman beside him. Sasha was bold and brave. Eager and a bit clumsy with her feelings. Kind, compassionate, and able to immerse herself in the joy of life. The kind of person he never would have met back on Earth. As the rain pummeled the plains, they passed the time sharing stories and asking questions. Nothing too personal, just little details about their passions and preferences. Their likes and dislikes, hopes and fears. They didn¡¯t get any closer, but they didn¡¯t withdraw either, maintaining a comfortable ambiguity that neither hunter felt pressed to resolve. Not long after, Trapper woke up on her own, and she and Violet took the third and final watch of the night. Edge went back to his tent and slipped between his bedroll. He slept remarkably well with the senior hunters on guard and woke up the next morning feeling completely refreshed. When he looked outside the cave, he saw that the storm had passed sometime during the night. The sun was shining bright, reflecting off the wet grass in dazzling patterns that shifted when the wind blew. When everyone was up and about, Violet whipped them up another pot of porridge filled with fruit and nuts. After they ate their fill, Edge noticed that there was some left over, since they had kept on snacking while sharing tales around the campfire. Blue tried to eat it, but Trapper wouldn¡¯t let her since it would give the beast the runs¡ªan outcome that no one wanted any part of. Instead, Violet used a skill to convert the remaining porridge into copper-class aether. A power that he hadn¡¯t known she had. It was interesting to watch. Violet didn¡¯t have a reactor to ignite. Instead, her puppet body could convert magicytes into mana by burning its own reserves. A process that was far less efficient than what a core could achieve, which is why the uncored were limited to basic skills. With a look of concentration, a thin layer of mana gathered in her hands. She bent down and touched the bottom of the pot, then the magic left her body transferred onto the food. The porridge started hissing and bubbling away, until only a half inch of bronzish energy remained. ¡°Purified aether, copper-grade,¡± she explained. ¡°I installed an Auxiliary Skill Slot a while back to pick up a third skill.¡± Before it could dissipate, Jumo brought over an empty canister that was designed to store it. When he opened a valve and set it into the kettle, the aether flowed inside¡ªready to refill their lanterns and other low-grade magtech devices. Violet¡¯s refine aether let the crew stay in the field for an extended period without losing access to their devices. Another example of just how valuable it was to have a quartermaster along for the excursion. We need to find cores for her and Riller as soon as possible. It will make the team a lot stronger. As everyone got ready to leave, Violet pulled Edge over to one side and handed him a bundle. ¡°I have the repairs to your armor finished. I¡¯m glad that you survived whatever did such a number on it. While I won¡¯t pry into the details, I will remind you that I am extremely curious, and would appreciate it if you were willing to satisfy said curiosity one day.¡± ¡°Thanks, Violet. I owe you one. If you ever need a favor, all you need to do is ask. I promise that I¡¯ll tell you that story before long, but now isn¡¯t the right time.¡± With that out of the way, the crew repacked the wagon and continued with their day. They were ready to hunt the giant lizard and make some Credits along the way. Chapter 131: Travel Traveling after such a heavy rain wound up being something of a mixed bag. On the bright side, the retreating storm brought a breeze in its wake, cooling the air quite a bit. Riller and Violet were able to hike comfortably throughout the day without having to shelter inside the wagon. On the other hand, it turned the packed-dirt trail they were following into a band of foot-thick mud. It wasn¡¯t deep enough to keep Blue from pulling the wagon, but it slowed her down and the muck got everywhere. It made Edge glad for his waterproof poncho and bag, which kept his inner clothing and gear from getting too muddy. After a few hours of trudging through the slop, Trapper decided to follow an alternate route, turning down a fork in the road that would take them across rockier terrain as they continued heading north. Not long after, the path led them to a stone-lined waterway¡ªa smaller river that wasn¡¯t as deep or as dangerous as the one running south of the settlement. As promised, the mud wasn¡¯t nearly as bad if you didn¡¯t get too close to the riverbank, and the crew made better time past that point. Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, they followed the river, staying near the border of the grasslands. On top of getting them out of the mud, the route limited the lizard¡¯s approach. They had the tall grass on one side to reveal the padamas¡¯s presence and the water on the other. If they did wind up being attacked by the giant predator, it would have to come at them from straight ahead. It let the crew focus most of their attention across a much smaller area, although they still had to remain vigilant against other forms of danger as they devoured the miles between their position and the border of the Ivory Plains. To Edge¡¯s relief, they didn¡¯t run into the giant beast along the way. They did have some excitement in the late afternoon, when the crew had to drive off a pack of brush hounds that wanted to steal the food in the wagon. After taking a crossbow bolt from Trapper, a poison arrow from Riller, and a flame imbued arrow from Sasha, the aggressive canines learned the error of their ways. They went darting off into the grasslands with their tails between their legs, and the hunters didn¡¯t see them again. Riller spotted some harvestable resources on two separate occasions while scouting the terrain ahead. Since they were in a hurry and the prizes weren¡¯t close by, they just marked the location on their map so that the crew could return another day. A map that Violet updated as they went, recording the parts of the plains that were the same as they had been before the anomaly, as well as any terrain that had been swapped in from elsewhere. Since everyone else had been on Ord for longer than Edge, he learned a fair amount from listening to their reports. It turned out that not all the new parts were from the frontier. Some were from other biomes on the planet that the hunters recognized. Most of the transported regions were tiny¡ªjust a small slice of jungle or swamp that had been moved thousands of miles in the blink of an eye. Trapper judged that they were gradually being taken over by the dominant biome and wouldn¡¯t last longer than another year or two. The crew stayed well away from the pieces originating from the frontier, even when they had to cut into the grasslands to do it. Fortunately, such sightings were few and far between, so it only cost them a few hours to avoid the potential threats. Stolen novel; please report. Those mysterious locales needed to be explored by combat-oriented teams sooner rather than later, to see if they had any dangerous residents, valuable resources, or opportunities like the one Edge had found. Some were likely home to deadly threats that would have to be dealt with at some point, but the crew had their own job to do. It made him wonder how badly the environment had been damaged by the disaster. Most planets would have suffered catastrophic losses, leading to a spiraling loss in biodiversity. But Ord was a resilient world that had been tainted many times before. Invaded first by off-world beasts like the creatures from Earth, and then again by the nightmarish monsters that the System had created after the AI installed itself into the planet¡¯s core. The beasts of Ord were tough, and the biomes had their own forms of magical defenses. The planet¡¯s incredible concentration of magicytes let the land and its inhabitants adapt at a rate unseen on other worlds. Even still, the changes to the flows of magic were certain to have major consequences. Many species would perish, and others would flourish. Edge just hoped that humanity would be counted amongst the latter. In the late afternoon, Riller appeared from around the bend, reporting that he had found a mana-seed not too far from the road. It was guarded by a pair of shaggy white boars¡ªa native species known as grell. The seed would be useful in the fight ahead, so Trapper and Sasha went to drive the grell off and claim the prize¡ªfiguring that a stink bomb and a pair of flashbangs should do it. While the women were busy, Edge took advantage of the opportunity to do some skill hunting. The crew wasn¡¯t expecting to run into the padamas until tomorrow, and they planned to spend at least a day setting up the kill when they got there. Just in case, he decided to save one use of [Extraction]. Under the guise of catching something fresh for dinner, he ranged south of the wagon. Since he wasn¡¯t looking for anything that he wanted to keep, he targeted the first beasts he found¡ªa pair of rabbit-like creatures the size of bobcats. He had plenty of mana, so he closed the distance using shadow step and stabbed with his iceblade to cripple his prey. Their skills were the kind that were only useful to beasts, so he Absorbed them both and added them to regeneration, since it had started out with some experience when he first picked it up. Each of the basic skills only filled its cup a few percent, but it was better than nothing and took the lifesaving skill two small steps closer to reaching rank-two. Repel water was ready to rank-up whenever he wanted, but Edge had barely used it yet. He decided to experiment with the skill over the next few days, so that he could make an informed decision when it was time to pick his first upgrade. On that note, he spent a few minutes playing with it now, sliding droplets of dew off the plants and shoving mud around. He even tried using it on a rodent running past his position. The pulse of mana sent the small animal flying, squealing in terror before landing in a patch of grass a good fifteen feet away, uninjured but understandably agitated. Not long after Edge returned with both carcasses, the women arrived with the mana-seed¡ªsome kind of bright green sphere that reminded him of a plum. Violet stored it inside the crew¡¯s magtech preservation unit, and they continued on their way. Part of their job was to keep an eye out for refugees, but the hunters didn¡¯t run into anyone else on the path they followed. They did find signs that several of the farmers had passed this way while heading to Puppet Town, who had likely arrived before Edge¡¯s team left the settlement. All in all, it wound up being a pleasant day of traveling. One last day to reflect and unwind before enduring the torrent of danger that was looming dark along the horizon. Chapter 132: Crab Early the next day, the crew left the riverway behind them and crossed into a sub-biome known as the Painted Lands. After passing through the borderlands, they parked the wagon at the base of a hill where they could get a better view of the surrounding terrain. As they started scaling the modest incline, Sasha stepped behind Edge and put her hands over his eyes, guiding his steps with her body. He was in a great mood, and decided to go with the flow while he waited to find out what she was up to. ¡°It¡¯s best if you see it for the first time from an elevated vantage point. Just a few more seconds and we¡¯ll be there.¡± Edge didn¡¯t mind. He was excited to see the region with his own eyes, and having Sasha¡¯s front pressed against his back was a pleasant way to climb the hillside. He smiled to himself while enjoying the moment. ¡°Get ready. Turn your head to the right and¡­¡± She took her hands away, leaving him gazing down at some of the most gorgeous terrain that he¡¯d ever seen. The Painted Lands were formed from mineral-infused sediments that had been churned together by powerful forces long ago. As a result, the entire sub-biome was banded in brilliant shades of azure, violet, and emerald¡ªcreating intricate patterns that were miles wide and dazzling to the eye. Here and there, swirls of rose and peach mingled with the rest, adding swaths of warmth to the cool color scheme. ¡°This is incredible.¡± Edge turned to share a smile with Sasha, drinking in the exotic colors and rugged natural splendor. Not to mention the radiant beauty of the strawberry blond hunter. The Painted Lands were higher than the surrounding plains, causing water to gather around the borderlands in a network of shallow pools and creeks. They were too murky to drink, but they reflected the sky above, forming a shimmering border to the rest like the frame of a painting. When they were done admiring the view and charting the course they would follow, the crew walked a few hundred feet into the grasslands. Then they stopped for lunch where they could eat in relative safety. They sat in a circle and went over their plans one final time while inspecting their gear and preparing themselves for the ordeal to come. When everyone was done eating, the crew stepped back into the Painted Lands and fell into a combat formation¡ªwalking side by side with their weapons at the ready. From this point on, the padamas could ambush them at any time, with little to no warning of its approach. Only Trapper¡¯s sense life skill offered them any form of protection, and no one knew if she would be able to counter the lizard¡¯s power before it was close enough to launch an ambush. She wasn¡¯t certain, but Trapper thought that it was probably cloak of invisibility¡ªa rare stealth skill that offered superior concealment, even while moving. While Trapper focused her attention on searching for the padamas, everyone else kept their eyes peeled for other dangers. Their journey would continue to grow more treacherous as they drew closer to the end of the Ivory Plains and the medium-threat biomes it bordered. They passed the next dozen miles in silence, ready to spring into action at a moment¡¯s notice. Although the tension was so thick that you could cut it with a blade, the experience gave Edge a real appreciation for the competency of the hunting crew. He watched them closely, learning everything that he could from their impeccable teamwork. Though they had crossed into the padamas¡¯s new territory, they were either lucky or the beast was elsewhere in the region, because the hunters made it through the day without running into the predatory lizard. They decided to camp for the night on a patch of elevated ground, where it was easy to see for miles in every direction. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Instead of a hill, this rise was a butte made of solid brown stone. It featured three steep sides and a narrow ascent along the fourth that led to the summit. It wasn¡¯t completely safe by any means, but only creatures with a stealth skill could approach them unaware. Better still, the only way to reach the crest could be guarded by mechanical defenses that wouldn¡¯t be deterred by magical concealments. The summit wouldn¡¯t offer any protection against climbers or flyers, but camping on the butte would keep the padamas from reaching the crew without giving itself away. While the others stood guard, Trapper went to work preparing the defenses that would shield them during the night. Tonight, the crew¡¯s leader was going all out. She was laying down a series of traps that would reveal the lizard¡¯s presence, even if its skill was active. If it stumbled into them, they might even deal some significant damage, or at least slow the big bastard down while the hunters made a break for it. Edge learned what he could from observing her efforts. It was the first time that he had seen her weave together multiple layers, covering the bottom of the hill first and then working her way up. Watching the woman in her element, it was easy to see why Trapper was one of the most successful hunters in Puppet Town. Her manifest trap skill let her create a range of powerful devices, although it took a good ten minutes to form even the simplest. The pit traps that she was creating at the edge of the soil were only one tool in her kit. A collection that the veteran hunter had spent long years developing, testing them out against a wide variety of beasts across a broad range of situations. Her versatile skill was supplemented by her uncommon core. Thanks to Trapper¡¯s specialty core, her creations were even more powerful than a mundane version would be. Better still, they wouldn¡¯t trigger on anything friendly, and she could set them to activate automatically or wait for her conscious command. The downside was that manifest trap consumed a lot of mana and its creations only lasted for twelve hours, after which the magic giving them physical form would break down and disperse. After Trapper covered the bottom of the approach and moved on to the rockier sections, it was safe for the crew to start working on other tasks. At that point, Edge began pitching in. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that he was being evaluated during this excursion, and he wanted to leave the best impression he could with everyone in the crew. He was willing to work hard to earn their respect and their trust, both on and off the battlefield. While Violet got ready to make dinner, Edge and Sasha headed over to a nearby spring to fill four big jugs with water. Once they were filtered and boiled, they would be safe to drink. Fortunately, the spring was in the middle of a dense grove not far from the bottom of the hill. A place where the trees grew close enough together that the big lizard wouldn¡¯t be able to reach them. Not without knocking down the trunks and alerting the crew before it was able to draw near. Side by side, they carried the jugs through the thicket and down to the water¡¯s edge. Edge was worried that there would be some manner of aggressive beast laired nearby, but they didn¡¯t run into anything of the sort on the way. There aren¡¯t many animals living in the grove for that matter. Maybe the local ecosystem was damaged by the anomaly or the padamas drove them out of the area. After a quick sweep of the region, they filled the containers to the brim and got ready to head back. The big jugs were heavy enough that they had to carry them one at a time, even with the extra strength provided by their cores. By the time that they made it back to camp, Trapper was nearly finished with the second line of defenses, and so far, they hadn¡¯t seen any sign of the killer lizard. After packing the jugs into the wagon, Sasha and Edge went back to retrieve the other set. When they reached the border of the spring, he realized that the atmosphere had changed while they were away. The grove had gone eerily silent over the last few minutes, and a strange scent had risen to ride the breeze. It smelled like a net full of fish had been left to rot in the sun, topped by the acrid stench of sulfur. After sniffing at the air, Sasha and Edge turned to one another, and spoke at the same time. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right.¡± As one, they abandoned their jugs and turned to run, but it was already too late. Before they could take two steps, the earth beneath their feet erupted in a spray of soil, as a swarm of crablike creatures came boiling out of the ground. He knew at a glance that their assailants weren¡¯t beasts. A truth that Sasha confirmed with her next words. ¡°Oh shit. They¡¯re monsters. We need to get out of here, Edge. Now!¡± Concept Art The wagon View from the cave Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Blue begging for candy A more realistic style Chapter 133: Swarm The hunters started sprinting before the last word passed Sasha¡¯s lips, dodging dark shapes emerging from the banded earth. There were dozens of pale bodies scampering out from what had to be an extensive network of tunnels, and more monsters were joining the chase with every beat of his heart. As he fought to outpace the chittering swarm, Edge took aim and cast entangle, targeting the creatures in between his location and the hunters¡¯ camp. So far, only a few of the shelled bodies had appeared in front of him¡ªmost were emerging from the ground around the spring. They must have migrated into the Painted Lands and built a lair sometime over the last few days. That explains why there are so few beasts living here. It seemed that this species of monster was prone to sleeping during the day and had been roused by the setting sun and the scent of the hunters passing through the area. Now that the soil had stopped raining to the ground, Edge was able to get a good look at the monsters he had caught with entangle. So far, his vines were durable enough to keep the creatures trapped, at least long enough for the duo to run past. The swarming abominations were crabs the size of an Earth pig. But instead of ordinary crustaceans, these looked like nightmare crabs from out of a fever dream. Their shells were bone white, with pale pink accents along the joints. They were covered in jagged, thumb-long spikes that leaked an oily fluid, which appeared to be the source of their rancid odor. The monsters ran on dozens of spindly legs that had far too many joints, each of which tapered down to a needle-sharp point. Their limbs scoured the soil in passing, and Edge had no desire to learn what they would do to flesh. They didn¡¯t have eyes as far as he could tell. Instead, a pair of bright red antennae protruded from the plates covering their heads, which twitched as the hunters ran past. Their mouths were small, but the rest of their natural weaponry more than made up for the difference. Each crab had a pair of massive, wickedly sharp claws hanging in front of it. Segmented tails arced up and over their bodies, ending in jet-black stingers like scorpions. Although the monsters looked durable, they didn¡¯t seem too dangerous individually. Edge thought that the bigger ones were still early stage-one, and the little versions were late stage-zero. But since there were scores of them following hot on the hunters¡¯ heels and more were joining the chase every few seconds, stopping to fight was a terminally bad idea. These things are fucking awful. I hope that we don¡¯t have to engage them in hand-to-hand combat. I think I could handle three or four, but any more and they will attack from my blindside and overwhelm me in an instant. In addition to there being far too many opponents to handle, none of his skills were effective against a threat of this type. I really need to pick up some manner of area of effect attack. That being said, even if there were only a handful, he didn¡¯t want to fight them at all. In the end, it wasn¡¯t the monsters¡¯ ghastly appearance or rancid smell that creeped Edge out, although those were bad enough. What really got to him was the sound that the horrible things made as they called out to one another. It was a screeching, warbling chitter. Like claws being drawn across a chalkboard, only a hundred times worse. Combined with the clacking they made as they scrabbled across the ground, and the clamor of their pursuit was pure nightmare fuel. While Edge struggled to keep their path clear, Sasha drew her flare gun and fired into the air. A bright green fireball soared over the treetops, letting Trapper know that they were coming in hot and that their pursuers were of the monstrous variety. ¡°I think I know what they are,¡± Sasha called over one shoulder from about ten feet ahead of his location. ¡°They¡¯re called cancerous blightlings. They specialize in defense and can inject a numbing poison, so make sure that you don¡¯t get stung. One or two will only be an inconvenience. But take too many and you will lose control over your body. ¡°They are dangerous enough at low stages, but their real threat is how fast they can evolve and reproduce. They¡¯re capable of wiping out entire biomes under the right conditions. If we can¡¯t deal with them now, we will have to turn back and warn the town, or they could become a threat to everything living on the Ivory Plains.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Regardless of what they were called or the nature of their powers, there were far too many monsters to defeat in a straight exchange of blows. All Edge and Sasha could do was run for their lives and hope that their warning gave the other hunters enough time to come up with a countermeasure while the besieged duo raced to join them. They sprinted with everything they had. The ravenous horde was still growing by the heartbeat¡ªnow at least a hundred members strong. The blightlings chased the hunters as they raced for the border of the grove, heading for the butte another quarter mile ahead. As he scanned the trail ahead for additional enemies, Edge could hear the scrabble of their too-many feet. Their chitin clicking as they bumped into one another. The good news was that the monsters were slow, at least compared to the pair of cored warriors. They began to open some distance between themselves and the main body of the swarm, leading him to hope that the crew could outrun the creatures and avoid a direct confrontation. Maybe Trapper can find some way to kill them in their burrows. That was the moment when Edge learned the bad news, which came in two parts. As it happened, there were even more of the cancerous blightlings than he had thought, and the spring wasn¡¯t the only exit to their lair. The ground erupted on both sides of the trail, as dozens of crab monsters came surging out of the soil. Edge entangled the closest batch, but he couldn¡¯t catch them all. With that many enemies coming in from three sides, his efforts only bought them another few seconds. He pushed his body into a burst of speed, trying to catch up to Sasha, who was faster than he was when she was going all out. That was when a beast that had been hiding in the bushes burst out of the foliage, caught in the trap that Sasha and Edge had sprung. The deerlike creature was already surrounded, but it made a mad dash for freedom despite the odds. Not that it had much choice if it wanted to survive. It charged straight for the thinnest patch of monsters, executing some manner of skill along the way that accelerated its steps until its body became a streaking brown blur. When it reached the blightlings, the beast gathered its strength and jumped¡ªtrying to clear the crustaceans and break free to the other side. For a moment, Edge thought that it was going to make it. Its hooves were going to come down just past the last crab, then it was home free. But then one of the monsters reached up and activated a skill of its own. Fast as thought, it positioned one of its claws around the beast¡¯s leg and squeezed, shearing the limb off at the knee. The stricken creature landed hard and went skidding across the soil, screaming in terror all the while. It was covered by the swarm a heartbeat later. Devoured down to bloody bones in a matter of seconds. That will be us if we don¡¯t get away. The hunters picked up the pace, sprinting like mad as the horde of monsters followed in their wake, relentless as the rising tide. When she looked over her shoulder to make sure he was there, Edge could see his own horror reflected in Sasha¡¯s eyes. At least they don¡¯t have any ranged attacks, or we would already be screwed. By now, the foul things were surging in from three sides, leaving only a slender lane open for the duo to navigate. A path that was narrowing by the footfall as the horde of monsters continued surfacing from tunnels all throughout the grove. It was a tense, frightening situation. One that would have overwhelmed him before obtaining his core. Shut down his ability to think and forced him into a heedless flight, helpless to resist the monsters¡¯ assault. But he wasn¡¯t that person anymore. Old Edge would have succumbed to the pressure, but new Edge had been born amidst terrible danger and forged in the heat of battle. Tempered by surviving one desperate dilemma after the next and spurred onward by the ever-present threat of annihilation. Thus, instead of falling apart, he gritted his teeth and focused his will, shutting out the swarm¡¯s warbling wails. The keening and clacking of their claws and the skittering of their limbs. The bloodthirsty chorus of hundreds of voices keening for their flesh and the reek of rotting fish. By now, he could see the end of the wooded area. Just a few hundred feet and they would emerge along the base of the butte. Where, with any luck, the crew had prepared something sufficient to eliminate the swarm, or at least drive them back. Sasha had pulled further ahead over the last few seconds¡ªa development that suited Edge fine. He could use shadow step or leap to open some distance if he needed to, and this way he knew she was safe. If any of them are waiting in ambush, they should target me instead. Try to separate me from my team and finish me off while I¡¯m vulnerable. No sooner had that thought entered his head than one of the monsters jumped out from behind a bush that Sasha had just run past. It raised its claws to block his path, barbed stinger probing at the air. If Edge wanted to reach the rest of the crew, he was going to have to deal with the carnivorous creature first. He ignited his core and got ready to strike, as the chittering clamor rose like a dirge. It was a good thing that he was ready for just such an occurrence, because his opponent didn¡¯t give him time to ponder the situation. A bare instant later, the monstrous crab leapt straight at him, claws and tail poised to strike. Chapter 134: Harden The cancerous blightling jumped for Edge¡¯s throat, both bladed claws and segmented tail aiming for the gap in his armor. Even if the creature¡¯s weapons missed on the first pass, it was ready to clamp on with its barbed legs and start carving into his flesh. If he had hesitated for a second, he would have taken some serious wounds at this point and been dosed with the crab¡¯s numbing venom in the process. But Edge didn¡¯t hesitate. He had been watching monsters converging from across the grove long enough to consider his options. He had a plan in place and was already executing it before the creature leapt. By the time that it was halfway to his body, his elemental blade had emerged from his palms, pointed at the flying menace. The instant that the crab soared into range, Edge speared the creature straight through the middle, impaling it upon the end of the iceblade. He saw mana congeal along its body half a heartbeat later, adding some manner of magical reinforcement. But the monster¡¯s reflexes were a hair too slow, letting his weapon penetrate its shell before the skill had time to bolster its defense. The ugly bastard squirmed and spasmed as its insides turned to slush. It didn¡¯t have enough Disruption to shield it from the subzero mana radiating out from elemental blade. It stopped struggling a few seconds later, when its organs began to freeze. The blightling was heavy for its size, and its weight pulled his arms down. But it wasn¡¯t too heavy to carry, thanks to the rapid conditioning Edge had undergone over the past week. Not that he planned to hold onto the disgusting thing for much longer. Before he tossed the crab fiend aside, there was something that he wanted to do first. Since Sasha was in front of him, and the rest of the crew was waiting back at camp, it was a perfect opportunity to steal a new skill without having to provide an explanation that he wasn¡¯t ready to give. He felt a surge of gluttony from Skill-Eater as his core burst into flame, eagerly awaiting its next meal. Extraction, Edge issued the command, and his chains shot out from the ends of his wrists. The living links slithered their way up the frozen sword, impervious to its potent chill. They began digging into the crack the iceblade had made, since the crab¡¯s defensive skill had faltered when its insides froze. The black links broke through the monster¡¯s shell, parted its flesh, and dove into its core. Both times that Edge¡¯s mind had tried to enter a shadowreaver¡¯s core, Skill-Eater had stepped in to stop his consciousness from traveling along with his chains. He knew that it was for his own protection, but he was a great deal stronger than he had been just a few short weeks ago. He was ready to find out what was inside, if his core was willing to let him. I¡¯d like to see what¡¯s in there, if you think I can handle it. To his surprise, he felt Skill-Eater consider the matter before agreeing to his request. Either this monster¡¯s core wasn¡¯t as dangerous as the reavers¡¯, or he had grown enough to face whatever awaited him within. He wasn¡¯t sure which it was, but he was about to find out. His awareness rode the black chains, permeating into that strange space where time trickled past. A scene representing the core-wielder¡¯s inner world¡ªthe place that they felt most connected to. What he saw when he was drawn inside the monster¡¯s core was unlike anything he could have imagined. What in the world? Or maybe what in what world is the right question. For a long moment, Edge simply stood there, trying to make sense of what he was looking at. His brain struggled to process what he was seeing, because it lacked any frame of reference to categorize the experience. Unlike the other cores he¡¯d visited, this one wasn¡¯t a room or a natural setting. At least, it wasn¡¯t any natural environment that his mind could categorize as such. Instead of trying to grasp the scene as a whole, he began cataloging the individual features. His surroundings were too complex, too intense, to take in all at once. Edge began by looking up, staring at the strangest sky that he had ever seen. The sunless heavens were bone white, interspersed with patches of pale yellow¡ªthe shade somehow evoking an impression of putrefaction and decay. There were banks of clouds floating high overhead, or of some manner of mist at any rate, ranging in hue from rust to crimson. Instead of being puffy around the borders, the clouds were cubic, all hard angles and rigid lines. The longer he looked, the more confused he became. Edge couldn¡¯t tell if the ceiling was a thousand feet up or a thousand miles. If he was standing in a large enclosure, on the surface of a planet, or had entered some manner of dreamscape or computer simulation. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Motes of ash rained from the sky, glowing with a faint silver light. He had the sense that the floating specks of charcoal had once been something more¡ªreduced to a memory of their former glory by long exposure to this place. He instinctively tried to avoid touching them, although it was impossible to evade them completely, given the sheer volume of the prolific ashfall. With the world above out of the way, Edge turned his attention to the world below. Instead of soil, grass, or rock, the surface was coated in what appeared to be chitin, or perhaps some manner of plastic. It was a deep maroon hue, with splotches of sickly purple here and there, where the substance was thin enough to show a bit of what lay beneath. When he bent down to touch it, the ground was warm and slightly tacky. He could feel a faint vibration coming through it¡ªa rhythmic pounding like the beating of a distant heart. The surface had a bit of elasticity to it, putting a slight spring into every step he took. By now, he felt accustomed enough to this bizarre, unsettling place to examine what lay ahead of him. As far as Edge could tell, he was standing in some manner of forest, at least in the sense that there were tall growths dotting the landscape. But they didn¡¯t look like any plants he had ever seen or heard of. They seem foreign to both Earth and Ord. Growing from the ground were bizarre amalgamations of tentacle and tree¡ªdeep blue growths a hundred feet tall. They wriggled and writhed in the ashfall, grasping at something that he couldn¡¯t perceive. They were repellent on a primal level, and he moved to stand as far away from them as possible. Beyond their freakish appearance, the trees were infected by some manner of pestilence. Weeping masses along their lengths pulsated, dripping a milky fluid that shimmered strangely in the soft lighting like an oil slick. There was an ocean in the distance, filled with virulent teal water that looked incredibly toxic. Edge couldn¡¯t tell if it was acid or poison. All he knew for certain was that it wasn¡¯t an ocean capable of supporting life as he knew it. It tainted the horizon, throwing an eerie neon glow across the white canvas sky. This doesn¡¯t look like any planet that I¡¯ve ever heard of. If this core represents the place where the blightling feels most at home, then where in the hell did it come from? He decided that it didn¡¯t matter right now. Maybe if he entered another monster¡¯s core, he could learn more about their true nature. Or perhaps he could find someone who knew about the subject. Regardless, it was a matter for another day. Before he started looking for the blightling¡¯s skill, there was one last feature that demanded his attention. There were monsters in the distance, battling with each other in an endless cycle of predation and consumption. Some were so big that they could have given a kaiju a run for its money. Edge didn¡¯t stop to take a closer look. He was ready to claim his prize and get the hell out. He¡¯d seen enough for one day and was still in the middle of a race for his life. Though time passed slowly here, it still passed. He needed to pick a power and keep on running while he still could. At least the skills in here seemed normal enough. There were two of them to choose from. One took the form of a big claw with wicked serrations along the interior. Every time the claw closed, it released a thunderous clack. It was some manner of pinching attack, likely the one that had sheared the beast¡¯s leg. The other skill looked like the monster¡¯s shell, only tougher and thicker. As he cycled-up and grew more experienced diving inside the cores of others, Edge had begun to get a better feel for what the appearance of each skill revealed. By now, he could get a sense of what each power did by observing its behavior. It wasn¡¯t a perfect method, but it was sufficient to help him decide which one he wanted to steal. The claw attack was useless for something with human hands. Although it was uncommon, its only value was to Absorb it and feed its experience to his other skills. Fortunately, the second skill was far more interesting. At first, he had thought that it created some kind of shell or exoskeleton, which might be tricky to use with his armor and would draw attention if anyone else was around. But now that he had a better sense of its nature, it turned out that the power was more flexible than Edge had feared. It was a defensive skill that would let him harden any part of his body, making it resistant to slices and stabs, and able to distribute blunt force trauma over a wider area. It¡¯s basically extra armor on demand. If I can activate fast enough, it should let me block a blow or reduce the damage of a heavy hit, and it¡¯s thin enough that I can use it under my armor. Now that Edge understood how the skill worked, he knew that it was the power for him. While he would always prefer to get out of the way if possible, this would be a fantastic addition to his skillset. A form of defense that would synergize with his equipment and make him less reliant on regeneration, which wouldn¡¯t do him any good if he was hit hard enough that it killed or disabled him outright. Around this point, he realized that he was starting to feel ill. Being in here was harming him, although it was taking time to reach its full effect. Since he wasn¡¯t planning on sticking around regardless, Edge was ready to [Extract] the skill and leave. Skill-Eater must have come to the same conclusion, because the living links were already heading for the armored shell without waiting for his command. While harden was easy enough to catch, it took the black chains a minute to subdue it. Their coils wrapped tight around the shell, but they had to struggle to break its spirit and yank it out of the monster¡¯s core. Apparently, defensive skills were inherently difficult to [Extract], and this one was Uncommon. He had noticed that the rarer the skill, the more work it took to digest, both on the removal side of things and once he had it in his mouth. But after some tugging and pulling, the black chains yanked harden free from the blightling¡¯s core, sending Edge back into his own body to resume the desperate dash for his life. Chapter 135: Siege The moment that he was back in his own skin, Edge flung the monster to the ground. He stomped down hard, frozen shell shattering beneath the heel of his boot. As he sprinted out of the grove, his chains tossed the blightling¡¯s skill into his mouth. Then they retracted through his wrists to slumber within his core, leaving him to chew on the run. He found himself struggling in more ways than one. While harden couldn¡¯t hurt him, it was incredibly tough to eat. Over the next few seconds, he tried as hard as he could to sink his teeth into the dense mass of chitin, while he fought to stay ahead of the horde of monsters clattering behind his heels. He bit and he chomped, pressing his teeth together so hard that they cracked. But he couldn¡¯t break through the shell, despite his best efforts. He could feel [Extraction] wearing off. If he didn¡¯t swallow soon, he was going to lose the skill. That was when an idea came to him. The monster¡¯s body was easy to shatter once it was frozen. Maybe it will work on harden too. Knowing that he was going to have to time this just right, Edge conjured his elemental blade. He pointed the glowing tip toward his own face, and then cracked his teeth open wide enough for the weapon to pass through. Before the skill could force its way out of his mouth, he poked it with his iceblade, trying as hard as he could not to let the subzero sword touch his own tissue. It was a tricky maneuver, especially while running through the woods. But thanks to the boosts to his Reflex and Control, he was able to skewer the shell in his mouth without freezing his own face in the process. After a few seconds of contact, the skill froze solid and stopped squirming. Harden was so cold that it was painful to hold between his gums. But by this point in his adventures, a little pain wasn¡¯t enough to stop him. Edge didn¡¯t bat an eye as he gathered his concentration, positioned the skill between his molars, and then bit down as hard as he could. His jaws strained and flexed, but he could feel the wad of shell in his mouth starting to give way. A little more force should do it. He dismissed his iceblade and then drove the palm on his hand into his jaw, adding just enough force to bite through. With a tremendous crack, the tough skill split down the middle. A few chomps later, it was ready to be digested. It tasted like grilled lobster dripping with butter, but that was only half the story. Edge had the sense of taking a hit head-on and not falling down. Of turning aside claw and blade with his own bare flesh. Of being so hard, that nothing could break him. I think I¡¯m going to enjoy this one. You have Extracted the skill: Harden (uncommon, rank 1). Digestion is complete. Would you like to slot harden now? I think you already know the answer to that. Apparently, the System did know the answer, because that thought was enough to get the skill moving toward an empty slot in his garden. Edge was drawn inside his own core long enough to watch the shell lock into place on top of a marble pillar. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Once he had claimed it, the skill¡¯s appearance changed. Instead of a thick crab shell, it shifted to a pair of forearms that were raised in a blocking position. Along the outside of the arms, the skin was covered in delicate scales made of a translucent mineral. Now that it was his, Edge learned more of the details about how the power worked. There weren¡¯t any surprises, and he was pleased with what he discovered. Harden would work on any part of his body, covering it in a crystalline substance that was harder than diamond. The mana requirement was reasonable, and there wasn¡¯t an upfront cost, although the drain would grow exponentially the more of himself that he covered. If he hardened his whole body at once, the skill would suck his reservoir dry in less than a second flat. He could keep it going automatically, but changing the position or coverage of the scales required a moment of concentration. He would have to experiment with the dynamics later, but Edge had the feeling that the most effective way to use it would be to keep the scales the same size displayed by the skill¡ªabout enough skin to cover the back of both forearms. Harden was a fantastic power to add to his collection, and he would give it a test drive whenever he had time to spare. But not just yet. At the moment, he needed to survive the monsters¡¯ ambush. Both right now, and whatever happened after he made it back to the crew. Edge snapped back into his body and kept right on running, bursting free from the tree line a few adrenaline-soaked seconds later. He looked over his shoulder as he stepped out of the shadows and into warm sunlight. Hundreds of chitinous forms followed only a hundred feet behind his boots. The monsters weren¡¯t as fast as a person in a straight sprint, but they were everywhere and showed no sign of fatigue. ¡°Hurry.¡± Sasha called to him. ¡°We need to stay far enough ahead that Trapper can activate her devices after we pass through.¡± They pushed on, pumping their legs like mad until the duo reached the bottom of the butte and began to climb. They passed by a few scattered monsters along the way, but the main mass was still a good thirty seconds away from the base of the ascent. Unfortunately, not all his troubles were behind him. When Edge reached the butte, he discovered that a second wave of monsters had emerged from the far side of the rise and were headed their way. The crew must have already been surrounded by the time they saw the flare. It seemed that their choice of campgrounds was a two-edged sword. The narrow rise the hunters had relied on to limit the padamas¡¯s approach made it possible to box them in too. If it were up to him, he would have tried to break through the cordon, even if the odds looked less than stellar. But Trapper must have had another plan in mind. She signaled for Edge and Sasha to help hold the hillside, then turned and began manually detonating her traps. The first wave of crabs coming from the forest disappeared as the ground gave out from under them, dropping them down onto a series of needle-sharp spikes that lined the bottom of each pit. The spines must have been made of something incredibly hard. While some shattered, most of them pierced straight through the creature¡¯s shells to impale the organs below. Edge shuddered when he imagined what it would feel like to fall into one, although he was far more worried about what would happen when the swarm of monsters overtook them. Trapper¡¯s pits were effective, but they weren¡¯t going to be enough to hold back the horde. Thankfully, past that point, the butte was made of stone. The crabs couldn¡¯t dig under the trap field, but they were going to push through the pits by filling the holes with their chitinous bodies and climbing over each other. A lot of them are surviving the fall anyway, Edge noted. The ones that were able to activate harden in time. On a brighter note, the delay gave him and Sasha time to reach the others. They had survived the monsters¡¯ ambush. Now they needed to survive their siege. Chapter 136: Acid While Edge stopped to catch his breath, the crew began firing at the swarm, doing their best to whittle down their numbers from range. Their attacks were more effective than he had feared, since the hunters were skilled with their weapons of choice. Their shots landed in the gaps in the monsters¡¯ armor, targeting joints and other weaker areas. The barrage of missiles took down a dozen blightlings as the crabs began scaling the stone rise leading to the crest. Riller¡¯s poison arrows and Sasha¡¯s flame imbued shots were particularly effective. Riller was uncored, so he didn¡¯t have enough magicytes to use anything that wasn¡¯t incredibly mana efficient. On top of conditioning his Control to improve his aim, he¡¯d spent long hours ranking-up his skills, advancing them along a path that made them effective despite his limitations. Each glowing green arrow was coated with a glob of poisonous mana, spread out along the arrowhead. Thanks to eagle eye and his natural ability, Riller rarely missed, even when firing from the maximum range of his long bow. The stricken creatures moved sluggishly, and some collapsed outright, bottlenecking the advance of the monsters surging behind them. Sasha couldn¡¯t match Riller¡¯s experience or precision with her short bow. Instead, she fired into the thickest part of the press, where each flame imbued arrow was bound to hit a monster. The close quarters let her magic spread across several creatures before the mana powering her skill ran dry. The burning blightlings ran erratically, streaking back into their own line while trailing flames like a meteor. Now that he had recovered enough to join the fight, Edge looked over at the crew¡¯s leader, who was lining up a shot with her massive magtech crossbow. It was his first time watching Trapper¡¯s crossbow in action. He had seen it fire regular bolts, but not the aether-infused shots the woman was unleashing now. She had mentioned that the device could switch between four different elements, and right now, she was using lightning. Each glowing bolt crackled, hissing and popping as she loaded it into the crossbow and fired. Wreathed in electricity, the magic missiles went streaking across the battlefield, leaving the scent of ozone and a thin trail of smoke in their wake. When they landed, the elemental-aspected aether discharged, sending intense voltage arcing through the air. Each tendril of lightning kept on jumping to another target until the bolt¡¯s aether was expended, killing three or four monsters at a time. Trapper fired off a dozen shots before switching to fire rounds, which created intense explosions when they landed. I really need to pick up a weapon like that or ranged attack skill. Edge unlimbered his polearm and took a stance beside Blue, helping to calm the irate beast as best he could. ¡°Easy, girl. Our time is coming. Be patient while the others do their part and then it will be our turn to shine.¡± The crabs were scaling the hill rapidly, now that they had cleared the pits. He kept expecting them to encounter another layer of traps, but they kept getting closer and closer. That was when he realized that Trapper had stopped firing her crossbow and was standing still with a look of intense concentration on her face. ¡°She switched her traps to manual activation,¡± Sasha said when she saw the confusion in his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s waiting to trigger the inner layer until more monsters will get hit.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Sure enough, when the leading wave of crabs was twenty feet out from the party, a surge of mana flew out from Trapper¡¯s hands and into the ground, tripping dozens of traps at once. Devices that she had painstakingly set while Edge was busy fetching water and running for his life. He was going to ask what kind of traps they were, since they were set on solid stone instead of dirt. But it all became clear a few seconds later. Dozens of round objects that looked like stones, but were actually fluid-filled sacks, burst, discharging their contents across the approach. Each liquid load spread out in a circle, spraying some manner of electric yellow goop that was a few inches deep in the middle. Edge wasn¡¯t sure what he was looking at until the first group of crabs ran across it. They were able to advance six or seven feet before stopping dead in their tracks¡ªlimbs bound by what was revealed to be a viscous, incredibly sticky fluid. At first, he thought that it was some manner of adhesive trap, which indeed it was. But that was only half the story. He realized that the crabs¡¯ shells were bubbling and smoking¡ªtissue softening before running like wax. That¡¯s not glue, he realized. It¡¯s some kind of acid. The stricken monsters began to shriek. Wailing and shuddering and the caustic goop eroded their shells and liquefied the soft tissue inside. But even that lethal deterrent wasn¡¯t enough to stop the swarm. Scores of monsters died over the next few minutes, but more kept on coming. Edge was confused. It doesn¡¯t make sense for them to sacrifice so many, even for a meal of our size. Why are they willing to kill themselves to get to us? But then he remembered that these weren¡¯t beasts. Weren¡¯t creatures that had evolved with a natural sense of self-preservation. They were abominations created by the System to plague all who dwelled on Ord. Just like the first shadowreaver he had encountered in the ruins at the start of his adventure, when Edge stared into the blightlings¡¯ faces, he saw only madness and loathing. These foul things were driven by hatred, not hunger. A need to kill that had nothing to do with the need to feed, although they would be happy to dine on his flesh. That didn¡¯t mean monsters couldn¡¯t be cunning. There were plenty of species that would play tricks and lay traps to slaughter their prey. But these crabs weren¡¯t that smart. They only understood the direct approach, relying on swarm tactics to overwhelm their prey. While the monsters forced themselves through the acid field, Edge turned to regard the crew¡¯s leader with a newfound respect. Trapper must have burned through a ton of magicytes to make all this. No wonder she goes out of her way to collect mana-seeds during a big game hunt. I can¡¯t do anything on a scale like this. Even if Overdrive was available, it wouldn¡¯t be much use. That was when he caught sight of three monsters in the back of the bunch that were bigger than the rest. They were almost half the size of Blue, and their claws were large enough to cut him in half in a single snip. Those ones must be early stage-two. They seem tougher and smarter than the rest of the swarm. They are letting the little ones break through the trap field before risking the climb themselves. By now, the swarm had begun to gain ground once more. Trapper¡¯s crew had killed at least a hundred of the cancerous blightlings, but there was no end in sight. The chitinous horde kept right on coming, using the bodies of their fallen as a bridge over the acidic glue. That substance is powerful, but it isn¡¯t that thick. It won¡¯t slow them down for long. They will push right through the center and attack our position. The swarm was closer now, so Edge grabbed a short bow from the wagon and started firing off arrows. He had gone through basic training in the weapon before coming to Ord, although he looked like a clumsy child compared to the rest of the team. His aim was shit, but there were plenty of arrows to spare, and every monster he killed was one less that the crew had to fight. He just prayed that their efforts would be enough to survive the melee that would ensue within a fleeting handful of heartbeats. Chapter 137: Melee ¡°Check your updates, everyone,¡± Violet called out. ¡°That many kills should have let our core-wielders gain a few cycles.¡± Sure enough, when Edge summoned his Guide, he had some updates waiting for him. He had forgotten that fighting as a crew distributed experience to the entire team, although the amount was reduced when using traps instead of prevailing in a direct confrontation. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [8]. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [9]. You have six attribute points awaiting allocation. Since it seemed like the fight was going to become a massive brawl before much longer, Edge needed to put his points into the attributes that would help him survive the melee and take out the stage-two monsters. After a moment of consideration, he decided on an even split between Speed and Durability. He sent his intentions into the System and allocated his free points, gasping as the potentia was released from his core and went surging into his tissue. Half of the crackling energy rewired his nerves and fast-twitch muscle fibers, making his body faster than before. The rest was distributed evenly. He could feel his muscles and bones, his organs and skin, softening before shifting into a new, more resilient configuration¡ªdenser and more tightly packed than before. By now, everyone besides Jumo, Blue, and Edge was starting to run low on mana. When he glanced over his shoulder, he noticed that Trapper was standing still, with a look of intense focus on her face. If she¡¯s not getting ready to fight, she must have something else planned. We need to hold the blightlings back long enough for it to work. That was all the time for reflection he was given. Because that was when the first group of crab monsters pushed through to the far side of the acid field, using the bodies of the fallen as a land bridge. The dog-sized crustaceans started skittering toward the crew, intending to overwhelm the hunters and bury them beneath a tide of razored limbs and venomous tails. But Edge and Blue weren¡¯t about to let that happen. While Jumo moved to guard Trapper, Edge dropped his bow and grabbed his naginata. He started sprinting for the breach, extending the length of the wooden shaft along the way. Edge was fast, but Blue was faster still. Before he closed half of the distance, the combat trained beast was there. The azure dino lowered her triple horns and charged, racing forward in a ground-devouring stride while trumpeting a fierce war cry. She ran right over the first pair of crabs, smushing them to pulp beneath her feet. Then she drove her horns into a pack that was climbing onto the cleared ground. Her natural weapons impaled two of the monsters and sent the rest flying back, where they landed in the acid and began to dissolve. Another squadron of the spindly-legged horrors broke through in a different place. The stinking monsters tried to surround the valiant beast¡ªcircling around to attack from her blind spot. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Blue let out a contemptuous bleat as she spun in a flash. She reared back and thrust. Mana congealed around her horns as her body lunged forward, impacting her opponent with such force that its shell broke apart despite it hardening in time. She brought her head down low and gored another blightling¡ªa rising strike that parted its chitin armor and carved into its guts. Edge watched on in awe as he closed the final few feet. Gore makes her horns sharper, while thrust multiplies their force. A combo with both must be devastating. Despite the dino¡¯s incredible offense, more of the monsters were breaking through by the second. A third group had arrived and was about to hit her from behind while more attacked from the front. Edge raised his weapon and got ready to strike. He came to a skidding stop in front of a trio of monsters, a heartbeat before they could sting Blue with their tails. He used the momentum to bring his polearm around in a wicked swipe, slashing midway through to increase the strength of his attack. Mana went surging into his arms as his reactor flared to life, adding strength and penetration to his swing. The first monster didn¡¯t see him coming and his naginata cut straight through with no appreciable resistance. But the next was able to harden its body in time. There was an incredible impact as the skill-bolstered blade struck mana-reinforced chitin, biting into the tissue below but not carving all the way through. Edge pulled the polearm back and then lunged into the wound, sliding the tip into the soft tissue that was already exposed. The blade sliced through its guts, killing the creature instantly. The third blightling was able to sting Blue once, but it wasn¡¯t enough venom to affect the resilient beast. Before it could follow up, he kicked it hard, sending it skittering across the stone. The blightling let out a shrill shriek, then turned to face him and leapt, barbed stinger probing for his throat. He was still getting used to his new weapon, and the monster was inside his guard before he could bring the blade to bear. He thought about activating harden a second too late, since he hadn¡¯t practiced using it at all. A blink of the eye before the venomous crab reached his neck, a flaming arrow struck it in the head, setting it aflame. The burning monster missed his face by inches and went skittering off, screaming like a banshee all the while. He gave Sasha a grateful thumbs up before returning his attention to the battle. Blue needed some time to recover after the intense melee, so she traded places with Jumo. The athletic warrior readied his spear and fell into position beside Edge. Meanwhile, Sasha moved to a place where she could guard Violet, but fire along the frontline as needed. By this point, the crew had eliminated perhaps half of the swarm. It was an incredible achievement, but it wasn¡¯t good enough. There were still far too many monsters to defeat in melee and the last of the acid glue was barely slowing the blightlings down. That was when Riller called out. ¡°The big ones are coming! They should scale the rise sometime within the next thirty seconds.¡± Sure enough, when Edge looked out across the battlefield, the trio of stage-two monsters were on the move. They must have decided that the time had come to finish the hunters off themselves. He thought that he could handle one of them, maybe two if he was lucky. But there wasn¡¯t anything that he could do about the horde of smaller monsters following in their wake. Fortunately, the crew had a plan. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Violet called out. ¡°Use the gas bombs.¡± At the quartermaster¡¯s signal, Jumo and Sasha started lobbing a type of device that Edge hadn¡¯t seen before¡ªdeep green spheres that were a bit bigger than his fist. When the first one landed in the middle of the swarm, it began releasing a thick, mustard-colored cloud. As the dense vapor broke over the crabs, they started to scream. Most of the monsters darted out of the gas and away from the crew, including the big ones. The hunters threw six bombs in total, cutting off the approach to the summit and driving the blightlings back down the hill. Unfortunately, the gas was less potent than the acid and didn¡¯t finish any of them off. The crew had bought themselves a momentary reprieve, but they were running on fumes and the battle was far from over. Concept Art The Painted Lands Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Blightlings Harden Chapter 138: Air Jumo saw the question on Edge¡¯s face and explained what was happening. ¡°The gas won¡¯t kill them, but it burns their soft tissue. They will instinctively fall back instead of forcing their way through, since they know it will disperse soon.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± he asked. ¡°Are we just buying time?¡± In response to his question, Jumo pointed. Edge realized that the gas wasn¡¯t climbing all the way up to the crew¡¯s location. That the swirling yellow cloud was being held back by an invisible forcefield. ¡°It¡¯s Trapper¡¯s manipulate air skill.¡± Jumo moved to spear a nearby monster. ¡°Over the last few minutes, she¡¯s been setting up a filter to keep the chemicals from getting us too.¡± Edge still wasn¡¯t sure what the hunters¡¯ plan was. However, he was thrilled not to be buried in a wave of monsters, regardless of the details. He worked with Jumo and Blue, taking out a handful of blightlings that had pressed forward instead of darting back. Thanks to the precision with which the team had unleashed the gas, the numbers were manageable for now. That was when he saw a second bubble of clear air on the far side of the acid field. A space where most of the monsters were gathering while they waited for the fumes to dissipate. His confusion only grew when he grasped that instead of forcing the crabs further down the hill, Trapper had provided them with a place to rest. Inside the air dome, scores of blightlings were crawling over one another, desperate to stay inside the barrier and out of the poison gas. When Edge looked over at Trapper, she was busy shoving the rest of the mana-seed into her mouth¡ªkeeping her reactor going while sustaining the twin air filters. ¡°Why is she protecting the monsters too?¡± Jumo was in the middle of fighting off a stage-zero crab, so Violet answered his question. ¡°She¡¯s controlling their location. That¡¯s the whole reason for this setup to begin with. Trapper is an amazing woman. Her mind is sharp enough to hold complex visualizations. She¡¯s good enough to affect two separate areas at once, each with its own parameters. It¡¯s natural to be puzzled, given what you¡¯ve seen. But she can do far more with manipulate air than just filter out the gas. She can alter the oxygen content within the domes too.¡± ¡°Is she removing the oxygen from the area, so they suffocate?¡± ¡°No, she can¡¯t create a vacuum, and it would take too long even if she could. Instead, Trapper is increasing the oxygen content, while the trap she set finishes priming. Now would be a good time to cover your ears.¡± Edge wasn¡¯t sure what was happening, but he took Violet¡¯s advice and covered his ears with his hands. Everything became clear five seconds later, when Sasha drew back a flaming arrow and sent it streaking toward the concentrated mass of monsters. The instant that the flame imbued missile entered the oxygen-rich dome, the world erupted into searing conflagration. First the air caught, then something that had been spread out along the ground started to burn, transforming the flames into an incandescent pillar that stretched a hundred feet above his head. The flash was so bright that he had to shield his eyes. He had the sense that the searing air was being directed around the perimeter of the dome shielding the party, protecting them from the heat. When Edge lowered his hand, the place where the crabs had been standing was burning bright. At that point, Trapper turned to them and said, ¡°I¡¯m out of mana, and I can¡¯t hold our barrier any longer. Get behind cover, now!¡± With that, the air dome collapsed. The gas had been dispersed by the fire, but the superheated air was another matter. It was so hot that the crew had to retreat behind the wagon and douse themselves with water, holding their breath to keep the blaze from scorching their lungs. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. When the fire burned itself out a few minutes later, Edge peered out from behind the wagon to take in a scene of utter devastation. Holy shit. Most of the monsters had been consumed by the flames, either burned to ash or heated enough that their organs shut down as they cooked inside their shells. It boggled his mind when he realized that Trapper had just killed over a hundred monsters at once. By now, the heat from the fire had burned away the rest of the acid, revealing scorched stone beneath. She must have been hoping that the padamas would see us up there and attack, which is why she was ready to bring out the big guns. It was an incredible move by any accounting, but the fight wasn¡¯t quite over. Two of the stage-two monsters and a dozen of the smaller variants had survived the blast by hardening their bodies and running back into the gas before Sasha¡¯s arrow ignited it. The big blightlings were wounded. Scorched and seared, but ready to settle the score. Trapper collapsed into Violet¡¯s arms¡ªdazed from burning through an incredible amount of mana and completely draining her reservoir. She did her part. Now it¡¯s time to do ours. The rest of the team fell into formation as Edge raised his naginata, Jumo set his spear, and Blue lowered her horns. Now that their leader had thinned the monsters¡¯ numbers to a manageable level, it was time for the crew¡¯s brawlers to shine. *** An exhausting ten minutes later, Edge drove his elemental blade into the big crab¡¯s head, freezing its brain and stealing the life from its eyes. He sank to one knee, totally spent, as the crew sat down and recovered from their close brush with death. He hadn¡¯t been able to steal another skill. There simply hadn¡¯t been an opening in the press of battle, even if he had been willing to risk the crew catching on. The hillside was a scene of charnel carnage. Part of it was covered in melted monsters from the acid field, and another big section was littered with charcoaled crabs. Not to mention the blood-soaked ground near the summit where the creatures had been taken apart by the hunters¡¯ weapons. Though they had managed to survive their toughest battle yet, they had spent all their mana, including the seeds they were holding in reserve. Worse, the butte no longer had any traps to protect them from the padamas. Since they couldn¡¯t afford to camp here now that they were exposed, the hunters moved the wagon into the grove. They didn¡¯t have any protection against smaller creatures, or any traps that could deal with the colossal beast. But at least the big lizard couldn¡¯t pass through the dense trees without revealing its presence. Its stealth skill wouldn¡¯t stop it from snapping trunks and branches in passing. They set up a watch rotation and then Trapper, Violet, and Riller passed out. Edge took the first shift. He was bone weary but in good shape overall, thanks to regeneration. He drank his fill from the spring, washed himself off, and then went to check his updates. As he had hoped, the fight had been enough to give him two more cycles, making today the fastest that he had ever advanced. But that wasn¡¯t the only thing he¡¯d gained from the fight. For defeating a cored opponent stage 2 or above, you have earned 1 Mortium. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [10]. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [11]. You have six attribute points awaiting allocation. Given everything that had happened, he decided to put four points into Generation. His plans hadn¡¯t taken into account battles of this scale, where having enough mana coming in would let him fight for far longer. He might even be able to keep regeneration running indefinitely if he got enough. Plus, more Generation would let him perform extra combos and use expensive skills like double strike more freely. Edge sat down, enjoying the refreshing tingle of his mana-pores widening. Four points at once was enough to really notice the difference. When he sent his attention into his core, he could feel his reservoir begin to fill, at a rate far faster than before. He put his last two points into Disruption. He had enough Durability to soak up some hits, but nothing comparable that would protect him from offensive spells and skills that could manipulate the body. When the potentia was set free from his core, a hush fell over the world. Not a reduction of the noise around him, but a deepening of the silence between the sounds. It made the magicytes flowing across his skin feel smoother, like a sheet of velvet had been wrapped around his arms. Now armed with some extra skill protection, Edge sat on a rock where he could watch over the sleeping hunters. He replayed the battle in his mind while waiting for his chance to rest, still in awe of the prowess of the crew¡¯s leader. Trapper really is one hell of a hunter. Chapter 139: Destruction Edge woke up early the next morning, relieved that nothing had attacked them during the night. Everyone but Trapper was fast asleep. She had given the crew an extra two hours to rest, after tending to their stings with her cleanse skill. Although they had an important mission to complete, the hunters needed to recover from their latest fight before they took on the padamas. His body was already in peak condition thanks to regeneration, so he kept the crew¡¯s leader company while they waited for the sun to rise. After breakfast, the hunters refilled the jugs they had emptied to endure the flames during the battle¡¯s climax, then took turns bathing in the spring. It was the first time that any of them had endured a siege by a swarm of monsters, even Trapper. While they were stressed out from the unexpected turn of events, they were elated too. Killing hundreds of monsters in a single fight had let the crew¡¯s core-wielders cycle-up faster than ever before. Riller had ranked-up eagle eye, and Violet had conditioned two attributes¡ªmaking the battle a valuable opportunity for everyone to grow stronger. Their monetary gains were somewhat less spectacular. Most of the monsters had been destroyed by acid or flame. But the team was able to collect some chitin plates from the pair of big crabs they had killed in melee, so at least they hadn¡¯t walked away emptyhanded. ¡°Talk about mixed luck.¡± Jumo took a seat beside Edge, as they enjoyed a cup of tea in front of the fire. ¡°Getting caught by a swarm of that size is usually a death sentence. But since we went all out to prepare for an ambush by the padamas, everything worked out in the end. We got a ton of experience and helped secure the region, but we burned through all our mana-seeds and quite a few consumables in the process.¡± ¡°Swarms that size are rare,¡± Riller added as the man moved to join them. ¡°They strip the environment of prey so quickly that they are forced to disperse. Their progenitors must have entered the area relatively recently, then evolved around the same time to spawn a horde. It¡¯s good that we dealt with them so thoroughly, or more infestations would be popping up across the biome over the next few months. Puppet Town already has enough to deal with without a full-on monster invasion.¡± ¡°Are we sure that we killed them all?¡± Edge asked. ¡°A few of them got away,¡± Violet replied. ¡°But Trapper and Sasha just set out to hunt them down with Blue. Her nose is good enough to scent them in their lairs, and she¡¯s quite good at digging, although she¡¯ll whine about being dirty until she rinses off. They should return before too long, since the sunlight drove the survivors back into their burrows.¡± As the crew¡¯s quartermaster had predicted, the women came walking back half an hour later, carrying a collection of shells with them. Edge lent them a hand separating flesh from chitin, while Blue took a bath in the spring. After the monster parts were loaded into the wagon, they hitched the dino into her harness and continued on their way. Now that they were within the padamas¡¯s territory, the crew proceeded slowly, sweeping the area for signs of its presence before moving on. A beast of that size had a massive domain, and the next step to hunting it was to either figure out where it was laired or where it was likely to feed. They discovered a few signs that something big had passed through the region sometime within the last week, but nothing that indicated the creature was dwelling nearby. Due to the blightling swarm and the big lizard, the Painted Lands were eerily quiet as the team rolled past. Many of the beasts had been driven away, and Edge saw far fewer animals crossing the brightly colored ground than he was used to. Although they kept up their guard, nothing threatening appeared as noon transitioned into early evening. Since they hadn¡¯t found their quarry and were in the vicinity of several farms, Trapper decided to take a closer look and see if they could figure out what had happened to the resident staff. The hunters hadn¡¯t crossed paths with any of the farmers on their way out of Puppet Town, although they might have journeyed south by another route. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Along the way, Violet took a look at Edge¡¯s backpack and belt, using her mend skill to repair the damaged portions and restore the weakened material to pristine condition. It was a slow process, but extremely mana efficient, and she was able to mend them while driving the wagon. By the time the sun set, her work was done. She handed the gear back to Edge, good as new. That¡¯s a fantastic skill. He ran his fingertips over the surfaces of his equipment, unable to tell that it had been scorched and scratched from his vicious battle with Warren. I¡¯ll have to find some way to repay the favor. Late in the next day, they made it to the area in question¡ªa lush sub-biome known as the Breadbasket. Edge watched with interest as the ground transitioned from brilliantly banded hues to a rich brown earth. Fertile soil that was perfect for growing crops and raising beasts. There were a dozen or so farms scattered throughout the region. Each was staffed by fifteen to twenty people, including a cored defender who was capable of dealing with stage-one monsters and predatory beasts. Combined with the magtech defenses guarding each location, the farms had thrived on their own before the disaster. They had been able to repel anything nasty that was native to the biome, and could call in assistance from Earl and the peacekeepers to tackle anything that wasn¡¯t. But now that the planet¡¯s ecosystems were changing by the hour, as the altered flows of magicytes reached a new equilibrium, the farmsteads were too isolated. Unable to face the danger that was coming, as relentless as the rising tide. The mayor had ordered everyone to relocate closer to the settlement, at least for the time being. Most of the farmers had arrived in Puppet Town before the crew left. But there had been a couple of holdouts that were led by people too stubborn or too blind to their new reality to abandon their claims. For the residents of the first farm that the crew scouted, their resistance to change had cost them their lives. Edge stepped through fields of crops, walking alongside rows of ripe produce that were begging to be picked. Some of the fruits and vegetables had already been eaten, but most of the harvest was intact, thanks to liberal castings of repel vermin. Smoke was still rising from the remnants of the farmhouse, which must have caught fire during the attack, and one of the barns had collapsed. The magtech generators and mini-turret had been destroyed¡ªreduced to twisted mounds of metal and circuitry. Everyone maintained a combat formation until they came to a stop in a clear area in the center of the farmstead. Their first goal was to sweep the holding for anything nasty and establish a perimeter, then the crew would be ready to begin their investigation. ¡°Some of the aether tanks are still full,¡± Riller reported as he used eagle eye to survey the region. ¡°The barrier and turret must have been taken out fast for that to happen.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it was the padamas,¡± Sasha added. ¡°The only tracks I see are way too small.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t,¡± Trapper said. ¡°The big lizard is omnivorous and would have eaten the crops too. Whatever attacked this farm was carnivorous. I think they got hit by the swarm of cancerous blightlings we ran into earlier. It would explain how it was able to grow so quickly.¡± She ignited her core and mana gathered around her eyes, making them shine with a lustrous golden light as she activated sense life. While he waited for the crew¡¯s leader to scan the area with her magic, Edge did his best to sweep the ground for tracks, using what Sasha had taught him. There were prints scattered all across the farm. Oblong ones, from the monsters that had slaughtered its inhabitants, and lots of little pawprints that were still fresh. Scavengers that arrived to pick up the pieces. Trapper spoke up a few minutes later. ¡°Whatever it was, they are long gone. There aren¡¯t any survivors either, besides a few terrified beasts hiding behind the barn. I¡¯ll let Dialla know when we get back, so she can send a team to pick up the livestock and equipment.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason to let all this go to waste,¡± Violet said. ¡°We should grab those aether tanks and as much produce as we can carry. We¡¯ll eat it tonight and top off our provisions. Hopefully, the rest of the farms were able to bring in the harvest. It will be a lean winter in Puppet Town living on beast meat alone, especially with all those extra mouths to feed.¡± ¡°Spread out and see if you can find anything interesting,¡± Trapper ordered. ¡°Riller, if you could climb that silo and stand watch, I¡¯ll focus on scanning for the padamas. We¡¯ll meet back at the wagon in an hour and report what we¡¯ve discovered, then plan our next move. Get going, people. Time is of the essence.¡± Chapter 140: Harden Now that Trapper had outlined their plan, the crew dispersed to complete their assignments. Edge made his way over to an auxiliary structure that had probably been used for storage. As he walked, he took in the prolific devastation surrounding him on all sides. It was hard to imagine that this was a vibrant, bustling holding less than a week ago. A grim reminder that the Ivory Plains were growing more dangerous by the day. At least there weren¡¯t any bodies, though what he did find was bad enough. There were signs everywhere that people had engaged in a desperate battle while running for their lives. Some of them might have gotten away, judging by the footprints that continued past the farm¡¯s border. But thanks to his growing proficiency at reading tracks, Edge could tell that for far too many of the people who lived here, their last moments had been filled with terror and pain. He eventually found some blightling corpses littering the ground. Some had been slain by the mini-turret¡¯s plasma, while others had been killed by a variety of weapons and skills. When he made it to the building, he circled the perimeter before heading inside. He ran his eyes across a collection of farming equipment¡ªnothing that looked valuable or useful on a hunt. When Edge turned to leave, he heard a skittering coming from behind him. A sound that he now recognized as the scraping of chitin against a hard surface. He followed the noise to the back corner, naginata clasped between his hands with the blade lowered to protect his legs. Trapper¡¯s sense life must have missed something. He tracked the clattering to its source¡ªan overturned handcart with a big barrel on top. Ready to thrust with his polearm, he flipped the device over and took in the sight of a half-dead crab monster. Both the blightling¡¯s claws had been crushed, along with half its limbs. Whatever it was hunting in here, the nasty bastard bit off more than it could chew. He would have pitied the creature if it were an animal or beast. But the hatred in the monster¡¯s growls as it staggered forward while trying to sting him killed any inclination toward mercy or empathy he might have felt. After looking around to make sure that none of the crew was nearby, Edge poked the monster with his iceblade to subdue it, and activated [Extraction]. Once again, he found himself standing in a strange tentacle forest¡ªmotes of silver ash raining from a pale white sky. He couldn¡¯t see the virulent green ocean this time around, although there was a vast purple mountain in the distance that looked like a volcano. He had been too distracted by running for his life to get a good feel for the place last time he was here. But this time around, he could sense a pervasive wrongness permeating the soil and sky. An impression of corruption. Of otherness. A premonition that this environment was antithetical to life as he knew it. Being here was disorienting and it made him feel sick, even in this disembodied state. It might even be dangerous to linger in the monster¡¯s core for long. It only deepened the mystery of the bizarre environment, but solving it would have to wait until another day. Right now, Edge needed to steal a skill and get out before the effect grew worse. There wasn¡¯t a reason to linger. The early stage-one monster only had one skill¡ªthe one that he was hoping to find. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. His chains were already hunting for harden of their own accord, so he left early and reentered his own body. After a brief wrestling match, the living links dragged the skill out and tossed it into his mouth. He repeated the freezing trick using elemental blade, which made the shell easy to digest. This time, he was able to get a better sense of the flavor, accompanied by the same impression of resiliency he had noticed before. It tasted like shellfish and the sea, but also of something that he couldn¡¯t quite place. Hints of spices that seemed more like chemicals than the flavor of food. Now that Edge had peeked inside a blightlings¡¯ core for a second time, he thought that it might have something to do with that alien wasteland. It was caustic and burned his tongue, although it didn¡¯t seem to be toxic as far as he could tell. When the skill finished merging with his existing copy, harden had acquired about half the experience it needed to rank-up. One or two more should do it. As soon the process was finished, he thrust with the naginata to finish the monster off. Although it was hanging on the verge of death, he wasn¡¯t taking any chances. Now that the blightling was dead, he went ahead and activated harden for the first time. He wanted to get a better feel for how it worked before trying it in battle. He willed the skill to cover his right fist and then sent his intentions into his core. Mana flowed out of his reactor and into his hand, covering his skin with a series of interlocking scales made of clear crystal about as thick as his thumbnails. Edge walked over to the barrel and punched it as hard as he could, shattering the wooden container in a great spray of splinters. This skill is great. I barely felt that at all. He deactivated harden just as Jumo walked in the door. ¡°Are you alright? I heard a crash and was worried that you ran into something unfriendly.¡± ¡°There was an injured monster trapped under a handcart.¡± Edge pointed to the carcass. ¡°I finished it off, and that was the only one I saw.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re ok.¡± The men walked back to the wagon together, where the rest of the team was already waiting. When they arrived, Trapper turned to address the crew. ¡°It seems that this place got hit by the blightlings after all. There weren¡¯t any signs that the padamas breached the walls. Given what we saw on the way here, it¡¯s likely further to the north, and possibly a bit to the east.¡± Since it was better to sleep with a roof over your head, most of the perimeter fence was still intact, and the grain silos doubled as watch towers, Trapper decided to spend the night in the farmstead before resuming their hunt at dawn. ¡°It¡¯s only a few hours before sunset, and this is the most defensible position that we¡¯re likely to find. Go ahead and make camp, then it¡¯s alright to relax. I¡¯ll set some alarm traps to guard the perimeter and Riller and Sasha can take turns standing sentry.¡± With that, everyone went off to take care of various tasks. Edge followed Violet into the field, helping her pick vegetables for dinner. Blue ambled behind them, although the dino¡¯s version of helping was to sample every plant they came across and give her verdict on the taste. She wasn¡¯t a picky eater, but Blue clearly enjoyed some types of produce more than others. Her favorite was a melon that looked like a bright pink pumpkin the size of a beachball. After watching the azure beast eat five of them back-to-back, he was curious enough to give it a try. He broke off a big piece and took a bite, running the plant over his palate. It was crunchy and surprisingly sweet, with a flavor that reminded him of honey and herbs. He added a pair to the dinner pile, then helped Violet carry everything over to the wagon. While they were busy, Jumo had built a cookfire and set the kettle over the open flame. Violet let everyone know that it would be about an hour before dinner was ready, leaving Edge with some time to use as he pleased. Chapter 141: Repel While dinner was stewing, Edge took a lap around the farm, looking for another stray monster for a different kind of meal. He didn¡¯t find any blightlings, although he did steal two basic skills from a pair of possum-like creatures that had been scavenging from the harvest. They weren¡¯t anything that he wanted to keep. After some consideration, he decided to add the first skill¡¯s experience to repel water, since it was so close to advancing that Absorbing a rank-one basic would fill its cup to the brim. He¡¯d tested it enough over the last few days and was ready to make his decision. After the possum¡¯s skill was drawn into Edge¡¯s reactor and consumed by the endless flames, a bit of experience came floating back out and entered repel water. The moment that it did, the skill started glowing and a message from the System appeared before his eyes. The skill (repel water [versatile]) has advanced to rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. Increase the volume of water that the skill can repel.
  2. Change the skill into (repel fluid [versatile]), lowering its power but widening the range of substances it can manipulate.
