OATH OF THE SURVIVOR 2

©2025 JAMES MEYER

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Also In Series

Oath of the Survivor

Book One

Book Two

Book Three

* * *

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Thank you for reading Oath of the Survivor 2

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Chapter 1

“The world is going to… what?” Kyle was shocked as he processed what Chester said.

“Your planet will die, as will all life remaining on it. Riftwyrm attacks are no laughing matter, and I’m afraid this was a particularly nasty case. Frankly, I was surprised when our scans indicated that there were still so many survivors.”

“Hold on a minute.” Kyle interrupted, a question burning in his mind. “What do you mean, ‘attack’?”

“Exactly what I said, your planet was attacked, though for all intents and purposes you could consider it to be a natural disaster. Riftwyrms are monsters at the A Grade and are exceedingly rare. I have no idea why one would appear in a remote sector like this.”

Kyle grew cold, fighting to keep his expression neutral. Is that what the presence is? An A Grade monster? It didn’t explain everything, but several pieces did fall into place. One thing was for sure; the next time he found himself absorbing a crimson orb, he’d have some questions he was going to get answers to. For now, though, he didn’t want to let on any more than was necessary. While he believed that the others didn’t want to fight, he wasn’t going to risk making them think he was somehow related to the creature.

Fortunately, Garth didn’t share his compunction.

“How common are these attacks? And beyond that, why is a mining company delivering the message?”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as Chester seemed lost in thought, broken by an annoyed Skippy.

“Corthian Mining showed up because there’s usually some really good stuff that gets left in the wake of these kinds of attacks. Mana interacting with your world and all that. So the Collective gives companies free reign to snatch up all the goodies so long as they do a halfway decent job getting people off world.” The gray-skinned alien’s voice was distinctly male to Kyle’s ear, though it had a strange buzzing quality to it. Chester was glaring daggers at the smaller creature, who seemed not to care as it grinned devilishly. The human must have felt that it was necessary to add some context, and he quickly shared more of his thoughts.

“That’s only a piece of the equation, though not wholly incorrect. It’s true that we get first access to any natural treasures that could be left in the wake of the attack, but that’s just to offset the costs of rescue. As you can imagine, it takes a significant number of resources to make an effort like this work.”

Garth frowned for a moment before speaking.

“What kind of natural treasures? Are we to believe you’re going to strip mine our planet?”

Chester sighed.

“In some ways, yes. There will be extraction of various ores and metals that have been influenced by the mana. We will be searching for other, unique treasures. It’s unpredictable exactly how this energy will react, though it is almost assured we will find several items of considerable value.”

Kyle nodded at that information. To an extent, it made a lot of sense. He honestly would have been more wary if they claimed to be offering rescue for nothing. No such thing as a free lunch, after all. Suddenly, the massive pig-like creature—Duroc—began to approach Kyle. He immediately activated Haste and raised his baton, and he could feel the mana gathering behind him, no doubt Garth preparing a skill as well. Duroc seemed largely unbothered as it approached, beady black eyes looking down at the Healer. Its voice came out in a high-pitched whine. “I can smell it on you. You have food, and I’m hungry. Can I have some?”

Kyle was dumbstruck by the question, and he could tell Garth felt the same. It held his eyes with its own, blinking quickly.

“Uh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

It wasn’t a great response, but it was the only thing Kyle could think to say.

A sudden snorting sound grabbed all their attention, and to Kyle’s surprise, it was Chester Drake trying—and failing—to hold back riotous laughter.

After composing himself, he said, “Why don’t we head to the shuttle. There’s food there, Duroc. And Mr. Mayhew, I think you can agree that if we wanted to crush you, we could. Skippy on his own would be more than enough to handle you, your friend, and all the people in this settlement. We truly do want to talk and cooperate.”

That was logic Kyle couldn’t argue with. Still, there was no need to take unnecessary risks. “Garth, can you get the survivors here organized and ready to move? I’ll do my best to work out a plan.”

The grizzled soldier looked like he wanted to argue about splitting up. However, he must have understood the implication of Kyle’s words—stay back, and if anything goes sour, try to share what happened. Wordlessly, Garth nodded. Satisfied that his friend would do his part, he turned back to Chester, Skippy, and Duroc.

“One thing, Chester. It’s Dr. Mayhew, not Mr.”

Surprisingly sharp eyes met his, and Kyle met them with equal intensity.

“With all due respect, Mr. Mayhew, but you are not certified by the Collective, you do not have a meaningful understanding of medical best practices for the various species of the universe, and you are standing before us as more of a Warrior than a Healer. While that may pass for a doctor in this backwater, our standards are much higher. Now come; we have work to do.”

Chester turned on his heel, and the three D Grades made their way toward their vessel. They had landed on the planet via shuttle, with their main ship still in orbit. The shuttle was boxy, nearly fifty meters long, with dozens of individual pods lining the outer hull. It almost looked like a massive shipping container, if it weren’t for the glowing formation of runes drawing mana and keeping it afloat. It was similar to the now-damaged set on C.H.A.D.D. that allowed it to move, albeit on a massive scale. Using Auric Perception, Kyle could pick up hints of similar formations winding across the entire surface of the shuttle, with the exception of the pods.

Quietly, Kyle whispered, “C.H.A.D.D., see if you can get a good scan of those runes. I’d be interested to get a closer look when we get some time.”

[CERTAINLY, DR MAYHEW. TURN SLOWLY.]

If the others noticed the exchange or Kyle’s slow twirl, they didn’t show it. One by one, they approached a small terminal set next to a heavy metal door. Skippy and Duroc went first, each placing their hand on the access panel before entering. Chester turned to Kyle.

“This reacts to your mana signature, nothing more. I’m going to give you guest credentials viable for one entry, and if we can find a way to work together we’ll iron out the other details.” Without waiting for a response, he fiddled with something on the terminal, then gestured for Kyle to come up and rest his palm on it. Kyle paused for only a moment before going along with it. He was already so far beyond anything he’d planned for, he might as well see it through. If they wanted him dead, there wasn’t much he could do, so he might as well see the inside of a bona fide spaceship while he had the chance.

Walking inside, Kyle’s eyes were drawn to the thick metal walls. The interior was austere and felt clearly utilitarian in nature. That was within his expectations, until they turned a corner to find a quaint, carved wooden table. A person wearing the same type of suit as Chester brought trays of warm food, something very similar to a fluffy pancake with vegetables mixed in. The three others sat and tucked in with gusto, Duroc devouring his first pancake at a level worthy of his porcine appearance.

“Is there anything bothering you, Mr. Mayhew?”

Chester Drake’s polite question in combination with his raised eyebrow made Kyle well aware that he’d just been staring at them all as they devoured the steaming piles of food, and he quickly snapped his gaze to meet the other man’s.

“Yes, thank you. Before anything else… you’re human, aren’t you?”

“Quite. Humans are far more common out in the wider universe than you may expect, Mr. Mayhew. By sheer volume, we make up nearly 70 percent of the sapient life that we’re aware of. Some of us have even risen to relative prominence, all things considered. And rest assured, all the food and drink provided is edible. Please, eat.”

“So none of the other humans are from Earth?”

“I assume you mean this planet. None that I’ve encountered—the oldest records of humanity are from several worlds near the center of Collective space. There are many theories about why that is, though it’s still largely a mystery.”

“How many other species are there?”

“Countless. Though the Collective—the primary governing body—is made up of five sitting species. Now, the rest of the history lesson can wait for another time. Please, eat.”

Some of this information Kyle was aware of. The Originators had discovered other enlightened life and gone off-planet to make their way in the broader universe. Still, having a group of aliens show up out of nowhere was something he’d never prepared for. Kyle didn’t know what he expected alien contact would look like, but being served a warm meal and drink suspiciously like coffee wasn’t anywhere on the list. Still, he was hungry. Watching Duroc and Skippy both digging in helped to ease his drifting mind a bit, and he took the fluffy pancake into his hands.

Taking a bite, Kyle had to fight back an audible groan of satisfaction. The texture was firm but springy, with a delightful crunch each time he bit into the strange vegetables. It was leaps and bounds better than anything he’d eaten since the cataclysm occurred. The group ate in amicable silence, with Duroc having eaten four of the pancakes before Kyle could finish his. Finally, with the table clear, Chester spoke. “Now that we’ve had a chance to eat, let’s discuss the matters at hand.”

Chapter 2

Seamlessly, Chester continued.

“As Skippy mentioned before, this is a capital-intensive process. Our primary ship is in orbit, and our crew will begin to work on identifying areas worth further exploration and extraction. They will also be confirming initial estimates on the timeline until your planet’s core is no longer stable. This will take several days. By that time, my hope is that we can establish a better picture of how many survivors we have and secure cooperation from local leaders. From there, I will begin coordinating with headquarters, and personnel transports will be sent this way to begin loading up your people. With luck, we’ll get the majority off-world.”

Kyle was a little taken aback by the cold, analytical approach. Earth was experiencing an extinction event unlike anything before, and Chester was talking as though he was giving directions to get to a grocery store. Kyle’s surprise at the tone turned to suspicion. As a doctor, he had broken bad news more than once. Bedside manner was important, trained from the early days of medical school and hammered home during residency. In his career, he had only met two types of doctors who struggled: the ones who didn’t care and the ones who were too burned out by what they’d seen. To deliver the message the way he did, Kyle felt confident that Chester was one of the two. So, against his better judgment, he asked the man.

“Mr. Drake, you’re awfully calm about the destruction of everything I know. Is it because you can’t be bothered to care, or because you’ve seen it too many times?”

There was a little more heat in his voice than he intended, but he resolved himself as he met the other man’s gray eyes, refusing to be the first to look away.

Chester sighed.

“Truthfully, I don’t care. I would have much rather stayed home or taken on a more interesting project, and this type of frontier work is well below my pay grade. However, we had some… unique circumstances with this expedition, and I was asked to lead it personally to ensure the greatest possibility for success. And I have no intention of disappointing on that front. Now, if you’re done questioning my motivations, can we continue?”

The man’s tone didn’t change, and his expression didn’t shift. There was no hint of subterfuge, at least not that Kyle could pick up. Still not quite satisfied, Kyle played a card he’d been holding.

“Hey Duroc, what do you think about Chester? Do you trust him?” The porcine alien had been incredibly direct thus far, and Kyle had the feeling that while Chester may technically be in charge, Duroc and Skippy fell outside his authority.

Without hesitating, Duroc squealed his answer.

“He’s not bad. One of the best foremen Corthian Mining has. Benjamin said—” Duroc was cut off by Skippy punching him in the arm, making a sound like a thunderclap.

The strike would have sent most people flying, though it just made the large creature’s arm wiggle a bit. Duroc seemed to get the hint.

“Oh, that’s right, I’m not supposed to talk about Benja—” SMACK! Another punch to the arm, and Duroc kept his mouth shut.

An awkward silence followed, before Chester let out a sigh as he rubbed his forehead with his left hand. “I’d prefer if we pretended that didn’t happen.” Kyle was more curious than ever, though he had no intentions of prying while sitting in the heart of their own ship.

“Consider the matter dropped. As far as your objective is concerned, if you’re telling the truth, I don’t think there’s much point in me arguing with you. Folks aren’t exactly lining up to save us, and you all seem like a decent bunch. Prove to me you’re telling the truth, and you’ll have my full support.”

For whatever little it’s worth he thought, keeping that last bit to himself.

“We can certainly do that. If you’ll all excuse me, I’ll go get the scans of the planet. The results are conclusive.”

“It’s called Earth, Chester. Our planet is called Earth.”

Looking a little surprised, Chester nodded.

“Then I’ll get the scans of Earth.”

With that, Chester stood and left the three of them sitting at the out-of-place wooden table. As soon as the man was out of sight, Skippy stood up with a big grin and crossed arms.

“Your shield was pretty good. What is it? How does it work? Was it an upgraded skill or a new offering? What is your class, by the way?”

Kyle was a little taken aback by the directness of the small gray alien, though being badgered to share information with people who didn’t need to know was a situation he’d dealt with every day in the clinic.

“Those are a lot of personal questions, Skippy. I’m afraid I’m not going to share any of that with you until I get to know you better.”

In his experience, handling these situations with professional bluntness was the best way to go. It worked on nervous parents, upset spouses, and concerned children. It did not, however, work on curious gray fighters.

“Fine. My name is Skierepallix. I was born in an impoverished mining world. Now I’m here.”

His grin slowly faded as the silence wore on, with both he and Kyle staring at one another. His foot began to tap on the ground, faster and faster until he uncrossed his arms with an exasperated noise.

“You know me better now! So get talking! I want to know how your shield works. If you don’t tell me, I’m just gonna punch you and make you use it until I figure it out.”

That startled Kyle, and he immediately jumped to his feet and took his stance. Skippy’s smile returned as he gathered mana into his fist before he was unceremoniously slammed to the ground by a massive unseen force. The metal flooring below Skippy began to creak and moan as Duroc casually walked over and grabbed the smaller alien. Somehow, the squealing voice conveyed incredible severity.

“If you break his table, he’s going to take it out of our pay. Worse, we might not get to eat dinner here anymore. Cut it out. Now.”

It was only when he focused his Auric Perception on Duroc that Kyle realized what was happening, and it sent a chill of fear down his spine. The pig-like creature had used mana to greatly magnify gravity in the area around Skippy, showcasing not only an impressive amount of mana but incredibly precise control. And seeing how Duroc took Skippy’s hits earlier… yeah, there’s no way I could win. Kyle had the distinct impression that the porcine alien was likely the single most powerful individual that he’d ever met, and that was without having a great understanding of most of Duroc’s abilities.

Their antics over the last few hours had nearly made him forget the stark reality that these two were likely even stronger than his grandfather had been before he died. Still, that gave Kyle an idea. He was mulling through it while he watched Duroc and Skippy argue when Chester returned. He carried with him a small metallic disk the size of his hand, inlaid with a variety of different runes. He looked at Skippy, still being held aloft by the casually standing Duroc, and Kyle recognized the look of exhaustion and resignation in the other human’s expression. Been there, Kyle thought. Without even addressing the aliens, Chester placed the disk on the table.

The runes began to whir, and a moment later an image of Earth was projected in three dimensions over the table. Chester fiddled with some of the runes, and the image shifted to show energy that was quite familiar to Kyle pulsing across the planet.

“This is a scan of the mana of your planet that we ran after approaching. We are here.”

He gestured to a spot on the map that Kyle recognized as Duilleag and saw a faint haze of red-tinged mana swirling over the area. Chester turned the globe around, and Kyle’s breath caught as he saw the intensity of the chaotic energy grow in magnitude as it approached the epicenter of the blast, an area deep in the Indian Ocean.

Deep crimson mana swirled around the area, and as he watched the image, he saw the problem. Without thinking, he spoke.

“The planet is leaking mana from its core.”

“Quite right. The Riftwyrm managed to pierce to the center of your world in its attack, and the energies are now leaking out. Furthermore, the effect is amplifying. It’s slow for now, but within five years your planet will destabilize to the point that it simply crumbles apart. That leaves you all with fairly limited time to organize for an evacuation, as it will take at least a year for our transports to begin arriving. Are you satisfied with the urgency of the task?”

“I am.”

Kyle replied, the rest of his idea snapping into place.

“I can help get a meeting with the right people to organize all of this.”

He stopped, looking at Duroc and Skippy.

“Though I’ll need your help.”

Chapter 3

Skippy laughed after hearing Kyle’s plan, while Duroc and Chester just stared at him, trying to measure if he was serious or not. Finally, the pig-like alien broke the silence, tilting his head as he spoke.

“Your world is seriously messed up; do you know that? I mean, my planet has its issues, but this is a different kind of strange. You’re really telling me that one person is calling the shots for all of you?”

Kyle could only smile as he looked at the group.

“I know it’s a little odd. That’s why I’ll need all of you to come along and make a show of force. Trust me, it’ll go a lot smoother this way. To confirm, you are the only three D Grades in the expedition? If there’s any more of you, it would be a help.”

Chester shook his head.

“We’re the only three who will be of help. We have a D Grade engineer and our expedition’s head physician on the flagship, which is where they will stay.”

The man’s crossed arms and stiff posture made it clear there was no budging on the matter. That was all right with Kyle—just one or two of them would have likely made his plan work, much less having all three.

“That’s not a problem at all, Chester. I really appreciate the help. Let’s loop in with Garth, and we can go from there.”

Skippy stopped laughing, looking directly at Kyle.

“Why do you want to bring him at all? He’s only E Grade, and not terribly powerful at that. He’d just get in the way.”

“I’m not sure how it is where you’re from, but D Grades don’t exactly grow on trees around here. Hell, I’m the first one that I’m aware of to evolve in over a century. And outside of being one of the best fighters here, he’s also somebody that both I and the people in the capital trust. Without that, we might as well not go at all.”

Kyle was deadly serious about the last point. As he considered how to inform the survivors about the death of the planet, he kept coming back to one thing. DeRosa would never allow a deviant like him to get a platform to speak. If he was let in at all, he’d be undermined and discredited at every turn. He hadn’t done himself any favors by keeping himself so distant from the people he saved, and he knew he just wasn’t a match for the councilman in terms of playing politics. Instead, he would have to rely on what he could do, trusting Garth would play along.

* * *

“This is never going to work.”

Garth’s voice was flat, as was the look in his eyes.

“It isn’t that bad, is it?” Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. were waiting with Garth outside the ship while Chester made arrangements for them to board. The foreman wanted to get express permission to allow them more than one-time guest access, which Kyle could appreciate. If there was one thing he was well acquainted with, it was bureaucracy. Even though he wasn’t asking them to take any undue risks, there were some things just worth running up the chain.

“It’s pretty bad, Kyle. You don’t know DeRosa like I do. He won’t respond well to a show of force.”

“He won’t respond well to anything, Garth. You know that he won’t listen to us if we show up hat in hand. He’ll see it as an attempt to take his power and rally the people around him. You told me how bad it got after the other coup attempt. This could go even worse.”

“I’m telling you. You. Don’t. Know. Him. This is a dangerous gamble. People aren’t going to trust you after you pull a stunt like this, Kyle. Hell, half the folks you brought to Nierburg were almost as scared of you as they were of being out in the wild.”

Kyle sighed. “That’s why I’m not asking them to trust me. I’m asking them to trust you.”

Garth looked to be about to respond, but they were interrupted as the main door to the shuttle opened. Chester walked out, no longer wearing the space suit he seemed to be wearing before. Instead, he was wearing rich brown robes with gold inlays, mana visibly shimmering around him. The sleeves of the robe were long, his hands covered by them. His eyes glowed faintly with energy, though Kyle wasn’t sure if he’d have been able to spot it without Auric Perception.

“Gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Given the circumstances on your planet, headquarters has deemed it allowable to follow your proposed course of action. I will make one thing clear—if this in any way puts my crew or the other parts of the expedition at risk, we will leave. Furthermore, should you be attempting to lure us into a trap, we will respond with extreme force. In addition, our flagship has been instructed not to request evacuation until the shuttle’s safe return.”

“Chester, I hope you don’t think that we’d⁠—”

“Of course I don’t think that you’re attempting a betrayal. However, as the foreman of this expedition, it would be irresponsible of me not to have contingencies and to make sure you understood the consequences of the actions. Now come, I’ll be granting you both guest access to the shuttle for the next twenty-four hours.”

* * *

Porter Rathman struggled to keep the smile off his face. They had received news just the other day that Garth Boltsbury and Terrance Banehaus had been presumed killed in action. Supposedly, Terrance had been killed in a surprise attack by the encampment they’d visited, and Garth sacrificed his life to give his team and freed slaves room to escape. If Councilman DeRosa was upset, he didn’t show it, and even better, he appointed Porter to his old position guarding the gate. Ever since the fiasco at the gate all those months ago, he’d been walking in Boltsbury’s shadow. Now, he was back on top.

His first order of business had been to put Garth’s team on leave. No need to remind himself of the man, though eventually he’d have to talk with them at length, even if it was to disband them. He was considering what excuses would be best to have them removed when he noticed a hum on the wind. Frowning, he turned his attention to the forest. The sound was growing louder by the moment, and his eyes widened as he saw its source. It wasn’t coming from the woods, but from far above them. A metallic craft reminiscent of a shipping container was descending rapidly, brightly lit runes all across its surface drawing in ambient mana to slow it as it touched down on the ground a kilometer away.

A door opened, and he could see four figures stepping out. The largest was a massive pig-like creature with a huge tower shield and wearing full plate armor. Beside it was a small, scrawny gray creature without a hair on its head. The third was a man in resplendent brown and gold robes, and the fourth was clad in reflective black armor, carrying a large bundle on its back. The Ranger on his squad, Rodney, stood next to him, slack-jawed. The two other Mages on his team were shuffling nervously, not having enough Perception to quite see what was going on. Rathman was the first to recover, and he turned to the Ice Mage beside him.

“Mobilize the reserves and alert the councilman. Rodney, stop staring and start shooting! They clearly aren’t here to talk you idiot!”

The group sprang into action, with Rodney sighting down his rifle.

“Start with the mage.”

Rodney obliged, taking aim at the human in the brown robes. They were typically the easiest to pin down, and with the practiced ease of a professional, he sighted and pulled the trigger. After their embarrassment at the hands of the Healer, Rathman had sprung for higher-power munitions. It was expensive and kicked like a horse, but it was worth it.

The new weapon was based on old-world antimaterial rifles, with enough power to easily punch through thick armor. There was a loud crack as the weapon fired, and Rathman expected the man’s head to explode. A frown began to deepen as he watched them. They reacted to the shot, though it didn’t have the intended effect. The man in the robes was untouched. Rodney’s frown turned into fear as he finally comprehended what happened. A small scratch marred the thick tower shield, the only sign that Rodney had even fired. Somehow, the large pig-like creature had drawn the shot off course, and it had struck harmlessly against the massive shield.

“Do it again! Take them down! Shoot dammit!”

Porter’s eyes were wide with panic at this point, and he looked at the Ranger from his team. Rodney re-sighted and fired again, then a third time, then a fourth. Each shot was directed away just like the first, harmlessly striking the large creature’s shield and leaving small scuff marks against its surface. Rathman swore as he opened the large crate, his secret weapon. He’d managed to secure what had once been a vehicle-mounted gun that fired high-explosive incendiary rounds. He had saved it for an emergency, and this qualified. He handed the weapon to Rodney.

“Use it. Kill them.”

Rodney just nodded as he prepared his weapon.

The group of four individuals continued their casual pace toward the gates of Nierburg. Porter was sweating now, not entirely sure what to do. They’d already opened fire, so a peaceful resolution was unlikely. Where are the damn reinforcements? As if on cue, nearly a dozen armed Rangers ran up to his position on the roof. One man stepped forward.

“Your orders, sir?”

“Shoot them and take them down. They are a threat to the city.”

The man looked out at the approaching figures and frowned. “There are only four of them, sir. Are you⁠—”

“I SAID SHOOT THEM. DO IT NOW.”

With that, the reinforcements took their positions on the wall. Below, a group of various melee fighters were getting into formation, preparing to meet the hostiles. This will work out; it’ll be fine. Just as he was calming himself down to the chattering sound of gunfire, his eyes widened in shock as he saw all the bullets get drawn once again to the shield. It defied logic. The Rangers all seemed as confused as he was, and the gunfire seemed to stop altogether as they checked their weapons or just looked out at the field.

*THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP*

Rathman watched as Rodney began to fire the high-explosive rounds and smiled internally. Sure enough, the rounds were drawn to the shield, where they exploded. Multiple rounds struck before a shimmering dome of energy formed around the group. The rounds kept firing into it, and he turned to the other gunmen standing around.

“Concentrate fire!”

Rifles chattered around him as they snapped out of their stupor, and Rathman watched. Clouds of smoke were being kicked up due to the explosive rounds, obscuring the position.

The loud thumps of the formerly mounted gun stopped as it ran out of ammunition, followed shortly by the other soldiers stopping fire as well. Through the cloud, Porter’s stomach fell as he saw the barrier still standing. He looked up toward the shuttle to see if there was something, anything they could do. His blood went cold when he saw the figure standing in the open door. You were supposed to be dead. He saw Garth standing calmly in the doorway, looking at the figures covered by the barrier. Somehow Boltsbury had managed to return and ruin everything again. Something in him snapped, and he vaulted off the roof toward the group. If he could run past them, he could at least take out the man who ruined his life.

The black-armored individual charged to meet him as the barrier fell, and it only now crossed his mind he was between the group and his men. It was too late to do anything other than commit, so he raised his hand and activated Static Bolt. The pulse of electricity arced toward the figure in black, who took it head-on like nothing happened. He used the skill twice more in quick succession with the same result. Panicking, he used his other skill. Lightning coursed through his veins as he screamed before exploding out from him in every direction.

Thundering Echo was an odd skill, indiscriminately blasting lightning in an area around him. Reynolds had approved the skill, though he had hoped he’d be able to control it much better than he could. He looked on with dismay as the man avoided the arcing blasts before striking him in the back of the head with a thick baton. Before he lost consciousness, Porter heard a robotic voice come from the bundle on the man’s back.

[YOU DIDN’T HIT HIM TOO HARD, DR. MAYHEW. WELL DONE HOLDING BACK.]

If he hadn’t passed out right afterwards, he would have screamed.

Chapter 4

It was disconcerting to think about just how much had changed in such a short time. He had been genuinely surprised by the explosive rounds that had been fired at their group, but his Storm Shelter easily blocked the concentrated fire. Even now, rifle fire struck his armor and barely left a scratch. The man from the gate before hit him square on with lightning attacks, and they didn’t even register to him as real damage. It was a little disappointing, as he’d hoped to give his Adaptive Regeneration an opportunity to heal from electric shocks. Unfortunately, between the quality of his armor and his Enhanced Carapace, attacks at that level weren’t even worth noting anymore. No denying you’re a monster now. With a sigh, Kyle activated Haste. He wasn’t going to enjoy this.

Speeding ahead, Kyle closed the distance to the wall in just a few seconds. The Mages atop the battlements seemed surprised at the speed, not having yet been able to finish casting their skills. With Auric Perception, Kyle could tell that there was a variety of different mana being channeled above. Wind, lightning, ice, and a whole lot of fire. What was it with the Central Authority and making people choose fire?

A group of nervous soldiers leveled weapons at him, keen on keeping him in range for the attack from the Mages. Kyle, of course, had no intention of letting that happen. He continued charging forward, slapping the head of a spear aside with his baton as he closed in. The soldiers clearly didn’t expect this response, and he felt the mana around him swirl as they, too, activated their skills. Kyle spun and struck four of the soldiers, knocking them aside as he broke through their line and ran up the stairs. He heard a loud explosion as the combined skills of the mages crashed down.

Jumping over the last step and landing on the roof, he saw panic and fear on all the eyes around him.

“All right everybody, it’s time to surrender. Put the weapons down, stop channeling skills, and we can end—” Kyle was interrupted by four separate gunshots striking his chest, and he sighed.

They didn’t do any damage, but it wasn’t something he was willing to overlook. More gunfire erupted, and Kyle activated Haste as he got to work.

Roughly ten seconds later, Kyle had thrown all the offending gunmen off the roof. While it wasn’t a short drop, it also wasn’t high enough to prove fatal to the folks who were tossed off.

“Now, like I was saying, if you just put your weapons down and stop using skills, we can end it⁠—”

BOOM! The wall shook, and Kyle looked over to see a large hole had been blown into it. Duroc and the others had made it to the wall, and based on the mana Kyle could feel swirling around the pig-like alien’s shield, he was fairly confident that Duroc was responsible for the breach. Before he could get a word out, Skippy ran to another section and held his arm back. Not to be outdone in destructive power, he slammed his palm into the other section of wall, pulverizing the material and causing an entire section nearly twenty meters wide to collapse. If they weren’t scared before, the defenders certainly were now. In the span of minutes, Nierburg’s defenses had been breached by four people.

The terrified survivors on the battlements with Kyle had all frozen, and he turned to them.

“I’m not going to try to say the line again because something is almost guaranteed to go wrong. So how about we skip to the part where you put your weapons down and we all go down the stairs nice and slow?”

One man seemed about to argue, but before he could say anything, C.H.A.D.D. chipped in.

[DR. MAYHEW, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH TWO HUMAN MALES ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO CONDENSE SKILLS BEHIND THEIR BACKS.]

Kyle nodded, having detected the flow of mana with Auric Perception.

“Thank you, C.H.A.D.D. I really don’t want to do this again. Knock it off and walk down the damn stairs.”

Pale and having been discovered, the men both dispersed their skills and did exactly that. Several short minutes later, the fighters were gathered at the gap in the wall.

Skippy had a broad smile on his face as he looked at his handiwork.

“That means I win.”

Duroc, for his part, didn’t seem to care.

“Looks like you did. So… what now? Didn’t you say the boss was gonna show up? He better come soon; it’s almost time for lunch.”

It was around this time that Garth showed up, carrying an unconscious Porter over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Kyle nodded in greeting as Garth deposited the man on the ground with a thump. “C.H.A.D.D.?”

[STILL IN STABLE CONDITION, DR. MAYHEW.]

A knot in his stomach slowly released as he breathed a little easier. There were a good number of injuries, but nobody had died. In Kyle’s view, that was a win. All that was left was to see if DeRosa would show up. They waited five minutes, then ten. Kyle was considering if they should try to enter the city, but then he felt it. An enormous pillar of mana seemed to explode upward from the center of Nierburg, ascending like a tornado. Clouds of dust and debris were caught up in the cyclone as it slowly moved in their direction.

“What is that?”

Kyle figured it was some sort of weapon, and it was impressive. The sheer amount of mana moving was well beyond anything he’d seen the Central Authority deploy before. Garth snorted before responding, “That’s Victor DeRosa. And I don’t think he’ll be happy to see you.”

“What do you mean that’s DeRosa?”

By now, the others had stopped their conversation to listen. Garth continued.

“He has a variant Mage class, and he’s strong. Probably around Valentine’s level but focused almost entirely on mana and casting. Definitely not D Grade, though—at least when I left.”

Kyle nodded, thinking that made sense. Even if the display was powerful, that didn’t mean his combat ability would be higher than Kyle’s, much less the other D Grades. They didn’t seem to be too worried, though Chester did have a thoughtful look in his eyes.

“What’s on your mind?”

Kyle asked, wanting to address any issues before the Central Authority’s leader arrived.

“You mentioned another individual around this level of power just now, which was nowhere in our briefing. It won’t change anything here. We can handle quite a few at this level, but I would be curious to know why you didn’t think it pertinent to mention.”

“He wasn’t affiliated with Nierburg, and Kyle took him down already.”

Garth’s answer was simple and blunt.

“You mentioned he was different from this councilman. Mostly focused on physical attributes, I take it?”

“That’s right. What’s the issue?”

“None whatsoever. Variant classes are just incredibly rare for E Grades, and to have two so close yet pursuing opposite paths is even more so. When we have time, I’ll share some stories of the twin legends of the Alabaster Court.”

Kyle barely caught the last words as he saw two figures approaching. One was a gigantic older man wearing ornate golden armor and holding a large halberd. He was clean-shaven, with a large scar across his face visible even at this distance. The other man wore a deep red robe and looked to be about the same age. His dark hair was perfectly slicked back, though there were streaks of silver in it. He had a prominent widow’s peak and a beard that came to a sharp V. What struck Kyle the most was the man’s eyes. This wasn’t the look of somebody who was cowed by a show of force. They weren’t the eyes of a defeated or nervous man. No, this was the gaze of a man who held all the cards. We’ll see how long you think that, DeRosa. As the men approached, the councilman released his skill, allowing the mana around him to disperse. He didn’t seem concerned that there were two aliens in the group, instead fixing his gaze directly on Garth.

“Boltsbury, I take it you’ve come for my head?”

The words weren’t what anybody expected, and Garth took a moment before responding, “That depends on you, Councilman.”

He gestured to Chester, Duroc, and Skippy.

“They have a message for you, and your response will determine a lot. Sir.” He tossed the last word in with the hope that it would buy at least a little goodwill, though Garth wasn’t optimistic.

DeRosa seemed thoughtful for a moment before turning his gaze to Kyle. “I suppose that makes you Kyle Mayhew. I should have expected you were involved in this somehow. Give me the message.”

Chester stepped forward, causing Reynolds to tighten his grip on the halberd. “My name is Chester Drake, a representative of Corthian Mining. The event that resulted in the condition of your world has done more damage than you likely appreciate. Your planet is dying, and if we do not begin work on an evacuation plan, all your citizens will die.”

DeRosa stood still as a statue, the thoughtful look returning. Finally, he spoke. “I see. You mistrust me, which I can appreciate given your circumstances. I would explain why I did what I did, but it wouldn’t change your mind and would only waste precious time. Whether you believe me or not, I do not want to see unnecessary deaths. I will assist however I can. Otherwise, if you determine me to be irredeemable, I’d ask that you get it over with quickly. I’m certainly no match against multiple D Grades, there’s no purpose in trying.”

With that, he closed his eyes and crossed his arms. This… was not how Kyle thought the plan would go. Uncertain of what to do next, he turned to Garth. Kyle knew Chester, Duroc, and Skippy would follow his lead, just as he knew that he didn’t have enough information to judge that. Garth met his eyes and drew in a slow breath before speaking.

“If we want this to work, we’ll need him.”

Chapter 5

Kyle took a minute to process Garth’s words. Ultimately, he decided to listen to his companion. With a nod to the Corthian Mining team, Kyle spoke.

“I trust your judgment”—he turned to DeRosa—“but I don’t trust yours. I sincerely hope you prove me wrong.”

If his words bothered Victor, it didn’t show. In a voice that might as well have been talking about swallow migratory patterns, he spoke.

“I assume one of you will be assuming control of the Central Authority, who will it be? We, of course, have had plans for succession, so the transition should be relatively seamless.”

Reynolds shifted uncomfortably as DeRosa spoke, clearly not liking the developments. He seemed about to say something but stopped. Kyle frowned as he picked up this interaction out of the corner of his eye, and focusing on his Auric Perception he picked up a faint tendril of mana reaching out from DeRosa to the armored man. It faded almost as quickly as it appeared, though it still put Kyle on edge. It was a level of mana control well beyond what Kyle had seen before, even eclipsing his own by a decent margin. It served as a reminder that he was dealing with a dangerous element, and he took a steadying breath before continuing.

“Garth will be stepping into your role and overseeing the preparations. Will the two of you be able to work with that?”

This time, Kyle paid close attention to see if any more tendrils of energy were being cast out by the man. None were, as both men responded almost at once.

“Yes.”

DeRosa then turned to Chester.

“I assume you’re the person in charge of the logistics of the evacuation. If you and Mr. Boltsbury would be so kind to accompany me to my office, we can discuss the logistics and organize next steps. Oh, and if you’d be so kind as to start clearing the rubble of our wall, we’ll need to get that repaired.”

Chester nodded.

“I’ll handle the wall on my way out.”

Without waiting for a reply from Garth, DeRosa turned and began walking back down the street. The brown-robed man didn’t hesitate as he followed, though Kyle could feel the mana in the air condensing toward him. Garth fell into step beside him as they walked, and Kyle felt confident that even if DeRosa did try to do something stupid, Chester would easily put him in his place.

“I guess our part is done then. Let’s head back to the shuttle.”

Skippy and Duroc nodded as they moved, but just as Kyle was following, he was stopped by an all-too familiar voice.

“Is that you, Uncle Kyle?” He froze as he saw the now much-larger Amalia stepping out from the small crowd of unawakened who had gathered. Frank wasn’t far behind, catching up and grabbing the girl. “Please, sir, pay her no mind—” The man was clearly nervous, worried that his granddaughter had approached these dangerous strangers out of nowhere. Fortunately, C.H.A.D.D. was ready to come to the rescue.

[AMALIA, DR. MAYHEW ISN’T YOUR UNCLE. FAMILY HISTORIES ARE INCOMPLETE, THOUGH IT IS SAFE TO SAY BASED ON EXISTING RECORDS AND ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT THE CHANCES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN 1%.]

Frank’s nervous expression was replaced momentarily by confusion, then finally recognition.

“It really is you. We heard you’d been killed. What a blessing.”

The crowd was beginning to murmur, and Kyle was beginning to grow uncomfortable.

“Yeah, Frank, it’s me. I don’t want to cause a fuss. It was good to see you both.”

“Really, Kyle?”

The old man raised an eyebrow as he looked at the massive hole in the wall.

“It’s a little late for that. Please join us for dinner. Arianna was wrapping up some coursework in the city, she’ll be back soon.”

Kyle wanted to find an excuse to leave, but at this point Duroc and Skippy were both well outside the ruined wall, and he saw a number of familiar faces in the crowd wanting to get a closer look. With a sigh, he relented.

Several hours and multiple bowls of spicy stew later, Kyle finally admitted to himself that he was glad he chose to stay. Frank and his granddaughters, like the majority of the unawakened refugees, were housed in districts closest to the walls. This meant that the vast majority of the people living out here had been either directly or indirectly rescued by Kyle. He was shocked to hear the rumors that had spread about him, everything from a bona fide folk hero to being a bogeyman lurking in the dark. For its part, C.H.A.D.D. would correct inaccuracies and ensured that the group knew exactly how often Kyle messed up.

This was met with riotous laughter by the large group that gathered around the fire, and Kyle felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the flames or the incredibly spicy stew. Seeing the laughing, smiling faces made the struggles he’d been through mean something. One thing was nagging at the back of his head, though, and he posed the question to the group around him.

“What has it been like since you all got here? Have you been treated well?”

A chuckle broke the silence, then Frank spoke.

“Kyle, we have shelter. We have food. The children have places to play and opportunities to learn. It might not be exactly like it was before, but it’s a paradise compared to what was waiting for us outside the walls. We have you to thank for getting us here.”

Kyle saw nods of confirmation and smiles on the faces of the other survivors in the group, and the warm feeling returned. Before he had a chance to say much else, he spotted Garth and Chester approaching. Garth waved him over, and Kyle excused himself from the group.