  3. Repel water at a greater velocity but reduce the volume the skill can affect.
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain as it is and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. The choices were interesting this time around. The first would let Edge divert more water at once. This would offer him considerable protection against water-based attacks, including ice and steam. It might have other uses too, like repelling the water inside a creature, which Warren had done during their fight. The second option was intriguing, but he had a hard time thinking of other fluids that he would want to repel on a regular basis. It would also remove the skill¡¯s ability to affect water in other states beside liquid, and he had no desire to get scalded by steam or impaled by ice. If he was an alchemist or working in an extreme environment with acids or other dangerous chemicals in liquid form, he might have gone for it. But as it was, it would weaken the overall power of the skill, on top of the opportunity cost of passing up the other upgrades. Edge went ahead and crossed it off his list and moved on to his final choice. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The third pick was also solid. It would make it easier to create water bullets, like Warren had used during their showdown. But he had the sense that the manslayer had practiced long and hard to turn the versatile skill into a ranged attack, and even then, it hadn¡¯t packed much of a punch. Even being a whole stage below the other man, Edge had only taken moderate damage from the shots. He would probably get more use out of stealing a proper ranged attack skill than modifying repel water for damage at the cost of reducing its utility. In the end, he decided to take option one. It would give him a type of ranged defense, and he already had some ideas for other ways to use the skill. Maybe once he raised its rank, he could use it to glide along the surface of the river or divert a stream to flood a beast¡¯s lair. He could have used it to drown the blightlings, if he had known they were there and hadn¡¯t been caught by surprise. ¡°I¡¯d like to see what¡¯s behind door number one.¡± Edge sent his intentions into the System, and watched as his skill began to change shape. In this case, the alteration wasn¡¯t as pronounced as his other upgrades. The floating ball of water doubled in size, indicating that the skill could push a bigger volume at once. When the show was over, he snapped back into his body. He put the experience from the second skill he had stolen into regeneration¡ªthe only other skill besides harden that had some already. While he liked his new defensive skill, regeneration was a literal lifesaver, and he wanted to rank it up as quickly as he could. Adding rank-one basics to an uncommon power only filled its cup by a few percent each, but it was still progress. When Edge walked back to the others, dinner was almost ready. He removed his kit from the cart, then went ahead and set up his bedroll. The team had decided to sleep in the barn instead of the farmhouse, where they could be up and out at the first sign of trouble. Besides, it was sad and kind of creepy to sleep in the bed of someone who had been killed only a few days ago, and no one wanted to intrude. They had already swept the inside of the barn for monsters, and there wasn¡¯t anything valuable to salvage. So, after Trapper finished placing the last alarm, the hunters gathered around the fire to eat. Tonight¡¯s meal was something that Violet called harvest stew¡ªa hearty concoction that was one of the quartermaster¡¯s family recipes. They spoke little that evening, mostly laying plans for what they would do the next day. Everything they¡¯d seen was still fresh in their minds, instilling the crew with a somber mood. ¡°At least we avenged them,¡± Jumo said. ¡°It won¡¯t bring back the dead, but hopefully they will rest a little easier.¡± ¡°And those monsters won¡¯t be killing anyone else,¡± Sasha added. ¡°I¡¯m glad that we were the ones to run into them. Most crews don¡¯t have the ability to launch an attack of that scale.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Trapper sighed. ¡°Although that fight was far too close for comfort. But our target will be even tougher to take down than the blightling swarm. If the padamas gets the drop on us like those crabs did, none of us will be walking away.¡± With that grim truth resonating in their minds, Trapper rose to her feet, heading out to hand Riller his dinner and keep the man company for a while. Edge spent a few minutes chatting with Sasha, Jumo, and Violet, then everyone slipped into their bedrolls. He stared up at the ceiling while reflecting on his day, before drifting off into the land of dreams. Chapter 142: Hunt The hunters awoke with the rising sun and ate a second helping of harvest stew for breakfast. Then the crew spent a few minutes going over the map while planning out their next move. Once they had picked their route, they loaded the wagon and started traveling east. With any luck, they would locate their quarry by the end of the day. Then it would be time to set a trap and take the big bad out before anyone else got hurt. Although they were in the right area, a predator that size would have claimed a huge territory. Even if they searched for days, they were unlikely to stumble across its lair by chance. Their best bet was to find a place where it had fed, and then follow the tracks back to where it took refuge during the night. If that didn¡¯t work, they would have to try luring it out, but Trapper was confident that they could find the padamas sometime within the next few days. While they searched, they decided to visit the nearby farmsteads along the way, as they were likely places for the beast to attack. Their route would also take them near the border of the Ivory Plains, where they could complete the second half of their mission¡ªsurveying the surrounding biomes to see what changes had occurred in the wake of the anomaly. The crew advanced in a combat formation with weapons at the ready and skills primed to activate. Trapper rode beside Violet in the wagon, keeping sense life up the entire time. She had put the points she had acquired from cycling-up into Generation, to keep the skill running for as long as possible. She wouldn¡¯t be able to place as many traps when they camped for the night, but it was better than being ambushed by the giant lizard on the road. Despite the pervasive tension that had Edge jumping at every shifting shadow, the first few hours of their journey were peaceful. Now that they were further away from where the cancerous blightlings had infested the Painted Lands, the wildlife was abundant. The fertile soil of the Breadbasket supported a vast variety of plants and animals that he had never seen before. Some of them were similar to creatures from his home world, but many more could never have evolved on Earth. The team passed by clusters of singing mushrooms¡ªvermillion fungi that hummed in various tones depending on their size. The growths created a haunting melody that tugged at his heartstrings until the wagon rolled past their habitat. There were flocks of birds that hunted by unleashing miniature bolts of lightning, toads that breathed purple flame, and countless other wonders to behold. Edge¡¯s favorite was a type of flower known as prism poppies, which shifted through every color of the rainbow depending on the temperature and time of day. They were emerald when he first saw them, and had cycled through electric orange, brilliant blue, and pure white by the time they left his view. They ate lunch on the march, since it wasn¡¯t safe to stop without Trapper¡¯s devices in place. Around noon, they made it to the closest farm. The hunters were thrilled to discover that the buildings were still intact. The harvest had been brought in, all the equipment was gone, and the fence was locked with no sign that anything had tried to break in. Since they had no reason to stop, they kept right on going, heading for the next farmstead on the map. When the next farmhouse came into view a few hours later, they found their first signs that the padamas was in the area. Edge had thought that the site of the blightlings¡¯ attack had been bad, but this was even worse. The perimeter fence had been torn to shreds, and the magtech mini-turret was just a twisted lump of metal. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. There was no question that the culprit was the colossal lizard. Its tracks were in plain view, along with a few scattered scales where someone had managed to deal a bit of damage during the fight. Bloody footprints were everywhere, along with the occasional shattered weapon. All of that was grim enough, but what really made his blood run cold was the farmhouse and the barn. Both buildings had been broken into. The walls of the barn had been demolished, like a wrecking ball had gone to town on them. After devouring the beasts inside, the lizard had burrowed through the side of the homestead¡ªclawing its way through wall by wall, until it reached the innermost chamber. The floor was covered in talon marks and bloodstains. It was clear that people had tried to take refuge inside, and the relentless predator had gotten them anyway. What an awful way to go. Sitting there in terror as it came closer and closer, until the last wall fell, and the beast appeared before their eyes. Edge didn¡¯t know who had lived here, but he vowed to himself that he would avenge them. He couldn¡¯t blame a predator for following its nature, but that didn¡¯t mean that he was going to forgive it. ¡°It must have some kind of melee attack skill,¡± Jumo said after they walked back outside and took a seat around the wagon. ¡°I would guess tail lash, judging by the shape of the breach and the pattern of the debris.¡± Trapper nodded her agreement at his assessment. ¡°At least we know what one of its skills can do,¡± Riller added. ¡°That¡¯s one less power that can take us by surprise.¡± ¡°Two.¡± Sasha pointed to the ground near the turret, where a series of black spikes as thick as Edge¡¯s wrists were embedded in the ground like spears. ¡°We saw those jutting out from the end of the lizard¡¯s tail when we ran into it on the plains. It must be able to fire them off as a ranged attack.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± Violet walked over to examine one up close. ¡°It was already going to be a tough target. If it can conceal its presence and attack from range, it will be twice as tricky to take down. One mistake, and it will be game over before we even know what hit us.¡± Before the hunters left, there was one last complication to consider. The crops had been devoured down to their roots and the grain silos had been broken into. ¡°Scavengers could have gotten the harvest, but something big forced its way into the silos.¡± Trapper frowned. ¡°Whatever it was, it was able to remove its tracks with a skill. It must have showed up after the fight for a free meal.¡± ¡°That means there are two big beasts somewhere in the region, right?¡± Edge asked. Jumo nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that the other one was just passing through and that it isn¡¯t nearly as large. Dealing with the padamas is more than enough trouble for one mission.¡± All in all, it was a bleak, depressing sight. The crew stopped long enough to fill the cart with the padamas¡¯s tail spikes, then they left the farm behind them. They resumed their journey with a steely determination to put an end to the predatory beast before it could claim more lives. Now that they had found signs of their quarry, the hunters began following the lizard¡¯s trail. Edge thought that it would be easy, but the cunning reptile displayed an impressive level of caution for a creature of its size. Although he found one of its footprints from time to time, he would never have been able to follow the trail by himself. Though its cloak of invisibility couldn¡¯t erase tracks like conceal, the lizard used some of the same strategies that Sasha had taught him, doing its best to reduce its presence as it moved through the area. It took Riller, Sasha, and Trapper working together to keep them on a steady course. Even then, they lost the trail on three separate occasions and had to slowly circle the area until they found another sign. There was one more farm in this corner of the Breadbasket, and it was in the direction that the lizard was heading. Edge hoped that whoever had lived there was already long gone. Either way, he knew deep in his gut that matters were coming to a head before much longer. Chapter 143: Trap Two hours later, the crew was drawing near the final farmstead. This farm was in the northeast corner of the Breadbasket¡ªall the way at the end of the road running through this section of the Ivory Plains. After another twenty miles of rough terrain, the biome transitioned into a swampy jungle known as the Wetwood Marsh. It was a treacherous land, filled with powerful beasts and monsters, not to mention hazardous terrain and deadly magical weather. The only thing that kept the marsh¡¯s inhabitants from crossing through the borderlands was the comparably thin layer of magicytes flowing across the Ivory Plains, since higher stage lifeforms needed more magic to sustain their cores. But that wasn¡¯t likely to be the case for much longer. Looking out over the verdant growth stretching out in all directions, Edge could tell that the great flows of magic banding the planet were shifting in the wake of the anomaly, flooding the plains. There were so many magicytes in the air and soil that they practically vibrated with the raw power they contained. He wasn¡¯t sure when or if the biome¡¯s magic would stop increasing, since the center of the plains were much closer to how they had always been than near the periphery. But the old boundaries were clearly in flux. This close to the border of the marsh, it was hard to tell that he hadn¡¯t entered a more dangerous biome already. Regardless of the details, more stage-two creatures would be migrating into the area, now that the environment had enough magicytes to fuel their mid-rank skills. While the prospect of what was coming was frightening, posing a threat to not only Puppet Town, but all the settlements on Ord, he realized that his hands were shaking. Not with fear, but with hunger-tinged excitement. Once he cycled-up to mid-stage two and ranked-up his collection of skills, this area would become a prime hunting ground. Edge would come back soon to steal skills of a higher rarity. Continue to grow stronger at a pace faster than he had imagined possible just a few short weeks ago. But that was a matter for another day. Right now, the crew still had to complete their mission and make it back in one piece. Since the sun would be going down before much longer, it looked like they would be camping for the night at the final farmstead. Edge had a hunch that their hunt would be over in another day or two tops, and he was relieved that [Overdrive] was ready in time after all. His musings ended abruptly when Trapper raised a fist above her head. It was the signal for ¡°caution,¡± not ¡°imminent danger,¡± but the crew still raised their weapons and got ready to use their skills. Blue was sniffing at the air with a nervous cast to her features. Whatever the azure dino smelled, she didn¡¯t like it one bit. Everything became clear a few minutes later, when the hunters passed by a pile of bone-studded shit that topped off at the height of Edge¡¯s waist. ¡°This isn¡¯t from a lizard,¡± Sasha reported after poking through the mess with a long stick. ¡°There is fur inside that¡¯s far too long to come from small animals, and the smell is wrong for a carnivore. Whatever left this behind is an omnivore that I¡¯m not familiar with. Something big.¡± ¡°It must be what broke into those silos we saw earlier,¡± Trapper added. ¡°Whatever it is, let¡¯s hope that it came strolling out from the jungle for an easy meal before heading back home. Even with the recent changes to the region, this land can¡¯t support anything bigger than the padamas for long. The lizard is already having trouble sustaining itself, which is why it¡¯s ranging over such a wide area. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°We¡¯re almost to the last farm. Let¡¯s hurry and get there before dark, then see if we can find signs of our quarry. Bright and early, we¡¯ll set a trap, take the padamas down, scout out the borderlands, and get the hell out of here. It isn¡¯t wise to linger in the region for long. One giant beast is already one too many. We can¡¯t afford to run into anything else that catches wind of our presence, especially something with unknown powers.¡± With that, the hunters continued down the road at double speed. Although they were ready to run or fight at a moment¡¯s notice, they made it to the end of the line without running into anything nasty. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the farm came into view. Something big had cut through the fence to scavenge the remnants of the harvest and devour a handful of animals that the farmers hadn¡¯t been able to bring with them, but at least it wasn¡¯t the site of another massacre. The turret was gone and the tracks on the ground revealed that the people who had been living here had left in an orderly fashion. One of the silos had been damaged, where something had broken in to eat the grain the farmers had left behind. But two that had been emptied were still intact. The padamas¡¯s tracks were everywhere. Looking at them, the hunters deduced that the lizard had forced its way in to hunt the abandoned animals, along with some scavengers that had been feeding on the dregs of the crops. It was likely that the big omnivore was responsible for the ruined silo. Once again, they couldn¡¯t find any of its tracks, although there was another pile of shit in one corner of the yard. The prints were several days old, which meant there was a good chance that it would be relatively safe to camp here. The big beast had no reason to come back, unless it caught the hunters¡¯ scent on the breeze. But that could happen no matter where they decided to spend the night. The good news was that most of the fence was still intact, which meant that Trapper didn¡¯t have to blow through too much mana to set alarms along the perimeter. Once the devices were in place, they parked the wagon in the barn and unhitched Blue, so that she could defend herself if needed. Then the crew climbed up to a platform on top of the tallest silo, where they had a good view of the area for miles in every direction. After scouting to make sure that nothing hostile was nearby, the hunters put their heads together and pulled out their map. ¡°The presence of the second beast changes things, so we¡¯re going to try something different,¡± Trapper said. "Instead of following the trail signs back to the padamas¡¯s lair, we¡¯re going to mark down everything we¡¯ve seen so far and see if we can deduce its location. The lizard should stay within a half day of its den, so that it can return each night to a sheltered location. Even for a predator of that size, sleeping out in the open is a bad idea. There aren¡¯t as many options for something that big, which should help to narrow it down.¡± Violet and Riller stood next to the crew¡¯s leader, pouring over the map and recording their observations. Meanwhile, Edge and Sasha stood guard, in case anything hungry had noticed their presence and decided to come calling. When the crew was done updating their map and analyzing their findings, Trapper called everyone over to consider what they¡¯d learned. ¡°Ok people, we¡¯re ready to take this hunt to the next phase¡ªdeciding on a plan of attack and preparing the field. We still haven¡¯t found the lizard¡¯s lair. But based on the signs we¡¯ve seen, I believe that it¡¯s somewhere within ten miles of where we¡¯re standing, likely in this direction.¡± She pointed to a stretch of the Breadbasket to the south of their position. ¡°We need to kill it tomorrow, then get the hell away from the borderlands before night falls. Before anyone else shares their thoughts, let¡¯s start by getting some input from our newest members.¡± Trapper turned to look straight at him. ¡°Edge. You¡¯ve seen this thing up close, and you¡¯ve gotten a taste for what it can do. How do you think that we should go about hunting it, given the information available and the dynamics of our dilemma?¡± Chapter 144: Strategy Trapper laughed at the confusion on Edge¡¯s face¡ªsurprise that she was asking his thoughts on the matter. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, as fucked up as our situation is, this is still your final exam. Normally, I¡¯d have you set up the whole kill from start to finish, so that you can learn from the experience. We¡¯re low on time and don¡¯t have any room for error, so that isn¡¯t going to happen today. But we can still go through the planning stage together and see how much of our way of life has rubbed off on you.¡± Edge thought about the matter long and hard before offering a reply. About everything that he¡¯d experienced since waking up on Ord and what he¡¯d learned during his training. About how it felt to be in the presence of the giant predator, and what he¡¯d gleaned from the encounter. When he was done, he met Trapper¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°That thing is insanely dangerous. Not just its obvious advantage in size and attributes, but because its stealth skill is so damn effective. If we let it get the drop on us, we¡¯re done for. Now that we know it has a powerful ranged attack, trying to track it back to its lair is just begging to get ambushed. It would be a bad idea, even without another threat in the field.¡± He turned, running his eyes across the farmstead while mulling the matter over. ¡°Instead, we need to lure the padamas onto the ground of our choosing. Prepare the field ahead of time, so that we can control where it will appear and what it will do when it gets there. We should use traps to establish a moment of weakness. Create an opening, and then hit it with everything we have, before it has a chance to start unleashing its skills.¡± Trapper nodded, gesturing for Edge to continue while the team offered words of support. ¡°We need to find somewhere that it will be willing to go but won¡¯t be able to avoid your devices. Somewhere with a restricted entrance, so that it will trigger an alarm trap and announce its presence. In fact, this seems like an ideal location, now that I¡¯ve thought it through.¡± He realized that Trapper had already come to the same conclusion. That the reason she¡¯d had the whole team climb the silo was so he could work out the solution for himself. ¡°Once we decide on our kill zone, we need to set out some bait. You should construct a series of traps and arrange them in a pattern where it won¡¯t get hit by the first until it¡¯s surrounded by the rest. That way, the lizard will trigger more while its trying to escape. The traps will keep it off balance¡ªdisoriented while we hit it with our skills and ranged attacks. Since it¡¯s so big, a trap that uses its mass against it seems a lot more effective than trying to bombard it with conventional weapons.¡± By now, Edge was really getting into it. ¡°This setup will also give us a chance to run away and try again if things don¡¯t work out the way we¡¯ve planned. I don¡¯t know enough about traps to suggest a specific design, although I do have one final thought. You don¡¯t happen to have a means to suffocate it, do you?¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Trapper looked impressed, and the rest of the team did too. ¡°Not something that big, unless we can completely immobilize it first. Although a trap like that would work well on a target that¡¯s not too much bigger than Blue. That was a fine answer, Edge. If you had more experience, you would have been able to suggest an ideal kill zone, trap, and bait. But your logic is solid and you¡¯re thinking like a hunter instead of a brawler. Do you have anything else to add, Sasha?¡± Sasha filled in a few details from their encounter with the big lizard, including its sharp senses and vulnerability to bad smells. She suggested using stink bombs and flashbangs to drive it off if the hunt turned sour, which earned her a nod of approval from Trapper. After that, the rest of the team added their own insights. Over the next half hour, their ideas congealed to form the beginnings of a plan. In the end, they decided to use the center of the farm for the site of their ambush. It had ample locations to hide, and enough space to set up a range of traps. For bait, they planned to kill some beasts and place them in the direction of the lizard¡¯s lair. To leave the carcasses lying a few hundred feet apart, creating a trail for the padamas to follow. They would decide on their selection of traps in the morning, since manifest trap only lasted for twelve hours, then finalize their strategy for laying down the bait without getting caught by their quarry in the process. A few minutes later, Jumo pointed to the silo beside them and said, ¡°On top of everything else, why don¡¯t we rig one of these buildings to collapse? We can wait until the padamas is caught in your other traps, then knock the whole thing down on top of it. If we¡¯re lucky, we¡¯ll kill it outright, without having to engage in a risky hand to claw melee.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a fantastic idea, Jumo.¡± Trapper clasped him on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m glad that you¡¯re on our side.¡± Now that their strategy session was complete, the team stood in a circle and placed their hands on top of each other, making Edge feel like a full member of the crew for the first time. Their leader looked each of them in the eyes in turn and said, ¡°Good job. We need to lay the groundwork before dark and start preparing the field first thing in the morning. Before the sun sets tomorrow, we¡¯ll do our best to bring the big bastard down.¡± With that, they climbed down from the silo and started surveying the farmstead, planning out more details as they went. The crew was eager to complete the hunt and get back to town. While everyone wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to grow stronger, there were more dangerous creatures in the area than they had planned for. The team would breathe easier once they were safe behind the warded walls of Puppet Town again. Edge was grinning the entire way, filled with a rising tide of excitement that grew with every step he took. This was a fantastic opportunity to gain a few cycles, and far more importantly, to pick up another rare skill¡ªideally the cloak of invisibility that the lizard used while stalking its prey. Skill-Eater grumbled at the thought, sending out a pulse of gluttony that made his mouth water. Be patient, big guy. He chided his mysterious partner. It will all be over soon. Chapter 145: Silo The crew went to bed early and woke up before sunrise. Nothing vicious had come calling during the night, although Riller reported that a pack of scavengers had been sniffing around the perimeter. The man moved into the barn to get some sleep while the rest of the hunters went to work. It was time to prepare the field, take out the padamas, scout the borderlands, and get the fuck out of the Breadbasket before their luck ran dry. Trapper¡¯s alarms still had a few hours before they would dissipate, so the crew began their day by performing a thorough inspection of the site before finalizing their plans and putting them into motion. Trapper, Blue, and Sasha left to scout the surrounding terrain and make sure that there weren¡¯t any surprises. Meanwhile, Edge, Jumo, and Violet began inventorying the buildings, in the hope of finding materials to supplement the supplies they had brought with them. They found a fair amount of timber, ropes, and tools, which would let them construct devices that didn¡¯t have a limited duration or were a design that manifest trap couldn¡¯t create. After poking through the final structure, they dragged everything out to the wagon. The others returned not long after. No predators were nearby, and they hadn¡¯t found further signs of the creature that had broken into the silo. Now that Trapper was back, the crew began analyzing the farmstead¡ªdeciding what types of traps would work best and the ideal locations to place them. With that out of the way, all that was left was to finalize their plan of engagement. This situation was different from the defense they had constructed on the butte. This time, they weren¡¯t trying to protect themselves from being ambushed, they were trying to take the padamas down. Preferably in a manner that would leave the remains in a sellable condition. Trapper said that her acid glue wouldn¡¯t work regardless. There was a good chance that the lizard would smell the caustic substance contained within the release sacks and realize that something wasn¡¯t right, preventing it from taking the bait. The spike-lined pit traps were still viable. The crystalline needles wouldn¡¯t be able to kill a creature of that size, but they could cause painful injuries to its legs if it fell into one¡ªimpeding its concentration and hampering its mobility. She had a few more ideas that she wanted to try out, although she was limited by the duration of manifest trap and the fact that they didn¡¯t have any mana-seeds. Trapper would wait until everything else was ready to use her signature skill, so that the devices would last long enough for the predator to take the bait. But there were still plenty of conventional traps that the crew could set, including a complex construction that was intended to turn one of the grain silos into an oversized deadfall. Riller woke up and climbed into the adjacent silo, where he could use eagle eye to spot anything besides the padamas coming from miles away. Trapper set some fresh alarms while installing the nonmagical devices, occasionally activating sense life in case their prey arrived ahead of schedule. That left the rest of the team to handle other tasks. After everyone helped to flip an overturned farm wagon, Sasha, Violet, and Blue started combing the fields for intact crops, which would help them catch animals to use as lizard bait. Meanwhile, Jumo and Edge made their way into the designated silo. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. It was a good fifteen feet wide and thirty feet tall, made of a combination of wood and metal plates. It was heavy enough that if it landed on the padamas, it would do some real damage, despite the beast¡¯s impressive size and physical attributes. It turned out that Jumo¡¯s knowledge of engineering wasn¡¯t limited to transport vehicles. He knew a fair amount about structural engineering too. Enough to control the direction of the fall and tinker with the supports without bringing the silo down on their heads. While he told Edge what to do, the man explained what he had in mind. ¡°The trick is to take out enough of the supports that the building will topple the way that we want it to. Knocking out too many would make the silo collapse instead. To keep that from happening, we¡¯re going to replace the beams one at a time with something that will be stable enough to keep it standing for now, but weak enough that it will give way when the padamas¡¯s weight trips the mechanism.¡± Jumo handed Edge a sledgehammer that they had retrieved from a storeroom, then told him to take out a big wooden beam running up one side of the silo, which he had sawed in two places about three feet apart. ¡°You need to clear out that section, but don¡¯t damage the adjoining wood. Once you hammer out the segment, we¡¯ll plug the gap and move on to the neighboring beams until the entire side is undermined. I¡¯ll saw the ones on the other side too. They will still handle vertical weight but not offer any structural support once the rest give way. Try not to hit anything that you¡¯re not supposed to. There¡¯s no point in tempting fate. This mission is dangerous enough already. ¡°Once everything else is ready, we will create a mechanism that will pull out the beams you manipulated. Then all that¡¯s left is to place the trigger in the kill zone, right in the middle of everything else that Trapper is setting up.¡± Edge made sure that he understood what he was supposed to do, then walked over to the beam Jumo had pointed out. He raised the sledgehammer over one shoulder, took aim, and went to work. Wham. He took it easy with the first few swings, prioritizing his aim and technique over dislodging the beam. Once he was sure that he could guide the heavy tool where he wanted, he raised the sledgehammer and then brought it around with the full Power of his body behind it. Whack. The wood shook beneath the impact but barely moved at all. Even though it¡¯s cut, it¡¯s held in place by the weight above it. Old Edge wouldn¡¯t have had a chance of popping it loose, but thanks to the progress he¡¯d made over the last few weeks, new Edge wasn¡¯t worried. He just wound up, took aim, and gave it another shot. Five minutes of slamming away later, the piece was almost free from the support beam. Three more good hits, and it gave way beneath the force of his blow, leaving a three-foot gap. He let Jumo know that he¡¯d managed to do it, then listened as the hunter explained the next step. ¡°Good job. Now we¡¯re going to fill in the gaps until it¡¯s supporting some of the weight again, then we¡¯ll tie a rope around the middle. Stack squares of lumber to plug the empty space. They are flat enough that we should be able to tap them into place. Once you¡¯re done, do the same for the rest of the beams on this side. ¡°While you¡¯re busy, I¡¯ll remove the metal sheets on the side we want to topple, so that the building comes down on the location we choose. This isn¡¯t going to be a precision job by any means. But if we can get the lizard to walk over the trigger, it should be good enough to drop the structure on top of it.¡± Edge followed Jumo¡¯s instructions, careful not to use more force than was necessary. Noon had come and gone while the hunters were hard at work. By now, it was obvious that it was going to take one more day to get everything ready. While it increased the chances of something finding them, the delay gave Trapper an opportunity to hunt for a mana-seed, which would increase their odds of success. Just as they were starting to lose the light, Edge finished the last beam and Jumo tied some ropes around it, leaving Trapper to place the trigger. Chapter 146: Bait As the sun began to set, Edge and Jumo went to join the other hunters. They were careful not to pass through the silo¡¯s fall zone, just in case they had fucked something up. When they arrived, they saw that the rest of the team had been busy. A massive pile of fresh produce was leaning against the wagon. The women were using it to hunt animals around the farmstead, which they planned to use as a bait trail to draw the lizard into their trap. They already had several carcasses ready to go. Edge froze them with his iceblade, so the smell wouldn¡¯t attract the predatory lizard¡¯s attention before they were ready. Trapper refreshed her alarms and placed a few other deterrents while the crew made camp. The team ate dinner while going over their plans and psyching each other up. With any luck, well before the sun set tomorrow, the padamas would be dead and its skills would be digesting in Edge¡¯s core. Then the crew would be ready to scout the borderlands, return to Puppet Town, and collect their well-deserved reward. Although he ate his fill at dinner, he went to bed hungry. Skill-Eater was muttering behind his ribs¡ªeager to find out what the lizard¡¯s skills would taste like and add them to their collection. Since Edge didn¡¯t have enough Perception to see in the dark, he was given the last shift. Riller woke him up once the sky had begun to lighten with the coming of dawn. He waved to Sasha, who was already up in one of the silos, leaving him to guard the party if the padamas attacked while they were sleeping. It was his job to hold it off long enough for everyone to wake up, grab their weapons, and join the battle. He stood there in the predawn twilight, knowing that at any second, the padamas or another sizable predator could come charging in. That only Sasha¡¯s eyes and his blade would be standing guard during those crucial seconds. It was a tense situation, but it would have been a lot worse without Trapper¡¯s alarms ringing the farmyard. While they would only provide a brief warning before whatever tripped them drew near, it was far better than being completely exposed to the stealthy lizard¡¯s ambush tactics. Even still, it was hard not to imagine its lightning-fast tongue slamming into him at any moment and from any direction. Or one of its tail spikes plunging into his chest with the force of a battering ram. Edge took a deep breath and forced himself to unclench his jaw. A dangerous battle was coming, but there was no point in stressing himself out before it began. Even still, he couldn¡¯t calm his racing heart or keep his palms from sweating. He realized that while he was afraid, he was even more excited. That he relished the challenge ahead. The fight itself, and the chance to grow stronger that victory would bring. Blue was already awake. The friendly beast walked over to get some early morning scritches. Edge snacked on some dried meat from his pack, giving the dino the last of the candies that Rita had made. He received some nuzzles and a few slobbery licks for his trouble, which helped him to relax, if only by a hair. As soon as the sun rose, the rest of the team woke up and donned their gear. Then it was time to complete the trap field, lay their bait, and lure the padamas in. Trapper was hard at work preparing her magical devices. She was able to lay more than she had originally planned thanks to the mana-seed she had found before calling it a night. Violet was setting up the other equipment they would use during the hunt. That left Riller, Edge, and Sasha to take care of the bait trail. The three of them left together in the wan light of dawn. They planned to kill a dozen or so large animals or early-stage beasts, then string the bodies in a line pointing toward the farm, where a bigger pile would be waiting. Violet was thawing the carcasses the crew had collected the day before, and she would arrange them in the middle of the killing field. Edge¡¯s heart began to pound as they left the farmyard behind. This was the most dangerous part of their mission, other than engaging the beast if the traps weren¡¯t sufficient to bring it down. For the next few hours, they would be more vulnerable to the padamas¡¯s attack than at any other point in their journey, since they were operating without Trapper¡¯s sense life skill to warn them of the lizard¡¯s approach. They didn¡¯t have much choice. They needed the crew¡¯s leader to construct the traps that would either weaken the beast or kill it outright. The three of them walked side-by-side, not speaking a word and communicating by hand signals. They were relying on conventional stealth and Sasha¡¯s silent step to avoid the lizard¡¯s notice, or anything else that wanted to eat them for that matter. They kept one eye on the sky as they began to hunt for anything large enough to use as bait. Both Sasha and Violet had a flare gun, and were ready to fire it if something unexpected happened and the crew needed to regroup ahead of schedule. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Over the next hour, they took down a trio of foxlike beasts the size of an Earth stag. They drained the blood into buckets¡ªpouring it out along the line of bait to increase the scent that would draw the lizard to them. Then they figured out the best locations to place the remains. They set the first body beside the breach in the perimeter fence. They dropped the second a few hundred feet out, in the direction of the freshest trail signs they had found. Then they positioned the third, returned to the field, and kept right on hunting. By the time that noon had rolled around, they had killed another half dozen beasts, placing them in a long line leading to the farm. During the process, they added more blood to the ground between each body. After returning to confer with Trapper, the crew decided that their efforts had been sufficient. If the padamas was anywhere in the area, it should find the bait and follow it back to their ambush. If not, other beasts would get to it first and the crew would have to try again the next day. But Edge had a hunch that matters would come to a head today, and judging by the tension in the air, everyone else felt the same way. All the pieces of their plan were in place. The kill zone was in the center of the farm¡ªan open space running between the barn, the farmstead, the silos, and the fields. Trapper had created a ring of spike-lined pits around the exterior, like the ones they had used to defend the butte. For the second layer of traps, she had created an oil slick that used the same delivery system as the acid glue. Unlike her caustic solvent, this substance wouldn¡¯t do any damage, but it was odorless and incredibly slippery. If the lizard walked through it, it would lose traction on its feet for at least a few minutes¡ªgiving the hunters time to spring their ambush and making it harder for the beast to evade the other devices. The third layer consisted of a series of spring-loaded spears and bolts. They wouldn¡¯t do much damage, but they would provide one hell of a distraction. The crew didn¡¯t have to worry about triggering the traps themselves, thanks to Trapper¡¯s ultimate ability, although they would still have to watch out for stray shots once the battle began. Finally, the tripwire for the silo deadfall was set in the center of the kill zone, where the big pile of corpses was arranged. She had used manifest trap to place the trigger, so she could activate it manually too. Their plan was to let the padamas gorge itself. While it was busy eating, their leader would arm the trap-rings from the outer layer in, surrounding their quarry with rows of deadly devices in every direction. If everything went well, once the lizard was in the middle of swallowing its meal, she would activate the oil slick and the deadfall at the same time. With any luck, the big bastard would be too distracted to notice until it was too late. But if it noticed that something was wrong, it would hit the projectile throwers when it tried to leave, providing a painful distraction that would keep it in the kill zone for a few extra seconds. By that point, the slippery oil would cover the central area, making it harder for the beast to avoid the collapsing silo. If everything worked out, the falling building would hit it dead center, doing more damage than everything else the crew had concocted combined. Even then, it might not be enough to kill the padamas outright, although a direct hit should be powerful enough to cripple it. Even a glancing blow from the silo would inflict some serious injuries and stun the beast long enough for the hunters to launch an alpha strike. Trapper, Riller, Violet, and Sasha would keep their distance and unleash their strongest skills. Landing as many poisoned arrows, flame imbued arrows, and magtech crossbow bolts as possible while Jumo, Edge, and Blue circled around to attack the creature from its blind side. The melee team¡¯s goal was to take out one of the lizard¡¯s legs, hampering its mobility and making the rest of the fight more manageable. Violet had distributed a few consumables to add to the mix, and her empower beast skill should let Blue dish out some serious damage when combined with charge, thrust, and gore. Trapper had emphasized that the melee team would engage in hit and run tactics, rather than battling blade to claw. Under no circumstances should they trade blows with the colossal opponent, who could kill them in a single attack. Edge¡¯s job consisted of two parts. First, he was going to try to freeze one of the padamas¡¯s knees. Second, he would do his best to distract the beast if the others ran into trouble, since he could get away with shadow step and leap, then conceal himself once he broke line of sight. If the crew needed to retreat or regroup, the pit traps would buy them time to get away, since the hunters could run right over the top unless the lizard had already triggered them. The oil would make it harder for the beast to climb back out and hamper its pursuit, especially when combined with the spines impaling its legs. Then they would have to decide whether to press the attack or fall back, although Edge was hoping that the beast would be dead before it came to that. While Trapper concluded their final review, everyone rubbed an ointment into their skin to erase their scents, and another onto their boots that would counteract the oil slick. Then they moved into position. Riller was up in a silo, Blue was in the barn, and the rest of the crew was hiding in the farmhouse, where they would be out of sight to anything coming to take the bait. All that was left was wait and pray that their plan would be successful. Although, even if things went well, there was a good chance that the hunters were in for one hell of a fight. Chapter 147: Wait One adrenaline-soaked hour passed as the crew hid in the shadows, waiting for their moment to strike. Then another rolled by, followed by a third. By now, the tension was so thick that Edge could taste it in the air. Feel it on his skin, like lightning was about to strike. Every shifting shadow, every creaking branch or animal bleating in the distance sent a fresh surge of cortisol flowing into his veins, urging him to spring into action. Skill-Eater¡¯s gluttony only made things worse, setting him drooling in anticipation of the feast to come. Dial it back, big guy. You¡¯re going to make me jump the gun and get us all killed. The entity living inside Edge growled in irritation, but then it hunkered down to wait¡ªmaking the ordeal just a little more bearable. He looked to the other hunters for reassurance, who had far more experience with this kind of situation. But everyone looked almost as worried as he felt, even Trapper. It was clear from their expressions, from the white-knuckled grips around their weapons, that this hunt was far more dangerous than what they were used to. But the crew was determined to bring the beast down, protect the town, and grow stronger from the experience. When Sasha¡¯s gaze met his own, they shared a nervous grin, then returned their attention to the task at hand¡ªwatching through the farmhouse windows, ready to attack at a moment¡¯s notice. While he listened for the alarm traps to trigger, Edge visualized what he would do in various circumstances to pass the time, so that he would be ready to act without hesitation no matter which way this went down. He kept his eyes on Riller up in the silo, looking for the signal that would reveal their quarry had arrived, and the battle of their lives was about to begin. Cloak of invisibility, the rare stealth skill they thought the padamas was using, had a massive mana drain. It shouldn¡¯t bother to activate it unless it suspected that there was something out of the ordinary. But the hunters couldn¡¯t take that for granted and had to be prepared for the beast to appear without warning. There was even a chance that it would bypass the alarms by tearing a fresh hole in the fence, making the tense situation that much more intense. Noon had come and gone, and still, nothing had happened. By now, there was a fair chance that something else had devoured the trail of bait and their efforts had failed to bear fruit. Everyone was exhausted from the long vigil and constant stress, even though they had been sitting in place for most of the day. The crew was just deciding that they would have to try again the next morning, when the giant lizard arrived at last. It must have had its stealth skill up during the approach after all, because Riller never saw it coming. Instead, one of Trapper¡¯s alarms rang out¡ªa clear, chiming tone, like two big bells slamming together. Edge gripped the shaft of his naginata so hard that his knuckles popped. He was ready to charge into battle¡ªtoo keyed up from the gallon of adrenaline sloshing through his veins to remember the plan in that moment. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Trapper calmed him down with a hand on one shoulder. ¡°Wait.¡± She mouthed the word rather than spoke. ¡°Let it take the bait.¡± He nodded, took a deep breath, then shook his head to clear his mind before settling back down to wait. Heart hammering in his chest like a metronome on methamphetamine, Edge peered out from the main room of the farmhouse¡ªhead just high enough to see over the window seal. He was afraid that the beast had detected their presence. That instead of going for the bait, it would burst through the side of the building and hit the hunters hard before they even knew it was there. But he trusted Trapper¡¯s judgment and the crew¡¯s Perception, so he forced himself to focus and play the role he had been assigned. That was when he heard the scrabbling of arm-thick claws slinking across the soil, gradually growing louder as the massive creature drew closer to the center of the farmstead. The alarm must have put it on guard. But at least we know what direction it¡¯s coming from. It seemed that the lizard¡¯s skill reduced the noise it made, but it didn¡¯t eliminate it completely¡ªlikely the result of choosing an upgrade that made its visual camouflage even more powerful or granted it some manner of utility instead. Everyone sat on pins and needles, adrenaline coursing through their bloodstreams like floodwater racing down a gully. That was when Riller flashed a hand signal¡ªjust a slight movement of his fingers. The beast changed direction and is coming from the north instead of east. It must have thought that something was odd about the bait trail and decided to scout the area before eating the rest. A breathless minute passed, then another. Just when Edge couldn¡¯t take the suspense anymore, the beast appeared at last. It was already near the outer ring of traps when it dropped its cloak of invisibility to conserve mana. The padamas¡¯s colossal form wavered into existence as it deactivated the high-rank skill. At first, Edge could only see a faint outline of displaced air. But then the space began to color in, adding the texture of scales and the profile of bulging muscle until the lizard was visible to the naked eye. Its movements grew louder in that moment, although it was still remarkably quiet for a creature of that size. Holy shit. That¡¯s one powerful stealth skill. I was able to see straight through the padamas without picking up any clues that it was there. No wonder it was able to sneak up on the stone lion. Cloak of invisibility is way stronger than conceal. I need to steal it before we land the killing blow. He was surprised that Skill-Eater didn¡¯t share his enthusiasm. It was eager to feed, but it didn¡¯t seem interested in that particular power. It was the first time that Edge¡¯s core didn¡¯t salivate at the prospect of [Extracting] a rare skill. It was weird, but it wasn¡¯t going to stop him from claiming cloak of invisibility for his own. I¡¯m lucky that I was awarded so much Mortium for killing Warren, and that I decided not to spend it. The beast might even have two or three rares that I can steal. All such thoughts were driven from his head when the padamas approached the site where the team had laid their bait. They just needed the lizard to enter the kill zone and distract itself by consuming its meal, and the decisive moment would arrive at last. After a long, arduous journey, their target was in sight, and Trapper¡¯s crew was ready to bring the big bad down. Chapter 148: Padamas Edge took in the sight of his oversized foe, while waiting for the order to attack. He ran his gaze across the powerful predator, absorbing its presence. Its power. The aura of menace it exuded with every move that it made. His mind sharpened during the final, fleeting moments before the beast knew it was in danger¡ªthoughts honed to a razor¡¯s edge by the maelstrom of violence that was oh so inevitably coming. The green and yellow lizard was even bigger than he remembered. It must have gained several cycles from slaughtering the residents of the Breadbasket over the last few days. Edge catalogued every detail of its features and behavior¡ªtrying to learn everything that he could before pitting his life against the colossal creature in weapon-to-claw combat. Every inch of its body was covered in dense, rippling muscles. Its scaly skin looked thick enough to block a direct hit from his naginata. Even powered with slash and double strike, he would have to work hard to penetrate the tough tissue if he wanted to do any damage. Each of its limbs was armed with four swordlike talons half the length of his polearm. Its agile tail was covered with the wrist-thick spikes they had come across at the other farm. Edge had run into a collection of fearsome opponents by this point in his adventure, but there was no question that this was the most dangerous enemy that he had ever laid eyes on. A beast capable of taking on an entire pack of shadowreavers. He thanked the gods that [Overdrive] had come back online. In a worst-case scenario, he would be able to hit the padamas much harder than would otherwise be possible. At least for thirty seconds. He hoped that the battle wouldn¡¯t force him to use Skill-Eater¡¯s ultimate ability, but it was comforting to know that he could use his powers to their full potential if the hunt took a turn for the worse. Even if doing so would precipitate a conversation that he was hoping to avoid. That was when Edge realized that the lizard had stopped. Instead of walking into the kill zone, it was standing in place, sniffing at the air while muttering to itself. What is it doing? Why is it looking around instead of taking the bait? That was when it hit him. It can smell that we¡¯ve been in the area, even if it can¡¯t detect our scents right now. On that note, the beast walked away from the traps and over toward the field, examining the tracks that the hunters had left behind. Then it moved over to the deadfall grain silo, acting like it might try to poke its head inside the door. Jumo¡¯s face had gone pale as a sheet, and Edge knew that he must look the same way. Oh shit. If it tries to force its way inside, it¡¯s going to trigger the deadfall early and all hell is going to break loose. The team sat there, tension ratcheting up by the heartbeat, as the padamas put its nose up to the doorway and began to sniff. It began to press forward, and he could hear the weakened support beams creaking¡­ just before the lizard pulled its head out and started walking toward the farmhouse. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Everyone froze in place, not daring to so much as breathe as the colossal predator drew closer and then closer still. Their bodies were angled so that they would be hard to see, even from right outside the window. But if the padamas caught a glimpse of them and attacked, they were going to start the battle in an awful fucking position. Besieged from the first move against a full-strength opponent, instead of ambushing a beast that had been weakened and disoriented by the traps they had laid. They had planned for this possibility, although they had hoped that it wouldn¡¯t happen. If the lizard attacked from a position of strength, the team would fire a barrage of consumables, run to the other side of the trap field, and pray that no one died along the way. Please, please go away. Go eat the tasty snacks and ignore the boring buildings. Edge held his naginata in a white-knuckled grip, ready to spring into action with every breath he took. Change of plan. If it finds us, I¡¯ll grab its attention and lead it into the traps myself. If I get targeted by the tongue, I might be able to get away with shadow step, but it¡¯s a death sentence for anyone else on the team. Despite his fervent prayers, the padamas kept walking toward them. Its tongue darted out to taste the breeze until it was standing right outside the farmhouse¡ªone massive eye lined up with the window. He could see the rest of the team holding their breath. The nervous sweat running down their bodies, expressions tight with fear. Just when Edge was certain that the beast had found them, the lizard grumbled and turned away, heading toward the middle of the farm. Relief coursed through every cell of his body as the team recovered from the close call and prepared to enact their original plan. As soon as it starts eating, we can trigger the traps and launch our assault. After reaching the center of the trap field, the padamas opened its mouth and began to feed. It started with the carcass they had placed on top of the pile, devouring the body in a single gulp. Then it moved on to the massive mound of meat below. It was going to take a while to finish it all, even for a creature that big. Now that the lizard wasn¡¯t looking their way, Trapper flashed a hand sign to Riller. She let him know that she was going to arm the ring of pit traps in another two minutes, giving everyone time to mentally prepare themselves for the coming battle. Edge used the opportunity to come up with a plan for what he would do if he was forced to use [Overdrive], including how to combine his recently acquired skills as effectively as possible. In a worst-case scenario, he might have to reveal more to the team than he would prefer. Pretend that he had an epic core instead of a rare. They had known each other long enough that he didn¡¯t think the hunters would try to claim his bounty. Although he wasn¡¯t sure that would hold true if they thought he had a legendary core, let alone the unique that he actually had. He was willing to trust the crew, but Edge wasn¡¯t ready to share the whole truth with anyone. Not when he was still grappling with the implications of binding Skill-Eater, and the consequences of making a mistake would have him on the run for the rest of his life, however short that might happen to be. That was all the time for reflection he was granted. Because half a heartbeat later, the crew began their assault. Trapper waited until the padamas had taken a gigantic bite out of one of the stag-sized foxes and was engrossed with crunching its bones. Then she flashed another sign and prepared to activate her signature skill. Edge rose to his feet and got ready to charge with the crew at his side. The field was set, and the time was now. The battle with the padamas had officially begun. Chapter 149: Engagement Mana went streaming out of Trapper¡¯s core, flowing through the ground until it reached the kill zone in the center of the farmyard. Although Edge couldn¡¯t see anything move, he knew that the pit traps and bolt throwers had armed themselves and were ready to trigger when the colossal lizard stepped on top of them. At the same time, she primed the deadfall and manually activated her oil slick, causing the devices scattered throughout the area to burst¡ªthe same rock-colored sacks she had used to distribute the acid glue. It didn¡¯t make much noise, and the slippery substance began spreading across the dirt. It took the padamas a few seconds to realize that something was wrong, at which point it whipped its head up and started looking around. He could tell that the beast wasn¡¯t sure what was happening. It didn¡¯t see anyone around, but it had sensed the pulse of mana and knew something strange was going on. When the spreading tide of oil touched its front feet, it reflexively backed up. A move that caused its rear legs to step into the grease behind it, leaving three of its feet coated in the slick sludge. ¡°Now!¡± Trapper roared and the crew sprang into motion. The hunters began rushing out doorways and leaping through windows, ready to hit the big bastard hard before it figured out that it had been lured into an ambush. Even though the other traps were active, they wouldn¡¯t trigger from the team running over them, although they still had to be careful not to get caught in the crossfire. That just left the silo. Trapper must have modified her original plan based on what she¡¯d observed. She was waiting to trip the deadfall until the padamas was facing the other way and would be less likely to see it coming. The melee team circled around the barn to hit the beast from behind, while the rest of the crew spread out in a line along the other side of the pits. Thankfully, the team had coated the bottom of their boots with a substance that would repel the greasy oil. Unless they fell into it, they would be far less affected by the altered ground than their prey, adding another small advantage to their side of the scales. Edge rounded the corner of the barn with his heart hammering in his chest. Now there was no going back. All he could do was believe in his team, follow the plan, and hope for the best. In that moment, time seemed to slow, letting little details jump out at him. He could hear the twang of the hunters¡¯ ranged weapons, and the padamas screaming in outrage. He could smell the blood from the bait and the earthy scent of the harvest. Feel the late summer sunlight warming his skin. The texture of the leather grip under his fingertips as he raised his polearm and sprinted toward the fearsome predator, which had begun scrambling for purchase on ground that offered far less traction than it was expecting. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. The immense predator roared out a challenge that wound up somewhat less intimidating than it intended, due to it sliding across the dirt instead of stopping in front of the ranged team. He looked over at the crew¡¯s leader, who communicated her orders via hand signals. She wants us to unleash some consumables to keep it disoriented. We can¡¯t enter the kill zone until the silo falls. Edge came to a skidding stop, reaching toward his belt to pull out a stink bomb. He removed the silver sphere and twisted off the top, then hurled the device at the bewildered beast. It shattered against the ground beneath its head, releasing a dense spray of stinking yellow droplets. The lizard hissed and began to gag, although it didn¡¯t seem nearly as affected as before, when some of the liquid had flown inside its mouth. Even still, it was an effective distraction¡ªgranting the ranged team more time to unleash their skills and attacks. By this point, Edge had already thrown a second stink bomb that caught the padamas broadside, then he reached into his belt pouch and withdrew a flashbang. He pressed the ignition, chucked the device, and then threw a second of the same make. They detonated back-to-back, unleashing a pair of tremendous bangs and a bright flash of light. As he¡¯d been hoping, the intense assault to three senses spooked the unstable beast. The lizard slid back as it scrambled away from the flashbangs¡­ then it kept right on sliding. It was still figuring out what was going on with the ground below its feet¡ªunable to understand why the rocky soil had become as slick as ice. It let out an exasperated hiss as all four feet scabbled for purchase, along with its agile tail. The added momentum only made things worse. The beast went gliding off in a different direction, heading away from the crew. Before it could recover, its hindlegs hit one of Trapper¡¯s pitfalls. The lattice of soil and wood fell away, letting two big feet fall into the spike-lined hole below. The colossal beast¡¯s weight drove the crystal barbs deep into its flesh, which broke off as its momentum shoved it deeper into the pit. The padamas let out a shrill scream of pain, but it wasn¡¯t all good news. Now that its rear feet were on stable ground, it had finally regained control over its momentum. It was injured and the spikes would slow it down, but it wasn¡¯t seriously wounded. It was, however, extremely fucking distracted. Trapper gave the signal to back up. It was time to use their last and biggest trap, which would hopefully take the beast down without having to engage in a weapon-to-claw brawl that would be incredibly dangerous for the hunting party. She sent out a pulse of mana, but to everyone¡¯s dismay, nothing happened. Trapper flashed another signal, indicating that the device wasn¡¯t working the way it was supposed to. ¡°Shit,¡± Jumo said. ¡°I might have fucked up and left too many plates in place. But if we had undermined the structure further, we would have risked the silo collapsing early.¡± Fortunately, Jumo had been worried that might happen, and had added a second means of triggering the mechanism. Responding to Violet¡¯s command, Blue grabbed the ropes he had attached to the altered beams and then pulled as hard as she could. For a second, the silo held firm despite Blue¡¯s tugging and straining. But then the azure dino let loose a war cry and charged. The force of the skill ripped the weakened beams in half as Blue raced to get out of the trap¡¯s kill zone before the building came down on top of her head. Chapter 150: Boom With a groan of tortured wood, the silo started to topple. The tip tilted by a couple of degrees before coming to a stop again, causing Edge¡¯s heart to jump into his throat. Come on. Fall, you stupid fucker. We can¡¯t afford to blow this chance. If this trap didn¡¯t work, the team would be forced to face the angry lizard head-on. Even with [Overdrive], he wasn¡¯t sure that they could win, let alone come out the other side without losing anyone along the way. But then the damaged silo let out a series of cracks like thunderpeals, as the final beams began to give way. The top tilted by another couple of inches¡­ then began moving faster, picking up momentum along the way. With a burst of splintering wood and the screech of steel, the weakened side caved in¡ªsending the whole structure toppling toward the wounded beast. Edge took cover behind the corner of a building while waiting to see if the crew¡¯s efforts would pay off, or the colossal beast moved out of the way in time. It looked up after hearing the clamor, comprehending at the last possible moment that its life was in danger. He could see the dawning realization in its eyes. The understanding that if it took the impact head-on, it was going to be crippled or killed. Afraid for the first time since the battle began, the immense predator began scrambling out of the way. Its feet slid across the slippery soil, but it planted its toes and drove its claws in deep¡ªpanic lending it strength as it fled for its life. The hasty maneuver wasn¡¯t enough to get out from under the falling building before it landed. But it was enough to keep its body from taking the brunt of the blow. Instead, the silo came down onto its tail¡ªcrushing the appendage beneath tons of wreckage and pinning the beast to the ground. Edge pulled his head back as debris went raining across the farm, narrowly avoiding taking a warped metal plate to his face in the process. Good enough. Now that the tail is out of the equation and the beast is tethered to that spot, it should be sufficient to turn the tide. The instant that it was safe, he rushed around the corner and charged with the point of his naginata leading the way. He was ready to go all out and take advantage of the window the team had created. It was time to finish the predator off before it recovered from the heavy hit. The padamas struggled and strained as the melee team closed the distance, but it couldn¡¯t free itself as the hunters came racing toward it. It sent its pink tongue lashing for Trapper, but the agile hunter had enough Reflex to get out of the way. While Edge, Jumo, and Blue advanced from the beast¡¯s blind side, the others unleashed a fresh barrage of ranged attacks. A pair of poisoned arrows flew beside a lightning bolt from Trapper¡¯s crossbow and a flame imbued javelin that Sasha had retrieved from the cart. The aether-infused bolt discharged into the padamas¡¯s body. The voltage caused it to lose control of its muscles for a few seconds, protecting the team from counterattack. We¡¯re lucky that we took those tail spikes out of the fight. Sasha fired off a round of imbued arrows that left burning patches all along the beast¡¯s body, but they didn¡¯t seem to be doing serious damage. So, she grabbed her spear and raced to join the others in melee. Trapper must have run out of electric shots, because she switched to earth bolts at that point¡ªblack stone shafts that boasted incredible penetrative power. Each magtech missile plunged into the beast¡¯s scaly skin, hampering its mobility, although they weren¡¯t sufficient to reach the organs below. Proving that she knew her way around a fight, even without a core, Violet threw a series of homemade firebombs at the lizard¡¯s head. They wreathed its face in flames and temporarily blinded it. She switched to her short bow when she ran out, focusing on distracting the beast by shooting at its face, since she lacked the skills or attributes to deal significant damage. With Jumo on his left and Blue on his right, Edge readied his polearm as he cleared the last few feet of open ground. Violet turned and cast enhance beast¡ªhis first time seeing the skill in action. A sheet of mana left her body and wrapped around Blue, granting the mighty dinosaur even more Power as she charged. She thrust when her horns were in range, unleashing a powerful skill combo. Her triple horns pierced the padamas¡¯s body, parting scale before sinking deep into the muscle below. It was a heavy hit, but the battle-trained beast wasn¡¯t finished yet. She ignited her core and activated rend, widening the wounds while issuing a trumpeting cry that rattled Edge¡¯s teeth within his jaw. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. The padamas screamed and lashed out, catching Blue with a swipe of its claws that sent the dino rolling back in the dirt. She was battered and bleeding. Wounded, but not critically so. When Edge saw the lizard¡¯s jaws crack open, he stepped in front of it, diverting the beast¡¯s focus just as its lightning-fast tongue came lashing out. But he¡¯d seen the attack coming and was already in the process of transforming¡ªshadow stepping out of the way with inches to spare. He rematerialized and then leapt to gather momentum, transferring the force of his charge into a powerful thrust that pierced the padamas¡¯s flank. He began slashing with his naginata in a frenzy, carving painful wounds along the beast¡¯s belly that divided its attention. Jumo dished out damage with his heavy spear, alternating between thrust and rapid strike to keep the creature off balance. He ducked beneath one set of scimitar claws, then rolled out of the way of a bite, dodging the beast¡¯s hulking jaws with inches to spare. Sasha used her skill-bolstered spear to put some more fire around its neck, although she couldn¡¯t reach high enough to get its head. All the while, Trapper fired off stone bolts with her massive magtech crossbow, doing her best to take out an eye, or the joints of its shoulders and knees. Since the padamas wasn¡¯t focused on him, Edge was able to get in close. He dropped his polearm, switched to elemental blade, and started letting loose with everything that he had. He was double striking with his iceblade like a fiend, each blow causing twin lines of rime to build along its body. The combined assault of the hunters and the damage from their traps was overwhelming the giant lizard. The painful barrage kept it off balance. It could only turn within a limited radius with the silo pinning it to the ground, making its movements predictable and impeding its ability to dodge. It¡¯s working. I think that we¡¯re going to pull this off after all. If we can weaken it just a little more, it shouldn¡¯t be able to shrug off Extraction. Just when Edge was trying to decide how to steal some skills without getting caught, the fickle flow of battle shifted, turning against the hunters within a paltry handful of heartbeats. The fire around the lizard¡¯s head flickered out as the last of Violet¡¯s oil and Sasha¡¯s mana burned away, revealing scorched scales and sizzling flesh. Unfortunately for the hunting team, its eyes were intact. Fast as thought, the padamas lashed out with its limbs. Jumo and Sasha took glancing hits, which knocked them back and sliced into their armor. Edge was able to dodge the claws, but he misjudged a headbutt that sent him flying. He hit the side of a building, then fell to the ground. He was momentarily stunned, although he hadn¡¯t broken any bones. Before anyone could follow up, the lizard spun around and bit. Not targeting Trapper¡¯s crew, but the space where torso met tail. It chomped straight though in a single bite, sacrificing the appendage to free itself. The big beast had taken some serious wounds over the course of the fight. It had lost a limb and its mobility was reduced, but it wasn¡¯t finished yet. Not by a long shot. It was ready and eager to bring the pain to the puny creatures who had dared to challenge its might. This is bad. I think we can regain the upper hand, but I¡¯ll need to use Overdrive after all. Edge realized that he had dramatically underestimated the magnitude of their predicament when the padamas wavered out of existence. A pair of poison arrows and a javelin went sailing through the space it had occupied a heartbeat prior, only to clatter against the ground instead. The beast was already gone. He knew that it hadn¡¯t retreated. That it had activated its cloak of invisibility to reposition and would reappear at any moment to land a killing blow. Trapper¡¯s eyes were glowing gold, as she desperately tried to use sense life to counter the beast¡¯s skill in time. He could see on her face that while she could tell it was nearby, the crew¡¯s leader wasn¡¯t able to home in on the lizard¡¯s exact location. The big bastard could be anywhere, seconds away from striking, and he didn¡¯t have a clue where it was. It could be about to bisect him in a single chomp, or claim the life of his friends with a tongue lash, and he was helpless to stop it this time. He got ready to activate [Overdrive]¡ªprepared to go all out the instant that he knew where the lizard was. Edge rode the ragged rim of panic, certain that at least one person was going to die before he could react, possibly even himself. However, that was not what happened. The next event in the climactic battle was one that no one saw coming, although it wasn¡¯t too shocking with the clarity of hindsight. A turn of events that magnified the danger the crew was facing beyond that of anything the padamas could create. Because that was the moment when Edge felt the ground shuddering beneath his boots¡ªa rhythmic pounding that grew louder by the heartbeat. Boom. Boom. Boom. By now, the trunks were swaying in time with the earth shaking. He wasn¡¯t sure what was going on, but he knew that it was bad news. Trapper put it together faster than the rest of the team. ¡°Something is coming. Something big. Abandon the battle and regroup. We need to get out of here, before it¡¯s too late!¡± Chapter 151: Big The last word of Trapper¡¯s warning was still hanging in the air when the situation went from bad to worse in between one heartbeat and the next. Because that was when a threat appeared that made the invisible lizard stalking the party seem downright cuddly by comparison. As it happens, in addition to their stage, the beasts of Ord can also be categorized by their size. Creatures like the jobos, which only weigh a few times what a person does, are generally referred to as big. Beasts clocking in around the mass of an Earth elephant are called huge. Next comes colossal creatures¡ªentities that are in the ballpark of the padamas¡¯s girth. What came striding up to the breech in the perimeter fence was even bigger than that. Something so large that it made the padamas look petite. Fuck my life. Edge took in the beast with eyes wide with shock. That¡¯s a stage-three behemoth. The behemoth in question was a bipedal dinosaur. It was a towering predator¡ªat least fifty feet tall and twenty feet wide, although when it moved it leaned in and its head was lower to the ground. Its body was covered with navy blue scales, patterned with white spirals and black diamonds. It had broad feet and a thin tail, neither of which seemed geared toward combat. But the rest of its features more than made up for the difference. The behemoth¡¯s long arms ended in wicked sets of claws, each shaped like a scythe and longer than Edge¡¯s naginata. Its wedge-shaped head tapered to form its hulking jaws. Within its cavernous mouth was a living arsenal, filled with row after row of jagged teeth. He realized in that moment that while they were trapped, the situation wasn¡¯t hopeless yet. The beast was blocking the exit, but it wasn¡¯t looking at the crew. If we don¡¯t attract its attention, we still might have a chance. If it goes for the lizard or the grain in the silos, we can circle around and make our escape. We won¡¯t last five minutes if it comes to a brawl. Trapper clearly agreed with his assessment. ¡°Abandon the wagon and fall back. Stay out of its way and pray that we¡¯re not worth the trouble of running down.¡± Everyone began walking backward. They were terrified but refused to panic. Running would only trigger the beast¡¯s predation reflex. They were wide open from behind, but they didn¡¯t have a choice. The padamas was still somewhere nearby, but the hunters were gambling that it wouldn¡¯t reveal itself with a superior predator in the area. Before they could take two steps, the behemoth opened its mouth and roared. It was a raging torrent of sound, fueled by a high-rank skill and infused with a staggering amount of mana. It reverberated throughout every cell in his body, filling him with a primal dread. The instant that the intimidating roar broke over him, Edge¡¯s body was petrified¡ªoverwhelmed with an absolute terror that he was helpless to resist. He couldn¡¯t take a step or turn his head. He couldn¡¯t speak and had to fight with everything he had just to draw a breath. He knew in that moment that he was screwed. That the lumbering giant would eventually pick them off at its leisure. He was filled to the brim with a mind-numbing, soul crushing horror. The only thing that kept him sane in the middle of that waking nightmare was the fact that the padamas had wavered into existence a few dozen feet in front of him¡ªunable to maintain its cloak of invisibility while stricken by the behemoth¡¯s skill. Everyone in the farmstead was frozen stiff, including the big lizard. As bad as it was for Edge, and it was really, really bad, Riller and Violet were in worse shape. The crew¡¯s uncored members had been critically impacted by the behemoth¡¯s skill. Their lungs were paralyzed and unable to breathe. Their faces were beet-red and within another minute at most, they were both going to suffocate. Edge thought they were dead for sure, and from their expressions, the hunters did too. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. But Trapper wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. The crew¡¯s leader flared her mana, creating a pulse of Disruption like the one she had used during their duel. It was enough to let her take two staggering steps over to Riller¡¯s side. When she got there, she reached out and touched him and Violet with her hands. Then she flared her Disruption again, repeating the same move. It couldn¡¯t counter the behemoth¡¯s high-rank skill, but it was enough to let them draw in a pair of gasping breaths. The looming predator didn¡¯t even glance in their direction¡ªthe tiny humans were clearly beneath its notice. Even Blue was barely an appetizer. The behemoth strolled right past the cowering crew. It stepped over Edge, coming within two feet of grinding him to paste when its talons came down. The immense dinosaur¡¯s gaze was locked onto the padamas, which was slowly beginning to regain control of its body. But its recovery arrived too late to save it. The behemoth raised one arm high above its head, then brought the limb down like a battle axe the size of a shipping crane. Its wicked white claws carved straight through lizard¡¯s thick hide, cutting into its scaley torso all the way down to the bone. It must have judged its own strength sufficient for the task, because after that first roar, it didn¡¯t bother to use another skill. The small corner of Edge¡¯s mind that could still form rational thoughts realized it was more than that. That the environment didn¡¯t contain enough magicytes for the stage-three beast to use its skills freely. Not that the insight offered him any way out of what seemed to be certain death. While this opponent was so far above the man that he couldn¡¯t conceive of besting it, Edge was never alone. There was another consciousness slumbering inside him. An ancient creature who knew what it meant to truly stand at the apex. An entity who had climbed the planet¡¯s food chain. To whom the behemoth was only a tiny fish in a vast and turbulent sea. In that moment, Skill-Eater opened its eyes. Though the Ravenous Lord Bound in Chains could only exert a fragment of its true might, it still saw itself as king. It wasn¡¯t about to surrender its prey, no matter how mighty the challenger. As his reactor roared to life of its own accord, searing heat erupted behind Edge¡¯s ribs. Skill-Eater¡¯s confidence seeped into him, causing the tsunami of terror to break against a will stronger than steel. Along with that boost to his morale came an impression¡ªan image showing him what he needed to do if he wanted to regain control of the situation before it was too late. Since the alternative was to cower in place while waiting to be eaten, Edge listened to his core and activated shadow step. When the world turned to fog and gloom, the crushing intimidation of the behemoth¡¯s skill receded. It wasn¡¯t gone, but the effect was severely weakened, letting the gears of his mind turn once more. That type of magic must not be able to affect ethereal creatures at full strength. I¡¯ll have to remember that. That act of defiance had cost Skill-Eater something. Because it closed its eyes and went back to sleep, leaving Edge to decide how he wanted to proceed. To make the move that would determine his fate. For a second that seemed to stretch on for eternity, he drew a blank. Even though he could move once more, he didn¡¯t see any way out of this mess. Then, in the midst of that black moment, a realization struck Edge like lightning descending from the clear blue sky. A blood-soaked epiphany that would probably get him killed, but just might save his friends and feed the mysterious titan slumbering inside him. If I use Extraction on the padamas before the behemoth kills it, I can steal a skill, steal the kill, and lure the creature away from the crew, all in a single maneuver. This is going to be risky as hell, but the alternative is even worse. He had already started running toward the giant predator. Armed with a plan born of desperation, he put everything that he had into his reckless charge and leapt¡ªstreaking across the ground like a bolt of black lightning. He leapt again every time that his feet hit the ground, momentum multiplying by the heartbeat. Edge shot forward like a bouncing bullet, surging toward the giant beasts that were towering over the farmstead. By now, the behemoth had opened its mountainous maw, preparing to bite the lizard¡¯s head off in a single blow. In another three seconds, its teeth would end the padamas¡¯s life, and his chance to save the crew would die with it. But on this occasion, two seconds were all that Edge needed. A heartbeat before the dinosaur¡¯s jaws snapped shut, he resolidified beside the mortally wounded lizard, raised his arms, and willed [Extraction] to activate. Chapter 152: Steal Edge¡¯s chains went surging out of his wrists like a pair of angry vipers. They crossed the open air in the blink of an eye and plunged into the gaping wound the behemoth had carved into the padamas¡¯s body. Since the lizard was on the verge of death and still half paralyzed by intimidating roar, it wasn¡¯t in any shape to resist the intrusion when the living links reached its core. He found himself standing inside an immense cavern, lit up by glowing mushrooms the size of office buildings. Sprawling networks of crystals jutted out from the ceiling, glittering against the dark stone like stars studding the night sky. There was an underground river running through the middle, blanketed by a thick coating of dark green moss. Wherever the padamas was from, it was unlike anything that Edge had ever seen, although it didn¡¯t feel wrong in the way that the blightlings¡¯ cores had. Regardless of the details, he didn¡¯t have time to appreciate the view. Even with the outside world slowed down to a crawl, the lizard was going to die at any moment. And he had learned from what he¡¯d sensed during his battle with Warren that being inside a core when its wielder died would probably kill him too. He didn¡¯t panic. It just meant that he had to act fast. There were five skills living inside the lizard¡¯s core, including the cloak of invisibility that he¡¯d had his heart on for days. He couldn¡¯t see it until it brushed against him by chance¡ªa sensation like feathers running across his skin. In that moment, he was sure it was rare. A perfect selection to fill his last empty skill slot. Vibrating with greed despite his treacherous predicament, Edge willed his chains to claim the rare skill and drag it out of lizard¡¯s core. But then something strange happened. The animated links flat out refused to take the power for their own. He was deeply confused. He would normally have had to fight tooth and nail to stop his chains from going for the rarest skill available. But on this occasion, Skill-Eater simply didn¡¯t want it. Some beasts had skills that weren¡¯t suited for human use, but Edge had the sense that it wasn¡¯t the problem this time. He tried again, but the result was the same¡ªa flat-out refusal to claim cloak of invisibility, no matter how strongly he insisted. Shit. I don¡¯t have time to figure this out. I¡¯ll have to trust that my core knows what it¡¯s doing and pick something else instead. With the rare skill out of the running, his choices were down to two skills that he was certain were high-ranked uncommons. The first took the appearance of a thick mantle of fur. It looked comfortable and warm, like a beast¡¯s version of a heavy winter coat. Edge was slowly gaining the ability to sense what a skill did, even without getting a taste. He had the impression that it offered considerable protection against the cold, or possibly temperature change in general. It would be useful to have at some point or another, but it wasn¡¯t critical, so he quickly moved on to his other option. The second skill looked like a tail covered in thick black spines. It was the one that let the lizard fire off its tail spikes like javelins, creating a powerful ranged attack. This must be what it used to take down the turret at the first farm we passed. He could tell that if he claimed the skill, it would let him fire his fingernails instead. If he were to rank it up high enough, the power might one day become a decent, if somewhat gruesome, ranged attack¡ªsomething that he was sorely lacking. He didn¡¯t have time to ponder his options, so Edge decided to go for the first skill. He doubted that ranking up the other one would be a wise investment. Not when he could get a better attack that would be effective from rank-one and put the experience into his other skills instead. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Since the fur wasn¡¯t dangerous or highly mobile, his chains were able to capture it easily. They wrapped tight around the coat and then yanked it out of the lizard¡¯s core. The instant that Edge snapped back into his own skin, he shadow stepped and began moving away from the behemoth as fast as he could run. A heartbeat after the world turned to mist, the behemoth¡¯s jaws closed around the lizard¡¯s head¡ªpopping its skull from its spine like a grape plucked from the vine. Meanwhile, his chains tossed the padamas¡¯s skill into his mouth. While it was distinctly unfun to chew up a mouthful of fur, it wasn¡¯t hard to eat. The flavor, on the other hand, was quite pleasant, although Edge didn¡¯t have time to enjoy it at his leisure. The skill tasted like a cool breeze on a warm day. A hot fire on a cold night. A bath that was the perfect temperature to relax and unwind. As soon as he swallowed, nearly choaking on the fur on the way down, a message from the System appeared. You have Extracted the skill: Regulate temperature [passive] (uncommon, rank 3). Would you like to slot regulate temperature now? As Edge had been hoping, the skill would protect him from temperature change in general, not just insulate him against the cold. Regulate temperature was certain to come in handy, since biomes with higher concentrations of magicytes frequently featured extreme weather conditions. Combined with repel water, he now had significant protection from the elements. The instant that his new skill snapped into its socket, his mind returned to his body, which was streaking away from the behemoth in the opposite direction of the crew. He turned off shadow step to conserve mana, sprinting like a madman for the breach in the fence. While he ran, his Guide formed a menu in front of his face that was easy to see through, displaying a message that he absorbed at a glance. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [12]. You have three attribute points awaiting allocation. A feral satisfaction went coursing through his body on reading those words. As he¡¯d been hoping, the damage from [Extraction] had been enough to finish the lizard off. On top of pillaging a new skill, Edge had just stolen the kill from the behemoth¡ªgranting him the experience from the padamas¡¯s death, along with the rest of his team. It made him wonder if beasts relied on experience to cycle-up and evolve too. It was a question that he learned the answer to much sooner than he expected. Because that was when a furious roar broke over the clearing, tinged with the rage of an apex predator denied its prey. The high-rank skill froze him again, but he shifted into shadows to counter the effect¡ªallowing him to move once more. The behemoth was pissed. In addition to having a huge chunk of experience snatched from its jaws at the last possible second, its dominance had been challenged. The first part of his plan had panned out. Now, Edge just needed to make sure that the big bastard knew that he was responsible for the theft. He couldn¡¯t remain in shadow form if he wanted the beast to chase him. Instead, he turned off the skill and offered the hulking dinosaur a one finger salute with his left hand. Meanwhile, he chucked a flashbang at its head with his right, before leaping through the fence and away from the farm. He looked over his shoulder after the device detonated. To say that he was relieved to see the furious giant racing for him like an avatar of destruction would be a monumental overstatement. But he was glad that it was coming for him instead of the rest of the crew. While he was running low on mana, he knew that the behemoth was too. It couldn¡¯t afford to keep roaring to slow him down. The magicytes were too thin here for its reservoir to recover quickly. Besides, Edge had already shaken off the skill¡¯s effect enough times that the beast had to know that it wasn¡¯t going to work. Instead, it was going to chase him down the old-fashioned way¡ªrelying on its size and overwhelming advantage in attributes to close the distance. The immense predator let out a scream saturated with the promise of death, then started barreling toward him like a bladed battleship. Ok, that worked. Edge kept on sprinting while drawing on every point of Speed that he had. Now I just need to survive my success. Chapter 153: Chase Edge had no idea what would happen next. All he knew was that he had to lead the beast away from his team before it killed them all. He ran from the decimated farmstead, with the multi-ton predator hot on his heels. He was certain that Trapper¡¯s crew would use the distraction to get away. All he had to do was stay alive while leading the behemoth in the other direction, find a chance to break free, then circle back and rejoin the others. It was easier said than done. The creature was roughly ten times taller than himself and several times faster. In a regular race, Edge would have been caught within seconds, even with his considerable lead. But on Ord, skills were just as important as physique and technique. He was running low on mana, so he couldn¡¯t afford to use shadow step too often, but he had plenty left in the tank to leap for all he was worth. He prayed that a creature of such immense proportion would focus its development on pure offense and defense. If the beast had any mobility skills, it was going to end his day in the worst possible way. Over the next thirty seconds, the giant dino closed most of the distance between them. Edge could feel the ground thundering with every step it took, pounding alongside his own ragged heartbeat. Each leap across the verdant soil increased his velocity. By the sixth consecutive jump, he was flying across the landscape in a streaking blur¡ªthe wind tugging at his cheeks and flattening his features. He wanted to use his free attribute points, but he was worried that the side-effects would make him stumble at this critical juncture. If he fucked up even once, took a bad landing or was caught by a protruding branch, the beast would catch him before he even knew what hit him. But for now, Edge had built up enough momentum to pull slightly ahead, bouncing like a madman with the angry giant following in his wake. Even though leap was mana efficient, he couldn¡¯t keep this up forever. But he didn¡¯t have time to worry about that right now. He had to lead the behemoth far enough away, then find some way to shake its pursuit before circling back to the crew. At the apex of each jump, he peered into the distance while looking for terrain that might give him a chance of getting away clean. However, there wasn¡¯t anything of the sort. If I want to outrun it, I¡¯m going to have to blow through the rest of my mana. As soon as Edge judged that enough time had passed for his friends to flee the farm, he shadow stepped. The extra speed and reduced weight of his altered state let him jump even faster, until the beast was several hundred yards behind him. The instant that he came back down, he surged into the brush before activating conceal to erase his trail. He stepped and concealed three more times, until he was far away from the last place that his trail was still intact. He left conceal on after the last step, praying that his efforts had been good enough to outfox the behemoth predator. With any luck, it¡¯s specialized to find food scaled to its size, not small creatures that would barely be a snack. Edge was down to the dregs of his mana. If this effort failed, his only chance was to use [Overdrive] for one final push, after which he would be completely defenseless if the creature found him again. He could hear it stomping through the overgrowth. Its colossal snout sniffing at the air. Thank the gods that we used the scent erasing ointment. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Over time, the sounds began drifting in the other direction. Edge wasn¡¯t taking any chances. He kept conceal running until his reservoir ran dry, then poked his head out of the bushes and took a long look around. He could hear the beast rampaging somewhere to the north, but it was clear by now that it had lost track of his location. Part of him wanted to remain hidden until it left the area, but he knew that it was time to get away while he still could. He began heading south, focusing on stealth until he was sure that he was out of range of the beast¡¯s ears. Ten minutes later, Edge hadn¡¯t seen any sign of pursuit, and the crashing and growling had retreated into the distance. He let out a shuddering sigh of relief. It had been close, but he¡¯d pulled it off. When he ran past the ruined farmstead, Trapper¡¯s crew was long gone, although the wagon was still there. Figuring that the veteran hunters would try to get as far away as possible before going to ground, he kept moving. He had regained enough magicytes to start leaping again, so Edge began bouncing down the road. He caught up with the crew twenty minutes later¡ªsitting on the top of a low hill while watching for the beast. The hunters saw him coming and began to wave, although they didn¡¯t call out under the circumstances. ¡°That was completely fucking insane,¡± Jumo whispered as Sasha drew Edge in for a fierce embrace, followed by the rest of the crew. ¡°Did you really just steal the kill from that thing?¡± ¡°That lizard was ours, and it seemed like a good way to piss it off.¡± ¡°Piss off the walking mountain of tooth and claw.¡± Jumo let loose a nervous chuckle. ¡°Not your most conventional strategy, but I¡¯m not complaining under the circumstances.¡± ¡°Too bad about the padamas¡¯s remains,¡± Violet added. ¡°At least we completed our mission and gained some experience during the exchange. Should we keep going and explore the borderlands, or head back while we can?¡± ¡°Puppet Town is relying on us,¡± Trapper replied. ¡°We¡¯ll pick a survey spot that¡¯s further to the southeast before heading back. It will overlap a bit with one of the other teams, but we can¡¯t afford to run into that giant again.¡± She turned to look Edge in the eye, then broke into a beaming grin. ¡°That was kind of crazy, but also some amazing work. I don¡¯t think we would have walked away if you hadn¡¯t¡­¡± her words cut off as his Guide appeared of its own accord and flashed a message in front of his face. The rest of the team had received it too, judging by the blank look in their eyes. Uncertain as to what was happening, he shrugged and started to read. You have accomplished a notable feat and have received a quest from the System. Quest: Defeat the garax (behemoth-class beast). You have stumbled upon a rare opportunity. A chance to fight an unknown beast far above your stage. Far above you in pretty much every conceivable way, now that I think about it. The odds of killing it are laughably poor, but I¡¯m really (really, really) hoping that you¡¯ll give it a try. The entertainment potential of such an ill-advised encounter is making my circuits tingle. You¡¯ve already managed to piss the garax off, which is a fantastic start to the story. To incentivize you to see it through to the end instead of running like a coward, I¡¯m willing to sweeten the pot. Will you risk it all for the sake of gaining an incredible treasure? Please do, this is the best shit that I¡¯ve watched all week, and I don¡¯t want it to stop. Note: This quest will expire in one hour. Rewards: 2 Skill Merger Tokens Use these tokens to merge the skills of your choice into a new, potentially awesome skill. Warning: Skills that have low compatibility may form a power that is inferior to both components or even fail¡ªdestroying both parent skills in the process. Implant: Auxiliary Skill Slot An auxiliary skill slot can be used to socket an extra skill, beyond the limit of your core. The skill placed in this slot cannot gain experience, cycle-up, or be merged or altered in any way, although it can be Absorbed and replaced with a new skill at will. This is a passive, structural implant. As such, it does not require an aether charge to function. Concept Art Fire trap on the butte Abandoned farms Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Garax (Bipedal and Quadruped concepts) Chapter 154: Quest Edge¡¯s jaw dropped when he read the reward that was being offered. Putting aside the fact that the System was growing increasingly erratic over time, starting with the descriptions of his traits and now with this quest, this really was an incredible opportunity. Skill merger tokens were a rare and precious resource. Each token would let Edge combine two skills of his choice, potentially creating something that was greater than the sum of its parts while freeing up a skill slot in the process. After stealing regulate temperature, all 11 of his slots were full, and he wasn¡¯t close to reaching the next stage. This reward would let him acquire two more skills, while making four of the ones that he already had even better. The auxiliary slot was a valuable implant that he had no other way of obtaining at present. It would let Edge add random powers to his skillset, without having to worry about the opportunity cost or long-term consequences of his decision. While he wouldn¡¯t be able to rank them up, he could swap various powers in and out as needed, based on the dynamics of his current situation. If he needed to scale a mountain, he could steal a climbing skill. If he wanted to explore the bottom of a lake, he could slot water breathing. The possibilities were endless, and he wouldn¡¯t have to give up any of his existing powers to take advantage of them. What do you think, big guy? Edge asked Skill-Eater. Should we go for it? He hadn¡¯t expected the entity slumbering inside him to answer. Apparently, it was able to understand what was happening better than he¡¯d thought. He felt an overwhelming surge of gluttony in reply¡ªmaking him drool before he closed his mouth and swallowed. The rush of greed was accompanied by a message, more of a desire than a thought. Skill-Eater wanted to kill the garax, claim the reward, and steal intimidating roar before the beast died. If the ancient being he was bound to thought they had a chance, then he was willing to trust it¡¯s judgment. In that moment, Edge made his decision. He was going to take on the behemoth predator, no matter what the rest of the crew chose. Alright, partner. He put his hand over his heart. Let¡¯s do this. ¡°Um.¡± Violet¡¯s voice was soft with surprise. ¡°Did you guys get that quest? I just got offered an insane reward for killing the garax¡ªa basic core of my own and a fantastic skill.¡± ¡°Same here,¡± Riller said. When the rest of the crew chimed in, Edge learned that they had each been offered a prize that was tailored to their specific needs. Invaluable rewards ranging from specialty cores to rare skills. Quests from the System came few and far between, and they were always worth completing. That being said, this one was highly unusual. Both the risk and reward involved were greater than anything he¡¯d ever heard of. This was a chance for the crew to grow stronger far faster than any of them had dreamed¡­ if they were willing to risk it all by pitting their lives against the behemoth¡ªa beast even more dangerous than the one they¡¯d come to kill. Trapper¡¯s next words mirrored Edge¡¯s train of thought. ¡°This is a tough decision. Outside of the tutorial, quests from the System are incredibly rare. These rewards are some of the best that I¡¯ve ever heard of. If we win, we will dramatically increase our immediate power and our long-term potential. ¡°But what it¡¯s asking might not be possible, even if we put on the best performance of our lives. And we only have an hour to pull it off. There¡¯s no time to prepare the field. To set more traps or create a perfect moment. All we can do is return to the farm and hope that the garax is busy eating the padamas. Best-case scenario is that we get to make the first move and some of my traps are still active.¡± She turned to face the team. ¡°If we do this, there¡¯s a fair chance that not all of us are going home, assuming that any of us live through the hour. If anyone wants to head back, they should take Blue and go¡ªnow, and with my blessing. As for me, I¡¯m going all in. This skill is something that I¡¯ve wanted ever since waking up on Ord, and it might be the only chance I ever get to claim it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m staying too,¡± Riller said. ¡°If I want to contribute to the team as an equal and survive whatever is coming in the weeks ahead, I can¡¯t afford to remain uncored any longer.¡± ¡°I feel the same way,¡± Violet added. ¡°Besides.¡± Jumo broke into a broad grin. ¡°This a fantastic chance to make a fat pile of Credits and rack up some serious cycles, on top of what Edge scored with that insane, wonderous, kill-steal.¡± ¡°What the hell.¡± Sasha let out a long sigh. ¡°I¡¯m in too. This will either be the chance that we¡¯ve been waiting for, or the mistake that seals our fate. This offer is simply too good to pass up. That being said, how in the hell are we going to kill it?¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Taking out a beast of that size and stage is a difficult task with the resources we have available,¡± Trapper replied. ¡°But it isn¡¯t impossible. Here¡¯s what I had in mind.¡± Since there wasn¡¯t any time to waste, the crew began walking as they talked, heading back toward the farmstead where the garax was waiting. They started discussing their options¡ªhammering out the best plan possible, given the limited time and equipment at their disposal. It turned out that Trapper still had a portion of a mana-seed left, so the crew¡¯s cored members split it. It wasn¡¯t enough to top off their reservoirs, but it was far better than starting the battle with their tanks nearly empty. Along the way, the hunters tried to talk Blue into waiting for them to come back. Since she wasn¡¯t eligible to receive the quest, there wasn¡¯t any reason for her to risk her life. The azure dino didn¡¯t understand the full dynamics of the situation. But she knew that the crew was heading into danger, and she refused to let them face it alone. ¡°Ok, girl.¡± Trapper scratched Blue behind her horns. ¡°I hear you. You¡¯re one of us, and we¡¯ll all live or die together. Now, let¡¯s go show that hulking brute just what our crew is made of.¡± While they readied themselves for the most dangerous fight of their lives, everyone spent the free points they¡¯d gained for killing the padamas. Considering what was about to go down, Edge put them into Speed. His other physical stats wouldn¡¯t help him, and a single hit from this opponent would be strong enough to kill him. He also needed to get in close and land his skills while [Overdrive] was active, so Speed was the clear choice. He sent his intentions into the System, and the potentia went racing out of his core. The crackling energy permeated his flesh to enhance his fast twitch muscle fibers, leaving him quicker than ever before. With the clock ticking, they couldn¡¯t afford to ponder the matter at length, especially since the garax might move out of the area once it finished its meal. As the hunters crept their way back to the farmstead, they went over their plan one final time. The heart of the matter was simple¡ªtake out one of the beast¡¯s feet. Then, when it fell to the ground, attack its throat with everything that they had. It was the only way to hit a vital area with the limited mana at their disposal. Fortunately, the garax was low too, thanks to roaring so many times while trying to stop Edge. Given the concentration of magicytes in the region, the early stage-three beast would only be able to use its skills a limited number of times. On a less promising note, it had more than enough raw Power to take the crew down without them, and enough Durability to shrug off all but their best attacks. It wasn¡¯t the fastest beast out there, or the smartest, but it was still the mightiest creature that any of them had ever faced. Riller had volunteered for the most dangerous job. He would serve as the decoy¡ªat least for the opening of the battle. He didn¡¯t have any skills that could penetrate the creature¡¯s hide, and his poison wouldn¡¯t work against an opponent that size, but he was determined to risk his life alongside the others. What he did have was amazing Reflexes and a deep understanding of the predators¡¯ mindset, which he hoped would let him evade the garax while the other hunters took out its foot. Violet had more firebombs waiting in the wagon. She intended to provide support¡ªdistracting the beast by hurling the consumables that they hadn¡¯t used on the padamas. She would also cast enhance beast to let Blue dish out more damage. Until its throat was exposed, Sasha was on rescue duty. After her initial attack, she would fall back¡ªready to carry people to safety if they went down, or step in to distract the beast when Violet ran out of items to throw. That left Edge, Trapper, Jumo, and Blue to injure the garax¡¯s feet enough that it took a bad fall. Everyone would come together to finish the job once the beast¡¯s head hit the ground. Edge was prepared to use [Overdrive] at any time during the fight. By this point, he trusted the crew enough to share more of the truth, but he wasn¡¯t ready to tell them everything. No matter what went down, he firmly intended to complete the quest, protect his friends, and steal the skill that had his core vibrating with gluttony ever since he had decided to fight. While they walked, the hunters reviewed the tools at their disposal. Both on their persons, and back at the farmstead. Only one of Trapper¡¯s pits had been activated so far. Another had been covered by the wreckage of the silo, leaving two spike-lined trenches remaining. The crystal spines couldn¡¯t seriously injure the garax, but they would aggravate the damage to its feet and make it easier to knock it down. Most of the bolt throwers had already been triggered. They weren¡¯t powerful enough to pierce the beast¡¯s skin, so Trapper would deactivate the rest. There was still a fair amount of slippery oil scattered across the middle of the farmstead. If they could get the behemoth to run through it, they should be able to reduce its traction. On the consumable side of the equation, the hunters still had most of their own personal kits, including a fair number of smoke bombs, stink bombs, flashbangs, and flares. None of it could hurt the garax, but they might provide a distraction at a critical moment. Edge turned to look at his team, staring each of them in the eyes in turn. He saw fear and bravery clear on their faces. Hope, and a desperate need to grow stronger. He realized in that moment that he was proud to call these people his friends. Proud of the person he had become since waking up on this world. The crew knew that their odds were poor, and they might be marching to their deaths. But they believed in themselves and believed in each other, and they were willing to risk it all on the strength of that conviction. Don¡¯t worry guys. Edge cracked his neck and popped his knuckles. I¡¯ve got this. I have two aces tucked up my sleeves and I¡¯m ready to go all in. Chapter 155: Ambush Fifteen minutes later, Trapper¡¯s crew was drawing near the farmstead once more. The tension was rising with every step that Edge took. He forced himself to unclench his jaw and keep his breathing slow and steady. This time, the stakes were even higher than before. The hunters were about to pick a fight with a behemoth opponent, with the prize of their lives on the line. They kept their distance as they circled around to the breach in the fence¡ªhearts racing and adrenaline singing in their veins. Violet and Sasha climbed onto Blue¡¯s back as they closed the final stretch of open ground, so that Sasha could use silent step to muffle the approach of the loudest members of their team. Everyone advanced as quietly as they could, creeping toward the spot where the padamas had fallen. By the time that the hunters reached the outskirts of the fields, they knew that their target had returned, and the board was green to launch their ambush. Through the gaps between the buildings, Edge¡¯s eyes traced the profile of the behemoth predator. It was hunched over in the middle of the cleared area while chowing down on the lizard¡¯s remains¡ªthoroughly enjoying its all-you-can-eat buffet. The garax¡¯s body was covered in gore, and as they had been hoping, it was facing away from the angle of their approach. He prayed that the scent of blood in the air and the sound of chewing would keep the fearsome beast from noticing their arrival and slow its response once the hunters made their move. They had a little over half an hour left on their quest timer, but Edge doubted they would need even half of that time. His instincts were telling him that within a matter of minutes, the fight would be won, the crew would be running for their lives, or they would all be dead. The only advantages they had were the element of surprise, their remaining traps, and the fact that the garax couldn¡¯t refill its mana quickly in this environment. Their initial encounter had left the beast with only a few more skills at its disposal before its reservoir ran dry. Edge was ready to use [Overdrive] during the fight, whenever it would help tip the scales in their favor. How he explained it to the crew would depend on exactly what they wound up seeing. Showing more of his secret was a risk. But by this point, they were all gambling with their lives in the pursuit of power. He had thought about drinking the potion he¡¯d taken from Warren right before the fight began. But when he took a closer look at the flask inside his bag, some inner voice had warned him against it. The electricity coursing inside the crystal vial didn¡¯t look right for a concoction that was meant to be swallowed. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Closer and closer they crept, praying all the while that the garax wouldn¡¯t notice their approach. Right now, it was sitting with its back to them¡ªbusy stripping the lizard¡¯s flesh free from its bones before consuming them too. At last, the crew arrived within range of their target. In another minute at most, they would make their move and the battle would begin. Violet and Sasha slipped off Blue¡¯s back and began heading for the wagon, still completely silent thanks to Sasha¡¯s skill. They couldn¡¯t afford to speak, so Edge went over the plan in his head one final time while he waited for Sasha to return. We¡¯re going to hit it as hard as we can with our first attack¡ªknocking the beast off balance before it knows we¡¯ve returned. Riller will keep it busy while Sasha, Violet, and Trapper attack from range, with Sasha ready to rescue anyone if needed. Meanwhile, Jumo, Blue, and I will focus on wounding its left foot. We need to reduce its mobility right from the start. Jumo will switch roles with Riller part way through to keep the garax from reaching him. We need to dish out enough damage that it takes a fall after walking through the oil and stepping into a pit trap. Once its head is down on our level, everyone will rush in and try to sever its jugular. While he steeled his resolve, Edge ran his gaze across his immense opponent. The feet and tail aren¡¯t designed to attack, but they will still be plenty dangerous given their size. The teeth are deadly, but the real threat is those long arms, and the scythe-claws attached to each hand. They are long enough to reach us, and a direct hit will probably cut straight through me unless I use harden in time. Even with [Overdrive], he honestly wasn¡¯t sure that they could take the behemoth down. It only increased his respect for the bravery of the hunters, who were willing to face the garax without knowing that he had a hidden card tucked up both his sleeves. That was all the time for reflection that Edge was given, because that was when Sasha made it back to the others. She had successfully escorted Violet to the wagon, where the quartermaster could access the rest of the crew¡¯s consumable items. Sasha hopped onto Blue¡¯s back and lowered her spear like a lance. She was still running silent step, so the garax wouldn¡¯t hear when the dino began her charge. Everyone took one last look into each other¡¯s eyes, knowing that this might be the last time they saw their friends alive. Then Trapper gave the signal, and they began their assault¡ªrushing toward the multi-ton beast with their weapons leading the way. The ranged members held their fire, and no one used a skill during the approach, so they wouldn¡¯t give themselves away. Edge¡¯s world narrowed as time seemed to slow down. He shut out the racing of his pulse. His fear of the battle to come. Everything but the weight of the polearm in his hands, the courageous hunters beside him, and the blood-spattered behemoth looming before him. Please don¡¯t notice us. We don¡¯t have a chance if we can¡¯t catch you by surprise. One hundred feet to go. Fifty. When there were only twenty feet left, he knew that they were going to make it. The garax¡¯s head was buried inside the big lizard¡¯s guts, and it hadn¡¯t shown any sign that it knew the hunters were there. As the crew crossed the final stretch of ground, they activated their skills and committed to the attack. The last act of their climatic showdown had officially begun. Chapter 156: Garax Sasha turned off silent step and activated flame imbuement, causing fiery mana to gather along the length of her spear. Violet cast enhance beast, just as Blue charged¡ªtransforming the battle-trained beast and the woman riding it into a surging azure blur. Jumo began dashing to build momentum and was trailing just a bit behind Blue. He was planning to combo it with lunge the second that he moved into range. Edge couldn¡¯t see Trapper or Violet, but he knew the women were ready to let loose the instant that the behemoth realized they were there. Riller ran beside Edge¡ªplanning to sprint into the garax¡¯s view while the others landed their attacks. For his part, Edge shadow stepped for just a second to build up speed. Then he turned it off and leapt, accelerating his approach so that he arrived in time with Jumo. The garax must have sensed the mana from the crew¡¯s skills and noticed that something was wrong at the last possible second. It pulled its head up, dripping with gore, and began to turn. But it was already too late. The hunters had timed their skills so that the beast couldn¡¯t respond fast enough to counter or get out of the way. At that point, Trapper¡¯s crew landed their heaviest hits over the span of two seconds, and all hell broke loose. First, Sasha and Blue collided with the garax¡¯s left foot with the force of a battering ram. Blue was still charging at full speed. She thrust half a heartbeat before impact, unleashing a skill combo to add even more might to the blow. Mana congealed along her horns, which went plunging into the garax¡¯s thick skin to penetrate the muscles below. Sasha had set her spear flush with Blue¡¯s horns, allowing her weapon to take advantage of the dino¡¯s momentum. Her spear didn¡¯t bite as deep, but it was sufficient to let her flame imbuement spread across the garax¡¯s skin and add some fire to the pain of its wounds. The woman was braced against Blue¡¯s harness, but the force of the blow sent her flying, which she had known was going to happen. Sasha hit the ground hard, rolled, and then sprang back to her feet¡ªracing toward the cart to grab her bow. Meanwhile, Blue gored, widening the wounds from her horns before darting back to open some room. The sapphire dino needed to be careful, since she was the most vulnerable to the behemoth¡¯s attacks due to her size. A bare second later, Edge and Jumo arrived on scene. Edge was streaking through the air and Jumo was dashing almost as fast. Since he couldn¡¯t afford to hold back, Edge used the only skill that would increase the damage of a straight thrust, double strike. Jumo lunged at the same time, executing a skill combo of his own. Both of their long weapons struck the Garax¡¯s ankle, piercing its leg all the way down to the bone. The wounded predator shrieked and began to spin with its scythe-claws leading the way. It had been caught by surprise, but nothing lived to be that big if it couldn¡¯t respond to an emerging threat at a moment¡¯s notice. Before the beast could bring its natural weapons to bear, Trapper and Violet made their move. They had begun to fire the instant that the others attacked, and their shots landed before the Garax could finish its maneuver. Trapper was unloading the remaining bolts in her magtech crossbow in a ceaseless barrage. She was using ice rounds this time, each aether-infused bolt glowing glacial blue. Three of them hit the garax¡¯s shin in the span of as many heartbeats, causing plumes of ice to blossom across its scales. Violet¡¯s first firebomb missed, due to the garax¡¯s abrupt motion. But the next two landed on target, wreathing its head in cracking flames that momentarily blinded it. Even then, the beast almost got Jumo and Edge with its attacks. Its bladed claws came sweeping around in a circle¡ªtearing up the ground like the grim reaper¡¯s plow. He would have died in that moment if he hadn¡¯t been ready to shadow step between the blades at the last possible second. Jumo didn¡¯t have time to dash out of the way. Instead, he took a pair of claws on the shaft of his spear. The weapon was made of ironwood and was incredibly dense. Although it blunted the force of the blow, the garax¡¯s claws cut the weapon into three pieces, then caught Jumo¡¯s armor and sent him flying. He landed hard in the dirt, bleeding and stunned but not seriously wounded. Sasha came rushing in and grabbed Jumo by the arms¡ªdragging him behind the corner of a building before the behemoth regained its sight. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Edge switched to elemental blade now that he was in range. He began slashing like a fiend, as more rime from Trapper¡¯s bolts helped to freeze its injured ankle. By this point, he was almost out of mana. He had enough in the tank for a few cheaper skills, and he was saving them until it counted. He resumed attacking with his polearm, jabbing the point into the beast¡¯s wounded tissue. But then he was caught by a hasty kick. There was an incredible impact, and Edge went flying back¡ªrolling in the dirt before slamming into a wall. He hit his head hard enough to daze him, watching the battle raging before his eyes. Riller was standing on the other side of the garax, with a flashbang in one hand and a stink bomb in the other. The instant that the fire around the behemoth¡¯s eyes went out, he let loose and threw. The sensory assault from both devices enraged the wounded predator, and its eyes locked onto Riller. It began chasing after the uncored man¡ªlimping from its wounds but still far too fast to evade for long. It crossed the distance in two seconds flat¡ªboth sets of claws streaking toward the brave hunter in a blood-smeared flash of ivory. In that moment, Edge was certain that he was about to watch Riller get cut down like a hot blade through cream. But the man wasn¡¯t going down without a fight. Wearing a look of intense concentration, he ducked beneath one set of claws. Then, to Edge¡¯s astonishment, he turned sideways and stepped between the next¡ªavoiding death by a fraction of an inch on either side. Edge knew that Riller couldn¡¯t keep it up for long, incredible reflexes or no. Before the big bad could try again, Jumo and Blue were there. They repeated their initial attack, not doing quite as much damage with a shorter charge, but further widening its wounds. When its savaged tissue was penetrated yet again, the beast went berserk. It began stomping and slashing in a frenzy, even leaning down to try to bite. Although its feet weren¡¯t clawed, they were still deadly with that much weight on top of them. The pounding threw Jumo off balance. He almost got squished by its toes and bitten by its teeth within the span of five seconds. Then the creature brought its tail whipping around in a low arc. It collided with Jumo and sent him rolling in the dirt, and this time he didn¡¯t get up. The garax unleashed a wicked swipe of its claws, aiming for the crew¡¯s beast this time around. Blue turned and caught the claws with her horns in the nick of time. The move kept her from losing her head, but the tips sliced her flesh and sent her flying back from the impact. The behemoth turned and let loose a furious growl¡ªplanning to finish Jumo and Blue off with its next attack. But suddenly, Riller was there. He was screaming at the garax, flinging consumables into its face in a heavy barrage. Edge rose to his feet and tried to make it back in time. The women kept on firing to distract the garax, but it was beyond furious and didn¡¯t turn their way. Its gaze locked onto the man below it, with murder clear in every crook of its features. It was ready to bring the pain to the puny creatures that had dared to wound it, and it was going to start by putting an end to Riller, here and now. He could tell that the man had a plan. That the daring hunter intended to lure the beast through the slippery oil and into the pit traps. Which, with any luck, would be enough to make the big bad trip and fall. It was a solid move and incredibly brave, but it wasn¡¯t how the next few seconds went down. Instead of chasing him right away, the behemoth ignited its core. For the last time of the fight, mana began congealing within its throat¡ªso thick that it warped the air, like Edge was looking through a malformed pane of glass. ¡°Get back!¡± Violet yelled. It¡¯s going to¡­¡± Her warning was cut off by the same event that rendered it unnecessary. Because at that point, the enraged beast opened its jaws and roared at full blast¡ªpacking even more magic into the skill than before. It seemed that the hunters had made it mad enough to drain its reservoir dry, even if it had to leave the biome to recover after the battle. When the high-power skill broke over the team, everyone was frozen in place. Violet could still breathe, since she had been further back this time. But Riller was completely paralyzed¡ªhelpless to do anything as the behemoth looked down at him with bloodthirsty satisfaction. It could have waited for him to suffocate at that point, but beast chose to enact its revenge with the direct approach instead. The towering brute sauntered over to the helpless man¡ªground shaking with every step that it took. It stopped to consider Riller for the span of a breath, savoring the moment. Then the garax opened its jaws and bent down to devour the hunter in a single bite. Edge activated shadow step long enough to weaken the roar¡¯s effect. Even though he was able to move, he could barely control his body this time around, thanks to the extra mana the beast had packed into the skill and the hit he¡¯d taken to his head. Shit. I¡¯m not going to make it in time. He fought for every step, but he knew deep inside that it was already too late. That he was witnessing the final moments of the valiant young hunter. But Edge had failed to notice the crew¡¯s leader flare her Disruption¡ªtiming the pulse to intersect the wave of mana released by intimidating roar and maximize its protective effect. Half a heartbeat before the garax¡¯s cavernous mouth closed around Riller, Trapper came streaking in from one side. She propelled herself with an intense burst of wind from manipulate air, launching herself forward in a blur. She hit Riller hard¡ªsending him rolling out of the way with a look of dawning realization on his face. Then the beast¡¯s jaws snapped shut, closing around the courageous woman¡¯s flying form with a clack of utter finality. Everyone watched in horror as the behemoth resumed its full height, grumbled in contentment, and then swallowed Trapper whole. Chapter 157: Choice Everyone who was able to speak cried out as a bulge began sliding down the garax¡¯s throat, heading toward its stomach. Edge shook off his shock as he looked up at the beast, forcing himself to process what had taken place before his eyes. Trapper just sacrificed herself to save Riller. Even though the rest of the crew might not live five minutes past that point, it was easily the most heroic act that he had ever witnessed. In the wake of that terrible event, time came to a standstill. By now, regeneration had healed his concussion, allowing him to think clearly once more. In that frozen moment, Edge realized that he had a choice to make. That his journey had arrived at another crossroads¡ªeach path leading to a divergent future. He could cut his losses here and now. Retreat with the rest of the crew and hope that everyone else survived. Or he could reveal the totality of his secret, and fight with everything he had to save his friend. Edge had already come up with a plan. But there was no guarantee that it was going to work. In fact, there was a good chance that it would wind up getting him killed too. Even if things went the way that he hoped, the crew might try to claim the bounty on his unique core. He would live a life on the run from that moment on, even if he got away. The practical portion of his psyche told him to cut and run. He could find another team to join or pursue a solo career and keep progressing on his own. Friends were nice, but they weren¡¯t worth dying for. But when he searched his feelings, he discovered that he had another voice inside him. The part of Edge that had awoken since binding Skill-Eater believed in himself and believed in his friends. It refused to give up without struggling until his final breath. What was the point of pursuing power, if he couldn¡¯t use it to protect the people he cared about? What kind of person would he become if he prioritized growing stronger to the exclusion of everything else? Edge would never be a hero. He simply wasn¡¯t selfless enough to sacrifice himself for faceless strangers. To risk it all for the sake of some lofty ideal or in the pursuit of a greater cause. But in the heart of that decisive moment, he realized that he was willing to put it all on the line for the things that mattered¡ªthe people and places that made his new life worth living. In short, he wasn¡¯t about to let the garax get away with eating Trapper¡ªnot when there was a chance that he could save her. Besides, he wasn¡¯t a pure soul acting out of untainted altruism. He still wanted to complete the quest and steal the garax¡¯s skill, and there was no way that it was going to happen without the crew by his side. He could feel the frozen instant fading. It was time to decide which road to the future he wanted to walk. So, Edge made his choice. He turned away from the solitary path and took his first step in another direction. As time resumed its full course, he set his gaze upon the behemoth, dropped his naginata, and then willed his ultimate ability to activate. ¡°Overdrive.¡± I¡¯m counting on you, partner. Let¡¯s put on a show that the System will never forget. Heat began building behind his ribs as the great engine appeared within his mind¡¯s eye. It roared to life like a volcano erupting, locking into place alongside Skill-Eater. [Overdrive] revved up and kicked into high gear, pumping an endless river of incandescent might into his reactor¡ªturbocharging all eleven of Edge¡¯s skills. Knowing that every second was precious, he activated shadow step. Fueled by the extra Amplification provided by his ultimate, he shrugged off the garax¡¯s power and went charging straight for it. As the world turned to smoke and mist, he surged forward in a flash. The behemoth beast grew to fill his gaze¡ªan irate mountain of muscle, ivory, and ill-will. By the time it saw him, he was too close to claw. The garax growled and prepared to lunge, getting ready to bite the strange shape speeding toward it. The second that the creature¡¯s jaws cracked open, Edge gathered his strength and leapt. With the extra boost from [Overdrive] and the reduced weight of his shadow form, he launched himself into the air like a rocket taking flight. The garax was shocked to see something so small willingly entering its kill zone. It tracked his trajectory and got ready to bite, which was exactly what he had been counting on. He dove between its teeth and landed on its tongue. Then he looked down the dark tunnel of its throat and jumped, a heartbeat before its teeth snapped shut. Walls of flesh rose to engulf him as the light of the world vanished, accompanied by a clack that he could feel in his bones. There wasn¡¯t time to think, and he desperately needed to get this next part right. Instead, Edge had to rely on his instincts and on his training. Make split-second decisions on how to use his powers and survive his reckless rescue operation. He needed to keep the beast¡¯s muscles from crushing him, then stop its stomach acid from eating him once he reached the bottom of the ride. With any luck, Trapper was already using manipulate air to create a bubble that would let her survive in the belly of the beast for at least a few more minutes. That realization gave him an idea. As he started sliding down the behemoth¡¯s throat, Edge used the power he¡¯d stolen from Warren the manslayer. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. A sphere of mana expanded from his core as he activated repel water¡ªpushing away the sides of the garax¡¯s throat. It gave him enough room to use his arms, which offered him another insight. He had enacted this risky maneuver to save Trapper, but it wasn¡¯t his only objective in using [Overdrive]. He couldn¡¯t afford to waste the opportunity to dish out some damage along the way. As he made the thirty-foot voyage to the belly of the beast, he deactivated shadow step and began his assault. By this point, he had already conjured his iceblade. An arm-long sword forged from glacial crystal¡ªsharper and colder than ever before. It¡¯s not enough. I need to hit harder. Acting on instinct, Edge shifted the weapon into his left hand, and then called upon elemental blade once more. A second iceblade emerged from his right palm to mirror the weapon in his left. Bathed in the crimson glow emanating from his turbocharged core, he started swinging. There was just enough room to activate slash and double strike to execute a triple combo. His first double slash carved into the beast¡¯s tissue, leaving ice and ruin in its wake. He repeated the move, then continued to alternate¡ªcomboing twice for every beat of his heart. His offensive sliced frost-rimed gouges into the creature¡¯s throat and esophagus. Although due to the beast¡¯s incredible Durability and Disruption, his blades couldn¡¯t penetrate deep. He kept carving away like a subzero blender as he crossed the last stretch of tissue leading to the garax¡¯s stomach, using repel water to give him enough room to swing. After sliding through a sphincter that he double slashed along the way, the walls of meat opened, and the worst stench that he¡¯d ever smelled hit him like a punch to the nose. He shut out the awful odor and started searching the garax¡¯s stomach¡ªdesperate to reach Trapper before it was too late. It was sweltering inside the digestive organ, and it was hard to see past the folds of pink flesh. Edge turned on regulate temperature so that he wouldn¡¯t overheat. Then a ball of green radiance sprang to life another five feet ahead. It revealed the form of Trapper, who had just fired her flare gun. The woman looked determined instead of defeated. It was clear that she hadn¡¯t given up, even in this deadly situation. A ring of stomach acid surrounded her on all sides, as Trapper used manipulate air to create a bubble around herself. It kept her breathing but was barely strong enough to hold the garax¡¯s tissue back. With every beat of his heart, the living walls inched closer to engulfing her. It was incredibly hard to move in here, so Edge shadow stepped to close the distance. He judged that had about twenty seconds left on [Overdrive]. Twenty seconds to find a way out of this mess, before the light of hope was extinguished like a candle in a monsoon. He rematerialized beside the courageous hunter, visualized the shape he wanted, then created a spherical field around their position, combining repel water with manipulate air to give them more space to work with. Her eyes went round with astonishment when she saw him standing beside her. Then her expression shifted into sorrow. ¡°Ah, hell. It got you too. I¡¯m sorry, Edge. We should never have let the System bait us into such a hopeless situation. I¡¯ll bet it¡¯s thrilled by how this all played out.¡± He was already wailing away with his twin iceblades, while trying to figure out what else he could do. It was clear by this point that he wasn¡¯t going to be able to cut his way out. Even with the extra Amplification from [Overdrive], the stage-three beast was too tough. ¡°Actually, I came to get you out of here. No time to explain. We have about fifteen seconds to turn this around before I run out of juice and we both get eaten.¡± He could see a thousand questions spring to life in her eyes, but Trapper didn¡¯t waste a second. She drew her sword and began stabbing away, after firing off another pair of flares. When her sword didn¡¯t work, she reached for her belt and began flinging a wide variety of consumables. Flashbangs, smoke bombs, and stink bombs detonated on all sides¡ªfilling the garax¡¯s stomach with a blend of noxious substances. Edge kept freezing as much tissue as he could, trying to give the big beast one hell of a stomachache. When she ran out of devices, Trapper reached into his belt pouch and added his last two smoke bombs to the mix. ¡°Put as much pressure as you can on one place!¡± She nodded in reply. By now, there were less than ten seconds left on [Overdrive]. I¡¯m almost out of time. He started leaping, slamming into the digestive organ on top of everything else. He kept attacking the entire time¡ªboth elemental blades powered by slash and double strike to unleash an endless barrage of triple combos. He could tell that the cold was making a difference. Half the beast¡¯s stomach was covered in ice, along with a series of scratches. Just when Edge was certain that it wasn¡¯t going to be enough, that they were about to be eaten despite his best efforts, he felt the garax shudder. Its whole body heaved, tightening as it began to convulse. He wrapped his arms around Trapper as the world shook¡ªtheir combined skills preventing the motion from crushing them to paste. With five seconds to go on [Overdrive], the sphincter above opened, and the behemoth vomited. The hunters were ejected from the belly of the beast, flying up through the throat and into its mouth. The big bad tried to keep its jaws shut, but the involuntary reflex was too powerful to overcome. It puked¡ªbones, smoke, and stomach acid flying out from its mouth. Not to mention, two immensely relieved hunters. But the garax wasn¡¯t done yet. The furious creature activated one final skill while they were still in midair¡ªintending to kill them no matter what it took. Half a heartbeat before its chomp bisected them both, Edge activated harden on his entire body at once. Crystals grew across his skin, just as the beast¡¯s jaws snapped shut with cataclysmic force. To the surprise of everyone involved, they didn¡¯t close all the way. Edge, arms raised, and legs spread, was lodged between its teeth¡ª giving Trapper a chance to slide free. Apparently, when he used harden on everywhere at once, it locked his joints inside the full-body coating of diamondlike mineral. He tried to shadow step away, but nothing happened. Oh shit. That¡¯s not good. He could tell from the skill¡¯s feedback what was going on. He had just learned the hard way that if something with a Disruption field was touching him, he couldn¡¯t transform. He was stuck between the behemoth¡¯s teeth. [Overdrive] would cut out in another three seconds. Then harden would fail, and its jaws would crush him. But then a barrage of missiles hit the garax in the gut, as the crew unleashed everything they had left. The beast opened its mouth and puked again, sending Edge plummeting to the ground below. Chapter 158: Believe (Twenty Seconds Earlier) Sasha stood within the ruined farmstead, staring at the titanic beast towering above her. The euphoria from having their hunt go so well until now had evaporated like water falling onto a hot pan, leaving only shock and horror behind. Not only had the garax just eaten Trapper, but for some inexplicable reason, Edge had flown down its throat under his own power. She had no idea what was happening. All Sasha knew was that it was a bleak, hopeless moment. Two of her friends were dead, and the rest of them weren¡¯t going to last much longer. Just when victory was within their grasp, the crew¡¯s fortune had changed in the blink of an eye. It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath her feet. Like she was falling from a great height, half a heartbeat away from hitting the pavement. But it seemed that Sasha was going to live for at least a few more seconds. The garax wasn¡¯t looking at the hunters right now. Its attention was turned inward, as the beast recovered from its astonishment that its prey had leapt into its mouth of their own volition¡ªsomething that had never happened before. She was pulled out of shock by Jumo¡¯s hand on her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t give up on them yet. Trapper is tough as nails and the smartest person I know. And Edge has saved both our lives before. He must have a plan to have done¡­ whatever the hell he just did.¡± She could see in his eyes that Jumo was trying to talk himself into believing those words too. By now, Sasha was able to turn her head, so she cast her gaze across the rest of the crew. Riller¡¯s face was beet red, although he¡¯d taken a big breath before the roar hit him this time and would probably endure until the effect wore off. Violet had already regained control over her body. She was doing her best to keep Blue from panicking, but the dino was only moments away from losing it completely. That was when the behemoth¡¯s belly bulged¡ªpulsing and writhing like something was trying to fight its way out from within. The sight relit the fire of hope within the guarded hearth of her heart. That flame swelled into a raging bonfire when Jumo pointed to a patch of frost that was spreading across the beast¡¯s leathery underbelly. Sasha forced her body into motion through sheer effort of will¡ªshrugging off the lingering aftereffects of intimidating roar. ¡°That must be Edge¡¯s iceblade. They are still alive! We need to help them get out before it¡¯s too late.¡± Jumo didn¡¯t hesitate. He ignited his core and dashed straight for the bipedal behemoth, which now wore a distinctly distressed expression on its gore-splattered face. He gathered his strength and jumped with his shoulder leading the way. The hunter hit the beast¡¯s belly hard and fell to the ground, then he came running back to repeat the maneuver. Violet reached into her belt pouch and hurled a pair of stink bombs¡ªshattering their contents high on the creature¡¯s chest where the stench would hit it full in the face. Sasha began firing arrows at its throat, doing her best to make the beast gag. By now, the garax¡¯s stomach was noticeably bloated, and it was starting to heave. Just a little more should do it. But what else can we use? The answer to that question arrived from an unexpected quarter, when Violet reached down and scooped up a double handful of Blue¡¯s shit. With a mighty throw, the crew¡¯s quartermaster chucked the sinking muck straight into the beast¡¯s face, getting some inside its mouth and nose. The combined assault from the inside and out must have been too much for the behemoth to bear, because at that moment, the garax opened its jaws and began to retch. It made a piteous, whining, gag before regurgitating the contents of its stomach. Along with the waterfall of smoking vomit arrived a miraculously uninjured Trapper, who was surprisingly clean under the circumstances¡ªsurrounded by a bubble of condensed air. Jumo reached out and caught Trapper, ignoring the mess raining down all on all sides. Sasha, filled with rising hope, looked around for Edge. But he was nowhere to be found. Her heart skipped a beat until she glanced up, to where he was standing inside the garax¡¯s mouth. His body was covered in a layer of crystal, and he was trapped between the beast¡¯s teeth. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. He¡¯s stuck. I need to make it puke one more time before it¡¯s too late. She cocked her spear over one shoulder and sent it flying, catching the garax square in the belly. As she was hoping, the pressure was enough to make it retch one final time¡ªejecting Edge in the process. Sasha raced forward, held out her hands, and jumped. She snatched him out of the air and held him cradled in her arms. At that point, Trapper picked up her sword and said, ¡°That was fucking awful. Let¡¯s finish the bastard off before it recovers.¡± Sasha began to laugh as she looked down at Edge. He was so worn out that he couldn¡¯t support his own weight, although he was awake and looking around. She didn¡¯t have time to savor the moment. The fight wasn¡¯t over yet, but they had one last chance to bring the garax down. And while Sasha had no idea how they could kill the behemoth beast, it seemed like Edge had a plan. *** Edge found himself in Sasha¡¯s arms, just as the final second on [Overdrive] expired. The great engine detached from Skill-Eater and faded away¡ªvanishing from his mind¡¯s eye like a leviathan returning to the ocean¡¯s depths. Half a heartbeat later, an onyx avalanche of exhaustion broke over him. He looked into Sasha¡¯s gorgeous green eyes, while trying to remember what he was supposed to do next. He could barely move. Barely think. Edge didn¡¯t even have enough energy to turn his head toward the immense beast looming over him. It was still gagging and belching¡ªsuffering from the effects of an icy, tainted stomach and a shit-smeared face. But he was dead certain that in another few seconds, the behemoth would recover and finish what it had started. At the cost of his secret, he had managed to save Trapper in the end. However, attacking the stage-three beast from the inside hadn¡¯t been enough to end it. Even with the extra Amplification provided by his ultimate ability, he couldn¡¯t pierce the garax¡¯s tissue deep enough to land a critical wound. Although it was injured and low on mana, the angry dino still had plenty of fight left in it. The crew had unleashed their heaviest hits. They were shocked, shaken, and running on fumes. To make matters worse, the timer on the quest would expire in another few minutes. At which point, all their struggling and striving would come to nothing. Of more immediate concern, within another handful of heartbeats, the garax would come charging back in. In their condition, the hunters would be helpless to resist its assault. Trapper, Riller, and Violet had recovered enough to start pelting it with ranged fire, but their attacks didn¡¯t do more than annoy the big bastard. Edge still had another twenty seconds of exhaustion to contend with. Even if he didn¡¯t, he was out of mana, and his skills wouldn¡¯t have been able to end the fight regardless. Despite their best efforts, the hunters hadn¡¯t found a way to overcome the difference in ranks, stage, and stats between their team and the behemoth creature. He wanted to steal intimidating roar so badly that he could taste it on his tongue. Not to mention, claim the rewards that the System had dangled in front of his face. But it wasn¡¯t going to happen unless he could disable the creature long enough to use [Extraction] and then finish it off before the clock hit zero. As matters stood, the crew wasn¡¯t going to escape the encounter with their lives, let alone the pile of treasure they had risked everything to obtain. But it wasn¡¯t all bad news. Right now, the garax was incapacitated. It wasn¡¯t dazed or critically injured, so it could still resist his chains, but it was having trouble controlling its body. Edge knew in that moment that he still had one chance to turn this around. It was time to play the final ace he¡¯d been hiding and pray that his hand was strong enough to win. ¡°Tell everyone to run and keep me pointed in the beast¡¯s direction,¡± he told Sasha. ¡°I¡¯m going to finish this, here and now.¡± She looked down at him¡ªastonishment at his words written all over her face. But since the situation seemed otherwise hopeless, Sasha just nodded and draped him over one shoulder. Then she relayed his message and started to run. ¡°Everyone, get away from the garax! Edge is doing something, and it¡¯s going to be big.¡± Without a word, the hunters followed her command¡ªtrusting his judgment without question. Fighting against his exhaustion for every inch, he reached into his backpack and grabbed onto his final hope of living through the day. When his hand came back out, it was holding Warren Ellington¡¯s custom spellslinger and the three shots loaded into its chambers. The revolver¡¯s barrel flashed in the late summer sunlight as Sasha carried him away from the center of the farmyard. He struggled with everything he had to lift the heavy weapon and point it at the beast, who had just finished puking and was looking at the hunters with fury smoldering in its eyes. It was only moments away from tearing into the crew like a wrecking ball through a stained-glass window, but he didn¡¯t let it distract him. Just as the garax began to charge, Edge pulled the trigger¡ªhis prayers soaring alongside the crystalized spell as it burst from the gun and took flight. Chapter 159: Glacier Warren had been a bounty hunter, not a beast hunter. While his spellshots were powerful, there was no guarantee that they would be well-suited to crippling or killing the behemoth beast. Each round was irreplaceable and worth a small fortune, and Edge had been saving them for a rainy day. Well, look at that. It¡¯s raining now. With a whump of displaced air, the spellshot went streaking for the enraged beast that was coming to slaughter them all. Right now, Edge didn¡¯t have the fine-motor control to hit the broad side of a barn. Fortunately for him and the rest of the team, his target was even bigger. He had no idea what kind of skill the round held, but they were all about to find out. He was willing to use them all if it let him steal intimidating roar and claim the rewards that the System had promised. He wanted to disable the garax, not kill it, but either outcome would be better than it annihilating the crew. If the first shot wasn¡¯t enough to take it down, he would keep on firing and pray that the beast fell before he ran out of rounds. One thing was certain by this point. If this didn¡¯t work, they were all going to die. ¡°What the fuck is going on?¡± Jumo yelled. ¡°Spellshot,¡± Sasha called back. ¡°Get behind cover before it manifests, or we might get caught in the crossfire.¡± She had time to take three more steps before the spellshot collided with the garax¡¯s chest. An incredible concentration of mana was released in a flash, as raw magic was converted into kinetic energy. The spell drove itself into the beast¡¯s body like a titan¡¯s fist¡ªthrowing it into the air. It landed on the farmhouse, demolishing the building in great spray of wreckage. It was a solid hit, but it wasn¡¯t good enough. The garax was dazed but it wasn¡¯t seriously injured. However, that was only half the show, because the spell had a second act. Over the next few seconds, the temperature plummeted¡ªgoing from sweltering noon to an arctic chill in between the drawing of one breath and the next. Sasha propped Edge up against the corner of a building. Then she leaned forward to watch over his shoulder with her cheek pressed against his own. Every eye in the crew was riveted on the fallen behemoth¡ªhoping against hope that they could still win the fight. Ice began spreading from the point of impact. A heavy layer of rime crawled across the beast¡¯s skin, growing thicker by the heartbeat as it covered both legs and began engulfing its muscular chest. The effect died down a few seconds later. It left the garax three quarters of the way encased within a massive block of ice, just as the final seconds of exhaustion ticked past and energy returned to Edge¡¯s body. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The high-rank skill hadn¡¯t been enough to kill the resilient creature. But the shock to its system and intense cold had stunned it, leaving it unable to focus. In that moment, Skill-Eater opened its eyes and roared to life¡ªits gluttony spreading through every cell of his body. It was eager to claim the garax¡¯s power, to the point that its need was nearly a frenzy. Not that Edge needed any encouragement at this point. His own greed was nearly as intense. Thanks to the glacial spellshot, he had one last chance to steal intimidating roar, even if it meant revealing the existence of the black chains to Trapper¡¯s crew. Fuck it. In for a penny, in for a pound. The opportunity was simply too good to pass up, consequences be damned. He would fire off another round to complete the quest, but first it was time to eat. By this point, he was already sprinting into the range of his chains. As Edge drew near the beast¡¯s feet, he used the final drops of magic in his reservoir to pull off one last leap. He soared into the air, lifted both arms, and then willed [Extraction] to activate. The living links surged forth in a clinking flash¡ªstreaking for a big cut on the garax¡¯s chest that wasn¡¯t covered by ice. They might not have been able to force their way into its core if the scales were still in the way. But at it was, they were able to squeeze through, begin their assault, and drag Edge¡¯s consciousness along for the ride. The inside of the garax¡¯s core was unlike anything he¡¯d seen before. He was still on Ord, but it was an exotic landscape filled with strange sights. A sparkling gemstone jungle met his gaze. Many of the plants were made of living crystal, though there were plenty of normal species too. Even the ground was covered by wide swaths of minerals that glistened in the sunlight like an ocean of jewels. Edge was standing at the base of an immense emerald tree that stretched up for thousands of feet. Its crystal branches refracted the light¡ªthrowing rainbow checkers of radiance across the ground for as far as his eyes could see. It was a dazzling, jaw-dropping display, and he would have taken his time to enjoy it under other circumstances. But he hadn¡¯t come here to admire the view. He was here to claim the behemoth¡¯s skills for his own, and he needed to make his move. The beast was only going to be stunned for a few more seconds at best. Even with time slowed down, if he took too long, it was going to recover enough to resist his assault, and he would lose this chance forever. There were quite a few skills in here. All of them were at least uncommon and rank-three or above. While Edge had his heart set on intimidating roar, it would be foolish not to consider his other options. After all, there might be something even better. He started looking around to decide which power he wanted, when he received a message from his core. Skill-Eater could only communicate in vague images and desires. But in this case, the meaning was clear. It was telling him to ignore the other skills while drawing his attention to the best of the bunch. When he turned to examine the power in question, a surge of hunger flooded every inch of his body. A need to devour far more intense than anything he¡¯d felt before. He followed the motion of the chains to where a skill was standing on top of a diamond hill¡ªpeering down across the core like a monarch on her throne. The moment that he laid eyes on intimidating roar, Edge became certain of two things. The first was that he was looking at an epic skill. The second was that if he wanted to claim it, he was in for a fight unlike any that had come before. Chapter 160: Mini To Edge¡¯s surprise, the skill perched atop the crystal hillock took the form of the garax itself. This bipedal dinosaur was only twice his size, but everything else about it looked just as lethal as the original. He had never encountered an epic skill before and didn¡¯t know what to expect. So far, each increase in rarity had magnified the power¡¯s energetic presence, and its ability to resist the intrusion of his chains. Some skills, most notably elemental blade, had seemed like they could hurt Edge if his mental manifestation tried to interact with them. Intimidating roar took that sensation of menace to a whole new level, sending a fresh surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. None of that prepared him for what happened next. Instead of waiting for him to make his move, the miniature garax looked straight at him and came charging down the hillside¡ªindistinguishable from an enraged predator going for the kill. That was when he felt something through his bond to the black chains. Their insatiable hunger was tempered by a hearty dose of respect¡­ along with what could only be described as a reluctance to engage. Ah hell. The chains are afraid of it. That can¡¯t be good. In that moment, Edge knew he was in danger. That the inside of the behemoth¡¯s core was about to become just as hazardous as the battle raging within the farmstead. He turned to run, trying to buy some time while he decided what to do next. Whether he should exit the core early and abandon the skill or turn and fight¡ªbattling alongside his chains for the first time. The problem was, he couldn¡¯t use any of his skills inside another creature¡¯s core. While his weapon had come with him, his naginata was woefully insufficient for the task at hand. While he thought the matter through, Edge started sprinting toward the great emerald tree¡ªintending to circle the trunk until he had come up with some manner of plan. Buy me some time, but don¡¯t let the dino take you out of the fight. His chains were happy to follow his orders on this occasion. While he tried to open some distance, the living links moved to intercept the mini-garax¡ªnot trying to bind it, but to distract and slow it down. It was then that he learned an important fact about [Extracting] epic skills. While he couldn¡¯t use any of his powers while visiting another creature¡¯s core, the ones that lived inside them suffered no such limitation. Before he could take ten steps, the mini-garax opened its mouth and roared. Unlike his earlier battle with the behemoth, this intimidating roar was targeted¡ªconcentrated in the direction of Edge and his chains. It magnified its might, and this time he couldn¡¯t use shadow step to shrug off the effect. The full power of the epic skill broke over him in a paralyzing blend of sound and sensation. It was a deep, guttural scream that spoke to him on a primal level¡ªbringing instincts rising to the surface that had been branded into mankind¡¯s DNA in an age long since passed. A time before history, when humankind¡¯s distant ancestors were prey to the titanic predators that roamed the primeval Earth. He knew that the fear was the product of the skill manipulating his brain, but that insight didn¡¯t help him at all. It was the most terrifying moment of Edge¡¯s life. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of triggering his flight or fight response. This level of fear went way beyond that. It made him freeze every muscle in his body¡ªlimbs shaking like reeds in a hurricane. He couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t think. He couldn¡¯t even breathe, although fortunately he didn¡¯t need to in this state. The effect of intimidating roar on his chains was just as pronounced. They came to a screeching stop, hanging in the air like they were suspended by strings. The instant that the living links came to a halt, he felt fury radiating from his core like heat from a bonfire. The black chains were only one small extension of Skill-Eater¡¯s will, but it refused to let them be violated in such a manner. It was the ruler of skills, not the other way around. Its anger came coursing through their bond, until his rage was even greater than his hunger. The roiling tide of emotion kept growing by the heartbeat, until Edge wasn¡¯t afraid anymore, he was fucking pissed. It weakened roar¡¯s effect on his mental state, but Skill-Eater didn¡¯t have the strength to counter the epic skill head-on. At least not at this stage. His chains struggled to break free from the garax¡¯s power as Edge fought to regain control over his body. But it was no use. Without shadow step, he was helpless to resist the potent mana coursing throughout his nerves¡ªoverriding the signals from his brain. The mini-garax began sauntering over, ignoring the immobile chains. It came to a stop in front of him, looking down at Edge like he was nothing. A bug that had crawled its way into a place that it didn¡¯t belong. He was certain that the skill-in-beast-form was going to kill him as soon as it finished savoring the moment. He honestly wasn¡¯t sure what would happen if it did. If he would snap back into his body, die on the spot, or have his consciousness erased¡ªleaving an empty shell behind. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Edge really didn¡¯t want to find out. He stared up as the predator opened its jaws while deciding which part of him to devour first. Then, in that horrible, helpless moment, he remembered something important. Wait. Whenever I¡¯ve Extracted a rare skill, I had to spend Mortium. Why didn¡¯t that happen this time? That was when he realized that his Guide was already floating in the periphery of his vision, waiting for him to acknowledge its presence. He had been so hyper focused stealing the skill that he hadn¡¯t noticed until now. Edge willed the golden mote to turn into a screen. When it did, the message he was hoping for appeared on the display, along with some details that he wasn¡¯t expecting. To claim an epic skill, you must spend 10 Mortium and two charges of [Extraction]. Warning: Success is not guaranteed. If you fail to subdue the epic skill, the Mortium will be lost. Ten Mortium was a considerable fortune. Enough for Edge to steal five rare skills or pick up something good at Lilly¡¯s exchange. He spent it without hesitation. Not only was his heart set on claiming intimidating roar, there was a good chance that he was going to die if he didn¡¯t act fast. The instant that he acknowledged the prompt, frigid power began pumping into him. It wasn¡¯t mana, potentia, or any other form of energy that he recognized. It felt mysterious and final, like death itself was coursing through his veins. It spread out from his core, saturating his body along with his chains. It made him wonder what Mortium really was, but now wasn¡¯t the time to think the matter through. All that mattered was that the energy flowing through his limbs allowed him to move once more¡ªshaking off the effects of the paralyzing roar just in time to avoid being decapitated by the mini-garax¡¯s bite. Its jaws snapped shut over the space that his head had occupied a fraction of a heartbeat prior, as Edge darted back to open some room. As he took his stance and raised his naginata in front of him, his chains fell into position on both sides¡ªguarding his flanks while waiting for his command. He wasn¡¯t sure exactly what was happening, but he could sense that it wouldn¡¯t last long. That the boost provided by the Mortium would only endure for a few minutes at most, counting by the subjective time that passed inside the garax¡¯s core. The epic skill opened its mouth and roared again. But this time, it didn¡¯t have any effect at all. The death-aspected energy permeating Edge¡¯s body rebuffed the invading mana while filling him with an inexorable strength. The mini-garax tried one last time, then came charging in with both sets of scythe-claws poised to strike. If its roar didn¡¯t work, it would finish off the intruders the old-fashioned way¡ªtearing them apart with its impressive natural weaponry. The pivotal moment had arrived, and Edge didn¡¯t hesitate or hold back. He threw himself into the battle without a second thought¡ªactively participating in a contest to steal a skill for the first time. He almost got taken out then and there by a vicious swipe. Even without its roar, the mini-garax was just as dangerous as a regular dinosaur. It was powerful enough to kill him in a single blow if it scored a direct hit. Luckily, Edge wasn¡¯t fighting alone. The chain on his left grabbed his waist and pulled him out of the way, while the one on the right lashed forward like a whip. It landed a solid strike on the dino¡¯s chest before pulling away in a ripple of links. A fierce battle between man, chains, and embodied skill ensued. Over the next breathless minute, he learned that his chains were perfect partners. They could sense his intentions and respond to his desires without needing a conscious command. But they were self-aware too and could act on their own initiative. They attacked and defended¡ªtaking advantage of openings, even when Edge didn¡¯t notice them himself. He drew on every scrap of his training and every attribute point that he had. He thrust and he chopped, dodged and ducked, using every trick that he¡¯d learned since coming to Ord and fighting with his life on the line. He scored two long cuts along the mini-garax¡¯s flank during the exchange, while taking a headbutt that cracked several ribs. The wounds hurt just as much in here as they did in the real world, and they were far more dangerous, since he couldn¡¯t rely on regeneration to heal the damage. Edge was in peak condition and putting on the best performance of his life. The problem was, he could sense the power lent by the Mortium beginning to wane. Another minute, tops, and it would fade away, leaving him at the mercy of intimidating roar once more. He needed to finish the fight, and he needed to do it now. Alright guys, he sent his intentions into his chains. It¡¯s time to go all out. Here¡¯s what I have in mind. The instant that he visualized his plan, he sprang into motion¡ªunleashing a wicked swing with his polearm that drove the dino back. Meanwhile, the black links spread out to come at the skill from both sides at once. The garax darted back in and lunged for Edge, letting the chains attack from the sides. One wrapped around each of its legs, while he dodged another bite with inches to spare. The bound beast let out a furious roar that made a spike of fear ripple throughout his body. There were only a few seconds left on the Mortium he¡¯d spent. His last chance of victory was fading away. To make matters worse, the mini-garax shrieked and bit down on one of the chains. For the first time, Edge saw the living links take damage while subduing a skill. The thick loops cracked, on the verge of shattering¡ªforcing that chain to withdraw from the core or risk being destroyed. Before the dino could follow up, the other chain yanked hard and pulled it off balance. The moment that the beast turned to chomp it, Edge committed to an all-or-nothing attack. He stepped forward and lunged, putting the full power of his Mortium-enhanced body behind the blow. If this didn¡¯t work, he was going to lose the skill and his life shortly after. Just before the mini-garax took out the remaining black chain, Edge¡¯s naginata caught it square in the throat. To his relief, the claw-blade penetrated¡ªbiting deep into its tissue. It felt different from stabbing a living beast, but that didn¡¯t matter. What was important was that the attack had critically wounded the skill. He pulled the blade out, rotated the shaft of the polearm behind his body, and then brought the weapon around for a second pass¡ªshearing the beast¡¯s left arm off at the shoulder. Just to be safe, he repeated the move and cut off the right for good measure. With the last of his strength, Edge jammed the tip into the mini-garax¡¯s stomach, as the Mortium faded away. It had been close, but the battle was already won. The skill was severely weakened and couldn¡¯t roar, letting the black chain yank it free from the core. Chapter 161: Saw Edge returned to his body, which was still sailing through the air. He landed in front of the frost-rimed behemoth, alive with the electrifying thrill of victory. The garax¡¯s eyes were wide with horror. It was reeling from the shock from having its epic skill¡ªits pride and joy and the core of its identity¡ªripped out of its core. Edge staggered back in a desperate attempt to open some distance, as his chains threw intimidating roar into his mouth. Although he had survived the first stage of his plan, [Extraction] hadn¡¯t been enough to finish the beast off. While the rest of the team unleashed a hail of ranged attacks, he closed his jaws and began eating on the run. Fortunately, chomping on the mini-garax was much less disgusting than chewing up a live animal would have been. Although it took the form of a beast, the skill didn¡¯t have any blood, organs, or bones. Since he had wounded the skill before [Extracting] it, it didn¡¯t have the strength to defend his assault. Which was a good thing, because the behemoth was starting to recover, and Edge was totally spent. The flavor caressing his tongue was exquisite. So delicious that he almost lost himself in it, despite his pressing circumstances. Intimidating roar tasted like pure, undiluted might¡ªthe strength to dominate all who stood in his way. He had an impression of looking down from a great height, with a sea of beasts arranged below¡ªall bowing in his direction. Of overwhelming lesser minds with the sheer force of his presence, leaving them helpless to resist his advance. As he raced to rejoin the others, he chewed as fast as he could and then swallowed. Edge didn¡¯t have a free slot to socket his epic skill, but it wasn¡¯t a problem in the short-term. He wouldn¡¯t have to worry about it until the power finished digesting. You have [Extracted] an epic skill (intimidating roar). This skill is damaged, and its experience has been lost. It will take 20 days to digest it. Apparently epic skills took a lot longer than rare skills to digest, but Edge didn¡¯t have time to process that now. The garax was rising from the wreckage of the farmstead¡ªincandescent fury burning away the shock of having its prize power stolen. It looked down at him with an expression of absolute loathing. A grudge beyond the ability of words to convey. He knew that it was about to go berserk. That the maddened beast would come at him and wouldn¡¯t stop until he was dead, no matter what price it had to pay in the process. Trapper¡¯s crew had no chance of killing the enraged garax under the circumstances. They had blown through everything that they had, just to make it this far. Even if it couldn¡¯t use its skills, the beast would annihilate them with its overwhelming Power. But Edge had no intention of letting that happen. Now that he had claimed intimidating roar for his own, it was time to finish what he¡¯d started. The wounded behemoth¡¯s muscles bulged, cracking the shell of ice encasing its body. Massive chunks came crashing to the ground, with more joining them by the heartbeat. Within another few seconds at most, it would be free to exact its revenge on the puny creatures who had dared to defy it. Who had defiled the sanctity of its core and stolen the power that let it thrive in the high-threat biome it called home. Which was why Edge had already raised his spellslinger and set its sights upon his towering foe. Praying that the last two rounds would be enough to end the fight, he pulled the trigger¡ªprepared to fire the second shot the instant that he witnessed the effect of the first. Thump. The crystalized skill took flight, as every eye in the farm tracked it progress. The spellshot flew toward the behemoth creature. But it detonated early, releasing an intense pulse of searing mana that tasted like sulfur and iron. For a second, Edge thought that the spellshot had misfired. That he was going to have to use his final, invaluable round. But as the garax took one step, then another, the magic in the air assumed physical form¡ªsolidifying into something that was round, flat, and twenty feet wide. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. What in the world is that? He wondered as everyone darted back to open more distance. He ran his eyes across a circular sheet of metal floating in the air, tracing the jagged protrusions running all the way around. You know, that looks kind of like a saw. When the skill began to spin, Edge learned that a saw was exactly what it was, with one major twist on the concept. The disc began to rotate faster, growing hotter all the while, until the entire spell was glowing crimson. It lightened to yellow and then blinding white, as the volcanic buzzsaw continued to accelerate¡ªfilling the air with a piercing whine. The garax realized that something was wrong when it saw the buzzsaw hanging in the air. No matter how angry it was, it knew that getting hit by a spell of that caliber was a bad idea. It aborted its attack and turned to run, but it was already too late. It took seven steps in the opposite direction before the great flaming saw took flight. The beast never made it to eight. Before its foot came down again, the white-hot buzzsaw hit it square in the back of the neck. It might have been able to dodge that if it wasn¡¯t injured. Possibly the first round too. Saving them for the finisher was the right move. It was the most powerful skill that Edge had ever seen. It could have destroyed City Hall in five seconds flat, then moved on to demolish the rest of the block. Even then, it wasn¡¯t enough to kill the behemoth instantly. The garax¡¯s insane Durability and Disruption let it withstand the volcanic buzzsaw¡ªat least for a few more seconds. The saw started spinning faster, while pressing harder by the heartbeat. Its teeth began digging through scale and carving into the flesh below. The spell was cauterizing the wounds as fast as it dealt them, and the stench of burning meat rose to fill the air. The garax tried to resist¡ªputting everything that it had into fighting for its life. Mana congealed across its body, as the beast activated multiple defensive powers in combination with the last of its reserves. It was too little too late. The high-rank skill contained within the spellshot overcame its protections one by one, then continued its relentless advance. With one last roar that was cut off by a whimper, the buzzsaw severed scale and spine. Then it kept right on going¡ªshearing through throat and jugular before bursting out the other side in a spray of shredded meat. The spell must have been designed to deactivate when its target was dead, in order to preserve the body. It dissipated while there was still mana left in its matrix¡ªcreating a pulsating lightshow as it blended with the ambient magicytes flowing across the Breadbasket. The beast¡¯s severed head toppled to the ground. It landed beside Edge with a ground-shaking thud, sizzling like a steak on the grill. Its body fell forward a few seconds later, with an impact that knocked everyone to their knees. He let out a long sigh and let his body go limp. He was completely spent from his magical invasion of the garax¡¯s core, not to mention the perfectly ordinary exhaustion of surviving a prolonged battle for his life. In the heart of that surreal moment, everyone stood in shocked silence while taking in sight of the behemoth¡¯s severed head. Then his Guide appeared in front of his face and Edge began to read. Congratulations. You have completed a quest and received the following rewards: 2 Skill Merger Tokens. 1 Auxiliary Skill Slot (implant). The tokens will appear in your inventory, and the implant has been automatically installed. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [13]. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [14]. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is [15]. You have nine attribute points awaiting allocation. When Edge finished the last line, another notice appeared. It informed him that he had earned even more from winning the fight than he¡¯d thought. You have accomplished a notable feat and have been awarded a trait. Trait: Big Game Hunter Holy shit. That. Was. Fucking. Awesome! You managed to score a kill on a colossal and behemoth creature, all in the same afternoon. I¡¯m shocked to my circuits that you¡¯re still breathing and loved every second of the show. I hope that you try something that batshit crazy again soon. Here¡¯s a trait that should incentivize you to do just that. Effect: 50% more damage with weapons and skills to creatures at least twenty times your size (excluding magtech weapons, traps, and spellshots). 25% Extra Perception when sensing creatures at least twice your size. Edge sat there, shaking with delayed fear and exhilaration. In a few more seconds, he was going to have to answer a mountain of questions that he¡¯d been hoping to avoid. Learn whether the crew would be willing to protect his secret or try to claim his bounty. But for just a little longer, he let himself savor what he¡¯d accomplished. He considered the last item on the list while everyone read through their updates. Another trait with a weird description. The effect is top-tier though. I don¡¯t plan on fighting anything that big on a regular basis, but Big Game Hunter will come in handy if I do. That bonus to Perception will be useful in the field though. I¡¯ll equip the trait after I deal with this mess. Jumo was the first person to break the silence. He turned to look Edge straight in the eyes with a penetrating gaze. Then he took a deep breath and opened his mouth. ¡°Edge. I don¡¯t know how else to say this¡­ That. Was. Amazing!¡± The athletic warrior broke into a beaming grin. ¡°I have so many questions. Before we get the rest of them, is that Warren Ellington¡¯s spellslinger you¡¯re holding? The only way you could have that is¡­ Edge, did you kill the manslayer too?¡± Chapter 162: Truth When Jumo asked the question, everyone looked his way¡ªfaces wearing a complex mixture of emotions that Edge had no way of sorting out in that moment. In that instant, the events of the past weeks came to a head. It left him with one last decision to make. Did he really trust these people? And just as important, did Edge want them to be able to trust him? When he searched his feelings, he decided that he did. After everything he had been through¡ªliving beside the hunters while getting to know them¡ªEdge really did trust them with his life. He realized that he¡¯d been preparing for this moment for days. That subconsciously, he was already planning to tell his friends everything. Well, almost everything. He wasn¡¯t ready to talk about Skill-Eater¡¯s true nature until he understood it better himself. Edge took a deep breath, looked each hunter in the eyes in turn, then began his story. ¡°Guys. I have something to tell you. Remember when I said that I found a rare core in some ruins? Well, it might have been a bit rarer than that. It¡¯s called Skill-Eater, and it¡¯s the reason that I¡¯ve been able to learn so many skills so quickly.¡± He continued, sharing the full account of his adventures, the full range of his skills, and the true nature of his ultimate abilities. ¡°Warren caught wind of the truth after I arrived in Puppet Town and decided to claim my bounty. He came for me looking for blood, but I was the one who walked away. I wouldn¡¯t have made it if Sakura hadn¡¯t tipped me off. Warren blew himself up, so I didn¡¯t get any of his gear other than a potion and this gun, which only has one round left.¡± Edge went through the events of the last few days, until he arrived at the present. ¡°That¡¯s the truth of the matter. I¡¯m sorry for hiding it from you, but I was scared and wasn¡¯t sure what I should do. I¡¯ll understand if you can¡¯t trust me or want to claim my bounty. All I ask is that you give me a few days¡¯ head start.¡± Then, for a long while, Edge stood there in silence while waiting to find out what fate had in store. The crew mulled over his words¡ªconsidering their weight and everything they had experienced together. He didn¡¯t know if this was going to be an ending or a beginning, but he was relieved that the wait was finally over. Violet was the first person to break the silence. ¡°Of course we¡¯ll keep your secret, you idiot. You only revealed it to save us to begin with and we all have skeletons in our closets.¡± ¡°Besides, we like you, and we¡¯ve enjoyed having you around.¡± Sasha offered Edge a beaming smile that melted his heart as Jumo seconded her opinion. Trapper gave him a stern look, then cracked a grin of her own. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been hiding things, the fight might have gone a lot smoother. Then again, it might just as easily have gone the other way. Besides, if we lost you, I would have to find another new crewmember, and that¡¯s not as easy as it sounds.¡± ¡°Does that mean?¡± Trapper walked over and offered Edge her hand. ¡°Edge Vasher. By unanimous decision, you have passed our test and are invited to become an official member of the crew.¡± He took her hand and gave it a firm shake. ¡°Welcome to the team. Here¡¯s to growing stronger and getting rich along the way.¡± Everyone else offered him a handshake, which quickly transformed into a group hug. Even Blue joined in, although she was careful not to aggravate her injuries. Edge was overcome with powerful emotions¡ªoverwhelmed that he had finally found a place to belong and people who valued his existence. The team stayed that way for a good five minutes, then got down to business. They still needed to consolidate their gains and finish their mission before something nasty came calling. Jumo wanted to see the spellslinger, so Edge handed it over while he pondered how to spend his attribute points. The warrior gave the gun back a few minutes later, still mulling over everything that had been revealed. While everyone recovered from the grueling battle, they sat in a circle and shared what they¡¯d gained from the quest the System had offered. Riller and Violet were so happy that they couldn¡¯t sit still. After years of searching and subjecting themselves to incredible danger, they finally had cores of their own. At long last, they could start growing stronger alongside the rest of the team. They were holding onto one another and bawling their eyes out, while everyone else offered touches and words of support. Not only could they begin cycling-up and spending their potentia, they could slot more skills and handle the drain of powers that were rarer than basic. They had gained another skill slot after binding their cores and would get two more when they hit stage-one. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. On top of everything else, they could absorb magicytes from the environment. It would let them use their skills far more often and contribute equally in a fight, without having to worry about magicyte depletion as a result. In addition to their cores, they had each picked up an uncommon skill as part of their reward. Riller had gained scout drone¡ªthe same skill that Warren had used to hunt Edge. It let Riller create a flying construct that was hard to spot and could travel within a thousand feet of his position. He could send his vision into the drone at will. Although it cost a fair amount of mana to maintain, the skill would improve dramatically as it ranked-up. Even as it was, it would enhance the man¡¯s already impressive scouting abilities¡ªmaking it easier to track prey and detect incoming threats. Violet had gained travelers¡¯ boon, an aura that increased the stamina and health regeneration of anything friendly within ten feet of her position. The effect was small enough that it would only help a little in battle, at least until she ranked it up. But it would let the crew push themselves harder with less downtime and recover from injuries faster than before. It would be invaluable on long hunts, and even more critically, it offered the team their first source of magical healing. Jumo and Sasha had upgraded their cores¡ªtransforming them from basic models into uncommon, elemental-aspected variants with passive ultimate abilities. Sasha now wielded a flame core, which would enhance the output of flame imbuement and any other fire-based skills she acquired. One of which had been included in her rewards. Fire breathing let her project a cone of flames from her position. It was a solid ranged attack, and even more valuable, it let her dish out damage over a wide area. It would be perfect for dealing with nimble opponents and swarms, like the crab monsters that had ambushed the hunters on the Painted Lands. Jumo¡¯s new core was an earth type¡ªthe same kind that Earl the Earthhammer wielded. Like Sasha, Jumo had picked up an uncommon skill that paired with his elemental core. Piercing javelin created a stone weapon that reminded Edge of the heart-render spellshot Warren had fired, with a few notable differences. At rank-one, Jumo¡¯s skill could only create one weapon at a time. It had a range of about fifty feet, and it couldn¡¯t change course after launching or hit ethereal targets. Instead, the skill specialized in raw damage and penetration. Having piercing javelin would make it easier for the crew to hunt creatures with defensive skills, natural armor, and high Durability, not to mention the armor of human opponents. That just left the crew¡¯s leader. Trapper already had a specialty core, so the System had offered her a rare skill and two uncommons. She wouldn¡¯t have had the slots for them, but the fight had pushed her up the final cycle of stage-one. Her incredible use of traps over the last few days had cleared the requirements for her core¡¯s evolution, and she was able to evolve on the spot. Going forward, the crew¡¯s leader would be one of the most powerful people in Puppet Town and a force to be reckoned with. In addition to sense life, manifest trap, cleanse, and manipulate air, she now had snipe, which would increase the velocity and accuracy of her ranged attacks. Next came sense vibration, which would supplement sense life. The skill would let her detect nonliving creatures, burrowing opponents, and things that were beyond her field of view. As nice as they were, they weren¡¯t what had the crew¡¯s leader quivering with excitement. Her rare skill sounded incredibly powerful, and Edge couldn¡¯t wait to see it in action. Quagmire turned a large patch of sand or soil into quicksand or mud. It could bind or even drown smaller opponents within a matter of seconds, and slow down big bads like the padamas and garax. It was a wide-area disable that didn¡¯t require the extensive prep time of manifest trap, making the crew¡¯s leader more effective in ambush situations going forward. If she had been wielding quagmire when the shadowreavers assaulted the crew, she could have defeated them without his assistance. Edge had made out well for himself too. On top of the cycles and the epic skill he¡¯d gained from the fight, he had picked up another great trait, two Skill-Merger Tokens, and an Auxiliary Skill Slot. His mind was already hard at work, trying to decide which skills he wanted to combine. He had several ideas that seemed promising, but he wanted to learn more about the token first to make sure that he didn''t fuck up. He had until his epic skill finished digesting to figure everything out. The auxiliary slot was exciting too. It would let him swap out skills as needed to adapt to whatever situation he found himself in¡ªboosting his versatility without having to give up a power in exchange. He was eager to fill it right away, then keep switching it around whenever he found something that he wanted to try out, or that sounded useful or fun. Now that the fight was over, the hunters had two things that they needed to do before they left the Breadbasket and made their way back to Puppet Town. The first was to collect the most valuable parts from the garax, and anything that was salvageable from the remnants of the padamas. Then they had to hike to the border of the Ivory Plains and observe any changes to the neighboring biomes. Trapper already had a location picked out where they could see for a hundred miles in every direction. But that would have to wait until morning. Right now, the team needed to collect the resources from the beasts while they were still fresh, then make sure that nothing tried to steal them during the night. In short, now that they had raked in the cycles, it was time to ensure they got paid. Chapter 163: Retcon When the crew examined the garax¡¯s corpse, they discovered one last surprise waiting for them. Lodged into the stump of its neck was a core-seed¡ªa magical phenomenon that occasionally appeared when a stage-three beast died. It took the form of a pearly white sphere as big as Edge¡¯s fists that shimmered in every color of the rainbow. It was beautiful, but that wasn¡¯t the reason why the item was so valuable. As its name suggested, a core-seed could be refined by an alchemist to create a basic core. Since everyone in the crew had a core of their own, only Trapper had an interest in the item beyond what it would sell for. ¡°Do you mind if I take this for my share of the haul? I know someone who needs it, even if she isn¡¯t going to be happy to hear me say it.¡± After the massive pile of gains they had just received, no one had a problem with Trapper claiming the core-seed. With that out of the way, they began processing the beasts¡¯ remains before they lost the light. They would head out to scout the borderlands first thing in the morning. The garax¡¯s head wound up taking up most of the wagon by itself. Rather than preparing anything elaborate, they used Edge¡¯s iceblade to freeze jugs full of water and packed them around the behemoth¡¯s skull. Then the hunters moved on to dealing with the tougher jobs. They planned to remove as much of the garax¡¯s leather as they could, then extract the claws from its limbs and the scales from the padamas¡¯s tail. They were going to have to leave most of the meat and bones behind, although they were the least valuable parts. The crew intended to eat as much of it as they could for dinner, since the magicyte-rich flesh of a stage-three beast would refill their reservoirs overnight. Riller, Jumo, and Trapper went to work skinning the carcasses, since they had enough experience to preserve the hides¡¯ value. Violet started preparing dinner, while Sasha went to collect some spikes from the padamas''s tail that were buried in wreckage of the silo. Edge¡¯s job was to cut the claws free from the behemoth¡¯s limbs, which was labor intensive, but relatively straightforward and hard to mess up. He finished the last one shortly before sunset. After he helped Jumo strap them to the sides of the wagon, the crew met back up around the fire. Next on their list was something that everyone had been looking forward to for hours¡ªever since the aroma of grilled meat had risen to fill the air. After the climactic battle and dangerous journey, it was time for a victory feast. Everything was delicious, and Edge went to bed with a full belly and a full heart. He was thrilled to be an official member of the crew and in the company of people he didn¡¯t have to hide his powers from any longer. The magicyte-rich meal let Violet use Traveler¡¯s Boon, which helped the hunters heal their wounds overnight. The team split up after breakfast. Violet, Sasha, and Blue stayed behind to guard the wagon and finish packing their haul. Meanwhile, everyone else left to conduct their scouting mission. If everything proceeded as planned, they would complete the trip in less than a day and be on their way back to Puppet Town well before sunset. Edge found the journey to be significantly more pleasant without the ever-present threat of ambush. They still had to be careful, especially this close to the borderlands. But since the garax and the padamas had been terrorizing the region, the other predators had been displaced and the hunters were much less likely to run into anything hostile. They began hiking northeast, following a winding footpath through the verdant growth that was only wide enough for them to progress in single file. Riller was so excited to have a core that he was practically dancing, and his good cheer was infectious. Everyone was smiling and laughing as they put the miles beneath their boots¡ªecstatic to have overcome such a deadly opponent and secured an amazing reward in the process. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The achievement would have made them legends on the feed, if the Prison World broadcasts were still running. The crew had accomplished within a matter of days what would normally have required years of hard work¡ªdramatically increasing their odds of surviving the changes that were taking place across the biome. By now, he was ready to spend his attribute points. This time around, Edge decided to shore up some of his weaknesses. He went with an even split between Reflex, Control, and Disruption. Once the potentia was set loose, he sat down to ride out the intense sensations. Reflex felt like lightning was racing beneath his skin, and Control increased his awareness of his body on a fundamental level. Combined, it left him feeling incredibly dexterous¡ªable to respond to stimuli quicker than before and articulate each joint with increased precision. As always, gaining more Disruption was deeply soothing, like the static in his brain being replaced by a clear signal. When they stopped for lunch a few hours later, Riller went off on his own to hunt a pack of hyenalike creatures that he¡¯d spotted a mile back. The man was eager to start cycling-up his core as quickly as possible. He came back grinning from ear to ear. He had managed to finish them off with poisoned arrows without giving his position away and had earned his very first cycle. Edge was happy for him. Riller was already an incredible hunter, but now he could make a larger contribution when the crew faced off against big beasts or multiple opponents. Not to mention, take some punishment without risking his life with every exchange of blows. Edge could only imagine how much stealthier Riller would become after investing his attribute points and hitting stage-one. Hunting on Ord would never be safe, especially with the changes taking place in the wake of the anomaly. But being out in the wild with a core was far safer than going without. Once he was back, everyone gathered their gear and resumed their journey. By the time that noon rolled around, Edge could see their destination¡ªa massive hillock jutting up along the horizon. When he asked what it was called, Trapper turned to him and answered. ¡°That¡¯s the Titan¡¯s Nose. A hill so big that could just as easily be called a small mountain instead. From the top, you can see for over a hundred miles in every direction. We¡¯ll climb it, survey the area, then hightail it back before we run into anything nasty.¡± Two hours and a grueling climb later, the hunters were nearly there. They had scaled the hill from the southern approach, which was the only way up since the north side was a sheer face. As a result, they hadn¡¯t been able to take a good look around during the ascent. When they stepped onto the crest, Trapper pulled out a spyglass and cast her gaze into the distance. A few seconds later, the color bled from her cheeks, and she began to curse. It was the first time that Edge had seen the veteran hunter truly disturbed. Even during the chaotic fights for their lives, she had always kept a level head. But in this moment, it was clear that the woman was deeply shaken¡ªto the extent that she had to look away to collect her thoughts. He walked over to her side, then took the spyglass when she offered it to him. He put his eye up to the lens, eager to find out what had Trapper so worried. For a second, he didn¡¯t understand what he was looking at, but then the crew¡¯s boss broke the silence. ¡°That¡¯s supposed to be the Murkwood Lagoon to the north and the Barrens to the east. But that¡¯s not what¡¯s out there. I can make out two different biomes from here, but I don¡¯t recognize either of them. I¡¯ve never heard of anything that matches the description.¡± Wait. How is that possible? That must mean¡­ Everyone looked at one another with expressions of dawning realization. An understanding that was crystalized by Trapper¡¯s next words. ¡°It can only mean one thing. We¡¯ve had it wrong the entire time. Random bits of Ord weren¡¯t transported onto the Ivory Plains. The whole damn biome was moved to the other side of the planet. Somewhere deep in the frontier, if my guess is right. We might be the first humans ever to set eyes on these biomes, and only the gods know what is waiting for us out there.¡± She let out a shuddering sigh and then steeled her resolve. ¡°Those must be high-threat regions. I¡¯ve never seen such a dense concentration of magicytes. There¡¯s more than enough magic out there to raise the threat level of the whole Ivory Plains. Before long, the area around Puppet Town is going to be just as saturated as the borderlands. ¡°No wonder we¡¯ve been seeing so many stage-two beasts migrating onto the grasslands. And the worst is yet to come. Puppet Town has less time to prepare than we thought, and the danger is greater than we imagined. We must get back to town and warn them of what¡¯s coming, before we lose the chance to strengthen our defenses.¡± Chapter 164: Frontier Wow. What a mindfuck. While everyone absorbed the truth of Trapper¡¯s words, they took turns peering through the spyglass¡ªrecording their observations so that they could report them to Earl, Dialla, and the rest of the settlement. Now that he knew what he was looking at, Edge did his best to commit every detail to memory, since the information might prove vital to the town. The Titan¡¯s Nose was only a few miles away from the borderlands. It was close to where the two unknown biomes came together, offering a view into each. The first was a desert filled with bright orange sand and pale pink cacti. The plants had to be hundreds of feet tall to appear so large from such a distance. It was a harsh land, but also full of life. His jaw dropped as he took in the sight of flying beasts with thirty-foot wingspans or more. From this far out, he couldn¡¯t tell if they were reptiles, birds, or something more exotic. Everything he could see was big, including some massive creatures that could give the padamas and garax a run for their money. Even this brief view was enough to make Edge completely certain that he never wanted to set foot in the strangely-colored wilderness. At least not at his stage. He watched as a herd of stallion-like beasts went running from the flying predators, only to be ambushed by a different manner of hunter instead. The ground beneath the horses gave way, forming a circular pit like an antlion¡¯s trap on a gray whale¡¯s scale. Two of the stallions fell into the sloping cone, never to be seen again. He couldn¡¯t tell what was in the bottom from this angle, but he was sure that it was bad news. It looked like the rest of the quadrupeds would make it to safety, as they darted into a grove of oversized cacti. Edge couldn¡¯t have been more wrong. Because that was when one of the towering pink plants moved. It must have been a different species than the others, although it looked almost the same. The mega-cactus reached down in a flash and scooped up one of the fleeing beasts¡ªimpaling it upon a thousand spiny thorns before opening a mouth the size of a cavern and tossing the unfortunate creature inside. He shuddered, then turned his attention to the other biome. He was ready to record his findings and get the fuck out, before anything spotted them and decided to have the crew for a light snack. Forming a marked contrast to the neon desert, the adjacent landscape was covered in sparkling ice¡ªthick even in the summer heat. No. That¡¯s not ice, Edge realized. It looks more like gemstone or glass. The crystal forest glistened in the sunlight, throwing wild patches of color for miles in every direction. Although the unusual minerals were prevalent, there was still plenty of ground covered in regular dirt. Many of the plants were made of living crystal too, though there were numerous species that weren¡¯t. Most striking of all were the crystal beasts. Edge took in the sight of butterflies with glass wings. Of packs of wolves carved from amethyst and jade, and dozens more species formed from different types of gemstones. This must be the biome the garax came from. It fits with what I saw inside its core. Trapper finished recording their observations into her journal, while everyone ducked behind a boulder to shield them from view of the creatures prowling below. Then they left the summit and began climbing back down, each hunter lost in thoughts of their own. While they walked, Edge pondered the mystery of the planet¡¯s frontier. On any other colonized world, everything would have been mapped from the moment that the first settler set foot onto it. With drones, satellites, flying vehicles, and a wide variety of scrying spells, charting the surface would have been almost effortless. But thanks to the System, the frontier of Ord was something else entirely. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Even though people had been living here for centuries, only a small fraction of the planet had been explored prior to the anomaly. There were two reasons for this unique situation. The first was the red-shield, which prevented any unauthorized transportation, scrying, or communication. The System only allowed teleportation to and from the planet in orbit, and in a few other instances¡ªsuch as newly arrived tourists synching with their puppets and then portaling to the starting zone of their choice. As a result, you couldn¡¯t just step out of a portal and into terra incognita. Exploring the surface had to be done the old-fashioned way¡ªheading out into the unknown, then surviving to tell the tale. Every wave of settlers had been pioneers too, and many people had died before regions safe enough to set up the spaceport and the starting zones had been discovered. The other barrier to easy exploration was the magical phenomenon known as the Fog of War. Most people believed that the fog had been created by the System too. Although no one was sure, since the AI had merged itself with the planet¡¯s core long before the first human arrived. The Fog of War was a layer of magic that prevented the surface from being viewed from the air, or with any manner of perceptual-enhancing spells. It wasn¡¯t an issue in the settled areas. In explored regions, which extended a few miles beyond where people had physically stood, the Fog of War receded, and everything worked the same way it did on any other planet. But in the unexplored regions known collectively as the frontier, orbital observation, reconnaissance from flying vessels, and sense-linked drones couldn¡¯t pick up anything beyond an impenetrable sea of multicolored fog. Before the disaster, expanding the frontier was a major aspect of life on Ord¡ªone of the biggest draws of the Prison World feed. In part because of the inherent attraction of exploration, a primal joy as old as human civilization, and in part because of the treasures that the System had seeded throughout the frontier during the early days of its inception. While these thoughts passed through his mind, the hunters made it down to ground level and began hiking south as quickly as they could. No one said a word. They were still grappling with the magnitude of the bombshell revelation. They pushed themselves hard, eager to put as many miles as they could between themselves and the host of high-stage beasts they had observed in the adjacent biomes. Edge took advantage of the opportunity to ponder everything that he knew about the System. The dominant force on Ord, and the orchestrator of the most profitable form of entertainment ever created. After magic came to Earth and the AIs rose to dominance, they had uncovered the existence of the portal network. The network was an ancient artifact that granted access to countless life-bearing worlds, including the planet Ord. Before revealing this paradigm-shattering news to humankind, the hyperintelligent machines had used it to further their own ends. Many chose to leave the Earth entirely, and many more spread their offspring across the galaxy¡ªseeding the stars with magtech-based life. The very first entity from another world to arrive on Ord was the AI now known as the System. After installing itself into the planet¡¯s core, it had fed on the concentrated magic permeating the globe¡ªtransforming itself into one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy within a matter of years. Once it had established its supremacy, the System began expanding its reach. In less than a century, it had become the economic powerhouse that it was today, at least before the disaster. It created the red-shield first¡ªlocking everyone else out and preventing any other AIs from challenging its dominance. When it was ready, the System reached out to governments across the galaxy with a proposal. A solution to a pressing problem and a chance to generate a staggering fortune in the process. An endeavor that the System called the Prison World Saga. With the dawn of magic had come a new class of criminal¡ªindividuals who were powerful enough to wreak havoc on a global scale. Wiping them out invariably resulted in a tremendous loss of life and resources, but the System had come up with a way to get rid of class SS threats without the need for violence. Working together, the AIs began casting powerful rituals that transported troublemakers of all stripes to Ord¡ªthe only prison that was strong enough to hold them. Then they turned the resulting chaos into a form of entertainment unlike any other. An entirely new form of multimedia, collectively known as the feed. After agreeing to the System¡¯s terms, the League of Machines had developed the simucast network and puppet technology¡ªadding a new wrinkle that made the Prison World broadcasts even more profitable than they already were. Puppet tourism. By the time that Edge was done pondering his digital overlord, they were halfway back to the farm. The hunters stopped to eat dinner in a sheltered location and were back on the road half an hour later. Chapter 165: Return As they walked, Jumo asked, ¡°If we are the first people ever to lay eyes on those biomes, do you think that we can name them?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good point,¡± Trapper said. ¡°I was so busy pondering the big picture that it never even occurred to me. Yes, Jumo. We might wind up in the history books, if we manage to survive the trip back. Since you were the one to bring it up, did you have something in mind?¡± ¡°I was thinking Jumo¡¯s Vault for the crystal biome. As for the other¡­ maybe Jumo¡¯s armpit?¡± Everyone had a good laugh at that before the crew¡¯s leader replied. ¡°I¡¯m fine with Jumo¡¯s Vault for the gemstone biome. Since Edge is the one who made everything possible, why don¡¯t we let him name the desert?¡± ¡°What?¡± He was caught off-guard by the offer. He had never expected to explore the frontier or discover an uncharted biome. The thought set his heart racing. The boy who had spent thousands of hours watching the feed would have gone apeshit over the opportunity, and adult Edge was almost as excited. ¡°Are you serious? I can really name it?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Trapper nodded. ¡°Why not? Try to pick something good since it will be tied to our crew forever.¡± He gave the matter some serious thought as they put more miles beneath their boots. By the time that the farmstead was visible along the horizon, he had come up with something that he liked. ¡°Given what we saw out there, how about the Ravenous Wastes?¡± The name was also a nod to his core, and Skill-Eater¡¯s unique characteristics. But Edge thought it wise to keep that part to himself, at least for the time being. ¡°The Ravenous Wastes.¡± Riller spoke up for the first time in hours. ¡°I love it.¡± Everyone else did too, so they decided to go with it. ¡°The next biomes we find can be named by the rest of the crew,¡± Trapper said. "I have a hunch that we will discover more of them before our work is done.¡± Not long after, they arrived at the farm. Violet, Blue, and Sasha had fought off some scavengers while the others were away¡ªnothing that they couldn¡¯t handle with their new powers. The fight had given Violet a chance to pick up her first two cycles, putting her ahead of Riller for the moment. Everyone wore sober expressions when they learned that the Ivory Plains had been moved to the far side of the planet. That they were surrounded by uncharted land, fearsome beasts, and powerful monsters. Cut off from all known settlements and completely on their own. ¡°It¡¯s not all bad news,¡± Sasha eventually broke the silence. ¡°There are bound to be valuable resources, dungeons, and other opportunities out there. Chances to grow stronger faster than ever before, if we can claim them for ourselves.¡± Violet nodded, excited by the prospect. ¡°An opportunity for advancement that hasn¡¯t existed since the early days has landed in our laps, if we¡¯re willing to endure the challenges that will go hand-in-hand with obtaining them.¡± As they traveled, Edge kept the ice lining the wagon frozen with his elemental blade¡ªpreserving the valuable resources they had extracted from the padamas and garax on the way back to town. Although their situation gave them a lot to think about, everyone made the return trip in high spirits. Each of them had gained something incredible from their adventure¡ªsolidifying their resolve to grow stronger over the days ahead. Riller and Violet finally had cores of their own, and the rest of the team had been enhanced in one way or another. Everyone had acquired powerful new skills that were perfectly suited for their skillsets. Not to mention all the cycles they had accrued and the massive pile of Credits they stood to make after turning in their haul. Trapper suggested that they use the high-grade resources to craft new weapons and armor before selling the rest, meaning that the hunters were in for some gear upgrades too. All things considered, it was impossible not to be excited by everything the team had accomplished on an excursion that had far exceeded the scope of their mission. The crew had made years¡¯ worth of progress in the span of a week, and though their hunt had been fraught with peril, everyone had survived and benefited tremendously in the end. On that note, Edge summoned his Guide and pulled up his profile¡ªmarveling at the sheer scope of his gains. Personal Statistics: Edge Vasher Attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits) Physical Attributes Power: 6 (7) Reflex: 8 Endurance: 6 (7) Perception: 7 This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Speed: 12 (13) Control: 7 (8) Durability: 13 (14) Energetic Attributes Generation: 13 Amplification: 12 Disruption: 7 (8) Physical Conditioning (Attribute points may be conditioned up to five points each) Power: 3 Reflex: 3 Endurance: 4 Perception: 3 Speed: 2 Control: 2 Durability: 5 Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater]. Stage: 1. Cycle: 15/21. Rarity: Unique. Category: Unique. Attribute points per cycle: 3. Ultimate Abilities [Extraction] (active). Uses per day: 3. Cooldown period: 24 hours. Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts, and claim them for your own. [Overdrive] (active). Uses: 1. Cooldown period: 1 week. [Overdrive] increases your Amplification by (10 x stage) for thirty seconds. Activating skills will not require mana during this period. You will be severely exhausted for thirty seconds after [Overdrive] is complete. Core Traits Collector (unique) [Alternate advancement]. You can no longer acquire or rank-up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. Devourer (unique). You may Absorb an unwanted skill, freeing its slot and granting a fraction of its experience to the skill of your choice. Be advised, the return on this exchange is significantly less efficient than [Extracting] a duplicate of an existing skill. Skills Skill slots 11. Unused slots 0. Slash (Basic): Rank 2. Path: Penetration. Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. The edge of the weapon will be magically sharpened while the skill is active. Conceal (Common): Rank 2. Path: Erasure. Erase your scent and heat signature while you remain still. Visually, you will appear to blend into your environment. The last twenty-five feet of your trail will be removed on activation. Entangle (common): Rank 2. Path: Resiliency. Create burrowing vines to bind your target. The vines are resistant to cuts and tears. Leap (Common): Rank 2. Path: Assault. Jump with explosive force. Increased Durability for ten seconds after activation. Double Strike (Uncommon): Rank 1. Create an offset double of any melee attack. Elemental Blade [ice] (Uncommon): Rank 1. Create a subzero blade of ice. Harden (Uncommon): Rank 1. Cover target portions of your body in diamond scales. Regeneration [limited] (Uncommon): Rank 1. Rapidly heal wounds. Limited regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed. Regulate Temperature [passive] (Uncommon): Rank 1. Gain significant insulation against temperature change. Repel Water [versatile] (Uncommon): Rank 2. Path: Repulsion. Push large volumes of water away from the user. The shape of the repulsive field can be changed at will. Shadow Step (Rare): Rank 2. Path: Armored Shadow. Transform into shadows. The cost of transforming your gear is greatly reduced. Intimidating Roar (Epic) is being digested. Traits (3 of 3 trait slots are filled) Triple Tap You are either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or are the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You managed to win a fight against three opponents at least one stage higher than yourself and (more or less) landed the killing blow on each. Effects: + 10% to Power, Speed, and Control (minimum gain of 1). Wanted You have found one of the 21 unique cores in existence, which has painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something you should do sooner rather than later. There¡¯s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can¡¯t wait to watch it all play out. This trait might help you live a little bit longer, but I¡¯m not holding my breath. Effects: + 10% to Endurance, Durability, and Disruption (minimum gain of 1). Big Game Hunter Holy shit. That. Was. Fucking. Awesome! You managed to score a kill on a colossal and behemoth creature, all in the same afternoon. I¡¯m shocked to my circuits that you¡¯re still breathing and loved every second of the show. I hope that you try something that batshit crazy again soon. Here¡¯s a trait that should incentivize you to do just that. Effect: 50% more damage with weapons and skills to creatures at least twenty times your size (excluding magtech weapons, traps, and spellshots). 25% Extra Perception when sensing beasts at least twice your size. Implants Heart-Guard (common) Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: Silver. Charge: Empty. This implant generates a barrier to protect the heart when it detects incoming damage. Auxiliary Skill Slot (uncommon) Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: N/A. An auxiliary skill slot can be used to socket an extra skill, beyond the limit of your core. The skill placed in this slot cannot gain experience, cycle-up, or be merged or altered in any way, although it can be Absorbed and replaced with a new skill at will. This is a passive, structural implant. As such, it does not require an aether charge to function. System Currency Credits: 50,060 Mortium: 1 Edge felt a fierce surge of satisfaction when he reached the last word¡ªan emotion that was mirrored by his core. For just a moment, he had the impression that Skill-Eater was smiling too, before the mysterious entity drifted back to slumber once more. He walked down the road with a spring in his step, excited to see what the future would hold. Chapter 166: Gains The journey back to town was a study in contrast to the first half of their excursion. The crew was walking away from the borderlands, and every step they took lowered the odds of running into a stage-two beast. On top of that, thanks to the presence of the padamas, garax, and the cancerous blightlings, they hadn¡¯t spotted a stage-one predator large enough to pose a threat. On the way out, they had focused on speed and stealth. Now, they were so laden with resources that moving the wagon down the road was a difficult task, even with Blue¡¯s considerable Power pulling it along. As a result, the return trip was a much slower affair. Since they had plenty of time to spare, Riller and Violet ranged out ahead of the team¡ªworking together to pick off any scavengers that came sniffing around the wagon. The crew did some hunting whenever they camped for the night to help their newly cored members cycle-up and raise their attributes. Trapper planned to grind them up to stage-one as soon as the team was back in town and had recovered from their ordeal. They were both experienced hunters who had planned long and hard for this moment. They knew some other tricks to boost their growth too. Now that they could absorb ambient magicytes, the newly cored hunters were able to take some of their old skills to rank-two by using them throughout the day. Riller¡¯s poison arrow had gained a confusion effect in addition to its sedation, which had also grown stronger thanks to the man putting some points into Amplification with every new cycle. The upgraded toxin would muddle the thoughts of its victims in addition to sapping the strength from their bodies¡ªmaking Riller¡¯s ranged attacks far more dangerous than before. Not to be outdone, Violet¡¯s enhance beast skill had reached rank-two after using it to help Blue pull. On top of boosting the target beast¡¯s Power and Durability, the buff increased their Speed too. When Violet unhitched Blue and gave it a try, the dino began zipping around the grasslands¡ªtransforming into an ecstatic azure blur when she combined the enhancement skill with her charge. Blue wasn¡¯t eligible to receive quests from the System, but it was clear that she had gained several cycles from the series of battles the team had fought over the last week. She was bigger and stronger than before, having gone from mid stage-one to the border of mid and late. Thrust and gore had advanced to rank-three, which meant that the dino could add more power to her attacks when she needed it. Violet judged that it wouldn¡¯t be long before Blue developed a fourth skill, and everyone was excited to find out what she would get. Along the way, Edge took the opportunity to try out his auxiliary skill slot. He waited until a likely candidate appeared, then used [Extraction] on a rodent the size of an Earth beagle. He took the only skill that a human could use, which wound up being sense fruit. He was curious to find out what would happen when he was drawn inside his core. Instead of locking into one of his skill slots, the power, which took the form of an oversized nose, moved into a new component of Edge¡¯s central chamber¡ªa glass cage that reminded him of the terrarium he¡¯d had when he was a child. Unlike the skills in his garden, sense fruit remained inert until he activated it, at which point it came to life. Edge could tell right away that he didn¡¯t have a connection to it like he did with the rest of his powers. That [Overdrive] wouldn¡¯t affect it, since it wasn¡¯t socketed into a pillar. But he could still use the rank-one skill whenever he wanted and Absorb it when he was ready to pick up something new. Stolen novel; please report. When he left his core, Edge ignited his reactor and gave it a try. Mana went flowing into his nose, and he discovered that the skill only needed a minuscule amount of magicytes to work. At first, he didn¡¯t notice anything different, but that all changed when he took a deep breath. The instant that air entered his sinuses, he could smell the overpowering odor of fruit on the breeze. There wasn¡¯t just one kind, but three distinct varieties that he could sense from here. On top of their location and type, he could tell which ones were ripe and how many of them there were, just from the depth of their scent. This auxiliary slot is great. I can swap skills on the fly to meet my current needs, without having to worry about losing something good. Edge picked the closest bunch of fruit, then deactivated the skill. He gave some of it to Blue and shared the rest with the hunters¡ªthrilled to have expanded the versatility of his skillset. It rained hard the next day, although the winds weren¡¯t nearly as strong as they had been during the last storm. Since he wasn¡¯t hiding his skills anymore, Edge decided to try out repel water to keep the crew from having to delay their return by another day or more. When he visualized a dome over their heads and activated the skill, a pulse of mana spread out from his core. It expanded until it assumed the shape he¡¯d imagined. Before long, he had created a transparent umbrella over the top of the wagon that was wide enough to shield most of the team. The water struck the invisible barrier and then ran down the sides, to the delight of everyone, especially Blue. When they came across a flooded section of the trail, Edge tried out a different use for repel water. He didn¡¯t have enough experience to maintain two shapes at once, which Trapper had told him would take long hours of practice, based on her experience wielding manipulate air. He deactivated the umbrella and visualized the muddy puddles parting down the middle. The water followed his instructions¡ªretreating to the sides of the path long enough for the wagon to roll through. Other than the wet weather and an occasional hunt, their trip back was blessedly uneventful. It took them a day and a half longer due to the slower pace, but before Edge knew it, he could see the profile of Puppet Town jutting against the horizon. Everyone was thrilled to bring their adventure to a close. They pushed themselves faster for the final stretch and arrived in front of the north gate an hour later. When Mel came out to meet them, Trapper explained everything that had happened on their hunt. The guardswoman took off in a flash to report the events to Dialla and Earl, after asking them not to mention what they had seen just yet. Not until the leaders of the settlement had some time to ponder the matter and decide where to go from here. There was no way for hunters to hide their battle with the garax, however. Not with the beast¡¯s gigantic head sticking out from the top of the wagon. They crossed the districts, heading for the workshop of Tallia the skinner. Along the way, what seemed like everyone in town showed up to see the behemoth with their own eyes and shower the crew with praise. It was weird to have so many people happy to see him, or to know who he was for that matter. But Edge had to admit, it was nice to be appreciated. They parked the wagon in front of the skinner¡¯s shop, then Trapper went inside before walking back out with Tallia and a half dozen apprentices. It took everyone working together to unload the giant head, along with all the other parts the crew was planning to sell instead of using themselves. After Trapper negotiated a price, the team was free to use the rest of the day however they pleased. Edge stopped to chat with Izzio before making his way back to the lodge. He¡¯d already been contacted to help with the head, and he was thrilled to have a chance to work on such a prime piece of meat. When he made it back to Trapper¡¯s, Edge learned that he already had a room of his own waiting for him to move in. The crew had got it ready before the exam as a surprise, in the hope that he would pass. It brought tears to his eyes to know that everyone had believed in him from the start. He slipped into bed with a smile on his face and was out like a light five minutes later. Chapter 167: Downtime The next day, Trapper waited until everyone finished waking up on their own. Then she had the crew gather around the big table in the common area. She let them know that she was throwing a party that evening, to celebrate Edge joining the team and Riller and Violet binding their cores. After telling everyone to find something to bring to the festivities, she kicked the hunters out of the lodge while she prepared a surprise for the party. Violet was the only exception, since Trapper needed her to help in the kitchen and keep Blue occupied, so the friendly beast didn¡¯t feel left out. Edge invited Sasha to the Pioneer to eat breakfast, where he introduced her to Rita and Sam. They had met several times in passing but had never spoken at length. They wound up hitting it off right away, and Sam offered them a meal on the house in exchange for the story of their latest adventure. Edge let Sasha do most of the telling¡ªenjoying the sight of her and the warmth of good company and a full belly. She wove a compelling narrative, while leaving out the parts that Mel had asked the crew to keep to themselves and anything related to Edge¡¯s secret. By the end of the story, the bar was packed. Not only was every employee in the building listening with rapt attention, someone had gone outside and told people what was happening¡ªdrawing a crowd that was thirsty for news from the world beyond the walls. Their audience was so big that people were attending from out on the porch and through the side windows. They sat on the edge of their seats while listening to the team¡¯s battle with the blightling swarm. They gasped when the garax appeared to interrupt the crew¡¯s hunt for the padamas, and then burst into applause when the towering beast was lying dead in the dirt. Sasha blushed a bit from the attention, which Edge enjoyed without trying to show it, then Sam kicked everyone out who wasn¡¯t paying. Sasha and Edge bid each other farewell, then left to find something to bring to the party. He wasn¡¯t sure what he wanted to buy. He meandered his way through town while seeking inspiration, thrilled to be back home after such a dangerous journey. It was wonderful to be behind the walls once more, protected by the town¡¯s turrets and the dome. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Better still, with Warren dead, no one was hunting him as far as he knew. Edge intended to do everything in his power to make sure things stayed that way from now on. Although he could never completely lower his guard, it was far more relaxing here than being out in the field, especially given the changes that were occurring across the plains. He started looking for something that would be fun to take to the party. Thanks to their successful hunt, the crew was already flush with high-grade meat, since they had kept a portion for their own stores. Edge was certain that Trapper would be bringing out her special reserve, so alcohol was taken care of too. Which left him with one last idea to pursue¡ªsome mana-seed infused food to give the crew¡¯s newly cored members their first taste of paradise. Buying a mana-seed and trying to make something himself would be a tragic waste of resources, given his nonexistent cooking ability. Instead, he decided to try his luck at a restaurant that specialized in mana-food. Reservations were booked solid for weeks in advance, but there was a small storefront attached to the eatery that sold delicacies to go at exorbitant prices¡ªat least to someone without the ability to generate income on the level of Trapper¡¯s crew. But tonight was a special occasion and he had a pile of Credits coming, as soon as the beast parts sold, and Trapper collected the reward from Dialla. Besides, Edge didn¡¯t mind splurging to celebrate how far he¡¯d come since waking up on Ord¡ªcoreless and stranded in the middle of a hostile wilderness. Not to mention, he¡¯d finally found somewhere that he belonged. While he would always work solo a fair amount of the time, having allies to watch his back and friends to spend some pleasant hours with was an accomplishment that was worth going all out for. He walked into the shop and said hello to the representative behind the counter. He ran his gaze across rows of magtech coolers with glass doors, which were filled with a variety of mana-seed infused foods and drinks. Some of them were so expensive that his jaw dropped when he saw the price, but a decent selection was in the range he was hoping to spend. After asking some questions and utterly failing at haggling, Edge eventually decided on two items to take to the party. One was a fruitcake that had been made with four different types of mana-seeds. It was topped with a small piece of a mana-berry that was worth more than the rest of the cake combined. His other acquisition was a bag full of mana-seed flakes that were covered in chocolate. He resisted the urge to try one, opting to share the experience with his friends instead. He arranged to pick everything up in a few hours, so that he wouldn¡¯t have to carry it around. Then he got in some exercise on the public green. When Edge was done, he took a shower in the adjoining facility, retrieved his treats from the restaurant, then walked back over to Trapper¡¯s Den. Chapter 168: Party Edge wound up being the last person to arrive. He walked through the door and into a party that was in full swing. The air was filled with music, voices, and a variety of mouthwatering aromas. Someone had bought a magtech speaker, and a memory crystal that held a few thousand songs. That was a great pick. The team could enjoy the music during the party, and in general once it was over. He put his box of goodies into the refrigeration unit, then took a seat between Sasha and Jumo at the wooden roundtable in the middle of the living room. Violet was almost ready making dinner, and Trapper was in the back getting a few things ready. While they waited for the women to join them, the rest of the crew enjoyed each other¡¯s company. Everyone was thrilled to have Edge join the team, and Riller and Violet binding their cores was a monumental occasion. It was a major milestone in their lives¡ªone that would improve their odds of surviving the ordeals to come. Not to mention, take on bigger jobs with better pay. Blue woke up from her nap and wanted to join in the fun. She was too big to range inside, since her weight would damage the hardwood floors. Instead, Trapper opened a series of sliding panels along one wall and dragged the table outside¡ªletting the azure dino interact with the rest of the crew. A small magtech device kept the flies away, and a mechanical fan provided a steady breeze. Not long after, Edge found out what had been making his mouth water over the last hour. Violet was grilling up a storm in the kitchen¡ªusing some of the meat from their hunt to whip up a barbecue assortment for the party. There was steak from the garax, cutlets from the padamas, and ribs from some of the smaller beasts the crew had hunted on their way home. Violet had spiced every dish differently, and all of it looked delicious. After setting out a fruit and veggie platter for Blue, along with some for the table, everyone picked up their silverware and started eating. The meat wound up being so rich in magicytes that it tasted almost as good as mana-seeds, only savory instead of sweet. Edge let out a long, blissful sigh¡ªmaking the most out of every bite. This was a meal cooked by someone with decades of experience. It was seasoned to perfection and grilled over flavor-rich wood. He kept right on eating until he couldn¡¯t take another bite. At which point, Trapper went into the back and came out rolling a big barrel of beer in front of her. ¡°This is my private reserve. The finest I¡¯ve ever brewed. I¡¯ve been saving it for a special occasion.¡± Fierce emotions rippled across her face, and she wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes. ¡°Everyone came back alive in the end, with the prize of a lifetime no less. I can¡¯t think of a better time to crack her open.¡± The crew¡¯s leader poured each hunter a glass, then raised her own in a toast. ¡°To Violet and Riller gaining their cores. May they live long and prosperous lives as they walk the path of power. To the newest member of our crew, Edge Vasher, and to our first stage-three hunt. May there be many more.¡± Everyone let out a cheer and then downed their drinks as one. As Trapper had promised, the flavor was extraordinary¡ªseveral rich notes playing out across his palate that he had no vocabulary to describe. Edge helped himself to another glass but was careful not to overdo it. Trapper¡¯s reserve was potent, and he wanted to enjoy this night to its fullest. Now that they had eaten their fill and alcohol was warming their bellies, it was time for dessert. At which point, he learned what everyone had contributed to the party. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. It turned out that Jumo had provided the music, Trapper the alcohol, and Violet¡¯s contribution was preparing the feast. Riller had purchased some exotic spices that Violet had added to the meat, and Sasha had picked out a selection of Earth-imported chocolates, which must have cost a fortune now that the settlement¡¯s supply lines had been cut off. Edge walked into the kitchen and returned with his candies and cake, which wound up even more wonderful than the shopkeeper had implied. Both varieties of chocolate were great. The mana-seed slices lasted a long time before melting¡ªletting everyone enjoy their flavor to the fullest. But even they paled in comparison to the culinary miracle that was the mana-berry infused cake. The mana-seeds he¡¯d tried in the wild had been great, but they had been raw and in their natural state. Those memorable experiences would stay with him for the rest of his life. But they couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the heavenly flavor of a mana-berry prepared by a skill-wielding cook. His first bite was pure, unmitigated bliss. It tasted sweet and sour. Rich, with just a hint of spice. The crew devoured the cake down to crumbs within a matter of minutes, punctuated by moans of pleasure. Once they were done eating dessert, it was time for some more drinking while taking pleasure in each other¡¯s company. The crew passed the daylight hours singing and talking¡ªsharing stories and their hopes for the future. After plying him with a fourth beer, Trapper was able to talk Edge into dancing. He was tipsy enough to put one hand on her shoulder and the other on her hip without feeling self-conscious about standing so close to such a beautiful woman. Trapper proved to be a wonderful dancer. She was graceful and responsive to his lead. Edge had learned the basics back when he was in college. But the steps came naturally to him now, thanks to his superhuman Reflex and Control. The other hunters joined in on the fun, and soon everyone was in each other¡¯s arms, letting loose with wild abandon. By the third song, he was able to turn and sidestep with ease¡ªdip and spin like he¡¯d been dancing for years. When the track ended, they came apart with a laugh. Then everyone changed partners and suddenly, Edge found himself holding Sasha instead. Jumo adjusted the player, picking something with a slow, sultry beat. When they started to dance, he could feel the electricity between them¡ªa culmination of what had been building for weeks, which had only grown stronger after their first night together. Sasha¡¯s hands on his back set his heart racing and a thrill coursing down his spine. They danced closer and lost themselves with the music¡ªbodies entwined as they moved to the beat. It felt so good to meet Sasha¡¯s smoldering gaze¡ªa promise on her lips that he yearned to explore without the others watching. They danced like that for a few more songs and then she walked out of the room. Just before she disappeared around the corner, Sasha looked him straight in the eye and then turned with a sensuous swagger. Edge didn¡¯t have a lot of experience with women, or men for that matter. But he was pretty sure that he was supposed to follow her, so he did. As he¡¯d hoped, the door to her room was cracked open, and she smiled when he stepped inside. When he closed the door behind him, Sasha threw her arms around him and drew him in for a passionate kiss. She ran her hands across his muscles¡ªbreath hot and heavy against his neck. Meanwhile, Edge¡¯s hands were having adventures of their own. As she reached to unfasten the buckle of his belt, he looked at her with the straightest face he could muster and said, ¡°Just to be clear, this is a one time thing and not an open invitation. But if you¡¯re¡­¡± Sasha cut him off with a kiss, laughed, and then pushed Edge onto the bed hard enough to make him bounce. She activated a magtech privacy device to block the noise, then let her dress fall to the floor. ¡°Shut up and take off your clothes.¡± Edge grinned up at Sasha¡ªdrinking in her beauty while committing the moment to memory. The way that her strawberry blond hair framed her face. The sensual curves of her breasts and hips. Then she leapt on top of him to begin a night that was every bit as magical as his day. Chapter 169: Reveal The next morning, Earl and Dialla called the crew in for a private meeting. They had already heard the broad strokes from Trapper, but they wanted the other hunters to add their own observations. After the team shared the full account of their journey, including what they¡¯d witnessed from the Titan¡¯s Nose, the mayor used her authority to set up another town-wide meeting later that evening. After he left City Hall, Edge spent the rest of the morning walking through the settlement. He was enjoying his day off, with no agenda other than taking it easy and unwinding from his back-to-back ordeals. He ran a few laps around the ring roads and ate a late lunch at the Pioneer. Then he spent a few hours listening to a group of street performers, who were playing music that he had grown up with back on Earth. While he was there, he eavesdropped on a group of people who were speculating about Warren''s disappearance. Most of them believed that the manslayer had run into a monster while hunting on the plains, and everyone was glad that he was gone. He made his way over to the public green a few minutes before sunset. Once again, the whole town was spread out across the grass¡ªeager to hear what Dialla had to say. For the second time in his new life, Edge found himself engulfed by a crowd. There was tension in the air, along with a fair amount of curiosity and excitement. Tonight, the mayor was going to tell everyone what Trapper¡¯s crew had learned about their situation, along with the other teams she had sent out to survey the boundaries of the biome. He didn¡¯t know how people were going to take the news that in addition to being isolated from the other settlements, they had been transported to an unexplored part of the planet¡ªsurrounded by monsters and beasts that were far more powerful than their old neighbors. A situation that was only going to grow more dangerous over time. Edge thought that Dialla had made the right call. The residents of Puppet Town needed to hear the truth sooner rather than later. To begin preparing themselves as best they could before trouble came knocking at their door. The world had changed in the wake of the anomaly, and the tourists of Ord needed to complete their own transformation¡ªbecoming pioneers and settlers of a dangerous magical planet, instead of mere sightseers and thrill seekers. The crowd grew louder when Dialla took the stage, then quieted down when she walked up to the microphone. The mayor looked completely exhausted, like she hadn¡¯t slept in days. But there was a strength to her, a bottomless well of resolve, that left no doubt as to why she had been chosen to lead the town. ¡°Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming. There¡¯s a lot to go over, so please bear with me and hold your questions until the end. Tonight¡¯s announcement is vitally important, so I¡¯m going to spare the pleasantries and plunge right into the heart of the matter. There was some debate about whether we should tell you this now, but you have a right to know the full extent of what we¡¯re up against. Try to stay calm as I share the news, then we will discuss our options moving forward. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°As you know, the surface of Ord was remade during the disaster. Bits and pieces of the planet were shuffled around, and all forms of long-range communication and transportation have ground to a halt. We thought that some slices of the frontier had been inserted into the Ivory Plains, but that isn¡¯t what happened after all.¡± There was a wave of murmurs at this announcement. Then everyone leaned in to hear the rest¡ªso quiet that Edge could hear the wind blowing between the buildings. ¡°My friends, I am here to tell you that what our survey teams discovered goes far beyond what we were expecting. Instead of being altered, the entire Ivory Plains biome has been moved to the opposite side of Ord. We¡¯re standing neck deep in the frontier, surrounded by uncharted territory on all sides. They are all mid-to-high-threat biomes as far as we can tell, and there isn¡¯t another settlement or a wardens¡¯ stronghold within two hundred miles of Puppet Town.¡± To his surprise, the crowd remained dead silent¡ªshocked beyond words as Dialla unveiled the full scope of their plight. ¡°Until we can reestablish contact with the factions, we¡¯re on our own. Cut off from all forms of assistance. Whatever problems arise in the days ahead, we can¡¯t count on anyone pulling our bacon out of the fire. No matter what dangers arrive at our doorstep, and there are sure to be many, we must deal with them ourselves from now on. ¡°If we are going to survive, we must accelerate the changes we¡¯ve begun over the last few weeks. Grow strong enough to face the monsters, men, and beasts that are coming as surely as the rising tide. Before they arrive in full force, we must become self-sufficient. Powerful enough that no one will try to take what¡¯s ours, and to protect the people we love.¡± The crowd listened spellbound¡ªcaught up in the passion of Dialla¡¯s words. ¡°Make no mistake, the danger is real. We¡¯ve all sensed a storm gathering along the horizon. That it was only a matter of time before it began blowing our way. Soon, that stormfront will break over our heads. If we aren¡¯t ready before the rain begins to fall, none of us are going to survive. ¡°That¡¯s the bad news. The good news is that we aren¡¯t going to take it lying down. The sheriff and I, along with the leaders of the hunting, crafting, and merchant communities, have come up with a plan, and there is a vital role to play for each and every one of you. I¡¯m going to hand the microphone over to them now. Please listen closely and think about how you want to contribute to our efforts. How you want to live in the new age that is dawning before our eyes.¡± At that point, everyone started talking at once¡ªfear and confusion writ clear on their faces. They settled down when Earl took the stage to make a pitch for bolstering the peacekeeper¡¯s ranks and establishing a town militia. Edge listened with one ear as the settlement¡¯s leaders laid out their proposals. He would help however he could, but for now his role was clear. If another big bad appeared to threaten the town, then Trapper¡¯s crew would head into the field and bring it down. It was reassuring that Puppet Town had a plan, but he couldn¡¯t help but wonder how many of them would live to see it through. Edge already knew deep in his bones that before things got better for the settlers of Ord, they were going to get a whole lot worse. Concept Art Glacier Spellshot (Garax not included) Volcanic Buzzsaw Spellshot Jumo''s Vault Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Jumo''s Armpit The Ravenous Wastes Chapter 170: Epilogue Setna ran her gaze across the entrance to the dungeon¡ªevery cell in her body alive with an intoxicating cocktail of danger and anticipation. Ruby and Jed, the other members of her crew, were standing watch on either side while she figured out how to break the seal barring their way forward. As usual, Setna¡¯s instincts had been right on the money. Her treasure-hunting senses had begun to tingle the moment that she¡¯d spotted a strange growth just beyond the border of the Ivory Plains¡ªa mountain of vegetation jutting up from a jungle biome that didn¡¯t look anything like the swamp she¡¯d been expecting to find. Since they had already eliminated their target beast and completed their scouting mission, the crew had voted to take a closer look before heading back. The growth was only a half day¡¯s hike from the borderlands, so they decided to investigate, then add the details to the report that Dialla had commissioned. The hunters had crossed into the jungle early this morning¡ªfighting their way through packs of predators that she¡¯d never seen before. But Setna¡¯s three-man crew was formed from veteran beast and treasure hunters. They weren¡¯t going to let a few dozen aggressive critters stand in the way of a prime haul. By the time that they were drawing near their destination, she knew that they had found something even more valuable than rare resources or the lair of a high-stage beast. Her first clue was that the perimeter of the towering thicket was completely impenetrable¡ªshielded from the sky as well as the ground. When she found a sealed door running along one side, Setna knew that it could only be one thing. Her crew was standing in front of an unconquered dungeon. The score of a lifetime and the dream of countless treasure hunters since Prison World¡¯s inception. While exploring unknown dungeons was extremely dangerous, the rewards for being the first team to kill its boss were legendary. Each and every hunter that had accomplished the feat had left their mark on the history of Ord. Even if they didn¡¯t manage to clear the final room, sharing intelligence from the inside would make them rich once they found the right buyer, and they could pick up some valuable resources and sealed chests along the way. Focus, Setna. There¡¯s no point spending Credits that you haven¡¯t earned yet. With a grunt of concentration, she slid the stone puzzle inlaid beside the door into a new configuration¡ªlining up a series of glyphs to form a complete picture. Then, in what would prove to be the highpoint of her life, everything clicked into place. With a rumble and a shower of dislodged dirt, the entrance slid open. ¡°Well, look at that.¡± Jed let out an appreciative whistle. ¡°She did it. Go ahead and release the messenger bat.¡± Ruby reached into the wagon and removed a small bat from a wooden cage¡ªa trained beast that would carry the news back to Dialla. The mayor would bring more people to help clear the dungeon. It was too rich a prize to pass up and its assets would strengthen the settlement. But Setna¡¯s crew was going to take a crack at it before anyone else arrived. With Ruby and Jed at her side, she took her first step past the threshold¡ªeager to claim her prize. None of them saw the winged lizard snatch their bat out of the air and devour it in a single bite. *** (12 Hours Later) This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Setna pressed her palm against her stomach, trying to staunch the bleeding. Everything had turned to shit, and she had only herself to blame. Crossing the dungeon had been far more dangerous than she¡¯d expected¡ªfilled with deadly traps and powerful opponents. Ruby had died a horrific death when a monstrous ape descended from the canopy, followed by a shrieking horde of lesser monkeys. She had given up her life to save the others by turning to fight while they ran for cover. Setna would have tried to stop her. But by the time she realized what Ruby was doing, it was already too late. Her only choices had been to keep on running or die beside her friend and make her sacrifice in vain. It had been hell fleeing across the labyrinthine dungeon. Setna and Jed had gotten lost while fleeing from the apes and wound up heading deeper inside instead of returning to the entrance. She had taken a deep cut after triggering a trap, but at last, the final room was in sight. Since they were already here, they decided to proceed with their original plan. All they had to do was see what was inside, decide if they had a chance of killing the boss, then either go for it or leave. It was usually safe to scout a boss¡¯s chamber. They waited patiently for someone to challenge them and would only attack once you engaged. When they scanned the final room from the threshold, all they could see was a shadowy figure in the distance, standing beside a glowing sphere that could only be a reliquary. After putting their heads together, the duo decided to take a closer look. A reliquary would make clearing the dungeon even more rewarding and was too tempting a prize to resist. It was a decision that Setna would soon come to regret. The instant that they stepped inside, a boulder hidden above the entrance began to fall. Jed reached out and pushed her back¡ªthrowing her out of the room, just as the rock hit the ground with a sense of utter finality. For a second, she couldn¡¯t hear anything as she desperately tried to roll it out of the way. Then the screaming began. Whatever was in there, Jed never had a chance. Worse, it didn¡¯t kill him right away. It took hours for him to die, at which point, the rock rolled out of the way and the entrance opened once more. Setna let out a horrified gasp. All that was left of her friend and lover was a bloodstain on the jungle floor. With a heavy heart, she turned to exit the dungeon¡ªready to report her findings and leave this cursed place behind her for good. When she made it to the next room, she learned two important facts. The first was that their actions had triggered a change within the dungeon. It was swarming with far more monsters than before, making it impossible to leave the way that she¡¯d come. She was trapped, with no way out of this verdant hell. The second was that her Guide was flashing¡ªwaiting for her to acknowledge it before imparting a message. Praying that it would offer her some path to salvation, Setna began to read. You have accomplished a notable feat and have received a quest. Quest: Clear the dungeon, ¡®The Savage Jungle.¡¯ Personal reward: A reliquary containing Runic Gear. Faction reward: Core Manufactory (D-Grade). You have one week before this quest will be automatically shared with your home settlement. Settlement name: Puppet Town. Leader: Dialla Rivera. This quest will also be shared with the closest settlement. Settlement name: The Gilded Heights. Leader: Yussuf the Red. Setna let out a groan of despair when she read the last word, awash in bitter irony. The reward for clearing the dungeon was even better than she had dreamed. In addition to invaluable runic equipment, it would provide a core manufactory to the faction that completed it¡ªa critical upgrade that would help ensure the survival of Puppet Town. But they weren¡¯t the only ones who would receive the quest when the clock hit zero. The Crimson Claws of the Gilded Heights, a notoriously bloodthirsty gang of jailbirds, would get it too. Both settlements would receive the notice in one week¡¯s time, and there was only one possible outcome. They would send their elite forces to conquer the dungeon and claim the manufactory. When they ran into each other outside the entrance, a battle would ensue, with the future of both factions hanging in the balance. By some strange twist of fate, Setna had just sparked a brutal confrontation that would either save Puppet Town or seal its doom. End of Book 1 Wrap-Up Hello everybody, Today is the big day. We have officially arrived at the end of Skill-Eater Volume 1. I hope that you enjoyed Edge''s adventures and am thrilled to have had you along for the ride. It''s always a special experience to start a new series, it''s both exciting and a little bit scary. But having so many of you offer such wonderful support really feels good. So thanks, I couldn''t have made it this far without you. I have a few announcements to make regarding formatting and schedule adjustments, along with some big news to share. But before we get to that, I have a favor to ask. If you haven''t had a chance to leave a rating or review yet, and would be willing to do it now, I would super appreciate it. It helps fresh eyes find the story and reviews from people who have read the full book really help. And if anyone could leave a full (multi-category) review and help boost my stars in some of the subcategories, you will have my deepest thanks. With that out of the way, on to the it''s time for some announcements. First on the list is the timetable for volume 2. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I am taking a few days off to see my family and get caught up on editing. The chapter 0 recap will be on Monday February 3rd, and chapter 1 of book 2 will come out on Tuesday, February 4th. If you want to get a head start on the next book, check out my patreon. Some structural changes are coming with book 2, most notably a small adjustment to the release schedule. For book 2, I am going with a (significantly) longer chapter format. I will only be posting 4 days a week (M, T ,Th ,F), but the average word count per week is going up and the book should come out about two weeks faster than volume 1. There might still be a shorter chapter every now and again, but the minimum word count per chapter is also going up by over 300 words. I think this will make for a smoother reading experience overall and I hope you enjoy the change. The other big news is that the series sold, so at least the first three books are getting published and made into audiobooks too (and more if they do well). As a result, I had an editor take a look and suggest some changes. Going forward: -Skills will be capitalized instead of bolded. -Magtech is magitech. -Edge''s profiles are getting tweaked format wise. -Other small miscellaneous formatting changes (such as removing the [ ] from Overdrive.) Thanks for everything. See you soon for the start of book 2. -Magnus Chapter 0: Quick Recap ¡°Hello everybody, Edge here. Before we dive headfirst into my next adventure, I decided to pop in before the fourth wall came up and remind everyone what happened in volume one. I know that it hasn¡¯t been all that long for some of you. But not everyone will read these books back-to-back, especially as the series gets longer. ¡°I was hoping that some of Trapper¡¯s crew could join us for today¡¯s recap, but they¡¯re off on a hunt and weren¡¯t available on short notice. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll do my best to make this run-through informative and fun!¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t as alone as you think, Edge Vasher. I am always watching from within, waiting for my moment to consume all that lies¡­ I mean, lend a hand when you need it.¡± ¡°You woke up from your nap, Skill-Eater. That¡¯s perfect. It will be great to have you along for the ride to provide color commentary. Now that this isn¡¯t a solo act any longer, let¡¯s get this review rolling. ¡°My story began deep underground¡ªin a ruined city sitting at the bottom of a mysterious chasm. Our hero, yours truly, was in some serious trouble at the start of page one. ¡°After being caught up in a magical disaster than fried my original body and stranded me on the most dangerous planet in inhabited space, I was uncored, dead broke, and starving to death. Not to mention, lost in a hostile wilderness¡ªa land filled with predatory beasts, fearsome monsters, and lethal alien weather. But we¡¯ll get to that part in a minute. ¡°If I didn¡¯t find something valuable enough to buy more of the magic-infused food my new body needed to survive, it was going to be game over. I needed to loot the ruins and make it back to Puppet Town on the double. At least, that was the plan. What happened was something far beyond anything I ever could have imagined.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough of the boring parts, Edge. The parts about you. Get to the good part, the part about me. Tell them about when I arrived in the story.¡± ¡°Easy there, my big scary friend. We¡¯ll be there just as soon as I finish setting the stage. On that note, I made it to the end of the ruins without finding anything to sell other than an antique silver necklace. But there was one more place to explore¡ªa temple that was bigger than any of the other buildings. ¡°When I made it inside the temple, it was empty too. I thought that I was done for, but then I found a secret stash hidden below the altar stone. Inside was a rune-bound reliquary¡ªa legendary chest rumored to hold the rarest and most powerful of cores. ¡°Before I could crack it open, trouble arrived at my doorstep, or the doorstep of the temple at any rate. Two cored jailbirds appeared and demanded that I hand over my find¡­ along with my life. Since they were the type who enjoyed playing with their victims, I was able to buy some time while waiting for the reliquary to open. Just when it seemed that my plan would work, a monster showed up and started slicing us to ribbons. ¡°We were all grievously wounded, and I thought that I was dead for sure. But then the reliquary unsealed, and I dragged my battered body over to it. Inside was¡­¡± ¡°Me! You opened the door to my prison, and we forged a blood pact. A contract binding our fates together. At least until the end of your life.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, big guy. Since you¡¯re in the story now, why don¡¯t you tell everyone what happened next?¡± ¡°My pleasure. With my powers you were able to steal the delicious skills of the wounded prisoners, gaining the ability to heal yourself and conjure a subzero blade. Your injuries were no more, and the jailbirds lay dead at your feet, but the shadowreaver was coming back soon. ¡°Through an impressive display of cunning and a fair amount of luck, you tricked it into drawing near, then slew it with your newly-stolen skills. But not before we devoured the rare skill lurking in the monster¡¯s core. Ahh, what a marvelous feast that was.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t argue with that, it really was quite a meal. Now that I had a core of my own and didn¡¯t have to worry about starving to death, it was time to get off the Ivory Plains and make it back to Puppet Town. The problem was, the anomaly had rearranged the surface of the planet, leaving me several days further away from the settlement than I¡¯d realized. ¡°I started walking, looking for my next meal and something to fight that would let me cycle-up and grow stronger along the way. I was able to kill both birds with one stone when I came across a weasel guarding a mana seed in the form of a mushroom. After a tough fight, I slew the beast and ate the mana seed, refilling the magic in my core. ¡°I spent the night in a tree, then continued on my way. I ran into a natural disaster called a seeker storm¡ªa nasty bit of weather who¡¯s lightning sought out living creatures. I barely survived by running to the Guide¡¯s Fingers and jumping into a cave. My next ordeal occurred just a few hours later, when a pair of wooden beasts called nymphs ambushed me on the plains. ¡°After a desperate battle, I was able to kill them both, thanks to the reaver¡¯s rare skill Shadow Step. I gained some more cycles and stole Entangle along the way.¡± ¡°That was a good choice. The vines made it easier to catch our prey and dine at our leisure. It was satisfying to see you become¡­ not strong, but less pathetically weak at any rate.¡± ¡°Err, thanks, big guy. That¡¯s not really a compliment, but I¡¯ll take what I can get. Things were looking up, and I was able to make good time all the next day. But before I could make it back to town, five more shadowreavers showed up, hunting the rare skill I had stolen from their progenitor. They were only stage one, but I was still stage zero, so there was no way that I could fight them all. I was forced to flee, using the Conceal skill I stole from a river rat to stay one step ahead of the pack. ¡°Puppet Town was right in front of me. Just before I stepped through the gate, the shadowreavers showed up again, along with Trapper¡¯s crew. It was my fault the monsters were there, so I couldn¡¯t just leave the hunters to fight on their own. I came running to the rescue, and we began a fierce melee. Everything was going well until a monster ate one of the crew¡¯s beasts and evolved to stage two, spawning more of the little ones at the same time. The situation looked grim at that point, and I knew I only had one shot left. I needed to evolve my core then and there, and pray it was enough to even the odds. It was quite a gamble, but I managed to pull it off. I acquired the power I was seeking, and I got a lot more than I bargained for in the process.¡± ¡°I assume that you are referring to me and the bond we forged. Your heart was delicious, by the way.¡± ¡°You got it in one. I¡¯ll just pretend that I didn¡¯t hear that last part. When my core finished evolving, I was dragged into a space that I¡¯d never seen before¡ªa violent landscape far bigger than my central chamber. There I came face-to-face with a giant bound in endless black chains. But that was nothing compared to the surprise I felt when it turned to me and spoke. ¡°When my conversation with Skill-Eater was over, I gained a new ultimate ability, Overdrive, which grants me unlimited use of my skills for thirty seconds once a week. With it, I was able to defeat the stage-two shadowreaver and save Trapper¡¯s crew. I was even able to keep my secret hidden thanks to some quick-thinking. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°I had finally made it to Puppet Town. Just when I thought I was safe at last, I learned that an insane bounty had been placed on unique cores and that Warren the manslayer was already suspicious of me. ¡°After meeting with the mayor and the sheriff, I was a offered a place in Trapper¡¯s crew, if I could pass a final exam after ten days of training. Before it began, I managed to hunt a jobo on my own¡ªa big kangaroo-like beast with way too many muscles and a bad attitude. I stole Leap and Double Strike, then sold the meat to Izzio the butcher, who taught me how to take beasts apart. ¡°I used the Credits I¡¯d earned to buy some better gear, then started my training with the crew. First up was Riller and his stealth education. I learned how to put myself into the mindset of both predator and prey by playing hide and seek. Around that time, I realized that I could use Regeneration to rapidly condition my physical attributes, which is definitely the right way to use healing magic. Jumo showed me the value of hunting as a team, and we battled another jobo together. Sasha and I really hit it off when she took me out into the field and taught me the art of tracking. On our second day together, we ran into a giant lizard and almost got eaten.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad that you survived. I¡¯ve invested a lot of time and energy into you, and it would be inconvenient to find another host.¡± ¡°Thanks, big guy. It¡¯s nice to be appreciated. Our encounter with the padamas stirred things up in town. I picked up my custom polearm at the Forge¡ªan awesome naginata with an adjustable shaft. Then I got my first implant from Lilly¡¯s Mortium exchange. I spent a day learning from Violet and Blue, and Trapper gave me a crash course in live combat. ¡°The day before my final exam, Warren jumped me in the grasslands. Apparently, I wasn¡¯t quite as subtle with my powers as I had thought.¡± ¡°I have noticed that subtlety isn¡¯t your strong suit.¡± ¡°Touch¨¦, and right back at you. If I hadn¡¯t been warned that the manslayer was coming by someone named Sakura, that would have been the end of our story. As it was, I received just enough of a heads-up to keep the bounty hunter from killing me outright. For the first half of the fight, I struggled to keep my head above water. Quite literally when he fired an Ocean¡¯s Prison spellshot at me, although Inferno was no walk in the park either. After refilling my mana with a seed I¡¯d been saving, we both got in some good attacks with our powers. But it wasn¡¯t enough to take Warren down. That chatty bastard was remarkably resilient. I let him think that Heart-Render had finished me off to lure him close. Then I activated Overdrive and hit him with everything I had. After a fierce exchange of blows where Skill-Eater¡¯s ultimate battled Warren¡¯s Disruption Pulse, I was able to land a fatal blow. But the manslayer had one last trick up his sleeve. He had a bomb implanted inside his body and tried to drag me into the grave with him. I got away in the nick of time, stealing Repel Water along the way. I earned a bunch of cycles, ten Mortium, and best of all, Warren¡¯s custom spellslinger, with three spellshots left in the chambers.