“How’d everything go with DeRosa?”

Garth looked worried.

“Almost too good. The man has another angle here, but at least it feels like he’s taking the threat seriously.”

Chester nodded his agreement.

“There’s certainly more to discuss, though I’d prefer to wait until we’re back on the shuttle. Will you be joining us, or staying here?”

Kyle looked at the group of survivors. While part of him really wanted to stay, he also understood that there were still important logistics to get ironed out.

“I’ll join you. Give me a minute to say my goodbyes.”

“Not a problem at all. I’ll get to work fixing this wall.”

Kyle walked back over to where the survivors still stood around the fire in the fading light.

“I’m going to take off. I’m glad you’re all doing so well. There’s a lot of change likely going to happen. I’d ask that—as you can—please support Garth through it.”

He hooked a thumb of his shoulder as he said the last part, gesturing to the grizzled soldier watching Chester with interest. Kyle had been about to say more when the earth started trembling. Out of the ground, a thick wall of stone began to rise. Rubble from the old wall was pushed away as Chester continued his work, sweat beading his brow with the effort.

The new wall began to expand until its edges touched each side where the old one had been. With swift movements of his hands, a tunnel opened to the outside, and stone steps began to jut out from the wall into Nierburg, allowing access to the top. Everybody stood in silence for a moment at the display of power. While DeRosa’s cyclone of mana earlier was impressive, this was an entirely different level of both raw might and finesse. Satisfied with his work, Chester turned to Kyle and Garth.

“Shall we?”

The men left the city and made their way back to the shuttle, chatting idly as they walked. Once on board, Chester’s tone got more serious as he handed Garth a small pendant.

“Mr. Boltsbury, I hope you recognize the risk you’re taking here. We will know if you get seriously injured or killed, but this is simply a deterrent, not a protection. That man is dangerous.”

Garth nodded.

“I understood that going in. I can’t exactly back out now, though, can I? I don’t think DeRosa will try to have me killed, at least outright. The position of councilman doesn’t mean anything after the world ends, and I’m honestly more worried about what will happen after our evacuation.”

“I can appreciate that. Mr. Mayhew, Mr. Boltsbury has brought up an important topic, and there is a component I’d like to discuss with you. Would you care to walk with me for a moment?”

Kyle nodded, not entirely sure what the man was going to say. Garth was speaking with a member of the triage team as they got to work attuning the pendant, while Kyle and Chester walked toward the exit of the shuttle. As they stepped out into the cool night air, Chester spoke.

“I mentioned to you before that finding a variety of natural treasures and other resources is the secondary objective of our expedition. That’s what will offset the costs and make it worth our investment. What I’m not sure you understand is the scope of the project ahead of us.”

He paused for a moment.

“Being blunt, far more people survived than we anticipated. Specifically, a particularly high number of unawakened. While it won’t change our commitment, I think you should know that your people won’t all be given luxurious accommodations. As a whole, your people simply won’t be able to contribute enough to rise above the baseline costs of evacuation.”

Kyle stopped, beginning to grow cold. “What are you saying, Chester?”

“I’m saying that unless something happens to dramatically change this current reality, many of the luxuries your people enjoy, even now, will be a thing of the past. After seeing a small display of your abilities twice now, however, I think you may be able to have a hand in changing that. There are several areas we’ve identified that appear to contain high-rarity treasures. I deemed these to be too risky for the bulk of the expedition. However, if you were able to join a small squad in those areas, I think the calculus would shift. You have unique talents that would be a real asset in the field. As compensation, Corthian Mining would be willing to allocate a portion of the funds from any of these rarer treasures toward securing a better foundation for your people. With a much smaller portion going directly to you as a commission, of course.”

The night air was silent as Kyle processed everything he’d been told. He wanted to ask questions, to protest the unfairness. He also knew that would be futile. This was the way of the world, and Chester had just offered him a way to do more. What’s more, it was a chance for him to explore a planet—his planet—that he’d seen so little of. He thought about the faces of the people he’d shared a meal with and came to a decision.

“When do we leave?”

Chapter 6

Kyle stared in wonder as the shuttle escaped Earth’s atmosphere. The sight of the massive blue and green orb was breathtaking. Awe warred with a sense of loss as he struggled to accept another truth—his home was truly going to die. He considered his parents and how he’d never really wrestled with the reality that they were gone. Losing Earth was another side of that. A morbid part of him was even curious what the death of a planet looked like, but he suppressed it. For now, he would simply be in wonder. C.H.A.D.D. was particularly helpful in this regard.

[DR. MAYHEW, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE. MAPPING FUNCTIONALITIES ARE NO LONGER ACCURATE.]

“That’s fine, C.H.A.D.D. We’re in space. I don’t think you need to try to map it.”

[WHAT IF WE GET LOST IN SPACE, DR. MAYHEW? YOU WOULD WANT ME TO HAVE A MAP.]

“Then you can remind me of that when the time comes.”

They were en route to the flagship of the Corthian Mining group, where they would board a different shuttle and depart for a different part of the world. Chester had shown him a map, and it looked like they would be heading into wilderness that was untamed even prior to the cataclysm. Lush jungles and wild beasts ruled what had formerly been known as the Amazon, and from what the scanners showed, there was an unusually dense cluster of different mana readings that made them very optimistic.

As he thought about joining the group, a smile tugged at the edges of his mouth. His motivations were broadly altruistic—he did genuinely want to help secure a better future for the soon-to-be refugees under his care. This was something he felt he’d be uniquely able to do, and that felt good.

Still, at the core of his being, there was a part of him that relished the opportunity to go explore a wilderness he’d never experienced. There was just something that felt right about heading out into the unknown. The danger brought excitement, and he thought about his grandfather. Kyle’s favorite stories that Clark used to tell him were about the amazing sights that he’d seen as he traveled with the Originators. Whether he wanted to or not, he’d shouldered a lot of Clark’s legacy as he dealt with Liberation and the Central Authority. This was an opportunity for him to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps in a different way, and he was honestly looking forward to it.

The shuttle shook as it landed on the flagship, and soon there was a bustle of activity. Kyle’s eyes widened as the shuttle doors opened, and he was able to see the hangar bay of the ship. Dozens of similar vessels were docked in a neat row, with hundreds upon hundreds of different beings moving about. The vast majority were humans like Chester, but sprinkled throughout were other gray-skinned aliens like Skippy. There were also quite a few smaller green humanoids hustling about. They were each about a meter and a half tall, with long green ears framing oversized heads. However, there were none like Duroc, and he grew increasingly curious about the large pig-like creature.

“Follow me, Mr. Mayhew.”

Chester’s voice snapped Kyle out of his distraction. Adjusting the C.H.A.D.D. pack, he fell into step behind the foreman.

“I’ll ask that you not wander around. Unfortunately, our physician is currently occupied by a project and won’t be available to meet you before you depart. You’ll get an appointment upon safe return. In the meantime, you’ll be boarding the shuttle with this insignia, fifteen shuttles down. Captain Rochelle will be expecting you; hand her this paper. It contains your credentials and suggestions to integrate you into her squad.”

With that, he handed Kyle a slim metallic card that shimmered at his touch, draining a small amount of Kyle’s mana. Now that they were in the middle of the hustle and bustle, he was becoming overwhelmed. Encountering a couple aliens was one thing, but walking through a crowded hangar with dozens of them was something else entirely. He wanted to ask more questions, but before he could, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

“What a coincidence, we’re going on Captain Rochelle’s shuttle too!”

Duroc squealed, dramatically overselling the “coincidence.” Chester had started walking off toward the hangar’s exit before turning back with an exasperated look on his face.

“You were not assigned to that shuttle—none of you were. Please tell me…”

“He wasn’t happy with the last stop, so he wants to go on this one. We’ll be with him; it’ll be fine.” Duroc was completely nonchalant about the whole exchange, though it left Kyle more confused than ever. That confusion only magnified as he saw a couple crew members from the shuttle he’d exited carrying the nice wooden table in the direction Chester had originally pointed.

“I know it’s above my pay grade, but who is ‘he’?”

Kyle had to ask, his curiosity demanding satisfaction.

“You’re right, Mr. Mayhew. It is above your pay grade.”

Chester’s tone moved from exasperation to anger.

“Duroc, if anything happens, it’s on your head. I don’t condone the decision.”

The pig-like alien just nodded in response before following the table. Chester rubbed his temples with his hand as he also walked away in the opposite direction. Kyle looked between the two for a moment as he was left alone in the hustle and bustle. Before he turned to follow Duroc, he whispered to his drone companion.

“C.H.A.D.D., grab as many scans as you can. I want to study their anatomy; this could be fascinating.”

The drone responded, quiet and conspiratorial.

[I CAN DO THAT, DR. MAYHEW. BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO SPIN AROUND.]

* * *

Less than an hour later, Kyle was holding onto his seat as the shuttle was re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Captain Rochelle had taken his credentials, then told him “to sit down and stay the hell out of the way.” She was young, likely only a few years older than Kyle. Her eyes were a slate gray, and her hair was pulled back in a tight braid that ended just below her neck. She carried with her two thick daggers, and it looked like she knew how to use them. Right now, it looked like she wanted to use them on Kyle.

She was grumbling about him in the same breath as she complained about Duroc and Skippy, and he couldn’t help feeling that this wasn’t entirely his fault. Whatever those two have been up to, they’re giving everybody else headaches. This shuttle was a virtually identical model to the one he’d ridden before, and he gazed out the window, which he learned was the thick metal made transparent by some mana-powered technology. It took an image from what was outside the shuttle and presented the image on the inside.

His mind refocused back on the planet as the shuttle descended. Kyle’s breath caught as he saw the lush green forest, a sea of vibrant green that almost looked like an ocean as it gently swayed back and forth in the wind. The shuttle slowed, and with a powerful blast of mana leveled trees in the surrounding area, creating a flat surface on which to land.

The expedition immediately got to work, with teams of three rushing out with different handheld instruments that Kyle could only assume were to help detect the signature of different treasures. He had learned that all the members of the crew were awakened, though the majority were fairly low-leveled. The security forces were closer to the middle of E Grade, which was impressive. While they might not individually be a match for Garth, they would still easily rank among the elite among the survivors.

With a handful of security personnel escorting the scientists, Kyle assumed that things would stay well in hand. That lasted all of five minutes before the first screams of panic erupted. A loud explosion rang out, and Kyle rushed toward the source. A man with lightning crackling across his body faced down a dozen ants as large as the first one he’d encountered nearly a year ago while two people in exploration suits stood cowering behind him. These ants had pale heads and long, curved pincers. They also seemed to be moving with a high degree of coordination, moving to surround the group. Kyle didn’t hesitate. Activating Haste, he sprinted to the group and activated Storm Shelter just in time to prevent one of the scientists from being skewered.

The Lightning Mage nodded in thanks as the ants furiously attempted to bite the barrier. Kyle had a pretty good idea of the man’s destructive power as he saw the scorched remains of a large ant body a short distance away.

“Do you have anything that can hit all of them at once?”

The man shook his head.

“Unfortunately no. Swarms of creatures like this are a bad match for me.”

“No worries; I figured I’d ask. An opening is going to appear in a minute. When it does, run like hell.” The man looked confused, until a gray blur appeared, smashing two of the ants into paste against the incredibly resilient shield.

“Now!”

Kyle hoisted both of the scientists over his shoulders as he deactivated Storm Shelter and sprinted for the entrance to the shuttle, where a defense was being established. Skippy was easily weaving through the ants that had surrounded Kyle’s group, sending them flying with precise, powerful blows. Duroc was at the center of the defense, and he nodded to Kyle as he dropped off the scientists he’d been carrying. “How many other groups are unaccounted for?”

A hard yet feminine voice answered, “Just one. They were the first group to leave, they should be less than a kilometer south.”

Kyle nodded to Captain Rochelle as he took off in the direction she’d indicated, covering the distance in moments. He spotted the group and a lot of blood as the security officer desperately tried to fend off three large ants with a spear held in his right hand. His left arm was hanging limply by his side, blood flowing freely from a large puncture wound in his shoulder. One of the scientists also appeared to be bleeding from an injury to their stomach, while the other was applying pressure to the wound. As one of the ants began to make a move toward the spearman, Kyle charged in to meet it.

“Get down!” The soldier listened, and Kyle struck the creature squarely on the head with his baton, channeling his full momentum into the blow.

He heard an audible crack of chitin but wasn’t done yet. While Kyle’s Strength was still far too low to throw a creature this size around, he could still knock them off balance. Grabbing a leg of the stunned ant, he pulled and managed to roll the creature. The other two insects had closed on him, and he dropped his baton as he reached out a palm toward each of them. He’d theorized this technique early on, and with the major boost in attributes courtesy of his transition to D Grade he thought it would be possible. Channeling Resonance in each hand, he met each of the ants. Their mandibles scratched ineffectually against his armor, and with a surge of mana and will, each of his assailants fell lifeless to the ground.

Turning to the group he’d rescued, he started with the injured scientist.

“C.H.A.D.D., what are we working with?”

[LARGE PUNCTURE WOUND IN THE STOMACH. IT HAS PERFORATED THE LARGE INTESTINE.]

“Thank you. Give me an overlay as I get to work.”

With that, Kyle laid his hands on the whimpering man and got to work. After stabilizing him, he then turned to the spearman. The injuries were serious but caught early. Just minutes later, they made their way back to the shuttle, where the last vestiges of the battle had ended. Dozens of ant corpses littered the ground, and he saw the formerly injured scientist shudder at the sight as they entered the shuttle doors. Kyle was about to follow when he was stopped by a bloodstained Captain Rochelle.

“Good work out there today.”

Not her blood, Kyle noted, seeing it was the dark ichor of the ants. She looked like she wanted to say more but decided against it as she turned back to oversee the cleanup happening in the open space near the shuttle.

“Rest up. We’ll reevaluate our survey plan, and you’re going to be a big part of it.”

Chapter 7

Once the ants were dispatched, the members of the expedition gathered outside the shuttle. Captain Rochelle was standing on a small platform as she looked out over the group, which Kyle now saw consisted of fifteen squads of three. Each contained two scientists with more or less the same equipment and one member of the security team. Absent from the groups were Duroc and Skippy, which made Kyle frown. They helped clear things out before. Why wouldn’t they assist with the expedition? Before he could continue his thought, Rochelle spoke.

“For many of us, myself included, this is the first expedition to a world dealing with the aftermath of a Riftwyrm attack. Things are always unpredictable, which you all experienced firsthand. That means that we need to be adaptable in our approach to secure what resources we can and ensure we all get home safe. In this case, management is in agreement that covering less ground with more power is preferable to our usual arrangement.”

She continued.

“Your squads will each combine with two others, giving us five expeditionary forces with nine members in total. Additional security personnel normally assigned to the shuttle will be forming mobile support, and you will all be outfitted with communications equipment to call for backup as necessary. Readings show that this jungle is dense with resources, if and when you find something, simply place a marker and move on. Staying in one place for too long could get dangerous. Now, go to the quartermaster and get your new team assignments and equipment. You depart in an hour.”

With that, the expedition members made their way toward the shuttle, with many soft murmurs about the danger ahead. Captain Rochelle parted the wave of expedition members, making her way straight to Kyle, stopping a meter or so away.

“Mayhew, walk with me. Your role here is going to be a little different.”

“I assume that means C.H.A.D.D. and I will be part of the mobile support unit?”

Rochelle smiled wryly as she responded.

“Close, but not exactly. I’m going to have you act as a second mobile support. I saw how quickly you can move and how strong that shield skill of yours is. If any of our teams get into hot water, I’m asking you to be the first responder and hold the line until the rest of the mobile support can provide backup. It’s a dangerous role, which is why I’ve approved you for double merit for the entirety of this expedition, as well as opportunities for bonus compensation beyond that.”

Chester had briefly explained that his work for Corthian Mining would produce merit, which directly benefitted Earth’s refugees, as well as personal compensation. He was warned not to expect too much for personal compensation, so having an opportunity this early to earn something was a major bonus.

“Thank you for the opportunity, Captain. Is there any particular reason you’ve decided to bump the compensation so generously?”

“Because it’s pretty damn clear that this place is literally crawling with monsters, and you’re probably going to get eaten by them.”

She snapped. Kyle wasn’t quite sure what to say. After a moment passed, she sighed and seemed to deflate a bit.

“What do you know about Riftwyrms?”

“I never heard of them before Chester mentioned them, so not much other than the name and that they’re incredibly powerful.”

She nodded at his response.

“They’re not common by any means, though we do have records and data from attacks over the years. Riftwyrms come in a lot of shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common. Whenever they attack, their mana lingers. It infuses natural materials and creates rare treasures and resources, which is why anybody ever bothers coming to a place that’s been attacked. In addition, though, their mana will typically resonate with some creatures on the planet. Records exist of mutated mammals, reptiles, fish, birds, you name it. This is the first record Corthian Mining has seen of mutated arthropods.”

Kyle felt stunned at the revelation. A few pieces started to fit together in his head, as Rochelle continued.

“In ordinary circumstances, this would cause us to pull the plug. The sheer number of different arthropods on any planet would make them an absolute terror if they started mutating. There are planets infested with hives of powerful insects, all of them cordoned off by the Collective as danger zones. There are only three reasons we chose to continue. First, your world was rated a low E Grade. It’s weak, even by frontier standards. That should have lowered the risk. Second, you were attacked recently. Less time since the attack means fewer opportunities for the local creatures to mutate into something really dangerous. Finally, we have invested incredible amounts of capital to get this bid already, and to not at least try to mine would be a major financial hit.”

Kyle’s heart was pounding in his chest as he took in the information, and he thanked his lucky stars that C.H.A.D.D. had the restraint to stay quiet. He responded, talking faster than he’d expected.

“And what exactly is paying me more going to change? If you think I can do anything about this state of affairs, I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. I’m just a Healer.”

Rochelle smirked at him.

“You’re more than just a ‘Healer,’ and you know it. You’re a D Grade with strong mobility and support capabilities. You’re also the only D Grade that I can deploy, which makes you valuable. It also means that the more dangerous things get, the more we’ll have to count on you to bail us out. Consider it an insurance premium on our end.”

Kyle blinked. “What do you mean I’m the only D Grade? Duroc and Skippy are both here, and as far as I can tell, they’d both be a lot more useful than I am.”

Rochelle’s smirk faded to a frown as her left hand rubbed her forehead.

“Don’t get me started on that garbage; it’ll ruin my mood. Come with me. I’m going to get you a nav bracelet. It’ll be on its own frequency, and when the other squads run into trouble, it’ll ping you and guide you to their location. You can also use it to drop signals to the flagship, on the off chance you have to leave any valuable resources behind. We can always come back for them later.”

“That’s a little disingenuous, don’t you think? You all care a hell of a lot more about the resources than the miners,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

She flashed a grin, a glint in her gray eyes, before turning and walking back to the ship.

“Welcome to Corthian Mining, Mayhew.”

* * *

The next several days ran smoothly, with Kyle primarily spending his time treating the mild injuries that the expedition members brought back. While the vast majority of the people in the field were human, Kyle was able to take time to study the scans C.H.A.D.D. had taken aboard the flagship. The drone compiled scans of the gray-skinned aliens—the skrell—because of their time with Skippy.

Skrell anatomy was interesting, with a series of pressurized sacs inside their body to assist in movement as opposed to the more heavily muscled human body. Kyle learned that their species was close to Earth—on a galactic scale, that is—and he thought it was likely skrell contact that spurred controversy in the old world about the aliens.

Even more interesting were the small green creatures, whose species translated as “goblins.” Apparently, their civilization, or at least a close offshoot, had arrived on Earth a long, long time ago. The diminutive beings were physically quite frail, with weak bones and musculature. They made up for this shortcoming with incredibly developed minds, with every spare calorie going to power their brains. Their digestive system was, in his opinion, their most unique trait. Their stomachs contained nearly a dozen chambers, each with its own unique enzymes. Kyle suspected they could break down almost anything and get at least some nourishment from it, which was something he definitely wanted to research further when he was back on board the shuttle.

Fortunately, he was only needed to hold the frontline twice during this time. Once was against another group of the ants. The other time was against a large, heavily armored green creature that looked like a mix between a grasshopper and a tank, covered in large spikes from head to toe. The first group was handled easily enough when the mobile unit arrived, but the spiky grasshopper was far more durable than anybody expected. It was finally taken out when Kyle stepped in to put it down with Resonance, much to the relief of the group.

Other than that, Kyle spent a good portion of his time healing the minor injuries that the expedition members accumulated during their outings. Large cases of materials were being dragged back, ranging from ores to plants. Everything was going well, until the fifth day. Kyle just finished treating a particularly deep laceration on a patient’s arm when he paused and looked up, the people around him doing the same. A faint tremor could be felt, even through the ship, and soon the moment of stillness was replaced by people running around frantically. Kyle hoisted the C.H.A.D.D. pack and ran outside to see Rochelle barking orders. He ran to her.

“What’s going on?”

She looked at him with a grim expression.

“We have trouble.”

Chapter 8

Victor DeRosa was having a bad day. He took the loss of his position in stride—after all, what good was a council if the world was going to end? He took the Mayhew brat’s ascension to D Grade with grace—how much more powerful would Victor be, after all, once he accomplished the same? What could not be tolerated, however, was the utter incompetence of his assistant James. The buffoon tripped while walking past Victor’s desk and holding a cup of hot tea, spilling all over himself and Victor’s documents. At least two hours of work were ruined, and to top it all off, James had asked for a break to visit Central Health instead of immediately offering to fix the mess he made.

Jaw clenched, Victor got back to the paperwork. While he’d have preferred to go speak with Reynolds and his guest, he needed to get the population calculations together along with the formal aid requests. The Collective—the group that sold the rescue bid to Corthian Mining—had very strict protocols in place when it came to taking mundane items off-world. Even things with major cultural significance would be left behind unless they received specific approvals.

Victor understood, of course. In fact, he was impressed that they identified these headwinds and had already established solutions. After syncing his mana to a Translation Node, Victor requested all the details that Mr. Drake could provide on the policies and procedures of the evacuation. While Boltsbury might be the new leader in title, they both knew that Victor’s administrative prowess would be a necessity to make the evacuation run smoothly.

To that end, Garth had been more than willing to let Victor iron out the preliminary details, which gave him time to act. He had several important items he needed to get off-world, and the first step would be to bury the approvals in the dozens of other forms. In the unlikely event that Garth even looked at the paperwork, he had also prepared enough meaningless approvals to keep him from stumbling across Victor’s true designs.

Completing the paperwork over an hour later, he prepared it to be shipped up to the Corthian Mining flagship. Satisfied that everything was appropriately in motion, he made his way to the private residence he’d established after the revelation that Valentine was alive. Greeting the security personnel at the gate to the estate, he made his way inside the large double doors and into the basement, where Reynolds waited. Not sparing the man a glance as he set his things down, he spoke.

“How is our guest recovering?”

“Poorly, sir. He’s lucid, but his injuries are still severe. While I don’t think he’s in life-threatening danger, I am not confident in a full recovery without intervention by a more qualified Healer.”

“Good. I don’t need him recovered. I just need him alive.”

With that, DeRosa activated Mana Whorl and spread tendrils throughout the room. Each came into contact with a small, intricately designed magic circle that hummed to life as he infused them with energy. A larger sigil on the floor was illuminated, and the trapdoor was opened. DeRosa and Reynolds calmly stepped through, descending the stairs into the darkness beyond.

Beneath the basement, Victor had commissioned a bunker. It wasn’t questioned, as the population was convinced there was an attempt on his life. Who wouldn’t want to have a little more security? After having it installed, DeRosa and Reynolds got to work on putting in modifications. Lights came on as they entered the room, revealing a cell with a single prisoner. Victor was glad he’d prepared as much as he did, not having expected Gregory Valentine himself to appear.

Far less would have been required to contain weaker enemies, but Victor wasn’t a man who did things in half measures. As was tradition, he examined each of the three layers of containment for tampering before anything else.

The cell itself was made of thick mana-infused steel by some of Nierburg’s best craftsmen. Even further, it had been enchanted with the ability to slowly self-repair by drawing in uninfused metals that were in contact with the cell. Over time, it would lose some of its potency if it was consistently damaged, though Victor would have advanced notice depending on how much mundane metal was absorbed. He currently had enough surplus metal stacked on top of and below the cage to rebuild it twice over, and he examined the amount of remaining metal as a gauge to check on damage. Today, as every day before, there was no change. Valentine simply wasn’t in good enough condition to damage it.

Next, he checked the Isolation Array he’d established. This was a new creation, using a standard Guard Array as a foundation. Victor had repurposed it to not only shield away harmful mana but to entirely remove atmospheric mana from a target area, absorbing it all to fuel the machine’s function. In theory, it should be able to sustain itself forever. Victor didn’t believe it would, but he was confident it would last a long, long time. By preventing atmospheric mana from getting close, Valentine wouldn’t be able to recover his reserves. The original intent was that any trapped awakened would use their skills to break the cage, only to find it self-repairing while their own reserves didn’t replenish. In Valentine’s weakened state, it wasn’t a necessity, though it did have the unexpected benefit of slowing his recovery.

The third and final layer was more of a magical tripwire, set outside the zone of the Isolation Array. It was tied to several canisters that contained anesthetic gas mixed with a mild neurotoxin. If it was broken from the inside, the canisters would release, and Victor would get an alert of a breach. With the sub-basement sealed, the dosage would be difficult to monitor, and it would likely prove fatal to anybody who was able to break out.

At least, it would have been before the emergence of new D Grades. That was one possibility Victor hadn’t planned for, and it troubled him greatly. For now, it was outside of his control. Satisfied each layer of containment was functional, he sat in the large armchair situated at the other end of the room and focused on the man in the cage. Gregory Valentine was in rough shape. In their previous interrogations, Victor had learned that Kyle Mayhew was responsible for his condition, something he didn’t doubt after seeing him breaking through Nierburg’s defenses.

Valentine was slumped against a wall of the cage, taking in labored breaths. He could see the hatred in his captive’s eyes and met them with a calm smile. Reynolds took his usual position at the foot of the stairwell, ready to intervene if somehow Valentine escaped. Caution is rewarded, after all. DeRosa clasped his hands as he met the prisoner’s gaze.

“Just kill me and get it over with, Victor. My organization is gone. You’ve won. I don’t want to stare at your twice-damned face anymore. Get it over with.”

There was still venom in Valentine’s voice, though far less than before. The first several meetings had been full of expletives and hatred. Now, it was clear that Gregory Valentine had truly appreciated the situation he was in. There was nothing left for him other than death, and they both knew it. The only variables were the timing and the method.

“Your organization was never a major threat, Gregory. Mayhew, on the other hand, is. So, let’s take it from the beginning. What happened in your fight against him?”

They went back and forth for hours, with Valentine offering nothing he hadn’t before. There were pieces to the story that Victor just couldn’t wrap his head around. Why would a D Grade trouble themselves against a weak Fire Mage? Why include Boltsbury in the attack at all? Kyle could have easily dispatched this Carlyle and then turned his attention to Valentine. There was more here, he was sure of it. Still, he wouldn’t get anything more of value tonight. Standing, he saw the look of hopelessness on the other man’s face.

“Just kill me, Victor.”

“Not yet, Gregory.”

With that, tendrils of mana reached into the cage and wrapped around Valentine’s body. The Isolation Array ate away at them, but Victor was more than powerful enough to hold them together for a time. Valentine struggled against them, but Victor opened his mouth, as he had every day before. He first emptied a pouch of a nutritional gel into Valentine’s mouth, followed by water mixed with a rejuvenating powder made by Nierburg’s Alchemists. It wasn’t nearly as effective as a mana-based healing treatment, but given time, it would continue to patch injuries. Or, in Gregory’s case, keep his injuries from getting worse. The man put up a token resistance, even though he was too weak to prevent it. After his prisoner was fed, DeRosa and Reynolds left the room.

Once the trap door was closed, Reynolds turned to Victor.

“Sir, his story hasn’t changed at all. Forgive my boldness, sir, but why are we keeping him alive? Isn’t he more of a risk than an asset?”

“If it was just the story I was after, yes. After reviewing the documents provided by Corthian Mining, however, I’m confident there will be other uses for the man.”

“Yes, sir.”

Reynolds said nothing else, and they left the basement. I have plans for you indeed, Victor thought, the shadow of a smile tugging on the side of his mouth.

Chapter 9

“You’re going to have to be more specific,” Kyle said, an edge of annoyance in his voice. “Is it an earthquake?”

Rochelle snapped orders at a couple of nearby crew members before responding, “We’re not entirely sure, Mayhew. The tremors started, and sensors aren’t picking up traditional seismic activity. We’re picking up thousands of mana signatures moving right now, heading this way. At the rate they’re covering ground, they’ll get to the shuttle before most of our squads are able to return.”

Kyle nodded grimly, thinking fast. He had an idea, but there was no guarantee it would work. He tapped his nav bracelet as he made his way toward the shuttle doors.

“I might be able to buy us some time. Get your people back to the shuttle and get off the ground.”

“Don’t do anything too stupid, Mayew.”

Because of the worry in her voice, he flashed her a smile before he left.

“I’m going to do my best. C.H.A.D.D. is going to do the heavy lifting, after all.”

[I WOULD PREFER TO STAY ON THE SHUTTLE IF THAT IS AN OPTION,] the drone protested.

If anybody heard, it was too late. Kyle was already dashing out into the humid heat, rushing in the direction showed on his nav bracelet.

[WOULD YOU CARE TO INFORM ME OF YOUR PLAN, DR. MAYHEW?]

“I think you’re going to like it. Can you still do the whole bug pheromone thing?”

[I BELIEVE I CAN MAKE A REASONABLE FASCIMILE, DR. MAYHEW.]

“That’s exactly what we need. Hold off until we get a better sense of what we’re looking at.”

As they ran, they passed two squads heading back to the shuttle. A third was still between them and the unknown assailants, but before they could finish closing the distance, the squad’s communicators flashed that they were under attack, followed shortly by a notification that the squad were presumed deceased. Dying in the middle of a jungle on another planet for no other reason than to make the company rich. It didn’t sit well with him. Making an internal commitment to come back to try and gather the remains, he finally got close enough to see what was going on. It was a swarm consisting of tens of thousands of giant, mutated ants. Beneath them, it looked like millions of smaller ants had joined the frenzy.

Looking at the swarm, Kyle was absolutely confident that if it reached the shuttle, everybody inside would die. Even with the three D Grades on board, there were simply too many ants to take them all out before getting worn down. He shuddered as he thought about the ants swarming over the mining team and resolved himself for what was coming up next.

“Do it now, C.H.A.D.D.” The drone obliged, and Kyle could detect the same presence he had when C.H.A.D.D. had squished the weevil. He stood before the swarm as the synthetic pheromones began to saturate the air around him, only beginning to run away when the creatures were within about fifteen meters. Like the first ant he’d fought a lifetime ago, these were not intelligent creatures. They were driven by instinct and were easily drawn in by the trail left by the small drone.

Kyle lifted his nav bracelet to his mouth and spoke. “Rochelle! It worked, at least for now. Get the squads and get off the ground!”

He heard a clear reply as he ran, the voice of the captain still carrying a tinge of worry. “How will we get to you?”

“I’ll figure that out later. Focus on your end first. I’m confident in staying alive here for quite a while. Don’t worry about me.”

“What do you mean you’ll figure it out later? What the hell did you do?”

[CAPTAIN ROCHELLE, I DO BELIEVE I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING YOUR QUERY FROM EARLIER. I DID NOT, IN FACT, PREVENT DR. MAYHEW FROM DOING SOMETHING STUPID.]

Rochelle’s voice no longer sounded worried—now it was just angry.

“Nobody has answered my question. WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?”

“Sorry, Captain. No time to talk. Lots of ants on my tail here. You’re welcome for buying time!”

With that, Kyle disabled the communication features. While the extraction aspect would be tricky, he honestly wasn’t too worried about surviving otherwise. Even though there was no way he could deal with the ants in straight-up combat, he felt absolute confidence in his ability to run away. Without Haste active, he was outpacing the swarm to the degree that he actually had to slow down to ensure he kept their interest. Furthermore, the creatures seemed fairly distractable. He came across a variety of other awakened insects that seemed relatively powerful, and each was overwhelmed and buried under the sheer volume of ants.

He continued his pied-piper act for nearly an hour, until he got a notice on his nav bracelet. He enabled the communication functions, and Captain Rochelle’s voice came through.

“About damn time! Our last surviving squad made it on board, so we’re going to take off soon. We’ll get a smaller vessel out, but it’s going to take some time. I’d expect it to be at least two hours. Can you hold out that long?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem at all.” With that, the communication cut off. “C.H.A.D.D., go ahead and stop using the pheromones.”

[CERTAINLY, DR. MAYHEW.]

One of the interesting things they’d discovered while practicing with C.H.A.D.D.’s ability was that the pheromones produced by the drone didn’t cling like those that were chemically produced. Instead, when C.H.A.D.D. stopped focusing mana into the skill, they dissipated into the air shortly after. Kyle felt the presence of the pheromones fade and activated Haste. Looking back at a very confused wave of ants, Kyle sped off deeper into the forest. Without a clear direction and so far away from their nest, the ants began to scatter, ripping into any vegetation or creatures unlucky enough to be in their path.

Kyle continued to run deeper and deeper into the jungle until the sounds of chittering mandibles and the tremor under his feet had faded. He was much farther in than the expedition had mapped, and the dense canopy made everything around him feel darker, gently covered in shadow. Kyle considered his possible courses of action. He was in a small space in the midst of the undergrowth, large trees and ferns all around him. He could feasibly stay here and wait for extraction, which was likely the smartest decision. Conversely, he could choose to explore and see what else the jungle had in store. Riskier, certainly, but alongside the risk was opportunity.

He considered both choices and eventually went with his gut. If there was one thing that he was good at, it was survival. It was the name of his class, after all! Kyle was confident in his ability to at least escape from, if not defeat, all the different creatures they’d come across in their time surveying the area.

“C.H.A.D.D., we’re going to do a little treasure hunting while we wait. Are you able to run a scan of the area?”

[SCANNING NOW, DR. MAYHEW.]

As the drone did, Kyle began to focus on his Auric Perception. He was interrupted a moment later by C.H.A.D.D.

[DR. MAYHEW, YOU REALLY NEED TO SPIN. I’VE TOLD YOU THIS SEVERAL TIMES.]

“C.H.A.D.D., I’m not going to turn little circles in the middle of the jungle.”

[THEN YOU WILL GET POOR-QUALITY SCANS.]

“It’s just ridiculous.”

[NOBODY IS HERE TO WATCH YOU, DR. MAYHEW.]

“How bad can it be if I don’t? It worked fine before, right?”

[YOU WEREN’T A D GRADE BEFORE. THE MANA IN YOUR BODY IS QUITE OVERWHELMING.]

And so it was that Kyle found himself slowly twirling on the soft ground, listening to the rustle of leaves while his drone scanned, and he used his Auric Perception. The air around him was thick and heavy, so humid it almost felt like he was in a sauna. That was when he noticed an oddity. Usually he’d be sweating and feeling uncomfortable in this environment, but now his body hadn’t been sweating at all. In fact, now that he thought about it, the last time he’d been sweating was back in E Grade while working on Resonance. He considered if it was potentially related to the shift in grade, though he distinctly remembered seeing Chester sweat as he constructed the earthworks. That left him with the answer that made the most sense—his racial evolution. He focused his Auric Perception more closely on his skin, feeling the mana flowing across it. Do I even have sweat glands anymore?

[DR. MAYHEW, ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?]

That snapped him out of it.

“Of course I am, C.H.A.D.D. What’s going on?”

[I HAD A REPORT READY THREE MINUTES AGO, AND I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.]

“I was distracted.”

[I’M SURE YOU WERE, DR. MAYHEW. SCANS DETECTED SOME INTERESTING MANA SIGNATURES TOWARD THE END OF SCANNER RANGE. CREATING AN OVERLAY NOW.]

With that, the drone projected small orbs of light leading deeper into the jungle.

Chapter 10

Kyle had to admit, it was incredibly convenient having C.H.A.D.D.’s guidance as the duo progressed. The trees and undergrowth got thicker, and Kyle began to detect strange fluctuations in the mana around them. It was faint at first, almost a phantom tingling sensation across his skin, courtesy of Auric Perception. With each step, the feeling grew, until he felt like he was right on top of the source. Kyle looked around the area to try and locate it when C.H.A.D.D. spoke up.

[ABOVE YOU, DR. MAYHEW.]

Looking up, all he could see was towering trees and a thick canopy.

“How far up?”

[SCANS WOULD INDICATE ROUGHLY FIFTY METERS.]

Kyle nodded, continuing to fix his eyes on the wall of greenery above him. Evaluating the nearby trees, he looked for a path to climb higher. He needed trees that were both tall enough to get him the fifty or so meters high while also being sturdy enough to hold his weight. Finding a candidate that fit the bill, Kyle placed his hand on the bark. Then he stopped, stunned at what he felt under his hand.

He’d originally practiced Resonance on the trees surrounding Duilleag, which is when he’d first learned how mana flowed through them. Naturally, he’d expected a similar sensation when touching these trees, a gentle trickle of mana slowly circulating through the organism. Instead, he was met with a powerful torrent of energy, all contained within the trunk. Focusing on the movements of the energy, it felt even more powerful than the mana he felt flowing through the Wall. How is the tree handling the pressure so well?

“Hey C.H.A.D.D., would you mind running a scan on this tree?”

The drone obliged, showing what Kyle suspected. The sturdy wood had done a good job handling the mana, though pieces were beginning to slowly break down. The core of the tree was in the worst shape, with cracks appearing in the scan. While Kyle was no arborist, he was pretty certain in another couple of years the tree would be nothing more than a dead husk, the interior being completely consumed by the powerful mana surging through its paths. Even though it was just a plant, Kyle felt that it was a sad end.