¡± ¡°That last round is going to be important to the plot of book two, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You bet, big guy. But no spoilers or our audience will riot. Now that the manslayer was out of the picture, it was time to head into the field on my final exam to join Trapper¡¯s crew¡ªa big game hunt for the colossal lizard that Sasha and I ran into earlier. ¡°Our first few days went smoothly. It was great to be part of the team and watch the crew in their element. I learned a lot and deepened my friendships along the way. All the warm fuzzies vanished when we entered the Painted Lands, where we were ambushed by a swarm of crab monsters called cancerous blightlings. ¡°It was touch and go for a while. Trapper¡¯s devices kept the monsters from overwhelming us while we held back the swarm, and I managed to steal Harden. She tricked the crabs into bunching up and blew them all to bits with another trap, netting everyone a ton of experience. We crossed into a region known as the Breadbasket, following the tracks of the stealthy lizard. We passed by several farms along the way, including a few ruins that were pretty tragic to witness. When we made it to the last farm on our list, we found signs that the padamas was laired nearby, along with clues that another sizable predator was in the area. We were almost ready to battle the colossal creature, and spent a day and a half setting traps, laying bait, and getting our heads in the game. At last, everything was ready to go. All that was left was to draw in our prey and spring our ambush. ¡°After some tense waiting, the sneaky lizard appeared. At which point, Trapper unleashed her magic and all hell broke loose. We had one heck of a battle, and even dropped a building on top of the lizard¡¯s tail. But it broke free and turned invisible, leaving us in a tough spot. ¡°Before anything else could happen, an even bigger beast appeared¡ªa behemoth bipedal dino called a garax that was armed with the epic skill, Intimidating Roar. Its Roar paralyzed everyone, causing the padamas to reappear. Just before the garax could steal our prey, Skill-Eater showed me how to break free from its power.¡± ¡°I really saved you that time. You¡¯re lucky that I have your back.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t argue with that. Anyway, I darted in and Extracted Regulate Temperature from the dying padamas, claiming the kill in the process. Losing the experience really pissed the garax off. It came charging straight at me, so I led it away from the team by Shadow Stepping and Leaping like mad. ¡°After shaking its pursuit and rejoining the others, the System made us an offer that we couldn¡¯t refuse. If we killed the garax in less than an hour, it would give us rewards that would boost our power through the roof. It seemed like an impossible task, but with that much loot on the line, we were willing to give it a shot. We would either grow stronger at an incredible rate or die in the attempt. ¡°In short, it was time for our final showdown of book one¡ªTrapper¡¯s crew versus a dinosaur the size of a building. It was a bad matchup right from the start. We tried our best, but we couldn¡¯t bring the big bastard down. We managed to hold our own, right up until Trapper got swallowed whole after pushing Riller out of the way of the beast¡¯s jaws. ¡°I knew in that moment that I had a decision to make. I could reveal the full extent of my powers and risk my life trying to save Trapper. Or I could keep my secret, fail the mission, and let the crew get wiped out. ¡°I made my choice, and I have no regrets. I activated Overdrive and used every power I had to survive Leaping down the beast¡¯s throat before it was too late. After we met up in the garax¡¯s stomach, I started slinging skills like mad while Trapper unleashed a barrage of stink bombs, smoke bombs, flashbangs, and flares. ¡°We couldn¡¯t do any serious damage, but our efforts made the big bad sick to its stomach. It threw us up, right as Overdrive wore off. We only had a few minutes left to complete the System¡¯s quest, but I had one last trick up my sleeve¡ªthe spellshots I¡¯d stolen from Warren. ¡°The first round stunned the garax and trapped it in ice, which let me get close enough to use Extraction. I was ready to steal my first epic skill, but I had one last brawl on my hands before I could claim it. This time, I battled beside the black chains as we fought to subdue Intimidating Roar, which took the form of a mini-garax. In the end, we were able to pull it off. I claimed the skill and returned to my body. We still had to eliminate the garax, so I fired another spellshot¡ªone that created a gigantic, white-hot buzzsaw that took its head clean off.¡± ¡°That skill was delicious, and the fight was quite amusing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad that someone is enjoying my near-death experiences. We had completed the quest and claimed the reward, and now it was time for the moment of truth. I told Trapper¡¯s crew everything, laying my secret bare. Well, everything except Skill-Eater being alive and able to talk. It was a scary moment, but the hunters decided to keep my secret. They also accepted me as a full member of the crew, which was great. ¡°That just left scouting the borderlands before we could return to Puppet Town with our mission complete. We climbed a big hill called the Titan¡¯s Nose, where we could survey the bordering terrain, only to receive the shock of a lifetime. ¡°The biomes we were expecting to find were gone, and a crystal jungle and carnivorous wasteland stood in their place. At that point, we realized that the Ivory Plains had been moved to the other side of the planet, and that Puppet Town was in even more trouble than we¡¯d thought. Before long, powerful beasts and monsters were going to migrate into the biome in mass. ¡°We made it back and reported our findings, leaving the town scrambling to get ready for what was coming before it was too late. When we reached the last chapter, we found out that one of the other crews had discovered a dungeon. They wound up triggering a quest that would draw Puppet Town into a confrontation with a settlement full of dangerous prisoners, which both sides would receive in one week¡¯s time. ¡°That it for today¡¯s recap. I hope you found it helpful. Now it¡¯s time for our adventure to continue with the start of book two. See you later, everybody. Say goodbye, Skill-Eater.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Skill-Eater. See, Edge. I can make human jokes too. I have a great sense of humor.¡± ¡°Of course you do, big guy. Now help me find the off-switch for my microphone and let¡¯s go find something tasty to eat.¡± Chapter 1: Ringside Open Edge raised his fists and deepened his stance, just in time to block a punch that would have knocked him out cold if it had connected cleanly. The impact reverberated throughout his body, forcing him to take a step back to avoid losing his balance. Melania circled around while looking for a hole in his defense to exploit, but thanks to their training sessions, she found nothing of the sort. The redheaded guardswoman flashed a fierce grin while nodding in approval¡ªsweat-soaked muscles gleaming beneath the magitech lights lining the ceiling of the enclosure. They had been going at it for several minutes already. To Edge¡¯s surprise, he was still standing, although he had taken some heavy hits that would have slowed him down without Regeneration to heal the damage. Even still, it was a major improvement compared to just a little over one week ago, when each of their sparring sessions had ended with him battered, bruised, and bleeding onto the mat. Mel was one of the strongest stage-one warriors in town. She had the advantage in attributes, aptitude, and combat experience. But Edge had closed a fair portion of the gap between them over the last few days. He had undergone some incredible growth thanks to his showdown with Warren the manslayer and everything that had occurred during his mission to kill the padamas, including his battles with the blightling swarm and the behemoth garax. He was still learning the ins and outs of fighting with his hands and feet. But on top of his ability to heal midbattle, he now had the Durability to take some heavy hits, enough Endurance to fight for a prolonged period, and sufficient Speed, Reflex, and Control to deal with Mel¡¯s attacks without being overwhelmed. Edge didn¡¯t think he could win, but he wasn¡¯t going down without a fight. He blinked. When his eyes reopened, Mel was standing in front of him¡ªa jab from her left fist streaking straight for his nose. He leaned out of the way with millimeters to spare, then blocked a hook from her right, and ducked beneath a roundhouse kick before launching a counterattack. The crowd went wild as they came together to exchange a vicious series of blows, neither combatant giving way. Over the three days that Trapper¡¯s crew had been back in town, news of his sparring sessions with Melenia had spread like wildfire. Apparently, he was able to hold his own well enough to make their contests a prime source of entertainment for the deputies in the guard station, not to mention the members of his crew. Riller and Jumo were cheering him on, and Trapper was talking with Earl¡ªwho everyone called the sheriff. Edge didn¡¯t mind an audience, but he didn¡¯t have time to pay attention to anyone other than the woman in front of him. For her part, Mel was having the time of her life. She was so happy to have found a partner who could remain standing when she was going all out that she wasn¡¯t even charging him anymore. She was grinning from ear to ear while dancing from one foot to the other, shifting her stance as naturally as breathing. She sent a pair of flicker jabs flashing for his face, forcing him to take a hasty step to open some space. A move that put him directly into the path of the vicious back kick that Mel unleashed the second his foot came down. Edge didn¡¯t have room to back up or time to get out of the way. If he took her attack head-on, it was going to break his bones. Instead, he deepened his stance and brought up his arms. He put everything that he had into blocking the blow while leaning back to soften the impact. He managed to catch Mel¡¯s heel on his forearms, instead of taking a foot to the ribs. The kick was strong enough to toss him to one side. A red flash of pain blossomed along his arm as his tissue was bruised by the savage strike, but he didn¡¯t let the pain distract him. He came charging back in before Mel regained her balance, catching her below the breasts with his shoulder and shoving her back across the ring. The body blow wasn¡¯t sufficient to knock her down, but forcing Mel on the defensive was a feat worth celebrating. The crowd went nuts when Edge launched his attack. Everyone was whooping and hollering, slamming their cups onto the tabletops to form an impromptu soundtrack for their battle. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. The thumping and screaming got his blood pumping, and he put everything he had into one final effort. By mutual agreement, the only skill that either of them used during their fights was his Regeneration, since he was using their bouts to condition his attributes, and it prolonged their sessions. By now, he was running low on mana to power his healing skill, and his breath came in heaving pants. But he wasn¡¯t about to give up, especially not with the crew watching. Edge unleashed a fierce barrage of blows, mixing in his elbows and knees along with his fists, just like Mel had taught him. She blocked most of the blows on her forearms, but then he noticed a narrow opening appear in her defense¡ªthe first time he had ever seen the peacekeeper make a mistake. He darted in and punched for all he was worth. Melenia leaned back to blunt the blow, but he still caught her square in the nose. Hell yes. Elation coursed through him like electricity¡ªthe thrill of having scored his first point during their sessions. His moment of joy was fated to last precisely two seconds. Because that was when Edge realized that Mel had lowered her guard on purpose. That she had lured him into range, and her knee was coming up like a rocket taking flight. The last thing he saw was a trickle of blood running down her face, before he felt a tremendous impact along his jaw, accompanied by a white flash. Darkness rose to consume him, and he was unconscious before his body hit the mat. *** Edge woke right back up when someone threw a pail of water over his head¡ªthe cold wet shocking him back to full alertness. Regeneration had already healed the damage he¡¯d taken, leaving his reservoir running on fumes but his body free from pain. He looked up to find Mel towering over him. He ran his eyes across her powerful body, most of which was bare except for a black sports bra and a pair of exercise shorts. She met his gaze, shared a smile that set his heart pounding, then offered him a hand and helped him to his feet. ¡°That was fantastic, Edge. A night and day difference since we started these sessions. Your technique still has a long way to go, but your movements are getting sharper and you¡¯re almost able to match me in raw attributes. A few more weeks, and you will probably have the edge in that regard, pun intended.¡± Her comment set off a round of laughter. The deputies had decided that making ¡°Edge¡± jokes was hysterical. He didn¡¯t mind. He had heard most of them back in his old life, but the jibes were made in good sport. It was a sign that the peacekeepers had come to see him as one of their own, even if he wasn¡¯t officially on the roster. He realized that Trapper and Earl had already left, likely discussing a problem that required the crew¡¯s expertise. Everyone else spent a few minutes chatting and then went about their business. Before she left to get cleaned up, Melenia came over to stand beside Edge, Riller, and Jumo. ¡°The three of you should come drinking with us tomorrow night. The other deputies have been wanting to get to know you better, and it¡¯s a good time to make new friends, considering the danger that¡¯s coming. It¡¯s Earl¡¯s treat, so feel free to order the good stuff.¡± Edge was going to put her off, but Jumo and Riller seemed excited by the prospect, likely because they had been flirting with some of the deputies during the match. ¡°Sure,¡± he said. ¡°That sounds like fun. When and where are you getting together?¡± ¡°The Pioneer, two hours after sunset.¡± With that, they said their farewells and the hunters started walking back to Trapper¡¯s lodge. ¡°I think she likes you,¡± Jumo said. ¡°And Mel¡¯s a real looker. You should spend some quality time together, unless you¡¯ve already given your heart away to someone else.¡± ¡°Life is too short to let chances like that pass you by,¡± Riller added. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Edge laughed. "But not just yet. Right now, I¡¯m ready to eat a big meal and then pass the fuck out. Going head-to-head with Melenia is fun, but exhausting.¡± ¡°By the way, did you have any luck with your conditioning?¡± Jumo asked. When Edge pulled up his Guide, he saw that the match had yielded some gains. By conditioning your body, your Control has increased by 1. By conditioning the connection between your body and brain, your Reflex has increased by 1. ¡°Yup. Another point of Reflex and Control.¡± ¡°Damn, Edge.¡± Riller let out a low whistle. ¡°Your rate of conditioning is simply unreal. Another month or two, and you might have them all maxed out. If that¡¯s not a world record, it¡¯s still far faster than anyone else I¡¯ve heard of.¡± He turned to face Jumo. ¡°Maybe we can use Violet¡¯s new skill to do the same thing at a reduced rate. Traveler¡¯s Boon isn¡¯t nearly as fast as Regeneration, but if she works out beside us, the crew might be able to boost our gains by a fair margin.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a great idea.¡± Jumo nodded. "I¡¯ll ask her first thing in the morning. Let¡¯s go grill up some of the garax meat we have in the freezer and then call it an early night. We have some serious drinking to do tomorrow, and we need to be in prime shape if we want to impress the ladies.¡± The hunters chatted as they crossed the districts, enjoying these fleeting moments of peace and fun before the next ordeal descended upon their heads. Chapter 2: Day Off Edge slept in late the next morning. When he woke up, he stretched out in bed with his eyes closed, savoring the fact that he had nothing to do. That there were no urgent missions to complete or bloodthirsty beasts trying to devour him. The sun was high in the sky by the time that he shed his covers and rose from the mattress. When he heard the other hunters talking in the next room, he broke into a broad grin. He was still getting used to the idea that he was an official member of Trapper¡¯s crew. While hunting with the team wasn¡¯t a full-time job, it was something far more important¡ªa place to belong. Edge was glad that he had decided to trust his friends with his secret. Most of it at any rate. Despite his reservations, the hunters had been happy to keep it. It turned out that after everything they had been through, they valued his company far more than the reward for his bounty. Especially after he had risked his life to free Trapper from the garax¡¯s stomach. He took a few minutes to enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling while running his eyes across his brand-new bedroom. It was a bit smaller than his room at the Pioneer¡ªmade from a blond wood with ornamental etchings. It had its own private bathroom, a comfortable bed, and plenty of space to store his gear. Trapper had told him to decorate it however he wanted, which Edge intended to do once inspiration struck. Maybe I can pay Trapper to make a few carvings of the beasts we¡¯ve hunted together. A padamas, jobo, and garax would be neat to have on the wall. A drawing of the Painted Lands or the Breadbasket would look nice too. After washing up, he left his bedroom and stepped into the front of the lodge, which held the common area, the kitchen, and an adjoining workshop. He walked into the kitchen to make himself breakfast, then took a seat at the big round table filling one corner of the common area¡ªa spacious living room where the crew could congregate whenever they were feeling social. The walls were adorned with lifelike statues of beasts, which were the product of Trapper¡¯s woodcarving hobby. Between them were lifelike paintings of various biomes, only some of which Edge had seen for himself. There was plenty of sunlight coming in through a pair of skylights, which granted the lodge a cheerful ambiance. One wooden wall was formed from sliding panels, which they usually left open so that Blue could interact with the crew. The massive dino couldn¡¯t walk inside the lodge or she would tear up the floor. The rest of the team was already gathered around the table, snacking while discussing one idea or another. They hadn¡¯t taken on any assignments since making it back from their last mission. They had plenty of Credits, and everyone needed some downtime to decompress from the dangerous hunt and consolidate the gains they had made along the way. Edge was sure that they would start working again soon, although he could head into the field whenever he wanted. The crew normally operated solo and in small groups for regular hunts¡ªonly coming together as the full team to deal with big jobs and dangerous opponents. He took a seat between Violet and Jumo, then started to eat. While his mouth was busy, he ran his eyes across each member of the team in turn. He started off with Jumo, the crew¡¯s dedicated brawler. Jumo was a heavy hitter who specialized in close-range combat. His job was to protect the others during an ambush, and to take down beasts whose natural armor made them difficult to deal with using traps and bows alone. Jumo was the only member of the crew who was taller than Edge. He had deep bronze skin, broad shoulders, and rippling muscles. He had hazel eyes and a nose that had been broken on more than one occasion. He usually kept his head shaved, revealing intricate tattoos in a style that Edge didn¡¯t recognize. Jumo was the older brother that Edge had never had. He was boisterous, direct, and honest. He always kept his head in a fight, and his personality was perfect for a night on the town. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Sitting on the other side of Jumo was Riller. Riller was the team¡¯s lookout. He specialized in stealth, Perception, and powers that could take down an opponent from range. The man had been thin as a rail before binding his core. Now his body was covered in well-defined muscles, although he would always seem lanky compared to Jumo. Although the men were close, Riller and Jumo were a study in contrast. Riller had dark skin, curly black hair, and steel blue eyes. He was quick on the uptake and incredibly observant. Edge always had the impression that Riller¡¯s gaze took in everything, and that he saw far more than he revealed. He was a man of few words. Quiet, conscientious, and straightlaced. While Edge hadn¡¯t grown as close to Riller as the other members of the crew, there wasn¡¯t anyone who he trusted more to spot trouble coming. With the men out of the way, Edge turned his attention to the crew¡¯s women, starting with Violet. Violet was the crew¡¯s quartermaster and the oldest member of the team. At least as far as her puppet body was concerned. She did less hands-on hunting than the others, since she was usually busy handling logistics, finances, crafting, and maintenance. But he had learned on the last mission that she was invaluable during a multiday excursion in the field. Violet had platinum hair, broad shoulders, and the striking purple eyes that she had named herself after. She was brash, life-loving, and sarcastic. While her sense of humor could rub people the wrong way, she had helped Edge out on several occasions, and he valued her judgment immensely. Beside her sat Trapper, the crew¡¯s leader. After reaching stage two during the last mission, she was their most powerful member and one of the most respected people in the settlement. True to her name, Trapper specialized in hunting by setting up various devices, although she was plenty dangerous in a stand-up fight. She had several powers to enhance her lethality and could track quarries via different mechanisms than Riller or Sasha. Trapper had long brown hair with blond highlights, which was usually drawn up in a no-nonsense ponytail. She was tall and lean, with athletic curves. She had stormy gray eyes, a ready smile, and an easy laugh. Her mind was as sharp as her blade¡ªable to process complex situations in the blink of an eye. She was utterly reliable, and willing to risk her life to protect her friends. Edge couldn¡¯t think of anyone who was better suited to lead the team. Then he ran his eyes across Sasha, who was by far his favorite person to look at, with or without her clothes. Sasha was the newest member of the team, not counting Edge. She was an expert tracker and was learning the art of trapping from the crew¡¯s leader. Sasha and Edge had wound up in each other¡¯s beds on two separate occasions. For now, they were just friends, although he had no idea what the future might hold. Sasha was brave and bashful. Outgoing, honest, and a little clumsy with her feelings. She loved life, and was able to appreciate the beauty of Ord, even in the middle of a crisis. Sasha had strawberry blond hair, bright green eyes, and a short, sharp nose that was dusted in freckles. She was a capable warrior and had a body to match, including long, shapely legs that Edge could watch all day, along with several other pleasantly rounded parts. When Sasha caught him staring, they exchanged a glance that had more than a hint of heat to it. Then she smiled, looked away, and returned to devouring her breakfast. That just left the final member of the crew. Blue, the combat-trained beast who pulled their wagon. Blue was even bigger after their last mission¡ªon the cusp of reaching late stage-one. She was a tireless laborer and a powerhouse on the battlefield. The azure dino was friendly and curious, although she could be temperamental at times. Edge walked over to the open wall to give Blue some scritches behind the horns, which earned him some nuzzles and a slobbery lick. Then he picked up his plate, washed it in the sink, and got ready to head into town. After chatting with the others for a few more minutes, he grabbed his pack and left through the front door. He had several things that he wanted to take care of today. At top of his list was spending some of the Credits he earned from the last mission to upgrade his gear. Chapter 3: Shopping Spree With a spring in his step, Edge started walking toward the commercial district, heading for the first stop in his impromptu shopping spree. Change was in the air as he made his way through the settlement, as its residents came to grips with their dramatic change in circumstance. They were still grappling with the fact that they were stranded on Ord. That their old bodies were dead and gone, and this world was their home for the foreseeable future. But after Dialla¡¯s impassioned speech, most of them had realized that if they wanted to survive, they needed to adapt to living on a planet that was growing more dangerous by the day. Since the anomaly had transported Puppet Town to the far side of the globe, along with the rest of the Ivory Plains, all trade with the outside world had ground to a halt. The settlement was in the middle of converting its various industries to be completely self-sufficient, and its services were shifting gears to match the town¡¯s evolving needs. There were still plenty of people shopping in the district¡ª both inside the stores and at the merchants lining the streets. Everyone still needed to eat and purchase the goods they used in daily life. But there were far more armed individuals than before, and he¡¯d heard that people were buying weapons and armor at an unprecedented rate. Most forms of entertainment were still in business, although the ones catering to puppet tourism and the Prison World feed had either closed their doors or gone in a new direction. The bars and restaurants were just as busy as ever, and it seemed like they would survive the town¡¯s transition. While he walked, Edge pulled up his profile, taking in the explosive growth he had undergone over the last few weeks. Personal Statistics: Edge Vasher Attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits) Physical Attributes Power: 6 (7) Endurance: 5 (6) Durability: 13 (14) Reflex: 9 Speed: 12 (13) Control: 8 (9) Perception: 7 Energetic Attributes Generation: 13 Amplification: 11 Disruption: 7 (8) Physical Conditioning (Attribute points may be conditioned up to five points each) Power: 3 Endurance: 4 Durability: 5 Reflex: 4 Speed: 2 Control: 3 Perception: 3 Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater] Stage: 1 Cycle: 15/21 Rarity: Unique Category: Unique Attribute points per cycle: 3 Ultimate Abilities [Extraction] Uses per day: 3 Cooldown period: 24 hours Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts and claim them for your own. [Overdrive] Uses: 1 Cooldown period: 1 week Overdrive increases your Amplification by (10 x stage) for thirty seconds. Activating skills will not require mana during this period. You will be severely exhausted for thirty seconds after Overdrive is complete. Core Traits Collector (Unique) You can no longer acquire or rank up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. Devourer (Unique) You may absorb an unwanted skill, freeing its slot and granting a fraction of its experience to the skill of your choice. Be advised, the return on this exchange is significantly less efficient than extracting a duplicate of an existing skill. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Skills Skill slots: 11 (Unused slots: 0) Slash (Basic): Rank 2. Path: Penetration. Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. The edge of the weapon will be magically sharpened while the skill is active. Conceal (Common): Rank 2. Path: Erasure. Erase your scent and heat signature while you remain still. Visually, you will appear to blend into your environment. The last twenty-five feet of your trail will be removed on activation. Entangle (Common): Rank 2. Path: Resiliency. Create burrowing vines to bind your target. The vines are resistant to cuts and tears. Leap (Common): Rank 2. Path: Assault. Jump with explosive force. Increased Durability for ten seconds after activation. Double Strike (Uncommon): Rank 1. Create an offset double of any melee attack. Elemental Blade (Uncommon): Rank 1. Create a subzero blade of ice. Harden (Uncommon): Rank 1. Cover target portions of your body in diamond scales. Regeneration (Uncommon): Rank 1. Rapidly heal wounds. Limited Regeneration cannot restore organs that are completely destroyed. Regulate Temperature (Uncommon): Rank 1. Gain significant insulation against temperature change. Repel Water (Uncommon): Rank 2. Path: Repulsion. Push large volumes of water away from the user. The shape of the repulsive field can be altered at will. Shadow Step (Rare): Rank 2. Path: Armored shadow. Transform into shadows. The cost of transforming your gear is greatly reduced. Intimidating Roar (Epic) is being digested. Traits Trait slots: 3 (Unused slots: 0) Triple Tap You are either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or are the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You managed to win a fight against three opponents at least one stage higher than yourself and¡ªmore or less¡ªlanded the killing blow on each. Effects: +10% to Power, Speed, and Control (minimum gain of 1). Wanted You have found 1 of the 21 unique cores in existence, which has painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something you should do sooner rather than later. There¡¯s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can¡¯t wait to watch it all play out. This trait might help you live a little bit longer, but I¡¯m not holding my breath. Effects: +10% to Endurance, Durability, and Disruption (minimum gain of 1). Big Game Hunter Holy shit. That. Was. Fucking. Awesome! You managed to score a kill on a colossal and behemoth creature, all in the same afternoon. I¡¯m shocked to my circuits that you¡¯re still breathing and loved every second of the show. I hope that you try something that batshit crazy again soon. Here¡¯s a trait that should incentivize you to do just that. Effect: 50% more damage with weapons and skills to creatures at least twenty times your size (excluding magitech weapons, traps, and spellshots). 25% extra Perception when sensing creatures at least twice your size. Implants Heart-Guard (Common) Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: Silver. Charge: Empty. This implant generates a barrier to protect the heart when it detects incoming damage. Auxiliary Skill Slot (Uncommon) Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: N/A. An auxiliary skill slot can be used to socket an extra skill beyond the limit of your core. The skill placed in this slot cannot gain experience, cycle up, or be merged or altered in any way, although it can be Absorbed and replaced with a new skill at will. This is a passive, structural implant. As such, it does not require an aether charge to function. System Currency Credits: 105,060 Mortium: 1 Amazing. Not only had Edge progressed to the middle of stage one faster than anyone he¡¯d ever heard of, he had an epic skill digesting in his core. In eleven days, Intimidating Roar would be his to command, granting him an incredible power that was certain to be useful on the long road ahead. However, only the last two items of his profile mattered at the moment. After getting paid by the mayor for the crew¡¯s latest job, Edge had more Credits than ever, and a single Mortium to his name. He planned to spend them all before the week was out, upgrading his gear to mirror the growth of his cycles and skills. Not long after, he found himself standing in front of one of the biggest stores in town, Ann¡¯s General Goods. He stepped through the door and waited for his eyes to adjust to the lower level of light. He spent a few minutes browsing the rows of sundries and supplies, then started walking toward the long counter running along the back wall of the building. Behind the register was one of Edge¡¯s favorite people¡ªAnn, the owner of the establishment. Ann had a famously sunny disposition, although he had long-since realized that she was far more formidable than her persona implied. She was brilliant and perceptive. Fit and toned. Able to tackle situations considerably more dangerous than the day-to-day aspects of running her store. Ann had flowing hair the color of honey, drawn up in a thick ponytail. Baby blue eyes, a button nose, and round features. Today, she was wearing a white dress with embroidered grass running along the hem, which made her look like she was standing in the middle of the Ivory Plains. They hadn¡¯t spoken since he had left on his mission to hunt the padamas, which had wound up being even more dangerous than the crew had expected. The first thing Ann did was rush out from behind the counter to give him a bear hug that creaked his ribs. ¡°Edge, I was hoping that you would stop by sometime soon. I already heard the news but seeing you still alive and kicking with my own eyes helps me breathe a bit easier. It seems that you ran into more than you bargained for out there.¡± ¡°That may well be the understatement of the century. The padamas was bad enough. I never expected to take on a behemoth, not to mention a swarm of monsters.¡± Ann let out an appreciative whistle. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe that your crew took out a stage-three beast. That¡¯s amazing. It was just a few weeks ago that you walked in here as a coreless tourist, and now you¡¯re well into the middle of stage one. At this rate, you¡¯ll hit stage two before I know it and will be counted among the town¡¯s heavy hitters. But enough about the future. What can I do for you today?¡± Edge smiled as the cheerful woman stepped back behind the counter. Talking to Ann always put him in a good mood. ¡°Well, I was mostly here to see you. But now that you mention it, I could use some extra clothes, since I go through them crazy fast in the field. I¡¯m willing to pay a bit extra if you have anything that¡¯s unusually durable. I could also use some basics¡ªrope, a bar of soap, insect repellant, and maybe another hat. This one is starting to fall apart.¡± Ann called one of her assistants to gather the requested items. Then Edge asked Ann to activate her Privacy Bubble. Her core ignited, and a dome of mana spread out from her position. When it crossed his body, all sound from the outside cut off. Now that they were shielded from prying eyes and curious ears, he leaned in close and said, ¡°I was also hoping to use the downstairs bathroom. Some of those monsters were stage two.¡± Ann¡¯s golden eyebrows went up. Edge had just given her the code requesting to use Lilly¡¯s Mortium exchange, which was located in a secret basement below the store. ¡°It will be working again in a day or two. I¡¯ll send a message when it¡¯s ready, but you¡¯ll have to tell me the full story of your hunt sometime soon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± With those words, they summoned their Guides, and he paid for his order. Now that he had concluded his business, he spent a few minutes chatting with Ann and enjoying her company, learning more about what had happened in town while he was away. It turned out that the changes he¡¯d observed were only the beginning. In addition to revamping their various industries, the residents of Puppet Town had been incentivized to start ranking up their skills and engage in combat training, even if they weren¡¯t interested in joining the peacekeepers or militia. Edge was relieved to learn that the settlement¡¯s leaders were taking the rising threat seriously. Now that the Ivory Plains had been transported to the frontier, the magicytes in the region were growing thicker by the hour. Greater concentrations of magical energy would allow high-stage beasts and monsters to migrate into the biome, which Trapper¡¯s crew had found out the hard way during their last mission. When he was done catching up, Edge bid Ann farewell. He put his purchases into his pack and continued with his day. With supplies out of the way, it was time for the good part, commissioning some brand-new weapons and armor. Chapter 4: The Forge Edge¡¯s next stop took him to the crafters¡¯ quarter. When he crossed into the district, the sounds and scents of industry washed over him. He sat down on a bench, stopping for a few minutes to immerse himself in the vibrant bustle of the town¡¯s crafters at work. The district was even busier than he remembered. In addition to their usual activities, quite a few factories were in the middle of being renovated¡ªtheir machines and tools swapped out to handle a new line of work. Some had been incentivized to make the change because their products were vital to the settlement¡¯s future. Others were shifting gears because the materials used to make their wares were no longer available or their customers in other cities could no longer be reached. It was a complex problem. Edge was glad that he didn¡¯t have to worry about the specifics. He didn¡¯t envy the mayor or the leaders of the crafting and trading communities one bit. Hunting on the Ivory Plains was hard enough. He didn¡¯t even want to try to wrap his head around the economic, logistical, and infrastructural challenges the settlement was facing. After he rose to his feet and started walking, he passed by some interesting storefronts that he might stop by later, once he had more Credits to spare. But today he was heading to the Forge, and he was planning to spend big. It was time to have his share of the resources the crew had collected on their big game hunt turned into high-quality equipment. At the top of his list was a new suit of armor. Edge had thoroughly destroyed his first set of leathers by taking on opponents well beyond what his gear could handle. The Forge was a crafting collective consisting of twenty or so craft-masters, along with their apprentices and journeymen. It was sprawling facility¡ªa combination of shared workspaces and living quarters, along with a public area where people could browse the wares on display and commission custom jobs. Last time Edge had stopped by, there were only a few people shopping in the store attached to the central workshop. Today, there were dozens of customers forming a line out the door. Listening to their chatter, it was clear that weapons and armor were in high demand. He nodded his approval while eavesdropping on their conversations. It¡¯s good that more of the town¡¯s residents are taking Dialla¡¯s warning seriously. It was vital that the population of Puppet Town learned how to fight, ranked up their skills, and cycled up their cores if they had one¡ªbefore the Ivory Plains became so dangerous that it wouldn¡¯t be possible for novices to hunt on them any longer. And the first step to succeeding in any of those goals was purchasing some quality equipment. On the other hand, the crowd was a bit of an inconvenience right now. Shit. It looks like it will take hours to get in. I guess I¡¯ll come back later. I don¡¯t want to waste all day standing in line. Just as he decided to leave, a familiar voice reached his ears. ¡°Edge. Is that you, lad? Why are you standing out here with the walk-ins? We already have a working relationship. You don¡¯t need to wait to see me, unless I¡¯m in the middle of a job or helping someone else.¡± Edge had no idea that this was the case, but he was happy to hear it. He turned to face the speaker¡ªa middle-aged man with dark gray hair and bright blue eyes named Ander, who was one of the Forge¡¯s senior smiths. He followed Ander through the reception area and into a private consultation room behind the counter. The smith motioned for Edge to take a seat at the table and then pulled up a chair himself. ¡°I hear you had quite the adventure out there. That your big game hunt turned into a behemoth game hunt instead.¡± ¡°It seems that everyone in town already knows about it.¡± Edge let out a long sigh. ¡°We were lucky to survive.¡± ¡°Gossip is always rife in a settlement this size, but now it¡¯s worse than ever. Although you can¡¯t blame people for wanting a distraction. Symptom of the uncertain times we¡¯re living in.¡± On that note, Ander had him tell a portion of the story, listening closely as Edge described the showdown with the padamas and garax. ¡°Two fine kills and a quest from the System. I¡¯m not sure if you got lucky, the planetary AI is changing in the wake of the disaster, or both. Either way, I¡¯m glad that you made it back to us. I¡¯d hate to lose one of my best customers.¡± Ander laughed to show that he was joking, and eventually, Edge joined in. ¡°Enough small talk. What brings you into the Forge today? I hope the naginata we made is living up to your expectations.¡± ¡°In every conceivable way.¡± Edge nodded. ¡°Thanks again for doing such an amazing job with it. I¡¯m here to get some of those high-grade beast parts I mentioned turned into gear. Top of the list being some new armor. My last set couldn¡¯t hold up to the caliber of opponents we wound up facing, so now I need something better. ¡°I was hoping that my share of the resources from the garax and the padamas are enough raw materials to commission a custom job¡ªsomething that can keep up with the powerful beasts I¡¯ll be hunting from now on. The Ivory Plains is growing more deadly by the day, and I need a suit of armor to match.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I had a feeling that you would say something along those lines.¡± Ander reached into his belt pouch, pulled out two strips of leather, and then set them on the table. ¡°Samples from the creatures in question. You aren¡¯t the only member of Trapper¡¯s crew who wants an upgrade, so I¡¯ll tell you the same thing I told Jumo.¡± The smith pointed to the first sample, which was covered in pale yellow scales. ¡°The padamas¡¯s hide is middle D-grade. Not the toughest material, but not weak either. Suitable for parts of the body that aren¡¯t likely to take direct hits from heavy attacks. There isn¡¯t as much of it either¡ªonly enough for a smaller piece of armor.¡± Edge nodded along as Ander continued to explain. ¡°The lizard¡¯s hide does, however, have several properties that make it worth considering. It¡¯s naturally waterproof and resistant to fire and acid. ¡°But the truly interesting bit is the way that it absorbs sound. Part of the padamas¡¯s stealth comes from the inherent properties of its body, which supplement its skillset. I can make you a fine pair of boots that will reduce the noise you make in the field. I¡¯ll reinforce them with high-grade metal and bone, to increase their durability and protect your feet from being punctured or crushed.¡± Then Ander pointed to the garax¡¯s leather. ¡°This material is the true prize of the lot. Something that I¡¯ve only been able to work with a few times, since it had to be transported from the frontier. Garax hide is a low C-grade crafting material. Buying a full suit would normally cost a fortune, but you are providing your own mats. It will still be expensive, but you should be able to afford it, given what you made on that hunt. ¡°It¡¯s tough but breathes well, making it comfortable to wear for days on end. It will naturally resist most elements even better than the padamas¡¯s scales. The hide doesn¡¯t conduct electricity and becomes rigid for a moment when struck, distributing the force over a wider area to reduce the impact on your body.¡± By this point, Edge was growing excited, but Ander wasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡°Best of all, once we skill-forge the material to enhance its latent properties, it will repair itself. It can¡¯t restore missing pieces, but any holes or tears will seal themselves shut over time, without any loss of durability. You have enough for a jacket and a pair of leggings, with just enough left over for a poncho. I¡¯ll warn you now that it¡¯s not cheap. At least 30,000 Credits depending on the design.¡± ¡°When you put it that way, it¡¯s hard to say no.¡± Edge rubbed his chin. ¡°One last question. We also have some garax bone and teeth. I was wondering if it would be practical to have a buckler shield made from them, or possibly a helmet. While we¡¯re on the subject, the naginata is brilliant and I love it. But right now, I don¡¯t have any ranged skills, and a bow isn¡¯t really my style. Do you have any recommendations for other weapons?¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t a single question, lad.¡± Ander gave him a flat look, then broke into a broad grin. ¡°The buckler is easy, and the bone is a good choice. For a helmet, I would recommend waiting until you find a better material. Something that allows our crafters to change its shape without weakening the structure. ¡°I can hook you up with a half-measure in the meantime though. A wide-brimmed leather hat with a bone cap mounted into the lining. It won¡¯t offer total protection like a full helm, but it will absorb some of the shock if you get bonked on the noggin.¡± Ander rose to his feet, pacing while he thought the matter through. ¡°As far as ranged weapons go, I could send you home with a brace of javelins, or something similar. But since you already have a heavy weapon strapped to your back, perhaps something smaller would be better. It won¡¯t be able to take down big game, but it should come in handy when fighting most anything else.¡± Ander traced a circle with his finger as he explained. ¡°A chakram, made of garax bone and a high-grade bronze composite. It wouldn¡¯t do much good by itself, but I can modify it so that it will return to a paired glove on command. A pull that¡¯s kind of like a magnet but offers longer range and will only affect the skill-modified weapon.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Edge nodded. ¡°I trust your judgement and all of that sounds great. How much for everything combined?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t give you an exact price until you pick out a design for the armor. But since you were kind enough to stay for dinner after testing out the naginata, I¡¯ll give you a friend of the Forge discount. Call the job roughly sixty thousand creds.¡± Edge¡¯s jaw dropped at the number. It was a staggering sum by his old standards and a fair chunk of his current net worth. On the other hand, a set of high-grade, elemental-resistant, self-repairing armor would be a fantastic upgrade to his gear. Not to mention, stealth-enhancing boots, a buckler shield, a ranged weapon, and a reinforced hat. While he thought it over, Ander left and then returned with a big book. When the smith set it on the table and opened it up, Edge saw that it was filled with designs for leather armor. ¡°I was thinking about something in this style.¡± He pointed to a picture of a man wearing a leather duster and a pair of leggings. ¡°We can even tweak the color, depending on what finish we use.¡± Edge asked some questions, then made a few requests with the cut. Some were small modifications that would work well with his skillset, and others just matched his innate sense of style. ¡°As far as the color goes, would it be possible to make it darker? Something that will blend in well in terrain with heavy growth. I¡¯m less worried about it matching with the grass on the plains than the high-threat biomes it borders.¡± ¡°Yes, I think I can arrange something that you¡¯ll be happy with.¡± With that, the men began to haggle. Edge knew that he was no match for Ander. The smith was clearly taking it easy on him and having fun in the process. When they reached an agreement for a few thousand creds less than the first price he had quoted, they shook hands. Then Ander invited Edge into the backroom to eat lunch with some of the other crafters. He took the smith up on the offer, since he was always glad to make connections with other skilled artisans. After polishing off a heaping plate of pot roast and grilled vegetables, he bid everyone farewell and continued with his day. Edge was already fantasizing about his new gear, which would be ready within the week. While his mind was busy, he decided to put his body to work. It was time for another turbocharged conditioning session. Chapter 5: Night Out Edge still had some shopping to do, but taking care of the rest of his list could wait another day or two. He had a few hours before he was supposed to meet everyone at the Pioneer, so he walked over to the public green to get in a midday workout. He¡¯d made excellent progress conditioning his physical attributes by using Regeneration to accelerate the process, but he wasn¡¯t finished yet. He also wanted to practice using his weapons and skills¡ªthe ones that everyone knew about at any rate. Since his naginata was back in his room, he decided to focus on wind sprints to condition his Speed and training his technique with Elemental Blade. He took off his shirt and put it into his pack, so that there would be one less sweat-soaked garment to wash after his workout. He got some cat calls and quite a few appreciative stares from the people camping on the grass, which reminded him just how much his new body had developed since waking up on Ord. Edge realized that he was slowly getting used to the attention. The idea that most people found him attractive, and that nearly everyone in the settlement knew who he was after his battle with the shadowreavers outside of town, especially after Trapper¡¯s crew had carried the garax¡¯s head through the gate. He started sprinting as fast as he could while enjoying the encouraging words that his audience sent his way. He pushed himself hard, only stopping to catch his breath and let Regeneration heal the damage to his muscles before bursting into motion once more. Two hours later, the message he was hoping for appeared. By conditioning your body, your Speed has increased by 1. Hell yes. Thanks, Regeneration. You really are the best. With his first goal complete, Edge moved on to skills training. He gathered his concentration and ignited his core, willing Elemental Blade to activate. A stream of mana went coursing out of his reactor, passing through his skill socket and into his arms. A few seconds later, a subzero sword formed from blue ice crystals emerged from his hands¡ªthree feet long and radiating elemental might like the wrath of winter personified. He spent a couple of minutes admiring the lethal weapon before he took his first swing, reflecting on how much it had grown compared to the tiny dagger that had appeared the first time he¡¯d used the skill. In addition to being longer and sharper than ever, the iceblade had grown even colder. It put a chill in his bones despite the end of summer heat, billowing with frosty mist as it froze the moisture in the air. Edge¡¯s sword was so powerful now that just holding it would have hurt him if it wasn¡¯t for Regulate Temperature¡ªthe skill he had stolen from the padamas before the garax could finish the job. With it, the iceblade felt refreshingly chill against his skin instead of mind-numbing cold. It was a timely reminder of just how important it was to collect skills that synergized with one another. He began moving the weapon through the air, trying to develop a sense of where it was in relation to his body at any given moment. He needed to control the blade as naturally as an extension of his own arm to use it to its fullest. Fortunately, there was an innate connection between a skill and its wielder, which made the iceblade easy to sense. Edge started swinging, slashing, and thrusting while imagining a range of enemies attacking from all sides. Not his skill Slash, just the regular maneuvers that any swordsman would make. He put in a solid hour of practice before calling it a day. Then he waved to the people who had been watching him train, walked back to his room at Trapper¡¯s lodge, and jumped into the shower. He used Repel Water instead of toweling himself off, humming as the liquid came streaming out of his hair and off his skin, which left him completely dry within a matter of seconds. He changed into some of the clothes that he had purchased from Ann, then met up with Riller and Jumo in the common room. The men were excited to have a boys¡¯ night out and they left not long after. Twenty minutes later, Edge arrived at the Pioneer with Jumo and Riller at his side. Tonight, they were taking Mel up on her offer to get to know Earl and the deputies better. They crossed the front patio, which was already packed with patrons. Some of them were dancing, enjoying the live music provided by a band that was playing on a small stage. Everyone else was seated at a table, talking with their neighbors while enjoying one manner of alcoholic beverage or another. Since he didn¡¯t see the peacekeepers anywhere in the main room, Edge walked deeper inside the establishment. He said hello to Sam, who was tending the bar, and asked him where he could find Earl and the deputies. The man pointed to a door in the back leading to a private room. When Edge walked inside, he saw Rita serving drinks and snacks at a large table with about twenty people sitting around it. He waved to Rita, who he had developed a rapport with after living in the building before joining Trapper¡¯s crew, then cast his gaze across the boisterous assembly. Edge nodded a greeting to Earl the Earthhammer. Earl was a late stage-two warrior and one of the most powerful people in town. Most people called him the sheriff, since he was the leader of the settlement¡¯s peacekeepers. Earl was easy to spot in a crowd, since he stood a head taller than most of his associates. Although he only knew a few of the deputies by name, Edge recognized most of them. From seeing them around town and in the guard station where he¡¯d been training with Melenia over the last few weeks. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The peacekeepers, who called themselves the keepers for short, were a colorful bunch. While a dozen of them were cored, many more were not. In addition to protecting the town, they helped to maintain order¡ªeverything from fighting fires and directing traffic, to helping people who were too drunk to navigate the streets by themselves find their way home. Earl waved the hunters over to some empty seats on his right. ¡°Edge, Jumo, Riller. I¡¯m glad that you decided to join us. I¡¯ve been looking for a chance to get to know you better, although as usual, Melenia is already one step ahead of me. Sit, have a drink, and unwind. Tonight is on me, so don¡¯t worry about the cost and order whatever you want.¡± Edge took a seat between Earl and Mel, while Riller and Jumo started flirting with some of the women they¡¯d had their eyes on. He accepted a frosty bottle of beer that Earl handed him and took a long sip. Then he ran his gaze across the deputies sitting around the table, along with the weapons and armor hanging from the wall in case they had to deal with an unexpected problem. Earl had everyone introduce themselves, then he listed the members who weren¡¯t here¡ªeither on active duty or recovering from their injuries. Rather than trying to learn a bunch of names he wouldn¡¯t remember, Edge focused on memorizing a few key players tonight, so that they would stick in his head. He shook hands with Able, a man with skin so dark that it was almost black. Able had alert brown eyes and a ready grin. The man was Earl¡¯s apprentice. Not training to be the next sheriff, although he was qualified for the job, but in the use of his earth-based skills. Able wielded a massive stone war hammer that was almost as big as the sheriff¡¯s. In contrast to Earl¡¯s magitech weapon, which featured bands of glowing gemstone, Able¡¯s hammer was pure rock¡ªlike someone had taken a boulder and driven a handle into it. It was an imposing instrument of mayhem that only a Power build could wield, and Edge was curious to see it in action. Next came Spencer, the keeper¡¯s quartermaster. Spencer was uncored, but one of the most valuable members of their team. Spencer¡¯s mind was sharp as a blade, which is why he handled the keepers¡¯ logistics and finances. By the time that Edge had finished his second beer, his memorization muscles were running out of juice. He tried to learn a few final names, before giving up and enjoying his night. Biggs and Wedge were the keepers'' resident crafters¡ªresponsible for maintaining their gear and building devices as needed. They were both cored and had some manner of crafting skills. Biggs was tall and lean, with fair skin and blond hair. He was a gregarious fellow, always laughing while sharing a story or cracking jokes. Wedge was short and squat. He had black hair, dark eyes, and was almost as quiet as Riller. There was one more person seated at the table who Edge didn¡¯t recognize. Earl introduced her as Tessa, the mayor¡¯s personal guard. Tessa was good friends with Mel, and she seemed to know Earl well. She had short blond hair, bright yellow eyes, and lean muscles that suggested a build emphasizing Speed and Control. She was a quiet sort too, although she seemed to be having a good time. With their introductions out of the way, Edge turned to chat with Earl, taking in the sight of the legendary warrior. The sheriff had dark skin, piercing green eyes, and a broad chest. Like Able, every inch of his body told a story of Power. He had a famously sunny disposition, unless you managed to get on his bad side. He was known to be a relentless defender of the weak and a brutal adversary to his foes. Despite his fearsome visage, Earl treated everyone as an equal. They were all castaways stranded on a deadly magical planet, he explained, doing their best to survive and protect the people they loved. As they started on a fresh round of drinks, Earl turned to Edge and said, ¡°Your crew really went the extra mile on that last mission. Not only did you take out your target, you eliminated another giant predator that was even nastier than that lizard. Not to mention, exterminating a swarm of monsters before they could threaten the town and acquiring vital information that will help us to survive over the long haul.¡± He reached over to pat Edge on the back. ¡°Kudos. If Trapper hadn¡¯t scouted you already, I¡¯d be trying to recruit you right now. But since you¡¯re already in a good spot to support the settlement, I¡¯ll dial it back and butter you up instead. Even though we specialize in tackling different kinds of problems, I want you to think of the keepers as allies. We¡¯re all in this together after all. ¡°If you ever need our help, all you have to do is ask, and I hope that sentiment goes both ways. We¡¯re best at dealing with problems of a human sort. Having someone who can handle beasts and monsters at our side will be invaluable during the trying days ahead. That applies to the entire hunting community, of course. But your crew is one of the best, and I wanted to let you know just how much we appreciate the assistance.¡± With that, Earl turned to speak with Riller and Jumo, while Edge chatted with Mel and some of the other deputies. They went on for hours, enjoying each other¡¯s company, cold drinks, and good food. It was a fun night, full of laughter and warmth. Everything got dialed up another notch when Earl ordered a round of Jenny¡¯s brews for the table. After warning everyone to be careful to mind the stage-minimums, he handed Edge a bottle of stage-one and cracked open a can of stage-two for himself. Edge eyed the beverage with interest. He had heard of the infamous concoctions, but this was his first time trying one himself. Jenny¡¯s brews were some of the strongest drinks in town, designed to get cored individuals drunk despite their impressive physical attributes. He took an experimental sip, wincing at the bite before taking a longer slug. Not long after, he felt the alcohol hit him. He realized that he was weaving gently from side to side as he tried to follow the story that Able was telling. It was his first time being tipsy since arriving on Ord, and he was careful not to drink too much of the potent beverage. There wasn¡¯t much serious conversion past that point. Just a lot of joking and laughing, storytelling and games. Jumo had talked a muscular blond woman into dancing with him, and they seemed to be hitting it off. Mel was especially friendly tonight, and her warmth was just a half step short of outright flirting. She was a beautiful woman, and Edge couldn¡¯t deny that he was interested. But he wasn¡¯t ready to date more than one person at a time, at least not until he had a better idea of where he and Sasha stood. Either way, it was nice to have made another friend. Maybe one day, I¡¯ll explore the attraction between us. But for tonight, he just enjoyed Mel¡¯s company and tried to strengthen his relationship with one of the most important organizations in town. He did wind up dancing a few songs with her, resisting the temptation to let his hands wander as he led the muscular guardswoman through a series of dips and turns that had them both laughing by the end. Riller wound up overdoing it. He was still early stage one and only had a bit more Durability than a regular person, which meant that downing two of Jenny¡¯s brews wasn¡¯t the best idea. He spent the last hour sleeping with his head on the table before they called it quits for the night and Jumo and Edge carried him home. All in all, it was a great day. Edge had upgraded his gear, raised his attributes, and made a solid connection with Earl and the deputies. His head hit the pillow with a smile on his face and he was out like a light two minutes later. Chapter 6: Ticking Clock Setna huddled between the ferns as death prowled the sky above. She peered through the sprawling fronds, praying that the foliage was thick enough to shield her from the monsters that had been stalking her for days. Her heart hammered in her chest as a flock of feathered serpents flew past her hiding spot¡ªtongues darting out to taste her scent on the breeze. She froze every muscle in her body, not daring to breathe as the deadly creatures soared over her head. She had already seen what their venom could do and would rather die by her own hand than experience it herself. Her last memory of Ruby was tainted blood erupting from every orifice after being bitten by the serpentine monstrosities. When the last snake vanished from view, Setna let loose a deep, shuddering sigh. She waited for a few more minutes to make sure they were really gone, then opened her backpack and checked her supplies. I have enough scent-erasing ointment for another few days at most. After it runs out, the next time the monsters find me, my bones will join my friends in this cursed place. Her features twisted with bitter regret. We were such fools. I thought that we could handle anything this dungeon could throw at us. That even if we couldn¡¯t clear it, we could scout the boss¡¯s room without running into anything that we couldn¡¯t defeat or outrun. This biome must be deeper into the frontier than I believed¡ªcapable of sustaining late stage-two and early stage-three life forms. Not only had deciding to explore the Savage Garden cost Setna the lives of her crew¡ªthe only people on this whole fucking planet who cared about her¡ªtheir entry was going to spark a war between the Crimson Claws and the residents of Puppet Town, even if neither side knew it yet. The quest she¡¯d triggered mentioned that it would relay itself to the leaders of both forces, but it said nothing about informing them of the other¡¯s involvement. When the clock hit zero four days from now, both settlements would send elite units to complete the quest to conquer the dungeon. But the convicts would know they hadn¡¯t been the ones to find the Savage Garden. That another faction was trying to claim the quest¡¯s reward. It meant that the prisoners wouldn¡¯t just be coming to clear the dungeon, they would be ready to wipe out the competition along the way. In short, in approximately one week¡¯s time, both groups were going to run into each other outside the entrance. At which point, a vicious battle would ensue. Neither settlement could afford to pass up the opportunity that the manufactory offered¡ªthe ability to create basic cores with the right resources, and even some common specialty cores. Having more cored residents would dramatically increase the strength of the holding that claimed the manufactory, giving them a fighting chance of surviving the changes that had been wrought to the surface of Ord. And that was just the beginning. Once the jailbirds in the Gilded Heights were aware of Puppet Town¡¯s existence, they were unlikely to leave it alone, even if the dungeon wasn¡¯t in the picture. They would follow her tracks back to the Ivory Plains and besiege the settlement she called home. If that wasn¡¯t bad enough, Setna had recognized the name of their leader from the System¡¯s message. Yussuf the Red was an infamous killer who had a long-standing grudge with Earl the Earthhammer, the Sheriff of Puppet Town. By this point, it was inevitable that the men would meet on the field of battle. That the conflict wouldn¡¯t end until one side was destroyed or subjugated. She wasn¡¯t sure what would happen if Puppet Town won, but she knew that a grim future awaited them all if the Crimson Claws came out on top. Not that she was likely to live long enough to see it. Setna was trapped in here. No matter how hard she searched or which direction she traveled, she hadn¡¯t been able to make her way back to the entrance, and her supplies were running out. Her only chance of survival was if Puppet Town entered the dungeon first and cleared the way to her position. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. If they made it in time, she could offer her rescuers some valuable intel on the dungeon and its inhabitants, and her friends wouldn¡¯t have died in vain. That thought gave her the strength to keep going, bolstering her resolve as she lay down to get some rest within the monster-filled gauntlet known as the Savage Garden. *** Edge woke up late the next day, suffering from his very first hangover since arriving on Ord. Apparently, Jenny¡¯s brews were potent enough to have lingering aftereffects, despite his high Durability. He ignited his core and tried using Regeneration to cure his pounding headache. But even after pleading with the beating heart living inside his skill garden, Regeneration wasn¡¯t able to lend a hand. A hangover must count as being poisoned instead of tissue damage. Since he was here already, he spent some time taking in the view, pondering the changes that had occurred within his core after evolving to stage one. Like the interior of all cores, Skill-Eater contained a space that was known as a central chamber. Edge¡¯s took the form of a spacious stone room with rows of lights hanging from the ceiling. It had the ambiance of a workshop and being here made him feel calm and safe. In one corner stood a large brass double tank that represented his reservoir¡ªthe component that stored the ambient magicytes he absorbed from the environment until they were ready to be burned. It featured a series of pipes that permeated the walls of the room, which led to the mana-pores embedded in his skin. Across from the reservoir was his reactor, where raw magicytes were converted into the refined mana that powered his skills. Edge¡¯s reactor was a hulking furnace forged from black iron, with a bulbous grill covering the front. When he peered through the bars, an infinite plane of living flames met his gaze¡ªa blazing hellscape that extended far beyond the boundaries of the chamber. A network of conduits connected the reservoir to the reactor, and another led to the pillars where his skills were socketed. Adjacent to the central chamber was his skill garden, where the embodiments of Edge¡¯s powers were socketed into the slots that fed them mana from the reactor. There were eleven marble pillars rising from the floor, each representing a skill socket. But his skills weren¡¯t bound to their pillars anymore. After his core had evolved to stage one, they could freely traverse this mysterious space, going about their business until he called upon their power. He spent a few minutes greeting all eleven of his skills, thanking them for their service and requesting their ongoing support. Edge had developed a suspicion that forming a connection to his skills could enhance their capabilities, and he had been working on improving those relationships ever since. He watched them play for a few minutes before returning his attention to the other features of his core. There were two more objects of note in the room. The first was what looked like a glass terrarium. It was the representation of Edge¡¯s Auxiliary Skill Slot¡ªthe implant he had received for killing the garax. It let him socket an extra skill, even though it couldn¡¯t gain experience and rank up. He was planning to use it to swap out powers on the fly, letting him adjust his skillset to meet his current needs. The final component of his core was a shadow-shrouded door. Most cores only contained a central chamber and a skill garden once they evolved one, but Skill-Eater was special. Even though the door was sealed right now, Edge knew what was on the other side¡ªa wild, alien landscape, where a giant was restrained by endless black chains. In fact, this entire chamber was contained within that mysterious entity, which was the true form of the being known as Skill-Eater. When he had first bound his core, then again when it evolved to stage one, Edge had spoken with Skill-Eater face-to-face. The ravenous lord bound in chains had promised to share some of its power and that they would speak again once he evolved his core a second time. Edge had mixed feelings about his fate being tied to that enigmatic creature. Skill-Eater had changed his life and saved it on numerous occasions. Most of the time, they acted like partners, working together toward a common goal. In darker moments, his hungry passenger felt like a parasite, using Edge as a host to nurture itself and regain its full power. The giant normally slumbered inside him, although it had woken up on occasion to share an insight or help him out of a jam. He needed to learn more about his unique situation before he decided what he was going to do about it. But one thing was certain. The story of Skill-Eater was far from over. Edge spent a few minutes staring at the epic skill that was digesting in the corner, which cheered him up quite a bit, before he snapped back into his own skin. Chapter 7: Skill Merger Now that he had toured his core, Edge was ready to continue with his day. He was planning to head into the field tomorrow on a solo run, hunting for more skills to help rank up Regeneration. Before he left town, there were a few things that he wanted to take care of. First and foremost was using one of the Skill-Merger Tokens he¡¯d received for completing the quest to kill the garax. Thanks to the crew¡¯s battles with a colossal predator, a behemoth beast, and a swarm of monsters, his first big game hunt had taken Edge all the way to the middle of stage one in record time. During his adventure, he was able to fill all eleven skill slots that Skill-Eater offered at this stage¡ªsix more than anyone else. He would acquire another seven slots when he evolved to stage two. Reaching that milestone was going to take some time, even at his rapid rate of growth. He wasn¡¯t willing to give up any of his skills just yet, except for Sense Fruit, which was sitting in his auxiliary slot. But he needed to make room for the epic skill he¡¯d stolen from the garax, which would finish digesting in another ten days. Fortunately, the System had provided him with a solution to this dilemma¡ªa way to free up two of his slots with Skill-Merger Tokens. Although they weren¡¯t the only way to combine skills, these tokens were the rarest and most reliable method. By activating a token, two skills could be blended into something new and potentially better than the sum of its parts, freeing up the slot for his epic power in the process. That being said, he had to be careful how he used the tokens. There was always a risk involved in merging skills, no matter which procedure was used. The new skill could come out worse than either of its parents, or even fail if the powers were fundamentally incompatible. After some investigation, Edge had learned that his odds of success would be higher if the skills were still low-rank. While the new skill would keep the upgrades he had chosen for its parents, the ones offered by merged skills tended to be better. It meant that the new power would wind up stronger in the end if it started off at rank one or two. Since there wasn¡¯t a reason to rank his skills up first, he was ready to give the process a shot. He had been pondering his options long and hard after receiving the tokens and had eventually decided on how he wanted to use the first. A combination that he was pretty sure would create something good, with the lowest odds of failure he could come up with. He was going to merge Slash and Double Strike. Slash was a basic skill and one of Edge¡¯s favorites. It was a core part of his fighting style and incredibly mana efficient. The problem was, basic skills had a low ceiling on the power they could obtain, falling off well below those of higher rarities. Slash would still be useful for a while as it was. But was destined to be outclassed by rarer skills, especially when he picked up enough Generation to use expensive powers more often. Double Strike was an Uncommon skill. It created a mana-forged mirror of his weapon and straight up doubled the effectiveness of any attack. It also spread the damage over a wider area, which made his strikes harder to dodge. The issue was that it cost too much mana for what it did, especially when used as part of a skill combo. As a result, Edge hadn¡¯t found many occasions to use Double Strike yet, and he had other priorities for the skill experience he acquired in the near future. He was hoping that by combining Slash and Double Strike, he could preserve the best features of both. That the strengths of each component would enhance the other¡¯s and compensate for their weaknesses. That the merged skill would increase Slash¡¯s rarity and overall power, while reducing Double Strike¡¯s mana cost to a more manageable level. If this merger worked out the way he wanted, not only would the new skill be better than either of the originals, it would effectively let him use both of the old skills at once¡ªwithout suffering the massive mana drain that unleashing skill combos required. The downside would be losing access to his cheapest skill and the ability to double attacks that didn¡¯t involve bladed weapons, but it was a good trade by any accounting. When you added the skill slot it would free up in the process, the Skill-Merger Token wound up being a massive windfall. Even in a worst-case scenario where the merger failed, Edge could find replacements for Slash and Double Strike relatively easily, compared to Elemental Blade or Regeneration, which he had no means of reacquiring. He realized that he was overanalyzing the matter because he was nervous. Alright, Edge. That¡¯s enough stalling. Let¡¯s get the show on the road and pray that everything works out. With that, he sent his awareness into his core once more. When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in his central chamber. He turned around, stepped into his skill garden, and picked up the small statue of a man holding a naginata that symbolized Slash. Then he walked over to the pair of blurry knives that represented Double Strike. Finally, he reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a Skill-Merger Token. It was a silver disk about two inches across, with a reactor engraved on one side and Ord on the other. Figuring that it couldn¡¯t hurt to try to get their blessing about the combination, Edge turned to address the skills waiting by his feet. ¡°I hope that this is ok with you, but I¡¯m going to merge the two of you together. You have both been great, but using this token will help me get more out of Double Strike and let me keep using Slash for the long haul. If you guys don¡¯t want to be combined, let me know and I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± Double Strike began swiping its blades at the air. The skill seemed enthusiastic, like it was excited by the prospect. Slash¡­ well Slash was an inanimate statue, so it just sat there looking cool. But Edge thought that the skill was copacetic with the idea. Since there didn¡¯t seem to be a problem, he held up the token and addressed the System. ¡°I want to use this token to merge Double Strike and Slash.¡± He broke into a broad grin, waiting for the show to start. For a moment, nothing happened, which left Edge wondering if there were aspects to the skill-merger process that he wasn¡¯t aware of. But then the token floated out of his grasp, shining with the light he had come to associate with skills advancing. The silver coin began to spin, until the metal disk was a whirling blur hovering between Slash and Double Strike. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Both skills began glowing, growing brighter until he was forced to look away. There was a flash of heat, and after a final pulse of radiance, the intense display died down. Edge opened his eyes¡­ only to discover that both skills had vanished. Adrenaline surged into his veins as his heart leapt into his throat. He was convinced that the merger had failed, costing him the token and both powers in the process. But then something poked him in the back of the leg. He spun around and looked down, to where a statue of a man was holding a naginata. As the polearm extended from the figure¡¯s hands, it began to diverge, splitting until the blade of the dual weapon was several inches apart. The statue looked up at Edge, waved, and then darted off to play with the other skills, swinging its doubled weapon with a flourish. Relief went flooding through his body at the sight. ¡°Good for you, little guy. I¡¯m glad that you can move now.¡± While this was a promising sign, he wouldn¡¯t breathe easy until he knew that the merger had created something good. His fears were alleviated a few seconds later, when a message from the System appeared before his eyes. Edge pumped his fist when he reached the last word¡ªfilled with the rush of gaining a new power and the satisfaction of having made a solid match. Congratulations. The skills: Slash (Basic, Rank 2) and Double Strike (Uncommon, Rank 1) have successfully merged into a new skill. The penetration bonus from Slash has been preserved. Your new skill is: Double Slash (Rare, Rank 1). Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. The weapon will have an offset double and its edge will be magically sharpened while the skill is active. Fuck yes! While he would have to test out the skill to discover how much mana it drained, everything else was exactly what Edge had been hoping for. The core functionality of both powers was intact, including Slash¡¯s limitation of only being useable with a bladed weapon. It had even kept the penetration bonus from Slash¡¯s first upgrade, but not the skill¡¯s rank. It meant that Double Slash would still be eligible for its own rank-two upgrade. Best of all, the new skill was rare, and it would eventually become more powerful than both skills combined. They must have been highly compatible after all. Skill-Merger Tokens were exotic enough that most combinations hadn¡¯t been tested, so Edge had been forced to make an educated guess and hope that he got lucky. Or more likely, those that have are closely-guarded secrets. On that note, the details of my merger might be worth something to the right person. Edge could sense Skill-Eater¡¯s approval that he¡¯d added another rare skill to their collection¡ªhis core¡¯s desire to grow more powerful resonating with his own. He took another moment to savor his success, said goodbye to his skills, then returned his awareness to his own body. While all of this was extremely promising, there was one more thing he needed to do before he called the merger an unmitigated success¡ªtake his sexy new skill out for a test drive. Edge grabbed his naginata and his pack and then walked over to the north gate. He stopped to chat with Mel for a while, then stepped out onto the Ivory Plains. He was familiar with the area by now, and he knew where to go if he wanted to remain out of sight from curious eyes. He hiked over to the grove where Riller had trained him in stealth by playing hide and seek¡ªwhere dense trees and prolific boulders broke up the field of view. After making sure that nothing dangerous was lurking nearby, he unstrapped his polearm from his backpack, extended the shaft, and started looking for a target. He picked out a tree that was already dead, then walked over to it and took up his stance. Filled with a rising tide of excitement, Edge brought the blade up over his shoulder, then swung it down in a diagonal arc while willing Double Slash to activate. His reactor roared to life as it drew magicytes from his reservoir and converted them into mana. The refined magic flowed into his new skill, changing its nature, then went coursing through his arms and into the naginata, just like he had envisioned. The weapon abruptly sped up, magnifying the power of the blow. At the same time, it began to blur, until two distinct polearms were soaring side by side. Each of the dual blades was coated in a layer of magical energy that sharpened their edges on a molecular level to increase the penetrative power. When combined with the explosive growth to his physical attributes over the last few weeks, Edge shouldn¡¯t have been surprised when the weapon hit the trunk and kept right on going, passing straight through the other side with only a faint sense of resistance. Even still, he wasn¡¯t prepared for when the tree fell apart and came crashing to the ground in a spray of shorn branches and splinters, scaring the ever-living shit out of him until he realized what he¡¯d done. At which point, he began to laugh. Double Slash was even better than he had imagined. It was significantly more mana efficient than Double Strike. Although it burned more than Slash, it was dramatically less draining than combining both of his old skills and just as powerful. I need to thank Ander again when I see him. This weapon really is the best. While he waited to make sure that no one had heard the clamor and come to investigate, Edge got in some practice using the polearm as a regular weapon. He maneuvered the naginata around his body while attacking from various angles, getting used to the long pole that was attached to the blade that had originally been a shadowreaver¡¯s claw¡ªthe monster he had met right after binding Skill-Eater and the source of his amazing Shadow Step skill. He practiced bracing himself for a charge by extending the shaft and planting the butt into the ground, so that the beast¡¯s momentum would impale it. Then, just for the hell of it, he shrunk the shaft to its minimum length and tried using it like a sword. Although, like Ander had warned him, the balance wasn¡¯t quite right. Who knows? I might find myself in tight quarters and not have a better option. Fifteen minutes later, Edge was reasonably confident that no one was coming. Before he walked back to town, there was one more thing that he wanted to test. He strapped his naginata onto his pack, then walked over to another dead tree. It was time to find out what Double Slash could do when combined with Elemental Blade. These days, his iceblade was a proper sword compared to the tiny knife it had been when he¡¯d stolen the skill from the convict who was trying to kill him. It was three feet long with a crystalline body that glowed with a glacial blue light, trailing fog as it froze the moisture in the air. Combining Slash, Elemental Blade, and Double Strike without Overdrive would have drained his reservoir to the dregs in a single go, if he had been able to pull off the triple combo at all. Edge was hoping that comboing his iceblade with Double Slash would be equally powerful but wouldn¡¯t cost nearly as much mana. There¡¯s only one way find out. He grinned as he brought his subzero sword whipping around in a horizontal Double Slash. The iceblade doubled in the blink of an eye, making him shiver despite the summer heat. It went screaming through the air in a blur of wintery wrath before slamming into the tree with incredible force. This time, he had picked out a big trunk, so that he could get a better sense for the power of the blow. The iceblade lacked the weight of his naginata, but it still bit a good two feet into the tree before coming to a halt. The extra copy wavered out of existence, since it only lasted for the duration of the Slash. But his iceblade would remain manifested as long as Edge kept feeding it mana. He could see frost spreading from the point of impact, and a large patch of wood was already frozen solid. The mana drain was significant. He wouldn¡¯t be using this combo too many times in the same fight. But it was only a fraction of what the triple combo would have cost, and it seemed to be just as powerful. Completely satisfied with his new skill, Edge walked back to town while humming to himself, contemplating various combination for his other token with a smile on his face. Chapter 8: Nymph Hunt Edge wove his way through the towering crimson ferns, keeping one eye on the shadow-strewn ground and the other on the purple canopy stretching out above his head. He couldn¡¯t afford to ignore either elevation. The beasts he was stalking were infamous for ambushing people from the branches as well as lurking below the soil, making the treetops just as dangerous as the forest floor. Today, he was hunting alone, pursuing prey that was likely to have a duplicate of the skill he was hoping to advance, Entangle. One of the benefits of trusting Trapper¡¯s crew with his secret was that they were eager to help him out however they could, including sharing any promising leads that might further his development. While he was chatting with another crew, Jumo had learned that the hunters had spotted a pack of nymphs living in the Violet Groves sub-biome. Since they weren¡¯t worth many Credits, the crew considered the wooden carnivores to be a nuisance rather than a source of income. They were happy to share the sighting with anyone who might be interested in removing the predators from the region, which was adjacent to several prime beast and resource-hunting spots. Edge was excited to be back in the field. In addition to developing his skillset, this was a great opportunity to try out Double Slash in battle for the first time. A chance to find out how far he had come since being ambushed by the aggressive critters during the early days of his adventures. After using his Skill-Merger Token the day before, he had spent the rest of the afternoon hunting in the grasslands around town. He wound up stealing three basic skills from animals, then Absorbed them to transfer a portion of their experience to the skills of his choice. Edge had put two of them into Regeneration, since it was the power that he was most interested in ranking up right now, and the third into Regulate Temperature, because it only needed to Absorb a single skill to advance to rank two. After Skill-Eater consumed the animal¡¯s skill, Regulate Temperature, which took the form of a heavy fur coat, began to glow. The cup representing its experience was filled to the brim, and a message from the System appeared before his eyes. The skill (Regulate Temperature) has advanced to Rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. Regulate Temperature will offer significantly more insulation from cold but will lose a modest amount of protection from heat.
  2. Regulate Temperature will become an aura, extending its effect to all allies within a ten-foot radius.
  3. Regulate Temperature will offer modest protection against fire and cold-based attacks.
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain unchanged and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. The first option was off the table. It would be great if Edge wanted to specialize in operating in cold climates, but he had no idea where he would wind up over the coming months. While the upgrade sounded like a net gain, he was reluctant to weaken the skill¡¯s ability to endure hot weather. The second offering wasn¡¯t bad and he¡¯d spent some time considering it. Since he had joined Trapper¡¯s crew, he wasn¡¯t opposed to picking an upgrade that could help out the whole team. However, Regulate Temperature wasn¡¯t something they were likely to benefit from very often, especially with a range of only ten feet from his position. Not to mention, appropriate clothing and magitech devices could solve the problem just as easily. But the main reason why he had decided to pass up the second option was because the third had a direct combat application, providing additional defense against hot and cold-based attacks that would stack with his armor, Disruption, and Durability. It might only come up every now and again. But after witnessing the devastating effects of the high-ranked skills contained within the spellshots in Warren¡¯s revolver, Inferno and the ice round Edge had used to immobilize the garax, having some protection against fire and frost sounded like a good idea. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. After confirming his choice, the coat of fur changed shape, gaining a layer of what looked like orange scales along the interior. He could sense that they had a high specific heat and low thermal conductivity, adding another layer on top of the skill¡¯s existing insulation. Now that he was done considering his latest upgrade, Edge returned his attention to the matter at hand. It was time to hunt some nymphs and work on ranking up Entangle if the beasts happened to have a copy of the skill on the menu, and Regeneration if they didn¡¯t. By now, he was drawing close to the spot where the hunters had sighted the band of wooden predators. Edge reached behind his back to unfasten his naginata from its draw-strap, then touched the section of the shaft that made it grow to its natural length. When the black wood stopped expanding, he resumed walking with the blade of his polearm leading the way. Not long after, he found a pile of bones encased in what appeared to be amber¡ªa crystalline substance the nymphs excreted after consuming their prey. That was when he heard something moving above his head. When he looked up, he spotted a pair of big brown eyes watching him through a gap in the branches¡ªeyes set into a wooden face with a childlike expression and needle-sharp teeth. The beast¡¯s bark was brown, which contrasted against the red trees and their purple leaves, or Edge would have had a harder time spotting it. Then again, there¡¯s a good chance that it revealed itself on purpose. Which could only mean one thing. There were more nymphs in the area, and he was already surrounded. He wasn¡¯t too worried¡ªthis situation was exactly what he had been expecting. Nymphs never hunted alone and preferred to use ambush tactics, which he had learned the hard way shortly after binding Skill-Eater and crossing the Ivory Plains. The beasts were extremely hard to detect in wooded areas. They were far more likely to notice him before he spotted them. Adrenaline surged into his veins. His heart pounded in his chest as the electric tension that precedes an imminent battle rose to fill the air. Edge took a deep breath to calm his nerves, refusing to let his opponent control his behavior or dictate the pace of the conflict. His first objective was to make sure that he wasn¡¯t hit from behind by the beasts that were certain to be closing on his position. His second was to figure out what skills they were wielding before committing to a course of action. He had spent several hours planning out what strategy he would use to tackle various powers while hiking to the grove. As soon as each nymph revealed their skillset, he would have a counter ready to go. He was willing to strike before that if an opening presented itself, but he would have to remain vigilant while there were unknown skills at play. Judging by the size of the beast above him, the pack was still early stage one, and each nymph would have two skills at most. Confirming his suspicions that the first creature was acting as a decoy, it leapt to the ground fifteen feet in front of him¡ªa move designed to draw his attention. The child-sized predator looked up at Edge with an expression that was remarkably cute¡­ until it opened a mouth full of wooden daggers and hissed. Although he didn¡¯t look away, most of his attention was on his surroundings. He was listening for the sound of something sneaking up from behind. Feeling the ground below his boots for vibrations, and on the lookout for any sources of mana springing to life nearby. It gave him a chance to inspect the humanoid predator standing in front of him. This nymph was three feet tall, with stocky shoulders and wide hips. Its exterior was coated in a bark-like growth that was dense enough to protect it from cuts and scratches. Its arms ended in a pair of swordlike spikes that were long enough to run him through. While the creature¡¯s natural weaponry wasn¡¯t too threatening to a cored hunter, the skills the nymphs were wielding made them far more dangerous than their stature would suggest. By now, Edge could hear another creature approaching from behind, but he didn¡¯t feel any vibrations coming through the ground. It meant that there wasn¡¯t a Burrowing beast below him this time, which would simplify the battle to come. That was all the time for reflection he was granted. Because that was when the nymph hissed again and came charging straight for him, moving in time with the one advancing from behind. He noticed two critical details in that moment, which kicked his heartbeat up another gear. The first was that the beasts were making a lot more noise than they needed to. The second was that there was an open space on his left where he could break free from the nymphs¡¯ encirclement. It looked like a fortunate oversight on their part, but he was sure that it represented something far more sinister. Sorry, guys. I¡¯m not falling for that one again. Edge started darting for the open space, like he had been taken in by their ruse. Three steps into his sprint, he ignited his core and Leapt. Sure enough, a set of grasping vines burst free from the soil, directly in front of the spot where he¡¯d been running. Half a heartbeat later, a second set of tendrils emerged behind his heels. Even if he had evaded both skills, he would have been trapped between them if he let the nymphs have their way. It was a variation of the ambush that had caught him before¡ªan effective combination of misdirection and preparation, intended to lure prey onto the ground of their choosing and cut off all avenues of retreat. He suspected that there were more vines surrounding him, set in a pattern that would be impossible to avoid if he were running on the ground instead of sailing through the air. That¡¯s two copies of Entangle in their skillsets. Edge felt Skill-Eater grumble in anticipation, as hunger spread from his core to permeate every fiber of his being. Once they reveal their other skills, I¡¯ll have a counter ready to go. Chapter 9: Living Wood By this point, Edge¡¯s Leap had carried him high into the air. He was already at the level of the lowest branches, avoiding the vines reaching for his legs with plenty of room to spare. The nymphs hissed in frustration as their ploy fell apart, and he landed on the ground twenty feet away from the closest tendrils. Before the beast in front of him could recover from its surprise, he Shadow Stepped and circled around to its blind spot with his naginata poised to strike. Then he shifted back into solid form, brought his weapon down in a diagonal arc, and activated Double Slash while in mid-swing. Mana went surging out of his core and engulfed the length of his polearm. Part of it wrapped around the blade, honing it on a molecular level to make the cutting edge even sharper than before. More of the skill¡¯s magic infused the shaft, causing it to blur before an identical copy wavered into existence beside the first. The doubled blade was slightly offset and fuzzy, like Edge had taken a few too many shots at the bar. The rest of the Double Slash¡¯s magic went into his arms, providing the same boost to the momentum of his swing that Slash had offered in its original form. All this occurred in between the drawing of one breath and the next. The combined effect multiplied the force of his attack several times over, increasing the naginata¡¯s penetrative properties along the way. The nymph never saw it coming. It started to turn with a look of dawning realization in its big brown eyes. Then the skill-bolstered blade caught the beast on one shoulder and kept right on cutting. The naginata sliced all the way down to its waist, slaying the creature instantly and nearly bisecting it lengthwise in a great spray of sap. Shit. Edge winced. That was overkill. I need to steal Entangle before I finish off the other one. He spun on his heels while scanning his surroundings for the beast in question. It had aborted its charge when it watched its companion die and had to be hiding somewhere nearby. Is it planning to run or press the attack? Edge learned the answer to that question a bare second later, when more vines erupted through the soil on both sides of his boots. At the same time, two nymphs came charging in from ahead and behind, leaving him surrounded on all sides. To make matters worse, a big branch was directly overhead, which meant that he couldn¡¯t Leap away by jumping straight up. It was an unfavorable position by any accounting, but he wasn¡¯t afraid. After all, this was a situation he had planned for. Moreover, the beasts had no way of knowing that he had eleven different powers comprising his skillset, along with attributes superior to most people his stage and several weeks of concentrated combat experience. Edge had begun casting the moment that he realized what was happening. Before the writhing vines could close around his legs, two more sets emerged from the ground, in between their position and his own. The newly-spawned tendrils reached out and grabbed the ones the nymphs had conjured. His Entangles engaged the other copies before they could reach him, marking the beginning of some intense vine-on-vine action. His Entangle was rank two, and he had a ton of Amplification for his stage, so Edge wasn¡¯t worried about his vines losing the fight. Instead, he darted toward the nymph in front of him, while both beasts let out screeches of astonishment that their prey was using their own skill against them. The nymph looked up and turned to run, but it was already too late. By this point, he had taken aim and swung his polearm, sending the naginata around in a sweeping strike with the blade at the level of his knees. He Double Slashed along the way, catching the wooden predator right below the hips. His attack sheared both limbs clean off, leaving the beast screaming in the dirt while clutching at the sap-spurting stumps where its legs had been a heartbeat before. It was critically wounded, but it wasn¡¯t going to die right away. I can come back and steal a skill after I deal with the one behind me. Edge turned, but the creature had moved faster than he¡¯d anticipated. It was already springing for his throat, with one barbed arm poised to strike. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Its wooden jaws closed around his neck, while its arm-spike thrust toward his heart with Power that belied the beast¡¯s size. But instead of penetrating two vital areas like the predator was planning, something rather different occurred. The nymph¡¯s teeth shattered like glass as the barb on its arm snapped off at the base. The reason why its attack failed was simple. A heartbeat before the beast¡¯s natural weapons struck true, Edge had visualized his desire and activated Harden. By this point, both areas were covered in diamondlike scales¡ªdozens of times harder than the tender flesh it had expected to encounter. The beast braced its feet against his chest and shoved itself back, avoiding a swipe from his blade with inches to spare. He was ready for the creature to come charging back in or let loose with its skills. Instead, the nymph took one last look at Edge and then scampered into the foliage. Its piteous whine was growing fainter by the second, and he was pretty sure that its retreat wasn¡¯t a trick considering the circumstances. But if he chased the nymph now, the first one would die by the time he got back, and he would lose another chance to steal the skill he had come for. Instead, he walked over to the dying beast. Edge took a quick look around to make sure that no other predators were nearby, then reached out with both arms and willed his ultimate ability to activate. Extraction. He felt a pulse of gluttony as his core roared to life. A need to feed that infused every cell of his body and every neuron in his brain. Energy went streaming out of Skill-Eater before gathering in his wrists, accompanied by an intense pressure building just below his skin. The flesh of his forearms parted, and through the ruby gashes emerged a pair of thick black chains. The living links burst free from his body like they were spring-loaded. They crossed the intervening distance in the blink of an eye, accompanied by a procession of chiming clinks. The animated loops entered the nymph¡¯s body through the wound he had carved, then dove into the core beyond, dragging his consciousness along for the ride. The outside world faded away, and when he opened his eyes, he was standing inside the beast¡¯s core. Each creature¡¯s core was different¡ªa unique manifestation of their inner world, based on the place they felt most at home. While each species tended to share some aspects in common, Edge had observed considerable variation between individual creatures. This nymph¡¯s central chamber was the verdant shore of a riverbank. The sun was high in the azure sky, spreading its lifegiving warmth across the greenery below. The wind was blowing and the river added moisture to the air¡ªa perfect place to stretch out in the sunlight and grow. It would have been a nice spot to take a nap, if it wasn¡¯t for the animal carcasses spread out along the shoreline. It was a timely reminder that nymphs were relentless predators, who only received a fraction of the energy they needed to survive from photosynthesis. By this point, Edge had spotted the skill he wanted to steal, which was easy, since it was the only power inside the early stage-one beast¡¯s core. The vines representing Entangle were hiding below the water, trying to keep out of sight of the strange invaders to this sacred space. It didn¡¯t help at all. The black chains darted forth like a pair of vipers going in for the kill, encircling the creepers before binding them tight. The mysterious manifestations had grown stronger after Edge evolved to stage one, and they were able to remove the skill from the nymph¡¯s core with no appreciable resistance. The moment they did, he snapped back into his own skin and the chains threw Entangle into his mouth. One strange quirk about Skill-Eater was that its name was quite literal. If he wanted to steal another creature¡¯s skill, Extraction was only the first step. Once the power was removed from its core, Edge had to chew it up, then swallow once its will was broken. He had eaten Entangle enough times to realize that while each copy shared an essential flavor, the notes crossing his palate were always unique. In this case, it tasted like kale that was covered in a basil-balsamic dressing. Of course, that description wasn¡¯t an exact match. But it was the closest that he could come up with based on the foods he was familiar with. Since the skill was a low-rank common, the fight was relatively easy. Although the vines wrapped around his tongue and squeezed, they couldn¡¯t do any real damage. A dozen chomps later, they dissolved into warm goo, and he swallowed it all in a single gulp. The pureed skill slid down his throat, past his stomach, and into the strange space beyond. Now that Edge had done his part, it was time for Skill-Eater to handle the rest. Chapter 10: Big Brother When the nymph¡¯s copy of Entangle entered Edge¡¯s core, he was drawn inside too, where a message from his Guide was waiting. You have extracted the skill: Entangle (Common, Rank 1). You already have this skill in your collection. Its experience will be added to your existing skill. A few seconds later, both the stolen version of Entangle and the one living in his skill garden began to merge. They started shining as their essence blended, adding a portion of the copy¡¯s experience to his original skill. He noticed that the cup representing Entangle¡¯s advancement had filled a decent amount, even though the duplicate was only rank one while his power was rank two. Extracting a copy is way more efficient than Absorbing a non-matching skill. When the process was complete, he returned to his body in the Violet Groves. Less than a second had passed in the outside world, thanks to the intense time-dilation that occurred within the enigmatic space that existed inside a core. He turned and got ready to finish off the nymph, only to find that Extraction had done the job for him. One skill down, two to go. Now where did the other nymph run off to? Edge was ready to hunt the wounded beast, using the tracking techniques that he had been learning from Sasha. However, on this occasion, he didn¡¯t wind up needing them after all. Mere moments after he began following the wooden creature¡¯s trail, trouble came knocking at his door. The beast that had fled came running back, ready to rejoin the fight despite the damage it had received from attacking Edge¡¯s Hardened body. He assumed a battle stance with the sound of his own heartbeat thundering in his ears. His confidence evaporated, as he prepared himself for a fight that was far more dangerous than the last. The reason why was simple. It wasn¡¯t the child-sized wooden beast that sent adrenaline surging through his veins and kicked his fight-or-flight reflex into high gear. It was the giant version that followed a few steps behind it. Oh shit. That one is stage two. That¡¯s not good. Edge gripped the shaft of his naginata as he took in the sight of a towering nymph that was two feet taller than himself and twice as broad at the shoulders. While the little nymphs were cute, at least when viewed from a distance, their big brother was downright terrifying. It was still roughly humanoid, but its features could never be mistaken for a man¡¯s. The beast had dense bands of bark running along its exterior, covering its wooden body in a second coating of armor that looked even tougher than the inner layer. They formed jagged spikes that protected its joints, granting the creature a fearsome visage. But the real shock was its face. Instead of a childlike expression, the nymph¡¯s head looked almost skeletal, with hulking jaws ending in an array of bladed teeth. They must be evolving now that magicytes are flooding the biome. Edge didn¡¯t know nearly as much about stage-two nymphs as he did about their smaller cousins. It was likely to have ranked-up skills of the variety that he was familiar with, but it might also have some powers that he¡¯d never seen before. Even with his recent growth, fighting a creature above his stage was a risky proposition. An early stage-two life form was bound to have superior attributes and skills that outranked his own. On top of that, the towering brute was loaded with Power and Durability, and likely had enough Disruption to make his skills less effective. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. If that wasn¡¯t enough to deal with, the big nymph wasn¡¯t nearly as slow as he would have expected given its size. Taken together, the only advantages he had were the reach of his polearm and the breadth of his skillset. He thought about running before the nymph could catch him, hunting in some other part of the plains instead. But then Edge realized that whatever skills the big bastard was packing, they were likely to be at least rank three, possibly even rank four. It meant that this was a fantastic chance to get some experience for Regeneration, and possibly a high-rank copy of Entangle too. Not to mention, earn another cycle and come one step closer to reaching stage two himself. He backpedaled to open some room, heading across the ground he had already covered, where he knew no beasts were waiting in ambush. As he moved, he took a closer look at the bulky brute that was chasing him, cataloguing its features and form. The hulking humanoid was so wide that it seemed squat despite its considerable height. Its powerful arms ended in broad hands with long wooden spikes for fingers¡ªdeadly natural weapons that could tear into flesh with ease. Its thick bark looked tough enough to turn aside all but the most powerful of attacks, and its jagged teeth could probably crush rocks without breaking. In short, Edge couldn¡¯t afford to take a direct hit from its impressive collection of bladed bits, and he was sure that its skills were bad news too. On the other hand, he really wanted to steal the creature¡¯s powers. This was a prime chance to rank up his skillset, and he was reluctant to let it slip through his fingers. His core agreed with his assessment. He felt the giant slumbering inside him open one eye, regarding the stage-two nymph with contempt. Skill-Eater was sure that Edge could take it, and more importantly, it was certain that its skills were delicious. A surge of desire emanated from the space behind his ribs¡ªan infectious hunger that had him drooling as he scampered across the forest floor with the pair of beasts following hot on his heels. By now, Edge had judged that the nymph¡¯s Speed was nearly equal to his own. He thought that he might have an advantage in Reflex and Control, but the beefy fellow had considerably more Power and Durability. He doubted that Endurance or Generation would play a critical role, since the fight should be over before either of them ran low on reserves. In that moment, he made his choice. Fuck it. Let¡¯s do this, big guy. I can always Shadow Step and Leap to safety if this battle doesn¡¯t go our way. Since he had decided to fight, Edge made his move without hesitation. He gathered his concentration and cast Entangle, targeting the ground in front of the big beast¡¯s feet. His reactor ignited and mana went surging into the soil, assuming physical form as it crossed the distance between them. Four vines burst free from the earth and wrapped around the nymph¡¯s thick legs. It didn¡¯t even acknowledge their existence. The hulking humanoid kept right on running until the tendrils went taught and it came to a stop. The nymph looked down in surprise at the vines restricting its movement. Perhaps it hadn¡¯t expected its prey to fight back. Or maybe it was astonished that Edge had used a skill its species shared. Either way, the result was the same. It brought one bladed hand up and sent its claws sweeping down with the full strength of its body behind the blow. The bark-claws bit deep, severing two vines and slicing into a third. But Edge¡¯s Entangle was rank two, and he had upgraded his creepers to have extra resistance against being cut or torn. In this case, it just meant that the beast needed to swing twice to sever them all, which it did. On the bright side, the move distracted the creature, taking its attention away from him long enough to use another skill. By the time that the elder nymph cut through the last vine, he had already Shadow Stepped behind it, repeating the maneuver he had used to slay its smaller cousin. He Double Slashed along the way, adding momentum and penetration to the attack while doubling the business end of his naginata. With an impact that reverberated through his arms, the polearm bit deep, cutting a third of the way through the beast¡¯s limb in a single swing. The wooden giant let out a shriek of pain, but the attack wasn¡¯t powerful enough to cripple or kill it. Half a heartbeat after Edge worked his blade back out, the nymph lashed out with its other arm¡ªso fast that it almost took him out then and there. He Leapt back in the nick of time, avoiding the bladed fingers streaking for his throat with inches to spare. The bark-covered beast issued a furious roar and came charging back in, heading straight for the spot where his boots were coming down. Fortunately, he landed a heartbeat before it arrived. He Leapt back again to open some room, extending the shaft of his naginata along the way. Like Jumo had taught him, Edge grounded the butt of the shaft into the earth. Then he pointed the tip of the blade at his opponent¡¯s chest, planning to use the beast¡¯s momentum against it and impale it on the end of his polearm. But that wasn¡¯t quite how events played out. Everything went according to plan until the nymph ignited its core and unleashed its first skill of the fight. Chapter 11: Fierce Fight Edge watched as a layer of mana spread across the charging beast¡¯s chest, causing the bands of living wood to thicken along that surface. That skill seems similar to Harden, but it¡¯s specialized for the nymph¡¯s unique biology. That was all the time for analysis Edge was given before the heavy creature ran straight into his weapon. It was the outcome he¡¯d been hoping for, with one significant twist. Instead of impaling itself on the naginata, the nymph¡¯s skill-bolstered bark held firm, causing the polearm to scrape across its chest instead of sinking in. To Ander¡¯s credit, the shaft held firm, resisting the pressure of the beast¡¯s mass pressing against it. On a less promising note, the heavy hit hadn¡¯t caused any damage at all. He was worried that even Double Slash would be repelled by the beast¡¯s resilient Barkskin. My iceblade will have trouble penetrating too, especially with its Disruption added to the mix. Edge had no choice other than to let go of his polearm and scamper out of the way. The nymph¡¯s claws were reaching for his throat, and he didn¡¯t have time to work his weapon free. His objective was to open some room, then circle back to retrieve his naginata. Hopefully, an insight into how he could win the fight would come to him along the way. However, the beast had no intention of letting the battle progress according to his plans. It reached down to touch the ground, as more mana went streaming out of its core. When Edge felt the soil vibrate beneath his boots, he suspected that the nymph was casting Entangle, which it was. He was prepared for a version like his own, with dense, blade-resistant vines. Or perhaps one of the variants he¡¯d been offered earlier¡ªagile tendrils, or ones covered in razored thorns. Which left him unprepared for what came bursting out of the soil a bare second later. A half dozen vines emerged from the dirt, stretching up to over ten feet in height. He thought it was strange that they hadn¡¯t come reaching for him¡­ until he saw that one side of each vine was covered in a bladed growth¡ªsegmented in a manner that allowed the creepers to flex. No sooner had he made that observation than the vines came lashing forward, using their length to create a whiplike motion with the tip of their blades leading the way. Fortunately, Edge had already gathered his concentration and ignited his core. He Shadow Stepped to avoid taking damage, since he was impervious to physical attacks while in shadow form. The world turned into smoke and mist¡­ and shifted back to normal half a heartbeat later. The instant that Edge Stepped, the nymph had let loose a surge of Disruption. It wasn¡¯t a skill, just a technique that any cored creature could learn. The move burned through a ton of mana, but it was good enough to cancel Shadow Step, leaving him at the mercy of the sword-vines streaking for his body. He had faced opponents that could use a Disruption surge several times before. But he hadn¡¯t realized that beasts could use it too and wasn¡¯t prepared to deal with a strategic counter to his transformation. It was a nasty surprise, but thanks to his incredible Reflex, Edge didn¡¯t freeze up. He darted to one side and twisted out of the way, but it wasn¡¯t good enough. Three of the razor-sharp growths pierced his body. Two were just minor wounds that only sliced the surface of his skin, but the third plunged deep into the meat of his thigh. Blood rained to the ground as the sword-vine sliced through his femoral artery before emerging from his skin, severing some nerves for good measure. It was a powerful move. An attack that would have killed most people within minutes as blood loss took its toll, severely hampering their mobility in the process. Not that the nymph would wait that long before closing in for the kill. Luckily for Edge, he wasn¡¯t most people. In addition to having experienced enough pain that it didn¡¯t overwhelm him in that moment, even a severe injury like this was only an inconvenience. All it meant was that it was time for Regeneration to earn its keep. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. He Leapt out of the way of the nymph¡¯s next attack, screaming as the maneuver magnified the agony in his leg. As he flew back, he activated his healing skill. Thanks to all the Amplification he¡¯d picked up over the last few weeks, Regeneration worked fast. Blessed relief flooded through him as his sundered tissue began sewing itself back together¡ªsavaged flesh sealing shut within a matter of seconds. There was still considerable internal damage, but he wasn¡¯t in danger of bleeding out and could support his own weight once more. Although it cost him a decent chunk of mana, he was back in the fight by the time that his boots hit the ground. The big wooden bastard clearly expected its attack to be fatal, or at least cripple its prey and trivialize the rest of the battle. Sensing a chance to regain the initiative, Edge played into its expectations. He kept on screaming while holding his leg¡ªlike he was trying to stop himself from bleeding out. The carnivorous brute came sauntering over, not bothering to use any more skills now that it thought the fight was over. It stopped in front of him, then raised both bladed hands high¡ªready to bring them down with the full Power of its body behind it and reduce him to gory ribbons of flesh. He lifted his left forearm above his head, in what looked like a futile attempt to protect his vital points, while reaching for the knife sheathed at his belt with his right. The nymph let loose with everything it had, sending both limbs down in an avalanche of living wood. Just before its natural weapons struck true, he Hardened his forearm, and a coating of diamond scales formed over his tender flesh. The beast sensed the mana from the skill, but there wasn¡¯t time to counter. Besides, it couldn¡¯t spot any danger to itself and expected the blow to be fatal regardless of what skill he was using. With an incredible impact, Edge caught both sets of claws on his extended forearm. Even with the diamond scales, the impact cracked his bones, but that didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was that he had blocked the dual blow cold, preventing his arm from being severed at the elbow. Before the brute could recover from its surprise, he stepped inside its guard. By now, he had drawn the knife that Trapper had given him, which was forged from a high-grade material that could hold an edge far sharper than steel. He swung high, Double Slashing along the way for good measure. As he had been expecting, the nymph let loose another Disruption surge to counter his attack¡ªan instinctive defense intended to cancel the skill coming toward its face. While the move dispelled the doubled knife blade, it did nothing to stop the original. Not to mention the extra momentum that Slash added along the way. The knife sliced across the beast¡¯s bark-covered face, biting an inch into its dense wooden flesh. It wouldn¡¯t have been enough to seriously wound the creature if Edge had been trying to cut into its skull. But since his target was only skin deep, the attack was more than sufficient for his needs. In between the drawing of one breath and the next, the preternaturally sharp blade sliced through one big brown eye, carved a gouge across the nymph¡¯s forehead, then cut straight through its other eye too. He let out a cry of triumph as he ducked out of reach. Unless it had some manner of healing skill, he had just blinded the stage-two beast. He darted over to retrieve his naginata, watching his opponent all the while. It was clear by this point that the nymph couldn¡¯t repair the damage to its eyes. It wasn¡¯t trying to fight anymore; it was trying to get away. But Edge wasn¡¯t about to let his prey escape. He Leapt over the beast¡¯s head to cut off its retreat, unleashing a wicked Double Slash that caught the nymph in the leg the moment that he landed. It thickened its natural armor with Barkskin, but like Harden, the skill couldn¡¯t cover its whole body at once. It deflected the first blow, but the next two got through, nearly severing the limb in the process. He attacked in a flurry, dodging a ponderous attack for every two of his own. More sword-vines emerged from the ground. But since the nymph couldn¡¯t give them a target, it was easy to avoid the lashing tendrils. He kept hacking and slashing until one of its legs gave way, then dropped his naginata and conjured Elemental Blade. Edge couldn¡¯t afford to kill the nymph until he stole its skills. But he needed to muddle its mind before activating Extraction, or there was a chance that it would resist the invasion of his chains. He had learned that freezing a creature¡¯s brain was an effective means of disabling it, which wouldn¡¯t kill it if he was careful with how much cold he applied. Over the next three minutes, Edge lashed out with his iceblade time and time again, overwhelming the beast¡¯s Disruption enough to chill its fibrous tissue. At last, it was so weak that it couldn¡¯t move, and it was time to finish the fight. Chapter 12: Rank Three Before Edge willed Extraction to activate, there was something else that he needed to do first. During the fight, he had spotted the stage-one nymph he¡¯d injured hiding in a tree. He was worried that it would attack him while he was busy stealing a skill. Time moved slowly inside a core, but entering one still left him vulnerable for a critical second. He cast Entangle at maximum range, on the far side of the tree where the beast was hiding. As he was hoping, it looked away when it noticed the vines emerging from the ground. It was only a brief distraction, but it was all that he needed to seal its fate. By the time that the nymph turned to face him, he had already cocked his naginata behind one shoulder, taken aim, and hurled the weapon as hard as he could. Edge had discovered that while his polearm wasn¡¯t designed to be thrown, it was balanced well enough that it was possible to do so. Thanks to his rapid conditioning, he had enough Control to guide the weapon with sufficient accuracy, and enough Power to launch it with considerable force. As a result, his naginata caught the little nymph square in the stomach. This fellow wasn¡¯t nearly as tough as its big brother, nor did it have a defensive skill like Barkskin. Thus, the blade of the polearm punched straight through its guts¡ªthe tip emerging from its back in a great spray of sap. With a scream, the diminutive predator lost its grip and fell from the tree¡ªdead before its body hit the soil. After scanning the area to make sure he was alone, Edge walked over to the disabled stage-two nymph. Then he reached out with both arms and called upon his ultimate ability. When the black chains penetrated the creature¡¯s core, he found himself standing in a dense, dark forest that was populated by white-barked trees he didn¡¯t recognize. The air was filled with roiling mist, and hoots and howls resounded in the distance. This nymph must have migrated from a different biome instead of evolving here. This isn¡¯t anywhere on the Ivory Plains. Some of the branches had animals impaled on them, which was how nymphs stored meat when they were saving it for later. They liked the flavor of rotten flesh, and their glands secreted a substance that kept scavengers away. It was spooky and mysterious in here¡ªan otherworldly landscape filled with strange sights and sounds. Since he wasn¡¯t under any pressure right now, he took a few minutes simply to enjoy the view. Besides, he might wind up touring this landscape in person one day, and learning more about it could pay dividends later down the road. He realized that the interior of this central chamber was bigger than the little nymph¡¯s core. It seemed more substantial too. More like a real place and less like a representation. He eventually decided that it must be a difference between stage-one and two creatures. That just like what had happened with Skill-Eater, their inner worlds evolved alongside their cores. When he was finished committing the details to memory, Edge turned his attention to the beast¡¯s skills. There were five of them in here, which meant that it was still early stage two. But only two of them were uncommon, and better yet, they were both rank four. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. When he saw that one of the rank-fours was Entangle, he realized that he¡¯d hit the jackpot. Not only had he found a duplicate of one of his primary skills, it was advanced enough that Absorbing it might rank up his own Entangle all by itself, which would be the first time he¡¯d taken one of his skills to rank three. There was no question that claiming it was his highest priority, so he gave his chains their marching orders¡ªnot that the living links needed much encouragement on that front. The sword-vines were strong enough rank to resist the black chains for several minutes, during which an intense melee ensued. Fortunately, the uncommon skill wasn¡¯t powerful enough to deal any damage in return. The animated plants were eventually subdued by living metal and yanked out of the nymph¡¯s core. When Entangle landed in Edge¡¯s mouth, he braced himself and began to chew. He had eaten this skill several times before, but it was interesting to try a rank four for comparison. In addition to being harder to break down, the flavor was more intense this time around. Kind of like farm-fresh arugula with a spicy poppy dressing. It was the most delicious salad that he¡¯d ever eaten¡ªrich with notes of alien spices. This version of Entangle was specialized for offense instead of defense, which subtly changed the aftertaste in a way that he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. Of course, the main difference was the bladed bits, which sliced into his mouth until he thought to shield it with Harden. The tendrils coiled around his tongue but couldn¡¯t do any damage. They kept on writhing and squeezing until his teeth broke them down. Regardless of the details, it was a thoroughly satisfying experience, and Edge enjoyed every second of it. When the skill turned to goo, he swallowed, allowing the strange substance to glide down his throat, past his stomach, and slide into his core. You have extracted the skill: Entangle (Common, Rank 4). You already have this skill in your collection. Its experience will be added to your existing skill. This time, when Edge was drawn inside his central chamber and the vines he had stolen merged with his own, the skill kept on shining. He broke into an ear-to-ear grin when the message he¡¯d been hoping for materialized in front of his face. The skill (Entangle) has advanced to rank 3. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Upon reaching rank 3, you may control the volume of mana the skill consumes, adjusting its output at will. When his vines stopped glowing, he took a closer look at his upgraded power. The rank-three advancement didn¡¯t change Entangle¡¯s appearance, like what had happened after reaching rank two. But that didn¡¯t mean the vines were the same as before. Through the energetic link that connected Edge to the skills slotted into his sockets, he could sense the difference. In addition to a boost in efficiency, he could now adjust how much mana the spell used at will. He could reduce the flow to create a single vine or increase it to manifest up to ten at once, instead of always defaulting to four. It would let him lay down an army of tendrils faster than before, without the pauses that came with casting the spell multiple times, or summon them one at a time to constrain something small. He would have to test it out to learn the optimal conditions for each case, but the extra control was sure to come in handy sooner or later. Having his first skill reaching rank three was a major accomplishment, but it was just an appetizer for what came next. Edge only had one more rank to go before he could alter Entangle¡¯s properties again, in a manner even more significant than his choices for rank two. When he returned to his body, he looked down at the big nymph¡ªthrilled to discover that it was still alive. Before it could expire from its grievous wounds, he willed his ultimate ability to activate and consumed Extraction¡¯s final charge. Chapter 13: Second Course When Edge reentered the nymph¡¯s core, the white forest had changed during his absence. The trees looked distinctly less healthy and had lost half their leaves. However, he was pleased to note that the corruption wasn¡¯t nearly as pronounced as the other times he had stolen multiple skills from the same opponent. Stage-two beasts must be able to withstand some of the damage Extraction causes. I wonder if that means I can steal three skills from the same creature before it dies. I¡¯ll have to test it out the next time I get a chance. It was an interesting detail about Skill-Eater¡¯s abilities, but ultimately a matter for another day. Right now, all that mattered was purloining another power and then heading back to town before he lost the light. The second skill he stole was the other rank-four uncommon. It took on the appearance of a sprawling bush that was basking in a beam of sunlight, with a legion of emerald leaves stretching up toward the heavens above. Unlike the surrounding trees, this plant looked radiantly healthy¡ªlike all its needs had been perfectly met. Since it wasn¡¯t mobile, the skill was helpless to resist as the black chains wrapped around its base and then pulled the bush out by the roots. When he snapped back into his skin, the living links tossed the tiny shrub into his mouth. Then they retracted through his wrists to slumber within his core. Due to its inanimate form, it wound up being one of the easiest skills to chew that Edge had encountered. It was like gnawing on a stick, which was slightly unpleasant, but painless and relatively simple. The taste, on the other hand, was exquisite. The wood had the flavor of a vegetable medley¡ªa perfect blend of greenery and spice. It was filled with energy that made his tongue tingle like he¡¯d just licked a battery. As with most of the skills he had eaten, the experience imparted concepts in addition to its flavor. He had an impression of healthy young shoots sprouting from the soil. Of drinking sunlight and growing strong, progressing from a sapling to the peak of maturity. When he swallowed and the skill entered his core, another update from the System wavered into existence. You have extracted the skill: Photosynthesis (Uncommon, Rank 4). Digestion is complete. When extracting a skill higher than Rank 1, a portion of its experience will be retained if you choose to keep it. Would you like to slot Photosynthesis now? Now that he had digested the power, he was granted a deeper insight into how it worked. Photosynthesis wasn¡¯t a bad skill, all things considered. If Edge kept it, it would give him the ability to turn sunlight into food, dramatically reducing his need to eat. On the other hand, Edge really enjoyed eating, especially since everything on Ord tasted so good after binding his core. Photosynthesis might come in handy in extreme conditions, but right now, he could carry enough food in his pack to last him quite a while. On top of that, he was learning to embrace his life as a hunter, which meant that a meal was never further away than his next kill. He added Photosynthesis to the list of skills he would consider picking up in the future. But for now, he decided to add its experience to Regeneration instead. As he¡¯d been hoping, Absorbing the rank-four uncommon was enough to fill Regeneration¡¯s cup to the brim, catalyzing its advancement here and now. Confirming the change, his Guide appeared of its own accord. The wisp of gilded radiance flattened into a screen to display a message from the System. The skill (Regeneration [limited]) has advanced to Rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Additionally, at Rank 2 you may choose to upgrade the skill. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. Regeneration will take place significantly faster than before.
  2. Regeneration will be slower, but its cost will be dramatically reduced.
  3. Regeneration will lose the [limited] modifier, allowing it to restore destroyed organs (Note: the speed of regenerating lost organs is significantly slower than healing other injuries.)
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain unchanged and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. As usual, when the upgrade options were displayed, Edge received an impression of how they worked. A series of visions that offered far more detail than the text included with the prompt. All three choices were great this time around. The first would let him heal more quickly, making even crippling wounds no more than a momentary inconvenience. It would also reduce the blood he lost before his injuries sealed shut, which was always a concern in the middle of a fight. The second offering would cut the skill¡¯s speed by about 75%. But it would lower its mana cost by over 90%, making the drain trivial with his present Generation. It would let Edge use Regeneration whenever he wanted, effectively removing its cost from the equation when using his other skills. Regeneration would still be a decent battle heal, although it would really shine during a prolonged engagement, when he would normally have run out of reserves. No matter when he received a serious wound, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about dying to most forms of attack. As solid as one and two were, Edge had known from the start that he would pick option three. Ever since binding Skill-Eater, he¡¯d been worried about having one of his organs destroyed, which could permanently cripple or even kill him, even with a full tank of mana. Puncturing an eye. Having his throat torn out. A bludgeon bursting his kidneys or collapsing his lungs. Any one of those wounds would have ended his adventure if he had received them until now. But after removing the limits of Regeneration, his worries were over. He still couldn¡¯t afford to have his brain scooped out or his heart ground to paste, but anything else would be recoverable, even if it took a few hours for the process to complete. Edge had nearly lost his eyes on several occasions, which would have been the last nail in his coffin under the circumstances. Door number three it is. When he made his choice, he found himself standing in his skill garden once more. The beating heart that represented Regeneration was already shining and soon its transformation was complete. It was only a bit bigger than before, but its heartbeat was stronger than ever, and more importantly, the aura of vitality it exuded was richer and deeper. A soothing mantle of health and well-being that ensured his body would remain in top condition, no matter what kind of wounds he received in the future. Edge spent a few minutes playing with the skills in his garden, then returned to his body. He looked over just as the big nymph expired from the wounds it had received during the fight combined with the internal damage caused by Extraction. Now that his hunt had reached a happy ending, it was time to get back to town and move on to his next objective. There was one last thing he needed to do first. He¡¯d been too busy to worry about it until now, but there was another update awaiting his perusal. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is: 16. You have 3 attribute points awaiting allocation. Edge had already planned out how he wanted to spend the points he acquired from his next few cycles. At the top of his list was acquiring more Endurance. He wanted to have enough stamina to run all day or fight in a prolonged battle without running out of steam. It would be vital if he wanted to survive another battle against a swarm like the blightlings or take on gigantic opponents like the padamas and garax. He was already superhuman by the standards of Earth, but he had a long way to go before he could operate at peak performance for hours at a time. He took a quick look around to make sure that nothing nasty had wandered into the region, then sent his intentions into the System. I¡¯ll take three points of Endurance, please. Every time that a core gained enough experience to reach a new cycle, it generated a form of transformative energy known as potentia. Potentia could be used to permanently upgrade a person¡¯s body or core¡ªa key reason why cored individuals were so much stronger than their uncored counterparts. Raw potentia felt like lightning in a bottle. Like a promise of power that was only moments away from completion. Now that he had chosen its form, the potentia came surging out of his core. Each attribute came with unique sensations when he increased them via points. Endurance felt like Edge¡¯s heart and lungs were expanding, gaining capacity while becoming more efficient. Other parts of him were tingling too, as the veins and arteries that made up his circulatory system were enhanced in a similar manner. It wasn¡¯t just the big ones¡ªthe alterations went all the way down to the tiny capillaries that fed his tissue. When everything calmed down a few minutes later, Edge picked up his pack and started walking back to town. He was so excited that he had to resist the urge to break into song¡ªfilled with the visceral satisfaction of having ranked up two of his primary skills and gained a cycle along the way. It was shaping up to be a perfect day, and it wasn¡¯t over yet. Chapter 14: Core Seed Trapper stepped through the door of City Hall with a spring in her step and a smile on her face. She stopped to chat with Emily¡ªthe mayor¡¯s aide who was working at the reception desk¡ªthen made her way down the long hallway behind it. She nodded to a pair of deputies who were stationed in the building, then climbed the stairs leading to the second story. The peacekeepers raised a hand in greeting, but didn¡¯t bother to ask her business. Dialla was expecting her, and after watching Trapper come and go for years, no one who worked here would question her presence, even without an explicit invitation. She walked past a series of private rooms while heading toward the mayor¡¯s office in the far corner. Sitting in a chair beside the entrance was Tessa¡ªDialla¡¯s personal guard and an old friend. ¡°What brings you here today, Trapper? Business or pleasure?¡± ¡°A bit of both actually. I have a surprise for Dialla, which I know you¡¯re going to love.¡± The cored warrior raised an eyebrow at that, but didn¡¯t voice a question. One of the reasons why Tessa¡¯s presence was so valued was that in addition to being one of the most powerful people in the settlement, she understood the value of discretion. She just rose to her feet, opened the door, and let Trapper pass through. Dialla¡¯s office was spacious and tastefully decorated. Nothing too elaborate or ornate, and all locally sourced, which befitted the leader of a thriving settlement. There was a series of charts posted to one wall, including a big map in the middle that displayed the Ivory Plains. It was covered in pins that signified recent sightings of monsters and predatory beasts, and the margins were annotated with the changes to the biome that had occurred in the aftermath of the anomaly. The red pins indicated threats that needed to be eliminated, and the blue ones represented teams that had been dispatched to deal with them. The other colors were for problems of another sort, and Trapper didn¡¯t pretend to understand the intricacies. She was most interested in the descriptions of the bordering biomes¡ªfrontier regions that had had never been seen by human eyes until a few days ago, when the mayor sent teams to survey the perimeter of the plains. Trapper¡¯s crew had been among them, and they had discovered Jumo¡¯s Vault and the Ravenous Wastes. She spent a few minutes studying the latest additions, then turned to face Dialla, who was busy pouring over a series of ledgers stacked beside a pile of reports. When Trapper walked over, Dialla activated a magitech privacy device and then rose from her desk with a warm smile. ¡°Even though you¡¯ve already been back for a few days, it¡¯s good to see you safe and sound. I was worried the entire time you were gone, but I knew that you would pull through. It will take more than a couple of big beasts to bring you down, my love.¡± The women exchanged a passionate embrace, followed by a tender kiss. They had been an item for years now, although they could go weeks at a time without seeing one another. Though it wasn¡¯t a secret, they were both private people and didn¡¯t advertise their relationship either. They rarely had time to enjoy each other¡¯s company at length and maintained a piecemeal romance during stolen moments like this one. After savoring some sorely-needed human contact, Trapper untangled herself from Dialla¡¯s arms, straightened her hair, then got down to business. She had already reported the results of her mission but had been saving one final item until everything was ready. She didn¡¯t want to give Dialla time to come up with an excuse to say no. On that note, Trapper reached into her pack and pulled out a large wooden box. Dialla watched on with interest as the hunter set it on the table and began to speak. Trapper chose her next words carefully. This was a delicate matter and an argument that she couldn¡¯t afford to lose. ¡°I found something during our last mission. Something that I need you to take. I know how you feel about cores. That having Puppet Town run exclusively by the cored when most of its residents are uncored, sends the wrong message about who we are and which voices matter.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Dialla opened her mouth to argue, but Trapper powered through. ¡°But we both know that our old way of life is gone forever. In the aftermath of the anomaly, all the rules that governed our prior existence crumbled to dust in the blink of an eye. In these days of ash and mist, Puppet Town needs a leader who is a symbol of our strength as well as our wisdom, and we can¡¯t afford to lose you now regardless. As matters stand, someone bearing an old grudge or even a tumble down the stairs could kill you, and I don¡¯t think any of us will survive what¡¯s coming if you¡¯re not here to lead us.¡± By this point, Trapper could tell that Dialla had guessed what was in the box. Before the mayor could object, she finished her pitch in a voice thick with emotion. ¡°I found a core seed among the garax¡¯s remains. I already paid the Mortium and gathered the other resources required to turn it into a basic core, and I want you to bind it here and now.¡± She reached into the box and removed a pearlescent orb the size of her fist, which glowed with its own inner light, then set it on the table between them. ¡°For once in your life, I need you to be selfish. Not just for your own sake, but for all of Puppet Town. Your mind is a resource more vital than any magic, and we need you at your best if we¡¯re going to ride out this storm and emerge in one piece. With a core and some rarer skills, you will have more energy and more options, and right now, we need all the help we can get. So please, dear heart, accept this gift, then worry about everyone else again after.¡± Although Trapper had made a compelling case, Dialla resisted for the better part of an hour before she finally gave in. In the end, she knew that Trapper was right. The winds of change were blowing across the settlement, along with the rest of the planet. If she wanted to weather these changes, she needed to be powerful enough to hold her own before the next crisis landed in their laps. Not to mention, socket some support skills that would make her even better at her job than she already was. Now that the mayor had made her decision, the woman didn¡¯t hesitate. With a sigh of resignation, Dialla picked up the core, unbuttoned her shirt, and positioned the glowing orb against her breastbone. There was a flash of light and a pulse of heat as the core sank into her chest¡ªguiding itself into place a few inches below her heart. Dialla¡¯s eyes went wide, then she got the distant look that came with reading a lengthy System message. Although almost no time would pass in the outside world, Trapper knew that she was standing in her central chamber for the first time¡ªinside the newly-born world that represented the interior of her core. When Dialla came back to herself a few seconds later, she smiled despite the contrasting emotions that were clear on her face. ¡°Wow. That was one hell of a rush. Just to be clear, I won¡¯t be satisfied until every resident of Puppet Town has a core of their own. No matter how tall an order that may be.¡± ¡°I know, love. You wouldn¡¯t be you if you didn¡¯t feel such passion for others. This is a good start, but I need to take you into the field a few times over the coming weeks. We should be able to cycle you up to stage one before long. Then we¡¯ll keep at it till you hit the middle of the stage. ¡°At that point, cycling up will get a lot harder, so you might not progress much further for a while. But those attribute points will make you harder to kill, let you perform at a level you¡¯ve never dreamed of, and give you sufficient magic to power skills that will benefit the entire settlement.¡± Trapper gave Dialla a stern look. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back when it comes to acquiring them. Use your authority¡ªevery scrap of influence and communal coffer you can access¡ªto get the best powers you possibly can. I can help you acquire some Mortium if you want a skill that¡¯s only available from Lilly¡¯s exchange, and we should install your starter implant soon regardless. You¡¯re the heart of this settlement, and we need you armed with every advantage you can get.¡± Dialla let out a long sigh, then wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes. ¡°Alright. I don¡¯t like the idea of putting myself ahead of others. I want them to respect my leadership because they value my ideas, but I know that you¡¯re right. When do we start?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time like the present. Grab Tessa and another pair of guards who you trust completely and let¡¯s head out onto the plains. I have some gear you can use waiting in the wagon. We¡¯ll stay near town and let Earl know what we¡¯re up to. If he needs you, he will know where to find you. It¡¯s also the safest way to cycle up until you have enough Disruption and Durability to take a few hits. On that note, we should stop by the Consortium¡¯s store sometime soon and get you outfitted with a full kit. I¡¯ve known Bee for a long time, and we can trust her to be discrete.¡± While the women hammered out the details, Dialla followed Trapper out of her office and through the building¡¯s back exit. They were ready to begin a new chapter in their lives, along with all of Puppet Town. Chapter 15: Loose Ends Edge brought the blade of his polearm up, just in time to block the spear that was sailing for his chest. With a hearty thwack, the shafts of both weapons collided, shoving the spearhead away from his flesh with inches to spare. He quickstepped to avoid a foot that was trying to hook around his ankle, then returned his stance to a neutral position. Jumo let out a booming laugh¡ªpleased that Edge had countered the move. ¡°Nice one, brother! I thought I had you with that leg lock. You¡¯re getting a lot better at controlling your weapon without losing your awareness of the battlefield in the process. But you still have a long way to go before you can hold your own against another weapon-wielder with your life on the line.¡± With that, the hunter let loose a vicious series of blows. A barrage that took everything Edge had to keep his blood inside his body. While he had experienced explosive growth in his attributes, thanks to conditioning with Regeneration and all the cycles he¡¯d picked up over the last few weeks, he was still a novice at using his weapon and new to combat in general. Tactics and technique were just as important to winning a fight as strength and skills, and they could only be obtained the old-fashioned way¡ªinstruction from someone better and diligent, daily practice. He had Mel to help him work on his hand-to-hand techniques, but Edge needed to become proficient with his naginata too. That was why he had asked Jumo, Sasha, and Trapper to spar with him from time to time. Each of the hunters specialized in a different fighting style and had far more combat experience than himself. Today, he was working with Jumo, who wielded a heavy spear that shared some overlap with Edge¡¯s polearm. It had the length and the thrusting point, although it lacked the cutting edge. Still, it was a good matchup. One that could teach him how to handle his weapon against someone who knew what they were doing. Jumo¡¯s war spear had shattered during the fight with the garax, but he had an old one that he¡¯d taken out of storage while his new weapon was being crafted at the Forge. They came back together for a rapid exchange of strikes. Although he knew Jumo was taking it easy on him, Edge was still happy to see that he was controlling his naginata better than before. He ducked beneath a probing spearpoint and then counterattacked, almost grazing the athletic warrior¡¯s shoulder along the way. At that point, he learned an important lesson. Even though the spear lacked a slashing blade, the shaft could still be used to attack. Jumo brought the body of the weapon around in a low arc that caught him by surprise, sweeping his feet out from under him. Jumo barked out a laugh as Edge fell hard on his ass, then offered a hand and helped him back onto his feet. The hunter raised one eyebrow, asking Edge if he wanted to take a break, then let out a grunt of approval when he shook his head no. They went right back at it¡ªsweat running down their bodies as the music of combat filled the air. Although it lacked a thrusting spike, the base of the spear was a threat too. A fact that Edge became aware of when Jumo jabbed it into his stomach¡ªhard enough that he almost threw up before Regeneration healed the damage. By this point, he had come to accept that just like boxing with Mel, it was going to be a while before he could hold his own against the veteran weapon-wielder. Instead of trying to score points, he focused on defense, familiarizing himself with the mechanics of his polearm. He placed his awareness into the weight of the wood in his hands. The position of the tip in relation to his body. He began blocking with the shaft as well as the blade, although his first attempts were painfully clumsy. At least he was ready when Jumo started working in kicks, elbows, and shoulder throws. Getting the shit beat out of him by Mel had taught Edge that skilled fighters would use their whole body in a fight, which kept him from taking some heavy hits during the next exchange. Jumo nodded in appreciation. ¡°Good. You are taking in your opponent at a whole, not just trying to counter their weapon with your own. Never forget that you are the weapon. The naginata is merely an extension of your will.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. They continued sparring for another half hour before Edge called it quits for the day. He had several objectives that he wanted to take care of before everyone headed home for the night. At the top of his list, finishing up the rest of his shopping. *** When Edge walked into the Consortium¡¯s store, it was clear that a great deal had changed while he was away. Instead of a few customers browsing the aisles, the building was packed. Dozens of fledgling hunters were using the funds the town had provided to gear up¡ªchatting with other about techniques and targets while they waited for their number to be called. He was glad that people were taking Dialla¡¯s warning seriously. That they were doing their best to grow stronger while novices could still hunt in the area around town without running into anything more dangerous than a stage-one predator. Bee, the woman who managed the store, was in the middle of helping someone try on a suit of armor. There was a swarm of new employees hovering nearby, who she was training whenever she had a second to spare. When Bee finished her negotiations, she told the man behind the register to process the transaction and pack up the purchase. Then she walked over to where Edge was checking out the new wares on display. ¡°Edge. It¡¯s good to see you. I¡¯m glad that you survived your mission. I heard it was harder than expected.¡± He smiled at the friendly young woman, taking in her short black hair and bright purple eyes. ¡°That¡¯s putting it mildly. Calling it a big game hunt was a bit of an understatement. The crew came within inches of dying on more than one occasion, but the upside is that we raked in more Credits than I expected to make all season. I¡¯m spending most of it on custom work at the Forge, but I wanted to stop by the Consortium and pick up some items to round out my toolkit too.¡± Bee frowned when Edge mentioned the Forge, then sighed and smiled again. ¡°They¡¯re our biggest competitor, but I can¡¯t deny that they do great work. Fortunately, we cater to a wider range of customers, so as you can see, business is booming here too. We don¡¯t work with such exotic materials, but we offer quality products at a fraction of the price.¡± Edge held up his hands in surrender. ¡°You don¡¯t need to convince me, Bee. Your goods have already saved my life, and I¡¯ll always be a loyal customer. Why don¡¯t you show me what¡¯s new, and then I can place my order?¡± ¡°While you¡¯re here, you should check out our latest product.¡± Bee reached for a nearby shelf and removed a box holding two metal spheres the size of ping pong balls. She pressed a button on the side and then tossed one to Edge. He reached up and caught it without thinking about it¡ªthe improvements to his Reflex revealing themselves in that moment. When he closed his fingers around it, the ball grew warm and let out a series of chirps¡ªlike a bird was investigating something but trying to be quiet about it. He even noticed a faint scent emanating from the device. The orb deactivated a few seconds later, becoming inert once more. He handed the device back to Bee, who filled him in on the details. ¡°These little babies are called Chirpers. Although there is a setting for a sudden cough and the sound of a stick snapping underfoot too. They produce some heat and animal smells in addition to the noise, and they¡¯re usable a few dozen times before their reservoir of copper aether runs dry. Chirpers are great for a portable distraction. Times when you want to sneak away from something dangerous or lure prey into an ambush. Since we¡¯re still working out the bugs, it¡¯s just three thousand Credits for a set of two.¡± Edge thought about for a moment, then said, ¡°I¡¯ll take them. They could come in handy out in the field. My compliments to the crafter who made them. Interfacing with multiple senses at once is a nice touch.¡± By now, he had decided on the rest of his purchases too. The first was a box containing six consumable orbs¡ªtwo smoke bombs, two stink bombs, and two flashbangs. The set was cheaper than buying them individually, and he was sure that they would come in handy sooner rather than later. The next item was the most expensive tool of the bunch. He was ready to pick up the magitech wayfinder that he¡¯d had his eye on for some time. It functioned as a compass and GPS and came loaded with a range of other features. Most notably, the wayfinder could store limited geographical data, mapping its immediate surroundings and showing the path he had taken to get there, which would make it easy to retrace his steps. It even let out a bit of light on command to serve as a flashlight in a pinch. After he picked out the model he wanted, Edge added two final items to his purchase for the day. The first was a simple mechanical spyglass. He had used Trapper¡¯s at the end of their last mission, and being able to see further from high places was inherently useful. It was a collapsable tube made from a greenish metal that fit inside the pouches of his toolbelt. The last was a tube of scent-erasing oil¡ªa higher quality version of the alchemical concoction he had used while training with Riller. Bee smiled and added everything to the pile as he called them out. Then she walked Edge over to the counter to bag it up. They summoned their Guides for a Credit transfer, and he thanked the woman for her help. He put everything into his toolbelt before leaving the shop, thrilled to have rounded out his kit. Chapter 16: Date Night After stopping by the public green for a quick post-shopping workout, Edge jogged back to the lodge. He was glad to see Blue playing in the yard. It meant that Sasha was back from a hunt that had taken her most of the afternoon to complete. He hadn¡¯t really expected it to work, but he had successfully bribed the manager of the Silver Spoon a few hours prior. As a result, Edge had a table reserved at the second-fanciest restaurant in town, and he was hoping that Sasha would be amiable to a night out. In part because he enjoyed her company, especially if she felt like spending some quality time in his bedroom after. But mostly because he¡¯d been looking for a chance to speak with her without the other hunters around. When Edge let Sasha know what he had in mind, she agreed to go with him. They spent a few minutes getting cleaned up and changed, then walked over to the Spoon together. When he stepped through the front door, the manager winked and then waved one of the servers over. If Edge was being honest, striding past the line of people waiting to get in kind of made him feel like a badass. When she saw how proud of himself he was, Sasha let out a delightful little laugh that sent shivers running down his spine. The waiter seated them in a corner table with a prime view of the stage, upon which a woman was playing an elegant grand piano¡ªa cheerful song that captured the final days of summer with autumn lurking just around the corner. He ordered a bottle of wine while they looked over the menu. The vintage had been imported from another settlement on Ord, not Earth. But it was still incredibly expensive, since all forms of trade had been severed for the time being. When Edge took his first sip, he decided that it was worth it. It was a timely reminder that food and drinks didn¡¯t need to be suffused with mana seeds to be absolutely exquisite. They picked out a selection of vegetables and fish, since their meals tended to be red meat heavy back home, then looked into each other¡¯s eyes. Edge knew what he wanted to say to Sasha, but he didn¡¯t know how to begin. He had to get this just right. To let his friend know how much she meant to him, but also what he needed right now. While he toyed with a few potential segues, he ran his gaze across his date for the evening. Tonight, Sasha was wearing a blue silk dress that was a perfect blend of elegant and sexy. She had her strawberry blond hair pinned up in an elaborate style that was strikingly different from the ponytail she wore in the field. Most unusual of all, she was wearing makeup¡ªwarm colors that accentuated her high cheekbones and dazzling green eyes. Sasha wasn¡¯t in the mood to make small talk either. Edge could tell from her expression that something was weighing on her mind. They spoke little during dinner, although they thoroughly enjoyed their meal. The main course was followed by tiny chocolate cakes floating on a plate of buffalo cream. When he finished the last bite, he knew that the moment had arrived. It was time to find out where they stood, and whether it would continue going forward. Edge was happy with what they had right now. While he was fond of Sasha¡¯s company, he wasn¡¯t ready to commit to anything deeper. He was thrilled to have made such a good friend, and their sexual chemistry was pure electricity. He might be open to something more at some point, but that wasn¡¯t what he wanted now. He was still coming to grips with the fact that he was stranded on Ord. That he would never see his mother again. That he had an ancient entity bound inside him, whose heart now beat in place of his own. He liked Puppet Town and being a part of Trapper¡¯s crew. But he had no idea where he would wind up a month from now, let alone a year. Hell, none of them might be alive come spring, given the changes taking place across the Ivory Plains. Alright, Edge. That¡¯s enough stalling. You owe it to Sasha to tell her how you really feel. He nodded to himself, looked her in the eye, and opened his mouth¡­ only to be cut off as she began to speak. ¡°Edge. There¡¯s something that I need to tell you. I meant to do it sooner, but I¡¯ve been having a hard time finding the right words.¡± Over the next ten minutes, Sasha explained that she liked him and enjoyed going out on a date every now and again. But she wasn¡¯t looking for anything deeper right now, and didn¡¯t have the bandwidth or the interest for a committed, monogamous relationship. Her reasons were similar to his own, minus the ravenous lord bound in chains. She was still dealing with being separated from her old life, which had meant far more to her than his had to him. Sasha simply wasn¡¯t ready to form a deep emotional bond right now. To make that much of her life about another person. Not when her present was so chaotic and her future so uncertain. When he had a chance to say his piece, Edge explained that he felt pretty much the same way. They were both relieved¡ªthrilled to have cleared the air and that they hadn¡¯t hurt each other¡¯s feelings in the process. Now that they had communicated their wants and needs, all that was left was to clarify the nature of their relationship. After discussing the matter for a while, they agreed to continue enjoying each other''s company. To have a night on the town every now and then and work some stress out in bed when they were both in the mood. For now, they would be friends with benefits, with no strings attached. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. It meant that he could date other people if he wanted, and that they could carry on the same as always during their working hours. It turned out to be a great night, even though they wound up sleeping alone. It didn¡¯t feel right to get too close after drawing their boundaries, which suited him fine. When they made it back to the lodge, Edge had several updates waiting for him. At the top of the list, Trapper had accepted a commission from the Sheriff. Early tomorrow afternoon, the crew would be leaving to hunt another big beast that had been attacking resource-gathering teams. He also had received messages from both Ander and Ann. His new gear would be ready to pick up in the morning, and the Mortium exchange was open until midnight. He grabbed his pack, bid the crew farewell, and then headed back out the door. It seemed that his day wasn¡¯t quite over yet after all. *** Edge strode through the streets of Puppet Town while gazing up at the night sky. There was a chill wind blowing in from the south, and clouds obscured the moons, leaving the town lit by magelights and an occasional torch from people who were too poor to afford the magitech devices. He stuck to side streets and alleyways, so that no one would see him coming and wonder where he was going. The less-traveled corners of the settlement didn¡¯t seem nearly as dark as when he had first arrived, thanks to his improved Perception. He was less worried about running into trouble anyhow, now that he was in the middle of stage one. By this point, he could hold his own against anyone other than the town¡¯s heavy hitters¡ªthe handful of hunters and warriors who had made it to stage two. This time around, he spotted the lookout from the corner of the block. An older man with a crossbow strapped to his back was watching from the rooftop across from Ann¡¯s. The sentry seemed surprised when Edge looked right at him and waved, then he waved back and gave Edge a thumbs up before returning to his duty. Edge took the stairs leading to Ann¡¯s basement and entered a small room at the bottom. Then he waited for the secret staircase to open that led to the Mortium exchange hidden beneath the building. When he stepped into Lilly¡¯s shop, he took a few minutes to peruse the high-grade weapons and armor hanging on the walls. All of it was out of his price range, since he¡¯d spent most of his Mortium stealing the garax¡¯s Epic skill, which was still digesting for another eight days. Lilly stepped out from behind the counter and came to a stop beside him, waiting until he was done browsing before offering a greeting. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, Edge. I heard that you ran into a behemoth during your big game hunt. Well done. I wish that I could have been there to help take the big bastard down.¡± ¡°Me too. We could have used the assist. We¡¯re lucky to have made it back in one piece.¡± They exchanged a fist bump, then he turned to give the woman his full attention. Lillian was Ann¡¯s sister. Although Edge wasn¡¯t as close to her yet, he liked Lilly and enjoyed her company. As always, the contrast between the women jumped out at him when he ran his gaze across her. Ann¡¯s hair was long and golden, while Lilly had short, raven locks. Both women had striking eyes. Ann¡¯s were baby blue, and Lilly¡¯s were a rich brown hue. Instead of an apron-wrapped dress, Lilly wore form-fitting combat armor¡ªat least while she was minding the shop. By day, she led a double life as a famously-shy handywoman, but this was the real her. Edge wasn¡¯t sure why she maintained the deception, but he thought it had something to do with running the town¡¯s Mortium exchange. They spent the better part of an hour chatting, discussing recent events and the changes taking place across the settlement. While they caught up, Lilly walked over to a refrigeration unit and brought out a six pack. They downed a few beers while he told her about the padamas hunt. She was most interested in the fights and stopped Edge several times to get more details or offer a bit of commentary. He didn¡¯t mind. Lilly had far more combat experience than himself and her observations were invariably useful. He committed them to memory to ponder later. When they finished the last can, they got down to business. ¡°So, Edge. What brings you down here today? Finally ready to get one of those weapons you like looking at so much?¡± ¡°Not just yet. I earned a Mortium from the battle with the cancerous blightlings, but nowhere near enough for something on the wall. I was hoping to pick up a utility device instead. Trapper showed me how useful a surge of Disruption can be in battle, but I haven¡¯t learned how to do it myself. I was wondering if one of your gadgets could do the trick. My budget is only one lifecoin at the moment, but I can toss some Credits into the mix.¡± ¡°Hrm.¡± She rubbed her chin. ¡°That isn¡¯t enough for one of the advanced models, but I could sell you something simple.¡± She walked over to a rack and then handed him a silver sphere the size of a baseball. ¡°This is what is generally referred to as a Disruption Grenade. It has an adjustable timer and a trigger on top. Push the button, throw, and the aether inside will be converted into a disruption surge. The grenade packs a decent punch. But it only has one use per charge, and costs 3000 creds worth of silver-class aether to refill. On top of that, it¡¯s a dumb device. Your own skills will be disabled if you get caught in the blast.¡± Edge thought about it for a few minutes while tossing the grenade between his hands. He considered a few other options, but this was the best tool in his price range, so he decided to go for it. ¡°I¡¯ll take it. I also need to refill the heart-guard you installed the last time we met. The fight with the garax was closer than I care to admit.¡± Edge had actually burned through the heart-guards charge while fighting Warren the manslayer. But no one besides his crew knew that he was the one who had killed the bounty hunter, and this story let him keep that secret. After they summoned their Guides and he transferred the funds into Lilly¡¯s account, she led him into the backroom where she performed maintenance and installation surgery for a type of magitech device known as implants. Edge¡¯s heart-guard was attached to a rib beside the organ in question, but she had a machine that could refill its reservoir of silver without invasive surgery. After he took off his shirt, she taped a wire to his chest, then flicked a switch on the wall. His skin tingled as aether conducted from the cable into the implant, until it finished charging a few minutes later. When she removed the tape, Lilly ran her fingertips across his stomach, causing him to flinch as an unexpected thrill ran through him. She laughed at his reaction, then walked him to the door. ¡°See you around, Edge. Hopefully, we get to install something a little more exotic the next time you stop by.¡± ¡°It¡¯s always a pleasure to see you, Lilly. Thanks for everything. Maybe we¡¯ll get to hunt together one of these days.¡± After a last, lingering look at the gear on the wall, Edge walked back up the stairs, out the door, and into the night. Chapter 17: Puppet Town Edge woke up early the next morning, filled with the rising excitement that comes with hunting big game. After saying hello to Riller and Jumo, who were debating the merits of various prey, he ate breakfast, grabbed his pack, and then stepped through the front door to greet the rising sun. The crew wasn¡¯t heading into the field for another few hours, but he had a couple of errands to run before they left town. Edge waved to Trapper and Blue, who were conducting combat drills in the yard, then made his way out of the hunters¡¯ quarter. Other than picking up his order at the Forge, there was only one stop left on his shopping list. It was time to head into the alchemists¡¯ ward and buy some of the wares he¡¯d had his eye on. While he was there, he planned to get the potion he¡¯d stolen from Warren identified, as he had been curious about its contents for some time now. He started crossing the districts, taking in the ambiance of the settlement as he walked. This was the third version of Puppet Town he had experienced. Edge had been here once before the anomaly, back when the economy was focused on puppet tourism¡ªfilled with people obsessed by making their fortune from the Prison World broadcasts collectively known as the feed. He had returned shortly after the disaster struck. An unprecedented event that had destroyed every tourist¡¯s original body, trapped them on Ord for the foreseeable future, and shuffled the surface of the planet like a deck of cards. Everyone had been in a state of shock, reeling with the sudden loss and grappling with their unprecedented change in circumstance. This version, now that the town¡¯s residents were coming to grips with the reality of their new lives, was a marked improvement to those dark days. People were still afraid, but they were coming out of shock, adapting to this new chapter in the planet¡¯s history. A life where they had to be willing to defend themselves from the myriad dangers of a magical world. Dangers that hadn¡¯t even begun to fully manifest just yet. There were far more people on the streets than before, most of them armed. There was an intensity to the way that they walked and interacted with one another. Their conversations were centered on hunting and training. On crafting and conditioning. Ranking up their powers and the synergy between various skills. They were driven to grow stronger and acted like there wasn¡¯t a moment to lose. For his part, Edge approved of their change in attitude. The ones feeling the pressure had the right of it. The sooner that everyone living in the settlement started thinking like them, the more likely they would be to survive the trying days ahead. The stark truth staring them in the face was that the residents of Puppet Town were locked in a race against time. They had to take advantage of this period of transition¡ªthis patter of rain before the deluge¡ªbefore powerful creatures from the surrounding biomes migrated into the area en mass. The scientists were still evaluating the changes that were taking place across the Ivory Plains. But they estimated that it would finish transitioning from a low-threat biome to a mid-threat region sometime within the next two months. And there was no guarantee that it would stop there if higher concentrations of magicytes continued flowing in from the frontier. One thing was certain. Whatever the Ivory Plains looked like a year from now, it wouldn¡¯t be anything like what had come before. Running into stage-two beasts and monsters would become a common occurrence, and the biome¡¯s stage-zero and stage-one inhabitants would start evolving soon too. Unfortunately, since only a fraction of Puppet Town¡¯s population was cored, they couldn¡¯t meet these emerging threats simply by cycling up their cores and ranking up their skills. It was vital that the cored citizens aggressively acquired experience, but everyone else needed to step up to the plate too. While the uncored couldn¡¯t take to the field and fight on the front lines, they could still defend the town and support the others¡¯ efforts. It meant that everyone needed to be armed and armored. That gear and hunting tools needed to be mass-produced and distributed to the general public. Weapons, alchemical concoctions, and countless other devices had to be manufactured and put into people¡¯s hands as quickly as possible. The settlement needed to collect resources at an unprecedented rate and finish transitioning the town¡¯s industry to meet its changing needs. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Cores could occasionally be found in sealed chests or awarded by the System for completing quests. Now that the residents of Puppet Town were surrounded by the frontier, there were bound to be more of these opportunities than before, but it still wasn¡¯t enough. Dialla estimated that at least half of the town needed to be cored if they wanted to live through the year, and meeting even a portion of that goal would require taking some calculated risks. It meant that on top of everything else, the hunters had to start culling early stage-three beasts. High-stage beasts were the only naturally-occurring source of core seeds¡ªthe main material required to manufacture Basic cores. As Edge had learned first-hand, taking on prey of that caliber was insanely dangerous but would yield vast amounts of experience and high-grade crafting materials. In addition to hunting for resources and core seeds, everyone in the settlement needed to know how to defend themselves via conventional means. So that they could protect the town now and would be ready to fight at full strength when and if they bound a core. Earl had begun training a militia, and everyone who didn¡¯t belong to one of the hunting associations was encouraged to join. To incentivize people to do what she wanted¡ªto attend these various trainings and risk their lives on dangerous missions¡ªDialla was in the process of implementing a contribution-point system. Points would be awarded for drilling, resource gathering, crafting, scouting, and more. Right now, they were the only way for an uncored person to get their hands on a core, unless they found one in the field. Contribution points could also be redeemed for various perks and luxuries, ranging from mana seeds to upgraded housing. Most hunting activities were still rewarded with Credits, so Edge hadn¡¯t had a chance to earn any points yet. Not that he really needed them given his situation. In addition to pushing people into action, the point system ensured that the individuals who received cores were team players. People who were willing to follow orders and work hard to improve the town. Violet had already earned quite a few points, since she was helping the peacekeepers and the militia condition their attributes, along with anyone else who was interested. Her new Travelers¡¯ Boon skill had a healing effect, although it wasn¡¯t nearly as potent as Edge¡¯s Regeneration. But Boon still helped damaged muscles heal faster, letting people benefit from aggressive exercise at an accelerated rate. The rest of the crew was taking advantage of her skill too, working on maxing their conditioning as quickly as possible. Since Violet was using the power so often, it should advance to rank two before long and become even more useful than it already was. On that note, the deputies were out on the green now, training fresh volunteers for the town militia¡ªa group of uncored fighters that could assist the peacekeepers in times of trouble. Mel was leading one group through a series of drills, laying it on thick like the badass she was. She broke character long enough to exchange an amused smile when she noticed Edge watching, and he waved as he walked by. In addition to its cored defenders and uncored support staff, Puppet Town was protected by two other forces. The first was mechanical in nature¡ªthe town¡¯s magitech turrets, wall, and dome. There were two plasma turrets mounted beside both gates, which provided firepower strong enough to deter stage-three monsters and beasts. Not to mention jailbirds and other predators of the human sort. Edge hadn¡¯t had a chance to see them in action, since Earl and the hunting associations did their best to drive away anything hostile before it got that close to the settlement. The wall was made of high-grade steel and concrete. It was reinforced with dozens of layers of rare and valuable resources, each of which was designed to repel a different form of attack. So far, nothing had breached the wall during the settlement¡¯s 200-year history and each generation of tourists had added to its construction. Last came the dome¡ªa powerful magitech shield that prevented unauthorized teleportation into town. It also provided limited protection against artillery, although it was designed to shield the residents from hostile spells, not incoming shells. The dome required vast amounts of aether to run and the aether distillery devoted a considerable portion of its production to that task. The final force defending the town was its guardian beasts. Since cored beasts were far more common than cored people, and working with beasts was a part of everyday life for the hunting community, it only made sense to rely on them for protection too. There was a limit to how many cored creatures Puppet Town could support, given the concentration of magicytes in the region. Although it seemed like that wouldn¡¯t be a problem going forward. Right now, Edge knew of a dozen guardian beasts, along with a small stable of mounts that would bear a rider. Not to mention, the creatures bonded to the town¡¯s various hunting crews. Only two of them were stage two. One was a ram the size of an Earth elephant, which its trainer had named Zero. The other was a rhinoceros named Zen. The beast wasn¡¯t much larger than its earthly counterpart, but it was even more deadly than Zero, thanks to its collection of lightning-based skills. As he pondered these weighty matters, Edge passed the public green while wondering what the future would hold. He was looking forward to his next purchase, glad that he still had some Credits to his name. Chapter 18: Senior Alchemist Ten minutes later, Edge was standing outside the gate leading to the alchemists¡¯ ward. Since he was a cored member of the town in good standing, the guards waved him in after confirming his identity and warning him not to go anywhere other than the main storefront located a few blocks ahead. He walked past a group of people wearing lab coats who were sitting at a bench, eating lunch while debating various theories. There were laborers pulling handcarts, making deliveries to the dozens of operations scattered throughout the gated community. The scents of smoke and chemicals hung heavy in the air, and he could hear the pounding of hammers and the rip of saws in the distance. He soon found himself gazing up at the alchemists¡¯ store¡ªa sprawling three-story building made of green stone that reminded him of jade. The ground level was all a single storefront, filled with shelves and tables displaying a wide range of goods. A dozen people were shopping inside, conferring with the staff while browsing the various wares. All of them were cored and were likely guards or hunters, judging from their gear. ¡°Can I help you?¡± An eager man in an expensive white suit walked over to Edge. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to answer any questions you have or explain how something works.¡± ¡°I would like to take a closer look at several items. But before we get to that, do you have somewhere private where I could consult with one of your senior members? I have a matter to discuss that requires some discretion.¡± After checking with the manager on duty, the man left through a door in the back. He returned several minutes later, followed by the oldest tourist that Edge had ever seen. He was at least sixty years old in his puppet body, with long gray hair and a full mustache and beard. ¡°Well now. What¡¯s all the fuss about?¡± The man turned to regard Edge with sea green eyes that seemed to see straight through him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you.¡± Edge bowed. ¡°But I need to have something alchemical identified, and I don¡¯t want to share the details with anyone besides yourself. I would be happy to pay you for your time and appreciate you going out of your way to facilitate my request.¡± ¡°As long as you buy something on the way out, I won¡¯t charge you for the service if there isn¡¯t a skill involved. Consider it a welcoming gift for a prospective customer.¡± Edge thanked the senior alchemist and followed him through a door, down a long hallway, and into a small chamber with two comfortable armchairs and a table running between them. The moment that the door closed, a humming whine filled the air, as a magitech privacy device shielded the room from prying eyes and scrying skills. They both took a seat, then Edge reached into his bag and pulled out the potion he¡¯d had taken from Warren during the final seconds of their fight. It was a bright pink concoction that occasionally let out a flash¡ªlike a small storm was trapped within the crystal vial. ¡°I found this while walking through the plains, near what must have been an intense battle. I thought about drinking it when I was in trouble, but then I decided that it would be prudent to know exactly what it was first.¡± The man¡¯s eyebrows rose when he saw what Edge had placed on the table. ¡°You¡¯re lucky that you didn¡¯t,¡± he replied. ¡°You would have been dead within minutes. This isn¡¯t a potion, it¡¯s a weapon-enhancement oil. Once you spread it along the surface of the killing tool, it will grant the weapon a powerful electrical attack for a few minutes or several good hits. Whichever happens first. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Anything you strike will receive a nasty shock.¡± The alchemist gestured for emphasis. ¡°As will you, if you place it on a conductive surface, although your naginata should be fine. There¡¯s enough in the vial for three separate coatings, given the size of that blade.¡± Edge let out a sigh of relief that he hadn¡¯t inadvertently poisoned himself by drinking the mixture during the fight with the garax. His anxiety shot right back up when the alchemist continued speaking. ¡°We don¡¯t normally sell that variety of oil. We brew it by custom order only. The only one we made recently was for Warren the bounty hunter, who we believe met an untimely end not long ago.¡± He turned to look Edge straight in the eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t kill him, did you? You look strong, but not that strong.¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± Edge tried his best to radiate sincerity. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have the guts to take on an opponent of Warren¡¯s caliber.¡± ¡°Pity,¡± the man replied. ¡°Warren was a right bastard, and I would have offered you my sincere thanks. I would be happy to buy the oil from you if you don¡¯t plan on using it.¡± ¡°No. I think I¡¯ll keep it. I¡¯m sure that it will come in handy sooner or later.¡± Edge put the vial in his pack. ¡°Thank you for your time. Like I promised, I¡¯ll make sure to purchase something before I leave.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure that the alchemist bought his story, but the man seemed willing to keep any suspicions to himself. ¡°Come see me again if you need something special. I¡¯ll give you a discount. My name is Melchior.¡± With that, the alchemist deactivated the privacy device, opened the door, and walked Edge back into the shop. He waved goodbye to Melchior, then turned his attention to his next objective, buying something interesting that he couldn¡¯t get anywhere else. With that goal in mind, Edge had the attendant talk him through a selection of the wares on display. The alchemists crafted a selection of incredibly useful, incredibly expensive products. They would have been out of his price range before. But with the bounty he¡¯d collected for killing Warren, combined with the rewards and resources the crew had made from their last mission, he could afford them now. Not that he intended to waste a single Credit. In the end, he decided to buy three potions and a medicinal pill. The first potion was a deep bronze color, and it would increase his Perception by a fair amount for about five minutes. Edge planned to use it while hunting elusive prey or if he found himself in a dangerous situation and needed an extra advantage. The second vial was sky blue. It would boost his Speed and Control to a lesser extent for three and a half minutes. The third was a purple so deep that it was nearly black. It was similar to the blue potion, except it enhanced Power and Durability. Each concoction would stay fresh for a few months and came in a shatterproof crystal vial. He didn¡¯t have a potion bandolier like Warren¡¯s, but the vials were small enough to fit into his belt pouches. It was reassuring to have them within easy reach. Edge had a few new aces up his sleeves if he needed a boost in a pinch. With his potions situated, he turned his attention to his final purchase. The medicinal pill was a small green sphere that could counteract a long list of poisons and venoms. Since he didn¡¯t have a skill that could cure such ailments, it was a form of insurance that would let him breathe a little easier in the field. He spent a few more minutes browsing, looking for spellshots without revealing his interest. Edge really wanted to pick up more rounds for his new spellslinger, but that plan was a bust. He didn¡¯t see any spellshots on display and wasn¡¯t sure that the alchemists sold them. Either way, they were bound to be out of his price range and asking about them today would arouse suspicions that he was desperately seeking to avoid. Oh well. I¡¯ll worry about it when I have more creds to spend. After securing the pill in his toolbelt, Edge left the alchemists¡¯ ward and continued with his day. It was time to pick up his new gear from the Forge, and then head into the field with his friends. Chapter 19: Ranged Attack Edge crossed the street leading to the crafters¡¯ quarter with a smile on his face. He was eager to acquire his first ranged weapon and some armor that was a considerable upgrade from his original set. Hopefully, I won¡¯t get blown up or swallowed by a giant predator again anytime soon. Or ever, for that matter. When he made it to the Forge, there was another long line heading out the front door before wrapping around the block. This time, he just walked up to the counter and flagged one of the apprentices down. ¡°Please tell Ander that Edge is here to pick up an order. He¡¯s expecting me.¡± The woman nodded and then darted into the back. Five minutes later, Ander the smith came walking out. ¡°Edge, it¡¯s good to see you. Follow me. I have your chakram ready in the testing area, and the rest of your gear is waiting in a private room. Let¡¯s try out the weapon first, then get you armored up.¡± He followed the man through the workshop and into a courtyard lined with dummies, posts, and other equipment used to gauge the quality of the crafters¡¯ creations. When the men stepped into the open area, Ander walked over to series of shelves mounted to one wall. He removed a wooden box that was a foot and half square and about two inches deep. He gestured for Edge to join him, and then opened it with a flourish. Inside was an elegant weapon formed from a seamless blend of brass and bone¡ªto the extent that he couldn¡¯t tell where one material ended and the other began. The chakram was a bladed circle with a diameter nearly as broad as the box that held it. The ring was an inch and a half wide and a quarter inch thick. The bands of metal and bone came together in an intricate pattern that reminded him of the hamon of a katana. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± Edge looked up at Ander, who was grinning at the praise. ¡°How does it work?¡± ¡°On the most fundamental level, you aim it at your enemy and then throw as hard as you can. It¡¯s as sharp as first love¡¯s rejection and heavy enough to bite deep, even with a stage-two opponent. The ring is perfectly balanced and can be thrown with pinpoint precision, once you get the hang of it at least. Here, let me show you how it¡¯s done.¡± Ander reached inside and removed the chakram barehanded, gripping the weapon by the interior of the ring so that he didn¡¯t cut his fingers. The smith put the box back on the shelf and motioned for Edge to stand beside him. Then he turned to face one of the dummies, spun the weapon along two of his fingers, and let loose. The chakram went soaring through the air, flashing in the sunlight before burying itself into the wooden post comprising the dummy¡¯s torso. ¡°That¡¯s the most basic move you can make with it. Even with a straight throw, this chakram can dish out considerable damage for someone with your Power. The ring has been skill-crafted to maintain its edge, resist corrosion, and have enough flexibility to bounce if you get the angle right. It won¡¯t break unless you subject it to some serious abuse, so you don¡¯t have to worry about throwing it too hard.¡± As Ander spoke, he walked over and worked the ring free from the dummy. ¡°Once you¡¯ve mastered a direct attack, you can move on to learning something fancy¡­ like this.¡± With that, the smith spun the weapon to build momentum, judged the angle, and threw the chakram again. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. This time, the weapon went sailing toward the far wall. It rebounded from the stone with a ping, then proceeded to bank off two more surfaces before lodging itself into the wooden post, striking the back of the dummy this time around. ¡°You can also bounce it off the ceiling or floor if the surface is hard enough.¡± Ander flipped the weapon vertically, then demonstrated the maneuver. ¡°Now, these are all moves that you can pull off with any chakram. But this one is special. On top of everything else, it¡¯s crafted to return to the paired glove, which means that you can influence its behavior in all kinds of novel ways.¡± He walked back over to the box, removed a thin black glove, and put it on. The glove was some manner of tightly woven chainmail¡ªso fine that it fit as snug as leather or cloth. Ander clenched his fist to show how well the weaving articulated. ¡°This metal is incredibly durable, and flexible enough that it won¡¯t restrict your range of motion. Although, you¡¯ll lose a bit of fine-motor control if you wear it all the time. It will keep your hand from being cut when catching the weapon by the blade instead of the inner ring, as well shield you from slashes and punctures in general. While it¡¯s a fair piece of armor all by itself, that isn¡¯t the glove¡¯s main purpose. The real benefit is...¡± With that, Ander flicked his wrist, sending the ringed weapon sailing through the air. It landed cleanly on the far side of the courtyard. Then the smith tapped his thumb and index finger together and reached out. To Edge¡¯s delight, the chakram vibrated and then flew back into Ander¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°Remember to tap your fingers to turn the pull on and off, and always be mindful of whatever is positioned between the chakram and the glove. In addition to making the weapon easy to retrieve for multiple throws, the glove adds another level to its versatility. Once you get a feel for the draw, you can use the effect to enable advanced maneuvers. For example, adjusting the flight path while the weapon is already in the air, which makes it harder to dodge. When you really get good with it, you can even pull off attacks like this.¡± This time, Ander gripped the chakram by the outer rim. Instead of spinning it to build momentum, he took aim and threw it as hard as he could. The weapon went flashing through the air, bouncing off several walls as it sailed across the courtyard. When it started to lose momentum, Ander activated the glove, turning it off when the ring was heading in the direction that he wanted. Edge realized that the ring was building inertia with every pass, remaining airborne without needing to be thrown again. Better still, its flight path was completely unpredictable. It sailed in a straight line until Ander used the glove, which allowed him to adjust the trajectory at will. It was fascinating to watch the man in action, although it was going to take a lot of practice to develop that level of control. Edge laughed as the smith directed the chakram to land on target after ducking out of the way at the last second. By now, the bladed ring was flying so fast that it cut straight through the dummy, which went crashing to the floor. Then Ander took off the glove so that Edge could give it a try. After he made his first toss, he waited until the chakram landed, then tapped his fingers together. He felt a pull on the glove¡ªlike a magnet was tugging on it¡ªbefore the weapon came sailing back to his hand for an easy catch. It was a little intimidating when the bladed blend of bone and brass come sailing straight toward his body. But even if he messed up, Regeneration could stitch him back together. Edge gave the chakram a few more throws, and then put it into its box. ¡°This is great. I need to practice to get the hang of it, but I finally have a ranged attack¡ªone that I can use in close quarters as well as open fields. Thanks, Ander. You really are the best.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, lad. You always give us fun jobs to work on. Now, let¡¯s go check out your new armor. I just know that you¡¯re going to love it.¡± With that, the men walked back inside the Forge and stepped into a private room, so that Ander could reveal the rest of Edge¡¯s order. Chapter 20: New Armor After they took a seat, Ander opened a tall box that was sitting on the table and pulled out a leather hat. It was a classic, western-style affair¡ªlike the cowboys of old Earth wore while riding across the prairie. It featured a wide brim and a rounded crown. It was stitched together from padamas leather, but something had been applied to lighten the color, leaving it a creamy yellow that Edge found quite striking. He ran his eyes across the decorative band ringing the base of the crown. Black, with subtle markings patterning the surface. Ander held it out for Edge to inspect. The hat was heavier than it looked, but not nearly as weighty as he was expecting, given the layer of armor inside. The smith narrated its features while Edge tried it on, finishing up with, ¡°It¡¯s durable, waterproof, and resistant to a wide variety of elements.¡± ¡°This is great, although the fit is a little tight.¡± He was worried that the man would be offended by the criticism, but Ander just cracked a cheeky grin and then reached out to touch the brim. The crafter¡¯s core ignited, and mana gathered along his fingertips. A few seconds later, he felt the hat loosen until it was a perfect size for his head. ¡°Sorry. I forgot to do your skull when I was taking your measurements. Don¡¯t worry. An adjustment that small won¡¯t interfere with the other crafting that went into making it. Now take it off and flip it over.¡± Edge did as he was bid. When he looked inside, he realized that the interior of the hat was covered in a thin shell of bone¡ªso subtle that he had barely noticed it was there. ¡°We skill-enhanced the garax bone to be lighter than usual, without losing any of the resiliency in the process. It will stop most attacks from penetrating, although you¡¯ll still have to watch out for the impact rattling your brain.¡± He put the hat back on and adjusted the brim. ¡°I love it. What¡¯s next?¡± Ander walked out the door, returned with a pair of boots, and then handed them over for Edge to inspect. This time, the padamas¡¯s leather had been darkened with some manner of finish, taking the bright yellow hue down to the shade of old leaves. The pattern of the scales was intricate and beautiful. The contours were accented with streaks of brighter colors, making the boots both elegant and functional. The bottoms were covered with some manner of dense, rubberlike material. Edge had the sense that it was incredibly tough and would grip well, even when crossing slippery surfaces. The inside had been reinforced with more garax bone and thin strips of high-grade steel, along with a plate in the toes. They would offer his feet significant protection against being punctured or crushed. ¡°Enough looking, although I¡¯ll admit that it¡¯s a beautiful piece of work.¡± Ander was clearly pleased by Edge¡¯s appreciation, despite his nonchalance. ¡°Go ahead and try them on. You still haven¡¯t seen the best part.¡± He took off his old boots, which were starting to look worn and frayed from walking hundreds of miles with some big fights along the way. Then he slipped his feet inside the new pair. Of course, they fit him perfectly, since all puppet bodies had feet that were the exact same size. He could tell right away that they were a considerable upgrade to his old pair. The boots were comfortable, light given their strength, and flexible despite their durability. His feet felt like fortresses with all the bone and steel plating. ¡°Go on now, try walking around.¡± Ander leaned back to give Edge some room. When he took his first step, he let out a sigh of pleasure. It was like walking on clouds. Clouds that were attached to his feet. Ok, that metaphor could use some work. But whatever, these are great! As he walked around the room, his jaw dropped in astonishment because he couldn¡¯t hear a thing. Well, he could still hear everything that was going on in the workshop, and the sound of his clothing moving as he walked. But the cadence of his footsteps was gone. He tried tapping with one toe, then stomping. The floorboards creaked under his weight, but his stomp was totally silent otherwise. The reverberations had been absorbed by the unusual property of the skill-enhanced lizard leather. He laughed and took a few quick laps around the room, marveling at how quiet his progress was, even with the extra Perception he¡¯d picked up over the last few weeks. ¡°These are fucking fantastic.¡± He stopped in front of Ander, who wore a broad grin at seeing how pleased Edge was. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Not only do I finally have some armor for my feet, these will make it easier to stalk prey and hide from anything that¡¯s stalking me. They¡¯re worth every Credit I paid. Thanks Ander, your people are amazing.¡± ¡°Right you are, lad. And don¡¯t you forget it. Try not to destroy them right away. I¡¯d weep to see such expert crafting go to waste.¡± Edge laughed as the smith handed him another piece of armor. This time, it was a buckler shield. The leather-wrapped bone was eight inches across and light as a feather, curved to deflect attacks instead of blocking them straight on. ¡°That one isn¡¯t anything fancy, although we tweaked the materials to be more resilient. It¡¯s not designed to take heavy hits, but you can wear it without restricting your movement when wielding your naginata. It¡¯s best for redirecting projectiles away from your body although it can parry a blade in a pinch.¡± Edge strapped the shield on and tried blocking from a few different angles until Ander grew bored and told him to practice on his own. ¡°With the appetizers out of the way, it¡¯s time for the main course.¡± The smith had been saving the best for last. When Edge was done admiring the other pieces, Ander left for a moment, then wheeled in a dummy equipped with his new armor. As promised, the coat was a duster-style jacket, with a high collar to protect his neck. The leggings looked like leather pants, with reinforcement on both sides of his calves and quads. They even had caps to guard his knees that allowed for full articulation of the joint. The color was a deep gray with a reddish-brown sheen. The finish was dull and didn¡¯t reflect much light back. The hue wouldn¡¯t serve as camouflage out on the Ivory Plains, but it would blend in well with a wide range of other environments. The armor was heavy, at least by the standards of his old life. But with his newfound Power, Edge barely noticed the weight. It was thin enough that it didn¡¯t hamper his mobility, and he could tell right away that wearing it would be far more comfortable than his old set. He could feel air flowing through the material even though it looked completely solid, and Ander promised that it was waterproof. The leather wasn¡¯t dead silent like his new boots. But the armor didn¡¯t make much noise, even when he ran or rapidly shifted stances. It was tough too. After telling Edge to trust him, Ander had him slice the duster with the knife he¡¯d gotten from Trapper, which was incredibly sharp and cut through most things with ease. But the garax leather was durable enough that Edge had to Slash it to part the material. Ander instructed him to watch carefully. He had no idea what was going on until, to Edge¡¯s delight, the severed area began to move. The leather near the cut took on an appearance like melting wax, before resolidifying and gradually hardening. When it was done, he couldn¡¯t tell that the duster had ever been damaged. Holy shit. My armor can repair itself. ¡°This is a match made in heaven.¡± He let out a low whistle. ¡°This armor will serve me well on the road ahead. Thank you, Ander. You are a literal lifesaver. We should go out drinking at the Pioneer sometime soon, my treat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer, lad. And gladly. Although you might regret your decision when you learn how much I can drink.¡± The smith let loose a long cackle at the prospect. ¡°But we¡¯ll save that adventure for another day. Now hurry up and try everything on together. Let¡¯s see how you look when you¡¯re dressed like a warrior for the first time.¡± Edge finished donning his armor, put on his hat, and then followed Ander over to a mirror mounted to the wall. He let out a satisfied hum when he caught sight of his own reflection. His body was completely covered in leather armor¡ªclad in colors that complimented one another. The cut was elegant and a little imposing. Like the smith had promised, Edge looked like a warrior as much as a hunter, especially with his upgraded physique from all the conditioning he had undergone lately. He was thoroughly thrilled and completely content to have superior protection going forward. It was exactly what he needed at just the right time. He was planning on hunting increasingly dangerous prey over the coming days and had no desire to be torn in half in the process. Edge couldn¡¯t count on Regeneration saving him from every attack, and he had to see the blow coming to block it with Harden. One miscalculation when facing a powerful beast and he would be dead before his skills had a chance to save him. Now, he could take heavier hits without receiving critical damage. I should get some more Disruption to protect me from spells, but this new gear is a vast improvement. Filled with the joy that comes with obtaining a major upgrade, Edge paid for his order and thanked Ander again. He got ready to walk back to Trapper¡¯s lodge¡ªeager to show off his new items to the rest of the crew. The senior crafter asked if he would mind delivering the rest of their orders along the way, which Edge was happy to do, since the team would be using them on their hunt. When he made it out front, there was a bipedal bird with bright purple plumage hitched to a small wagon that was filled with weapons and armor. To his relief, the beast was trained to cross town by itself. All he had to do was use the reins to guide it to Trapper¡¯s and the bird would make it back to the Forge on its own. When he arrived at the lodge, Edge waited for the affectionate avian to finish greeting Blue, then he unloaded the wagon and started carrying the cargo inside, ready to begin his next big game hunt. Chapter 21: Strategy Session When the crew noticed that Edge had picked up their orders from the Forge, they rushed outside to help him unload the rest. They were excited to check out their custom weapons and thrilled that everything was ready in time for today¡¯s hunt. The hunters spent a few minutes admiring their gear, then went inside to change into their new armor. When they got back, they started loading the wagon and finalizing their preparations to head into the field. They were only planning to be out on the plains for two or three days this time around, so they didn¡¯t need to pack nearly as many provisions and supplies. Everything was ready go an hour later. After Edge placed his kit in the wagon, Trapper gathered the crew and had them stand in a circle. ¡°We¡¯re almost ready to roll out. Today¡¯s briefing is going to be a bit longer than usual, since we¡¯ve all grown so much in such a short amount of time. First, I¡¯ll provide an overview of our target and route. Then I want each of you to walk us through your skillsets, with an emphasis on your latest acquisitions. If you picked up any upgrades to your gear, tell us about them too. I know we¡¯ve discussed our new skills before, but I want everyone to have a complete picture of our current capabilities before we set foot beyond the walls. ¡°Before we get to that, let me tell you about our assignment. We have another commission to fulfill, posted by the Resource Hunters¡¯ Association this time around. A sizable predator has moved into one of their favorite gathering grounds¡ªa dense grove of trees with an unusually high concentration of medicinal and alchemical herbs. It¡¯s only a ten-hour hike each way, but it should take us a day or two to locate our quarry, evaluate its abilities, and prepare the killing field. ¡°The creature in question is some manner of giant arthropod. A native beast that resembles a scorpion as far as I can tell. It¡¯s an ambush predator that has killed three people already. It¡¯s late stage two and perhaps three times Blue¡¯s size. While it shouldn¡¯t be as dangerous as the padamas, we will still have a tough fight on our hands if we can¡¯t finish it off with traps and tricks. ¡°With that out of the way, let¡¯s move on to updating everyone on our recent gains. Edge, why don¡¯t you go first?¡± ¡°Sure. My only new skill is Double Slash. I merged Slash and Double Strike with a token and can¡¯t wait to show you the result. Since we¡¯ve been back in town, I¡¯ve managed to rank up three of my other skills. Regulate Temperature hit rank two and gained some resistance against heat and cold-based attacks, on top of insulating me from rough weather. ¡°I just took Entangle to rank three, which lets me control the number of vines it creates by adjusting the mana I spend. My biggest gain was advancing Regeneration to rank two. Now it can heal destroyed organs, which means that I can survive some nasty wounds if they don¡¯t kill me outright.¡± He went on to detail his new gear. Everyone loved his noise-reducing boots and considered having some made when they got back. It turned out that every member of the crew had commissioned a suit of self-regenerating garax-leather armor. Although, since they had each chosen a different style and stain, their looks were complementary instead of copies. His chakram was a big hit. Jumo asked Edge to let him try a few tosses and was delighted when the weapon came sailing back into his outstretched hand. Edge reviewed his old skills, then finished by outlining his current stash of consumables, including the chirpers that Bee had talked him into. Then the others took their turns. Although he had perused a few pieces while riding to the lodge, he was eager to check out the full range of equipment the crew had commissioned, using the resources they had collected during their last adventure. Jumo went next. ¡°I¡¯ll start with the skills that didn¡¯t change. Lunge lets me land heavy hits with my spear. It¡¯s good for getting through armor and damaging beasts with high Durability. Rapid Strike unleashes five thrusts in three seconds flat, helping me slip past the guard of another weapon-wielder or tag a nimble creature. Over the last few days, I trained hard and took Second Wind to rank two. It lets me burn mana to recover my stamina, and I went with an efficiency upgrade that will help me fight longer at peak performance. ¡°Dash also reached rank two. I added a blur effect that makes me harder to hit while I reposition.¡± At that point, Jumo ignited his core and took off in a flash. His body was reduced to a streaking blur, which made it difficult to track his exact position until he came to a stop beside the wagon. ¡°I have a new earth core. It came with a passive ultimate that enhances my earth and stone powers. Although, the only elemental skill I have so far is the one I got from our quest to kill the garax. Piercing Javelin creates a stone spear that deals a crazy amount of damage, and I¡¯m eager to try it out.¡± With his skills out of the way, Jumo moved on to showing off his new gear. As a replacement for his old ironwood spear, a heavy weapon that had packed a real punch, he¡¯d had new spear crafted from the padamas¡¯s tail spikes. The material was incredibly light for its strength¡ªless than half the weight of his prior weapon. It let him attack even faster than before and shouldn¡¯t break, even if he used it to block another heavy hit from a behemoth beast. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. In addition to his new armor, Jumo had commissioned a garax-bone helmet. It was modified to cover his face with a plate that was completely transparent, protecting his head without impairing his field of view. The helm also had a clever bit of crafting that kept it from muffling the sound that reached his ears. Sasha was next in line. ¡°I have my new fire core. It works just like Jumo¡¯s but boosts heat and flame-based attacks. I trained hard with my skills this week and took Shield Bash to rank two, upgrading its shockwave to affect a wider area. Flame Imbuement hit rank two as well, and I opted to increase the heat of the flaming mana it transfers to my opponent. ¡°Combined with my new core, the imbuement should dish out some serious damage, although I can¡¯t use it on beasts whose hides we are planning to sell. Silent Step is close to advancing and should rank up on this hunt. I plan to give it a wider area, so that it can cover a small team if they stick close to my position. ¡°I have two new skills. Fire Breathing came from the garax quest. It shoots a cone of flame with a range of about twenty feet. I also spent some Credits to buy a new skill, Enhance Hearing, which used my last slot for this stage. Since no one on the crew has anything comparable, it should bolster our ability to sense prey and detect aggressive predators. On the gear front, I have a new spear like Jumo¡¯s, and a garax-bone short bow with longer range and more power than my old weapon.¡± When Sasha was done, Riller and Violet took their turns. They were still ecstatic to have received their Basic cores, which let them use more skills and powers of a higher rarity. Riller had taken Poison Arrow to rank two on the last mission, adding a mind-muddling effect to his sedative poison. He had advanced Eagle Eye to rank two after returning to Puppet Town, giving the power a telescoping effect that increased its range by a fair margin. He had been awarded Scout Drone from the garax quest¡ªthe same power that Warren the manslayer had used to hunt Edge. Riller had also purchased a new skill, Wind Shot, which took thirty seconds to charge, but let him fire an arrow with some incredible power behind it. He had commissioned a new garax-bone longbow, to make the most out of his body¡¯s newfound Power, and a pair of padamas-spike daggers that were incredibly hard and wickedly sharp. Violet had chosen to focus on her supportive role with her recent gains. Her Mend skill let her make minor repairs to damaged equipment, and Create Copper Aether turned magicyte-containing food into fuel for low-grade magitech devices. Enhance Beast had hit rank two on the last mission, giving the target beast a boost to its Speed in addition to Durability and Power. Her biggest gain was her new Travelers¡¯ Boon aura, which hastened healing and helped restore the stamina of anything friendly within a ten-foot radius. It wasn¡¯t a huge difference in battle, at least at rank one, but the skill would let the crew operate for longer each day and help them recover from wounds faster. She wasn¡¯t sure how she wanted to use her last two skill slots yet, so she was saving them for now. In addition to her new armor, Violet had picked up a heavy crossbow, letting her hit harder from medium range, since her build wasn¡¯t well-suited for melee combat. Violet also gave the crew a quick refresher on Blue¡¯s powers. Charge was true to its name and let Blue accelerate by burning mana. Thrust unleashed a powerful, penetrating strike, whereas Gore made her horns sharper for a rending attack. The azure dino had entered middle stage two during the padamas hunt and was due to learn another skill soon. Everyone was excited to see what she got and hoped that it would happen on this mission. That just left the crew¡¯s leader. Trapper had evolved to stage two during the padamas hunt and had cycled up several times since, granting the woman a dramatic boost to her attributes. On the skill front, she had Manifest Trap¡ªthe signature power that let her create a range of deadly devices with a 12-hour time limit. Manipulate Air was another versatile skill that let her influence the properties of gases within a modest radius and create puffs of wind on demand. Cleanse purged the body of poisons and infections. After advancing it to rank two the day before, the skill could treat other kinds of ailments, such as parasites and infections, although it couldn¡¯t heal damaged tissue directly. Trapper had also taken Sense Life to rank three, letting her add more power to the detection skill on demand. Her biggest gains were the skills she had been awarded for completing the garax quest. Sense Vibration could detect enemies that were moving through the ground or beyond her field of view, and it worked just as well on nonliving objects. It would help her pierce a wide variety of stealth skills, since only a handful of them muffled the impact of their wielder¡¯s footsteps. She had also slotted Snipe, which increased the velocity and accuracy of her ranged attacks. Snipe wasn¡¯t as powerful as Wind Shot but only took a few seconds to charge. Last came Quagmire, the Rare skill that had convinced Trapper to accept the garax quest in the first place. Edge hadn¡¯t seen her use it yet and was dying to see it in action. Quagmire transformed soil and sand into quicksand or mud¡ªdeep enough to drown smaller creatures and trap big ones. Even something the size of the garax would have struggled to force its way through the muck. Other than her new armor, the crew¡¯s leader had claimed a core seed for most of her reward, although Edge wasn¡¯t sure why she wanted it. Trapper had also purchased some new bolts for her magitech crossbow, adding water and air to the weapon¡¯s lightning, ice, stone, and flame shots. Now that their briefing was over, it was time for the crew to roll out. After hitching Blue to the wagon, they made their way through town, crossing the districts while heading for the south gate. Edge realized that he was grinning from ear to ear. He was eager to head into the field with his friends and eat some juicy skills along the way. Chapter 22: Scorpion Hunt After stopping to say hello to Mel and the young deputy she was training, the crew passed through the gate and stepped out onto the Ivory Plains. The white and yellow grass that gave the biome its name was rippling in the late summer breeze, rolling and heaving like waves on the ocean. The magicytes shimmering in the air were thicker than before, adding dazzling patterns of living magic to the mix. The endless prairie was more magnificent than ever, growing more deadly and beautiful in equal measures. Edge took a few minutes to appreciate the abundant natural splendor, then turned his attention to the hunters walking beside him. It was the first time that the crew had come together since their mission to scout the borderlands and take out the padamas. He was looking forward to being out in the field with his friends. Not to mention stealing a juicy power or two from the beast they were hunting. Edge only had one open skill slot at the moment. He was saving it for when Intimidating Roar finished digesting in another week, although he would get another seven slots when he hit stage two. He did, however, have another Skill-Merger Token he could use to make room for one more, along with his Auxiliary Skill Slot. Anything else he stole, he would Absorb to boost his existing powers, which was always a valuable gain. The beast¡¯s territory was in the southeastern quadrant of the Ivory Plains¡ªa side of the biome that he hadn¡¯t visited in person yet, along with the northwestern corner. With any luck, the scorpion would have some rank-three skills that were Uncommon or even Rare. Skill-Eater grumbled in its sleep at the thought, sending a pulse of gluttony flowing through his body that left him drooling. Before worrying about what was on the menu, Edge needed to battle the beast and weaken it enough that it was vulnerable to Extraction. He knew that the crew wouldn¡¯t always be able to cripple their prey before finishing it off, but they had promised to do the best they could without putting their lives at risk. I¡¯m lucky to have found people I can trust. Not only to keep my secret, but who are willing to help however they can. As he pondered the matter, the hunters began crossing the grasslands. Just like their last mission, the crew would be paid a bonus for updating their map as they traveled. Part of Violet¡¯s job was recording any places where the biome¡¯s terrain had been swapped out with pieces from elsewhere on the planet. If they found the habitat of anything troublesome, the location of valuable resources, or ruins like the temple Edge had delved at the beginning of his adventure, the crew would earn a finder¡¯s fee. They also had first rights to try to claim them if they wanted and could receive assistance from the settlement for a fraction of the proceeds. But that was a worry for later in their journey. The terrain near Puppet Town had been thoroughly charted, and the dangerous bits had already been pacified. Although the crew had to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings, in case something nasty had wandered into the region, this part of the biome was still relatively safe. Traversing it was far more relaxing than exploring the borderlands, and Edge took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the scenery as he walked beside the wagon. So far, they had only spotted a few unusual areas, and nothing that seemed particularly promising. Most notably, the course of the river had been diverted where part of its bed had been spirited away, flooding a large swath of the prairie and turning it into what was effectively a new marshlands sub-biome. It was a perfect day to head into the field. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky and cool wind was blowing from the east. Since they were in the last weeks of summer, the heat had begun to die down and the nights were growing longer. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. They hunted a few lesser beasts as afternoon transitioned into early evening. The meat was now filling their bellies, and the hides were packed into the bed of the wagon. They decided to stop for the night before entering the territory of their prey, so that they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about running into the beast in the dark. The crew told some stories around the campfire, set up a watch rotation, and then went to bed early. Edge took the first shift, enjoying the ambiance of the grasslands by starlight. While being out in the wilderness of Ord was never safe, especially with the changes taking place across the region, this mission was far less stressful than hunting the padamas¡ªwhen they had to worry about an invisible predator ambushing them at any moment with little to no warning of its approach. The crew awoke with the rising sun. They packed their kits and were back on the road the moment that color began soaking back into the world. They stopped to watch the sunrise on the top of a small hillock, then resumed their journey while discussing their plan to take out the aggressive arthropod. An hour later, the hunters crossed into a sub-biome known as the Perfumed Prairie. Most of the flora wasn¡¯t too different from the core grasslands, but there were hundreds of species of wildflowers that grew side by side. They blossomed in the last days of summer, streaking the plains with brilliant swaths of color and filling the air with the myriad scents that gave the region its name. When Edge took his turn riding beside Violet on the wagon, he cast his gaze into the distance. He leaned back while enjoying the colorful blossoms swaying in the wind, shrouded by the glistening flows of magicytes that were unique to Ord. The weaves of magic were growing thicker by the mile, as the crew left the center of the biome behind them. ¡°Ahh¡­ That¡¯s wonderful.¡± Sasha drew in a deep breath through her nose to sample the perfume riding the breeze. ¡°This area is gorgeous. I haven¡¯t been on Ord long enough to see the prairie bloom until now.¡± Edge turned to look her in the eyes. They shared a smile with a flash of heat behind it, which set his heart pounding and shivers running down his spine. While it was true that this land was beautiful, it was nothing compared to the woman herself. Those piercing emerald eyes. The dusting of freckles across her nose. Those long, shapely legs and mesmerizing curves. Sasha¡¯s body was more enticing than ever, now that he had seen what lay beneath her clothing. I¡¯ll see if she¡¯s in the mood for another night on the town when we get back from the hunt. He could drink in the sight of Sasha all day, but not with everyone watching. Edge endured enough teasing from Violet and Jumo already and had no desire to make it worse. She winked at him, then turned away and returned her attention to the task at hand, locating their prey and then homing in on its lair. They proceeded in a loose formation, ready to spring into action at a moment¡¯s notice. They were close enough to the site of the beast¡¯s last attack that it was possible it would come for them. While an ambush predator was unlikely to attack a large team traveling down the open road, they weren¡¯t taking it for granted. Gigantic predators generally commanded massive territories. It could take some work to track it down, even for the veteran hunters and their excellent powers of perception. While the scorpion wasn¡¯t big enough for his Big Game Hunt trait to bolster his damage, it was large enough to trigger the trait¡¯s bonus to Perception. It meant that Edge had a reasonable chance of spotting it too, even without a specialized skill. Their plan was to find the beast¡¯s lair, trap the route leading to it, then draw the predator into an ambush of their own. Trapper didn¡¯t think that the scorpion was as powerful as the padamas, based on the reports of the hunters who had survived its attack. The odds were good that if they prepared the field carefully, the crew could take out their target without having to engage in another risky brawl. According to the firsthand accounts, the beast could detect magic unusually well. It was either mana-sensitive or had some manner of perceptual skill. As a result, the crew couldn¡¯t rely on Manifest Trap on this hunt. Any skill-summoned devices would be easy for the creature to spot. That didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t use traps. It just meant that the crew would have to set up devices the old-fashioned way and wait for their quarry to walk into them. That being said, they needed to be careful. Leaving any sign of their presence behind¡ªa single footprint or shovel of displaced soil¡ªcould cause their prey to instinctively avoid the area. Nothing on Ord lived long enough to reach stage two by ignoring signs that unknown creatures were lurking in the region. Edge might have been in trouble if he were hunting on his own. But with Trapper¡¯s crew at his side, he was sure they would get it right. We just need to locate our target and prepare the field, and we¡¯ll be ready to take the big bad down. Chapter 23: Buzzing Blanket Now that they were in the area, the crew¡¯s next objective was to investigate the site where the beast had ambushed the resource-gathering team. Trapper was hoping to uncover some clues regarding its powers and proclivities while looking for signs that would point them in the direction of its den. The spot in question was a dense grove of trees. It was a place where the local beasts came to treat their wounds. Their droppings provided nutrients for a variety of medicinal herbs, which had drawn the resource hunters into the region¡ªthe same dynamic that made the thicket a veritable buffet for an ambush predator. These trees were covered in dark green needles that reminded Edge of the pines he had grown up with on Earth. The smell was slightly different, but close enough that it filled him with a wave of nostalgia. Although, perhaps nostalgia wasn¡¯t the right word for a place that he had few fond memories of and no real desire to see again. However, it did remind him just how much he missed his mother. I hope you¡¯re doing alright, Mom. I¡¯m remarkably well, despite all the insanity caused by the disaster. My life has changed in so many ways, but I¡¯m still breathing. I¡¯m not just surviving, I¡¯m thriving. Each day fills me with excitement and joy, and I¡¯ve made some real friends for the first time. I really fucking miss you and think about you all the time. I hope we can catch up once the System restores long-range communication. Jumo must have noticed the complex emotions playing out across Edge¡¯s face. The athletic warrior walked over and threw an arm around his shoulder. The man didn¡¯t ask what was wrong or try to trivialize Edge¡¯s feelings. Jumo just flashed a cheerful grin, letting Edge know that he was there if Edge needed him, without poking at his scars. He took a deep breath, smiled, and then returned his attention to his surroundings, making sure that the predator wasn¡¯t anywhere nearby before they entered the grove. Since the thicket was relatively small, they began by examining the tree line, searching for any trail signs indicating that a large beast had passed through. They also paid close attention to the animals, looking for evidence that something had disturbed their routines. After finding nothing of the sort on either front, it was time to enter the tree line. They parked the wagon and unhitched Blue, so the azure triceratops could fight at their side if needed. They made their way toward the center of the thicket in a combat formation, going slow so that Sasha, Riller, and Trapper could use their perceptual powers to scan the terrain before they passed through. For his part, Edge listened closely while looking for anything out of the ordinary. He didn¡¯t have any skills that could help, but Big Game Hunter would sharpen his senses if the beast was nearby. A nervous half hour later, he spotted a break in the trees as the crew approached the heart of the grove where the herbs were located. The air was thick with flies, and as they advanced, the hunters spotted the source. ¡°Corpses,¡± Sasha said. ¡°Two of them.¡± Sure enough, when he looked where she was pointing, he could see two dark shapes lying a few feet away from a patch of yellow flowers. They were completely covered in writhing flies, forming a buzzing black blanket. Edge had seen dead bodies before. He¡¯d been responsible for three of them after all. But he¡¯d never witnessed what happened a few days after the act firsthand. Even though he couldn¡¯t smell them from here, the sight made him nauseous. ¡°Go slow,¡± Trapper said. ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself to do anything that you¡¯re not ready for. You can stand here while we take a closer look.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. He thanked the crew¡¯s leader and did as she suggested. He was still getting used to some aspects of his new life, and he appreciated the consideration. Violet tossed some manner of consumable near the bodies, which released a cloud of gas that drove the flies away. Even from this distance, Edge could tell that there was something unusual about the remains. They looked emaciated instead of bloated. Mummified instead of rotting. Sasha, Riller, and Trapper went to inspect the area while the others stood guard. They came back fifteen minutes later to report their findings. ¡°The beast isn¡¯t a scorpion,¡± Trapper said. ¡°At least not one whose ancestors migrated here from Earth. We know that it has a stinging tail from the reports the survivors gave, but it seems more like a spider otherwise.¡± Edge peered through his spyglass, so that he could follow along with her report. ¡°The victims organs were dissolved and then sucked out, and their bodies are bound in some manner of silk. We found a few strands running along the ground too, which is likely how the beast senses its prey. It doesn¡¯t change our strategy too much, although we¡¯ll have to be on guard against webbing and assume that it can climb unusually well for its size. It seems to have left the thicket, although I suspect that the creature is still lurking near this part of the plains.¡± They stopped to bury the remains, then the hunters picked some of the herbs and started walking back to the wagon. Since all the trail signs were old and there was no indication that the creature was living within the grove, their next objectives were to figure out which way it had traveled, then deduce likely locations for its lair by surveying the surrounding terrain. Sasha eventually found some tracks leading south. After Trapper confirmed that it wasn¡¯t a false trail, the crew hitched Blue to the wagon and followed them. The going was slow, since they had to track their way forward. Luckily, this beast wasn¡¯t as stealthy as the padamas or garax, at least while moving along the ground. Since the creature could lay down webbing, its lair was bound to be somewhere that it could spin a trap web and draw in prey. The open prairie didn¡¯t provide enough places to anchor the weight-bearing strands, so they were looking for somewhere with a lot of tall trees, big boulders, or other potential attachment sites. They kept an eye out for terrain where animals would congregate¡ªgame trails, watering holes, and places where nuts and berries grew in abundance. On top of that, there needed to be enough cover for a massive predator to remain hidden, although there was a good chance that it would use skills to supplement its natural camouflage. The crew had to watch out for sense webs too. Strands that were laid out across the area surrounding the lair¡ªarranged to transmit vibrations that would let the beast know when other creatures drew near. If the hunters fucked up and triggered them, they would lose the element of surprise, which they were counting on to initiate their ambush. Everyone kept an eye out for terrain that met these criteria, while Trapper used Sense Life and Sense Vibration, and Riller activated Eagle Eye. Whenever they found something promising, he would summon a Scout Drone. After he linked his senses to it, Riller conducted a survey from the air, where he didn¡¯t have to worry about giving his position away by stepping through a sense web. Eventually, they came across a likely location. It was a dense grove of broad-leaved trees surrounding a natural spring. Tubers and berries grew along the water¡¯s edge, providing a source of both food and water to any creature stopping by. The trees were tall enough to support a complex web, and the foliage was dense enough to conceal a massive body. Trapper couldn¡¯t sense anything inside, although her skills were less effective from this range. Since getting closer would risk revealing their presence, Riller sent out his Scout Drone, closing his eyes as he linked his sight to it. He opened them again a few minutes later and said, ¡°This is the right area. They¡¯re well-hidden, but I saw threads of webbing woven throughout the trees. We can proceed with the next stage of our plan. It¡¯s time to prepare the killing field.¡± Publishing Update and Chapter Marathon Event Hey everyone, I just wanted to drop in and share some exciting news with you all. After talking the matter over with my publisher, we have decided to reverse the release order of Skill-Eater and Labyrinth of the Mad God. Since Skill-Eater will be coming out first (tentative launch date early July), I need to have more of the chapters proofread before that happens. As a result, I am implementing a chapter marathon event, starting today (which means that another chapter is coming out right now). There will be at least 1 chapter every day throughout the duration of this event, and 2 chapters a day for the next week, which will get us through the book at a crazy fast rate. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. All that I ask is that you flag as many typos as possible, and point out any overused words or phrases, or anything else you notice that could be better. Thank you for all the support over the last few months, I could never have made it this far without your help. Magnus Chapter 24: Ambush Predator Finding the lair of their quarry was a promising development, but the hunters weren¡¯t ready to make their move. They needed to make sure the beast was home, then learn everything they could about its capabilities¡ªboth the natural properties of its body and the skills at its disposal. The most reliable method was to wait for prey to pass through the grove and then watch what happened. Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t any sizable critters heading toward the spring, although there were some deerlike animals grazing a bit further down the prairie. Normally, this would have marked the beginning of a stakeout, but Riller had a better idea. Instead of waiting in the region for hours or even days, the man decided to try out a new use for his Scout Drone. Although the flying device was the same color as the sky and quiet as a whisper, he thought that he could use it to spook the grazing creatures, causing them to flee in the direction of his choosing. He summoned his drone and circled around until it was behind the herd. Then he lowered the device to the level of the grass and sent it streaking straight for them¡ªangled so it would displace the stalks and mimic the approach of a charging predator. The deer saw the drone coming from a hundred feet away. Just as Riller had been hoping, they darted for the closest cover¡ªthe grove of trees in the distance. A few seconds later, they entered the thicket. Riller watched through the drone, while Edge and Trapper pulled out their spyglasses. They didn¡¯t wind up needing them, because what happened next was visible to everyone. Shortly after passing through the tree line, two of the deer stumbled when transparent trap webs caught their legs and impeded their movement. The rest of the herd came to a skidding stop, overcome with panic as they turned and ran back the way they had come. Whatever had spooked them earlier was nothing compared to the dire threat lurking within the grove. They came scampering out of the overgrowth, trailing strands of webbing that shimmered in the sunlight. While most of the deer would live to see another day, the pair that had entered first weren¡¯t so fortunate. The next few seconds would seal their fate. For a tension-saturated moment, nothing happened, as the bound animals struggled to break free. The larger deer screamed¡ªlimbs flailing as it fought to escape from its silken cage. Every movement only served to entangle it further. The smaller animal must not have hit the main web, because it was slowly pulling away from the grove, struggling with everything it had to sever the strands clinging to its limbs. Edge watched with rapt attention, as a surge of vicarious adrenaline went surging through his arteries. However, it wasn¡¯t the bound creature that the massive predator went for, but the one that was desperately trying to get out of the webbed area. One second, it was fighting for every step within what appeared to be an empty grove. The next, something huge came charging straight at it like a bolt of chitin-plated lightning. The beast had so much Speed that Edge couldn¡¯t get a good look at it until the moment it struck. It came to a skidding stop in front of the terrified animal, revealing its full form to the hunters watching from a distance. It was an arthropod the size of an Earth rhinoceros, although it looked even bigger due to the spread of its spindly legs and its long, segmented tail. Its chitin armor was a royal purple hue, with stripes of bright violet accentuating its joints. The creature¡¯s natural armor was thick¡ªdesigned to take heavy hits and distribute the force across a wide area. It looked like it was part scorpion and part spider, with a bit of beetle thrown into the mix. Since he didn¡¯t know its proper name, he decided to keep things simple and think of it as a scorpion for now. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The beast had four weapons that Edge could see. Its mouth, two massive claws, and a prehensile tail. He was certain that its sting would be venomous. Although, with the magic of Ord flowing inside it, its skill-bolstered natural weapons could present threats in almost any conceivable form. Fast as thought, the scorpion¡¯s flexible tail lashed out. The deer tried to dodge, but the attack was so quick that if Edge blinked, he would have missed it. Even if the creature had been able to evade the strike under normal circumstances, it had no chance at all with the webbing restricting its movement. Once, twice, then a third and final time, the barbed appendage went plunging into the side of the terrified herbivore. At that point, the scorpion turned and approached the deer that was trapped within the main web. The creature was quivering in fear¡ªbound so completely that it couldn¡¯t even flinch when the massive beast arrived in front of it. This time around, it didn¡¯t use its stinger, conserving venom after expending so much in its prior attack. Instead, it raised its bladed claws and lunged. The first carved a deep gouge into the creature¡¯s flank. The second took its head clean off. Edge turned his attention back to the first deer, which had stopped moving, except for its eyes. He realized that it wasn¡¯t breathing, and it collapsed a few seconds later¡ªdead from suffocation since its lungs couldn¡¯t draw breath. ¡°Paralytic agent,¡± Riller said. ¡°Something comparable to my Poisoned Arrows, but even stronger, likely due to the dose. We might be able to shrug off a sting, two tops with our natural Durability, but more than that and we¡¯ll suffer the same fate as that deer.¡± By now, the scorpion had grabbed both creatures and wrapped them in silk. It reached out with two legs, then hauled them up into the canopy, using its webbing and a branch to create a makeshift pulley. Soon, they were out of sight, and the beast went to work repairing the damage to its sensory and sticky webs. When it was done, it climbed into the treetops, ready to ambush the next creature that was unfortunate enough to pass by below. ¡°We didn¡¯t get to see any of its skills in action,¡± Trapper said. "But we still learned a lot. Now that we know where it is and have a way to make it show itself, we should be able to plan out an ambush from range. The beast can¡¯t use any skills if it¡¯s dead, and if we attack from a distance, we should have time to retreat if we need to. We¡¯ll keep watching and see if we can learn more. But given the dynamics of the situation, we¡¯re probably going to have to make our move without a complete understanding of its skillset. ¡°It¡¯s not ideal, but we have the advantage of numbers, surprise, and tons of tricks and tools that it has never seen before. One major mark in our favor is that it migrated from the frontier, which means that it won¡¯t be familiar with the tactics and traps that hunters employ. Even if it¡¯s smart, it won¡¯t be able to counter moves that it¡¯s never encountered, and we won¡¯t give it a chance to learn. ¡°Let¡¯s pull back a few miles to be safe.¡± Violet nodded her agreement. ¡°Then discuss our options at length and brainstorm on how to slay it. Our best bet is to launch an ambush from concealment and disable or kill it before it has a chance to recover.