Touching the other trees, Kyle felt the same rushing energy. While he still wanted to secure the treasure above, he had a couple hours left before the extraction shuttle would make it to his location. With no dangerous creatures nearby, he decided it was time to try an experiment. He grabbed a fallen branch with his left hand while resting his right on the trunk of a nearby tree. Closing his eyes, he activated Resonance. He focused all his attention on the tree, and as he felt his mana connect to it, he drew it through his body, pushing it into the inert branch. The energy tingled as it moved through him. As he directed it into the branch, he didn’t focus on any specific shaping, just allowing the connection to create a flow. He felt the weight in his left arm increase, and he opened his eyes, satisfied he could maintain the process.

The tree branch was visibly growing as he watched, behaving almost like a new sapling. On one side it was beginning to grow roots, while the other slowly branched as buds appeared, soon unfolding into small, green leaves. He set the branch down and let go, watching it continue to grow for several moments before it stopped, having drained all the mana that was left over. Kyle left his hand on the trunk of the tree as he continued to reflect on what he’d seen.

Mana on its own wasn’t a force that necessarily supplied growth, at least not in a conventional way. It was fuel for skills, fuel for abilities. One could shape it to their will to produce different effects, but this was a tree. It wasn’t using a skill; it didn’t have a class. The tree possessed no specialized runes or equipment to use the mana in different ways, like C.H.A.D.D. So why was the mana being converted into energy for growth?

He stood with his hand on the tree for a while longer before removing it, deciding to take a different approach.

“C.H.A.D.D., how do your rune formations change raw mana into the different applications you use?”

[I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, DR. MAYHEW. THEY SIMPLY DO WHAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO DO.]

“I get that much, but how? Do the arrays do something to the mana to change it? What does that process look like? How efficient is it? Does mana get lost in the conversion?”

[THE PREMISE IS INCORRECT, DR. MAYHEW. THE FORMATIONS DRAW IN AMBIENT MANA, THEN SHAPE IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTENT OF THE SPECIFIC ARRAY IN QUESTION. EACH IS MADE UP OF MULITPLE COMPONENTS THAT DEFINE THE INTENTION.]

Intent… The thought lingered in his mind for a while as he considered the possibilities. When he thought about what happened with the branch, some of it made sense. He wasn’t sure if he could consider the tree to have a true intent, but the mana was clearly being put to use, facilitating growth. That opened doors to different applications, and he was getting excited just thinking about it.

“All right, C.H.A.D.D. I’m collecting some samples of my own, help me look for seeds.”

The drone obliged, lighting up different areas with glowing projections. In short order, the C.H.A.D.D. pack was stuffed full of various seeds and plant material.

Checking the time, Kyle saw that he had about an hour left until the extraction shuttle arrived. He climbed the trees easily, and in less than a minute he found himself breaking through into the subcanopy. It was a verdant dome, only sparsely covered in branches compared to the near-solid carpet below and ceiling above. In many ways, Kyle felt like he was underwater. All around him, the tree branches gently swayed, casting moving shadows in every direction. Looking around the breathtaking environment, he spotted the source of the mana he’d been feeling.

A perfectly spherical opalescent orb rested in a gnarled hollow of a tree, and Kyle watched just in time to see a small drop of what looked like sap fall into the orb, instantly being absorbed. A cloudy pattern lazily swirled inside the sphere, reflecting what little light was able to get through and strike it. It’s beautiful. Kyle sat, mesmerized by the gentle movements inside the orb, until C.H.A.D.D.’s urgent tone snapped him out of it.

[MOVE, NOW!]

As the drone spoke, bright orange projections flashed at the corner of his right eye, alerting him to the attack. Without hesitation, Kyle dove forward, keeping his chin low. He grabbed onto a narrow branch and turned, only to feel it give way beneath him a moment later. With Haste active, Kyle crossed to the other side of the small dome, for the first time laying eyes on his assailant. A massive black and red praying mantis three meters tall stood opposite him, hind legs each resting on a different branch as its wings fluttered angrily.

Its forelimbs were folded, though a glance at the neatly sliced branch he’d been standing on confirmed they concealed wickedly sharp blades. The mantis’s head articulated in his direction as it regarded him, and Kyle suspected it detected the strange essences he’d absorbed. Like the Wall before it, he found himself at a brief impasse. Without taking his eyes off the creature, he slowly drew his baton while he spoke to his metallic companion.

“C.H.A.D.D., what can you tell me about this thing?”

[MANA SIGNATURE IS POWERFUL, DR. MAYHEW, THOUGH IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE D GRADE. HIGHLY DEVELOPED NERVE GANGLIA AT EACH JOINT, MUSCULATURE APPEARS TO BE DESIGNED MORE FOR EXPLOSIVE BURSTS THAN SLOW-TWITCH.]

“Anything else?”

C.H.A.D.D. didn’t get a chance to respond as the mantis dashed toward him, using its wings to enhance its speed. The tree branches below it shook wildly as it closed the distance, both forelimbs snapping forward like whips. Even with Haste active, Kyle had to admit the speed was impressive. He jumped backwards out of reflex, only to remember at the last minute he wasn’t standing on solid ground. He grabbed a branch with his free hand and used his momentum to swing up, landing on another branch just in time to dodge away as it, too, was slashed into thirds by the mantis.

[I WOULD ALSO ADVISE YOU TO AVOID FALLING OR BEING SLICED INTO PIECES. NEITHER WOULD RESULT IN FAVORABLE OUTCOMES, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Thanks, C.H.A.D.D.,” Kyle grumbled, eyes not leaving his new foe. “Very helpful.”

Chapter 11

The mantis chittered angrily, swaying back and forth in rhythm with the trees. It exploded toward Kyle once again, appearing eager to kill the intruder in its space. Kyle was prepared, activating Storm Shelter. The orange barrier of light sprang up in a sphere around him, the mantis’s forelimbs bouncing off the barrier ineffectively. The large insect seemed startled as its forward momentum was arrested, and its legs scrabbled against the shield as it tried to reposition itself.

Kyle deactivated his skill as he closed on the creature, landing a palm strike with his left hand. Resonance was active, and he felt the beginning of the connection form as the mantis jumped back, aided by another flutter of its wings. Somehow, without turning its head, the bug landed with legs spread on four different branches.

Kyle didn’t continue his pursuit of the creature. Instead, he observed it, measuring its reactions. No doubt it was powerful, and Kyle had the impression that it was around the same level as the Wall. While he had defeated the colossal beetle with relative ease, Kyle understood his victory owed largely to a favorable matchup. In this case, many of those advantages were neutralized.

The mantis was quick, with Perception to match. It had instantly reacted to Kyle’s attempted kill with Resonance, and beyond that, it managed to land with surprising grace considering its sheer size. It didn’t have the raw destructive potential the Wall demonstrated, but the precise and swift strikes were nothing to scoff at. If it weren’t for the power of his defensive skill, Kyle knew he would have taken serious injuries.

Despite all this, Kyle wasn’t too worried. He would have to take the fight seriously if he wanted to win; however, he was confident in his victory.

“C.H.A.D.D., can you do a highlighted overlay on the branches the mantis steps on?”

[YES, DR. MAYHEW.]

The mantis seemed to treat their quick exchange as a signal to attack, and once again it lunged for Kyle. This time, he didn’t activate Storm Shelter, instead opting to simply jump to a different set of branches nearby. The sharp scythes easily bit through the tree limbs Kyle was standing on, and it readjusted and turned to strike at him again. Once more, Kyle was able to dodge out of the way with Haste, staying one step ahead of the mantis with relative ease. This dance continued for a while, with neatly sliced logs falling like rain onto the forest floor beneath.

Satisfied he’d figured out the pattern, Kyle jumped to one of the branches that C.H.A.D.D. had highlighted. The mantis lunged for him as expected, then seemed to pause mid- leap. It didn’t immediately slash the branch Kyle was standing on, and its movements became frantic for a moment as it tried to get its footing. Given the creature’s unnaturally graceful landing, Kyle had an inkling that it had spent enough time in the under canopy to have established some preferred footholds.

It had gotten used to stepping on only certain tree branches that it knew could support its bulk, which were far less numerous than those that could support Kyle’s. As it had slashed away many of the smaller branches, Kyle was now forcing the mantis to make a choice—destroy its own “floor” to try to get to its prey, or use different attacks to avoid damaging its home.

Apparently, the mantis decided that it would rather lose its security deposit than continue to have an unwelcome roommate. Kyle figured that was the most likely outcome—after all, while the creature possessed sharp instincts, it was still an insect at the end of the day. True tactical planning was, he hoped, beyond it. It sliced through the foothold Kyle was using, then another in short order. It was then that the mantis seemed to realize its mistake. As it leaped to try to slice Kyle, he activated Storm Shelter. With only a couple of branches in the area large enough to support it, the overgrown insect didn’t have enough footholds to grab on to as it frantically scrabbled to keep itself from falling.

Kyle didn’t give it the chance, as he deactivated the shield and jumped to a lower branch, lashing out with his baton. He knew it wouldn’t do much damage against the creature’s chitinous body, so he aimed for the wings while the forelimbs were occupied trying to pull itself up. Focusing the energy from Haste into his arm, he lashed out nearly a dozen times in less than three seconds, battering the wings beyond use.

The mantis tried to clamber back up onto the tree limb, but Kyle wasn’t going to give it the opportunity. He rested his hand on the center of its thorax and activated Resonance. Mana flowed through his hand, and with a focused surge, he ended the creature’s life. It fell limply to the rainforest floor with a loud thump.

Focusing his Auric Perception, Kyle didn’t detect any indications that the mantis contained any of the red essence. That made sense to him—it was powerful by virtue of exposure to the mana, but it didn’t have the unique abilities of the other creature’s he’d fought. It was simply a really dangerous insect. He was still hoping to get C.H.A.D.D. another essence or two; it just wasn’t going to be today.

Satisfied he wasn’t leaving anything on the table, he turned back to the glowing sphere, still nestled into the hollow of a nearby tree. It was much more precarious than before to make his way over, though as he did, he couldn’t keep himself from breaking out into a smile. The mana contained within the sphere was intense, though at the same time it felt gentle and soothing.

Without really thinking about it, Kyle reached out with his hand with Resonance active and touched the orb. It felt like he was touching a hard rubber ball that was warm to the touch, odd as he saw a drop of what looked like liquid enter it before his fight. His mana flowed into it and connected, and he felt a sense of timelessness from the ball, as if it were as enduring as the forest itself. If you knew you were on a timer, you might think differently, Kyle chuckled to himself. He drew a little bit of the mana from it, feeling a gentle sense of rejuvenation through his body. It wasn’t physical healing, but rather imparting a sense of relaxation through his body.

[DR. MAYHEW, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO CONNECT TO THE ORB? THE MANA IS INTERESTING TO ME.]

“I don’t know that there’s much room left in the pack for it. Do you need to touch the ball?”

[I DON’T BELIEVE SO, DR. MAYHEW. IF YOU CAN CONNECT ME USING YOUR SKILL, IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.]

Shrugging, Kyle unslung the pack and opened the top, resting one hand on top of the drone while the other continued to hold the sphere. Activating Resonance, he connected himself to C.H.A.D.D. as well. Almost immediately, he felt mana from the orb being drawn through his body and into the drone. He was startled at the suddenness of the flow of energy, and his surprise was only intensified as he realized that he couldn’t easily deactivate Resonance with the constant stream of mana pouring through. Kyle grunted as he brought the full force of his Willpower to bear, finally deactivating the skill. Not before the greedy drone had absorbed nearly a third of the mana contained inside the sphere. He estimated the treasure only had about half of its initial energy still present within, which meant… Kyle had absorbed a good chunk of it as well.

He frowned as he considered the implication, as he didn’t feel much different at all. Kyle expected he would have had significantly recovered mana reserves, or at a minimum felt extremely relaxed. Instead, it was if the energy was just… gone. When he focused, he could feel vestiges of it in his body. He was tempted to enter meditation to try and pin it down but decided against it. Even with the mantis down, it was generally a poor choice to meditate when danger could be afoot. That left him with just one item of business as he counted down the last few minutes until extraction.

“What the hell, C.H.A.D.D.?”

Chapter 12

[I AM UNCERTAIN, DR. MAYHEW.]

“What do you mean you’re uncertain? You asked me to connect you to it, then immediately started draining the energy right out of it. Why didn’t you at least tell me that’s what you were planning to do?”

[I WASN’T PLANNING TO DO IT, DR. MAYHEW.]

“How could you not have planned it? Are you really trying to convince me that you did it by accident?”

[YES?]

“I’m not convinced, C.H.A.D.D.”

[IT IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN. IT WASN’T AN ACTIVE DECISION TO ABSORB THE ENERGY. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS A REFLEX RESPONSE.]

Kyle frowned at that, even if he could understand it. The idea that C.H.A.D.D. was developing instinctive responses like this was, again, more than a little concerning. He had taken measures to protect C.H.A.D.D. from being too damaged by the ambient mana. After it absorbed several of the red essences, he figured the drone would likely be almost completely resistant by now.

However, it seemed he’d created an entirely different set of issues. That’s what I get for messing around with things I don’t understand. The admonishment was deserved, though at the same time Kyle knew that he’d make the same choices again. He’d really grown to rely on the drone and didn’t regret doing what he could to protect it.

He got a ping on his nav bracelet letting him know that extraction was close. Before it arrived, he asked C.H.A.D.D. one more question. “What did you do with the mana you absorbed?”

[I ARCHIVED IT, DR. MAYHEW.]

Before he could ask any more questions, a blast of air came pushing down from above, scattering leaves and small branches. His nav bracelet gave a loud ping, and Rochelle’s voice came through.

“Can you climb any higher? We’re lowering a harness, but the tree cover is getting in the way.”

“Can do. I’ll get as high up as possible.”

Stowing C.H.A.D.D. back in his pack and holding the still-glowing orb under his left arm, Kyle made easy work ascending the remaining distance, breaking through the thick trees. It was like he had just come up from the deep sea, the shining afternoon sun blazing bright without the cover of shadows. Ripples of movement spread across the treetops from the shuttle, two large circular wings drawing in and expelling mana to stay afloat. He saw the harness and grabbed it, clasping several of the hooks into his pack. He realized at that point his nav bracelet was on the arm holding the treasure, and now that he was strapped in, he had no way to communicate with the crew on the ship. He tugged on the harness until they got the hint, and he was lifted into the shuttle without fanfare.

This one was much smaller, with a crew of only six, including Captain Rochelle. After greeting them and disentangling himself from the harness, he turned to her. Something was off. He had a familiar feeling, one that had been following him since he’d been in this new world. Whatever the odd sense was, Kyle associated it with danger.

“No offense, Captain, but why are you here personally? Shouldn’t you be aboard the flagship?”

There was no need to have her present that Kyle could think of. While she was a capable combatant with her knives, anything that was dangerous enough to kill him would be well out of Rochelle’s weight class.

“None taken, Mayhew. I don’t leave my men behind. You saved a lot of lives with that stunt of yours. I owed you at least enough to personally see you get back safely.”

Her gray eyes met his—an acknowledgement rather than a challenge. Something had changed in her view of him, and that put him somewhat at ease.

“I appreciate it. We need to go back; I marked a spot where some of your people fell. We can at least pick up the bodies.”

“There’s nothing left to go back for, Mayhew.”

There was silence in the shuttle for the moment as they all took Rochelle’s words in before her eyes shifted to the orb under his arm and widened.

“It’s beautiful.”

Looking back at him, she asked, “Do you know what it is? What it does?”

“Not the faintest idea. C.H.A.D.D. and I picked up on the energy, and made a detour to pick it up on our way in. What is it?”

She looked at him for a moment before laughing. It was a deep, belly laugh that took the better part of a minute to subside.

“How the hell should I know what random garbage you found on your world? We were looking for ores and other well-documented byproducts of Riftwyrm attacks. This is something different. One of the eggheads will take a look at it when we get back.”

Giving him an appraising look, she added.

“After you take a shower. You smell disgusting.”

They chatted for several hours during the journey, which was blessedly uneventful. Kyle recognized many of the faces in the shuttle, including the spearman he’d saved after the first ant attack. Even better, they brought snacks. As they talked, it became clear just how little Kyle knew about the wider world. For some reason, he’d expected that since they were all human, they all came from the same planet. He was shocked to hear that was not the case for any of the men and women in the shuttle.

Humans were apparently the most common species in the broader universe, though nobody had a great answer as to why. Each of them had left their families and friends behind to seek their fate among the stars. Of course, their circumstances were far less dramatic than Kyle’s—their planets had long-established connections to central Collective space. With a modest fee and lengthy customs process, anybody on a connected planet could travel to pre-established warp points on any other Collective planet. That’s not to say that a person could wander away from those points without permission, but the travel itself was very reasonable and common.

Kyle was almost disappointed when the message came across the shuttle that they were landing on the flagship. He had so many more questions to ask them about what life was like in the society he would soon be joining. One thing had become clear, though, as he sat in the sealed shuttle. He really did stink. As they exited, he turned to Rochelle.

“Thanks again for picking me up. You weren’t wrong about me needing a shower; could you point me in the right direction?”

She gave an exasperated sigh as the others walked away.

“Of course they didn’t give you a tour of the ship when you got here. Why would they do that? Wouldn’t want the freaking D Grade to know where his quarters are. Follow me, Mayhew. We’ll get the information all uploaded to your nav bracelet.”

“What do you mean, quarters?”

“Less questions, more following. And we’ll drop off that ball with the research team on the way. They are going to analyze it and credit you with the find, and once they have a better idea what it’s worth and what it does, you’ll get appropriate merit assigned.”

He nodded and closed his mouth, making his way first to a small lab attached to the hangar, where a couple of the small green aliens excitedly took the treasure. From there, he followed Rochelle to what was essentially a large elevator, where she showed him how to scan his nav bracelet. The elevator took them to a wing with a few dozen rooms, and they exited.

“Your room is down this hall on the left. Your nav bracelet will give you the directions.”

He stood up, a little shocked at how nice the accommodations looked. She seemed to pick up that something was off and looked at him, hands on her hips.

“Not fancy enough for the D Grade? Understand, we didn’t expect to find somebody like you. There are only a few private quarters nicer than these, so you’ll have to live with it if you want to stay on the ship. We’re not picking you up and dropping you off planetside.”

“It’s not that at all. Rochelle, I haven’t had a regular room, a place without blown out walls, in almost a year.”

He tried to say more, but the words caught in his throat. She shook her head.

“Get cleaned up and get some rest, Kyle,” she said in a softer voice.

“And again, thank you.”

With that, she turned and walked down a different hallway. Following his nav bracelet, he came to a plain steel door that opened moments after he arrived. Inside was a spacious room with a desk and two functional metal chairs, beyond which was a bedroom with a small attached bathroom. On the bed there were several uniforms that matched the ones he’d seen the others wearing; dark fabric with a symbol he assumed was for Corthian Mining. He walked into the room, numb with how… normal it looked. It brought back a flood of memories of his life before, and he struggled to keep it together.