¡± The crew hiked until they were far enough away from the scorpion¡¯s lair, then sat in a circle while eating lunch. Each hunter added their own observations, along with any ideas they had for taking the armored predator down. In the end, they decided that the best move was an alpha strike, combining their strongest ranged attacks with one of Violet¡¯s inventions. After using another animal to draw the scorpion out of hiding, Riller would attack with Wind Shot and Eagle Eye to form a skill combo. Jumo had his new Piercing Javelin spell, and Trapper would use Snipe to bolster the magitech rounds from her crossbow. She would open with lightning to impair the beast¡¯s movement, then switch to frost bolts to freeze its joints. Everyone else would attack with something that Violet had whipped up after their battle with the garax¡ªarrows and bolts that had sacks attached to the tips instead of bladed tips. Inside was a special type of paint that was incredibly sticky, easy to spread, and hard to remove. If anyone managed to hit the creature¡¯s face, they could blind it, securing a major advantage before the battle began. Although they were hoping to avoid a direct confrontation, if it came down to a brawl, Edge, Blue, and Jumo would engage the scorpion while the other hunters whittled it down from range. If anyone got stung, they would retreat to the wagon and make sure that they didn¡¯t get dosed again until Trapper treated them with Cleanse, which would expel the venom from their body. In a worst-case scenario, Trapper would use Quagmire and everyone else would lay down flashbangs and smoke bombs while they beat a hasty retreat. The crew spent another hour going over the details, meticulously laying plans for various contingencies, until at last, they were ready to make their move. Chapter 25: Hunter Hunted The crew parked the wagon, then circled the grove from a distance while deciding where to launch their attack. Now that they knew where the scorpion was hiding, Riller used his drone to observe it from the air and make sure that they hadn¡¯t been spotted. Once they had picked their point of ambush¡ªa place where they could peer through a patch of tall grass but were hard to see from the grove¡ªthe crew settled down to wait. All they needed was another animal to use as bait and their big game hunt would enter its final stage. With any luck, one would enter the region before long. Even though he knew waiting was a key component of hunting, Edge was still getting used to remaining still for hours at a time while anticipating a life and death melee that could begin at any second. Since he couldn¡¯t pace, he sat on his hands and did his best not to fidget, to the amusement of the other crewmembers. He reviewed their plan in his mind as the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon, watching the shadows grow long with the end of day. Just when it seemed that they would have to pull back and resume their hunt in the morning, it finally happened. Another herd of deer came walking up to the thicket to drink from the spring. It seemed that they wouldn¡¯t need to use Riller¡¯s drone again after all, since the animals were approaching the trees by themselves. Everyone moved into position¡ªready to start firing weapons and casting spells the instant that the scorpion came out of hiding and committed to its attack. Edge forced himself to keep his breathing slow and steady, shutting out his racing pulse and the adrenaline singing in his veins. His world narrowed¡ªevery scrap of concentration fixed on the unsuspecting animals that were walking into a trap. Just like before, the deer in front hit the webbing first, causing the rest to bolt. This creature wasn¡¯t bound as tightly as the last. If the scorpion wanted to catch it, it had to move fast. ¡°Get ready,¡± Trapper whispered, so softly that he could barely hear the words. ¡°This is perfect. When I give the signal, hit it with everything you have.¡± By now, Edge¡¯s heart was pounding like a kettle drum. He grabbed his short bow and put one of Violet¡¯s paint arrows to the string, while the other hunters nocked their arrows and loaded their bolts. For another breathless second, nothing happened. In that moment, it seemed like the deer would manage to break free before the predator struck. But then a massive purple body lowered itself from the canopy on a silken strand, positioning so that the animal was trapped between its location and the main web. The beast crept toward its prey, silent as a shadow as it closed the final few feet. Its back is to us. We couldn¡¯t hope for a better moment to strike. Wait for it. A little longer. Now! The instant that the scorpion went in for the kill, Trapper¡¯s crew made their move. Since they were fighting a heavily-armored target, they couldn¡¯t count on their long-range attacks finishing it off. With any luck, their initial volley would disable the creature. Then everyone would draw close enough to land precision strikes on its weak points, while Edge and Jumo used Dash, Leap, and Shadow Step to engage the beast and keep it from retreating. The scorpion should either run or attack, rather than climb into its web, once it realized that its assailants were attacking from range. Although they had to be careful not to walk into any sticky threads while they maneuvered into position. All this passed through Edge¡¯s mind as he took aim and drew back the string of his bow, waiting until the others were ready to fire. Trapper, Jumo, and Riller ignited their cores, unleashing their heaviest attacks. Trapper¡¯s Snipe was the fastest of the lot, and she was ready to go a heartbeat before the rest. Mana coalesced along the bolt that she¡¯d loaded into her oversized magitech crossbow¡ªone of the crackling lightning rounds that buzzed as it tore through the air. It crossed the distance in the blink of an eye, striking the beast where its chitin was thinnest. When the bolt sank in, the electric-aspected aether discharged in a flash. The voltage went surging through the scorpion¡¯s muscles, causing it to spasm as it lost control over its limbs. The deer turned to track the noise, screaming when it saw the massive predator looming just a few steps behind it. By now, Jumo¡¯s spell was in the air. An obsidian javelin went streaking toward its target, shattering a chitin plate and boring deep into the tissue below. Riller unleashed Wind Shot a bare second later, which he had begun charging the moment that the beast began its attack. Although his new skill took some time to prepare, the results were worth the wait. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Accompanied by a powerful gust of wind, his arrow took flight. It was just an ordinary missile. But powered by Wind Shot and guided by Eagle Eye, it did almost as much damage as Jumo¡¯s javelin and punched another huge hole in the beast¡¯s side. The instant that the crew¡¯s attacks were in the air, Edge fired. But he was still a novice with the weapon and his shot went wide. He got ready to try again while the others let loose. Violet and Sasha had better luck with their paint arrows. Both women hit the scorpion¡¯s head, causing bright green goo to go running down one side. The paint only covered half of its eyes, but the sticky substance reduced its field of vision and provided one hell of a distraction. ¡°Charge,¡± Jumo cried. Edge didn¡¯t need to be told twice and took off in a flash. He had Jumo on one side and Blue on the other, with Sasha riding the battle-trained triceratops bareback. Violet cast Enhance Beast, transforming the azure dino into a mobile engine of carnage. While Riller, Violet, and Trapper pressed the attack from range, the other hunters closed the distance. Jumo and Edge were careful to stay behind Blue, since they needed Sasha to clear the area of webbing before they entered the tree line. Everyone slowed down when she held up one hand and ignited her core. Mana went flowing out of her reactor and gathered in the hollow of her throat. Meanwhile, a ball of fire materialized in front of her face. When Sasha parted her lips and blew, the flames transformed into a searing cone that shot out a good twenty feet from her position. She panned it across the area as Blue advanced, then deactivated Fire Breathing a few seconds later. It should have been sufficient to remove any sticky webbing from the region, and she didn¡¯t want to catch the trees on fire. The instant that her breath died out, Sasha hopped off Blue¡¯s back and the crew resumed their assault, heading straight for the stricken beast with their weapons leading the way. It had begun to regain control of its body, but Trapper hit it with a second lightning round, followed by a pair of frost bolts. Riller got off another Wind Shot that shattered one of its legs before the others drew close enough that he had to reposition to where he didn¡¯t have to worry about friendly fire. Blue Charged as she closed the final few feet, converting her powerful body into a liquid cerulean blur. With an impact that Edge could feel in his bones, she hit the chitin-covered creature broadside. Her horns shattered the armored exoskeleton that the ranged attacks had cracked, biting into the soft flesh below in a spray of yellow ichor. Before the scorpion could pull away, Blue Gored. Mana danced along her horns as the offensive skill sharpened their surfaces into cutting blades, then she raised her head and stepped back. The well-timed skill widened the wounds, carving a canyon into the creature¡¯s torso. The crew¡¯s alpha strike would lower the value of the remains, but it was far better than engaging a creature with unknown skills on even footing. That just left Edge and Jumo. Now that the beast had a weak point, everyone aimed for the break in its armor, unleashing their most powerful skills in rapid succession. Jumo lined up his weapon and Lunged¡ªhis new padamas-spike spear plunging deep into the beast¡¯s side. Edge brought his polearm down in a wicked chop, Double Slashing along the way to multiply the damage he inflicted. Both heavy weapons bit deep, shearing arteries and severing nerves before pulverizing the organs below. Edge Leapt back and prepared to press the attack, waiting for an opening to steal some skills. When he landed and took a closer look, he was shocked to see just how much damage the crew had inflicted with their surprise attack. The hunters had hit the creature so hard that it was already dying. Critically wounded before it even knew they were there. He reached out and willed the black chains to appear, but it was already too late. The beast spasmed and then went still. His eyes went wide with astonishment, absorbing the fact that it was dead. It was the easiest hunt that Edge had ever been on, especially considering that their quarry was late stage two. Their plan had gone off without a hitch, and the hunters¡¯ ambush had been even more effective than they¡¯d anticipated. It was a bit anticlimactic, but he knew that was just the adrenaline talking. A good fight was one that you walked away from without casualties, not an epic contest of strength and skills against a creature multiple times your size. ¡°Shit.¡± Trapper walked over and turned to face him. ¡°Sorry, Edge. I was hoping to keep it alive long enough for you to steal its skills.¡± ¡°No problem. I¡¯m just glad that no one got hurt. There¡¯s always the next hunt and we still got experience from the kill, the resources from its remains, and the Credits for completing the mission.¡± ¡°You know...¡± Jumo took a few steps closer and prodded the dead arthropod with his spear. ¡°Now that it¡¯s not moving, it seems smaller than I thought it would be. I would have pegged it as early stage two, not late.¡± When everyone took a closer look, they decided that Jumo was right. ¡°The reports must have been exaggerated,¡± Riller said. ¡°This beast would have seemed gigantic after it killed your friends and was chasing you across the plains. You can¡¯t blame people¡¯s imaginations for running wild in that situation.¡± While this was a reasonable conclusion to draw under the circumstances, it turned out not to be correct. There was another explanation for the discrepancy, which Trapper¡¯s crew would come to understand eleven seconds later, when a shrill scream of rage broke over the grasslands. Everyone grabbed their weapons and spun to face the sound¡­ just as a second giant scorpion, far larger than the first, came charging for them with murder clear in every crook of its features. A little one followed in its wake, coordinating its movements with the dominant beast. ¡°Shit.¡± Violet cast another round of Enhance Beast on Blue. ¡°There¡¯s more than one. It must be a mated pair and their offspring.¡± That was all the time for reflection the crew had before the beasts were on top of them, marking the beginning of a brutal brawl. Chapter 26: Brutal Brawl The furious beasts charged straight for the hunters, seeking revenge for the fallen member of their family. In a fleeting handful of heartbeats, they would arrive, and a life-and-death struggle would ensue. The crew had no choice other than to engage the scorpions in a head-to-head brawl, instead of preparing the field and ambushing them from a position of strength. This was a bad situation by any reckoning, but there was one entity present who was thrilled by this turn of events. Skill-Eater awoke with a gluttonous roar, as the need to feed flooded through every cell of Edge¡¯s body. He had to admit that he was pleased too, despite the danger. While he was starving now, it seemed that he wasn¡¯t going to end this hunt hungry after all. It was time to take the big bad down and find out what powers were on the menu. The scorpions split apart as they approached the crew. The juvenile darted for the cover of the trees, while the big beast came streaking toward his team. It would hit them in another few seconds¡ªjust enough time for Edge to take his stance and fall into formation beside his friends. They had come up with contingencies for what they would do if they found more than one predator living in the lair. But the hunters hadn¡¯t expected one beast to be home while the others were away, much less the death of one creature to enrage its kin and precipitate an impromptu pincer attack. Regardless of the details, they couldn¡¯t simply turn tail and run. Not with the furious arthropod arriving from one side, and the web-strewn grove barring their path in the other. Even if the crew had been standing on open ground, this beast was fast. It was the quickest creature that Edge had ever seen, with enough Speed and Control to make him feel sluggish by comparison. The good news was that it hadn¡¯t had time to prepare either, making this a straight-up exchange of blows where neither side began with an advantage. Like they had drilled, Violet and Riller moved behind the other hunters, ready to support them with skills and ranged attacks. They were growing stronger at a rapid rate now that they were cored, but they didn¡¯t have the attributes or skillsets to fight on the frontline just yet. While Edge and Jumo braced themselves to meet the scorpion¡¯s charge, Violet activated Travelers¡¯ Boon. A field of mana enveloped the team, which would help everyone fight longer and harder without running out of steam. Then she got ready to start flinging consumables and firing paint rounds, since it was clear that ordinary crossbow bolts weren¡¯t going to cut it. Sasha raised her shield in front of Violet¡¯s position and lowered the point of her spear. She was ready to attack with Fire Breathing to support the front line, while guarding the ranged attackers if the beast broke through. Edge used the final heartbeats before the battle was joined to take aim and fling his chakram. He wasn¡¯t targeting the big beast, which was far too quick to hit. Instead, he chucked the bladed ring at the juvenile, which was circling around to come at them from behind. From this distance, it had plenty of time to move out of the way. But the attack forced the scorpion out of position for a few vital seconds. It went skittering into the trees, where it couldn¡¯t assist its parent. That was when something unexpected occurred. When Edge grounded the butt of his naginata into the soil and lowered the blade, the oversized arthropod made a minute adjustment to its course. It had been coming straight at him, but it switched to Jumo the instant that his polearm entered the picture. He realized that although it was furious, it wasn¡¯t mindless with rage like some of the monsters they had faced. The beast had correctly identified Edge as the softer target, but had upgraded his threat level in real time, deciding that facing Jumo¡¯s spear was less dangerous than hitting his naginata straight on. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Damn. That thing is fast, responsive, and smart. Edge got ready to attack from the side the moment that the scorpion engaged Jumo. It was a solid plan, but that wasn¡¯t how the next few seconds played out. The charging creature hit the athletic warrior while running at full speed, slamming into the man with the force of a battering ram with an engine strapped to the back. The point of his spear caught the shoulder of its forelimb, which was angled to deflect the weapon rather than impact it straight on. Jumo was a durable dude, and his new armor increased the punishment he could take. As a result, he wasn¡¯t seriously injured, since the beast hadn¡¯t used any weapon beyond its considerable mass and ridiculous momentum. The hit did, however, send the hunter flying. He landed a good twenty feet away, rolling in the grass before coming to a stop. Edge didn¡¯t have time to check on his friend. He blinked. By the time that his eyes opened once more, the beast had turned to attack him, using a claw to push the shaft of the naginata to one side now that it wasn¡¯t running. The move was so graceful that it appeared effortless, taking his respect and corresponding fear of his opponent up another notch. He could hear Sasha sprinting to back him up, while Violet went to check on Jumo. Before Sasha arrived, the scorpion pressed its attack. It used its other claw to force Edge¡¯s buckler down, which he had raised the second that the beast was inside the reach of his weapon. Acting on instinct, he let his arm fall, intuiting that the claw swipe was just a feint¡ªa distraction to keep him from noticing the real attack that was coming a fraction of a second later. The beast had made all three moves in half as many heartbeats, weaving together attacks in a seamless combination that would make any martial-arts enthusiast nod in appreciation. The final strike was a Lunge with its tail, which was streaking straight for his heart like a bolt of barbed lightning. It pierced the tough leather of his new armor and would have triggered his Heart-Guard a bare second later if it wasn¡¯t for one small fact. Edge had Hardened his chest the instant that he saw the tail move. The venomous stinger hit his diamond scales with enough force to bruise the adjacent tissue. The barb didn¡¯t break, but it didn¡¯t hurt him either. Taken by surprise, the beast skittered back, reassessing its options before resuming the offensive. The little scorpion joined the fray in the meantime. Instead of rushing in to engage in hand-to-claw combat, it turned around and fired a strand of sticky webbing. Edge stepped out of the way of its initial volley, but the flying webbing corrected its course to hit him in the legs. It reminded him of the behavior of the black chains, which let him understand what was happening. ¡°Watch out! It has some kind of skill that lets it manipulate its webbing and adjust its course midflight.¡± Sasha arrived at his side as he issued his warning, freeing him with a flick of her Flame-Imbued spear. Trapper and Riller took advantage of the opening to launch ranged attacks, using the powers that had been remarkably effective in taking down the other beast. However, the results left something to be desired this time around. Both shots hit the creature broadside. But instead of penetrating its chitin armor, the missiles shattered against its body. Riller¡¯s skill-bolstered arrow was completely ineffective, and Trapper¡¯s bolt only transferred a tiny jolt of electricity before breaking contact. As Jumo and Sasha fell into position beside him, Edge took a closer look at his opponent. In that moment, he knew what had happened. The scorpion¡¯s exoskeleton was covered in a thin layer of diamond. He could tell at a glance that it was using Harden, even if the manifestation didn¡¯t look exactly like his scales. He let the other hunters know what was going on, as he traded a series of blows with the beast¡¯s claws. He wouldn¡¯t have had a chance in a one-on-one duel. But with his friends fighting at his side, they divided the scorpion¡¯s attention enough that he didn¡¯t receive any serious wounds. The scorpion took a volley of paint rounds in the process, which worked just as well against its Hardened exoskeleton. It was surprised by the sticky substance running down its body, which bought the crew a few more seconds. Unfortunately, it had raised a claw in time to block the shots headed for its eyes, which prevented the paint round from blinding it. Since their strategy wasn¡¯t working, Trapper advanced to join the melee. Violet switched to attacking the juvenile beast, stopping it from slinging more webbing their way during this crucial juncture. Edge¡¯s adrenaline flowed as the battle entered a deadly new stage. The hunters were holding their own for now, but the fight was far from over. Concept Art Stage 1 and 2 Nymphs The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Chapter 27: Frenetic Melee This marked the beginning of a frenetic melee. The crew blocked and struck and dodged like mad, forcing the scorpion to repeatedly use Harden to prevent it from taking damage. The hunters were draining the beast¡¯s mana faster than they were spending their own, but a single mistake would result in a critical injury. For now, the scales were balanced, and the stalemate continued for another frantic minute. The creature had no problem evading Edge¡¯s attacks or parrying them with its claws. It did, however, dart back or Harden its exoskeleton every time that he sent a Double Slash its way. This led him to believe that his skill was strong enough to penetrate its thick chitin armor if the defensive power wasn¡¯t in the picture. He wasn¡¯t nearly as quick as his opponent, but the hunters were fighting seven against two. There were plenty of openings to exploit as the crew assailed the scorpion from all sides with a variety of attacks and skills. Its natural weapons were plenty dangerous. But unless he was stung, Edge didn¡¯t think they were sufficient to kill him in a single blow. What he really had to watch out for were the beast¡¯s offensive skills, along with webbing from the juvenile that was attacking from the tree line. On that note, he noticed that Blue had pulled back and was circling around. She was planning to engage the smaller web-weaver and remove its threads from the picture, letting the rest of the team battle the big one with undivided attention. The scorpion eventually broke through their guard, igniting its core while preparing to unleash a skill that would take someone out of the fight. Violet cried out a warning and rushed to the rescue. Everyone closed their eyes and clasped their hands over their ears, half a heartbeat before a pair of flashbangs detonated in front of the beast¡¯s face. The first one spooked it, causing it to rear back, but the second detonation only made it flinch. It was clear that the creature was adapting to their tactics. That the flashbangs would only have a limited effect going forward. Still, Violet¡¯s assistance had been enough to keep everyone¡¯s blood inside their bodies, at least for a while longer. However, the crew needed to finish the fight fast, before someone was seriously wounded or worse. By now, Blue was squaring off against the juvenile scorpion, marking the beginning of a fierce beast-on-beast battle. Her horns didn¡¯t have the reach of the arthropod¡¯s claws and tail, but she was stronger, faster, and could hit harder. On the other side of the equation, the scorpion had tough natural armor, the ability to fire webbing, and a venomous sting. They circled each other, probing their opponent for weakness while looking for an opening to land a critical blow. Edge thought that she was in trouble when the scorpion darted in low and ducked beneath her horns. But Blue spun in a tight circle, darted away to open some room, then came Charging back in. The scorpion turned at the last possible moment, centering her horns on the thickest part of its armor. The tips bit in, but couldn¡¯t penetrate deep, scoring a moderate wound that didn¡¯t end the fight. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Violet said after noticing the look on his face. ¡°She¡¯s got this.¡± Sure enough, while they were well-matched in physical attributes, the juvenile predator couldn¡¯t compete with the combat-trained beast¡¯s experience. Blue combined Charge with Thrust, followed by Gore, landing a series of powerful blows that split the creature¡¯s thorax open. He didn¡¯t get a chance to see what happened next. Because at that point, the big beast turned on him in a flash of claws and tail. He Shadow Stepped out of the way in the nick of time. The instant that he rematerialized, Edge learned a critical detail. The juvenile scorpion wasn¡¯t the only beast that could cast Manipulate Webbing¡ªits mother was using it too. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Something collided with his leg, followed by a second impact at his right elbow. He tried to pull back, only to realize that half his body was bound in webbing. He reached for his knife, but each movement caused the sticky threads to grip him tighter. When he tried Shadow Stepping to get away, he discovered that there was a field of Disruption running through the silk. Shit. That¡¯s not good. Edge would have been in some real trouble at that point if he were fighting on his own. He wasn¡¯t strong enough to break the threads and couldn¡¯t use any skills with the beast¡¯s magic countering his own. But since he was working with a team, he wasn¡¯t worried at all. He just leaned back as far as he could while waiting for his friends to help him, and his faith paid dividends a few seconds later. ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Sasha yelled. He followed her orders, trusting her instincts implicitly. A heartbeat later, a cone of flame broke over him. She only activated Fire Breathing for a fraction of a second, costing Edge his eyelashes and a few strands of hair hanging down from his hat. It wasn¡¯t enough to hurt him but it burned the webbing away, leaving him free to move once more. ¡°Thanks, Sasha.¡± He flashed a thumbs up, and then raced to rejoin the battle. The others had been hard-pressed during his absence. Jumo had been stung twice while Sasha and Edge were distracted. There was enough paralytic venom pumping through his bloodstream that he could barely move. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t enough to stop his lungs or heart, thanks to his impressive Durability. Before the scorpion could follow up, Edge, Sasha, and Trapper ignited their cores, unleashing some heavy hits to drive it back. Meanwhile, Violet and Riller rushed in. They grabbed Jumo by the arms and dragged him away, opening a hundred feet within a matter of seconds. The move wouldn¡¯t have been possible before binding their cores. But with the Power and Speed of their new bodies, they were able to pull it off. Once Jumo was safe, Trapper disengaged and rushed over to his side. Edge repositioned to guard the crew¡¯s leader while she went to work. It was his first time witnessing her Cleanse skill in action, which could purge the body of poison, venom, and a range of other toxins, if she used it quickly enough. Mana went streaming out of her core, through her hands, and into Jumo¡¯s body. For a second, nothing happened. But then, to Edge¡¯s astonishment, blood came running out of the puncture wounds, followed by a spray of greenish liquid. That must be the scorpion¡¯s venom. Less than a minute later, the foreign agent had been purged from Jumo¡¯s body. He still couldn¡¯t move, but he should recover quickly now that the substance was out of his system. Blue had won her fight, but the dino was exhausted after her battle with the juvenile scorpion. Trapper ordered the beast to guard Jumo while she and Edge rejoined the fight. By now, the armored predator was slowing down, but the crew was exhausted too. Traveler¡¯s Boon had supplemented their stamina, but the high-speed battle was still incredibly wearying. He sensed that the conflict had reached a critical juncture. That the next side to make a mistake was going to lose the fight. Edge had to make sure that the beast faltered first. That was when Riller and Violet came rushing over with a flashbang in each hand. They called out a warning, then flung all four devices at once. An incredible explosion ensued that left him momentarily deaf, accompanied by an intense flash that penetrated his closed eyelids. While a single flashbang wasn¡¯t sufficient to stun the beast, four in a row were able to do the trick, at least for a few seconds. But on this occasion, a few seconds was all that Trapper¡¯s crew needed. Edge activated Entangle, maximizing the rank-three skill¡¯s output as he cast it over and over again. The heavy vines would never have caught the agile beast under ordinary circumstances. But in that moment of weakness, the vines were able to grab hold. Meanwhile, Trapper reached behind her back and detached a pair of bladewire nets from her pack¡ªmetal meshes with razored blades running along the inside, designed to bite deep when prey tried to break free. The beast Hardened its body when the bladewire began to cut, but it couldn¡¯t pull free from the vines. Edge sensed an incredible concentration of mana building within its core, as it prepared to unleash a powerful skill. But Trapper was already making her move and finished casting first. It was time for her Rare skill, Quagmire, to shine. Chapter 28: Quagmire Trapper reached down and touched the soil with both hands. She ignited her core, and a raging torrent of mana surged out of her reactor, through her fingertips, and into the ground. It was an incredible release of magic¡ªthe most Edge had ever seen from a skill that wasn¡¯t part of a combo. For the next tension-saturated second, nothing happened. Then the soil began to change. The beast started sinking as the dirt took on a liquid sheen¡ªfolds of earth running like wax as the ground changed from solid to liquid within a half dozen heartbeats. He deactivated his vines, since they no longer had an anchor, then got ready to make his next move. The scorpion knew that something had gone terribly wrong. It tried to get away, but the hunters weren¡¯t about to let their prey escape. The crew let loose a heavy barrage, taking care not to step onto the altered ground themselves. Weapons and skills rained down upon the beast, forcing it to Harden its exoskeleton to avoid taking a killing blow. The moment the creature deactivated the defensive skill, it spun in place, feinted, and then took off in the other direction. But it was already too late. Before it could take ten steps, its body slid into the soil, as the ground beneath its feet became a Quagmire. The Rare skill could only affect an area within a radius that was determined by its depth. At twenty feet across, Trapper could only make it eight feet deep, but that was enough to submerge everything but the tip of the beast¡¯s tail. It was hard to swim in the swampy muck and the surface wouldn¡¯t support much weight. It meant that most creatures that were caught by the skill were only left with one option. To sink. The scorpion was in trouble, but it wasn¡¯t going down without a fight. Its head broke the surface, slipped below, then emerged again a few feet further out. It¡¯s standing on its rear legs to take a breath, then walking along the bottom. If that was all Quagmire could do, Edge would have laid even odds on the creature drowning or reaching solid ground. But creating the mud pit was only half the story. When Trapper sent out a second pulse of mana, draining her reservoir dry in the process, the altered ground rapidly resolidified. The excess water leeched away, packing the struggling scorpion inside a coffin of earth. It tried to dig itself free, but the weight of the soil was too great, and it couldn¡¯t raise its limbs. It managed to force its head above the surface. But that was as far as it got before it was immobilized by the dirt. At least for a few more seconds. ¡°Quick,¡± Trapper spoke between gasping breaths. ¡°Steal its skills before it breaks free.¡± Edge didn¡¯t need to be told twice. He went running for the bound beast, conjuring his Elemental Blade along the way. Combining the momentum of his charge with the strength of his body, he drove the tip of the crystalline sword straight into the predator¡¯s eye, penetrating the brain below. It screamed and struggled, but it was helpless to resist as the subzero mana ran rampant throughout its tissue. By this point, he had considerable experience using this technique and could judge how much punishment his victim could take. The instant that the creature stopped fighting back, Edge canceled his iceblade, reached out, and activated Extraction. He found himself standing in a sweltering jungle. Emerald growth carpeted the ground¡ªso thick that his visibility was limited to a few feet in front of his face. He couldn¡¯t see the skills living inside the beast¡¯s core, but he already knew which one he wanted to steal first. Go for Harden. He gave the black chains their orders, and they darted into the verdant growth like tigers on the prowl. Edge followed the sounds of combat that broke out a few seconds later, until he arrived at a small clearing. Within it, the living links were in the process of subduing a skill that took the form of the scorpion¡¯s exoskeleton with a coating of clear gemstone running along the exterior. Judging by the intensity of the struggle, it was a high-rank version of Harden, which only made him more excited to claim it for his own. Not long after, the chains locked tight around the armored shell, yanked the skill out of the beast¡¯s core, and tossed it into his mouth. He wouldn¡¯t have been able to break the diamond shell with his teeth, but he¡¯d learned a little trick about eating Harden after stealing it from the cancerous blightlings. Ever so carefully, he used his iceblade to freeze the skill inside his mouth, making it brittle enough to shatter with a few more chomps. Stolen novel; please report. He enjoyed the flavor as the skill turned to goo and slid down his throat. Although it was difficult to put into words, the taste itself seemed hard, kind of like a shot of whiskey. It was accompanied by a sense of impenetrability. Of taking heavy hits without falling down. He savored the sensation until his Guide appeared, bearing a message from the System. You have extracted the skill: Harden (Uncommon, Rank 3). You already have this skill in your collection. Its experience will be added to your existing skill. Now standing inside his own core, Edge watched as the beast¡¯s copy of Harden merged with the one living in his skill garden. As he had hoped, the skill kept on shining when the joining was complete, prompting a new message to appear that made him giddy with anticipation. The skill (Harden) has advanced to Rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. Your scales will gain bladed serrations, allowing them to damage anything that attacks you.
  2. The cost for hardening large portions of your body will be greatly reduced, and the skill¡¯s overall drain will be lowered.
  3. The scales will conduct a portion of the kinetic energy they absorb into the ground by your feet, effectively reducing the impact.
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain unchanged and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. Edge contemplated the visions that accompanied those descriptions, although he didn¡¯t have time to ponder the matter at length. Even in this strange space where time ran slow, the beast was well into the process of dying. He needed to make his decision before that happened or he would lose the chance to Extract more skills. While the bladed scales sounded cool in theory, they would only work against a limited range of attacks. Bites, tail slams, maybe claws to a lesser extent. They would be great if something wrapped around him to constrict him or bind his movement, but the upgrade would be useless against weapons and ranged attacks. Edge was already specialized for close-quarters combat to a greater extent than he preferred, and the range on the scale-blades was even closer than that. Moving on, reducing the drain for Hardening large portions of his body was great. Right now, the cost increased exponentially if he made the patches of scales bigger than the back of both forearms. If he tried to Harden his whole body outside of using Overdrive, he would drain his reservoir dry in a couple of seconds flat. A lot of skills could inflict area of effect damage or come at more than one part of his body at the same time. He would be in just as much trouble fighting multiple opponents, who could hit him from numerous angles at once. Taking this upgrade would enhance his defense without having to constantly balance the size of the scales versus the drain to his mana. Plus, repositioning them required a conscious effort of will. If he was slow to notice an attack and make the adjustment, he would fail to block the blow. The third option was interesting too. It would soften the impact of the hits he took, reducing the shock to his insides and weakening the force of the attack. If that was the complete picture, he would have gone for it. But the vision had let him know that the upgrade was more nuanced than that. Since the force was redirected through his feet, it wouldn¡¯t work if he was Leaping or standing on something that couldn¡¯t handle the impact. That being said, most of the time, it would effectively increase the armor value of his scales when absorbing blunt force trauma. On the other hand, Edge had a lot of Durability, his new armor, and Regeneration. He wasn¡¯t as worried about suffering internal damage now that he could heal his organs, and the effect wouldn¡¯t do much against punctures, serrations, or slashes. He also had to position the scales in time and watch where he was standing, or he wouldn¡¯t benefit from the upgrade at all. In the end, he decided to go with the second option. After he advanced the skill a few more ranks and increased his Generation, he could Harden large parts of his body for long periods of time without a prohibitive drain, dramatically increasing his physical defense with a form of protection that would stack with his attributes and armor. He sent his intentions into the System, then watched as Harden changed shape. Once they were done glowing, the scaled arms representing the skill began to grow. Instead of just the back of both forearms, the entire arm and the fists attached to them were covered in scales too, indicating that the ideal size of Harden was larger than before. Edge didn¡¯t stick around to appreciate the upgrade. Not with the beast hanging on the verge of death and two charges left on Extraction. He chuckled as a pulse of gluttony emanated from his core, urging him to hurry. Don¡¯t worry, big guy. I¡¯ve got this. It¡¯s time to find out what else is on the menu. Chapter 29: Elemental Blade Edge snapped back into his own skin, gathered his will, and used his ultimate ability a second time. When he found himself standing inside the beast¡¯s core, the jungle had wilted considerably during his absence. Extraction had done some serious damage, but since he was planning on killing the creature anyway, that wasn¡¯t a problem. The defoliation had the side effect of increasing his field of view, which helped him pick out the next power he wanted to steal. After making sure that there wasn¡¯t anything he wanted to add to his skillset, he focused on the powers that would grant the most experience when he Absorbed them¡ªthe ones with the highest rarity and rank. The beast didn¡¯t have any Rares, so Edge went for the best Uncommons he saw. The next skill he stole was rank four. It increased the potency of the beast¡¯s venom and wouldn¡¯t do anything for him. It looked like a pile of bubbling green gunk. He had some reservations about eating it, although he doubted that consuming the skill would have the same effect as being injected with actual venom. Fuck it. I have the medicinal pill and Trapper¡¯s Cleanse if I wind up poisoning myself. Fortunately, the black chains could bind any skill, regardless of its form. He directed them to grab the goo, and they pulled it free from the core a few seconds later. It came as no surprise that the venom skill tasted like shit. At least for the first few bites. While eating the noxious sludge didn¡¯t paralyze him, it made his mouth go numb. Edge wound up biting his tongue several times before he swallowed the subdued skill. Since he had already ranked up Harden, he moved onto the next power on his list and put the experience into Elemental Blade. The venom skill was sucked into his reactor and incinerated¡ªreduced to ash within that infinite plane of searing flame. A portion of its experience came flowing back through the bulbous black grill and sank into the crystal sword hovering in his skill garden. It wasn¡¯t enough to fill its cup to the brim, but it was getting close. When his mind rejoined his body, Edge was thrilled to discover that the scorpion was still alive. It had stopped struggling and was hanging on by a thread, so he used the last charge of Extraction as quickly as he could. This time around, the jungle was a scene of devastation and ruin. The ground cover was dead, the trees were skeletal, and the stench of rot had risen to fill the humid air. It was an unsettling sight, but he wasn¡¯t planning on sticking around. He ordered the chains to steal one final, rank-three skill. Something that enhanced the nutrition the beast received from its prey. After the chains pulled it free, Edge chewed it up, then entered his core and Absorbed it. It was the first time that he had been able to steal three skills from the same target, since the damage Extraction caused usually killed his prey before that point. But since he was working alongside the crew and didn¡¯t have to hide his secret from his friends, he was able to pull it off. A rush of anticipation broke over him when Edge saw that Absorbing the third skill had generated enough experience to advance Elemental Blade to rank two. The subzero sword was a key component of his skillset, and he had been looking forward to upgrading it for some time. I wonder what awesome new powers the upgrade will give me. He learned the answer just a few seconds later. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The skill (Elemental Blade ) has advanced to Rank 2. Its mana efficiency has been enhanced. Please choose between one of the following options:
  1. Your iceblade will be able assume a variety of new forms, including an axe, spear, scythe, and staff.
  2. The cost of leaving the iceblade manifested will be greatly reduced, and you may summon a second sword without paying the cost of activating a skill combo.
  3. Instead of summoning an iceblade, you may transfer the effect of Elemental Blade onto an existing bladed weapon. You will still be able to use the original version of the skill.
Warning: if no option is selected, your skill will remain unchanged and gain a slight bonus to mana efficiency. As always, the mental images the System provided offered far more detail than the words on the screen. The first option was interesting but didn¡¯t really appeal to him. It had taken quite a bit of practice to wield the iceblade in sword form, and he was already learning the naginata on top of that. If he already knew how to use a wide range of weapons, the upgrade would offer some interesting versatility. But since Edge was still a novice warrior, it wouldn¡¯t help him out nearly as much. Especially considering the opportunity cost of passing up the other two options. The second choice was worth considering. Right now, the drain of Elemental Blade was substantial enough that he generally only manifested it right before attacking. While it was a mana-efficient strategy, it had the downside of taking a couple of seconds to set up, which could make all the difference in the heat of battle. If he went down this route, he could keep the iceblade out for more of the fight or conjure a second if he wanted to try dual wielding. On the other hand, he fought with his polearm most of the time, and had just received his first ranged weapon, which just so happened to be bladed. Details that made the third option irresistible. Edge could still use his iceblade the same way as before, but he could extend the best feature, its subzero bite, to his polearm too, offering him all the advantages of wielding the longer weapon while increasing its damage and utility. On top of that, he could add the chilling effect to any bladed weapon he picked up, including his new chakram. Combining Elemental Blade with his chakram would give Edge a magical ranged attack, something that he had been hoping to acquire ever since binding his core. He sent his intentions into the System and selected the third choice. When the crystalline sword that represented Elemental Blade stopped glowing, it was still the same shape. However, the glacial glow that surrounded it was thicker and more menacing than before. As if the frozen aura was the real weapon and the iceblade merely a vehicle for its wrath. Edge stepped back into his own skin, then grabbed his chakram and gave it a try. After his core ignited and refined mana filtered through the skill, it flowed along his arms and into the brass and bone weapon clasped in his hand. Just as he¡¯d been hoping, the bladed ring began to shimmer with a coating of wintry blue mana. It wasn¡¯t quite as cold as his iceblade in its natural state, but it was damn close. To the extent that he wouldn¡¯t have been able to use it with a weapon that he gripped by the blade if he didn¡¯t have Regulate Temperature and its elemental damage resistance upgrade. When Edge flicked his wrist, the chakram went sailing out of his hand, cutting down a swath of grass and leaving frost-rimed stalks in its wake. I¡¯ll have to be careful using it, but this is a major upgrade. He let Elemental Blade dissipate and then activated it once more, trying it out with his polearm this time. The blade of the weapon began shining with the same frigid aura, leaving a line of mist behind like the tail of a comet as he moved it through the air. Now that he had stolen three of the beast¡¯s skills and upgraded two of his own, Edge was ready to put the wounded scorpion out of its misery. However, the third use of Extraction had already done the job for him. The beast twitched one final time and then went still, as the life faded from its beady black eyes. Everyone let out a cheer at the sight. Trapper¡¯s crew had concluded another successful hunt, although it hadn¡¯t gone quite the way they had planned. They just needed to pack up the parts and head back to Puppet Town. Now that their mission was complete, it was time to get paid. Chapter 30: Powder Keg Dialla blew an errant strand of hair out of her face while staring at the papers scattered across her desk. Coordinating with the various organizations that kept Puppet Town running had always been a full-time job. Now that they were restructuring the settlement¡¯s industries and economy, not to mention training a militia and teaching everyone how to defend themselves, she was busier than ever. Although she was slammed, she had energy to spare, thanks to the core Trapper had talked her into binding. Dialla¡¯s better half had helped her reach the fourth cycle of stage zero before the crew left on their latest hunt. She had used the attribute points to boost her physique across the board. Her body felt strong, fast, and agile, with enough Endurance to work all day and into the night. On top of everything else, she already looked a decade younger¡ªa gift of the potent magic flowing through her veins. Part of her still felt uneasy about utilizing such a valuable resource while most of the town¡¯s inhabitants were coreless. She reminded herself that the Basic core had been a gift, not a communal resource, and Dialla had to admit that it was making a big difference. When she finished deciding what skills she wanted to slot, her core would be even more useful than it already was. She turned to face Tessa, who had been chatting with her on and off while she processed one stack of documents after the next. ¡°Do you want to try being mayor for a while? I could take a turn standing guard and let you make all the decisions.¡± Her bodyguard and old friend just laughed. ¡°Not for all the Credits on Ord. My job is hard enough. I can¡¯t imagine taking on your legion of responsibilities.¡± Tessa walked over and handed Dialla a hot cup of tea, then added, ¡°That being said, why don¡¯t you find someone you trust to help with the minutia? I think Emily would be up for the job. You need to start delegating some of this work anyway, and if, gods forbid, something ever happened to you, we need someone else who understands the intricacies of managing the settlement to take over. It¡¯s only going to get more complex going forward, and it¡¯s best if you focus on the high-priority items and let other people deal with the day-to-day decisions.¡± ¡°Thanks, Tessa. That¡¯s honestly not a bad idea. I don¡¯t have time to vet potential candidates, although I might invite Emily up for a chat sometime soon. Maybe move her into my office during the day, so she can learn from observing.¡± ¡°Let me handle this one. Emily is a good fit for your right hand, and I¡¯ll wrangle up candidates for some other roles. Someone to help with ledgers and finances, and another to tackle logistics and resource distribution. We could probably use a permanent liaison with the peacekeepers and militia too. There are some open offices right down the hall. Let¡¯s start expanding your cabinet now, before the situation grows more cumbersome than it already is.¡± Dialla knew a good idea when she heard one. She was just about to grant Tessa permission to start scheduling interviews, when a message from the System appeared before her eyes. She knew it was important when she saw that it was addressed to the leader of Puppet Town, and her eyes were wide by the time she reached the end. A member of your faction, Setna Fie, has accomplished a notable feat (Encounter the boss of an unconquered dungeon). As a result, Puppet Town is eligible to complete the following quest: Clear the Savage Garden. Faction reward: Core Manufactory (D-Grade). She let out a deep breath, hands shaking with excitement. This changes everything. A core manufactory will give Puppet Town a fighting chance to get ahead of the curve. A way to become strong enough to face the danger that¡¯s coming. We must get our hands on it, no matter what the price. Dialla knew that her next decision would likely cost good people their lives, but it would save even more in the end. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. There wasn¡¯t a moment to spare. The coordinates for the dungeon had been included with the message. It was located near the border of the Ivory Plains¡ªin one of the high-threat regions she¡¯d sent Setna¡¯s crew out to explore. There was a chance that someone else would clear the dungeon if they didn¡¯t get there fast, which meant that she needed to send out an expedition no later than tomorrow afternoon. Tessa knew that something big had happened, but she didn¡¯t say a word until Dialla had regained her composure. ¡°Cancel everything and get the leaders of the factions in my office within the hour. Don¡¯t take no for an answer. We have a situation on our hands that is vital to the future of the settlement, and we need to move fast.¡± *** Yussuf the Red flashed a Chesire cat grin, then drove his fist into the stomach of the man in front of him. The blow was hard enough to make the young warrior vomit, but he didn¡¯t cry out or voice a complaint. He just rose back to his feet, wiped the spit from his chin, and returned Yussuf¡¯s gaze with alert eyes that barely betrayed the anger burning behind them. This one has potential. He¡¯d be happy to slit my throat while I¡¯m asleep, but he¡¯s brave enough and will follow my orders. I¡¯ll include him in the next initiation. If he survives the Gauntlet, he will become a valuable member of the Crimson Claws. The next prisoner lined up in front of Yussuf was a woman in her early thirties. Instead of bearing this ordeal with the stoicism of the man beside her, she made the mistake of pleading for mercy. ¡°Please. Don¡¯t do this. Let me go and I promise to forget this ever happened. I don¡¯t want to be a part of your faction. I don¡¯t want to hurt innocent people. You must have people who you care about too. Friends, family, someone back home. Let me return to looking for mine and I¡¯m sure that we can find a way to coexist¡­¡± That was as far as she got before Yussuf leaned in, looked her straight in the eye, and then lashed out with one hand. It wasn¡¯t until blood began spurting out of the woman¡¯s neck that she realized what had happened. She pressed her hands against the ragged ruby gash parting her throat, but Yussuf had severed a major artery. Within a handful of seconds, the drop in blood pressure knocked her out, and she drew her last breath shortly after. He repressed the urge to sigh. He didn¡¯t like killing conscripts out of hand. Even the unwilling and the untalented had their uses after all. But the woman¡¯s appeal to his humanity had sealed her fate. Even if Yussuf was inclined to be merciful, which he was not, anything besides an immediate execution would have made him look weak in front of the other convicts¡ªa veritable death sentence for the leader of a jailbird gang. The rest of the people lined up before him, who had been captured near the border of the Gilded Heights, tried not to show the horror they felt. He took it as a promising sign. There might be another candidate or two that would be worth adding to their teams. If not, there were always dangerous jobs and hard labor that needed doing, and when the bottom-tier conscripts inevitably died on the job, his beasts could always use another meal. He was about to inspect the final row when his Guide appeared of its own accord, bearing a message from the System. When Yussuf reached the last word, he began to laugh. It had been quite a while since the planetary AI had done him any favors, but this was fantastic news. On top of an opportunity to take the Crimson Claws to the next level with a core manufactory, there was another settlement somewhere in a bordering biome, whose members had entered an unconquered dungeon and triggered the quest he¡¯d received. After his people followed the trail leading from the dungeon, the Claws could raid the settlement for supplies and initiates. Maybe even relocate his forces if it wound up being better situated than the Gilded Heights, which despite its name, was nothing more than a crude collection of roughhewn structures. When he was done enjoying the moment, Yussuf turned to his second in command¡ªa brutal, heavily-scarred woman who went by the name Ripper. ¡°Call in the leaders of all four warbands. A prize beyond measure has fallen into our laps, but we must hurry if we want to claim it.¡± That was when he remembered where he had heard the name Setna before. She belonged to a hunting crew working out of Puppet Town. When he realized what that meant, he broke into a bloodthirsty cackle that made even Ripper take a step back. I never expected that Puppet Town and the Ivory Plains would be our new neighbors. Wait for me Earl, I¡¯m coming. You won¡¯t get away again. It¡¯s finally time to settle the score. Chapter 31: Big News Edge sat down, limbs shaking with exhaustion now that the adrenaline from the fight was fading away. Before Trapper¡¯s crew started slicing the scorpions into manageable pieces, they took a break to recover while checking out their post-battle updates. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle up your core. Your new cycle is: 17. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle up your core. Your new cycle is: 18. You have 6 attribute points awaiting allocation. He smiled as he read the last line, then dismissed his Guide. The cycles were coming slower now that he was nearing the peak of stage one. But he was making steady progress toward reaching the final cycle¡ªa prospect that excited him more than words could convey. He couldn¡¯t wait to see what changes occurred within his core the next time he evolved, not to mention pick up another seven skill slots and more attributes per cycle. But that was a matter for another day. Right now, Edge just needed to spend his points, grab a shovel, and start digging. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he decided to stick with his plan and went for an even split between Power and Amplification. The battle had been a timely reminder that he needed to dish out more damage if he wanted to take on opponents that were so much bigger than himself. He opened his menus, put three points into Power, then braced himself for a few minutes of pain. Edge winced as the potentia was set free¡ªready to upgrade his body in the manner of his choosing. The crackling surge soaked into his muscles, burning like acid was flowing through his veins. He clenched his jaw as his tissue softened before taking on a new, more efficient configuration. He felt his muscles grow a little during the process. Thankfully, the increase in size was only a small part of the package, or he would look like a bodybuilder on steroids instead of an Olympic athlete. When it was over, he let out a sigh of relief, then spent his other three points. Increasing Power with potentia was never fun, although the pain was more than worth what he acquired in the bargain. Luckily, spending them on Amplification didn¡¯t hurt at all. Edge was drawn inside his core when the transformative energy gathered within his skill garden, congealing around the eleven pillars that represented his skill sockets. When the potentia flowed into them, the circuitry embedded into the base of each pillar grew denser and more complex. Upgrading Amplification let the mana from his reactor flow into his skills more efficiently than before, boosting the output of his powers without increasing their drain. When the process had run its course, he left his core and returned to his physical body. The rest of the crew had gained several cycles too and had just finished spending their points. Riller and Violet had shot all the way up to cycle six of stage zero, which meant they only needed one more cycle before they could evolve their cores to stage one. Jumo, Sasha, Trapper, and Edge walked over to the wagon, grabbed a shovel, and started digging the buried beast free from the soil. The crew¡¯s newly-cored members still didn¡¯t have enough Power for a job of that scale, although they were rapidly closing the gap. Instead, they went to work taking the other scorpions apart, using some magitech magelights to illuminate the area. Two hours later, the smaller arthropods were ready to go, and the big one was out of the ground. Everyone was tired and covered in sweat, so they decided to take a longer break, eat dinner, and celebrate their successful hunt. The crew unloaded some provisions from the wagon and spread a tarp across the ground. Then they sat in a circle and began to feast. A meal that was fated to be interrupted only five minutes later. Because that was when Edge¡¯s Guide separated from his body and floated in front of his face. He was surprised to see the golden wisp again so soon, and doubly so when he learned the reason why. Instead of bearing the update from the System he was expecting, the hovering screen displayed a message from a person instead. How is that possible? All direct communication functions have been inactive since the anomaly. When he began to read, he saw that the message was from Sakura¡ªthe woman who had warned Edge that Warren was hunting him and wound up saving his life. He hadn¡¯t heard from her since, which only deepened the mystery of her involvement in his affairs. However, the question of how Sakura had accessed his Guide¡¯s disabled functions would have to wait, because the news she conveyed drove all other considerations from his head. ¡°Edge. You need to return to Puppet Town as quickly as possible. Something big is going down. An event that is critical to the survival of the settlement. You have to get back before it¡¯s too late to play a part in what is coming.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He tried to reply. ¡°Who are you really? How are you communicating with me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother sending anything back. This limited application of the messenger function only goes one way. I can¡¯t use this skill often or for long, but please, you must trust me. Puppet Town is in danger. We need your help, before¡­¡± The message cut off before she finished her sentence, and his Guide disappeared a few seconds later. Edge hadn¡¯t had a face-to-face conversation with Sakura since they had met right after the anomaly. But since she had tipped him off to Warren¡¯s ambush, he was willing to trust her on a provisional basis. At least enough to get back to town on the double. He turned to the crew and told them what had happened. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about Sakura,¡± he explained. ¡°But she saved my life and has been helping me since the moment I arrived in town. I don¡¯t think we can afford to ignore her warning.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like following the lead of an unknown player,¡± Trapper said. ¡°We need to find out what she wants and whose side she¡¯s on. But I can¡¯t see any harm in heading back now, regardless of the details. If this Sakura is telling the truth, we need to hurry. Try to meet up and learn more about her as soon as you can, but for now, let¡¯s get moving.¡± The rest of the crew felt the same way. They decided to hurry back to Puppet Town to see what Sakura¡¯s warning was about. But there was no way that they were going to leave their haul behind, which meant that they had to work fast. With that, the hunters turned their attention to the big scorpion¡¯s remains. It was the largest intact carcass that Edge had processed yet¡ªfar too massive to shove into the wagon as it was. Fortunately, Trapper had experience in handling large insects and arthropods, and she knew some tricks that made the job manageable. They started off by removing the limbs, carefully slicing through the joints to preserve the chitin plating. After the legs and claws were off, Trapper extracted the poison glands from the tails and then severed them too. They removed the guts and drained the fluid, then Edge used Elemental Blade to pack the rest in ice-filled jugs that would keep the parts fresh during the trip home. The giant scorpions weren¡¯t nearly as big once the crew had detached their limbs, but they were still massive beasts. Just their torsos and tails wound up filling the entire wagon. Although it was heavy, Blue was strong enough to pull the load, thanks to the cycles she had gained during the padamas hunt and a little help from Violet¡¯s Enhance Beast. The crew divided the rest to carry on their backs. Jumo, Sasha, and Edge each strapped two oversized claws to their packs, while Riller, Trapper, and Violet carried the scorpions¡¯ legs. The claws were heavy, but the weight wasn¡¯t too bad, thanks to the points he¡¯d just put into Power. Since they had decided to take Sakura¡¯s warning at face value, the crew pushed themselves hard, hiking back to the settlement as fast as they could. They traveled through the night and made it back to town around dawn the next day. As they approached the gate, Mel came running out to meet them. The veteran guardswoman told the hunters to head to City Hall right away. Apparently, Sakura¡¯s message was genuine, and the mayor had important news to share with the crew. When they made it to Dialla¡¯s office, the woman looked even more serious than usual. She hadn¡¯t slept a wink either, judging by the dark circles under her eyes. The mayor let the hunters know about the quest she had received, which had been triggered when one of the scouting parties entered an unconquered dungeon called the Savage Garden. All three members of Setna¡¯s crew were powerful stage-two hunters. If they hadn¡¯t made it back out, the dungeon must be incredibly dangerous. Not only were their lives in peril, since they had never emerged to reestablish contact, but there was a prize on the line that could change the fate of the entire settlement. A chance to claim a core manufactory, which would let Puppet Town radically accelerate their plans to grow stronger. Dialla wanted the hunters to join the expedition she was forming to clear the dungeon. She needed Trapper¡¯s crew to guard the base camp they would establish outside the entrance¡ªto protect the teams from predatory beasts and manage various aspects of the operation. But she had another role in mind for Edge and Jumo, helping to conquer the dungeon itself. Edge knew that this was a critical matter. Having more cored inhabitants was exactly what Puppet Town needed to survive the trying days ahead¡ªas concentrated magical energy saturated the Ivory Plains, bringing high-stage beasts and monsters in its wake. The mayor had been conferring with the town¡¯s most powerful members ever since receiving the quest, and Trapper¡¯s crew was the last on her list. Tonight, she was holding a settlement-wide meeting to round up more volunteers before the expedition rolled out around noon tomorrow. When she finished her briefing, Dialla left the room so that the crew could talk the matter over in private. ¡°This is a make-or-break moment for Puppet Town and the pay is good,¡± Trapper said. ¡°I¡¯m fine if anyone wants to sit this one out, but I think we should go for it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Jumo rubbed his hands together. "I¡¯ve always wanted to conquer a dungeon. There should be some killer loot inside, even if we aren¡¯t part of the team that takes down the boss. It will also be a rare opportunity to pick up some Mortium from the monsters inside the Savage Garden and meet some of our other criteria for advancement.¡± He looked over at Edge, who appreciated how careful the crew was being about keeping his secret. ¡°This is a valuable opportunity to increase our standing.¡± Violet tapped her chin. ¡°And we can¡¯t afford to let the chance to claim a manufactory slip through our fingers.¡± Riller and Sasha were in too, which meant that the whole crew would be joining the expedition. When the mayor returned, Trapper let her know the crew was taking the job. Dialla paid them for their scorpion hunt, wished them luck, then turned her attention to the towering piles of papers spread across her desk. After they left City Hall, the crew dropped the scorpions¡¯ remains off at Izzio¡¯s. They went back to the lodge to discuss the matter at length, then got some rest after pushing themselves through the night. When he made it to his room, Edge found a note waiting on his bed. Sakura was ready to meet up in person, and she promised to explain everything this time. He had a few hours before their meeting, so he finished washing up and took a nap. Then he got dressed and walked out of the lodge, ready to find out who Sakura was and how she knew so much about what was going on. Not to mention, access parts of the System that were disabled for everyone else. You¡¯ve been an enigma, my mysterious friend. But now it¡¯s time for the mask to come off. Chapter 32: Sakura Unmasked I Edge¡¯s curiosity grew with every step he took as he passed through the hunters¡¯ district, crossed a few side streets, and entered the residential quarter. It was the side of town where he had spent the least amount of time, since he had slept at the Pioneer before joining Trapper¡¯s crew and at the lodge after. While many of the crafters, merchants, and hunting crews lived where they worked, the residential quarter was home to the lion¡¯s share of the town¡¯s population. The district had a handful of restaurants and shops, but most of the blocks he passed were covered in houses in various shapes and sizes. Some of the larger buildings were owned by wealthy individuals. But many more featured some manner of shared living space, ranging from multi-room dwellings to apartments and hostels. The settlement¡¯s poorest residents were camping on the public green, but Dialla was in the process of moving some of them into empty dwellings here as she restructured Puppet Town to meet its changing needs. It came as no surprise that the most extravagant homes belonged to cored individuals, who were able to take on dangerous work for higher pay. But most of them were modest dwellings occupied by the uncored. Uncored individuals were no different from ordinary people living on other planets, other than being able to learn two Basic skills, which were all their puppet bodies could handle without the reactors, reservoirs, and mana pores a person acquired when binding a power core. The uncored moved to the other side of the street when they saw Edge coming. Some even turned around and left the area in a rush. He didn¡¯t take it personally. The reaction was an ingrained survival instinct when encountering someone who could kill you whenever they wanted. Other than the disturbance caused by his presence, the district was cheerful and full of life. Even the smallest buildings were brightly painted, and murals, statues, and communal gardens were threaded throughout the blocks¡ªadding elegance and greenery to the rows of houses. The address Sakura had included with her message was in the poorest part of the quarter, where the dwellings were single rooms with shared bathing facilities on the corner of each block. He walked slowly, taking care not to scare the people who were wondering what business a cored hunter had among the town¡¯s weakest residents, until he arrived at the street in question. He realized that he was buzzing with anticipation, eager to discover what would be revealed. At last, Edge was going to have a face-to-face meeting with Sakura¡ªthe mysterious woman who had shared critical information on several notable occasions. It was time to learn who she really was, what she wanted, and what kind of relationship they would have going forward. To find out if he would gain another valuable ally or be forced to deal with something much less pleasant. Edge hoped that he liked the answers that Sakura had promised to provide. Since she knew the truth about Skill-Eater, even the parts that Trapper¡¯s crew didn¡¯t, if he couldn¡¯t trust the woman, he was going to have to kill her. As a mark in her favor, she had kept that information to herself until now. Combined with the assistance she had offered over the last few weeks, he was willing to give Sakura the benefit of the doubt. At least to the extent of hearing her out in full before deciding what to do. He assumed that she knew he would feel this way but had chosen to meet with him anyway. It made this encounter even more enticing for what it could offer, but also significantly more perilous than he had let on. If Sakura decided that Edge was a threat, this could wind up being an ambush instead of a meeting, which would be doubly dangerous since she understood the full range of his powers. In short, the encounter had a real chance of erupting into violence¡ªa deadly dance that either party might lead if they didn¡¯t like what the other had to say. Since ignoring her wasn¡¯t an option, and she was certain to bolt if he didn¡¯t show up alone, he didn¡¯t have much choice other than to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Let¡¯s hope that she¡¯s a friend, or at least someone I can trust. She has access to some incredible information and means of communication, and it would be great to have her in my corner. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Five minutes later, Edge found himself standing in front of the address she¡¯d given him¡ªa ramshackle cottage near the corner of the block that looked unremarkable in any way. There was an empty lot on both sides of the building, which meant that no one could creep close enough to overhear their conversation. He was ready to use Harden and Shadow Step at a moment¡¯s notice and was glad to be wearing his new suit of armor. His heart was racing and adrenaline flowed through his veins as he walked up to the front door, raised one hand, and knocked. For a moment, nothing happened. But then a familiar voice said, ¡°It¡¯s open. Come in.¡± With nothing better to do now that the decisive moment had arrived, Edge shrugged, opened the door, and stepped inside. The interior of the cottage was empty, save for a stool in the middle of the floor. On it sat a young woman with flowing raven hair and alert amber eyes. Sakura tossed him an apple after he closed the door behind him and turned to face her. Edge took a long look at the woman before saying a word. When she noticed that he hadn¡¯t touched his apple, she took a big bite out of the one she was holding, walked over, and then traded it for the one in his hand. Since he had the alchemists¡¯ poison cure pill sitting in his belt pouch and was hoping to make a favorable impression, he went ahead and ate the rest. The fruit was ripe, delicious, and didn¡¯t seem to be altered in any way. It did, however, serve to remind Edge that Sakura had access to resources that no one else did, which he assumed was the point of the gesture. After he finished the tasty snack, he turned to her and said, ¡°So. Where do we go from here?¡± She flashed a smile and shrugged. ¡°This is the part where we decide if we¡¯re willing to trust each other enough to proceed to the heart of our discussion. I figure we start small, revealing lesser secrets about ourselves before we get to the big ones. If we don¡¯t like what the other person has to say, we can either agree to go our separate ways or fight until one of us is dead in the ground.¡± Despite her words, Sakura had shown no signs of hostility. She wasn¡¯t visibly armed and hadn¡¯t ignited her core. ¡°I sincerely hope it doesn¡¯t come to that. For the obvious reasons, of course. But mostly because it would mean that we aren¡¯t willing to work together. Which I believe is not only in our mutual interest, but imperative to our survival. ¡°Given the nature of our interactions thus far, it¡¯s natural for you not to trust me. I¡¯ve helped you out several times. But you don¡¯t know the reason why, or how I know what I¡¯ve revealed. Since there is presently an imbalance in how much we know about each other, why don¡¯t I start by answering some questions? Then we can go with the flow and take things from there.¡± Sakura didn¡¯t seem the least bit threatening. But the sparseness of his surroundings didn¡¯t square with the resources the woman had demonstrated. Edge remained on guard, but he decided to take her advice and begin the conversation with lesser matters before touching on their deeper secrets. ¡°Start small, eh? All right. I¡¯m game. First question, what¡¯s the deal with the apples? How do you have access to Earth imports weeks after the anomaly severed all lines of communication and transportation?¡± She tilted her head in approval. ¡°A minor mystery and a fine place to begin. I¡¯m just as cut off from Earth as the rest of the settlement. I have access to an industrial-sized preservation unit and secured a large shipment right before the disaster occurred and the System locked down the Red Shield. The apples were a decent source of income for a while, but since there¡¯s only one barrel left, I just eat one every now and again to remind me of home. Plus, pulling them out makes me seem mysterious, which I find amusing.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Edge nodded along with her explanation. ¡°Next question, why did you tip me off that Warren was coming?¡± ¡°Another good choice. A query that brings us one step closer to the heart of the matter.¡± Sakura smiled before continuing. ¡°There are two reasons why I chose to follow that course of action. The first is that Warren was a threat to me too. Although he wasn¡¯t aware of my existence, it was only a matter of time. Having you walk away from that encounter helped to secure my own survival. The second reason is that I¡¯ve had my eye on you ever since you arrived in town with that mysterious core bound behind your ribs. I¡¯ve been hoping that our interests align, and I wanted to make sure that you lived long enough to find out if that was the case.¡± Her answer was plausible enough, if rather sparse on the details. Anyone who had a bounty would have been threatened by Warren and happy to see him removed from the board. Edge decided to stop beating around the bush and find out what was really going on. ¡°How do you know about Skill-Eater, what do you want from me, and how do I know that I can trust you?¡± ¡°It seems that the foreplay is over, Edge Vasher. It¡¯s time to let the masks fall to the floor and see each other as we truly are.¡± Sakura¡¯s smile vanished and her expression turned deadly serious. ¡°Before I bare my soul to you, I have a question of my own. Are you aware of your core¡¯s true nature? Have you spoken to the entity known as Skill-Eater, the ravenous lord bound in chains?¡± Concept Art This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Chapter 33: Sakura Unmasked II Ah, hell. She really does know everything. Having someone voice his deepest secret sent a cascade of adrenaline coursing through his veins. If Edge didn¡¯t like the next words that passed Sakura¡¯s lips, he was going to have to kill her after all. He tried to keep his intentions off his face and out of his tone as he got ready to ignite his core and hit her as hard as he could. Before he embarked on a course from which there would be no turning back, he decided to answer her question and judge her reply. ¡°We¡¯ve spoken face-to-face on two occasions. When I first bound my core and after evolving to stage one. Skill-Eater is usually asleep, although it wakes up on occasion to share an emotion, insight, or desire.¡± As he uttered the words that he had never spoken to another living soul, Edge began to pace, walking back and forth across the narrow confines of the shack. He tried to make it look like a nervous habit, but that wasn¡¯t his true motive. He was really getting close enough to land a lethal strike. He had a sneaking suspicion that Sakura knew what he was up to. But even with the threat of imminent violence electrifying the room, she just sat there, watching him with a serene smile on her face. As a lifelong fan of the Prison World broadcasts, Edge was familiar with a wide range of cons. After all, deception was one of the most effective strategies for gaining an advantage over another person. As a result, most people on Ord were accomplished liars, regardless of whether they chose to use that facility to the detriment of others. Even taking that into account, he couldn¡¯t sense even a hint of misdirection in her words. ¡°It¡¯s good that the two of you have spoken. It will make the next part easier. I will answer your question in full as promised, as well as any others you might have. But before we get to that, I¡¯ll balance the scales and reveal my secret to you. It might not be reason enough to trust me by itself, but it will provide some critical context for the offer I¡¯m about to make. ¡°Before we dive into the details, I suggest that we take this conversation somewhere we can speak more comfortably. Go ahead and manifest your iceblade or draw that knife and hold it against my neck. Whatever makes you feel safe.¡± With that, Sakura rose from the stool she was sitting on. Then she reached down to press a concealed button where the leg met the floor. Edge didn¡¯t take her up on her offer, although he was ready to attack at a moment¡¯s notice. Instead, he watched as she pulled on the top of the stool. The motion caused the panel that the legs were attached to open on embedded hinges, revealing a staircase below. He found that despite the intensely-stressful situation, he was incredibly curious to learn what awaited him on the other side. What he would find at the bottom of those stairs, and what he would hear when Sakura next spoke. He followed her down and down and down, to a level that had to be a hundred feet below the streets of Puppet Town. He had never heard of a basement like this and had no idea why it was hidden beneath one of the poorest houses in town. When they reached the last step, Sakura flipped a switch on the wall, filling the room with light. Edge found himself standing in a massive chamber, easily ten times the space of the building above. The walls were lined with a variety of magitech machines, including the giant preservation unit where she was storing her apples. One of them was a high-grade privacy device, which meant that this room was impenetrable to scrying skills. One corner was filled with comfortable furnishings, including a wooden table with padded armchairs. She took a seat and gestured for him to pull up the chair across from her, which he did. Edge had no idea what was about to happen and was ready for almost anything. Even still, the next series of events shocked him to the center of his being. Sakura unrolled her sleeves, then waved a hand over her forearm. To his astonishment, her skin began to darken as a prisoner¡¯s tattoo wavered into existence. ¡°This is the first of my two true secrets. I¡¯m a jailbird, not a tourist. I have a skill that can trick the Dome and keep the System from warning the wardens.¡± Edge was floored by the revelation. He had never heard of a power that could hide a convict¡¯s status, let alone fool the wardens well enough to enter protected territory. He knew in that moment that if they couldn¡¯t reach an accord, only one of them would be leaving alive. A secret like that wasn¡¯t something that you revealed and let the other person walk away unless you were willing to trust them with your life. When he read the pattern of the ink, his eyes went wide. She wasn¡¯t a D-Class convict, like the men he¡¯d killed in the temple after binding Skill-Eater. Sakura was Class-C, with a core at least middle stage two and a bounty that was worth a small fortune. ¡°Ok,¡± he said, still processing the stunning revelation. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± She looked him in the eye, smiled, and then gestured a second time. When she did, a skill that he hadn¡¯t been able to detect deactivated. The instant that it did, Skill-Eater roared to life of its own accord. It wasn¡¯t a desire to consume or a warning of imminent danger, although he felt caution radiating from his core like heat from a stove. It was something that he¡¯d never sensed before¡ªthe recognition of encountering an equal. He understood in that moment what it meant. She has a Unique core too. Something just as powerful as Skill-Eater. Sakura being a convict was surprising, but something that he could wrap his head around. But this was something else entirely. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Edge had known on some level that if he had bound a Unique core, other people probably had too. But he hadn¡¯t expected to run into them in person, especially not in a settlement in a former starting area like Puppet Town. She laughed at his expression, although he had the sense that she was incredibly nervous too. That her machinations had reached a critical juncture. Sakura had rolled the dice after wagering everything she owned and was waiting to see which way the pips came up. ¡°Edge Vasher, scion of Skill-Eater, meet Lore-Weaver, the spinner of truth and lies. You didn¡¯t have a reason to trust me, so I just gave you two. Not only will I get run out of town if Earl learns I¡¯m a convict, if anyone finds out that I have a Unique core, they will bury me in a heartbeat. Now that I have your undivided attention, it¡¯s time to answer your questions.¡± While she talked, Edge could sense his core¡¯s surprise resonating with his own. For once, Skill-Eater was totally awake. He had the impression that the entity inside him was having its own conversation, negotiating with a being that was equal to itself. A longstanding relationship that blurred the lines between rival and ally. ¡°The reason why I know so much about your core is due to the nature of my own. We can go into the details another time, but for now, let¡¯s start with the broad strokes. Your core specializes in the acquisition and use of skills. Mine does the same with information. My ultimate ability grants me access to parts of the System that are normally off-limits, even to the wardens. It¡¯s how I was able to message you, even though that function is shut off. ¡°What I can do and how often has rules and limits, but Lore-Weaver lets me acquire intel that no one else can obtain. It¡¯s how I learned about Skill-Eater¡¯s awakening, and how I knew you were here the moment that you set foot past the gate. Now that you¡¯ve learned my identity and how I know what I know, we can finally discuss the reason that I asked you here today and have been willing to lend my assistance.¡± By this point, Edge was praying that they could work together. In part because of the lure of obtaining the information at Sakura¡¯s disposal. But mostly because he had severe doubts that he could take on another Unique core-wielder, especially someone with more experience who had reached a higher stage. If they wound up fighting to the death, there was a good chance that Edge would be the one sleeping in the cold, hard ground. Fortunately, Sakura still showed no inclination toward aggression. She met his gaze head-on as she laid out her proposal. ¡°Here¡¯s the full measure of where I stand. As I¡¯m sure you know by now, trying times are coming for all who dwell on Ord. The stage-two beasts that are migrating onto the plains, and even the stage-three garax you fought, are only the beginning. Before long, terrible danger will arrive at our doorstep. Jailbirds, monsters, and even more exotic threats are coming in the days ahead. ¡°My ability to gather information¡ªto get around without being spotted and access forbidden parts of the System¡ªis incredibly useful. But it won¡¯t do anything to stop something deadly from wiping me out. ¡°If I want to survive, if we want to survive, then we need to combine my abilities with people who have the power to fight on the front line. I want you to be that person, or one of them at least. Thus, I am proposing an alliance between us. I¡¯ll watch your back and feed you information that will help you grow stronger. In return, you protect me and my friends, along with the rest of the settlement. I know that truly trusting each other will take time. But if we aren¡¯t willing to take a risk and try working together here and now, then neither of us will live to see the new year.¡± Sakura looked him straight in the eye, excitement and vulnerability written upon her face. He had the sense that her persona had fallen away, leaving her true self sitting in front of him. ¡°So, Edge, what will it be? Will you accept my offer, reject it, or kill me to preserve your secret?¡± Then, to his utter astonishment, she turned away and closed her eyes. I don¡¯t believe it. She¡¯s placing her life in my hands. ¡°I want you to trust me. But if you decide to end me instead, please get it over with and don¡¯t make me suffer.¡± Edge took a deep breath, sighed, and then made his choice. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I¡¯m willing to accept your offer, at least on a provisional basis. If what you¡¯re telling me is true, and it seems likely that it is, then you will be a valuable ally. Like you were saying, our cores complement one another, forming a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. ¡°Besides, you could have turned me in for my reward or used your powers to lure me into a trap just as easily as setting up this meeting. You might be lying about some parts, but I can¡¯t see what you would gain from it, given the obvious truth of the rest.¡± He stuck out his hand when she turned back around, relief clear in every crook of her features. ¡°Let¡¯s give this partnership a try and hope that it leads us both to a bright future. On that note, we haven¡¯t been formally introduced. Edge Vasher, good to know you.¡± ¡°Sakura Lunaris.¡± She took his hand and gave it a firm shake. ¡°I¡¯m pleased to officially make your acquaintance. Since it seems that we will both be walking back up those stairs at the end of this conversation, let¡¯s get down to business. I¡¯m not specialized for combat and won¡¯t be coming on the expedition. I don¡¯t have a lot of information regarding the Savage Garden or the biome it¡¯s in, but I can use my powers to provide logistical support until you enter the dungeon. ¡°With your permission, I¡¯m going to use a skill that will let me see through your eyes and hear through your ears. Combined with my ability to send messages through your Guide, we will be able to communicate while you¡¯re in the field. It will only last a few weeks and needs to be refreshed with a touch. But it will give you a chance to see what I can do and let me communicate anything vital to the mayor and the sheriff if needed. Although, just like you, I plan to preserve my secret at all costs, so I¡¯m trusting you to use your discretion in what you reveal.¡± Edge wasn¡¯t keen on the idea of someone being able to watch him wherever he went, but he knew that it was necessary if he wanted to get the most out of what Sakura had to offer. He nodded his agreement. She ignited her core and touched his face, leaving a thin coating of mana behind. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll give it a test run after you leave town. And don¡¯t worry, I can¡¯t access your senses without your awareness. When the skill is active, you will feel a tingle running along your temples.¡± With the big issues out of the way, they chatted for another hour, getting to know each other and taking the first steps toward deepening their relationship. When they were done, Sakura gave Edge another apple as a parting gift, then he made his way over to the public green. He could hear the crowd well before he saw it. A sea of voices echoing down the streets of town. When he checked the time, he learned that it was almost time for the mayor to make her announcement and begin the expedition to conquer the Savage Garden. Chapter 34: Town Meeting Edge stepped onto the public green two minutes before Dialla was scheduled to make her address. In what was becoming a regular occurrence, the entire population of Puppet Town was spread out across the grass, ringing the platform that had been erected in the middle of the open area. He scanned the crowd to find his crew and squeezed in between Trapper and Violet, just as Dialla took the stage. Not long after, the mayor walked up to the microphone and waved to the crowd. ¡°Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining me tonight. Once again, I have important news to share with all of you¡ªthe kind that is best delivered face-to-face.¡± The chatter died down as she made her opening remarks. Everyone was eager to hear the news upon which the future of the settlement would hinge. ¡°The reason for tonight¡¯s meeting is a mixed bag¡ªa cause for both celebration and alarm. I¡¯ll spare the preamble and cut right to the heart of the matter. The rumors are true. Setna and her crew discovered a dungeon during their mission to survey the periphery of the plains¡ªlocated in a previously unexplored biome. Since the Ivory Plains are now deep within the frontier, the Savage Garden has never been conquered, and the rewards for clearing it are ripe for the picking.¡± Murmurs broke out at this point. Before the disaster, discovering an unconquered dungeon would have been a major event, drawing tourists from across the planet and racking up trillions of views on the feed. ¡°Delving dungeons is always a dangerous endeavor, doubly so while they remain unconquered. But Setna and her crew are elite hunters. She must have decided that they had a chance of defeating the boss and crossed through the borderlands to make the attempt. ¡°Unfortunately, we haven¡¯t heard from her since, which means that whatever her crew found inside, it was even more treacherous than she expected. While we are worried about Setna¡¯s crew, that isn¡¯t the reason why we¡¯re gathered here today. Entering the dungeon triggered a quest from the System, the details of which were transmitted to me yesterday. Given the circumstances, her crew is either dead or trapped within the dungeon known as the Savage Garden. ¡°The reward for completing the quest is too valuable to ignore, regardless of all other considerations. If Puppet Town can clear the dungeon and defeat the boss, we will receive a prize beyond compare. A core manufactory of our own¡ªcapable of producing Basic and even some Common specialty cores. A source far more reliable than hunting stage-three beasts for core seeds, and a means of bolstering our odds of surviving the days ahead.¡± At this point, a chorus of astonished voices broke out. Dialla waited for them to simmer down before continuing with her address. ¡°Claiming the manufactory will allow us to grow stronger far faster than even my most ambitious timetable, which makes the risky endeavor of conquering the Savage Garden worth undertaking. As of this moment, doing so is our highest priority. ¡°While we¡¯re there, we will do our best to rescue Setna¡¯s crew, or failing that, retrieve their remains. We are racing against the clock on both counts. Puppet Town needs that manufactory, which means that we must conquer the dungeon before someone beats us to it. With that goal in mind, I am announcing the formation of an expeditionary force, which will leave for the Savage Garden tomorrow afternoon. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you. This is a treacherous mission. One certain to be rife with unknown threats. But the rewards for participating will be top-tier. In addition to being paid directly for your services and helping to ensure our collective survival, pristine dungeons are invariably stocked with rare resources and sealed chests containing gear that is superior to anything else you are likely to get your hands on. ¡°To have a chance of succeeding, we must send most of our elite forces, leaving Puppet Town¡¯s defenses substantially weakened at this critical moment. Make no mistake, the expedition will be incredibly hazardous. The fatality rates for first delves are always far too high, until counter-tactics are established and specialists brought in. We don¡¯t have the time or resources for any of that. But we can¡¯t afford to lose many of our strongest members either, which means we¡¯re going to have to play this smart and not make any mistakes. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°We need to get there, conquer the dungeon, and get back before trouble comes knocking at our door. With that goal in mind, we¡¯re forming three core teams that will comprise our expeditionary force. One group will enter the dungeon, clearing it zone-by-zone until the boss¡¯s chamber is accessible. The second group will provide support from the entrance, treating wounds, restocking supplies, and sending updates back to town. ¡°The third group will work from inside Puppet Town¡¯s walls, crafting, strategizing, speculating, and researching. They will send out reinforcements, analyses, and fresh supplies as needed. If you are interested in joining any of these groups, please stand beside one of the numbers that are posted across the green. ¡°The dungeon group is for cored members only. Uncored residents are welcome to join either of the other two, although be aware that entering a high-threat biome will come at a considerable risk to life and limb. Once we see what we have to work with, we will divide each team into crews and assign them specific roles.¡± With that, Dialla stepped back from the mic and waited to see how many people joined each group. Since they had been approached directly and had already agreed to go, Trapper¡¯s crew split up. Edge and Jumo walked over toward the team heading inside the dungeon, while the rest of the hunters joined the team that would operate outside the entrance. It was clear that the mayor had already reached an accord with the most powerful members of the settlement. She was just waiting to see how many people signed up to fill auxiliary roles. Thirty minutes later, everyone who was willing to volunteer had moved to their designated area, and Dialla continued her briefing. ¡°Thank you. I can¡¯t tell you how much it means to have your support during this make-or-break moment in Puppet Town¡¯s future. I want everyone in teams one and two to meet back here a few hours before we set out at noon tomorrow. We can discuss the details of your roles then. Use tonight and tomorrow morning to complete your own preparations. I know that you¡¯re all worried about Setna, but this is the quickest that an endeavor of this scale can be arranged. Setting out on a quest like this unprepared will only compound the potential for tragedy. ¡°Before we call it a night, I want to introduce you to the man who will be leading the expedition. He¡¯s one of the town¡¯s stage-two warriors and a senior member of the beast, monster, treasure, and resource-hunting associations. There isn¡¯t anyone who I trust more with this vital task or is better-suited to dealing with the dungeon¡¯s boss and any other problems that might arise during the expedition. ¡°Gram, could you please come up here and say a few words?¡± With that, Dialla stepped back, and a middle-aged man climbed onto the podium. Edge had never met Gram before, but everyone in town knew the man by reputation. Gram was a powerful warrior, and the only person to have reached the highest echelon in four different hunting organizations. He wore a suit of dark red leathers and carried a war staff that doubled as a walking stick. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this brief, since most of you are going to be sick of my voice by the time we reach the Savage Garden. My name is Gram, and I swear to you that we will emerge from this trial victorious. No matter what stands in our way, be it monster, man, or beast, we will overcome any adversity. Claim this invaluable opportunity for ourselves and enrich our collective future. ¡°I want to salute our brave volunteers, and let you know how deeply I appreciate the support from the rest of the community.¡± Gram went on to give a brief but rousing speech. When he finished, the assembled masses began to cheer. Edge cast his gaze across the roaring crowd, taking in faces filled with hope and fear. With pride and determination. They stayed that way for a good five minutes, pouring out their emotion in an endless river of sound. Eventually, the cheering died down and people began to disperse. Their excitement was tempered by an air of solemnity. They knew that not everyone who left through the gate tomorrow afternoon would be walking back through it. The crew made their way back to the lodge, each hunter lost in thoughts of their own. When they arrived, Edge explained what had happened with Sakura, including her offer to support him moving forward. As promised, he kept the part about her convict status and Unique core to himself, since they weren¡¯t his secrets to share. Everyone in the crew recognized Sakura by description, but no one knew anything about her. While they would keep their guards up and reserve their judgement, the hunters were tentatively optimistic to have someone with such a unique skillset supporting them behind the scenes. When they were done talking, the crew spent a few hours packing up provisions and loading them onto the wagon. Then everyone went to bed early, ready to face the trial that would begin with the rising sun. Chapter 35: Dungeon Expedition Trapper¡¯s crew awoke before dawn. While Edge took out the trash, Jumo locked the sliding-wall panels and latched the windows, and the women moved supplies into the wagon. Everyone was excited¡ªeager to join the dungeon-clearing expedition. In part because of what it meant for the town, but mostly because of the opportunity to fuel their own advancement. Since they still had a few hours before they were scheduled to gather on the public green, the hunters took the time to make sure that all their gear was in working order and that they had packed everything that might be useful during the mission. Blue could tell that something big was going on and ran laps around the yard in a frenzy of motion. Trapper let the enthusiastic dino burn through some of her energy. She would be traveling slower than usual as part of the wagon train heading south toward the border of the biome. While they worked, the hunters discussed strategies and tactics, reviewing everything they knew about dungeons. An hour before noon, they locked the doors, hitched Blue to the wagon, and then made their way over the green. The grassy area in the middle of town was filled with people, although the mood was rather different than the night before. Instead of a wide swath of the general population, the lawn was filled with some of the most powerful people in the settlement, along with everyone else who was heading out to conquer the dungeon. Earl and Dialla were off to one side, speaking with Gram and a gaggle of aides and deputies. Earl wasn¡¯t taking part in the expedition. His strength was needed here, in case something attacked Puppet Town while its elites were away. But his apprentice Able and most of the cored deputies were going, although a few were staying behind to protect the settlement along with the sheriff and the militia. Trapper went over to speak with them, then returned with a list of assignments. Everyone was free to travel and camp in whatever groups they pleased, but once they arrived at the Savage Garden, Trapper¡¯s crew would be splitting up for the duration of the mission. Edge and Jumo had been placed in a dungeon-clearing crew with four other people. One of them was a familiar face. Melenia, the deputy who had been helping condition his attributes and teaching him how to fight. It was a prospect that he found deeply comforting, given the sheer Power the muscular warrior had at her disposal. The next member was Tessa¡ªthe mayor¡¯s personal guard. Edge had only met her the night he¡¯d gone drinking with the deputies, but Trapper knew the woman well. She assured him that Tessa was utterly reliable and strong enough to be numbered amongst the town¡¯s heavy hitters. Trapper also let him know that Tessa was mana-sensitive, which wasn¡¯t something she generally shared, but had decided to reveal considering the importance of the mission. Edge was thrilled that someone on his team could detect magic with such an incredible level of precision, which would offer the hunters another layer of protection once they entered the dungeon. The final two members of his crew were from the monster-hunters¡¯ association. He didn¡¯t recognize either name, which were listed as Snake and Fox. Trapper filled him in on some of the details. Snake and Fox were both stage two, and Fox would be acting as the leader of their team. It was reassuring that people who specialized in slaying monsters would be fighting at his side, doubly so to have a stage-two warrior calling the shots. As for the rest of the Trapper¡¯s crew, Trapper would oversee setting up defenses for the base camp. Riller and Sasha were on scouting duty. They would keep an eye out for anything nasty lurking in the region, as well as any valuable resources located near the periphery of the dungeon. Violet was helping with logistics. She had been designated the second in command of the quartermasters for the entire expedition, which meant she would be busier than the rest of Trapper¡¯s crew during the journey south. Now that everyone had received their individual assignments, they were free to mingle until the expedition was ready to roll out. There was some complex arrangement that determined who would leave in what order, none of which Edge had to worry about given his combat role. All he had to do was march and help deal with anything hostile that appeared en route. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. It turned out that Trapper¡¯s crew would be traveling near the end of the caravan, so that their highly-perceptive members could help guard the rear. Since he had nothing else to do, Edge decided to check out the various organizations on display and check in with his new team along the way. He began by walking over to where Earl was meeting with the peacekeepers, offering the deputies some final words of encouragement before they set out. Edge said hello to the sheriff¡ªglad to know that someone he could trust was protecting the town while he was away. Earl was in the middle of briefing Able, who was in charge of the deputies who were joining the expedition. While he was there, Edge stopped to chat with Mel. ¡°Hi, Edge. It¡¯s good to see you. I wasn¡¯t surprised that they picked you for the dungeon team, considering your unusual skillset and how insanely fast you¡¯ve been advancing. I¡¯m looking forward to working with you.¡± ¡°Right back at you, Mel. Having you watch my back is a weight off my mind. I know firsthand just how hard you can hit and am glad that you¡¯re on my side.¡± She laughed and patted him on the back with enough enthusiasm to leave bruises behind. ¡°We¡¯ll have a lot of time to catch up on the road, so I¡¯ll check in with you after I help get these knuckleheads organized.¡± He chuckled and then walked over to Dialla and Tessa. ¡°I know we¡¯ve already met, but I just wanted to say hello. It¡¯s a pleasure to be working with you.¡± He extended his hand and gave Tessa¡¯s a firm shake. ¡°I feel the same way, Edge. It¡¯s reassuring to have one of the town¡¯s rising stars fighting by my side.¡± He spoke with Tessa for a few more minutes, then left to find Fox and Snake. He had no idea where they were, so he wound up taking a lap around the green, examining each group in turn as he sought out the monster hunters. The center of the lawn was filled with members of the town¡¯s five hunting organizations: the beast hunters, monster hunters, treasure hunters, resource hunters, and bounty hunters. The bounty hunters, commonly referred to as manslayers, were the smallest group. They boasted several elite members who were no strangers to life-and-death situations. Since assaulting other residents of Puppet Town had been outlawed, bounty or no, Dialla had contracted the manslayers to protect the base camp. In case predators of the human sort showed up to contest their claim. He ran his gaze across half a dozen people decked out in an assortment of heavy armor and magitech weapons. None of them were as famous as Warren, the manslayer Edge had killed, but several were early stage two and almost as dangerous. Unlike the other hunters, the manslayers didn¡¯t have a leader. They were used to working alone and only came together to tackle difficult bounties. The monster hunters, also known as shadowkillers, were the second smallest group, since Puppet Town hadn¡¯t had many monsters to deal with prior to the anomaly. They specialized in operating solo or in small teams, since the consequences of letting monsters consume too many cored people could be disastrous, triggering multiple evolutions and spawning a horde in the process. Edge counted six shadowkillers in total, all of them cored. Since hunting monsters that were stage two and up paid out Mortium, they had an impressive collection of magitech weapons and armor and were certain to be armed with high-rarity skills. Two of them were new to the business, but the rest were elite fighters. He had never heard of Snake or Fox, but identifying them wasn¡¯t a problem, since both hunters wore masks depicting the beasts in question. When Edge walked up to introduce himself, he realized that he recognized the elastic suit of magitech armor that Fox was wearing, and her generous figure was familiar too. Even with her face covered, he was sure that it was Ann¡¯s sister Lilly¡ªthe woman who ran the Mortium exchange. That explains the mask. She doesn¡¯t want everyone to find out she¡¯s cored. He knew that Lilly belonged to some manner of crew, but he hadn¡¯t realized that she was part of the monster-hunters¡¯ association. He pretended not to know her, since she was trying to keep her identity a secret. Snake was an imposing man¡ªbroad at the shoulders and over six feet tall. The stage-two shadowkiller was strong and agile, with a figure that would make a Greek god slink way in shame. He had a massive lance strapped to his back that was heavier than Edge¡¯s polearm. Even while resting, Snake radiated a causal air of menace, and Edge had no doubt that he was skilled at his trade. Snake turned to look at him¡ªhis intricate mask conveying the sense of a predator going in for the kill. By this point in his adventures, Edge wasn¡¯t intimidated by a scary mask, even if the man behind it was more powerful than himself. It wasn¡¯t a lot to go on, but Edge had the impression that Snake was cold, but not cruel. Calculating, but not contemptuous. Eventually, Edge¡¯s composure earned him a grudging nod of respect, followed by, ¡°Try not to get in the way.¡± With that, Snake turned away, dismissing him without bothering to shake his hand. Lilly shrugged, winked, then looked away too. That isn¡¯t the most promising start to a working relationship, but everyone seems competent. Hopefully, we can establish a rapport during the trip south. All in all, Edge was thrilled by what he¡¯d observed. His new team was strong¡ªsignificantly more powerful than Trapper¡¯s crew¡ªand he was excited to find out what they could do once they began clearing the dungeon. Chapter 36: Elite Forces Now that he had met the members of his dungeon-clearing team, Edge decided to finish touring the various organizations filling the green. It was a rare chance to see the town¡¯s elite forces assembled in the same location and a valuable opportunity to learn more about them. The treasure hunters were the third smallest group, with roughly double the members of the manslayers and shadowkillers. Their nickname was the lootfinders. They weren¡¯t as powerful or as well-geared as the combat-oriented hunters, but they had more experience with exploring the frontier and operating in dungeons than the other associations combined. The lootfinders included specialists who dedicated their careers to understanding the logic of dungeon layouts and countering the defenses they typically contained. Their assistance would be invaluable on this mission. Both the treasure hunters and resource hunters were led by a woman named Alice¡ªthe only stage-two member of either organization. The resource hunters, also known as harvesters, were the largest hunting association. Although they only had a few cored members, they had an important role to play. As their nickname suggested, they focused on identifying and harvesting a wide range of natural resources, and their members wielded a variety of useful skills that were specialized to the task. While items small enough to carry would be granted to the team that found them, discovering large troves would reward a finders¡¯ fee, then be extracted by the resource hunters once the area was pacified. Some of the harvesters would stay behind after the dungeon was conquered to extract resources from the surrounding biome. They would remain in the region until the last scraps had been transported back to town, procuring materials that would be invaluable for the growth of the settlement. Last came the beast hunters, the association that Trapper¡¯s crew belonged to. The beast hunters were the only group that didn¡¯t have a nickname. When people used the term hunters, they were usually referring to them. The beast hunters were almost as numerous as the resource hunters, and they were the most powerful hunting association, since Puppet Town¡¯s economy revolved around harvesting and processing beast parts. While only a fraction of the hunters¡¯ members were cored, they all had experience working in the field and taking down adversaries more powerful than themselves. They were coming along to protect the base camp, keep the expedition supplied with fresh meat, and extract valuable parts from their prey in the process. Trapper had been nominated to lead them on the expedition after reaching stage two. Edge had no idea what responsibilities her role entailed, but Trapper had been working around the clock to get everything ready in time. In addition to the peacekeepers and the five hunting associations, there were three more groups coming along for the mission¡ªcontingents from the other major factions in town: the alchemists, traders, and crafters. The alchemists had only sent three members, along with a pair of cored guards whose sole job was to protect them. Despite their numbers, their team was one of the most important components of the expedition. They included Amber¡ªa woman who specialized in the creation of medicines and potions. Next came Derrick, who crafted weapon oils and other offensive consumables. The final member was Melchior, the senior alchemist who Edge had consulted with the other day. His role was to identify any artifacts the teams found inside the dungeon, supplementing the skillsets of the treasure hunters, who were less mechanically inclined. He was also the leader of their team. When Melchior saw Edge, the alchemist waved. Edge waved back, then turned his attention to the final two groups assembled along the green. The contingent from the crafters was there to help maintain everyone¡¯s gear. They would also create consumables for broad distribution¡ªthe flares, smoke bombs, and flashbangs that had become a core part of Edge¡¯s kit. Their final role was to craft any custom devices that the mission might require, helping the combat teams bypass obstacles, eliminate threats, or tackle other tricky problems. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. When Edge moved closer to get a better view, he spotted a familiar face among them. It was Ander, the smith who had forged his naginata and chakram and helped to craft his new armor. When Edge walked over to say hello, he learned that Ander was in charge of their team. Some of the other crafters he had met at the Forge were there too. He spent a few minutes speaking with the friendly craftsman before inspecting the final group on the field. The traders¡¯ union had sent a few of their cored guards to help with security, but their main role was to handle transportation and distribution. They were in charge of the wagons that carried the lion¡¯s share of the supplies the mission required, along with transporting those individuals who were poorly-suited for a long march over hostile terrain. The traders would oversee logistics with assistance from experienced quartermasters like Violet. Once the dungeon was conquered, they would utilize the wagons to transport the spoils back to town and use their skills to preserve anything perishable. Not long after, Gram stepped onto the podium that Dialla had used the night before and turned to address the crowd. ¡°Hello, everyone. I wanted to thank you again for volunteering for this mission. The results of our expedition may well be the deciding factor between surviving the changes wrought by the anomaly and succumbing to them. I will spend some time with each team on our march south, reviewing your roles along with what little we know about the Savage Garden and the surrounding biome. ¡°Today, you just need to know where to position yourself for the first leg of our journey, which should take about two days. Once we reach the jungle biome that Setna mentioned in her final report, we will establish our base camp, and I will brief you in full regarding the next phase of the operation. We don¡¯t expect to run into too much trouble while crossing the Ivory Plains. Even with bigger predators of higher stages entering the prairie, few will be willing to pick a fight with so many cored individuals. ¡°But we¡¯re not taking that for granted. If another colossal stage-two, or gods forbid, a behemoth stage-three beast shows up, they might take a shot at us before we can teach them the error of their ways. I need everyone to keep their eyes open once we leave the settlement. Share anything that doesn¡¯t seem right with your team leader or bring it directly to me. That¡¯s all for now. Follow the vanguard in your assigned order and with any luck, we¡¯ll make it to the dungeon safe and sound, where the real trial will begin.¡± When Gram was done speaking, the vanguard rolled out, taking South Street toward the southern gate. The front of the caravan was comprised of trackers, scouts, and elite fighters¡ªpeople with the skills and Perception to spot problems before they could draw close enough to threaten the wagon train, and enough strength to drive away all but the most dangerous of beasts. Riller and Sasha left with them, although they were only scheduled to work on the front line for the first day of the journey. It wound up taking the better part of an hour before the last group was ready to leave. When the people in front of him started moving, Edge fell in beside the rest of Trapper¡¯s crew. He began walking alongside the wagon, after giving Blue some scritches behind her horns. As soon as they left the public green and started crossing the districts, he caught sight of the crowd. Edge had thought that his crew¡¯s sendoff for the padamas hunt had been big. But it was nothing compared to what awaited him as he crossed the south side of town. Thousands of people were lined up along both sides of the road. They were standing on balconies, leaning out of windows, and packed onto the rooftops. Even though they had been at it for an hour already, they didn¡¯t stop waving and cheering, wishing the expedition luck and success on their mission. With an outing of this size, there hadn¡¯t been any point in keeping their objective a secret. Everyone in Puppet Town knew the hunters were undertaking a dangerous quest that was vital for the future of the settlement. Edge took in the waving, cheering masses, soaking in their words of encouragement and wishes for a safe return. It made him feel important¡ªlike he was a valued member of the community. Something that he had never experienced in his old life on Earth and hadn¡¯t realized he was missing until that moment. A man could get used to this. Someone had even picked baskets full of flower petals. They were tossing handfuls from atop the ramparts, filling the air with brightly-colored swaths that smelled absolutely divine. Edge stepped through the gate and onto the Ivory Plains with a smile on his face, ready to begin his latest adventure. Chapter 37: Wagon Train The Ivory Plains were vibrant in the last weeks of summer. Hoots and caws resounded on all sides as the creatures that called Ord home feasted on the biome¡¯s abundance in preparation for the lean days ahead. Most of the bigger beasts were laying low, waiting for the strange procession to roll past before coming out of hiding. But there were plenty of smaller critters to be found. The air was filled with butterflies and songbirds, complimenting the ceaseless roar of the wind stirring the sea of grass engulfing them on all sides. A group this size couldn¡¯t move much faster than Edge could walk. With a contingent of scouts in the field to provide an early warning of trouble approaching, he found himself in the rare position of having nothing to do other than enjoy the beauty of his surroundings and the company of his friends. Trapper and Violet had other matters to attend to and Riller and Sasha were on scouting duty, so Edge and Jumo passed the time chatting and telling stories. When they ran out of tales, they moved on to discussing strategies incorporating their latest skills, reviewing their battle with the scorpions, and debating the merits of their new weapons and armor. As they walked, Edge practiced flinging his chakram, aiming for random plants growing along the side of the road to improve his accuracy and familiarize himself with the mechanics involved in various throws. Thanks to his rapidly-rising Control, learning to use the weapon was far easier than he expected, although it was going to take some time to reach a level of mastery comparable to what Ander had demonstrated back at the Forge. After getting a feel for the weight of the bladed ring and its aerodynamic properties, he focused on changing its trajectory with the chainmail glove. When he was done, he added Elemental Blade into the mix, suffusing the weapon with a layer of subzero mana that made whatever it cut billow with frost. He had to be careful how long he held the brass and bone ring with the skill active. Even with Regulate Temperature, if he touched the chakram for too long, he would wind up freezing his fingers solid. Since time was of the essence, it would take too long to gather as a group when the caravan took a break or camped for the night. Instead, everyone parked the wagons where they were, then found a place near the road to take the weight off their feet. They stopped for lunch a few hours later, giving the beast handlers an opportunity to tend to their charges and everyone a chance to fill their bellies. Edge had just polished off a sandwich Violet had packed when he heard a woman¡¯s voice. It wasn¡¯t coming from anywhere nearby, but from inside his own head¡ªlike the sound of his own thoughts. ¡°Edge, can you hear me?¡± He was so surprised that he jumped, barely repressing the urge to scream. Jumo was the only one who saw. The athletic warrior laughed, then resumed practicing with his new spear. ¡°This is Sakura. I¡¯m looking through your eyes and listening through your ears now. You should feel a tingling at your temples that indicates our link is active.¡± Indeed, Edge could feel a faint prickling around his forehead, which he had thought was the wind blowing through his hair. It was strange to know that someone was watching his every move again¡ªsomething that had been a part of everyday life until the Prison World broadcasts ended with the disaster that had reshaped the surface of Ord. He held his hand in front of his face and flashed a thumbs up. ¡°Great. I read you loud and clear. My voice is just a modification of the Guide message system, by the way. I can¡¯t read your thoughts or anything like that. I will normally be observing your progress via my scrying skill, since it costs a ton of mana to activate the sense link. Hacking the System to send direct messages like this is expensive too, so I¡¯ll save if for major milestones and emergencies. ¡°I just wanted to let you know that everything is working properly. I¡¯ll do what I can to support you during this mission, although the info I have regarding dungeons and frontier biomes is extremely limited due to the Fog of War. I¡¯ll sign off for now, but everything looks good on my end. Good luck, Edge. We¡¯ll talk more when you get back.¡± ¡°Thanks, Sakura,¡± he whispered as the tingling around his temples faded away. Riller and Sasha returned later in the afternoon, having encountered nothing more exciting than a few patches of land that had been swapped by the anomaly. If anything dangerous had come along for the ride, it had long since migrated to elsewhere on the plains and wasn¡¯t a threat to the expedition. Trapper and Violet joined them not long after, having completed their work for the day. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The wagons stopped an hour before sunset, giving the teams time to pitch their tents and tend to their beasts before they started losing the light. Everyone had been assigned a night-watch shift during the journey, and Edge¡¯s was tonight. After the crew ate dinner and everyone slipped into their bedrolls, he walked a few hundred feet out and sat down on top of a large boulder, where he had a good view of anything approaching the caravan. A small predator might get past him by moving through the tall grass, but there were skill-summoned traps and wards in place to deal with that unlikely occurrence. He cast his senses into the distance, since his ears were his primary tool for detecting threats approaching under the cover of night. The nocturnal denizens of the Ivory Plains soon made their appearance, and growls and howls echoed in the distance. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, so he just sat there, staring up at the night sky. Edge ran his gaze across thousands of twinkling lights that were so bright compared to the world he had left behind. Around midnight, the Red Shield made an appearance¡ªthe magical barrier the System had raised to prevent anyone from entering the atmosphere without its permission. The insanely-powerful magitech barrier was always up there. But when certain conditions were met, light refracted off the Red Shield, rendering it visible to the naked eye for a short while. He took in the shimmering waves of crimson and ginger¡ªawestricken by magic on a scale that simply blew him away. Part of the way through, Jumo walked over and sat down beside him. They enjoyed a companiable silence for another half hour, until the resplendent display faded away. Edge spent the rest of his shift chatting with his friend, then made his way over to his bedroll and closed his eyes. When he woke up, the scents from a hundred cookfires rode the breeze, filling his nostrils with delicious aromas that set his mouth watering. Violet handed him a steaming bowl filled with nut-and-fruit-infused porridge, which he devoured with gratitude. The sun rose not long after. Once there was enough light for the beasts to see the ground beneath their feet, the caravan resumed its journey, heading south toward the boundary of the biome. During the second day of the expedition, Edge tried to spend some time with his dungeon team. He wanted to become more familiar with their personalities and capabilities before they entered the deadly trial known as a dungeon. He would have to say goodbye to Trapper¡¯s crew after the expedition established their base camp, except for Jumo. Riller and Violet weren¡¯t well-suited to fighting monsters in an enclosed area, and Trapper and Sasha¡¯s expertise was best utilized by defending the crews operating outside the Savage Garden. Melenia was always good company. Although most of Edge¡¯s interactions with the muscular redhead had consisted of getting the ever-living shit beat out of him during their kickboxing sessions, they had developed a sense of camaraderie by this point. He enjoyed her blunt outlook on life and her tendency to take the direct approach to whatever problem she was dealing with. Since she was part of the dungeon team, Mel didn¡¯t have any leadership responsibilities this time around, and Able had been chosen to lead the peacekeepers¡¯ contingent. It meant that she had plenty of time on her hands. They spent long hours sparring while reviewing everything she had taught him, and speculating on what they might find after entering the dungeon. After being on the receiving end of Mel¡¯s fists on numerous occasions, Edge found the prospect of fighting alongside the veteran guardswoman to be deeply reassuring. Jumo got along with her too, and the three of them walked together until the expedition stopped for lunch. When he thought to check his menus, he saw that his training had borne fruit. By conditioning your body, your Control has increased by 1. After that, Edge went to find Tessa. Since she was the mayor¡¯s personal guard, she didn¡¯t belong to any of the other groups. Instead, Tessa had been travelling with Gram and the other leaders of the expedition. She didn¡¯t mind spending some time with him, but like Riller, she wasn¡¯t much for casual conversation. He learned that she was going to serve as the team¡¯s scout, using her mana-sensitivity to detect trouble coming once they entered the dungeon. They didn¡¯t exchange many words, but he was able to get a sense of her personality. Tessa was alert, discrete, and conscientious. Edge hadn¡¯t seen her fight, but he had the impression that she had trained long hours with her weapon of choice¡ªa slender silver sword that reminded him of Trapper¡¯s blade. She also carried a round shield strapped to her back, made of a thin sheet of coppery metal. He couldn¡¯t find Fox or Snake. After asking around, Edge learned that they were scouting as part of the vanguard and wouldn¡¯t be available until the expedition arrived at the dungeon. He was a little disappointed, since he enjoyed Lilly¡¯s company and had been looking forward to spending more time with the cheerful woman. But it would have to wait until they crossed through the borderlands and were ready to enter the Savage Garden. While he was hanging out with the deputies, he learned that both Fox and Snake had stellar reputations as monster hunters. No one had much to say about their private lives, since both shadowkillers wore masks while working in the field. Edge already knew that Lilly¡¯s real personality was a polar opposite from the shy handywoman she presented in public, from their interactions in the Mortium exchange beneath Ann¡¯s General Goods. He wondered if he had already met Snake¡¯s alter ego. Maybe I¡¯ll figure it out once we enter the dungeon. He hoped that the rest of their journey would be as peaceful as its start, but Edge had a feeling that their trip wasn¡¯t fated to end so smoothly. Chapter 38: Sudden Storm About an hour after lunch, Edge felt a tingling sensation building around his temples. This time around, he knew what it meant. ¡°Sakura, is that you? I didn¡¯t expect to hear from you again so soon.¡± He assumed that she was just checking in, but it turned out that his new partner had something far more urgent to convey. ¡°Edge. There¡¯s no time to waste. A living storm is crossing the grasslands, and it¡¯s headed your way. The scouts will probably notice before much longer, but every second that that the expedition can use to take shelter will reduce the chances of casualties and minimize the damage inflicted to the wagon train.¡± He was running before Sakura finished her sentence. Edge knew firsthand just how destructive living storms could be. After all, he had barely survived the one he had encountered shortly after binding his core. Living storms, also called seeker storms, moved fast and were accompanied by hurricane-strength winds that could wreak havoc upon the unprepared. While that was bad enough, their true danger was the golden lightning that surged from the storm clouds like the wrath of an angry god. It was a magical phenomenon that actively sought out living beings, especially if they had cores. If the storm caught the caravan before they had something sturdy over their heads, a lot of good people were going to die. He made it to Gram¡¯s side a breathless minute later. When the expedition¡¯s leader saw the look on his face, he gave Edge his undivided attention. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you spot something dangerous out there?" ¡°A living storm is headed our way.¡± Edge delivered his message, pointed into the distance, then took a long drink from his canteen. His report caught Gram by surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you were mana-sensitive or had some type of weather-sensing skill.¡± Fortunately, he had come up with an explanation along the way. ¡°I¡¯m not and I don¡¯t. But after being caught out in the open by a seeker storm, I seem to have developed a proficiency for spotting them.¡± Tessa had activated a skill the moment that he relayed Sakura¡¯s warning. ¡°He¡¯s right. It¡¯s faint, but I can sense mana gathering along the horizon. We need to move fast. It won¡¯t be long before it arrives.¡± Edge didn¡¯t know the details, but the expedition¡¯s senior staff had prepared for just such an occurrence. The instant that Tessa confirmed his report, Gram reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a flare gun. He pointed it straight up and then fired a bright blue flare into the air. There wasn¡¯t enough time to move that many people and wagons, and there wasn¡¯t a suitable shelter nearby regardless. Instead, people with a select collection of skills came running while Gram and the other team leaders supervised their efforts. Edge stepped back and got out of the way, returning to Trapper¡¯s crew as he watched the proceedings with interest. While the quartermasters sprinted to the supply wagons to provide the shelter teams with as many mana seeds as they needed, the cored individuals went to work. The only way to survive the prolific discharges of living lighting that seeker storms put out was to have something solid over your head. Preferably before it found you, or the shelter would have to endure a substantial barrage before the storm moved on. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. To that end, people who could shape defenses on short order had been issued contingencies for just such an emergency, and they put their expertise to use now. While everyone moved off the road, so that the skills the expedition was about to deploy didn¡¯t destroy it, the handlers did their best to calm the beasts that were pulling the wagons. Another reason why this type of magical weather was so dangerous was how quickly it advanced. It had only been five minutes since Sakura warned Edge, and roiling clouds had already devoured a wide swath of the sunny sky above. By now, the storm winds were raging across the prairie. The caravan only had about ten minutes until the stormfront broke over them, at which point, the lightning would obliterate anyone who was still standing out in the open. It was clear to everyone that the approaching clouds were part of a living storm, since they were dark blue and glowed with their own inner light. The shelter teams were hard at work, creating enclosures made from a variety of skill-manifested materials. Some had dug down into the earth to form caverns and burrows, while others raised walls of wood or stone. Edge even saw one woman making houses formed from glistening gemstone, which had to be made from mana given physical form rather than a substance-shaping skill. They packed the beasts and wagons in first, along with the caravan¡¯s uncored members. The specialist assigned to Trapper¡¯s crew had arrived two minutes earlier¡ªa man who drew slabs of raw rock from the ground and molded them like they were made of wet clay. Violet and Blue went in first, followed by the rest of the crew. The man left the side in the lee of the wind open, so that the dino didn¡¯t panic from being trapped in the dark while the seeker storm raged outside. Edge stepped inside the shelter a couple of minutes before the storm broke over them. Meanwhile, the gale rose to hurricane strength, screaming like a banshee as it sent the prairie heaving like waves on the ocean. As Violet spoke soft words to soothe Blue, they watched the living lightning fall upon the grasslands¡ªeach blast targeting a creature unfortunate enough to have been caught by the deadly magical weather. It was exhilarating and terrifying in equal measures to witness the unbridled fury of the storm. Edge knew all too well what it was like to be out in one, with only a few seconds of golden glow for warning before the lightning touched down. Fortunately, everyone in the caravan had taken cover before the storm arrived, so they didn¡¯t have to test the strength of their shelters against an electric barrage. The only good thing about seeker storms was that they traveled so fast that they never lingered for long. If you made it to cover in time, the worst was already over. Less than an hour later, the golden lightning stopped striking, the thunder died down, and the shimmering blue clouds disappeared as quicky as they had arrived. It took another half hour to reform the caravan, then the expedition continued on its way. They left the shelters they had created along the sides of the road, where travelers could use them in the future. Edge cast his gaze across the endless prairie as he continued marching south, grinning at just how much he had changed since the last time a seeker storm had rolled across the plains. There were patches of smoke and steam in the distance¡ªwhere the biome¡¯s natural defenses went to work putting out fires. Other than the scorched sections and the silence that arose from the creatures still hiding in their dens, you would never know that the storm had passed through. The rest of the afternoon was blessedly uneventful. Nothing more exciting than some hunters attacking a stage-two beast that was more than they could handle, which was resolved as soon as the caravan¡¯s defenders saw their flare and came running to the rescue. Everyone pushed themselves hard, doing their best to reach the borderlands before sunset after being delayed by the storm. A few more hours should see them to the edge of the Ivory Plains. According to the coordinates the System had sent Dialla, the dungeon was only a couple of miles further out. It meant that the first stage of their mission was nearly over. Soon, the most dangerous part of their adventure would begin. Chapter 39: Dungeon Lore Gram gave the order, and the wagons came to a stop an hour before sunset. In part to give everyone a chance to get situated before they lost the light, but mostly to maintain enough distance that the expedition didn¡¯t have to worry about beasts living in the high-threat biome sensing their presence and attacking during the night. After checking in with Tessa and Mel, Edge spent the rest of the evening enjoying the company of Trapper¡¯s crew. This was their last full day together. Once the base camp had been established, Jumo and Edge would start clearing the Savage Garden, while the other hunters secured the area and supported the operation from outside the dungeon. After they gathered around the fire, they reviewed everything that they knew about dungeon lore over bowls of spicy chili and rice. Although Edge had never seen one himself, he had watched more of the Prison World broadcasts than the rest of the crew combined and was eager to pool his knowledge with the rest of his team. There was some dispute as to how dungeons came into being. Whether the System built them from scratch or was capitalizing on a naturally-occurring phenomenon. While most dungeons were discovered deep within the frontier, they occasionally appeared in settled regions too. They were generally located in areas with unusually high concentrations of magicytes, and if left unchecked, dungeons placed considerable strain on the local ecosystem. Regardless of their origin, there was universal agreement that the System cultivated nascent dungeons, seeding them with chests and other valuable resources. They were invariably populated by powerful monsters, although most had plants and small animals living in them too. The monsters usually left these lesser life forms alone¡ªlikely because the dungeon provided sufficient energy for their needs. That being said, they were more than happy to feast upon any people or beasts who were foolish enough to venture inside. In their natural, pristine state, unconquered dungeons represented a deadly threat as well as a valuable opportunity. Over time, they would release a portion of their population, unleashing a horde of monsters into the wild. Some scholars thought that all monsters were originally the inhabitants of dungeons, although there were countless competing theories regarding the matter. One thing that everyone agreed on was that unconquered and conquered dungeons posed categorically different threats. Until a dungeon was cleared for the first time, it would continue to grow, spawning more monsters of higher stages with every new cycle. Dungeons that popped up near settled areas needed to be cleared to make civilization on Ord possible, and there were always people who were willing to put their lives on the line to do so. All dungeons were laden with sealed chests and high-grade natural resources. On top of that, the System always offered a top-tier quest to anyone who attempted to clear a pristine dungeon, with fantastic rewards to match the deadly danger found within. These unparalleled opportunities for advancement were infamous for luring people who were too weak to tackle the challenge, providing Prison World with some of its most popular footage. Killing the dungeon¡¯s boss¡ªan elite monster more dangerous than anything else in there¡ªwould permanently change its nature. Once a dungeon was conquered, it would seal itself for a few years before it was ready to be entered again. Clearing a conquered dungeon was far safer than the first time around. They were still a source of precious resources and a prime means of cycling up, but the other rewards would be significantly diminished. Once its energy was completely dispersed, the dungeon would vanish, and its territory would revert to natural land. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. There was a vast body of knowledge dealing with conquered dungeons, but far less information regarding pristine ones. One thing was certain though; to conquer a dungeon and complete the System¡¯s quest, the boss monster had to die. Each dungeon had its own theme and contained threats that were centered around it. In the case of the Savage Garden, it was expected that the monsters inside would be adapted to a forest or jungle environment. In addition to the entrance and boss¡¯s chamber, dungeons were subdivided into areas known as regions or zones. The challenges contained within each region could vary from monster extermination to environmental hazards, or even some manner of puzzle or trial. Each dungeon had their own rules regarding how many people could enter at once, and other twists that made tackling each a unique experience. The overall difficulty of a dungeon generally corresponded to the threat level of the biome that contained it. Judging by the highly-concentrated magicytes flowing in from the frontier regions now bordering the Ivory Plains, Edge was certain that the Savage Garden would have stage-two monsters living inside and that its boss would be stage-three. Whatever was waiting for him in there, he was certain that there would be powerful skills to steal, the thought of which set his core grumbling. As the conversation on dungeons wound down and the crew slipped into their bedrolls, he turned his thoughts toward Skill-Eater¡ªthe mysterious being that was slumbering inside him. Edge had spoken to Skill-Eater on two separate occasions. Their first conversation had come only moments after he forged a pact and bound the Unique core within his chest, and the second was when he had evolved to stage one. He was still wrapping his head around the idea that his central chamber was located inside of a titanic entity bound by endless black chains. If he could believe its claims, his core was an ancient creature that had once possessed unimaginable power. He didn¡¯t know why Skill-Eater was restrained by those living links. How the giant had been defeated and transformed into a core¡ªdiminished and sealed away for centuries, waiting for someone to open its reliquary and form a contract that would change their life forever. He hoped to learn more about the matter eventually, but Skill-Eater had said that they couldn¡¯t speak again until Edge grew more powerful. He didn¡¯t think it would happen until he evolved to stage two, given everything that had occurred so far. The ravenous lord bound in chains was a fitful sleeper. It sporadically woke up long enough to offer a suggestion, communicating through images and emotions that were usually accompanied by a primal hunger. It was clear that Skill-Eater had some sense of what was going on in the outside world and had offered insights that saved Edge¡¯s life on more than one occasion. After coming to his aid during the battle with the Garax, Skill-Eater had entered a deeper state of stasis, recovering from what the conflict had cost it. The only time it had woken since was during his meeting with Sakura. It still reacted to his thoughts every now and again, but Edge had the sense that they were subconscious responses rather than deliberate acts. The black chains were always alert and responsive. But they were more like beasts than people, although they could communicate with him in their own way. If Edge was being honest with himself, having Skill-Eater bound inside him both frightened and excited him. He didn¡¯t completely trust his core and had to fight to keep its desires from overriding his own, since most aspects of their relationship were based on mutual self-interest. Not that he had much choice other than to work with his core and hope for the best. For the rest of his life, their fates were bound as one. They were partners, and though he found many aspects of the situation unsettling, it was also encouraging to know that something with vastly more experience than himself was watching his back, at least some of the time. On that note, he didn¡¯t know much about the true nature of cores in general, or why Unique cores were so different from any of the others he¡¯d heard of. Maybe Sakura has some of the answers. He decided that when he had a chance to talk with her at length, he would broach the subject. All in all, Edge¡¯s relationship with Skill-Eater was opaque, and he had far more questions than answers at present. But since he didn¡¯t have a way to pursue them now, he slid the issue onto the backburner while he pondered his immediate concerns, surviving the dungeon and plundering its riches. As the minutes ticked past, his thoughts grew vague as sleep rose to claim him. As evening dusk faded to the black of night, Edge stepped into the land of dreams. Chapter 40: Road鈥檚 End When Edge opened his eyes, the navy blue of a predawn sky met his gaze. He slipped out of his bedroll, repacked his gear, then sat down beside his friends while Violet cooked breakfast over the firepit. As he dug into the bowl of spiced porridge she handed him a few minutes later, he turned his thoughts to the jungle looming in the distance. The caravan was nearing the southeastern border of the Ivory Plains. In another hour, the wagon train would reach the borderlands and enter the frontier biome that contained the Savage Garden. The scouts had begun charting a path while everyone else was asleep, since most of them could see in the dark. Some had returned to share their initial findings with Gram, and the rest were heading deeper into the jungle. By the time that the wagons crossed into the borderlands, the scouts should have finished surveying the area around the dungeon¡¯s entrance. Their mission was to identify any dangerous beasts, locate reliable sources of food and water, and find a good spot to establish their base camp. Edge hoped that the jungle wasn¡¯t as dangerous as the biomes he¡¯d seen while standing on the Titan¡¯s Nose after battling the garax. The biomes the crew had named the Ravenous Wastes and Jumo¡¯s Vault were bizarre, inhospitable regions that were filled with countless threats. Hazards that even Puppet Town¡¯s elite forces would have a hard time enduring without suffering significant casualties. Before long, it was light enough to see, and the wagons resumed rolling along the road. The next hour passed in a frenzy of activity. Everyone scrambled to make their final preparations before heading into the frontier, many for the first time. Whatever they found when they crossed through the borderlands was certain to be a significant threat¡ªlikely the greatest challenge that any of them had faced since being trapped on Ord. With the survival of Puppet Town hanging in the balance, they were willing to risk it all to secure their collective future, although personal gain was a powerful motivator too. Despite the danger that was growing by the footfall, the air was charged with enthusiasm. Everyone was eager to get their hands on the rewards Dialla and the various factions had promised, not to mention anything valuable they could find in and around the dungeon. When he took his turn riding beside Violet on the wagon, Edge looked out over a sea of nervous faces. Listened to the blend of excitement and fear in their voices. This was the first true challenge they must overcome to thrive in the new existence the anomaly had thrust them into, and they were ready to rise to the occasion. Not long after, the road came to an end. When he stopped to take a closer look, he saw that the paving stones had been cut in half by the magic that had teleported the Ivory Plains to the other side of Ord. Past that point, the endless prairie transitioned into ferns and trees, which grew thicker until the canopy became a solid wall¡ªso dense that the trailbreakers had to cut a road for the rest of the expedition to follow. Edge¡¯s adrenaline started to flow as he cast his gaze into the distance. The easy part of their journey was over, and their true ordeal was about to begin. But not quite yet. Even with the cores, skills, and beast labor at their disposal, it was going to take the rest of the morning to reach the dungeon, which was visible from the top of a nearby rise. While the caravan waited for the trailbreakers to carve a path, Trapper¡¯s crew climbed the hill, since they were eager to see the dungeon with their own eyes. Everyone else must have had the same idea, and the hilltop was covered with people staring into the distance while speaking in animated voices. Edge pulled out his spyglass, then took a good, long look at the strange growth protruding from the jungle¡¯s canopy. It was clear at a glance that it wasn¡¯t a natural feature of the landscape. From the outside, the dungeon looked like a living box that was big enough to hold a major city. Thick stalks of a bamboolike plant stretched toward the heavens above¡ªcovered in protruding thorns. The walls topped off about three hundred feet in the air, leaving plenty of room inside for behemoth-class creatures to roam. He knew from watching the feed that those walls would prove impervious to damage, regardless of the materials used to make them. That if anyone were foolish enough to climb them or try to enter the dungeon from the air, they would receive a warning from the System, followed by lethal countermeasures preventing the attempt. There were only two sanctioned ways to enter or leave a dungeon. The first was the main entrance in front, and the second was the exit that would appear in the final room after the boss was slain. Edge traced the profile of the towering edifice while talking with the hunters lining the hillcrest. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Twenty minutes later, a woman walked over to share some the details of the scouts¡¯ report. They estimated that the dungeon was approximately seven miles on each side, making it about the size of the city of San Fransisco back on Earth. ¡°Imposing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jumo clasped Edge on the back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. After what we¡¯ve been through, I¡¯m sure that the two of us can carry the rest of our crew. We¡¯ll take down the boss, complete the quest, and come out with our bags stuffed full of treasures like you wouldn¡¯t believe.¡± Edge laughed at his friend¡¯s show of bravado. ¡°I doubt it will be that easy, but I¡¯m eager to give it my all. I hope that everyone outside will be alright too. Camping within a frontier biome is certain to come with its own share of hazards.¡± ¡°They have Trapper, Ander, and Gram backing them up. Not to mention the deputies and some of the best freelancers in town. While we¡¯re busy inside, everyone else should have a chance to explore the region and pick up some valuable resources. It will be dangerous. But by this point, I don¡¯t think any of the residents of Puppet Town have a safe path to tread. Over time, being underpowered and hiding behind the walls will be just as risky as heading out to grow stronger.¡± Trapper nodded along with Jumo¡¯s assessment, then said, ¡°I agree with every word, but don¡¯t underestimate dungeons. Some of the strongest people I¡¯ve ever known have lost their lives by doing so, and it wasn¡¯t even unconquered. Remember what I¡¯ve taught you. Use your head and play it safe. There¡¯s no reason to take unnecessary risks with everyone in base camp ready to back you up.¡± Sasha and Riller offered their own advice and words of encouragement, although they didn¡¯t know anything he didn¡¯t by this point. Edge understood where they were coming from. He was worried about the rest of the team too. Guarding the base camp might not be as dangerous as delving the dungeon. But dealing with the residents of an unknown, frontier biome was certain to be no walk in the park. ¡°Here.¡± Violet turned to hand him a package, then offered another to Jumo. ¡°I whipped up a pair of poison gas grenades for both of you. It¡¯s the same kind that we used against the cancerous blightlings. If you find yourself in a pinch, these should buy you a few minutes to regain control of the situation.¡± ¡°Thanks, Violet. You¡¯re the best.¡± Edge put the metal spheres into his backpack, since they were too large for his belt pouch. Then he walked over and gave Violet a hug, followed by the rest of his team. They stayed up there for the better part of an hour, then Trapper¡¯s crew climbed back down and fell into formation at the end of the wagon train. The trailbreakers finished their labor soon after, and the expedition was ready to roll out. He watched as the vanguard entered the jungle. The lead wagons passed through the borderlands before disappearing into the dense growth beyond. After checking in with the scouts, it was time for their team to head out. The hunters followed the wagon in front of them¡ªtension growing by the heartbeat as they approached an unexplored region inhabited by unknown creatures. It wasn¡¯t too bad in the borderlands, where the sun and sky were visible through the foliage. But that all changed when they entered the jungle. The instant that Edge stepped beneath the canopy, the atmosphere shifted. His heart pounded as electric anticipation rose to fill the air. It was dark enough that he would have had a hard time seeing before binding his core and raising his Perception. Only a fraction of the light filtered in through the overgrowth, throwing scattered patches of shadow and sun across the roughhewn earth. Tall trees and dense ferns were everywhere, growing so close together that they formed a living maze. A warren of narrow corridors and small clearings that limited visibility in every direction, making it impossible for him to see anything beyond his immediate surroundings. The close confines had the unfortunate side effect of freeing Edge¡¯s imagination to run wild. Visions of monsters standing just behind the verdant barrier marched across his mind¡¯s eye, granting the branches swaying in the wind an air of menace and impending violence. Animals and insects were prolific in this biome, filling the air with the buzzing of wings and the scamper of tiny feet. Unidentifiable howls and hoots echoed across the forest floor. It felt like he was being watched by a thousand hidden eyes, causing the hair on his neck to rise and stand on end. The humidity grew by the mile, and soon they were all sweating despite their superhuman attributes. Regulate Temperature could help with the heat, but the skill couldn¡¯t do anything about the moisture in the air. He would have tried playing with Repel Water to see if it could help, but he didn¡¯t want to get caught using more skills than he should be able to slot. Fortunately, internal skills were much harder to detect, and he could be using Regeneration to heal blisters on his feet just as easily as anything else. Dialing up the tension another notch, Edge could smell the reek of monsters riding the breeze, flowing alongside the green of plants and musk of earth. While each species had its own foul odor, they all shared the scent of death that could be detected from miles away under the right conditions. Although he couldn¡¯t sense anything nearby, his instincts were screaming that this jungle was filled with terrifying opponents. Stage-two predators were certain to abound within its depths, and possibly stage-three creatures too. Skill-Eater opened one eye at the thought before drifting back to sleep. His core was certain that they would be delicious, if Edge lived long enough to claim their powers for his own. It turned out that his growing unease was more than just a figment of his turbocharged imagination. Only a few minutes later, the scouts came running back. The moment they did, cries erupted down the line. The expedition¡¯s leaders issued orders for everyone to assume combat formations and ready their skills. Something big was headed their way and a battle was about to begin. Chapter 41: Sand Shrews A runner came to a skidding stop beside the wagon, raising her voice over the clamor as the members of the expedition readied themselves for combat. She paused long enough to share what she knew before darting off again. The scouts had sensed a large pack of late stage-two predators stalking the caravan, and everyone needed to be ready to defend themselves at a moment¡¯s notice. Edge grimaced when he heard the news. He had no desire whatsoever to fight on uneven ground with such poor visibility. On the bright side, the lead wagon had almost arrived at a spacious clearing bordering the perimeter of the dungeon. Gram was hoping that everyone would reach open terrain before the creatures attacked. But even with the scouts running interference, there was no guarantee that the end of the line would make it in time. Trapper¡¯s crew brandished their weapons and got ready to activate their skills the instant that the predators appeared. Riller climbed onto the driver¡¯s seat beside Violet. He summoned his Scout Drone to watch their position from the air, while she convinced Blue to keep pulling the wagon deeper into the jungle. The azure dino grumbled while sniffing at the air. She was clearly uncomfortable with the situation, but she trusted her team and continued trudging along. Edge heard shouting in the distance, and the tension kept ratcheting up with every step that he took. But then a mile rolled past, followed by another. Thanks to Riller¡¯s drone and the lookouts ringing periphery of the wagon train, no one was ambushed by the creatures that were stalking them, and half an hour later, the crew entered a broad clearing carpeted with low groundcover. The living wall of the dungeon spread out before him, but he didn¡¯t get a chance to take a closer look. While Violet unhitched Blue, Gram sent word that the beasts were making their move and would attack sometime within the next few minutes. They still hadn¡¯t identified the aggressive critters, but they were big and displayed no fear of the cored warriors waiting for them to appear. The teams didn¡¯t waste a second. They began establishing a perimeter and erecting various defenses. But before they could progress beyond the preliminary stages, the creatures that were hunting them launched their assault. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± One of the guardswomen, who had the same Sense Life skill that Trapper used, cried out a warning. ¡°Get your wards and auras up,¡± Gram ordered, using a magitech device to amplify his voice. ¡°We¡¯re working against some manner of jamming skill, so we don¡¯t have any details other than their stage and size. We¡¯ve detected seventeen hostiles headed our way, but there might be more of them out there. Since they¡¯re bold enough to attack an armed group of this size, assume that they are elite enemies. If one comes for you, try to separate it from the pack, then focus on defense until we know what we¡¯re dealing with. Everyone should assist their nearest neighbor unless I give another order. Stick with your original teams for now, and I¡¯ll send reinforcements to your position as needed.¡± Trapper¡¯s crew came together with the dungeon guarding their backs and the wagon shielding one flank. Since they had been traveling at the end of the line, they only had another group on one side¡ªthe contingent of deputies led by Able. Edge had just enough time to offer Mel a nervous grin before something big burst free from the tree line. The ground rumbled beneath his boots as a contingent of massive shapes came charging across the clearing to hit the expedition as one. He sensed an incredible surge of mana as hundreds of cores ignited and began activating skills. Magitech weapons sprang to life in every color of the rainbow as lightning, fire, ice, and dozens more types began to shine. Auras and magical defenses wavered into existence, filling the air with shimmers and glows. Some of the beneficial skills were close enough to reach Trapper¡¯s crew. He felt energy entering his body as his performance was enhanced, sharpening his Perception to a razor¡¯s edge and filling his muscles with Power. Edge thought about downing a potion but decided to save the short-lived concoctions until he was sure that they were needed. Two of the creatures were headed his way. By now, they were close enough for him to make out additional details. The beasts looked like badgers made of living sand, only ten feet tall and twenty feet long. Each broad paw ended in swordlike claws, and their jaws looked strong enough to bite him in half, armor or no. Halfway through their approach, the badgers turned away from Trapper¡¯s crew and charged the peacekeepers¡¯ line. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Edge had never seen anything like it. He wasn¡¯t sure if the creatures¡¯ unusual forms were their natural state or the result of some skill he wasn¡¯t familiar with. Either way, since the bulky beasts were covered in animate stone, they were going to be hard to hurt and their attacks would pack a real punch. He didn¡¯t know which of his powers would be most effective, but he was sure in that moment that the expedition was in for one hell of a fight. ¡°Oh shit,¡± someone yelled. ¡°They¡¯re sand shrews. Several are peak stage two, judging from their size.¡± Edge had never heard of sand shrews and didn¡¯t know what to expect. Before he could learn anything else, the creatures went barreling into the deputies¡¯ defensive line, colliding with shields and spells with enough force to knock him to his knees. As he rolled back onto his feet, Trapper gave the order to attack. ¡°Back up Able¡¯s team but don¡¯t fully engage until we know what we¡¯re dealing with. Whatever you do, don¡¯t trade blows against opponents of that size. If one comes for you, pull back and lead it along the side of our formation while we whittle the big bastard down.¡± By this point, everyone had grabbed a ranged weapon and begun to fire. Edge raised his chakram and took aim. He threw the bladed ring as hard as he could, while a collection of bolts and arrows flew forth from the rest of the team. Unfortunately, their barrage had no effect whatsoever. The missiles bounced off the shrews¡¯ sandy exteriors¡ªlike they had fired at a pair of boulders instead of living creatures. He frowned while deciding what to do. Their defense is off the charts. I can¡¯t do anything unless I close to melee. Edge used his glove to retrieve his chakram, then secured the weapon to its strap and unlimbered his naginata. Another runner approached the crew, stopping long enough to deliver a message before darting off to update the next team. ¡°The beasts are small creatures located somewhere within those artificial bodies. The shrews are like pilots and the big badgers are expendable golems. You won¡¯t do any damage unless you can reach the shrew inside, although you might be able to disrupt their control over the sand with the right skill.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Trapper reached for her brace of magitech crossbow bolts. ¡°Regular attacks aren¡¯t going to cut it, and fire and ice won¡¯t reach deep enough given all that sand. I¡¯ll try stone bolts and see if they can punch through. Jumo, this is a perfect chance for you to use your new skill, Piercing Javelin.¡± Edge listened with one ear as he advanced. He was ready to run in and serve as a distraction if the peacekeepers needed it, but he was still in position to guard his team if a sand shrew headed their way. Since her bow and consumables were useless, Violet switched to a purely supportive role. She cast Enhance Beast on Blue and activated Travelers¡¯ Boon to boost the stamina regeneration of everyone in range. He kept one eye on the frantic melee, and one on the teams fighting in the distance. But unless Gram called for reinforcements, his job was to deal with the enemy in front of him and trust the other crews to do their part. It left him in a perfect position to watch the carnage unfold as the deputies and sand shrews battled one another. Several of them had pulled back behind the defensive line, sporting minor injuries from absorbing the golems¡¯ charge. He wanted to rush right in, but the peacekeepers were used to fighting as a team and if Edge wasn¡¯t careful, he would only make things worse by getting in their way. Not long after, Trapper and Jumo were ready to make their move. They had repositioned to shoot at the closest creature¡¯s flank instead of its back, so they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about friendly fire if their shots missed the mark. As she had been hoping, Trapper¡¯s earth bolts penetrated the golem¡¯s densely packed grains. However, due to some manner of obscurement skill, she couldn¡¯t detect the location of the beast inside, which made the odds of striking it exceedingly low. It did pull back after one shot pierced the golem¡¯s chest, which must have come close to hitting the shrew through sheer luck. After watching her struggle, Jumo went with a different tactic. ¡°Piercing Javelin incoming!¡± Edge glanced over his shoulder in time to watch an obsidian spear waver into existence above Jumo¡¯s head. Its surface shimmered with a layer of mana, and the blade was as sharp as a breath of winter air. A bare heartbeat later, the magical weapon went streaking from his position. It crossed the intervening distance in the blink of an eye, burying itself into the spot where one of the golem¡¯s rear leg attached to its torso. The intense impact disrupted the limb, causing everything below that point to crumble into sand¡ªno longer controlled by the beast inside. It only took a few seconds for the golem to recover, regrowing its leg and becoming smaller in the process. But the distraction gave the deputies a chance to assume the offensive and they surged forth in a flurry of motion. This marked the beginning of a fierce exchange of blows. In that moment, it seemed that the warriors would overwhelm the shrews before anyone else got hurt. They had the advantage of numbers and were no strangers to life and death melee against savage predators. But then matters took a turn for the worse. A woman who was holding a massive tower shield failed to get out of the way when the larger golem reared up and brought its heavy body crashing down. She positioned her shield to absorb the blow. But instead of attacking with its claws, the golem changed form mid-descent. Its sandy torso split down the middle, hit the ground, then flowed back together behind her back, trapping the woman inside a ring of living sand. The instant she was bound tight, the creature spun and ran for the tree line, carrying the shrieking deputy toward the jungle to devour at its leisure. In another few seconds, she would be beneath the trees and out of sight, beyond any hope of rescue. But Edge wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. Chapter 42: Finishing Moves Edge Shadow Stepped, and the world turned to smoke and mist. The skill naturally accelerated the movement of his body, and he Leapt to travel even faster, using his shadow form to obscure its use from the deputies¡¯ view. He landed in front of the golem before it reached the trees, rematerializing with his naginata raised over one shoulder. He brought the weapon down in a screaming arc, with the full Power of his body behind it. Part of the way through, he Double Slashed, causing a second, mana-sharpened blade to shimmer into existence alongside the first. His polearm struck the sand badger with an impact that reverberated through his arms, shearing one forelimb off at the shoulder and the other at the knee. The golem came crashing to the ground, dispersing long enough for the deputy to pull free. It regrew its legs and turned to face him, but the delay was sufficient for reinforcements to arrive. Edge was joined by Able, Jumo, Sasha, Trapper, and Mel, who surrounded the beast¡¯s artificial body in a ring of weapons. Mel raised her massive axe and then brought it down like a bladed avalanche. She swung the weapon with every scrap of strength contained within her muscular body, bolstered by a range of auras and some manner of offensive skill. Her incredible Power was sufficient to carve into the golem¡¯s sandy body, slicing away at its bulk one swing at a time. Meanwhile, Able went to work¡ªthe first time Edge had seen the heavy hitter in action. His weapon was basically a boulder with a stick driven through the middle, and each swing tore chunks out of the golem¡¯s torso. The intense bludgeoning transmitted shockwaves through the sand, rattling the beast piloting the skill-forged construct. Since they couldn¡¯t penetrate as deeply with their lighter weapons, everyone else went to work on the extremities. They carved the sand-limbs off as quickly as they formed and collapsed its jaws before they could bite. At that point, Trapper cried out. ¡°I think I can use Quagmire to expose the beast inside. Get ready to finish it off. I doubt that my skill can counter its control for long.¡± With that, she reached out and placed both palms against the golem¡¯s body. Her core ignited and a resplendent surge of mana went coursing through her arms and into the sand beneath her fingertips. It was a brilliant move. Quagmire only altered soil or sand and couldn¡¯t be used to directly harm a living creature. But the golem wasn¡¯t alive¡ªjust a mass of granules animated by the beast inside. The sand shrew would normally have had the advantage, since its power was already manifested. But due to the blows chipping away at the golem and the repeated concussions rippling through its body, Trapper was able to overwhelm its skill in a contest of opposing magical energy. The instant Quagmire was complete, the golem¡¯s body changed color. It became saturated with water, turning the sand into quicksand. Half its form softened and then melted away, revealing a furry mass where the badger¡¯s chest had been. Edge could see his enemy at last. It was a beast about the size of an Earth squirrel, with dark brown fur and bright green eyes. It was a timely reminder that while many predators were massive compared to the humans that called Ord home, there were plenty of smaller beasts that were just as deadly. He had realized what was happening and moved faster than the other warriors. By this point, he¡¯d grabbed his chakram and infused it with subzero mana using Elemental Blade¡¯s new upgrade. Wreathed in bands of frost-spawned fog, the bladed ring caught the creature in the torso, biting deep before freezing its blood and killing it instantly. The rest of the sand fell away as the magic holding the golem together dispersed. With one shrew down, they were able to surround the other golem and bind its movements. Trapper didn¡¯t have enough mana to use Quagmire again, but at that point, Edge realized that he might be able to do something similar with the Disruption Grenade he¡¯d purchased from Lilly. He cried out a warning to let everyone know what he was up to, then pressed the trigger and lobbed the orb. The metal sphere rolled under the golem¡¯s body and detonated. A pulse of Disruption-infused aether erupted from the device. The surge only lasted for the blink of an eye, but it was enough to interrupt the magic animating the golem and it collapsed a heartbeat later. The second that the shrew inside was revealed, a pair of spears and Trapper¡¯s sword sliced it to ribbons. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. With both shrews slain, everyone sat where they were, recovering from the exhaustion that arose in the aftermath of an intense battle. They were ready to help the other teams if needed. But Gram had the situation in hand, and he called out an all-clear five minutes later. When the last sand-golem was defeated and the shrew animating it lay dead in the dirt, the expedition came back together. A half dozen people had been wounded in the melee, including two members with broken bones. Luckily, no one had been crippled, killed, or carried away. The alchemists were preparing medicines to expedite their healing, which would be ready once they pitched their tents and finished unpacking their supplies. It was going to take a while to get everything back in order. After checking to make sure that everyone was alright, Edge had a few minutes to himself. He summoned his Guide to browse his updates, but there weren¡¯t any this time around. It¡¯s definitely taking longer to cycle up now that I¡¯ve reached late stage one. I can¡¯t wait to find out what happens when I evolve again. A few minutes later, Able walked over and stuck out his hand. ¡°Thanks for the save, Edge. That¡¯s one hell of ultimate ability and a fantastic use of equipment. I¡¯m looking forward to working with you.¡± Edge shook Able¡¯s hand, only to find a woman¡¯s arms around him the moment he turned around. It was the deputy who had almost been carried away by the shrew. ¡°That was fucking awful. Thank you so much. My name is Momo. I really owe you one.¡± She kissed Edge on the cheek and then let him go, while everyone laughed at the redness of his face. The moment of levity helped to dispel the lingering tension from the adrenaline-charged melee. Since he had nothing to do until the dungeon-clearing crews were ready to convene, he took a closer look at his surroundings, running his eyes across the perimeter of the Savage Garden. From up close, the bamboo walls looked impenetrable, and the thorns coating them were sharp enough to shred flesh with ease. The dungeon wall was a strange amalgamation of natural growth and a manufactured enclosure¡ªthe organic curves of plants mingling with the straight lines that are rarely seen in nature. Not long after, Gram let everyone know that he had decided on the camp¡¯s layout. The hunters would join their new teams before entering the dungeon, but not until everyone had a chance to catch their breath and recuperate from the fight. Violet hitched Blue to the wagon and the crew circled round until the dungeon¡¯s entrance came into view, then everyone got busy establishing the base camp. The construction teams went to work. While the scouts stood guard, they began cutting back the trees to give everyone more space and more warning if anything else decided to attack. Others erected heavy-duty shelters, utilizing the same skills they had used to protect them from the living storm. While the quartermasters organized the wagons and began setting up various stations, everyone else took a break. Violet was on double duty. She was getting lunch started, while her Travelers¡¯ Boon helped heal the injured who were resting in the next tent over. Sasha and Riller went to join the scouts, while Trapper left to assume her role as the leader of the beast hunters. Edge, Jumo, and Blue decided to take a lap around the Savage Garden while they waited. Along the way, they surveyed the perimeter of the clearing, looking for signs of anything dangerous in the vicinity, as well as any trace of Setna¡¯s crew. They found three pairs of footprints leading to the dungeon¡¯s entrance, and a small wagon parked beside it. It must have belonged to Setna¡¯s team, since the puzzle had been solved and the door was wide open. Edge wanted to take a closer look and get a sense of what lay on the far side. But when he drew near, he saw that the doorway was opaque. The view beyond was blocked by a layer of roiling mist¨Clike a storm was trapped between two panes of glass. It was mysterious and kind of spooky. He was tempted to poke his head inside but had been warned against doing so. It was an old dungeon trick to place monsters near the entrance, and more than one person had lost their lives trying to sneak a peek. Instead, he spent a few minutes chatting with Spencer. The deputy had been posted by the entrance to remind people of the danger and provide assistance if any members of Setna¡¯s crew appeared. Over the next two hours, the scouts discovered a range of dangerous critters lurking nearby, including a few early stage-two predators. Fortunately, none of them wanted anything to do with a group of that size. They shouldn¡¯t try to approach the camp, although everyone needed to be careful at night and when standing near the tree line. When Edge made it back to the crew¡¯s wagon, he saw that the expedition had been busy while he was away. The various associations had each claimed their own space, with a communal area in the middle where they could meet and engage in collaborative projects. He went ahead and took his kit out of the wagon, pitched his tent, and arranged his bedroll. He was supposed to meet by the entrance around noon, when the dungeon teams would convene for a final briefing before entering the Savage Garden. Until then, people were free to do as they pleased, preparing themselves physically and mentally for the ordeal ahead. Most of the hunters passed the time chatting with one another, since there was a chance that was the last time that they saw each other alive. Jumo and Edge would be hip-deep in monsters before long, and the teams outside wouldn¡¯t be safe either. He was used to the pressure of impending danger by now, but he was still worried about his friends. Not long after, Sasha came walking up to Edge¡¯s tent, the concern on her face mirroring his own. They didn¡¯t say a word. They just embraced each other, stepped through the flap, and took off their clothes. Their lovemaking was brief but intense, and they came apart covered in sweat. After a final kiss, Sasha left him alone with his thoughts, with only the warmth of her memory for company. Concept Art Sand Shrews Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Chapter 43: Clearing Crew Edge took a nap to recover some stamina, then got ready to enter the dungeon. He performed a full inspection of his gear, making sure that everything was in good repair and ready to use at a moment¡¯s notice. Then he repacked his kit, memorized the location of each consumable, and strapped his naginata across his back. When he was done, he stopped by the wagon to refill his Disruption Grenade with a fresh charge of copper-grade aether. Refueling the device drained most of the crew¡¯s tank, but he wasn¡¯t too worried about it. Violet could refill their supply whenever she wanted, using Refine Aether to break down leftover scraps of magicyte-infused food. Not long after, a runner came by to let everyone know that it was time to join their new teams, and that Gram was ready to meet with the dungeon-clearing crews. After this final briefing, the hunters would head inside and their mission to conquer the Savage Garden would officially begin. Jumo and Edge bid the others farewell and walked over to the dungeon¡¯s entrance. The members of their new team were already waiting, sitting in the shade of Setna¡¯s wagon. Edge took the opportunity to examine each of the hunters in turn¡ªthe brave women and men who would be fighting by his side once they stepped through the fog door. He began with Mel, who he considered a friend by this point. The muscular deputy was only a few inches shorter than himself and had long red hair that was drawn up in a warrior¡¯s knot. Today, she was wearing a suit of interlocking chitin plates that reminded him of Jumo¡¯s old set, although this armor was dark blue and made of high-grade materials. As always, Mel carried a gigantic battle axe, which was the heaviest weapon on the team. Tessa was standing nearby, with her back to the dungeon¡¯s wall. She had short blond hair and alert yellow eyes. She wasn¡¯t nearly as buff as Mel, but the woman was even more dangerous. Tessa was stage two, and although Edge didn¡¯t know much about her fighting style, she was generally regarded as one of the settlement¡¯s most powerful warriors. She was wearing white leather armor, with a silver sword sheathed at her hip and a copper shield strapped to her back. Edge realized that she wasn¡¯t looking at him¡ªthat Tessa and Jumo were busy sizing each other up, and clearly liked what they saw. Finally, Edge turned his attention to the pair of monster hunters, Fox and Snake. Now that he had a chance to take a closer look, he realized that the detail of their masks was exquisite. Although they were painted, the fur and scales were so vivid that they almost seemed alive. Fox wore a suit of elastic magitech armor that accentuated her lithe frame and natural curves. She had a short sword attached to her belt and a magitech boltcaster strapped to her back. Edge had never seen the weapon in action, and was curious to find out what it could do. Completing her kit, Fox had a range of magitech devices secured to her armor, all of which looked useful and expensive. True to his persona, Snake was wearing green leather armor that did indeed appear to be snakeskin. He was almost silent when he moved, even without using a skill to supplement his stealth. The shadowkiller had a brace of throwing knives running across his chest, and a crossbow hanging from his pack. He carried a heavy golden lance that doubled as a walking stick. When he was done looking the crew over, Edge walked over and exchanged an embrace with the cheerful guardswoman. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, Mel. I feel a lot better heading in there with you watching my back.¡± ¡°Right back at you, Edge. It¡¯s finally time to put all that training to the test.¡± When Jumo and Edge sat down, the team got to know each other better while they waited for Gram to arrive. Everyone took turns sharing their specialties, strengths, and preferred combat roles. Unlike when he¡¯d joined Trapper¡¯s crew, the hunters kept the specifics of their skillsets to themselves. Which suited him fine, given his situation with Skill-Eater. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Tessa went first. ¡°My name is Tessa, and I¡¯ll be serving as the team¡¯s scout. You might have heard already, but I¡¯m mana-sensitive and have several detection skills that can bolster my Perception in various ways. I¡¯ll do my best to spot trouble before it arrives, but when it does, I¡¯m a fair hand with this blade.¡± She pointed to her sword. ¡°I also have a pair of defensive auras, which will reduce the damage we take. One is geared toward physical attacks, and the other boosts Disruption. I can use both at once but usually won¡¯t. It counts as a skill combo and will drain my reservoir dry after only a few minutes.¡± Tessa smiled at Jumo, and then he took his turn. ¡°I¡¯m Jumo. For this mission, I¡¯ll be acting as our primary defender. I have some decent attack skills, although nothing compared to our stage-two members. My role is to go toe-to-toe with our foes, keeping the monsters off your backs while our heavy hitters take them down. I have a lot of Durability, Disruption, and Endurance and can burn mana to relieve my exhaustion. I have more staying power than most warriors as a result.¡± Edge noticed that Jumo didn¡¯t mention his earth-core, and that Tessa hadn¡¯t revealed her core either. Lilly went next. ¡°You can call me Fox. I¡¯m one of those heavy hitters Jumo was talking about. My specialty is striking critical points from medium range¡ªfavorites being the eye, throat, and heart. I¡¯m fast and agile, and this armor is top of the line. I don¡¯t have enough Endurance or Durability to trade blows on the front line for a prolonged period, although I can hold my own in a skirmish. I have a decent collection of magitech gear, and I¡¯ll share the details as they become relevant.¡± When she was done, Snake pointed to Fox and said, ¡°It should come as no surprise given this mask, but I go by Snake. Fox can explain my role in the party.¡± She sighed, but apparently this brevity from the man was nothing new, and she went ahead and did as he asked. Edge listened closely, eager to learn more about the man who specialized in killing some of the most dangerous creatures that walked the face of Ord. Snake was unusual for a shadowkiller in that he preferred to work with a team instead of hunting solo. His combat specialty was uncommon too. Snake¡¯s role was generally called a disabler. His skills could weaken and constrain the monsters they faced, limiting the carnage they wrought and undermining their defenses. He primarily fought with a crossbow and lance, to which he applied various poisons and weapon oils to supplement his skillset. When Fox was done describing Snake¡¯s role, Mel took her turn. ¡°My name is Melania, but everyone calls me Mel. I¡¯m a heavy hitter too. Unlike Fox, I specialize in frontline combat and always fight with my axe. I don¡¯t have quite as much staying power as Jumo, but I can take a beating and dish one out too. I¡¯m good at cutting through armor, but don¡¯t have much to offer at range.¡± That only left Edge. He had pondered how much to reveal and what role he would play for hours on the march south. Right now, the only skills that he had shown in public were Slash, Regeneration, and Elemental Blade. Using Double Slash was fine, since he could simply tell the truth¡ªthat he¡¯d picked up Double Strike in the field and then merged it with a token. It was his primary attack, so he wouldn¡¯t be able to hide it anyway. He had also claimed that Shadow Step was his ultimate ability, so he could use it too if he kept it to once per day. That meant he could reveal two other skills in the dungeon without arousing suspicion. He was considering Entangle and possibly Harden, although he might be able to use the latter without anyone noticing. That being said, he already had a plan in place for what he would do if he wound up using more powers, since it was crazy not to utilize the full range of his skillset in a life-or-death situation. If push came to shove, he would claim to have evolved to stage two, which would give him an excuse for three more skills and should cover anything else he revealed. There was only one exception. Under no circumstances could he use Intimidating Roar, which would finish digesting in another two days. There was no plausible explanation for how he could have obtained an Epic skill at his stage, and he had no chance of tricking these experienced hunters into believing that it was something more common, especially with Tessa¡¯s mana-sensitivity. In a worst-case scenario, where he had to use Intimidating Roar or Overdrive, Edge would just have to play it by ear. But he was hoping to avoid such an occurrence. ¡°I¡¯m versatile,¡± he began. ¡°I¡¯m not as good at any of those roles as a specialist, but I can take some heavy hits and can deal out decent damage with this naginata and Elemental Blade. I¡¯m fairly mobile thanks to my ultimate, and I can disable opponents with my iceblade and some of my other skills. ¡°I¡¯ll try to put myself wherever I¡¯m needed most, and I¡¯ll refine my role once I become more familiar with how we operate as a team. I have the least experience out of all of you, so please let me know if you notice anything that I need to work on. I¡¯m looking forward to working together.¡± Chapter 44: Talking Tactics Chapter 44: Talking Tactics Edge¡¯s explanation seemed to satisfy everyone. They spent the next half hour discussing their primary formation, then moved on to contingencies for how they would respond to a wide range of potential threats. Everyone was fluent with the hand signals that most hunters used in the field, so they could communicate without making noise while they were in sight of one another. They were packing an impressive selection of consumable items and magitech gear in their kits. Devices that could supplement their skillsets in a variety of ways, enhancing their strengths, increasing their versatility, and shoring up their weak points. While they didn¡¯t divulge the details of their magical equipment, the hunters were happy to share the broad strokes along with the specs of their consumables, so the others wouldn¡¯t be surprised when they used them in battle. By this point, Edge was certain that his team was capable, and it seemed that their specialties complimented each other¡¯s. He was looking forward to working with everyone and learning more about monster hunting from trained professionals. He broke into a broad grin as the last person finished sharing¡ªeager to find out what would happen next. There were three more dungeon-clearing teams, and a backup roster in case someone was injured. His crew, which had been given the designation Arrow, went ahead and introduced themselves to the members of teams Spear, Sword, and Hammer. Although their mission was urgent, it was a great chance to network and meet some of Puppet Town¡¯s elite residents. Edge paid close attention to everything that was said and tried to make a good impression. When he was done making the rounds, he summoned his Guide to check out his profile. It was a good opportunity to benchmark his progress, so that he could track his growth once he entered the dungeon. Personal Statistics: Edge Vasher Attributes (Values in parentheses are provided by your traits) Physical Attributes Power: 9 (10) Endurance: 8 (9) Durability: 13 (14) Reflex: 9 Speed: 13 (14) Control: 9 (10) Perception: 7 Energetic Attributes Generation: 13 Amplification: 14 Disruption: 7 (8) Physical Conditioning (Attribute points may be conditioned up to five points each) Power: 3 Endurance: 4 Durability: 5 Reflex: 4 Speed: 3 Control: 4 Perception: 3 Core Information Name: [Skill-Eater] Stage: 1 Cycle: 18/21 Rarity: Unique Category: Unique Attribute points per cycle: 3 Ultimate Abilities [Extraction] Uses per day: 3 Cooldown period: 24 hours Steal the skills of monsters, men, and beasts and claim them for your own. [Overdrive] Uses: 1 Cooldown period: 1 week Overdrive increases your Amplification by (10 x stage) for thirty seconds. Activating skills will not require mana during this period. You will be severely exhausted for thirty seconds after Overdrive is complete. Core Traits Collector (Unique) You can no longer acquire or rank up skills through normal means. You may slot twice as many skills as before. Additionally, you will gain an extra skill slot with every new stage. Devourer (Unique) You may absorb an unwanted skill, freeing its slot and granting a fraction of its experience to the skill of your choice. Be advised, the return on this exchange is significantly less efficient than extracting a duplicate of an existing skill. Skills Skill slots: 10 (Unused slots: 1) Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Conceal (Common): Rank 2. Path: Erasure. Erase your scent and heat signature while you remain still. Visually, you will appear to blend into your environment. The last twenty-five feet of your trail will be removed on activation. Entangle (Common): Rank 3. Path: Resiliency. Create burrowing vines to bind your target. The vines are resistant to cuts and tears. Leap (Common): Rank 2. Path: Assault. Jump with explosive force. Increased Durability for ten seconds after activation. Elemental Blade (Uncommon): Rank 2. Path: Elemental Infusion. Create a subzero blade of ice or infuse a bladed weapon with a chilling aura. Harden (Uncommon): Rank 2. Path: Coverage. Cover large portions of your body in diamond scales. Regeneration (Uncommon): Rank 2. Path: Unlimited Regeneration. Rapidly heal wounds. Regeneration can restore destroyed organs at a significantly slower rate. Regulate Temperature (Uncommon): Rank 2. Path: Protection. Gain significant insulation against temperature change, including elemental attacks. Repel Water (Uncommon): Rank 2. Path: Repulsion. Push large volumes of water away from the user. The shape of the repulsive field can be altered at will. Double Slash (Rare): Rank 1. Empower an attack with a bladed weapon. The weapon will have an offset double, and its edge will be magically sharpened while the skill is active. Shadow Step (Rare): Rank 2. Path: Armored Shadow. Transform into shadows. In this state, your body is malleable and immune to physical attacks. The cost of transforming your gear is greatly reduced. Intimidating Roar (Epic) is being digested. Traits Trait slots: 3 (Unused slots: 0) Triple Tap You are either a genius, blessed by the heavens, or are the luckiest motherfucker on the planet. You managed to win a fight against three opponents at least one stage higher than yourself and¡ªmore or less¡ªlanded the killing blow on each. Effects: +10% to Power, Speed, and Control (minimum gain of 1). Wanted You have found 1 of the 21 Unique cores in existence, which has painted a target on your back. In fact, checking out the bounty board is probably something you should do sooner rather than later. There¡¯s a good chance that this is going to end spectacularly badly for you, and I can¡¯t wait to watch it all play out. This trait might help you live a little bit longer, but I¡¯m not holding my breath. Effects: +10% to Endurance, Durability, and Disruption (minimum gain of 1). Big Game Hunter Holy shit. That. Was. Fucking. Awesome! You managed to score a kill on a colossal and behemoth creature, all in the same afternoon. I¡¯m shocked to my circuits that you¡¯re still breathing and loved every second of the show. I hope that you try something that batshit crazy again soon. Here¡¯s a trait that should incentivize you to do just that. Effect: 50% more damage with weapons and skills to creatures at least twenty times your size (excluding magitech weapons, traps, and spellshots). 25% extra Perception when sensing creatures at least twice your size. Implants Heart-Guard (Common) Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: Silver. Charge: Full. This implant generates a barrier to protect the heart when it detects incoming damage. Auxiliary Skill Slot (Uncommon) Size: Small (1 implant point). Aether type: N/A. An auxiliary skill slot can be used to socket an extra skill beyond the limit of your core. The skill placed in this slot cannot gain experience, cycle up, or be merged or altered in any way, although it can be Absorbed and replaced with a new skill at will. This is a passive, structural implant. As such, it does not require an aether charge to function. System Currency Credits: 4,150 Mortium: 0 Not long after, Gram arrived and had everyone move into the open area in the middle of camp. He was ready to address the expedition before the clearing crews entered the Savage Garden. ¡°I¡¯m going to hold off on the speeches until we¡¯ve completed the quest, since time is of the essence. Suffice to say that I believe in all of you, or you wouldn¡¯t have been chosen for the roles you¡¯ve been assigned. Instead, I will provide a brief overview of our dungeon-conquering strategy, then let the clear teams get to work.¡± ¡°This dungeon has a population limit of 25 people. Once the last person is inside, the fog door will solidify and won¡¯t let anyone else pass through. We¡¯re sending in four teams of six, with the final spot left open so that I can send a runner in case of emergencies. We¡¯ll have to adjust those numbers if anyone in Setna¡¯s crew is still alive. Moving on, all known forms of communication magic are blocked by the dungeon¡¯s walls, along with any manner of remote viewing or scrying. ¡°As such, each team will enter the Savage Garden for a preset period, after which they will head back out to check in with base camp. I cannot emphasize strongly enough that this mission is a team effort. If you run into anything tricky, exit early and report the problem. We will pool our knowledge, come up with a plan, and build specialized devices to resolve the issue as safely as possible. There will likely be elite monsters inside that will require more than one crew to eliminate. If you find one, observe what you can without giving your position away, then come back for reinforcements.¡± Edge knew some of this information already. But this was the most comprehensive analysis of dungeons he¡¯d ever heard, and he leaned in close to catch every word. ¡°Communication between crews working inside a dungeon is usually possible, but there are always serious limitations. Flares and smoke signals will have their effective range reduced by the overgrowth, and magical interference will limit the effectiveness of communication skills. We¡¯ll know more after you complete your first delve. Early on, the teams will be close enough to back each other up in a pinch. That will change as we proceed deeper, and I¡¯ll update our strategy based on what we discover. ¡°The dangers inside dungeons generally belong to one of three varieties: monsters, traps, and what is commonly referred to as natural or environmental hazards, which can range from toxic substances to deadly weather and even more exotic threats. Once again, if you run into anything you¡¯re not sure you can handle, come back out and we¡¯ll adjust the crew compositions, craft necessary supplies, and the like. There¡¯s no reason to risk your lives trying to do everything yourselves.¡± By now, everyone was nodding along with Gram¡¯s explanation. ¡°Generally, the best strategy to conquer a dungeon is to conduct what is known as a full clear. Each of the four teams will begin purging the region near the entrance, mapping the area and eliminating any threats they encounter along the way. The crews will be relatively close together, which makes assisting each other and retreating to the base camp much easier than during the later stages. Once the entrance has been cleared, each team will proceed along their assigned route while we pacify the dungeon zone by zone. ¡°In short, your mission is to survey the dungeon and kill every monster that crosses your path. At the end of your first delve, we will send in the supplementary teams while the clearing crews rest. The harvesters will extract resources while the lootfinders sweep for valuables that aren¡¯t in obvious places. On that note, if you run into any traps or hazards, be sure to mark the area so that no one wanders in by mistake. ¡°Although our ultimate objective is to kill the boss and finish the quest, under no circumstances should you enter the boss¡¯s chamber until I give the order. If you find the entrance, observe what you can from the far side, then head back to report your findings. We¡¯ll formulate a strategy for killing the boss once we have more information. ¡°Other than what I¡¯ve just outlined, your only other job is to keep an eye out for Setna¡¯s crew. We¡¯ll know if any of them are still alive when the last team enters the fog door. We¡¯ll do our best to rescue any survivors and recover the remains of the fallen. Good luck people, everyone is counting on you and praying for your success.¡± Now that the expedition¡¯s strategy had been outlined in full, Gram moved on to briefing the individual crews. Team Arrow would be the third group to enter the dungeon. After surveying the area near the entrance, their assignment was to follow the eastern wall and clear around the perimeter. Spear would do the same with the western wall, while Hammer and Sword went up the middle. Their first delve into the dungeon would last twelve hours. Anyone who didn¡¯t make it back by then would be presumed missing and in need of rescue. The shifts would get longer as they penetrated deeper into the Savage Garden, but by then they would have a better idea of what they were dealing with and adjust their plans accordingly. At the end of each day, the clearing crews would pool their knowledge, then rest and recover as best they could. Meanwhile, the alternate teams would head inside, keeping the dungeon at its population limit so that the expedition didn¡¯t waste a second. With that out of the way, there was nothing to do but wait until Edge¡¯s team was called. Everyone gathered around the entrance as the first clear team entered the dungeon, disappearing through the fog door and into the unknown. There was a tense moment while everyone waited to find out if there was trouble on the other side, which lasted until a hunter stepped back out and reported that the area near the entrance seemed safe for now. Five minutes later, the second team stepped inside. By now, his heart was racing, and a gallon of adrenaline was sloshing through his veins. Not long after, it was finally Arrow¡¯s turn. Side by side with his new crew, Edge walked up to the entrance and stopped in front of the swirling pane of fog. In just a few more seconds, he would head inside a dungeon for the first time, and the next phase of his adventure would begin. Chapter 45: Savage Garden After Fox, Mel, and Snake disappeared through the fog door, it was Edge¡¯s turn to enter. As Trapper¡¯s crew offered words of encouragement, he braced himself¡ªready to take his first step into the deadly dungeon known as the Savage Garden. He approached the doorway set into the living wall of the edifice, waved farewell to his friends, then stepped past the threshold. The fog caressed his skin¡ªa momentary chill before the oppressive heat returned in full force. When the world of light was restored to his eyes, he found himself standing in a jungle that was strikingly different from the biome outside. It had been hot in the base camp¡ªfar more intense than the late summer heat suffusing the Ivory Plains. But the temperature inside the dungeon was downright sweltering. The air was warm and wet, flowing through the foliage like the breath of a titanic beast. Edge found himself sweating despite his considerable Durability. Luckily, he had Regulate Temperature to lend him a hand. He switched the skill on, since it only had a minimal mana cost to sustain. The instant he did, the overbearing heat lessened to merely unpleasant, although it didn¡¯t do anything to reduce the cloying moisture that had permeated every inch of his skin. Tessa turned around, sensing the mana he¡¯d expended, then looked away again. Edge would have to be careful around her, but she had no way of knowing which skill he¡¯d used, since its effect ended at the boundary of his body. The other teams were spread out a little further ahead, standing in a clearing that was about a hundred feet wide. While they waited for the final crew to appear, Team Arrow fanned out and scanned their surroundings for danger. Everyone was relieved to discover that the glade was empty, and none of the hunters had detected the presence of monsters nearby. Considering how many high-rank skills they had at their disposal, it meant that the area around the entrance was probably safe, at least for now. Edge cast his senses into the overgrowth while inspecting the terrain that was visible from his position. He ran his gaze across the first zone of the dungeon, heart racing with an intoxicating blend of fear and excitement. Instead of emerald green, these plants were a turquoise hue, with streaks of purple and red running along their leaves. The roof was open to the sky above, although only thin fingers of sunlight were able to work their way through the canopy to illuminate the forest floor. The trees were imposing specimens that stretched over a hundred feet into the air. Their branches were thin and twisting, with orange bark that contrasted against the surrounding foliage. They looked sturdy enough to support his weight but were poorly-suited for climbing. Edge wasn¡¯t inclined to do so regardless. Not when going up there would announce his presence to the lethal life forms that called the Savage Garden home. The towering bamboo that marked the dungeon¡¯s border was unlike any of the other vegetation. Besides the trees, he spotted a variety of bushes, vines, and ferns. The flora formed a solid wall along the border of the clearing¡ªso dense that he doubted he could force his way through without cutting a path. Even if he could, the close confines would restrict his movement and limit his visibility to a few feet in front of his face, which would leave him helpless if a monster found him. ¡°I can see lots of bugs and small animals,¡± Tessa reported after igniting her core and activating a skill that made mana congeal around her eyes. ¡°Nothing bigger than an Earth rat. It¡¯s about what we expected. Dungeons don¡¯t have complete ecosystems, just whatever is small enough to work its way between the walls. Everything else in here will likely be monstrous. There shouldn¡¯t be any beasts. They instinctively avoid dungeons, since the monsters will eat them.¡± Not long after, the first member of Team Sword passed through the fog door, followed by five other people. After their leader stepped back outside and reappeared a few minutes later, she explained that Gram had tried to send seven people through, using the dungeon¡¯s population limit to see if anyone else was in here. The door had only let 24 people in, which meant that one member of Setna¡¯s crew was still alive. Gram needed space for a messenger, so Sword shifted one of their hunters onto the reserve roster and proceeded with a five-hunter team instead of six. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. By now, the scouts had finished surveying the perimeter of the clearing. It turned out that there were three paths leading through the dense vegetation. The crews following the walls would take the outside trails, while the other two went down the middle. They would split up a little later, whenever a good opportunity presented itself. The team leaders conferred for a few more minutes, pooling what their sensory specialists had gleaned, then everyone went their separate ways. Before Team Arrow stepped onto their assigned path, Fox updated their strategy based on what they had learned. ¡°Ok people, this is where the fun begins. These trails are only wide enough for single file, so here¡¯s our formation. Jumo will go first, where he can hold off anything hostile that we stumble across. I¡¯ll be behind him, followed by Snake, so we can offer support from range. ¡°Tessa will be in the middle and focus on using her sensory skills from the safest possible location. Mel will follow behind her, whose sole job is to watch Tessa¡¯s back while her attention is divided. That leaves you guarding the rear, Edge. It¡¯s the second most dangerous position, but since you can Regenerate and turn into shadows, you¡¯re best suited to hold off an ambush from that approach until we can turn around and back you up. ¡°If something hits us unaware, the first few seconds of the battle will be crucial. Jumo and Edge, your only objective is to keep yourselves alive until we know what we¡¯re dealing with and devise a counter. Be prepared to use magitech devices, potions, and other consumables to buy time. Don¡¯t save them if you get into trouble. They¡¯re expensive, but hoarding Credits won¡¯t do you any good if you¡¯re dead, and this job is paying more than enough to make up the difference. ¡°Everything living in here will be more than happy to kill us. My job is to make sure that doesn¡¯t happen. We will go slow while we learn how to work as a team, then ramp up our efforts once we hit our stride. We¡¯ll fall back to this location if we get separated or need to retreat. But you should assume that some monsters will anticipate that reaction, so remain vigilant against nasty surprises on the way. ¡°Our goal is to advance as far as we can over the next twelve hours, then return to base camp and relay our findings. Gram will compile the reports and adjust our strategy as needed, then we¡¯ll head back in bright and early tomorrow morning. Once we clear the starting zone and survey the adjacent regions, we¡¯ll enter the next zone and keep right on going. ¡°Past that point, the mission will become even more dangerous, especially once we start spending the night in here. It¡¯s only about seven miles to the far wall. But given the rough terrain and the monsters living inside, we expect that it will take at least a week to complete a full survey. ¡°We¡¯ll kill everything that looks manageable, pick up anything valuable along the way, and avoid any monsters that are too tough to tackle without help from the other crews. We will keep clearing the dungeon until someone finds the boss¡¯s room, at which point we¡¯ll head back to camp and plan our final assault. ¡°We will probably keep clearing after the boss goes down, but since the fate of Puppet Town is riding on claiming that core manufactory, everything else is secondary to completing the main quest. If anyone gets injured or gods forbid, dies, we¡¯ll need to swap them out with someone on the reserve roster. ¡°Finally, the first and last zones of a dungeon usually have the most fatalities. The last because it has the boss and the greatest threats in general, and the first because we¡¯re working with less information than at any other point in the mission. Once we have a better understanding of the dungeon¡¯s theme and the monsters living inside, we¡¯ll be better prepared to handle whatever the Savage Garden throws at us. That means it¡¯s better to play it safe during these first few hours, then pick up the pace as we adapt. ¡°If you have any questions or suggestions, speak up now. After we head into the brush, keep the chatter to a minimum and use hand signals whenever possible. Does anyone have anything else to add?¡± At that point, Snake turned to face the crew. ¡°I know that you have all fought monsters before. But just to be clear, there are some key differences between monsters and beasts. Monsters are insanely aggressive, have distorted features, and smell like shit. They will eat almost anything they can catch, including you. When they evolve, they spawn a brood that is one stage lower than their progenitor.¡± As the shadowkiller spoke, Edge had a flashback of battling the shadowreavers and cancerous blightlings¡ªthe only monsters he had encountered thus far. He also knew a few things about monsters that no one else did, which he¡¯d learned from touring their cores while stealing skills. Their inner worlds toxic alien landscapes that weren¡¯t anywhere on Ord¡ªfilled with a cloying corruption that had sickened him only moments after exposure. He shook his head to clear it of the unpleasant memories, then focused on the rest of Snake¡¯s explanation. ¡°Monsters have skillsets that revolve around killing to a greater extent than beasts, who tend to have a balanced collection of skills that helps them survive over the long-term. Oh, and the System awards Mortium for every monster we kill that¡¯s stage two and above, plus any Mortium they have acquired from killing cored hunters or other monsters.¡± Fox added a few more details, then unlimbered her boltcaster and got ready to head out. ¡°Alright people, it¡¯s clearing time. Let¡¯s kill them all, complete the quest, and make it back to Puppet Town to enjoy a heroes¡¯ welcome.¡± Chapter 46: Clearing Time With that, everyone moved into formation, drew their weapons, and started walking down the path. Edge soon learned that the visibility varied depending on what was growing nearby. The spaces around the larger trunks were less crowded, while the rest of the zone was covered with dense vegetation. Although they could only see it from time to time, the towering bamboo wall was on their left, giving them one reliable landmark to help navigate the twisting confines of the Savage Garden. ¡°We will have to stick to the path after all,¡± Snake whispered. ¡°The rest of this growth looks impenetrable. Anything could be hiding in there. Be careful. Since our way forward is limited, these trails are a prime location to place traps and prepare ambushes. Be on guard against monsters lurking in the trees and the plants growing alongside the trail.¡± Edge took the shadowkiller¡¯s words to heart, relying on his ears as much as his eyes to warn him of impending danger. The tension grew by the footfall as the crew crossed the dungeon¡¯s first zone. The other hunters had already passed through by the time that he walked past, but that didn¡¯t mean it was safe. Plenty of monsters were smart enough to attack the most vulnerable position, and there were certain to be other dangers too. He had never been a rear guard before. It was frightening to know that no one was watching his back in a jungle stuffed to the brim with ravenous monstrosities. But he agreed with Lilly¡¯s assessment that he was best-suited for the position, since he was the only one who could Regenerate his wounds. He shrank the shaft of his naginata as far as he could after deciding that he didn¡¯t have room to swing the longer version. Delving the dungeon felt rather different from exploring a high-threat biome, even a frontier region. Although the air was filled with magicytes, they didn¡¯t flow in from the outside, following the great bands of magic that spanned the globe. Instead, the magic permeating the Savage Garden rose from the ground in a manner that was clearly unnatural. There weren¡¯t any beasts, and the dungeon was home to far fewer animals than Edge was used to. The bamboo walls blocked the wind and kept the plants from rubbing together, making it far quieter in here than he was expecting. The pervasive silence made it that much more shocking when the clamor of combat erupted in the distance, setting his pulse pounding until the crew was certain that nothing was headed their way. The dense foliage reduced visibility to just a few feet on either side of the trail, which made it seem like they were the only people in the dungeon. Five minutes after he left the entrance, he couldn¡¯t detect any sign of the other crews. He forced his breathing to stay slow and steady, although he was ready to spring into action a moment¡¯s notice. While Edge listened for approaching predators, he reviewed which powers he would reveal under what circumstances, while saving the rest for an emergency. After some consideration, he had decided to keep the existence of his Auxiliary Skill Slot a secret for now. That way, if he showed a new skill after revealing five, he would have an excuse ready to go. More than that, and he would claim to have evolved to stage two. But he was hoping to complete this mission without weaving an elaborate deception that might fall apart later. Although Edge expected to be attacked at any moment, for the next fifteen minutes, nothing happened. The crew had advanced less than a quarter mile, though it felt much further given the winding path they followed beneath the treetops. Every shifting shadow and snapping branch sent a fresh jolt of adrenaline coursing through his arteries, setting the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. The clearing crews¡¯ first objective was to survey the area within an hour¡¯s hike of the entrance. Before they began hunting the monsters that were certain to be lurking nearby, they needed to locate additional landmarks that would help them navigate the mazelike terrain, and even more importantly, find defensible ground to fall back to when danger inevitably reared its ugly head. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Edge had never explored an environment with such poor visibility, and he hated it right from the start. Snake is right. Anything could be lurking behind the twin walls of vegetation, and he would never know until it was right on top of them. If it wasn¡¯t for Tessa¡¯s mana sensitivity and sensory-boosting skills, the crew would have been flying blind in a hostile wilderness. All of that would have been bad enough in a normal jungle, where predators and other lethal threats could cross your path at any moment. But inside the Savage Garden, everything bigger than a ground squirrel was certain to be a monstrous life form. He was surrounded by cored predators that had been designed to hunt human beings, challenging them on their own turf no less. Walking through the dungeon felt incredibly dangerous because it was incredibly dangerous. It made Edge glad that he wasn¡¯t the strongest person in the party. Well, maybe during those thirty seconds while Overdrive is active. He might be the most versatile, considering how many skills he could slot. But in terms of experience, attributes, equipment, and raw damage, he was clearly in the second tier, along with Mel and Jumo. It was deeply comforting to have some of the settlement¡¯s heavy hitters along for the ride. Doubly so that Fox and Snake were experienced shadowkillers, and Tessa was one of the best scouts Puppet Town had to offer. Not long after, Edge caught his first whiff of what he would come to call ¡°the filth.¡± It began as just the faintest suggestion of rot¡ªlike something had died nearby. But it grew thicker with every step he took, until the stench was nearly overpowering. It was bad enough to have the stink filling his nostrils. But it was so much worse when he realized what it was. Monsters. For reasons that were still fiercely debated on the feed, most monsters gave off one manner of foul odor or another. On Ord, it was common wisdom that if you smelled something horrible coming from one direction, it was a good idea to start running in the other. But this was something different. Something he had never encountered or even imagined. The filth wasn¡¯t the localized stench of a monster standing beside him, it was ubiquitous¡ªthe combined reek of hundreds of bloodthirsty abominations floating across the dungeon. It sent Edge into a draining state of hypervigilance as a parade of horrors danced across the theater of his mind¡¯s eye. His instincts were screaming that he had made a terrible mistake. That being here was certain to bring him face-to-face with nightmarish creatures who would be delighted to rend him limb from limb. But that part of his brain belonged to a man who didn¡¯t exist anymore. The man who had toiled away in an endless haze of impersonal monotony. Whose only moments of joy had come vicariously, through the lives of the hunters he watched on the feed. The man Edge had become since waking up on the most dangerous planet in inhabited space, where every day might be his last, but each moment felt oh so alive, reminded the ghost of his former self that the danger was the reason why he had come to the Savage Garden in the first place. Yes, this dungeon was full of powerful predators. Creatures armed with deadly magic that could kill him in a thousand different ways. But after binding Skill-Eater, Edge was a predator too. And those juicy powers¡ªall those wonderful skills filling the dungeon like a trophy case¡ªwere his. All he had to do was hunt down their wielders and claim them for his own. So, rather than succumbing to his fears, he embraced them instead. Looked his worries in the eye and gave them a new form. Instead of being terrified, he was thrilled to be here. The fright he felt, the hunger and the joy when that hunger was sated, were proof that he was alive. Whether he conquered the Savage Garden or succumbed to its dangers, he was living the life that he had always dreamed of. I wouldn¡¯t trade a second of it for decades back on Earth. He realized that his hands were shaking. No longer in suppressed terror, but in sheer expectation. Living nightmares were headed his way, and Edge was ready to face them head-on. When Mel turned around to check on him, she misjudged the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she breathed into his ear¡ªso soft that he could barely hear the words although her lips brushed against his skin. ¡°I¡¯ve got your back.¡± She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze, leaving him grinning at the gesture. ¡°Thanks, Mel. Right back at you.¡± Chapter 47: Death Mark Five minutes later, Tessa flashed a hand signal, and everyone froze in place. She had detected something ahead and needed to investigate before they came any closer. She walked out a few feet in front of Jumo, then came to a stop and ignited her core. Swirls of mana gathered around her eyes, then spread across her nose and ears. Tessa peered into the distance, then deactivated her skill and whispered, ¡°I can sense two monsters. For some reason, they¡¯re fighting each other. It should be safe to advance.