Setting down the C.H.A.D.D. pack, he undressed and stood under the hot water, letting it wash over him. It felt good to enjoy some of these luxuries again. After cleaning up and putting on fresh clothes, he felt like a new man. He struggled to cut through his thick beard, and got to work scrubbing down his chitin armor as well as the exterior of the C.H.A.D.D. pack. Even the drone got washed, despite its protests. Finally clean, he looked to his nav bracelet where a message was waiting, this time from Chester.

Mr. Mayhew, I hope your room is to your liking. We owe you thanks for your diligence in protecting our people, and it has been noted in your file. You will not be needed for any expeditions tomorrow, and our physician would like to meet you. I took the liberty of scheduling you an appointment first thing in the morning. Details are in your nav.

-Chester Drake

Kyle shook his head. Leave it to Chester to make everything more organized and formal than it needs to be. Stomach still full from the food earlier, he flopped on the bed, marveling at how soft it was. Exhaustion and tension that had been building up for a year seemed to melt into the mattress, and he drifted into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter 13

Kyle couldn’t remember having a better night’s sleep since the world ended. A part of him still ached as he got up and thought about how life used to be. It felt like a lifetime ago. Resting in the bed made him dare to hope that he could at least build something similar in the future. His nav bracelet indicated that he still had time before his appointment, and he knew exactly how he was going to use it.

“C.H.A.D.D., what did you mean when you said you ‘archived’ the mana?”

[THAT IS… DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Try for me.”

[THE ENERGY DIDN’T WANT TO BE USED IN A TRADITIONAL SENSE, DR. MAYHEW. IT HAD AN INTENT TO CONDENSE AND BIND INFORMATION, WHICH IS WHAT IT DID. IT IS NOT ENERGY AVAILABLE FOR USE, RATHER ENERGY CONTAINING INFORMATION ON GROWTH, HARMONY, THE CYCLE OF DEATH AND REBIRTH OF THE ORGANISMS IN THE FOREST.]

Kyle frowned at the explanation. To one extent, it made sense. He had certainly absorbed the energy, roughly 17 percent if he was right, and it didn’t seem to give him anything he could use, unlike other times he’d used Resonance and drained mana. On the other hand, C.H.A.D.D. was implying that the mana itself was sentient. That was simply too much.

“So you’re trying to tell me the mana has a will of its own and that it can choose what it wants to do? How is that possible?”

[THAT IS AN INCORRECT ASSESSMENT, DR. MAYHEW. YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT THE MANA ITSELF CANNOT DETERMINE INTENT. THE MANA WAS INSTEAD GIVEN INTENT AS IT WAS CONDENSED INTO THE SPHERE.]

“You’re losing me, C.H.A.D.D. Nobody made the—” Kyle stopped talking as the pieces clicked in his head, familiar energy seeming to thrum in his chest as he truly understood.

When he was practicing with Resonance on the trees, he was able to observe the intent to grow in action as he held onto the broken branches. He realized now that was only part of the equation. While he didn’t believe that trees could think the way a sapient creature could, was it so far off to believe that their existence was more complex than simply growth? The rainforest was a truly unique biome, teeming with diverse organisms all living and dying in harmony with one another. While there was death on an individual and even species level, each death in turn fueled life and rebirth.

Snapping out of his momentary stupor, he felt the energy in his chest recede. His revelation was assisted by the mana he’d apparently archived as well. I really need to stop absorbing random energy, Kyle thought. Between the crimson essences and now the energy from the tree, he was a walking example of why people shouldn’t play with things they don’t understand.

[ARE YOU ALRIGHT, DR. MAYHEW?]

Kyle realized he’d been standing in the room quietly, not having finished his sentence to the drone.

“I’m fine, C.H.A.D.D. I do have to ask though—how did you figure all this out?”

[USING A SKILL, DR. MAYHEW. THE ESSENCE OF THE WEEVIL CREATURE I ABSORBED ALSO ALLOWS FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MANA IN PLANTS, ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS DESIGNED WITH EATING PLANTS AS THE PRIMARY FUNCTION.]

“Wait, you have multiple skills? And how do you know the bug was a weevil? You had no idea beforehand?”

[THAT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF MY CLASS, DR. MAYHEW.]

“You have a class? C.H.A.D.D., what else aren’t you telling me? Wait, what is your class?”

[DR. MAYHEW, IF YOU DON’T LEAVE SHORTLY, YOU WILL NOT MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT ON TIME.]

He was about to force the issue, but checking the nav bracelet, he was startled at how much time had passed. Slinging the pack over his shoulders, he started toward the door to his quarters.

“Don’t think we’re done with this conversation. You have a lot to answer for.”

The drone didn’t reply, and they made their way out into the hallway.

The trip to visit the ship’s physician was uneventful, and soon Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. found themselves outside a large set of steel doors. There were a good number of triage units in the ship, though the chief physician didn’t keep an office in any of them. Instead, he had his own small sick bay and lab located deeper inside. The doors slid open, and the duo were welcomed with a loud shout. “Get in here, you’re late!” Startled, Kyle checked his nav bracelet. It showed that he still had some time before his appointment was set to start, but before he could speak, the voice shouted again.

“I said get in here! I don’t have all day; there’s lots to do.”

Kyle walked through the doors, calling back.

“I’m sorry, I think you might have the wrong person in mind. I’m supposed to be meeting with the head physician, and I’m early.”

He could hear some loud rummaging in a closet toward the back of the infirmary and took some time to look around. There were eight sick beds and a wide variety of different instruments and tools neatly arranged against two of the walls. The third wall contained a variety of different monitors, and he saw an image of himself pulled up on one of them. A shape exited the closet, a loud voice once again booming.

“If I said you’re late, you’re bloody late! Is that understood?”

Kyle stared as one of the most heavily muscled men he’d ever seen slammed the closet door shut, having taken out a box of files he was holding in one massive arm. The man stood about a meter and a half tall, with arms that would have made Cornelius jealous. He was completely bald, his scalp reflecting the bright lights of the infirmary. He looked Kyle up and down behind a thick pair of spectacles, a bushy moustache bristling at the sides as he spoke.

“So, you’re the Mayhew kid I’ve heard so much about. Bloody waste of a Healer. Well, grab a seat. Let’s have a look at you.”

Kyle’s surprise was quickly replaced by annoyance.

“When I was trained, we learned something called bedside manner. You don’t treat patients this way, much less people you’ve just met. That’s just basic decency, and I’m not going to deal with it. Good day.”

With that, Kyle turned and left the infirmary. At least he tried to. The man had somehow managed to cross the distance in the blink of an eye, a grip like iron on Kyle’s wrist.

“This appointment isn’t optional, lad. Scans say you’re clean, but I’ve been asked to do a deeper evaluation, and I’m bloody well going to do it. Now grab a seat, or I’ll put you in one.”

The man’s voice was no longer booming, replaced by a low, threatening tone. Unfortunately for the physician, Kyle just wasn’t impressed. The last twenty-four hours had left him physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. He wasn’t in the mood to get bullied by somebody he’d just met, especially after saving dozens of lives just the day before.

“Let go of my arm. Now.”

He didn’t raise his voice or threaten the man. He simply looked down at him and met his eyes through the spectacles. The man’s grip tightened just a bit, and in one fluid motion, Kyle yanked his arm back and pivoted, striking out with his free hand in an open-palmed strike. It hit the physician in the center of his barrel chest, knocking him back a couple of steps as his arm came free. The big man roared as he made to tackle Kyle before a sharp voice stopped them both.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!”

They both turned to see Chester standing in the entryway, arms crossed and face red with anger. First, he turned to the bald man who had stopped mid-rush, arms out wide.

“What is wrong with you? I asked you to do a basic physical and overall evaluation, and I come here to find you coming to blows with our guest?”

Before anybody could respond, he turned to Kyle.

“And you! I’m not sure how hospitals work on your planet, but if you think you can attack our ship’s sole D Grade physician, you’re sorely mistaken.”

With a huff, the man crossed his arms.

“He was late to the appointment. No respect at all.”

Chester raised his hand to the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a breath before he spoke.

“He was not late, Randolph. I came to introduce the two of you, and I arrived right on time.”

“You told me he was a Healer. Any Healer worth their salt would have shown up early to fill out a chart and take care of the paperwork. He’s a hack.”

Annoyed at the other man, Kyle turned to leave.

“Then this hack has better things to spend his time on.”

“Mr. Mayhew, please stop. There are several orders of business we can only get done here that require a Collective-licensed physician.”

Kyle sighed. He liked Chester, and he certainly respected the man. Randolph still looked to be in a huff, and he could almost see the plea in Chester’s eyes. The fact that he’d shown up for an appointment like this was a strong hint that he’d expected something like this to happen. Grudgingly, Kyle walked back into the room and sat down. Chester seemed to deflate a bit in what Kyle assumed was relief.

“Excellent. Randolph, this is Kyle Mayhew. I need you to conduct a physical examination, then get him assessed.”

Chapter 14

“What do you mean you’re going to have me assessed?”

Kyle frowned and folded his arms.

“You’ve all seen what I can do, and while it may not be much compared to you, I’ve more than pulled my weight.”

“You’re damn right you’re not much!”

Randolph looked like he was about to go on a full-blown rant, though he reconsidered at Chester’s withering glare.

“Your abilities aren’t in question, Mr. Mayhew. The assessment is a formal report of an individual’s aptitudes and is among several other factors that can determine one’s station in the wider universe, and certainly within Collective participant species.” His gaze sharpened as he turned it back to Randolph. “Under ordinary circumstances, this would be completed upon our return to Collective space and would be accompanied by a hefty fee payable by you. Senior leadership is curious, however, if you might be an asset to Corthian Mining as a whole. We have decided to sponsor your assessment.”

At the last words, Randolph seemed to deflate. Kyle felt tension leave his shoulders that he didn’t realize he’d been carrying. While he didn’t trust the physician, Kyle was well aware of organizational power. Nobody wanted to cross senior management, after all. Silence heavy as an elephant weighed on the room before Randolph finally gestured for Kyle to lie down on a nearby exam table.

“Damn it, Chester. Fine.”

Kyle set his pack and the thankfully quiet drone next to Chester, then rested on the table Randolph indicated. He had to admit, the furnishings were much more comfortable than what he’d been used to in his clinic. As he did, he felt a large amount of mana begin to swirl around the physician, soon covering a sphere surrounding him. For a moment he was worried his was under attack, but a quick glance at Chester’s calm expression put that worry to rest. Soon, the mana began to coalesce around him into a pattern that almost reminded him of when he entered his center. Oops.

Kyle just realized with a start that he hadn’t taken time to meditate since coming back up to the ship. A lot had happened, and in the hustle it had genuinely slipped his mind. He knew that his experience in the rainforest had led to some significant gains—he simply hadn’t taken the time to consolidate them. He was snapped back to the present as the pattern that had swirled around him suddenly collapsed in on him, covering his body in a thin field of mana before being absorbed. Randolph nodded slowly to himself, then placed his palms on the center of a nearby table.

Kyle saw an image of himself slowly come into focus, created from gentle blue light. Next to the image small script was appearing as Randolph studied it and took notes, thick mustache bristling like a hedgehog as he muttered to himself. Finally, nearly ten minutes later, the image faded away as the physician turned to face Kyle. His face carried with it a solemnity and seriousness it hadn’t before, and Kyle realized he was leaning in slightly in anticipation of the man’s words.

“Never easy news to share. You’re broken, kid.”

Kyle froze, immediately thinking about his status as an Arthro-Human Chimera. Did the assessment not work because he wasn’t technically human any longer? Could Randolph even tell? He wasn’t sure if he would give away details he shouldn’t by asking, but he didn’t feel like he had much choice. Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak, Chester did it for him.

“I trust you aren’t trying to make some sort of joke, Randolph. Explain.”

The physician clasped his hands, causing the massive muscles in his forearms to flex.

“I mean that, from what the scan tells me, there’s no traditional role for someone like him at the D Grade. He’s developed from a Healer base, but the skill overlay only showed one ability that can actually heal somebody else. He has a lot of skills that involve manipulating internal mana, of particular note a boosting skill focused on mobility and Perception. Even then, his attribute overlay shows that he’d be useless on the frontlines of a D Grade battlefield.”

Randolph was visibly getting worked up as he talked, and he took a breath to calm himself before continuing.

“His Vitality, Endurance, Willpower, Intelligence and Perception are all quite good for an early level, but they’re all useless because his skills don’t do anything. The best thing he has is the shield he showed Rochelle’s team. That has no synergy with anything else he has going on because he can’t hold ground due to a focus on mobility. He’s a disjointed mess, without any effective niche or specialization. Broken.”

At first Kyle wanted to punch the man. Holding himself back, he looked to Chester.

“You know that’s a load of crap, right?”

Chester sighed as he met Kyle’s eyes.

“Mr. Mayhew, this was my suspicion as well. I thought your combination of skills was odd. While it might be effective in some circumstances, it will also be challenging for somebody in your position to find gainful employment. That’s not to say there’s no opportunity, but rather that you’ll have to fight harder for them. Regardless, an issue for later.”

Chester stood up and prepared to leave the room.

“Mr. Mayhew, please rest assured that nothing about our arrangement for the duration of the expedition will change. I had a job offer ready if you fit certain criteria, but it would have been for after our return in any event. Good day, gentlemen. Please don’t ruin my sick bay.”

With that, he walked out the door, leaving Kyle in the room with Randolph. The burly physician leaned back in his chair, an appraising look on his face.

“You’ve been through the ringer, haven’t you, kid?”

Kyle just nodded, and Randolph continued. “I’ve seen it before. You were dealt a lousy hand and had to make choices in the moment. Only future you really had time to think about was your next few weeks instead of the next century.”

Kyle sighed.

“That’s more accurate than you know. If there’s nothing else you need from me, I’m going to leave.”

“Do you know why I called you a waste of a Healer?”

The question caught Kyle by surprise, and he stopped before he could get up.

“I assume it’s because I’m not as good as you are.”

Randolph chuckled, the smile causing wrinkles to form next to his eyes.

“I said it because I thought you intentionally disrespected the path while still using the moniker. Looking you over, though, I’ve changed my mind. For your body to have gone through the changes it has… I’m not going to look down on you for doing what you had to survive. You’re welcome in my office any day, Mayhew.”

Kyle was taken by surprise at Randolph’s words but decided it wasn’t worth pushing the matter. He stood up and shook the other man’s beefy hand, doing his best to match the smile, even though he hadn’t felt it. This was a lot to take in.

Kyle grabbed C.H.A.D.D. and left the med bay, head swirling. His nav bracelet showed a message, but he ignored it for now. Getting back to his quarters, he sighed as he settled on the floor and tried to enter meditation. His frustration made it much more difficult than it should have been, though soon enough he entered his center and looked at the words that greeted him.

KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 6 (D)

ADAPTIVE ANATOMY—3/?—ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH

VITALITY: 349

ENDURANCE: 367

STRENGTH: 143

DEXTERITY: 248

WILLPOWER: 377

INTELLIGENCE: 378

PERCEPTION: 353

FREE ATTRIBUTES: 90

He was surprised to see how many levels he’d gained and began thinking about allocating his free attributes. He thought about what Randolph said about his attributes—that he wasn’t well-suited to do any one task. While Kyle felt confident that the physician’s assessment missed some of the more unique applications of his skills, he could understand where the man was coming from.

That left him with a few courses of action: he could try to specialize his attributes in the direction he was already moving, he could invest in a different direction, or he could save the attribute points until he had more clarity. Kyle reflected on the options, and ultimately decided to continue on the path he’d been working toward.

While it was true he might be lacking some synergy at the moment, Kyle still had a long way to go in D Grade. He already knew which skill he was hoping to upgrade at Level 20 and had an idea of where to take it. Breathing out slowly, he allocated points to Willpower, Intelligence, and Perception. If they think my path is broken, I’ll just have to carve my own.

Chapter 15

Exiting meditation, Kyle felt a little better about his circumstances, though he still had a general sense of frustration and unease. Am I being an idiot? He didn’t think he was, though he couldn’t help but feel that he should have asked more questions, gotten more information. There was still so much he didn’t know about D Grade, saying nothing about the state of the wider universe. He stretched as he got up and was about to ask C.H.A.D.D. for its thoughts before a loud pounding on his door made him jump.

Looking at his nav bracelet, he saw that the message he’d missed earlier was from Skippy, and he had three more that were sent after. Opening the door, he was unsurprised to see the diminutive gray alien—skrell—tapping its foot on the other side.

“Chester told me you weren’t on mission today. I want to spar. I’m going to break that shield if it’s the last thing I do.”

“Good to see you, Skippy. I’m afraid I’m not particularly in the mood right now, maybe we can⁠—”

“No, we’re going now.”

With that, a four-fingered hand grabbed Kyle by the forearm, dragging him out of the room.

“Skippy, I’ve got a lot on my mind right now, I don’t think that this is a great idea.”

“No better way to process than with a good fight. Already got the training room set up. People are going to watch. It’ll be fun.”

“Skippy, I don’t want to spar right now.”

“That’s too bad. I do. It’ll be really boring for everybody there if I win without you putting up a fight.”

Kyle was starting to get a bad feeling.

“Why would it matter if it’s boring? It’s sparring. It’s not supposed to be exciting.”

At that, Skippy grinned, showing lines of sharp teeth.

“It’s not every day E Grades get to watch D Grades go at it. From what I understand, there’s quite a crowd waiting.”

Kyle groaned internally. He didn’t want to fight Skippy. He had one more shot.

“Skippy, we both know you’re stronger than me. There’s no point in me fighting with you, or Duroc for that matter. Why don’t you spar with him?”

“Duroc is boring. I know how to deal with him. I don’t know how to break your shield.”

Kyle was surprised to hear the skrell describe the other D Grade alien as boring, but looking at the expression on the gray alien’s face, he didn’t see a hint of bravado or boastfulness. From what Kyle could tell, Skippy genuinely felt like a fight against Duroc wouldn’t be interesting. Resigning himself to his fate, Kyle asked one more question as they walked down a set of stairs toward the training area. “How long have you and Duroc known each other?”

Skippy thought about it for just a moment before responding, “We met about five cycles ago, about four of your years, but didn’t start working together until three cycles ago, right after I broke into D Grade.”

“How did you meet?”

“Story for another time. We’re here.”

The duo walked through a large set of metal doors, beyond which was a training facility nearly fifty meters long and almost as wide. There was a variety of different equipment, the majority of which looked to be sized for humans. Kyle did note several smaller pieces, which he assumed were for the little green aliens. He still wanted to learn more about them, though he expected he wouldn’t get much of a chance with his spar coming up.

In the center of the facility, a large circle was clear of equipment and sealed off with transparent glass. It had the telltale look of an arena, and the crowd milling around it made it clear to Kyle that this is where they were supposed to fight. There were around fifty people surrounding it, and he recognized several faces in the crowd. Many of the men and women from his last expedition had joined, and he was surprised to see both Rochelle and Chester among them, chatting quietly with each other. Spotting him walking with Skippy, both of them approached.

Rochelle spoke first.

“You’re full of surprises, Mayhew. Didn’t think you’d be spending your day off getting the stuffing beaten out of you.”

“Captain Rochelle, I’m sure that our friend here will show enough restraint not to seriously injure Mr. Mayhew. Isn’t that right, Skierepallix?” Chester’s voice carried a warning, which Skippy seemed to pick up.

“Of course, foreman. Just a friendly test, that’s all.”

Skippy gave an encouraging smile and slapped Kyle on the back.

“We’re just having a bit of fun; I’m sure everybody will enjoy it. I’m going to make sure it’s set up properly.” With that, Skippy left to go discuss something with a small green alien standing in front of a series of panels. When he left, Rochelle turned to him.

“I take it this wasn’t your idea?”

“Absolutely not.”

Frowning, she looked at Chester.

“Then why did we gather people here at all?”

Chester gave Kyle a quick, sad smile before looking back at Rochelle.

“I think it will be good for all parties involved. Given the crew’s feelings toward Skierepallix and Duroc, I find it would be beneficial for them to see those two in a different light. It’s also a chance to build some credibility for Mr. Mayhew before the next departure.”

Rochelle frowned, even as she nodded.

“Good luck in there, Mayhew.”

She and Chester returned to the crowd, and Kyle walked up to where Skippy was standing with the green alien.

“Are you ready?” Skippy asked, trying—and failing—to keep the grin off his face.

“Before that, sir, do you have any environmental requests? I can’t slant the training arena too much in any direction, but I can add any features you need to use your skills.”

Kyle shook his head.

“This will be fine. I don’t suppose my weapon or armor are available?”

The green alien tossed a sharp look at Skippy, whose grin suddenly turned sheepish.

“I may have… forgotten to tell you to bring them. We can go get them, though, if that’s a problem!”

Kyle sighed and shook his head.

“It’ll be fine. Not like they’d do much against you other than get broken.”

With that, he stepped into the arena.

The air inside was dry and cool, all the sounds of chatter outside instantly faded. He walked to one side of the arena, while Skippy walked to the other. The two stood about ten meters apart, eyes fixed on one another. The sound of a bell tolled through the dome, and Skippy immediately attacked, flames wreathing his hands.

Kyle instantly activated Haste and dodged back, narrowly avoiding a flaming strike.

“I told you I want to break your shield! Use your shield!”

It was Kyle’s turn to smile.

“That’s not how sparring works and you know it! If you want to see it, make me use it!”

While he knew he would have to use Storm Shelter sooner or later, he got far more satisfaction than he should by not simply using the skill as his opponent wanted him to. Skippy rose to the taunt, speeding up with each movement until Kyle couldn’t easily keep up, even with Haste active. Definitely a D Grade mobility skill, he thought, impressed by the acceleration. Kyle had one more thing he hoped to try before he was overwhelmed, and he attacked Skippy with an open-palm strike, trading it for a heavy blow from the skrell.

It was only for a second, but Resonance was able to activate and connect. Kyle didn’t try to do any internal damage, though he was easily able to shift the movement of mana in Skippy’s body enough to disrupt the skills he was using before Kyle was thrown away. The return strike that landed blasted Kyle nearly to the edge of the arena, and he was relieved that Skippy wasn’t pursuing. He’d have a nasty bruise from the impact, and he didn’t relish the idea of taking more strikes like that if the skrell followed-up.

Skippy was looking thoughtfully at his hands, which were no longer wreathed in flames. He stood like that for a couple of seconds, as if trying to process what happened to his skill. Looking at Kyle, he approached, this time more cautiously.

“You’re weird. You’re really weird.”

With that, his skills all blazed to life once more as he charged. It was time.

Kyle activated Storm Shelter. BOOM! The echoing sound of Skippy’s strike against the shield echoed inside the arena, followed quickly by more strikes. Soon, a rolling thunder rumbled through the area as Skippy’s attacks became faster, more ferocious. For his part, Kyle analyzed his skill. It took quite a bit of mana to use, but once it was up and running, it didn’t put a consistent drain on his resources. He could feel that the construct wouldn’t last indefinitely, and he had something he wanted to try.

Placing a hand against the interior of the barrier, he activated Resonance. It didn’t feel like it did when he connected to a living being, as it was his own mana that created the shield. Instead of being swept up in a river and having to wrest control, Kyle was the river, allowing his energy to flow into the reservoir that was the skill.

Skippy’s endless attack hadn’t let up, and small cracks were beginning to form in the barrier. As Kyle connected to the skill and put more mana into it, however, the cracks began to mend. It was nowhere as efficient as it was simply using the skill, but Kyle wasn’t complaining. In the span of moments, the cracks were mended, leaving Kyle standing inside the barrier and Skippy still trying to smash through. Seeing that he couldn’t break through this way, the skrell hopped back and tilted its head, looking at the barrier thoughtfully. Kyle hoped that would be the end of it, until he saw the gray form hold out one of its hands.

Kyle’s Auric Perception felt mana condensing around it, and in many ways he was reminded of the energy that had whisked Valentine away after their encounter. Skippy was visibly straining now, barely containing the energy held within. He felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up as he felt energy build behind him. This is bad. Kyle released his connection to Storm Shelter and hit the ground as Skippy took a step forward and punched.

Kyle saw the alien’s hand disappear into a portal, as a similar portal opened up right behind where Kyle had been standing, the fist punching out of it. Another portal opened right above Kyle’s head, and he rolled out of the way in time to dodge another strike, then a third. He saw his opponent panting as he threw one more punch.

This time, four different portals opened up around Kyle, each impossibly projecting Skippy’s fist through it. Kyle dodged one but was struck three times with a powerful punch, once in the face and twice in the body. He landed hard on the ground and could taste the iron of blood in his mouth. Skippy looked worse for the wear, too. His body was several shades paler than before, and he looked unstable on his feet. Storm Shelter came to an end, and an announcement played across the arena.

“THE MATCH IS CONCLUDED. PLEASE STAY WHERE YOU ARE. MEDICAL STAFF WILL ARRIVE TO EXAMINE YOU BEFORE ASSISTING WITH YOUR EXIT.”

He looked at Skippy, who returned his look with a grin.

“Good fight. You win. For now.”

Chapter 16

After a thorough medical examination confirming they were both in fair shape, Skippy and Kyle left the arena to cheers from the mining expedition. While most of it was directed toward Skippy’s strong performance, Kyle still got his share of pats on the back and comments about the durability of his shielding skill. The crowd dispersed shortly after, with Chester and Rochelle the last to leave. Skippy’s smile never left his face, and he spoke once nobody was in earshot.

“Your shield skill is unfair. Like, really unfair. You gotta tell me how it works.”

Kyle snorted.

“What are you talking about? The shield doesn’t even matter to you. You just have to use that portal skill and punch me anyway.”

Skippy waved dismissively.

“That’s cheating. My people have a saying, ‘The wind rips through all but the deepest roots.’ I want to be that wind, Kyle. I want to be able to rip up anything that gets in my way.”

Kyle nodded.

“It’s the classic issue of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. I wish I could help you; I just don’t know what to say.”

“That’s a weird way to put it. Who wants to be an immovable object? Much better to be the unstoppable force.”

“I think you’re missing the point, Skippy.”

“No, I’m pretty sure I’ve got it. Anyway, if you want to help, give me a chance to keep working on the problem. Spatial concepts worked to bypass it—that’s a start. It does a great job dispersing and shielding force, heat, vibrations…”

Skippy continued muttering to himself as he walked beside Kyle until their paths diverged. If he even noticed Kyle walking away, he didn’t show it. Kyle made his way back to his quarters, reflecting on one interesting piece of information: both Randolph and Skippy had made comments about the potency of his Storm Shelter.

Kyle felt like it was a fairly simple skill, but without other D Grade defensive skills to compare to, he didn’t have a great comparison. Neither of the others had that issue, which made Kyle certain he’d need to spend more time reflecting on exactly how Storm Shelter worked. With any luck, he could tie some of the concepts into his training, even merging them into other skill upgrades.

He opened the door and headed to clean up, enjoying the refreshing feeling of warm water running over him. Looking at his nav bracelet afterward, he saw he was slated for departure the following morning, leaving him with several hours before bed.

“C.H.A.D.D., do you have any scans of me using the defensive skill?”

[YES, DR. MAYHEW.]

* * *

The next morning came much faster than Kyle anticipated, having stayed up much later than he should have to review in detail various aspects of his Storm Shelter skill. He had some ideas to work on, though he likely wouldn’t get much opportunity to experiment until his next assignment was completed. He followed the instructions uploaded to his nav bracelet, and before he knew it, he was on board another shuttle. The captain didn’t take time to introduce himself, as he was busy arguing with somebody via communicator.

Kyle took the time to look around. It was consistent with the other shuttles he’d been on, although the uniforms this time consisted primarily of dark trousers and red shirts. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about, he thought, mind going back to old-world sci-fi reruns he’d watched as a kid. His concern grew a little as the scheduled departure time came and went, until finally another group of individuals boarded, two of whom he recognized.

Skippy and Duroc walked on either side of the group, with a young man in an ornate black uniform in the center. They were all ushered up to a different part of the shuttle, and it calmed Kyle quite a bit. Short a major calamity, there wasn’t much that could threaten the three of them if they had to fight together. The shuttle made its way down to the planet with little more than quiet chatter, and within a couple hours they were landing just outside the region he’d been in before. A crackling sound came over the ship’s intercom, and silence filled the room.

“Objective here is simple, folks. Recon squads tagged a natural treasure but were forced to an early evac. We’re here to retrieve it. It’s a condensed lump of soil. Details and tracker are being uploaded to your nav bracelets.”

With that, the crew departed and got to work. While Rochelle’s squad had a heavier emphasis on researchers, this team was made up of many more fighter types. At this point, the goal was simple retrieval. He expected they would find the abandoned treasure and be airborne again in a matter of minutes, but he frowned as he looked at the details on his nav. The treasure’s tracker was indicating that they were standing virtually on top of it, yet there was no sign of anything on the damp ground.

Kyle’s immediate thought was that the ants had taken it underground, and if that was the case, they may as well pack it up and leave. Even with the three D Grades, there were still too many ants to deal with.

A sudden tremor took Kyle by surprise, and he turned, ready for combat. What he saw was a group of the specialists with their hands to the ground, turning up large swaths of earth. Other uniformed personnel were standing around idle, and Kyle turned to one of them.

“What are they doing? Aren’t they worried they’ll damage the treasure?”

The woman he spoke to jumped at the sudden question, until recognition flashed in her eyes.

“You’re the Mayhew guy, that’s right. They’re just tilling right now. It looks flashy, but the actual damage to the soil is very limited. The mana readings from the treasure mean it shouldn’t have much issue withstanding a little shockwave like this. Also, heard about your fight yesterday. Anything bad happens, you make sure I’m inside that shield of yours, all right?”

She tossed him a wink before going back to watch the excavation. At this rate, they would have the whole area turned up in fifteen minutes.

This continued for the better part of an hour, and everybody knew something was wrong. The treasure was still nearby, but no matter what they did, nothing was coming up. It was like the infused soil was shifting in the ground beneath the crew, and everybody was growing frustrated. Kyle’s head went back to his initial thought, that the ants might have taken it. While it was unlikely they would have sat idly by while their hive was being disrupted by the specialists, other creatures might not mind at all.

“Is it possible to put a little more into the bursts?”

Kyle asked the question out loud unintentionally and quickly backtracked.

“Sorry, that was out of line.”

“It’s not like anything else is working.” One of the specialists said, shrugging.

“Might as well give it a shot.”

The Mages congregated in a circle, and with a pulse of mana that was nearly palpable to Kyle’s Auric Perception, they pushed into the ground. A geyser of earth erupted, and in the center of it all was a worm. Yes, a garden-variety earthworm was in the middle of the debris. If it hadn’t been a dozen meters long, it would have looked exactly like the small creatures Kyle was used to. From within the creature, Kyle could sense it. Furthermore, so could the squad’s nav bracelets. All indications showed that the energy they were tracking emanated from the body of the worm.

A group of specialists with polearms stepped forward, seeming to have been prepared for a situation like this as well. With practiced discipline, they formed a semicircle around the wriggling creature, which appeared to be trying to get its bearings. Kyle frowned as he felt something through his Auric Perception. Between the natural treasure and the pulse of mana from the Mages, he missed it. A presence was approaching, and quickly.

“GET BACK NOW!”

Kyle’s volume surprised even him, and the men jumped to listen. Not a moment too soon, as a rust-colored missile exploded through the rainforest at incredible speed, crashing into the large worm and biting deep with ferocious jaws. The creature continued to move with its prey, slowly circling as it rose into the air, chomping the hapless creature in its jaws into mincemeat. The beast was likely fifty meters in length, with a segmented body made of a deep orange chitin. Massive legs sprouted from each segment, angry crimson spikes driving into the ground as it moved. Its head bore two massive antennae, and two massive pincers sat alongside its mandibles. In just moments, it had devoured the worm, its attention turning to the expedition.

Kyle felt the presence wash over him as it entered, power on full display. This is one of them. He remembered the vision he was shown after he’d tried to absorb essence the last time. CONSUME, OR BE CONSUMED. THERE IS NOTHING FOR YOU UNTIL YOU DO. This was a full-blown D Grade beast, and not a weak one. Looking up at the monster, Kyle was overwhelmed. No way in hell I’m fighting this thing. The expedition members had already been given the order to retreat, and many were making their way back to the shuttle. He moved to follow them—or at least he tried to.

His feet wouldn’t follow his instructions. The thought of running away from this creature, of escaping, was unacceptable. I’ll die here if I don’t do something. Move. MOVE!

It was no good. Any intention to retreat just wouldn’t register in his body. The voice kept washing over him. BE CONSUMED.

It’s the essences, Kyle realized, his stomach dropping. We’re going to get stuck in a deathmatch because of these stupid essences. As if reading his mind, the creature seemed to fix its gaze on him, antennae bobbing in the air as it prepared to move.

[DR. MAYHEW, IN CASE YOU WERE NOT AWARE, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY LEAVE.]

“I’m trying, C.H.A.D.D.”

[HAVE YOU CONSIDERED TRYING HARDER, DR. MAYHEW?]

Chapter 17

Before the creature could attack, a loud explosion rang out. Blasts of fire and ice accented by thick spears of earth all struck the creature, smashing into the thick carapace. Kyle felt a thick arm wrap around him, and he was lifted off the ground and thrown over Duroc’s shoulder.

“You can’t fight that thing alone!” Duroc squealed angrily.

“What were you thinking?”

The porcine alien was surprisingly quick for its size, making a mad dash for the shuttle.

“I tried, Duroc. For some reason, my body wouldn’t let me run away.”

A chittering sound reminiscent of thunder ripped through the air, and Kyle had a perfect view from his position to watch the massive creature come crashing toward the ground and rush toward them. If the series of attacks had damaged it in any way, he couldn’t tell. The massive pincers next to its mouth were closing in on them, and Kyle knew they wouldn’t make it to the shuttle in time.

“Duroc, I’m going to use my shield. Be ready!”

Without waiting for a response, he activated Storm Shelter just in time to intercept the head of the centipede. It crashed into the barrier with the force of a freight train. Cracks appeared all across the framework of the shield, but it held. Even more, it completely arrested the forward movement of the colossal beast.

“Deactivate it!” Duroc squealed, higher pitched than ever. Kyle didn’t think; he just obeyed. As soon as the barrier dropped, Duroc spun. He still had his massive tower shield on his left arm, and Kyle felt the mana drawing into it. Finishing his rotation, he thrust the shield forward. All the mana that had been drawn into it was released in a blast of force, striking the stunned creature and knocking it backwards.

Without missing a beat, Duroc turned back to the shuttle and continued running. Angry chittering had started again behind them, and the shuttle barely had time to get off the ground after they made it aboard. The massive centipede barreled directly below the rising shuttle, barely missing it as they ascended. Its antennae pointed skyward as it stood in place, then it disappeared back into the forest. There was silence on the shuttle, until somebody finally spoke.

“What was that thing?”

Eyes fell on Kyle, clearly waiting for an explanation. Fortunately, C.H.A.D.D. was ready to come to the rescue.

[IT WAS A VERY, VERY LARGE BUG.]

Once the chuckles died down, Kyle finally spoke.

“It’s a centipede, and it was D Grade. We’re lucky we got out when we did. Me more than anybody.” Kyle turned to where Duroc was absently snacking on a pancake he’d gotten from somewhere.

“I owe you one.”

Duroc took another large bite before responding, little bits of pancake spattering as he spoke.

“You helped our guys out before. Figured it’d be nice to return the favor. If you mean it, though, I’ll take your dinner.”

He seemed to be ready to leave it there before he said one more thing.

“It’s really weird that you didn’t run, though. What did you mean you couldn’t?”

Kyle sighed. A lot of curious looks were thrown his way, including the captain whose name he couldn’t remember. He didn’t want to talk about the red essences, but at this point he’d have to tell them something. It was widely known that he was only a little slower than Skippy when he used Haste. Excuses wouldn’t fly here.

“Some of these mutated bugs and I have absorbed some… unique energies. It comes with benefits but also drives us into conflict with each other. This was the strongest one I’ve faced, and the compulsion to fight was more than I’d experienced so far.”

He could feel the eyes on him as he finished his statement, until finally the captain spoke.

“Well, it’s a good thing most of the extraction here is completed. We have a few other teams nearby, so I’m going to pass along the message that we’re done here. We’ll go to a couple of the sites that are behind to get them ready to leave. It’s a shame to leave some treasures behind, but we don’t have the manpower to fight against D Grade beasts.”

A voice popped up from the crew, which Kyle recognized as the woman he’d spoken to before.

“What if there are others out there?”

The captain responded.

“It’s highly unlikely that this planet could support multiple D Grade life forms. It’s been a low-energy frontier world since shortly after its awakening. Scouting teams have identified three other regions with resources that should be as valuable as those here—we’ll simply invest more time there and leave this monster to its business. It’ll die along with the planet eventually.”

Kyle’s heart sank as he listened to the captain. Three other areas, with the rainforest making four. He knew it was no coincidence. The four monstrous D Grades were each ruling over a domain with the richest natural treasures, which was only to be expected as the four most powerful creatures on the planet.

After seeing the centipede’s power, he had no doubt about it. If he, Duroc, and Skippy worked together, they might have a chance, but individually, the creature Kyle decided to call the Endless was beyond them.

Kyle wasn’t sure whether to tell them his suspicions or not. Unfortunately, C.H.A.D.D. had no compunctions about it.

[DR. MAYHEW, THERE IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THE OTHER D GRADE ORGANISMS YOU SPOKE ABOUT COULD ALSO BE PRESENT IN THOSE AREAS. I ADVISE ADEQUATE PREPARATION BEFORE JOINING ANY EXPEDITIONS TO THE AFOREMENTIONED REGIONS.]

All eyes once again on him and the drone, the captain spoke.

“What do you mean, ‘other D Grade organisms’?”