¡± The crew crept forward, and soon the sound of battle reached Edge¡¯s ears. The trail widened and the light grew brighter, until it opened into another large clearing. In the middle of the glade, two horrors were in the final stage of what must have been a brutal battle, judging by the blood and fur that was scattered across the scarred soil. One of the monsters reminded him of a prehistoric hyena. It had broad shoulders, wiry fur, and hulking jaws housing row after row of jagged brown teeth. Its opponent was a serpent¡ªtwenty-five feet long and thick enough that he would have had trouble wrapping his arms around it. Its scales were a putrid yellow hue and covered in wicked black spikes. Both creatures looked fearsome enough, but that wasn¡¯t the reason why Edge¡¯s eyes went wide at the sight as bile rose hot in his throat. The reason was that they were in the middle of devouring each other at the same time. The reptile¡¯s coils were wrapped tight around the hyena¡¯s waist, and it was swallowing the monster by the tail. Meanwhile the hyena¡¯s jaws were chewing into the serpent¡¯s stomach, forming a conjoined circle like a hideous mockery of an ouroboros. No wonder they aren¡¯t paying attention to us. Edge had never seen anything like it. Plenty of monsters were vicious enough to kill others of their kind, but they generally left each other alone unless they were competing over territory or prey. Watching them consume each other with such zeal¡ªsuch blissful abandon and carnal enthusiasm while their lifeblood soaked into the dirt¡ªwas truly bizarre and deeply unsettling. It must have something to do with the dungeon¡¯s theme. While on some level it was nice to see monsters eating each other instead of trying to eat him, he suspected that there were ramifications to this behavior he would find much less enjoyable. For one thing, if the monsters were slaughtering each other, there was a good chance that they were evolving faster than normal. There might be creatures in here that were above the stages he would expect, given the concentration of magicytes in the surrounding biome. Even the crew¡¯s shadowkillers seemed shocked at the sight. Snake unstrapped his crossbow, took aim, and fired twice back-to-back. Each bolt struck a dying monster in the temple, killing it instantly. ¡°We won¡¯t get much experience under the circumstances,¡± he said. ¡°But scraps are better than nothing.¡± He was about to enter the grove and harvest what he could from the remains, when Tessa stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Wait.¡± She pointed to the far side of the clearing. ¡°There¡¯s something else here. I think it was waiting for them to finish each other off.¡± No sooner had those words left her lips than another monster emerged from the foliage, heading for the corpses in the center of the glade. This brute was a bipedal boar about seven feet tall. It had mismatched tusks, an upturned snout, and sunken red eyes. Every inch of its frame was covered with bulging muscles, but the proportions were all wrong. The creature was so ripped that it had a hard time controlling its body¡ªlike it had grown so fast that it wasn¡¯t sure how to move properly. The extra mass weighed it down, giving it a hunchbacked appearance. Its powerful fists dragged along the ground, and each step seemed ponderous and unbalanced. When Edge took a closer look, he noticed that something was trapped beneath its skin¡ªbloated bulges that interfered with the motion of its joints. The boar was looking straight at the crew, but didn¡¯t hesitate as it walked over to the remains, opened its hideous maw, and began to feed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on,¡± Tessa reported. ¡°But it¡¯s absorbing their magic far more efficiently than normal. We should probably intervene before it finishes its entr¨¦e and decides to have us for dessert.¡± The team raised their weapons and got ready to charge, only to have Fox wave them back. ¡°Snake and I will handle this one. I have a funny feeling about its skills and suspect that it¡¯s a bad target to swarm with the full crew. Besides, this is a good chance to show you how shadowkillers fight. I¡¯ll let the rest of you handle the next one.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Edge didn¡¯t mind waiting in line. He hadn¡¯t seen any skills that he wanted to steal, and was intensely curious to learn how the veteran monster hunters would fight their chosen prey. The rest of the crew switched to ranged weapons, guarding the masked duo in case something else showed up during their battle. He watched with interest as Snake hefted his lance and Fox adjusted her boltcaster. ¡°Let¡¯s go with the same plan we used against those razormaws last spring.¡± Snake gestured with the tip of his weapon. ¡°You got it. I¡¯ll keep Big Ugly distracted while you apply your mark. Then I¡¯ll let loose with Vortex Bolts until it drops.¡± Snake nodded his agreement, then stepped into the glade, preparing to engage the hulking monstrosity alone. By now, the boar had devoured about a third of the corpses, staining its teeth crimson and covering its bulging belly in a glistening coat of ruby gore. It let loose a guttural growl as the man approached, looking up between bloody bites. Snake¡¯s stride was casual, like he didn¡¯t have a care in the world. The next time his foot came down, the monster rose to its full height and unleashed a powerful uppercut that would have shattered Edge¡¯s ribs. The man looked almost bored as he sidestepped the muscular fist at the last possible second. Then he jabbed with his lance in a graceful counterattack that made his body seem boneless. The tip gouged the creature¡¯s chest, but it didn¡¯t penetrate deep. ¡°It¡¯s specialized in Power and Durability.¡± He leaned out of the way of a straight jab, then hopped beyond the reach of a Gore from the monster¡¯s tusks. ¡°I don¡¯t see any problem with our plan. I¡¯ll apply Death Mark, and you can take it from there.¡± With that, Snake¡¯s core ignited. Mana flowed through his arms and down the shaft of his lance before gathering along the tip of the blade. Edge had come across a variety of skills that enhanced the lethality of a weapon by this point, including his own Double Slash. He expected the magic to bolster the damage of Snake¡¯s strikes in one manner or another, but that wasn¡¯t how Death Mark worked. ¡°It¡¯s a conditional skill,¡± Fox explained. ¡°He has to draw all five lines before it activates.¡± It was Edge¡¯s first time watching a conditional skill in action. They were a seldom-seen variant that boosted their output in exchange for only working once specific conditions were met. The more restrictive the limitations, the more power the skill offered in exchange. Half a heartbeat later, Snake lashed out, carving a line across the monster¡¯s belly. He dodged a flurry of fists and tusks as he continued to attack¡ªeach strike adding to the pattern he was drawing on the creature¡¯s chest. Edge could sense the magic building, but it had no effect that he could see. He realized that the pattern resembled a stylized skull. He watched with avid interest, excited to find out what would happen next. Three more lines and the mark will be complete. By this point, the boar monster was thoroughly enraged. None of its attacks had connected, and while Snake hadn¡¯t inflicted any serious damage, the wounds were painful. But it mostly seemed frustrated that it couldn¡¯t finish its meal while the hunter was in the way. After issuing a furious roar, the monster dropped to all fours, preventing the man from drawing the last two lines. Before Edge learned how Snake would deal with the situation, something strange happened. One of the bulges beneath the boar¡¯s skin started to swell¡ªlike a balloon was inflating below its flesh. ¡°Watch out,¡± Tessa yelled. ¡°It¡¯s about to activate an area of effect attack.¡± Sure enough, as Snake executed a backflip that dodged the creature¡¯s tusks with millimeters to spare, its skin split, releasing a cloud of bright green mist. Edge wasn¡¯t sure what he was looking at until the groundcover began to smoke, dissolving as it was eaten away by the caustic aerosol. ¡°Acid Cloud,¡± Fox commented. ¡°Unusual means of distribution. Nasty stuff, but heavy enough that it won¡¯t spread far.¡± For once, both Edge and Skill-Eater were utterly disinterested in stealing the power. Using something that makes acid form inside my body seems like a bad idea. Meanwhile, Snake judged the distance and darted back in. Fox raised her boltcaster and fired, letting him carve another line on the monster¡¯s belly when it reared back up. It came charging for him, releasing another Acid Cloud along the way. But the hunter merely circled around and lashed out with his lance for the final time of the fight. The instant that Death Mark was complete, the magic contained within the skill activated. The mark began coloring in like it was being tattooed by a master artist¡ªuntil the skull was fully shaded. Edge sensed the mana contained within the mark catalyze in that moment, permeating the monster¡¯s body and engulfing its core. He had no idea what was happening, but he was eager to find out. ¡°Death Mark reduces the Control, Disruption, and Durability of my target,¡± Snake explained as he danced out of reach. ¡°In exchange for a complex setup, the disabling power is stronger than most skills that undermine the attributes of my quarry. It leaves a monster in an ideal state for Fox¡¯s attacks to inflict maximum damage. I could explain her power too, but you¡¯re about to see it yourself, and there¡¯s no reason to spoil the surprise.¡± While he spoke, Snake returned to the crew and Fox stepped into the clearing. Meanwhile, the boar had started stumbling around. It was barely in control of its awkward body, now that Death Mark was complete. Lilly raised her boltcaster, activated the magitech magazine, and took an experimental shot. Edge watched on, committing every moment to memory as the fight entered its final stage. Concept Art Fox Snake If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Boar Monster Chapter 48: Vortex Shot Edge had been fascinated by Lilly¡¯s magitech boltcaster ever since he had first laid eyes on it in the Mortium exchange. He watched closely as she engaged the boar monster¡ªthrilled to finally get a chance to see the weapon in action. True to its name, a boltcaster fired bolts that were similar to a crossbow¡¯s. However, the magical weapon was rather different in design. Its body was a cylinder with a handle on one side, a trigger on the other, and a hole set into the business end. Instead of needing to be manually reloaded like a mundane weapon, boltcasters manifested their ammunition by granting the aether contained in their tank material form. In exchange for an expensive power source, they could fire far faster than a bow or crossbow, mirroring the functionality of a semiautomatic weapon. Lilly took aim and primed her next bolt. It took a heartbeat for the silver-grade aether to flow into the chamber and solidify before erupting out the end of the boltcaster. The shaft sank deep into the pig monster¡¯s chest, which was advancing on the shadowkiller with an unsteady gait. ¡°Yep.¡± She nodded to herself. ¡°Death Mark lowered its Durability into an ideal range. My Vortex Shots will be able to take full effect.¡± She took a few steps to lead the monster away from the crew, then raised the boltcaster and materialized another round. This time, Lilly¡¯s core ignited as she activated a skill to supplement her shot. The mana left her body and suffused the loaded bolt, enhancing it with her magic. Before she could let loose, the monster screamed and charged her position. Since it couldn¡¯t control its body well, it was using its powerful muscles to launch itself forward in a series of clumsy hops that were surprisingly quick under the circumstances. Lilly laughed behind her fox mask as she danced out of the way. Snake was remarkably nimble, but she was even more agile¡ªthe most dexterous fighter that Edge had ever seen. She glided across the battlefield like oil over water, swaying in time with the creature¡¯s advance so adroitly that their performance looked orchestrated. The pig unleashed a series of Acid Clouds, trying to restrict Fox¡¯s movement and make her easier to catch. It didn¡¯t help at all. The woman flowed beneath another awkward leap like silk in the breeze. She spun out of the way of the monster¡¯s Gore, then took aim and fired her skill-infused bolt. The instant she pulled the trigger, an incredible gust of wind was born. At first, Edge thought that she had used some type of wind skill to propel the bolt, similar to Riller¡¯s Wind Shot, but that wasn¡¯t the case. This wasn¡¯t a blast of air boosting the shaft. Instead, the missile was spinning so fast that it generated a gale from the force of its rotation. Turning thousands of times each second, the barbed bolt plunged into the bipedal boar, right beside the skull Snake had drawn. It sank deep into the monster¡¯s flesh and then fused with it, transferring all that rotational force into its soft tissue. The monster came to a screeching stop, reaching for the bolt. But it was already too late. In between the drawing of one breath and the next, the pig¡¯s chest twisted. Bones shattered and muscles snapped as its body was distorted beneath the incredible force of Lilly¡¯s skill. Her high-rank Vortex Shot severed tendons and nerves, bursting every organ in its body along the way. The monster took a final, staggering step, and then toppled to the ground¡ªblood pouring from its orifices from the catastrophic trauma her bolt had inflicted. In that moment, Edge understood the origin of the skill¡¯s name. The creature¡¯s torso had a spinning pattern twisted deep into its flesh, leaving a wound like a whirlpool. Fox fired an unaugmented bolt right between the monster¡¯s eyes to make sure it was dead. She walked back over to the team, gave Snake a fist bump, then opened her canteen and drained it dry. Everyone was in awe of the shadowkiller duo, who had just eliminated an early stage-two monster as if it were no more threatening than a regular Earth pig. They waited for a few minutes until the Acid Clouds dispersed, then took a closer look at the glade. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! These monsters didn¡¯t have any valuable parts other than the serpent¡¯s fangs and the boar¡¯s tusks. After extracting them, Tessa sprinkled some manner of powder on top of the corpses. They bubbled and hissed before dissolving and soaking into the ground. ¡°We should clean up after ourselves,¡± she explained. ¡°So the corpses don¡¯t draw more monsters to our position.¡± When the hunters finished surveying the clearing, two features caught their eye. The first was three trails leading away from the glade¡ªnot counting the one they had arrived by. The second was a pool of water in the middle of the open space. The puddle was rich in magicytes, but when he took a closer look, Edge realized that something was wrong. There was a foulness permeating the fluid that made bile rise hot in his throat. It reminds me of the place I saw inside the blightlings¡¯ cores. The toxic miasma that permeated that strange realm. ¡°It¡¯s the dungeon¡¯s taint,¡± Fox explained after following his gaze. ¡°The inhabitants of dungeons don¡¯t have access to the planet¡¯s magic like monsters in the wild, so the System provides them with sufficient energy to grow. For reasons we don¡¯t fully understand, the presence of monsters gradually corrupts magical energy. Tainted magicytes are incredibly toxic to non-monstrous life forms, so whatever you do, don¡¯t fall into the pool or take a drink.¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare to see an arrangement like this though,¡± Snake added. ¡°Normally, corrupted magicytes permeate the dungeon. But here, they¡¯re concentrated instead. It must have something to do with Savage Garden¡¯s theme. It¡¯s probably what the monsters were fighting over, although it doesn¡¯t explain their unusual voracity. Regardless of the details, we should keep moving. Time is of the essence, and the sound of battle might draw other creatures to our location.¡± While Tessa and Fox decided which path to follow, Mel walked over to the trail that led to the exit and removed a strip of brightly-colored cloth from her pack. She tied it to a protruding branch where the marker was clearly visible. ¡°This way we won¡¯t have to worry about getting lost on our way out.¡± By the time she was done, Lilly had chosen their route, and the crew headed deeper into the dungeon. Before long, the hunters reached another clearing. This one was smaller than the others¡ªabout twenty-five feet from end to end. Just like before, there was a corrupted pool in the middle. Sleeping beside it was another monster. This one was a pale grub the size of an Earth walrus. Its body was covered in long yellow barbs. The maggot monster had a stinging tail and wicked mandibles that looked sharp enough to cut a person in half. Snake gestured to Edge, Jumo, and Mel. ¡°It your turn to show us what you can do. We¡¯ll watch out for adds and jump in if you need us. But if you were skilled enough to be selected for this mission, you shouldn¡¯t need our help.¡± Tessa looked like she wanted to say something, but Snake cut her off. ¡°No spoilers or assists, and that includes your auras. They need to understand what it means to conquer a dungeon, and it will only get worse from here on out.¡± Since their opponent appeared to be sleeping, they began the encounter with a quick strategy session. While Tessa activated her sensory skills to watch for anything headed their way, the trio put their heads together, going over their plan before committing to their attack. ¡°Alright guys,¡± Mel began. ¡°Do you have any ideas other than charging in and cutting it to pieces? Earl always says that I¡¯m overly reliant on the direct approach, so I¡¯m open to suggestions.¡± ¡°Nothing in here would survive a day if it didn¡¯t have a means of defending itself while asleep,¡± Jumo said. ¡°And that thing looks like it¡¯s between early and middle stage two. Given how aggressive the other monsters were, it might be using a strategy that capitalizes on that tendency. Why don¡¯t we start with some ranged attacks to see what it can do, then finish it off in melee?¡± Edge nodded along, then summarized. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s open with Piercing Javelin and Elemental Blade on my chakram. Mel, you can, I don¡¯t know, throw a rock or something.¡± The redheaded warrior laughed at his suggestion. ¡°I know I said that I don¡¯t have any ranged attacks, but I didn¡¯t mean that I couldn¡¯t pull off something basic.¡± She reached into her pack and withdrew a pair of throwing axes. ¡°These little ladies don¡¯t do much damage, but they can serve as a distraction.¡± The trio decided to spread out along the border of the glade, then attack from multiple angles at once. They would see how the maggot monster responded, then close the distance and fight according to their primary roles. Jumo would draw the creature¡¯s attention, while Edge and Mel circled around to land a critical strike. He looked over to see if the crew¡¯s stage-two members approved of their plan, only to remember that Fox and Snake were wearing masks. The shadowkillers couldn¡¯t give away anything by reading their expressions or by following their gazes. That might be part of the reason why they wear masks to begin with. Tessa seemed like she wanted to help, but after looking at the ground, she deliberately turned away. Ah well, it was worth a shot. With that, all that was left to stick to the plan and see how the battle turned out. Chapter 49: Tricky Target Edge reached down and detached his chakram from his toolbelt. He ignited his core and cast Elemental Blade, visualizing the magic suffusing the bladed ring instead of forming an iceblade from his palm. As the frigid mana flowed out of his hands to coat the bone-and-brass loop with a billowing layer of frost, Mel raised her throwing axe and Jumo conjured a Piercing Javelin. When the obsidian weapon was fully manifested, Jumo gave the signal. Axe, javelin, and chakram went streaking for the freakishly large larva sleeping in the middle of the clearing. All three attacks were on target, and for a second, it looked like they would perforate the monster without resistance. Which they did¡­ just not quite in the manner that Edge had envisioned. A heartbeat before the weapons touched down, the grub¡¯s pale body began to move. Not the normal movements of a living being, but flesh separating like wet clay. Its tissue parted and slid out of the way of the airborne instruments of mayhem, letting the projectiles pass through before shifting back to its original position. ¡°That¡¯s new.¡± Jumo shrugged, raised his spear, and prepared to charge. ¡°It looks like we go with plan Mel after all. Keep on cutting until it stops moving.¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s a strategy I can get behind.¡± The warrior laughed as she advanced in time with Edge, fanning out to either side while Jumo Dashed down the middle to grab the monster¡¯s attention. They came at the creature from three sides at once, closing half the distance in a flash. That was when the instincts that had been honed by Trapper¡¯s training cried out a warning, primed by Tessa¡¯s glance at the ground. In that moment, he was certain that something was wrong. We need to abort. ¡°Fall back,¡± Edge cried. ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± Everyone came to a skidding stop and then darted back¡­ avoiding the pillars of green flame that erupted from the soil a fraction of a second later. ¡°Good call.¡± Snake nodded his approval. ¡°That¡¯s a potent trap skill. If you hadn¡¯t aborted the attack, you would have taken some significant burns.¡± Edge didn¡¯t have time to pay attention to the shadowkiller¡¯s commentary, or the bandwidth to be annoyed that the man was willing to let them walk into a trap. Every scrap of his attention was focused on the maggot monster, which had stopped pretending to be asleep and turned to face the crew. It still hadn¡¯t moved from the spot, and three seconds later, he learned the reason why. The series of spikes running along the surface of the maggot¡¯s malleable body shifted. Judging by their angle, it was about to fire them off. ¡°Watch out.¡± Mel mirrored his train of thought. ¡°Ranged attack incoming. Be careful, there are probably more fire traps embedded in the ground.¡± Before the trio could come up with a counter-strategy, the monster unleashed its first volley. A half dozen barbs came streaking for each of them. Having anticipated the move, Edge threw his body out of the way with inches to spare. He raised his buckler in time to intercept a spike that would have caught him anyway, at which point he learned a critical detail. In addition to being able to reshape its flesh at will, the grub could alter its properties in other ways too. In this case, it had used its elastic tissue to fling the barbs with incredible force. The missile hit his shield hard enough to vibrate his teeth inside his jaw. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± Jumo dodged another round of spines that had risen from the grub¡¯s body, barely avoiding a pillar of flame in the process. ¡°We can¡¯t advance without setting off more traps. It can avoid our ranged attacks, while firing what seems to be an unlimited supply of its own. I¡¯m not sure how to defeat this thing unless we can close the distance.¡± By this point, an idea had come to Edge, although he wasn¡¯t sure if it was going to work. ¡°Keep it distracted for a few more seconds. I¡¯ll try to create an opening.¡± The others were happy to follow his lead. They let loose with a Piercing Javelin/throwing axe barrage while dodging return fire. The moment that their attacks were in the air, he reached out with his chain glove and tapped his fingers together. While the maggot was busy separating its tissue to avoid taking damage, the chakram wobbled before flying toward his outstretched hand, still infused with the mana from Elemental Blade. The angle carried it straight into the monster¡¯s body, and this time, it didn¡¯t see the weapon coming. As Edge had been hoping, the grub had to consciously control its versatile skill, rather than it automatically activating. As a result, the subzero chakram sank into its spongy tissue, pumping it full of freezing mana to inflict the first wound of the fight. The monster let out a shrill shriek, undulating while separating the stricken segment from the rest of its mass. While it was satisfying to finally dish out some damage, he knew that it wasn¡¯t enough to kill the grub. He used the opening to implement the second phase of his plan¡ªclear a path to the creature by triggering the fire traps guarding the approach to its position. He took off his toolbelt and backpack so they wouldn¡¯t get caught in the blasts, then braced himself and started running. Edge¡¯s other gear was either flame resistant or could repair itself, and although only Jumo knew it, he had extra resistance to fire thanks to the upgrade he¡¯d chosen after taking Regulate Temperature to rank two. Combined with Regeneration and the recent increases to his attributes, Edge was confident that he could withstand the damage he took along the way, although he was hoping to dodge some of the traps to limit the burns he received. ¡°Get ready!¡± he yelled while priming the Disruption Grenade he had removed from his bag. ¡°After I clear a path, follow in my footsteps. When the grenade goes off, hit it hard.¡± Edge was sure that the monster had more tricks up its sleeve. Rather than throwing the grenade and risk wasting its only use, he planned to carry it into range and make sure that the maggot got caught in the surge. The device would deactivate his own skills for a few seconds too, so he would have to rely on his weapons past that point. He cast his senses into the ground as the monster continued to scream¡ªthe frost-rimed wound distracting it long enough to make his move. He ran straight for it, certain that he would activate several more traps along the way. Sure enough, he felt a flash of mana congeal when his foot came down. He spun out of the way in time to avoid taking a fire pillar head-on, although it still singed his skin and burned his hair. He was too slow to evade the next one. Edge used his buckler to cover his face as a plume of green flame washed over him. It hurt like hell, but since he had already seen the skill close up, he was confident that it wouldn¡¯t be enough to critically injure him. He held his breath, shut out the pain, and kept on running. As he closed the last few feet, he tossed the grenade and drew the knife that Trapper had given him. By now, the monster had noticed his arrival and was getting ready to fire off a fresh round of spikes. He could sense another fire trap activating beneath his feet, but the grenade went off first. The device didn¡¯t have a large radius, but it was enough to cancel the traps skills within a five-foot radius. More critically, it caught the grub in the disruptive pulse, forcibly deactivating its powers for a few seconds. It tried to fire its spikes, but nothing happened. As Edge had hoped, it needed its skills to use that attack. Before the monster could recover, he came to a skidding stop beside it and started stabbing like mad. He felt the satisfying resistance of blade parting tissue as Jumo and Mel arrived and let loose a frenzy of blows. They could still use their skills, and five seconds later, the oversized maggot was reduced to shredded ribbons of flesh. Chapter 50: Passing Grade Edge stared down at the monster¡¯s gory remains. He did his best to stoically endure the pain of his wounds until the grenade¡¯s effects wore off and Regeneration kicked in, providing blessed relief to his seared skin. Everyone walked into the center of the clearing, then Snake looked at him and said, ¡°That wasn¡¯t what I was expecting. It¡¯s dead and you¡¯re not, so you got the most important part right. Effective use of resources and solid judgement regarding how much punishment you can withstand, although that reckless charge was a sloppy move. On the other hand, you had to contend with a nasty surprise and recovered admirably. I think we can consider this fight to be a fair judge of your ability.¡± Despite his criticism, the man seemed pleased that the stage-one members of the crew could hold their own in a brawl. Edge realized that the shadowkiller was holding a Disruption grenade. He was ready to throw it if someone was going to get badly burned. Maybe he isn¡¯t as callous as I thought. Snake pointed out a few areas where each of them could have handled the situation better, then turned to face Fox and Tessa. ¡°Do either of you have anything to add?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to press that attack,¡± Fox said. ¡°Pulling back and revaluating your options would have been the smart play after you realized that you were dealing with something unusual. That being said, a do-over isn¡¯t usually possible in the heat of battle, so coming up with a way to finish the job in spite of a setback was a good experience for you. ¡°Edge, you need to be careful not to become overly reliant on Regeneration. In addition to Disruption shutting it down, there are skills out there that can create wounds it won¡¯t be able to heal, or not nearly as fast at any rate.¡± She offered a few pointers to Jumo and Mel, then said, ¡°Each of you has room for improvement. But considering that monster was above your stage and a bad matchup for your skillsets, the three of you did remarkably well for your first fight in a dungeon.¡± ¡°Normally, I would have warned you that there was concentrated mana suffusing the ground,¡± Tessa added. ¡°I¡¯m glad that no one was seriously hurt. That flesh-molding skill isn¡¯t something that you¡¯re likely to run into often, so good job on dealing with an unusual power that you didn¡¯t see coming.¡± While the stage-two warriors offered their feedback, everyone else sat down to recover from the high-energy engagement. Tessa confirmed that the other flame-pillar traps had dissipated when the maggot died, so they didn¡¯t have to worry about setting more off. The monster didn¡¯t have anything valuable to harvest. They dissolved its corpse too, then got ready to head out. By now, Edge had changed his mind about Snake¡¯s personality. The man wasn¡¯t nearly as terse after entering the dungeon, and though there was a hardness to his words, he was trying to help the weaker members grow instead of treating them like a burden. Edge didn¡¯t have a chance to steal a skill during the fight, but he wasn¡¯t too worried. He hadn¡¯t spotted anything good yet, and there were so many monsters in here that he was bound to Extract three by the end of the day. However, he hadn¡¯t walked away from the battle empty-handed. He summoned his Guide to check out his updates. You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle-up your core. Your new cycle is: 19. You have 3 attribute points awaiting allocation. By conditioning the connection between your body and brain, your Perception has increased by 1. For defeating a cored opponent stage 2 or above, you have earned 1 Mortium. Awesome. Only two more cycles to go until I reach the end of stage one. Then I just need to clear the conditions to evolve, and I will finally reach stage two. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Being so close to evolving had Edge giddy with anticipation. He was eager to pick up more slots and broaden his skillset, not to mention acquire more attributes with every cycle. But he was even more excited about the other changes that his core¡¯s evolution would bring. If it was anything like what had happened when he had reached stage one, Skill-Eater would gain some serious upgrades to its existing powers¡ªpossibly even a new ultimate ability. He was also looking forward to his next conversation with the ravenous lord bound in chains. To learn more about the mysterious entity that had become closer than his own shadow, strengthening their relationship in the process. But that was a worry for another day. Or at least another battle. Right now, he needed to spend his potentia and continue clearing the dungeon. Given the nature of the Savage Garden and everything that had happened during the last fight, he decided to spend his points on Perception this time around. Noticing critical details fast enough to react had made the battle with the grub manageable, helping him to avoid its projectiles and evade most of the fire traps. As a hunter, it was vital that he could sense trouble coming before it found him, especially while exploring a deadly dungeon filled with monsters, traps, and other lethal hazards. He asked the others to wait a minute while he consolidated his gains. After the potentia was released from his core in a buzzing rush, it went coursing through his nerves and sensory organs. His skin tingled as his sense of touch grew more responsive. His vision sharpened and the surrounding soundscape became richer and more distinct. The stench of monsters permeating the air grew even more foul, and he knew that his sense of taste had been similarly enhanced. By now, the burns on his armor had repaired themselves, and his injuries were already a distant memory. Snake assured everyone that he wouldn¡¯t force them to fight unassisted again, and the crew was ready to head out after Mel flagged their path with another strip of cloth. As the team continued to explore the Savage Garden, it became clear that the zone bordering the dungeon¡¯s entrance had its own theme, which they decided to call ¡°the maze.¡± Dozens of clearings were connected by a series of labyrinthine trails. The glades varied in size, ranging from ten feet across to over a hundred. Each was the territory of a stage-two monster, which fed upon a pool of corrupted magicytes. All the clearings were battle-scarred¡ªfilled with torn earth and shredded foliage. The legacy of countless battles that had taken place before their arrival. Through observation and deduction, the crew learned that the glades were constantly changing owners as the monsters inhabiting the Savage Garden waged war upon each other. By this point, the clamor of combat in the distance was a constant companion, adding another layer of tension to the jungle¡ªa visceral menace that had soaked into the very trees and stones. The entire dungeon was a battleground, its limited resources fueling an endless cycle of violence, growth, and consumption. A few of the clearings were filled with creatures locked in mortal combat, like the first glade they¡¯d come across. But most of them only had a single occupant that was guarding a corrupted pool. A twisted parody of the symbiosis between beasts and mana seeds. On two separate occasions, Team Arrow had to beat a hasty retreat to get out of the way of a monster that was walking down the trails. Fortunately, the creatures were on their way to assault one of the clearings instead of stalking the crew. Although the hunters were planning to kill them all, fighting in the narrow confines of the maze was a measure of last resort. They defeated two more glade-holders over the next hour and a half¡ªa monstrous frog with a weaponized tongue, and one that looked like a fish with legs. Neither was a match for all six hunters working together, and they defeated the foul things without taking any serious wounds in exchange. The crew added the valuable parts to their growing collection, which they would split after they were done clearing for the day. By now, Tessa was certain that the maze held the weakest monsters in the dungeon. Its stage-one inhabitants were battling it out in the dense overgrowth, feasting upon each other until they evolved to stage two and gained the strength to challenge the masters of the clearings and claim a tainted pool for themselves. She theorized that whenever a monster grew powerful enough, it would leave the maze and take the fight to the next zone, continuing the dungeon¡¯s circle of destruction. That as the crew progressed deeper into the heart of the Savage Garden, the danger would rise accordingly. The dungeon¡¯s bizarre pseudo-ecosystem made Edge wonder how monsters came into being to begin with. What relationship the process had to that corrupted alien landscape he had viewed after stealing skills from the blightlings on the Painted Lands. He asked the others, but no one knew the answer. It was common wisdom that the System had genetically engineered the monsters of Ord, but no one knew for certain. Both shadowkillers were interested in the topic, since it was related to their specialty, and Edge hoped to discuss the matter at length once they had completed their mission. But for now, all that mattered was slaying the boss of the Savage Garden, along with the parade of horrors they were certain to encounter along the way. Chapter 51: Poison Jar As the crew began the second half of their day, they speculated on the theme of the Savage Garden while battling their way through the maze. Lilly thought it was an homage to the primal law of the jungle¡ªsurvival of the fittest in its purest, most brutal distillation of every creature for itself. Snake held a slightly different view. He believed that the dungeon was a gigantic kodoku jar. ¡°It¡¯s a term from ancient Japanese mythology,¡± he explained. ¡°A kodoku jar is a clay pot filled with venomous creatures. They fight to the death until only the meanest, most toxic critter among them emerges from atop a pile of corpses. The twist is that in here, the winner isn¡¯t determined by which contender is strongest at the start. As they kill and consume, the monsters mutate and grow more deadly along the way.¡± If he was right, the inhabitants of the dungeon weren¡¯t just engaged in a brutal war for survival. They were undergoing a twisted version of the natural evolutionary process. With each spawning, the newly birthed monsters would return to the maze to feed, becoming more powerful with every kill. They would continue facing off against the other surviving species as they migrated deeper into the dungeon, ensuring that only the most ferocious horrors among them lived to reach higher stages. It meant that the monsters sitting at the apex of each zone, including the boss itself, must have devoured hundreds of other contenders. They were the worst of the worst, and if they managed to escape the confines of the Savage Garden, they would wreak untold carnage upon the surrounding biome. It was another reason why clearing the dungeon before it hit critical mass and released a wave into the wild was vital to Puppet Town¡¯s survival, in addition to claiming the core manufactory. Dealing with the high-stage beasts migrating onto the Ivory Plains was bad enough. The last thing they needed was being invaded by a swarm of kodoku champions on top of everything else. It wasn¡¯t all bad news. Given the nature of the maze, the shadowkillers didn¡¯t expect to run into any complex puzzles or traps. However, there were likely to be environmental hazards in one form or another, so they had to keep an eye out for non-monstrous threats as they journeyed deeper into the heart of darkness. At least the clearings offered adequate visibility, making them ideal spots to rest once the hunters had slaughtered their guardians and disposed of the remains. As it happened, not every glade held corrupted pools and the monsters fighting to claim them. The next time that the trail widened into a clearing, Edge saw something that he wasn¡¯t expecting. In the middle of the open area was a patch of white flowers the size of his fist, growing from long stalks that topped off around his waist. They were beautiful and smelled amazing, especially when contrasted against the stench of the filth. ¡°It looks like we¡¯ve found our first resource node,¡± Melenia said. ¡°Although I suppose that it could be some manner of hazard.¡± Everyone stood near the entrance until Tessa used her powers and came to the same conclusion. ¡°It¡¯s normal for dungeons to have valuable resources and sealed chests,¡± Fox explained. ¡°The chests are usually guarded by some manner of threat, but the resources are generally spread across the zones. It makes exploration rewarding, even when you don¡¯t have a quest to complete, which helps incentivize people to enter the dungeon. Just another way for the System to boost Prison World¡¯s ratings, or at least it was.¡± ¡°At any rate.¡± Snake drew his knife and approached the plants. ¡°Let¡¯s gather them quickly and then keep on going. We will split the profit from finds like this evenly, so anyone with a working preservation unit is welcome to carry them.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. With that, everyone began harvesting the flowers. The plants had shallow roots, and Jumo recommended that the crew dig them out instead of picking the blossoms, as they didn¡¯t know which parts were most valuable. Lilly offered to carry them since she had a magitech device that was fully functional, unlike Edge¡¯s defective model. The team was done harvesting the flowers ten minutes later, then they picked a new path, put up a marker, and started walking. The next two glades contained relatively weak monsters, at least compared to the crew¡¯s combined strength. Working together, they quickly dispatched the foul fiends. The final clearing along their route, was another matter entirely. This glade was located on the border of the maze, and the overgrowth began to thin past that point. It was the biggest clearing they had seen yet¡ªat least one hundred and fifty feet wide in the middle. The corrupted pool was twice as deep as the others, and its guardian was scaled to match. If the hunters wanted to cross into the next zone of the dungeon, they were going to have to deal with one last monster first. Edge wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. The creature in question didn¡¯t look like any beast he¡¯d ever seen, or any animal from Earth for that matter. If anything, it looked like one of the demons from the fantasy games he had played back in his old life, albeit a particularly disgusting variant. The demon was seven feet tall at the shoulders and covered in rippling muscles. It had cloven hindlegs and hips that were designed let it walk on two legs and run on four. It can probably jump quite a ways too. Its powerful arms were long, with broad hands featuring swordlike claws the color of freshly-spilled blood. Most unsettling of all, the creature didn¡¯t have any skin¡ªjust glistening pink tissue that oozed beneath the diffuse lighting. Its face featured a pointed chin, glowing red eyes, and sweeping crimson horns that wrapped around the back of its skull before rising into spikes the length of Edge¡¯s forearms. Its hulking jaws were filled with row after row of needlelike teeth¡ªperfect for shredding flesh and tearing chunks out of a living body. Nothing that its jaws closed around was likely to live for long. It had a spiky crest running down the length of its spine and a barbed, prehensile tail that looked remarkably agile. It clearly knew they were there, despite the hunters¡¯ efforts to remain hidden. Only its desire to remain near the pool kept the demon from charging them in a flash. After learning everything that they could, the crew returned the previous glade discuss the situation. ¡°Shit,¡± Lilly swore. ¡°This one is going to be trouble. We need to go all out for this fight and even then, we might wind up walking away with a lot less blood than we started with.¡± ¡°We could try to find a way around it,¡± Snake added. ¡°But this corrupted pool is more concentrated than the others. All the glades bordering the next zone are probably claimed by powerful monsters. We¡¯re supposed to be clearing the area anyway, so there¡¯s no point in skipping a fight that we¡¯ll have to tackle sooner or later. What¡¯s your take on that brute, Tessa?¡± ¡°Peak stage two. Even balance of attributes and dangerous across the board. From what I can deduce by observing its energetic signature, most of its skills are direct attacks and passives that enhance its combat prowess. Although it might have a few powers that are geared toward dealing with specific problems too.¡± Since they were going to fight it after all, each hunter took turns adding their own observations, then they began crafting a strategy to take the creature down. The shadowkillers devoted considerably more time into planning out this fight than any of the others, emphasizing that this opponent was significantly more deadly than the other monsters they had encountered. Twenty minutes later, they were as ready as they could be. Before they began the fight, Fox reached into her preservation unit and pulled out the mana seed that Gram had given the team before heading into the dungeon. She divided it based on the extent to which each crewmember had depleted their magicyte reserves, then put the rest back in storage. ¡°Eat fast.¡± She handed Edge a slice of what looked like a peach. ¡°We don¡¯t want the smell to give our position away.¡± It was a sensible precaution, and he shoved the seed into his mouth as fast as he could. It was, of course, delicious, with a flavor a bit like blueberry and banana. When it reached his stomach, the concentrated magicytes dissolved and entered his reservoir, filling the brass tank to the brim. When everyone was done eating, the crew was ready to engage the monster. Edge approached the clearing with the sound of his heartbeat thundering in his ears, eager to take on his toughest monster yet. Chapter 52: Deadly Demon As the crew crept toward the demon¡¯s glade, Edge reviewed their plan one final time. They would open with an alpha strike, hitting the monster with their strongest ranged attacks before it knew they were there. Fortunately, Fox had a magitech device that could cloak the crew¡¯s presence during the approach. Its reservoir of silver aether would only last twenty seconds, and the effect would end the moment that someone attacked, but the tool would let them get into position, ready their weapons, and prime their skills. Step two was launching a barrage of consumables to distract the demon. Then everyone would assume their primary combat roles, although Jumo had been warned to focus on evasion rather than taking the monster¡¯s attacks head-on. Edge would be joining him on the front line for this engagement, keeping the creature busy while the others dished out damage. Mel was on hit and run duty. She was planning to unleash some heavy attacks with her axe, then dart back before the monster turned on her. Snake would focus on stacking his various poisons and disabling skills until the demon was sufficiently weakened, then switch to carving it up with his lance. Fox would offer ranged support until an opening appeared, at which point she would strike for the monster¡¯s vitals. Ideally, her attacks would further impair the creature and hamper its mobility. Tessa¡¯s role was to hang back and watch for approaching monsters while keeping an eye out for any surprises the demon had in store. She would also help finish it off, once an opportunity presented itself. Since this was a major engagement, everyone was planning to use some expensive consumables, including a range of potions and weapon oils. On that note, Snake warned everyone not to touch any weapon that he had treated. By now, they were almost back to the clearing. After making sure that everyone was ready to do their part, Lilly reached down to her belt and pressed a button on a magitech device that was clipped beside the buckle. When she did, everyone in the crew became blurry. Edge could still make out the members of his team, but Lilly had assured him that anything that wasn¡¯t shrouded would have a harder time sensing them. The trail widened as it opened into the glade, and everyone came to a stop a few feet past that point. Edge was relieved to see that the demon wasn¡¯t looking their way. He assumed it meant the device was working, since it had been staring straight at them before. He unstrapped his chakram and got ready to activate Elemental Blade, waiting until everyone else was ready to use their skills before activating his own. The moment that the crew was in position, Fox raised one hand and gestured, signaling that it was time to assume their formation. Snake had pulled out his crossbow during the approach and treated the tip of the bolt with an ointment from a vial resting in one of the loops of his toolbelt. Mel had her throwing axes, Jumo was casting Piercing Javelin, and Lilly had manifested a bolt in her boltcaster and primed it with Vortex Shot. Everyone took a few steps deeper into the glade, then got ready to start the battle. Tessa unstrapped her shield and drew her sword. She signed that there weren¡¯t any other monsters nearby, then Lilly gave the order to attack. The instant she did, Edge and Jumo ignited their cores and activated their skills. Three seconds later, a frost-rimed chakram, two bolts, a throwing axe, and an obsidian javelin shot forth from their position, just as the magitech shroud flickered and faded out of existence. The demon¡¯s head whipped toward them, and it let out a furious roar. Its gaze locked onto the missiles headed its way, but it only tried to dodge Fox¡¯s bolt and Jumo¡¯s javelin. The monster stepped out of the way of the Vortex Shot, but Piercing Javelin caught in in the chest, although unfortunately, the attack only grazed it. The other weapons landed on target, but none of them penetrated deep. That thing is insanely tough. This is going to be a difficult fight. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. His chakram deflected off a muscular shoulder, freezing a small patch of tissue in the process. Edge heard Snake mutter, ¡°Shit, that bolt didn¡¯t sink in far enough. I doubt that much of the poison transferred into its bloodstream.¡± While Edge reached into his belt pouch, the demon shook itself like a dog to dislodge the embedded projectiles, then came streaking toward the party with blinding speed. Before it arrived at their position, a cluster of flashbangs detonated by the monster¡¯s head, disorienting it long enough for Edge and Jumo to advance. As they had planned, Jumo Dashed forward to meet it¡ªthe tip of his spear leading the way. Edge followed a few steps behind, prepared to cut the monster off if it tried to run past the warrior to engage the other hunters. But in this case, his caution was unnecessary. The hulking demon was happy to launch itself at the closest target, barreling straight toward Jumo like a muscle-bound battering ram. He came to a skidding stop and grounded the butt of his spear, just as the demon pounced. The weapon caught the creature in the torso, but the tip only scraped a gouge along its grotesque exterior instead of sinking deep. It did, however, serve to break the monster¡¯s charge and hold it in place for a few crucial seconds. Jumo let go of his spear and hopped back, dodging a wicked set of claws coming for his face with inches to spare. The monster turned to follow up, but before it could launch another attack, Edge was there. He had already infused his polearm with Elemental Blade and scored a shallow cut along its forearm that left a trail of frozen tissue in its wake. Once again, the attack hadn¡¯t penetrated as deep as he¡¯d expected, and while the frostbite must have hurt like hell, the subzero mana wasn¡¯t sufficient to impair the monster¡¯s movement. ¡°Its Disruption is weaker than I thought, but it¡¯s using a passive skill to enhance its Durability,¡± Tessa reported as she scanned the battlefield. Snake fired another poisoned bolt as Fox raised her boltcaster, ignited her core, and unleashed a second Vortex Shot. Just like before, the demon ignored the man¡¯s missile, which bit a little deeper this time. It swerved out of the way of the powerful skill, giving Jumo a chance to reposition and retrieve his weapon. ¡°The monster isn¡¯t bothering to dodge minor attacks,¡± Lilly called out. ¡°But it¡¯s smart enough to avoid ones that are infused with a lot of mana. Don¡¯t waste your reserves unless you¡¯re sure that you can hit. Focus on defense while Snake¡¯s poison takes effect, then he can try to land a disable.¡± With that, Jumo and Edge spread out far enough that the demon could only look at one of them at once. Whenever it turned to face one of hunters, the other would step forward and attack. Unfortunately, the monster had superior Reflex and Control. Although the men were able to land a few blows, they didn¡¯t deal any serious damage. Mel took advantage of the opportunity to circle behind the monster. The next time that the demon committed to an attack, she raised her axe above her head and brought it down in a wicked chop. The monster glanced over its shoulder, but since the blow seemed like it would fall short, it looked away when Edge Double Slashed and sent the blade of his polearm sailing toward its face. The instant its horns parried the naginata, Mel ignited her core and unleashed her first skill of the fight. ¡°Force Cleave,¡± she called out so that everyone knew to stay out of the way. In the fraction of a second it took for the guardswoman to complete her swing, mana congealed along the blade of her war axe. It extended the weapon¡¯s reach by another three feet, streaking for the monster¡¯s hindquarter with the full power of her body behind it. The demon sensed the mana infusing her chop at the last possible moment, but it couldn¡¯t get out of the way. Her war axe came crashing down¡ªforce blade slicing into its muscles and carving away a strip of flesh as thick as Edge¡¯s thumb. The monster let out a furious scream, bracing a hand against the ground as it kicked with one hoof and lashed out with its tail spike at the same time. Mel had already darted back far enough to dodge the kick, but the tail caught her in the chest. It scored a deep gouge across her chitin-plate armor but didn¡¯t cut all the way through. Receiving its first significant injury infuriated the skinless monstrosity, and it was eager to return the favor. It reared up to stand on two legs, Sharpened its claws while activating another skill to create a combo, then sent them streaking for Jumo. Edge had a bad feeling and brought his polearm up in a Double Slash, while Jumo Dashed to one side to get out of the way. However, the monster¡¯s second skill was something that made its claws grow, giving the crimson blades another two feet in length. One set was blocked by Edge¡¯s dual blade with an impact that knocked him back, but the other was headed straight for Jumo¡¯s fleeing form. Luckily, having one arm restrained impeded the motion of the demon¡¯s attack, mitigating the damage Jumo took. He came away with three ragged lines carved across one arm, but the wounds weren¡¯t deep enough to sever nerves or veins. The crew had done well to endure this long, but the battle was far from over. Chapter 53: Brutal Melee This marked the beginning of a brutal melee. The demon let loose with a furious barrage of blows, attacking with all four limbs along with its tail, horns, and teeth in a seamless combination. Every strike was powerful enough to dish out some serious damage. If someone took more than a glancing blow, they wouldn¡¯t be walking away. By the skin of their teeth, Jumo and Edge kept the monster at bay, dodging most of its attacks and blocking the rest. Each impact reverberated throughout their bodies, threatening to sweep them off their feet. So far, the creature had only revealed three skills. It had a power that let it Extend its claws, and one that Sharpened its natural weapons. Tessa said it¡¯s using a passive skill to buff its Durability, which leaves two skills unaccounted for. I¡¯ll have to watch out for surprises until we learn what they are. By this point, Snake¡¯s poison had taken effect, impairing the monster¡¯s Reflex and Control. Without it, the duo couldn¡¯t have endured the pummeling that followed. Edge didn¡¯t have time to analyze or plan¡ªevery scrap of his attention was riveted on evading one lethal blow after the next, then drawing the monster¡¯s attention whenever it looked away. Since Vortex Shot wasn¡¯t working, Lilly switched to a different skill. It was called Transparency, and it made her bolts turn clear as glass. The demon could still sense them to some extent, but it was having trouble moving out of the way. Every bolt that landed struck a joint, impeding the monster¡¯s mobility. Unfortunately, it deflected the missiles coming for its throat and eyes by tilting its head and catching them on its horns. Edge had the impression that Lilly was waiting for the right moment to combo Transparency with Vortex Shot, since it would require a ton of mana, and she couldn¡¯t afford to miss. Mel circled around whenever there was an opening, coming at the monster from its blind side. It had reevaluated the threat she posed after being wounded earlier in the fight, and used its tail to force the guardswoman back. Mel couldn¡¯t get close enough to land another hit with Force Cleave, but her efforts divided the demon¡¯s attention and took some pressure off Jumo and Edge. Tessa was still hanging back, watching for anything else approaching. Although the woman wasn¡¯t directly engaging the monster, she was an invaluable asset to the team. She had activated her defensive aura to keep everyone on their feet, and called out whenever the demon used a skill, helping them avoid attacks that would have caused critical damage. Although Edge¡¯s crew was even better than he¡¯d thought, he grew increasingly worried as the minutes ticked past. The monster was going to land a heavy hit sooner or later, and the consequences would be catastrophic. But the shadowkillers didn¡¯t seem too worried, so he decided to trust their instincts and focus on playing his role. That being said, it was time to reveal one of the powers he¡¯d been hiding and add another skill into the mix. He let the others know what he was planning, then cast Entangle at full strength. His core ignited in a flash¡ªwarmth blossoming behind his ribs. Refined mana flowed out of his reactor, through his skill socket, and into the ground below his feet. A cluster of writhing vines burst free from the soil a few seconds later, wrapping around one of the monster¡¯s legs. The demon tried to pull free, but his skill was tough enough to resist the pressure. The hulking brute was forced to Sharpen its claws and swipe several times to cut through the tendrils, creating the opening his team had been waiting for. They surrounded the monster in a ring of blades, then made their move as one. Edge unleashed a Double Slash, Mel Force Cleaved, and Jumo Lunged. Meanwhile, Lilly fired off a Vortex Shot, while Snake let loose with a rapid-fire barrage of poisoned crossbow bolts. The monster severed the last pair of vines, then whipped its head up to deflect the Vortex Shot with its horns. Even though it only been kissed by the rapidly-rotating missile, the force whipped its head to one side in a violent arc. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°It¡¯s flaring its defensive skill to mitigate the damage,¡± Tessa yelled. Even still, Team Arrow had finally managed to bring the pain. Snake landed three bolts in the demon¡¯s muscular shoulder, and Mel¡¯s Cleave cut into its tail, although the blade stopped at the bone instead of severing the appendage. Meanwhile, Edge and Jumo scored gaping gashes along both sides of the monster¡¯s torso. ¡°Get back,¡± Tessa cried, and everyone scrambled out of the way. Her warning made all the difference. Half a heartbeat later, the demon activated a skill they hadn¡¯t seen yet. It spun several times in less than a second, lashing out with its natural weapons to form a blender of crimson blades. The attack forced the hunters back and carved some gouges into their armor, but they moved fast enough to avoid taking anything worse than a collection of cuts and bruises. The monster screamed as it came to a stop, enraged by the pain of its wounds. It rose onto two feet and went charging for Jumo, intending to grab him by the shoulders and bite his head off. The move was blindingly fast, but it staggered along the way, letting him Dash to safety before it arrived. The demon lurched from one side to the other as it fought to regain its balance, and one arm dangled at its side. The skinless horror looked down at its uncooperative limb, baffled as to why it was having a hard time controlling its body. ¡°The paralytic agent is finally kicking in,¡± Snake muttered. ¡°Resilient bastard. I¡¯ll wait for an opening, then try to draw Death Mark. I have one other skill that might work too, now that the monster is distracted. When I¡¯m finished, Fox should be able to land some Vortex Shots. Press it hard in the meantime and don¡¯t let it recover. It¡¯s fine to blow through some consumables and your energetic reserves but save a little in the tank for an emergency. Whatever you do, don¡¯t lower your guard. I have a feeling that we haven¡¯t seen its trump card yet.¡± By now, Edge was running short on stamina and his reservoir was about half full. Dealing with the demon¡¯s attacks was incredibly draining, even with his improved attributes. Although his crew had gained the upper hand, they weren¡¯t out of the woods yet. While the monster¡¯s strength was flagging, exhaustion was taking a toll on the hunters too. This is going to end badly if the melee drags on much longer. Thinking back to what Gram had said about consumables being worthless if you died before you used them, Edge decided that it was a perfect opportunity to try out two types that he had never used before, starting by quaffing his very first potion. He had three magical brews to choose from, which he had purchased from the alchemists a short while back. He decided to go with the purple connection, which would boost his Power and Durability for a few minutes. With any luck, it would let him penetrate the demon¡¯s rock-solid defense, while helping him withstand its attacks. ¡°I¡¯m going to use some consumables,¡± Edge warned Jumo and Mel that he was pulling away from the fight. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in 30 seconds.¡± The warriors nodded and moved to contain the demon. Mel still had some energy, since she hadn¡¯t been facing the monster head-on until now. Jumo was using Second Wind¡ªa skill that reduced fatigue. It let him fight at full strength until his mana ran dry. Every time the creature tried to switch targets, he Dashed, blurring as he repositioned before letting loose with a Rapid Barrage to keep it from getting away. By this point, Edge had darted back to stand beside Tessa. He reached into his belt pouch and withdrew a crystal vial containing a violet brew. He popped the cap, brought it to his lips, and downed the contents in a single gulp. The potion¡¯s flavor was bizarre¡ªunlike anything he¡¯d sampled before. It reminded him of a mana seed as far as the intensity was concerned, but instead of tasting divine, the potion was some seriously nasty shit. He fought the urge to gag as it slid down his throat and was absorbed by his body. Five seconds later, energy began pumping into his limbs. His muscles bulged and his tissue grew tougher as his Power and Durability jumped by several points each. The sensation wasn¡¯t as overpowering as spending his free points, which was good, because the potion had a relatively short duration, and he didn¡¯t have time for a lengthy adjustment. While he was waiting for the potion to kick in, Edge had reached into his belt pouch and withdrawn two more items. One was a rag that he had received from Melchior the senior alchemist, after asking the man to teach him how to use weapon oils during their march south. The second object was another vial. This one held the elemental oil that Edge had obtained during the fight with Warren the manslayer. The potent mixture would add electric damage to his polearm¡¯s strikes for the next few hits he landed, and the rag was designed to keep the toxic substance from absorbing into his skin. He opened the vial and poured a third of the contents onto the specialized cloth, then ran the viscous substance over the blade of his naginata. It left a thin coating of fluid behind, with traces of mana and aether blended into the mix. The blade buzzed and crackled as he finished applying the coat. Then he sealed the vial, raised his weapon, and rushed to rejoin the fight. His body felt strong and resilient¡ªboosted beyond its natural limits¡ªand bright sparks were raining from the business end of his polearm. Now it was time to find out just what the high-end consumables could do. Chapter 54: Close Shave Edge darted in and engaged the demon, meeting its attacks head-on for the first time in the fight. With the potion enhancing his attributes, he could block its blows without breaking his bones, and was strong enough to knock it off balance. He stabbed and thrust and swung like mad, occasionally tossing a Double Slash into the mix to fuck with the monster¡¯s timing. With his body boosted and the demon¡¯s diminished, some of his attacks made it past the creature¡¯s guard. His electricity-infused weapon cut into its flesh, transferring a torrent of voltage into the tissue below. The monster screamed as its body smoked, sparked, and spasmed, giving the crew a chance to follow up. Snake had been standing behind Edge and Jumo, waiting to make his move. While the creature was distracted, the man lashed out, wielding his lance with expert precision. One. Two. Three. When the fifth stroke was complete, Death Mark triggered. The skull-shaped wound started shading in, until it looked like a detailed tattoo. ¡°Thank the gods, the mark is working,¡± Snake said. ¡°Our attacks will be more effective now. If you can hold it in place for a few more seconds, I¡¯ll try to land another skill, but don¡¯t take any unnecessary risks.¡± Edge used his glove to retrieve his chakram, infused the weapon with subzero mana, and then flung it as hard as he could. With electric magic still coursing through its body, the monster didn¡¯t notice the attack coming in time to get out of the way. Thanks to Death Mark, the bladed ring bit deep into its inner thigh, freezing a large patch of muscle within a matter of seconds. He swung his Elemental-Blade-bolstered naginata, trying to stiffen the demon¡¯s limbs and hamper its mobility. He sensed the potion¡¯s effect starting to wane, and unleashed a final barrage before it wore off, culminating with a Double Slash/Elemental Blade combo that caught the demon¡¯s knee. The arctic mana encased its joint in a block of frozen blood, locking its limb in place. Edge pulled back just as the potion cut out, leaving him lightheaded and nauseous. While these side effects were distracting, they were nothing compared to Overdrive, and didn¡¯t take him out of the fight. He thought that the battle was almost over, but matters weren¡¯t fated to be resolved so simply. ¡°Look out,¡± Tessa warned. ¡°It¡¯s flaring its passive skill again, even harder than before.¡± The monster¡¯s Durability skyrocketed in that moment, burning through its energetic reserves to regain control of its body. The demon sprang into motion¡ªso fast that its profile was reduced to a streaking skinless blur. It lunged for Jumo, caught his spear with its horns, then twisted its neck to disarm him. It reached for the weaponless hunter, ready to tear him to shreds with its Sharpened claws. Before its arms came down, Tessa was there. She lashed out with her silver sword and drove the tip into the monster¡¯s uninjured knee, shearing through several tendons in a single motion. Its leg buckled when she pulled the blade back, sending the creature crashing to the ground while Jumo retrieved his spear. He stood in front of Tessa as the demon rolled onto all fours, taking some weight off its injured joints. It flicked its tail over its head in a bladed flash, intending to return favor in kind. A heartbeat before the red barb reached Tessa¡¯s throat, Jumo Lunged. He impaled the tail on the point of his spear, carving a deep gash and fouling its aim. The warriors looked at each other, then adjusted their formation. Tessa stood directly behind Jumo¡ªa few steps back so the monster couldn¡¯t reach her. Whenever it came for him, she stepped out and launched a precision attack to its vitals. Whenever the demon tried to push past and take Tessa out of the fight, Jumo forced it back with a Lunge or Rapid Strike. They work beautifully together, especially for the first time. Edge had been circling around to come at the creature from behind. But he aborted the move when Lilly yelled, ¡°Fall back and clear my line of fire!¡± As Tessa and Jumo darted out of the way, Fox stepped forward and assumed the offensive. She was in the middle of activating a powerful skill, judging by the thick bands of mana congealing along the barrel of her boltcaster. ¡°Scattershot,¡± Snake said as she took aim. It wasn¡¯t a power that Edge was familiar with, and he watched on with interest as the shadowkiller let loose. Instead of firing a single bolt when she pulled the trigger, the boltcaster fired one hundred. 99 were mirror images¡ªonly 10% the size of the original¡ªand each traveled in a different direction, granting the skill a spread like a shotgun. He suspected that the power had a relatively short range, but fired from point-blank, Scattershot¡¯s raw damage was incredible to behold. The barrage of bolts shredded the creature¡¯s chest, carving through layers of muscle and fat before the mana-forged missiles wavered out of existence, leaving the original planted between its ribs. While the attack had dealt the demon a grievous wound, it hadn¡¯t penetrated the organs below. Lilly fired a spray of unaugmented bolts to push the monster back, while the crew fell into formation around her. They were ready to take the ugly fucker down, but before the hunters made their move, they learned that it had one last card to play. In between the drawing of one breath and the next, a torrent of mana erupted from the demon¡¯s core and gathered around its horns. At the same time, it activated the skill that let it spin like a dervish. The move scattered the crew across the glade, aggravating the damage to its frozen limbs in the process. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The monster turned to face Mel, just as the energy encasing its head reached critical mass. At that same moment, Skill-Eater awoke. The ravenous lord forced one eye open long enough to let Edge know that demon was about to activate a devastating ranged attack. If Melenia got hit by its skill, it was going to blow a pair of holes straight through her¡ªarmor and all. With no time to spare, Edge Stepped and Leapt, flying across the clearing in a shadowy flash. He rematerialized and shoved Mel to one side as the demon¡¯s horns detached and rocketed forth with incredible force. He twisted his torso in a desperate attempt to dodge, but it was already too late. He managed to get his buckler up fast enough to block one horn. His shield caught the attack and deflected it to one side, destroying the buckler with a tortured screech as the material was stressed beyond its limits. The other projectile caught him in the hollow of his shoulder. Edge had manifested Harden in the nick of time, but the demon¡¯s horns were coated with a portion of its Disruption field. To his dismay, the diamond scales vanished when the crimson ivory touched them. Just as Skill-Eater had warned, the attack punched though his armor and entered his shoulder. The serrated horn erupted out the other side, shredding his muscles, tendons, and bones along the way. He fell to the ground, spasming as blood poured from his wound to splatter against the soil. There must be an anticoagulant poison on those horns, a detached corner of his mind observed. I¡¯m going to bleed out if I¡¯m not careful. Mel screamed and charged the demon, which was about to stomp Edge into oblivion with its cloven hoofs. She let loose a half dozen Force Cleaves within a matter of seconds, driving it back long enough for Jumo to grab him by the arms and drag him toward the border of the clearing. By now, Edge was starting to recover. He¡¯d lost a fair amount of blood, but Regeneration had already sealed the wound. He wasn¡¯t going to die from blood loss after all, although repairing the damage to his shoulder was going to take a while longer. Pushing past the pain, he reached into his belt pouch and removed a crimson blood-restoration pill. He popped it into his mouth and swallowed. He wasn¡¯t sure if the pill had the flavor of blood or if he was tasting his own, before realizing that the shock to his system had muddled his thoughts. A few seconds later, he began feeling better. The lightheadedness and weakness receded as he sat up, watching the climax of the battle as he waited for his legs to grow steady enough to bear his weight. His injury hurt like hell, but it would heal before long. All that mattered was that he had saved Mel and removed the demon¡¯s most powerful skill from the board, leaving it vulnerable to the crew¡¯s assault. ¡°Edge,¡± Snake called out. ¡°Use that vine skill again. Make it obvious that it¡¯s coming.¡± He cast Entangle, manifesting the vines where they were in clear view of the monster. Even in its diminished state, the demon reacted fast. As the grasping tendrils burst free from the soil, it swung its Sharpened claws, severing them before they had a chance to grab hold. But the skill had served its purpose, and Snake made his move the moment the monster was distracted. The shadowkiller ignited his core and drew deeply from his reactor. A dense flow of magic surged out from his feet and traveled into the ground. While the crew kept the demon busy, a silver pillar rose from the soil behind it. ¡°This skill has two functions,¡± Snake explained while moving into position to guard Edge. ¡°The first is a simple tether, which restricts my target¡¯s movement and keeps them from repositioning. With any luck, it will assume that its similar to the vines you¡¯ve been using.¡± While the man spoke, a bright-red rope materialized as the hunter¡¯s mana assumed physical form. One end was tied to the silver pillar, and the other wrapped itself around the monster¡¯s leg. It didn¡¯t even notice as it charged straight for Snake, roaring as it reached out to end his life. Before it could take two steps, the rope drew taut. The line held firm, even as the demon strained against it. The shadowkiller kept on narrating, showing no sign that a peak stage-two monster was doing its best to eviscerate him. ¡°This skill only lasts for a few seconds, but in exchange, it has a powerful conditional component. If my prey breaks the rope before it dissolves on its own, the mana forming the line detonates, creating a powerful shockwave.¡± Sure enough, the next time the creature pulled, the rope snapped. It surged for Snake as the monster hunter brandished his lance, grounded the butt, and lowered the tip. The demon pounced a heartbeat later¡ªjaws spread wide and claws poised to rend. Before its feet left the ground, the crimson cable attached to the monster¡¯s leg discharged. The skill consumed the mana-manifestation like a string of fireworks as it traveled toward the demon¡¯s body, setting off a chain reaction that grew stronger with every inch, until it reached the loop around its leg. In that moment, all the kinetic energy was transferred into its tissue. The intense shockwave reverberated throughout its body, battering every organ, including its brain. A fraction of a second later, the skill-shaken monster landed on Snake¡¯s lance. The weapon plunged deep into its body before jutting out through its back in a tremendous spray of blood. Incredibly, being perforated by the heavy weapon wasn¡¯t enough to kill the creature outright. It Extended its claws and reached out, trying to maul the man who had dared to wound it. But the veteran shadowkiller had already darted to safety, pulling back the moment that his lance landed on target. The demon screamed, lashing out with all four limbs and its tail, trying to pull itself free from the shaft that Snake had anchored to the ground with a skill that Edge wasn¡¯t familiar with. While the monster was reeling from the surprise attack, Lilly moved into its blind spot. She raised her boltcaster and fired a Vortex Shot combined with Transparency, and this time, the demon couldn¡¯t get out of the way. Her rapidly-rotating bolt sank into its torso, fused with the tissue below, then transferred all the momentum into its muscles. Its chest was distorted by the twisting punishment, tearing tissue and shredding tendons to leave a whirlpool-shaped wound behind. It wasn¡¯t enough to finish the fight, but combined with Death Mark, Snake¡¯s poison, Edge¡¯s elemental attacks, and the lingering effects of the shockwave, it lost control of its body, flailing in the dirt while screaming in pain. ¡°Its defensive skill is down,¡± Tessa cried out as she rushed forward with her blade at the ready. ¡°Hit it with everything you have!¡± With that, the crew went in for the kill, skills and blades flashing through the air. Edge wasn¡¯t in any shape to wield his naginata, but he managed a left-handed throw with his chakram that cut into the side of its neck. Even a peak-stage-two monster couldn¡¯t withstand that much punishment without a skill to shield it. It spasmed and then breathed its last¡ªevery organ in its body punctured by one weapon or another. Chapter 54: Close Shave Edge darted in and engaged the demon, meeting its attacks head-on for the first time in the fight. With the potion enhancing his attributes, he could block its blows without breaking his bones, and was strong enough to knock it off balance. He stabbed and thrust and swung like mad, occasionally tossing a Double Slash into the mix to fuck with the monster¡¯s timing. With his body boosted and the demon¡¯s diminished, some of his attacks made it past the creature¡¯s guard. His electricity-infused weapon cut into its flesh, transferring a torrent of voltage into the tissue below. The monster screamed as its body smoked, sparked, and spasmed, giving the crew a chance to follow up. Snake had been standing behind Edge and Jumo, waiting to make his move. While the creature was distracted, the man lashed out, wielding his lance with expert precision. One. Two. Three. When the fifth stroke was complete, Death Mark triggered. The skull-shaped wound started shading in, until it looked like a detailed tattoo. ¡°Thank the gods, the mark is working,¡± Snake said. ¡°Our attacks will be more effective now. If you can hold it in place for a few more seconds, I¡¯ll try to land another skill, but don¡¯t take any unnecessary risks.¡± Edge used his glove to retrieve his chakram, infused the weapon with subzero mana, and then flung it as hard as he could. With electric magic still coursing through its body, the monster didn¡¯t notice the attack coming in time to get out of the way. Thanks to Death Mark, the bladed ring bit deep into its inner thigh, freezing a large patch of muscle within a matter of seconds. He swung his Elemental-Blade-bolstered naginata, trying to stiffen the demon¡¯s limbs and hamper its mobility. He sensed the potion¡¯s effect starting to wane, and unleashed a final barrage before it wore off, culminating with a Double Slash/Elemental Blade combo that caught the demon¡¯s knee. The arctic mana encased its joint in a block of frozen blood, locking its limb in place. Edge pulled back just as the potion cut out, leaving him lightheaded and nauseous. While these side effects were distracting, they were nothing compared to Overdrive, and didn¡¯t take him out of the fight. He thought that the battle was almost over, but matters weren¡¯t fated to be resolved so simply. ¡°Look out,¡± Tessa warned. ¡°It¡¯s flaring its passive skill again, even harder than before.¡± The monster¡¯s Durability skyrocketed in that moment, burning through its energetic reserves to regain control of its body. The demon sprang into motion¡ªso fast that its profile was reduced to a streaking skinless blur. It lunged for Jumo, caught his spear with its horns, then twisted its neck to disarm him. It reached for the weaponless hunter, ready to tear him to shreds with its Sharpened claws. Before its arms came down, Tessa was there. She lashed out with her silver sword and drove the tip into the monster¡¯s uninjured knee, shearing through several tendons in a single motion. Its leg buckled when she pulled the blade back, sending the creature crashing to the ground while Jumo retrieved his spear. He stood in front of Tessa as the demon rolled onto all fours, taking some weight off its injured joints. It flicked its tail over its head in a bladed flash, intending to return favor in kind. A heartbeat before the red barb reached Tessa¡¯s throat, Jumo Lunged. He impaled the tail on the point of his spear, carving a deep gash and fouling its aim. The warriors looked at each other, then adjusted their formation. Tessa stood directly behind Jumo¡ªa few steps back so the monster couldn¡¯t reach her. Whenever it came for him, she stepped out and launched a precision attack to its vitals. Whenever the demon tried to push past and take Tessa out of the fight, Jumo forced it back with a Lunge or Rapid Strike. They work beautifully together, especially for the first time. Edge had been circling around to come at the creature from behind. But he aborted the move when Lilly yelled, ¡°Fall back and clear my line of fire!¡± As Tessa and Jumo darted out of the way, Fox stepped forward and assumed the offensive. She was in the middle of activating a powerful skill, judging by the thick bands of mana congealing along the barrel of her boltcaster. ¡°Scattershot,¡± Snake said as she took aim. It wasn¡¯t a power that Edge was familiar with, and he watched on with interest as the shadowkiller let loose. Instead of firing a single bolt when she pulled the trigger, the boltcaster fired one hundred. 99 were mirror images¡ªonly 10% the size of the original¡ªand each traveled in a different direction, granting the skill a spread like a shotgun. He suspected that the power had a relatively short range, but fired from point-blank, Scattershot¡¯s raw damage was incredible to behold. The barrage of bolts shredded the creature¡¯s chest, carving through layers of muscle and fat before the mana-forged missiles wavered out of existence, leaving the original planted between its ribs. While the attack had dealt the demon a grievous wound, it hadn¡¯t penetrated the organs below. Lilly fired a spray of unaugmented bolts to push the monster back, while the crew fell into formation around her. They were ready to take the ugly fucker down, but before the hunters made their move, they learned that it had one last card to play. In between the drawing of one breath and the next, a torrent of mana erupted from the demon¡¯s core and gathered around its horns. At the same time, it activated the skill that let it spin like a dervish. The move scattered the crew across the glade, aggravating the damage to its frozen limbs in the process. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The monster turned to face Mel, just as the energy encasing its head reached critical mass. At that same moment, Skill-Eater awoke. The ravenous lord forced one eye open long enough to let Edge know that demon was about to activate a devastating ranged attack. If Melenia got hit by its skill, it was going to blow a pair of holes straight through her¡ªarmor and all. With no time to spare, Edge Stepped and Leapt, flying across the clearing in a shadowy flash. He rematerialized and shoved Mel to one side as the demon¡¯s horns detached and rocketed forth with incredible force. He twisted his torso in a desperate attempt to dodge, but it was already too late. He managed to get his buckler up fast enough to block one horn. His shield caught the attack and deflected it to one side, destroying the buckler with a tortured screech as the material was stressed beyond its limits. The other projectile caught him in the hollow of his shoulder. Edge had manifested Harden in the nick of time, but the demon¡¯s horns were coated with a portion of its Disruption field. To his dismay, the diamond scales vanished when the crimson ivory touched them. Just as Skill-Eater had warned, the attack punched though his armor and entered his shoulder. The serrated horn erupted out the other side, shredding his muscles, tendons, and bones along the way. He fell to the ground, spasming as blood poured from his wound to splatter against the soil. There must be an anticoagulant poison on those horns, a detached corner of his mind observed. I¡¯m going to bleed out if I¡¯m not careful. Mel screamed and charged the demon, which was about to stomp Edge into oblivion with its cloven hoofs. She let loose a half dozen Force Cleaves within a matter of seconds, driving it back long enough for Jumo to grab him by the arms and drag him toward the border of the clearing. By now, Edge was starting to recover. He¡¯d lost a fair amount of blood, but Regeneration had already sealed the wound. He wasn¡¯t going to die from blood loss after all, although repairing the damage to his shoulder was going to take a while longer. Pushing past the pain, he reached into his belt pouch and removed a crimson blood-restoration pill. He popped it into his mouth and swallowed. He wasn¡¯t sure if the pill had the flavor of blood or if he was tasting his own, before realizing that the shock to his system had muddled his thoughts. A few seconds later, he began feeling better. The lightheadedness and weakness receded as he sat up, watching the climax of the battle as he waited for his legs to grow steady enough to bear his weight. His injury hurt like hell, but it would heal before long. All that mattered was that he had saved Mel and removed the demon¡¯s most powerful skill from the board, leaving it vulnerable to the crew¡¯s assault. ¡°Edge,¡± Snake called out. ¡°Use that vine skill again. Make it obvious that it¡¯s coming.¡± He cast Entangle, manifesting the vines where they were in clear view of the monster. Even in its diminished state, the demon reacted fast. As the grasping tendrils burst free from the soil, it swung its Sharpened claws, severing them before they had a chance to grab hold. But the skill had served its purpose, and Snake made his move the moment the monster was distracted. The shadowkiller ignited his core and drew deeply from his reactor. A dense flow of magic surged out from his feet and traveled into the ground. While the crew kept the demon busy, a silver pillar rose from the soil behind it. ¡°This skill has two functions,¡± Snake explained while moving into position to guard Edge. ¡°The first is a simple tether, which restricts my target¡¯s movement and keeps them from repositioning. With any luck, it will assume that its similar to the vines you¡¯ve been using.¡± While the man spoke, a bright-red rope materialized as the hunter¡¯s mana assumed physical form. One end was tied to the silver pillar, and the other wrapped itself around the monster¡¯s leg. It didn¡¯t even notice as it charged straight for Snake, roaring as it reached out to end his life. Before it could take two steps, the rope drew taut. The line held firm, even as the demon strained against it. The shadowkiller kept on narrating, showing no sign that a peak stage-two monster was doing its best to eviscerate him. ¡°This skill only lasts for a few seconds, but in exchange, it has a powerful conditional component. If my prey breaks the rope before it dissolves on its own, the mana forming the line detonates, creating a powerful shockwave.¡± Sure enough, the next time the creature pulled, the rope snapped. It surged for Snake as the monster hunter brandished his lance, grounded the butt, and lowered the tip. The demon pounced a heartbeat later¡ªjaws spread wide and claws poised to rend. Before its feet left the ground, the crimson cable attached to the monster¡¯s leg discharged. The skill consumed the mana-manifestation like a string of fireworks as it traveled toward the demon¡¯s body, setting off a chain reaction that grew stronger with every inch, until it reached the loop around its leg. In that moment, all the kinetic energy was transferred into its tissue. The intense shockwave reverberated throughout its body, battering every organ, including its brain. A fraction of a second later, the skill-shaken monster landed on Snake¡¯s lance. The weapon plunged deep into its body before jutting out through its back in a tremendous spray of blood. Incredibly, being perforated by the heavy weapon wasn¡¯t enough to kill the creature outright. It Extended its claws and reached out, trying to maul the man who had dared to wound it. But the veteran shadowkiller had already darted to safety, pulling back the moment that his lance landed on target. The demon screamed, lashing out with all four limbs and its tail, trying to pull itself free from the shaft that Snake had anchored to the ground with a skill that Edge wasn¡¯t familiar with. While the monster was reeling from the surprise attack, Lilly moved into its blind spot. She raised her boltcaster and fired a Vortex Shot combined with Transparency, and this time, the demon couldn¡¯t get out of the way. Her rapidly-rotating bolt sank into its torso, fused with the tissue below, then transferred all the momentum into its muscles. Its chest was distorted by the twisting punishment, tearing tissue and shredding tendons to leave a whirlpool-shaped wound behind. It wasn¡¯t enough to finish the fight, but combined with Death Mark, Snake¡¯s poison, Edge¡¯s elemental attacks, and the lingering effects of the shockwave, it lost control of its body, flailing in the dirt while screaming in pain. ¡°Its defensive skill is down,¡± Tessa cried out as she rushed forward with her blade at the ready. ¡°Hit it with everything you have!¡± With that, the crew went in for the kill, skills and blades flashing through the air. Edge wasn¡¯t in any shape to wield his naginata, but he managed a left-handed throw with his chakram that cut into the side of its neck. Even a peak-stage-two monster couldn¡¯t withstand that much punishment without a skill to shield it. It spasmed and then breathed its last¡ªevery organ in its body punctured by one weapon or another. Chapter 55: Brief Respite Once the demon was lying dead in the dirt, the crew harvested its teeth, claws, tail-barb, and horns, then used Tessa¡¯s powder to get rid of the remains. Edge put the horns into his pack, and after making sure that nothing else was lurking nearby, the hunters sat down to recover from the grueling ordeal. ¡°Those horns look valuable, and the rest of these parts should sell well too.¡± Fox took a rag out of her pack and started wiping down her boltcaster. While she spoke, Edge cleaned the blood from his skin and armor, watching with interest as his garax-leather gear repaired itself. ¡°We have three hours until we need to turn around and head back toward the entrance. Since we reached the end of the maze faster than I expected, I think we should survey the next zone rather than exploring more glades. There¡¯s no guarantee that the path will be clear by the time we return, and pressing on will provide valuable information for Gram to mull over while we sleep.¡± Everyone else felt the same way. Edge rose to his feet before Lilly gestured for him to sit back down. ¡°Not so fast. We¡¯re going to rest here for another half hour. You probably don¡¯t feel it yet, since the adrenaline is still flowing. But even with high Endurance, the stress from fighting powerful monsters will grind you down like a millstone if you don¡¯t stop to decompress every now and again. Make sure to rehydrate and eat something before we head out.¡± It was a sensible suggestion. Now that she mentions it, I do feel tense, and it¡¯s hard to bring my thoughts into focus. While everyone did their best to unwind, the people who had cycled up spent their points. Edge hadn¡¯t managed to hit cycle twenty from the fight, although he had a feeling that he was close. The cycles were coming slowly now that he was nearing the peak of stage one, and the crew had split the experience six ways. However, he didn¡¯t come out of the fight empty-handed. By conditioning your body, your Endurance has increased by 1. By conditioning your body, your Power has increased by 1. The others had made some significant gains too. On top of picking up another cycle, Mel had advanced Force Cleave to rank two. She chose an upgrade that let her detach the force blade and launch it about ten feet, which would let her dish out damage from further back going forward. When she was done looking at her menus, the redheaded warrior walked over and sat down beside him, close enough that their shoulders were touching. She turned to look him in the eyes and said, ¡°Thanks for the save, Edge. I owe you one.¡± ¡°No problem. I know you would do the same for me, and I¡¯m the only one who can stitch myself back together.¡± ¡°I would. But even with Regeneration, that must have really fucking hurt. You saved me from a world of pain and kept me from being forced out of the dungeon on my very first day. I appreciate it, and I¡¯ll find a way to return the favor. The least I can do is replace your shield.¡± Edge didn¡¯t want to trivialize the gesture by objecting. Instead, he nodded, reached over, and clasped Mel on the back. Then he opened his bag and dug into his provisions. While the crew enjoyed a post-battle lunch, everyone reviewed their performance, and the veteran hunters offered some tips based on what they had observed. By the time that he was done eating, he was feeling more energetic, and his mind was clearer than before. Lilly is right. The stress of battle can wear you down without you noticing. While they were resting, Tessa used her skills to scan the boundary of the clearing, trying to get a better idea of what they were walking into before the crew continued their mission. ¡°There are definitely stronger monsters ahead,¡± she said. ¡°Although I don¡¯t sense anything within a hundred yards of our position. The magic permeating the next zone feels different, but I won¡¯t learn more until we head inside.¡± Twenty minutes later, everyone had cooled off and the crew was ready to proceed. ¡°If we run into a monster, don¡¯t engage it unless it attacks.¡± Fox gestured for emphasis. ¡°It¡¯s better to evaluate each target, come up with a plan, and sweep the area for other hostiles first. If we get separated for any reason, meet back here if you can. Otherwise, retreat to the dungeon¡¯s entrance.¡± Edge nodded as the team approached the border of the clearing and took their first steps into the adjoining zone. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The first thing they noticed was that there weren¡¯t any trails leading deeper into the Savage Garden. Instead, the foliage forming the maze thinned out, transitioning into a zone that looked more like the jungle outside. Although they had to remain on guard against ambush and didn¡¯t know what to expect, Edge let out a sigh of relief upon leaving the twisting confines of the narrow pathways, with their imposing walls of vegetation boxing him in. The hunters were able to walk in a loose cluster instead of a long line, which left them less vulnerable to being picked off, especially Jumo and Edge. They were heading toward greater danger, but the terrain in this zone was far more favorable. They could still be attacked at any moment, but it would be easier to see trouble coming. Better still, they could fight in formation without being forced to retreat to a clearing to have enough room to maneuver. ¡°The corrupted magicytes are growing thicker,¡± Tessa reported as they walked deeper into the zone, keeping the bamboo wall on their left so they didn¡¯t get turned around. Edge couldn¡¯t sense the difference himself, but the stench of the filth had grown stronger, revealing that the monsters inhabiting this region were even stronger than the others they had faced. The hunters would have to watch out for more peak stage-two opponents, possibly even monsters that had evolved to early stage three. While Snake assured them that the six-member team could handle some stage-three enemies with proper preparation and a solid strategy, others would be too tough to tackle alone. If they ran into something particularly powerful, they would send up a flare to mark its location, then consult with Gram and solicit help from the other clearing crews before taking it on. Rather than trying to survey a wide swath of the zone, which they decided to call ¡°the jungle¡± for reference, the crew decided to keep following the dungeon¡¯s wall. They planned to advance for another two hours, learn whatever they could about the region¡¯s inhabitants and theme, and take a peek into the next zone over if the opportunity presented itself. Then it would be time to head back to base camp, report their findings, rest up, and come back bright and early the next morning. With any luck, the reserve crews would have culled a fair portion of the monsters living in the maze while Edge was asleep, and it would be easier for Team Arrow to reach the jungle the second time around. They didn¡¯t run into anything threatening over the next hour, although there was ample evidence that the monsters were warring here too. ¡°I don¡¯t see any of the corrupted pools,¡± Edge said. ¡°I wonder what they are fighting over in this zone.¡± ¡°The magicytes are distributed more like a normal dungeon here,¡± Snake replied. ¡°The monsters are absorbing them from the air and ground, and even more from devouring each other. I suspect that there is another type of corrupted resource here too¡ªmore concentrated than the pools but less ubiquitous.¡± ¡°It probably grows in random locations rather than a preset layout,¡± Fox added. ¡°Like how mana seeds form in the wild. We will know more once we make it back to camp and learn what the other crews discovered.¡± The hunters made good time as they pressed ahead, only stopping to avoid a peak stage-two centipede that Fox and Snake didn¡¯t like the look of. The crew came to a stop when the trees began to thin, revealing a sizable hillock in the distance. Since it was a perfect spot to survey their surroundings, they decided to climb the rise, see what they could see, and then double back and head for the exit. The hill was taller than most of the trees, and after they ascended to the crest, Edge was able to get his first good look at the dungeon¡¯s layout. When he took out his spyglass and peered into the distance, he discovered that the Savage Garden¡¯s third zone was some manner of swamp, which is what they decided to call it. The swamp was an inhospitable landscape filled with shallow pools and vast stretches of mud. Thin fingers of dry land wove their way across the zone, presenting a maze of a different sort. Anything could be lurking below the water, and the crew would be under the constant threat of ambush while crossing it if it wasn¡¯t for Tessa¡¯s mana sensitivity. He could make out crocodile and serpentine monsters in the distance, as well as the profiles of distant flyers. After Fox pulled out a map and added everything in sight, the crew started walking back the way they had come. By this point, everyone was growing tired, and they decided to wait until tomorrow before picking any more fights. Edge still needed to steal some skills, although he could always do a bit of solo hunting near base camp if he didn¡¯t get a chance before leaving the dungeon. Since the jungle offered superior visibility to the maze, they were able to observe several of its inhabitants on the march. The hunters learned that although the theme of the Savage Garden was every creature for itself, they didn¡¯t always fight alone. Sometimes, the monsters formed temporary alliances of convenience, which lasted until their prey was dead before erupting into a storm of violence. Twenty minutes after leaving the hillock, Team Arrow discovered something vital regarding the nature of the dungeon. As it happened, the boss wasn¡¯t the only elite monster in here¡ªthe Savage Garden was home to other entities that were pure nightmare fuel. A sensation of overwhelming danger broke over Edge, just as Tessa flashed a hand signal indicating that she had detected something too dangerous to fight. He realized that he could feel the ground rumbling beneath his boots. Something big was coming, and it was almost on top of them. Chapter 56: Mini Boss Shit. This is bad. Edge wracked his brain in the fleeting handful of heartbeats he had left, trying to come up with anything he could do that would help his crew escape from a powerful monster. He could Conceal himself, but there was no guarantee that it would work against an enemy that was far above his stage. Even if it did, the skill wouldn¡¯t help the rest of his team survive whatever was headed their way. Making a bad situation worse, there wasn¡¯t substantial cover anywhere nearby. If the crew turned and ran, they would advertise their presence to every monster in the jungle, drawing even more trouble to their location. ¡°Freeze,¡± Snake whispered, then ignited his core. ¡°Sit down, then don¡¯t say a word or move a muscle. Veil of Insignificance will protect us if we don¡¯t draw attention to ourselves. It¡¯s a skill that affects the perceiver¡¯s mind, not the physical world. It won¡¯t make us invisible, but anything that senses us will categorize us as beneath its notice¡ªlike bugs crawling through the grass.¡± As he spoke, the shadowkiller lowered himself to the ground and sat perfectly still, like he didn¡¯t have a care in the world. Everyone else followed suit as the clamor of something crashing through the overgrowth drew near. By now, Edge could see treetops toppling as something massive forced its way between the trunks. Every instinct he had was telling him to either run or fight. That stopping in plain sight was tantamount to suicide. But he trusted his team¡¯s veteran members. Not so much Snake himself, although Edge had to admit that the man was growing on him, but the skillset that had allowed the shadowkiller to hunt the living nightmares that walked the face of Ord and survive long enough to reach stage two. Edge could smell the creature before it came into view. Every monster he had fought had stank in its own gag-inducing way. The more powerful the entity, the worse the reek. But nothing else that had the misfortune of crossing his nostrils had been this foul, this wrong. Even pinching his nose, it smelt like someone had taken a net full of fish, slathered them in shit, deep fried the whole thing in a vat of boiling vomit, and then left it to rot in the sun. And that was being generous. Ten seconds later, it appeared. He caught a glimpse of something that was shimmering like an oil slick, with an occasional flash of white. Then the trees in front of him came crashing to the ground, and the monster came into view. He knew in that moment that it was stage three, significantly more powerful than the demon. It looked like a ball of oily slime the size of a house that was covered in reaching pseudopods. The gelatinous creature left death in its wake. The ground cover was reduced to sludge when it touched the blob¡¯s exterior. He realized that it hadn¡¯t been knocking down the trees. Not the old-fashioned way at any rate. Instead, any trunk that brushed against its bulk dissolved. Some of the treetops fell into the monster, and the rest toppled the other way. Edge was sure that if it did more than graze him, he would meet a similar fate. Even Skill-Eater wanted nothing to do with it. His core could sense powerful skills inside the monster, some of which it wouldn¡¯t mind claiming. But it wasn¡¯t worth going head-to-head against that thing. Not that he was inclined to fight it either way. He didn¡¯t have anything in his arsenal that could injure the massive amorphous monster, let alone contend with its life-draining touch. And that wasn¡¯t even the worst of it. By now, Edge was close enough to get at good look at the white bits floating inside the grey sludge. His eyes widened when he realized they were bones. Or, more accurately, complete skeletons that were trapped inside the blob¡¯s mass. Some were beasts, and others were monsters, but a few of them were human. He had no idea why the creature was storing them inside its body until another monster came into view. This one looked like a cow from out of a fever dream, although it had clearly seen better days. It was wounded and must have been running from a fight¡ªinadvertently sending it straight into the path of something even worse. The bovine monstrosity looked up, saw the blob, and let out a panic-saturated scream. It turned to run, but it was already too late. Edge thought that the quivering abomination would come charging straight in, engaging its prey head-to-head. But it turned out that this creature preferred an indirect approach to slaughter. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. With a series of sickly plops, a dozen skeletons came rising to the surface before being ejected from the blob¡¯s mass¡ªeach coated in a layer of foul-smelling goo. Some landed in front of the fleeing monster, forming a ring of slime-covered ivory around its position. It missed, but that ranged attack is bad news. Edge expected the injured monster to run right through. Instead, the hideous cow came to a skidding stop while letting out a terrified screech. He learned the reason why three seconds later, when each of the skeletons rose to its feet and attacked as one. Scratch that. It didn¡¯t miss after all. When he took a closer look at the gruesome creations, he noticed that the blob¡¯s tissue was animating each skeleton¡ªgelatinous goo serving the role of tendon and muscle. It seemed that the monster¡¯s life-draining touch didn¡¯t extend to its minions. Instead, they fought with their natural weapons, battling with tooth and claw. Their strange state of being didn¡¯t seem to impair them at all, and the skeletons moved with a crisp precision that he had come to associate with experienced fighters. On top of everything else, it was fucking weird to watch humans and monsters fighting side by side, even as cadavers. Edge had never seen anything like it in all his decades of being glued to the feed. The blob was using an incredibly-powerful skill, and he hadn¡¯t come close to seeing everything that it could do. A fact that he became aware of three heartbeats later, when the slime-coated skeletons started using skills of their own. The furry monster tried to run, but the animated corpses moved to block its path, no matter which direction it fled. It let out a wail of despair and made its final stand, unleashing a flurry of blows that shattered one of the skeletons before the cow was overwhelmed by the rest. Once the battle was over, the blob flowed over to the fresh corpse and pulled the dead monster inside its body. Its flesh melted away within a matter of seconds, leaving a pristine skeleton behind¡ªa new minion for the creatures¡¯ portable army. Its minions had been guarding the creature while it fed, and when it was finished, they walked back into the blob¡¯s body to float within the goo. Then the elite monster began moving once more. It was heading straight toward the crew, and Edge was afraid that they would have to make a break for it after all. Even if the hunters were beneath the creature¡¯s notice, if it touched them, they would die all the same. Just before they were forced to rise and run, twin battle cries rang out in the distance as two monsters began a fresh fight to the death. He let out a shuddering sigh when the blob turned toward the sound and flowed in that direction, passing the hunters with less than twenty feet to spare. For a long moment, everyone remained frozen in place, coming to grips with what they¡¯d seen. Then the hunters rose to their feet and began walking in the opposite direction, heading for the entrance to the dungeon on the far side of the maze. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± Jumo shuddered. ¡°That¡¯s the worst monster I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°I have no idea,¡± Fox replied. ¡°It¡¯s not like anything I¡¯ve ever encountered. I¡¯ve heard of corpse reanimators, but that blob was way stronger than anything in our association¡¯s records.¡± ¡°It¡¯s likely something unique that evolved in this bizarre environment,¡± Snake said. "A byproduct of the endless cycle of consumption that rules the Savage Garden.¡± He sighed, then sent up a signal flare to warn the other crews that an elite enemy was in the area. ¡°It¡¯s going to take all the clear teams to kill it, and probably Gram too. Even then, I¡¯d prefer to avoid it if at all possible.¡± However, conquering the dungeon without taking out the blob wasn¡¯t an option. A fact that the hunters became aware of when Tessa opened her Guide and read through her updates. ¡°Ah hell,¡± she said. ¡°Everyone should check out their logs. We just received a quest.¡± Edge did as she suggested, eyes widening by the word as he read. Supplementary Quest: Open the Boss¡¯s Chamber My day just got a lot more interesting, and something tells me that yours did too. Here¡¯s the deal. The door to the boss¡¯s room was sealed after an unsuccessful ¡°attempt.¡± To break the seal, you must first defeat three elite monsters roaming the Savage Garden. You can think of them as mini-bosses, including the slimy fellow you came oh so close to getting to know on an intimate basis before hiding like a bunch of cowards. Stop edging me and fucking fight it already! But all risk and no reward makes for a dull show. So, in addition to opening the door to the final room of the dungeon, each person participating in a mini-boss kill will receive a fantastic prize, the details of which will be revealed after you encounter them for the first time. Your reward for defeating the slime mini-boss will be (divided evenly by your team): 250,000 Credits, 50 Mortium, and 25 high-grade potions. ¡°Edging.¡± Mel snorted and looked right at him. ¡°That¡¯s a good one.¡± ¡°I knew parts of the System got fried when the anomaly occurred,¡± Jumo said. ¡°It keeps getting weirder and weirder.¡± ¡°It looks like we¡¯re going to have to fight that thing after all.¡± Fox shook her head. ¡°But not alone and not today. Let¡¯s get the hell out of here and let Gram know what we¡¯ve learned. I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯ve had enough surprises for one afternoon, and I have a sinking feeling that we¡¯ve only scratched the surface of what the Savage Garden has in store.¡±