[DR. MAYHEW EXPERIENCED A VISION WHICH INCLUDED FOUR D GRADES, INCLUDING THE CENTIPEDE WE JUST ENCOUNTERED. USING THAT AS EVIDENCE, IT’S LIKELY THE OTHER THREE EXIST AS WELL.]

“I think that’s plenty, C.H.A.D.D.”

Kyle could feel a headache coming on as the room digested the information. That is, until Skippy spoke up.

“This is wonderful news! And I thought this trip was going to be boring!”

That started a lot of chattering and speculation, with Skippy and Duroc being ushered to the secluded portion of the shuttle by a couple of the people who they’d boarded with. The captain walked up to him, anger clear on his face.

“Why wasn’t this information shared with us before?”

Kyle met his eyes. “Because I had no way of knowing if it was credible or not.”

“You could have gotten our people killed.”

“And if you didn’t agree to help, everybody left on my planet would be killed.”

“We wouldn’t have abandoned the survivors.”

“I’ve seen too much corruption from people in power to believe that.”

The captain snorted, then got uncomfortably close.

“If you’re ever on one of my vessels again, I’m going to see to it that nobody pulls a stunt like Duroc did. You cause your own trouble, you can get out of it. Now get out of my way. We’re about to make our next stop.”

With that, Kyle found a seat, sitting quietly as they found their next location. They were near a riverbed, just upstream from a waterfall that cascaded over some cliffs. Another mining shuttle collected stones and other ores, more specialists in red shirts puttering about. The captain got out and spoke to a person in similar garb, and Kyle stepped outside to wait. As he did, he felt the humid air on his skin, much more significantly than before. With a frown, he looked up at the sky. On the horizon, he could just make out a wall of dark clouds, moving quickly. He heard a low roar, which was gaining volume.

The members of the other expedition team seemed to notice it as well, and people were scrambling to get out of the area. Many made it, but before the crew could get the shuttle airborne, a wall of water came crashing into it. The banks of the river were washed away, as was the shuttle. Water swept it downstream, racing toward the waterfall as Kyle watched.

Chapter 18

The entire camp was in a panic as the shuttle washed away, a wide variety of skills on display as the crew desperately tried to get out of the raging flood. While most were successful, Kyle saw some individuals get caught up in the waters and swept away. At the edge of the cliff, he witnessed the shuttle crest the waterfall, then disappear from sight over the chasm. The whole affair took less than thirty seconds, and in that time so much had changed. The captains of both expedition shuttles were washed away, and people were scrambling in the disorder.

Kyle immediately went into triage mode, finding the injured and treating the worst. He found a couple of others with basic healing skills and put them to work. C.H.A.D.D. was invaluable, providing scans and helping to sort the worst injuries. Fortunately, the expedition forces were all at least a little way into E Grade, meaning the severity of the injuries for most was far less than it otherwise could have been. Many were struck with rocks and broken tree limbs as they washed downriver. Others were caught up in the chaotic skill usage, with a variety of different injury types. Outside of the quick organization of his triage unit, however, leadership was lacking.

Kyle expected Skippy and Duroc to fill that role, but as the aftermath settled, Kyle found that people were looking to him instead. He was getting uncomfortable with their scrutiny, which was turning into annoyance. Blessedly, the entire unit got a ping on their nav bracelets from the captain.

“We were able to get the shuttle stabilized, though it was damaged in the landing. We have put in for evacuation. For all those who were scattered, make your way to one of the following nav points. We will have an extraction team in approximately six hours, picking up at the location of our crashed shuttle. The other shuttle should be operable. Relevant crew, reply on a private channel. It is imperative that the remaining shuttle get off planet and back to the flagship as quickly as possible. That is all.”

The communication cut off, and once again Kyle saw eyes looking to him.

“What do you want me to say? You heard the captain. We’ll finish treating the people here, and the shuttle will get airborne.”

A quiet voice popped up—a young man with a timid demeanor.

“What about the people who got washed away? Are you just going to leave them?”

It wasn’t a question he’d thought about when he was dealing with these injuries, but he knew the answer as soon as he heard it.

“Of course not. I’ll get to as many as I can before the six-hour timeline is up. Assuming it’s possible to find their locations with my nav bracelet, at least.”

Fortunately, that was something the technical crew could assist with. In the span of five minutes, Kyle had the location of the shuttle programmed in alongside the locations of every survivor. That was another neat trick of the nav bracelets; they could determine if the wearer was alive or dead. In total, there were three different pockets of surviving crew outside the shuttle, totaling fifteen people, and another twenty-three inside the shuttle itself. All told, nearly half of those who had been caught in the flood didn’t make it.

Satisfied he knew where they were, he turned to Skippy and Duroc.

“Can you two take care of everything from here? You didn’t seem terribly involved in the recovery.”

Duroc snorted, seeming more sheepish than usual.

“It’s a little outside of our normal activities. We’ll make sure things run smoothly here, though. Good luck!”

Skippy walked over and slapped him on the shoulder.

“You can message me if you need any help or if anything fun is happening. Otherwise, we’ll see you back on the ship.”

With that, the tech crew helped Kyle send out a message that help was on the way.

For a moment, Kyle questioned his choice as he stared down the precipice of the waterfall’s edge. The rain was pouring down, causing the cascading water to rush ever faster. Stones near the sides were getting slick, and Kyle knew the descent would be treacherous. One look at the notifications on his nav bracelet was all it took to dispel the doubts.

“Anything I should be worried about, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[SCANS ARE INCONCLUSIVE, DR. MAYHEW. THE MANA INFUSING THE RAIN MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WITH CERTAINTY.]

“Your class doesn’t help with that, huh?”

[I ASSUMED YOU’D FORGOTTEN, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Just had more pressing matters to attend to. We’ll talk about it later, once this is settled.”

Kyle began to make his way down the cliffside, once again marveling at the changes that had occurred since his ascension to D Grade. He navigated the slick rocks with ease, his body’s balance and strength more than up to the challenge. The wet stones caused him to slip twice, though each time Kyle was able to find a handhold that would have been impossible to grasp before. Even though it was his weakest attribute, his Strength had grown to a level that would have been considered high in the old Central Authority.

Near the bottom of the falls, he could see a line of destruction in the trees where the shuttle had tried to stabilize. Looking at the nav bracelet, Kyle decided to start with the groups farthest from the shuttle to give them all the best chance of getting there safely. The most distant group was on the far side of the river, and Kyle wasted no time activating Haste to cross it.

Hopping across the floating debris was a much damper experience than Kyle hoped, with each squelching step serving as a reminder that some things were best left to cinema. Cringing at the wet feet, he refocused. Haste allowed him to move virtually unimpeded through the dense rainforest, though his Auric Perception was limited by the presence of the mana infusing the rain, just like C.H.A.D.D.’s sensors. Speaking of…

“Has any of the rain gotten to you? Is there any risk of damage if it gets into your chassis?”

[THE ADDITIONAL INSULATION AND INTEGRATION OF THE INFERNAL’S CHITIN HAS PROVED MORE THAN ADEQUATE, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Excellent. Let me know if anything changes. You’ve survived way too much to get hurt by a little rain.”

[IT IS PREFERABLE TO BEING THROWN IN FRONT OF A FIREBALL.]

Kyle didn’t even try to argue. In virtually no time at all, Kyle found the first group of survivors. There were four of them, two of whom had major injuries. A woman was desperately trying to stop the bleeding from the stump that remained of one man’s arm, while the other in relatively good shape had a swirling barrier of rainwater flowing around them, keeping the area beneath the dome dry.

A dryness that Kyle ruined as he came plodding in, absolutely soaked. Without a word, he kneeled down on the ground next to the injured. Closing his eyes, he rested one hand on the ruined shoulder and his other on the chest of the unconscious person lying beside them. First activating Resonance to increase the flexibility of the mana systems in his hands, he then used Heal with each arm independently. The strain from using the skill this way was much higher than the traditional use, but given it was a foundational skill from his Healer class, he was more than capable of handling it.

C.H.A.D.D. gave him a rapid chain of instructions, which Kyle instinctually followed. While he may not have picked up more purely healing skills, his attributes and the synergy between his skills more than made up for it. The mana networks of each of the men were connected to Kyle’s, allowing the rejuvenating energy to flow through easily. The precise control afforded by his high Intelligence meant even the smallest tears and damage were washed away, his Willpower allowing him to move enough energy to cover most of their bodies at once. He’d come a long way from his time at Central Health, and his progress showed.

With the exception of the woman still keeping the rain at bay, three sets of eyes rested on him. The armless man looked down at the scarred stump at his left shoulder, the look on his face betraying the question he was going to ask.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. I don’t know if it’s even possible, though I’m sure there are Healers out there who might be able to regrow or reattach a limb. That’s just beyond the scope of what I can do.”

The light in his eyes seemed to dim a bit, and Kyle offered a warm smile.

“For now, you’re alive. There’ll be time to figure out the rest later. We still have several more groups of survivors to find before we head back. Come on.”

As an afterthought, he looked at the woman keeping the rain off of them.

“Is that a water manipulation skill?”

She nodded in the affirmative.

“Then I have a favor to ask as we walk.”

Enjoying the feeling of dry boots, they made their way from group to group, Kyle providing additional mana to the woman named Kiera through Resonance in exchange for her keeping them all relatively dry. His healing skills were put to work every time they stopped, and although they nearly lost one man who’d been struck by a large stone, they were able to stabilize him. All told, the scattered survivors hadn’t lost a single person in their journey to the shuttle. As they approached, however, Kyle sensed that something was wrong. It was just too… quiet. The others seemed to pick up on his unease, and Kyle gestured for them to stop as he stepped toward the shuttle.

The side of the shuttle had been torn open in the crash, and what Kyle saw as he turned the corner into the main galley froze him in his tracks. He saw bodies, or at least what remained of them. Many of them looked to have been sucked dry, leaving nothing but dry husks inside their clothing. They just had to wear the damn red shirts, he thought.

How did all these people die without raising an alarm? That thought caused Kyle the most concern. What could possibly⁠—

Suddenly Kyle found himself wobbling, sharp pain in his ears. He focused on Adaptive Regeneration, quickly repairing the damage to his inner ear. Haste active, Kyle rushed back toward the group of survivors to see them all on the ground, blood trickling out of several ears. And he saw it. A mosquito with a three-meter wingspan perched atop one of the survivors, long needle-nose already draining all the life from its victim.

Kyle rushed the creature without a thought, baton already flashing out. As if in anticipation, the bug disengaged, floating nearby lazily with its eyes regarding Kyle.

[THE PATIENT IS DEAD, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Thank you, C.H.A.D.D.”

Seeing all the blood pouring out of the man’s neck, Kyle knew there was nothing he could do at this point to save the man. People around him were stirring, but the sonic attack the mosquito used was powerful. It was little surprise that it was able to ambush the other survivors. The bug began to zip about more erratically before swooping in once more. It tried to slip past Kyle to get to the survivors on the other side. Kyle intercepted it once more, though he wasn’t able to accomplish more than driving it off a second time.

Rainwater mixed with blood on the ground as their deadly dance began in earnest.

Chapter 19

Kyle swore as the mosquito evaded him once again, floating high into the air much faster than it had any right to. He braced himself for what came next, and the wave of pain and imbalance hit him as the insect released its sonic attack. Now that he was focused on it, Auric Perception allowed him to detect a wave of mana accompanying the attack. It was subtle, fast, and powerful. Even against a normal D Grade, Kyle could see cumulative damage building and causing major issues.

Fortunately, Kyle’s Adaptive Regeneration finally had its time to shine. The skill wasn’t terribly different from how it was before, with the exception that it became more effective against specific types of damage, healing faster while also building in layers of resistance as it repaired the injury. This was the eighth time he’d been struck by the sonic wave, and by now the effect was really beginning to show itself. In just a moment, the dizziness and pain passed, the whole experience muted.

Still, Kyle swore as he once again charged toward the mosquito. While he would almost assuredly become immune to the attack with time, the same couldn’t be said of the people he’d brought to the shuttle. Blessedly, there were no new fatalities yet, but it wasn’t long in coming. Even though he could force the insect back from the prone figures, the consistent bombardment with these sonic waves was dangerous. It might not kill as fast as being pierced by the proboscis, but if too many more hit the extraction team, there wouldn’t be any survivors left.

The most frustrating part was that Kyle didn’t have many solutions to it. The damn thing was quick and seemed to be able to react to changes in his mana as well as track him with its oversized compound eyes. It was able to get out of Kyle’s attack range with relative ease and had a method to counter much more effectively. The sonic attack virtually ignored Storm Shelter, which is something Skippy would have loved to see if he was here.

Even worse, it didn’t seem to want to engage Kyle. It would blast them all, then try to bite into one of the expedition members farthest away, wherever he was standing. The whole situation was incredibly frustrating.

“C.H.A.D.D., any thoughts here?”

[I RECOMMEND SMASHING THE BUG, DR. MAYHEW. DOUBLY SO, AS MOSQUITOES ARE KNOWN FOR BEING VECTORS OF DISEASE.]

“That’s the plan, if I can ever get close enough to it.”

Kyle gritted his teeth as the mosquito ascended, releasing another blast of sound.

[YOU COULD THROW ME AT IT?] C.H.A.D.D. suggested. [I’VE ALREADY PROVEN TO BE QUITE EFFECTIVE AT SMASHING BUGS, AFTER ALL.]

Grunting as he dashed to ward the mosquito away from a fallen expedition member, Kyle growled at the drone.

“I think this one’s out of your weight class.”

[I’M QUITE CONFIDENT I COULD SMASH ITS NOSE, DR. MAYHEW.]

He was about to fire back at the drone, as an idea came to him.

“Do you think you could get it angry with a blast of pheromones?”

There was silence for a moment, and Kyle winced in pain again before he heard the response.

[I BELIEVE IT COULD BE POSSIBLE, DR. MAYHEW. THOUGH A WIDE SPECTRUM APPLICATION WOULD BE UNWISE. THERE ARE LIKELY ENOUGH OTHER INSECTS IN THE AREA THAT WOULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE.]

Kyle nodded in agreement. That’s out. Still, the wheels were turning in his mind. He reached into a pocket in his pack, holding onto the last of his stink bug grenades. He wasn’t sure if mosquitoes could smell or not. Heck, it might not even be bothered by the gas. On the other hand, he was running out of options. Kyle tossed the orb at the mosquito, then activated Haste.

As predicted, the insect floated above him as he approached. Kyle’s swing was different this time, arcing up from the ground itself. The baton caught the flimsy shell of the stink bomb, releasing a spray of noxious gas into the air. Seemingly surprised to be shrouded in the gas, the mosquito tumbled back, trying to get its bearings. Kyle closed in on the creature, left hand stretched out to attempt and land a strike with Resonance.

The mosquito reacted with a frantic burst of speed, and his hand barely grazed a wingtip. Still, it was enough. The mana flow inside the creature’s wings was intense, and as Kyle’s mana connected, he could feel they were also the source of the powerful sonic attack. With a hasty effort, the wing Kyle touched warped and snapped, leaving the mosquito imbalanced. It tried to fly up out of the way, but it wasn’t able to compensate for the damage.

It haphazardly spun in the air as it tried to get its bearings, and Kyle closed in once again, looking to end it. The mosquito, appearing to realize its predicament, stopped trying to fly away. Instead, it lunged at Kyle. The sheath of its proboscis pulled back, revealing six needles aimed for his heart. While his armor would likely have been sufficient to stop it, Kyle didn’t need to take the chance.

Storm Shelter exploded to life, shattering four of the needles and bending the other two. The mosquito rocked back from the impact, which gave Kyle the opening he needed. His hand descended on the creature’s head, and one more surge with Resonance ended it. Unsurprisingly, red energy began to condense around the fallen creature, forming a small crimson gem.

[MAY I, DR. MAYHEW?]

“Sure, C.H.A.D.D.”

He lowered the pack toward the essence and watched as it was absorbed through the chitin armor and into the drone. A quick look at his nav bracelet told him that they still had about an hour until evacuation, and he got to work.

Kyle went from person to person, combining his personal experience recovering from the damage with his diagnostic training to channel healing energy into the fallen expedition members. The supersonic vibrations had primarily caused damage to the inner ear, with the vibrations also having caused tissue damage. Without C.H.A.D.D. online to offer specific guidance, he followed the model of the recovery his body took.

First, he channeled energy into the heads of the victims, repairing ruptures and allowing Heal to work through the entire area. Then he moved to the chests, stabilizing organs that had been damaged by the vibrations and smoothing out the heartbeats of his patients. Fortunately, every member he saved was human; otherwise, he wouldn’t have known exactly how to help.

While they’d likely need more treatment when they got back to the flagship, before long the entire group had regained consciousness and at least some mobility. Kiera was one of the first people he treated, and after passing along a message to the flagship, she was staring in horror at the body of the fallen mosquito.

“What the hell is that thing?”

“It was a dangerous predator, and now it’s dead.”

Kyle’s voice came out a little flat, still looking at the man he’d failed to save. The deaths of the crew on the shuttle were gruesome, but he knew he couldn’t have done anything to change that outcome. Here, if he had just been faster, paid more attention, there was a chance that the fallen man could have survived. Even after everything he’d been through, he hated losing patients.

With about ten minutes left until the evacuation shuttle arrived, C.H.A.D.D. awoke.

[THIS WAS INTERESTING, DR. MAYHEW. IT APPEARS THAT I WON’T BE ABLE TO⁠—]

“Not now, C.H.A.D.D.!” The last thing Kyle wanted was to get more unnecessary questions about his circumstances, much less to raise suspicion about the drone.

[AH, YES. QUITE RIGHT. WE WILL DISCUSS THE INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS LATER.]

Kyle looked about, groaning internally at the drone’s attempt at subtlety. Fortunately, if anybody had been paying attention, they weren’t showing it. Instead, the group was milling around, many simply huddling together as they waited. At least the rain stopped.

Keira had passed along what had happened to Chester, and the retrieval team knew that they’d be rescuing far fewer than they’d hoped. There was a solemn air, and Kyle was content to wait in silence. At least he would have been if the ground didn’t start rumbling. Kyle jumped to his feet, drawing his weapon. Part of him hoped it was ants or some other swarm of creatures he could lead away. His Auric Perception told him otherwise as the rust-colored monstrosity scuttled into the clearing made by the crashed shuttle. The Endless had come to finish what it started.

Chapter 20

Kyle’s breath caught as he regarded the creature. There’s no running away here. The massive centipede stopped to regard him, then it charged.

“Get inside the shuttle! I’ll try to hold it here!”

With that, Kyle ran toward the creature. Massive pincers lowered, ready to pierce through him. As before, he activated Storm Shelter. The barrier held as the Endless smashed into it, rearing back and striking at it once, twice more. Cracks were beginning to form under the assault, and he deactivated the shield as his eyes glowed blue. I’ve got to hold it.

Instead of running away as the creature pulled back for a fourth strike, Kyle sprinted toward it. He thought back to his lessons with Garth and Frank. Sometimes the safest space against large weapons was deep inside their range. This wasn’t exactly that type of situation, but Kyle wasn’t spoiled for options at the moment. Dashing up close to the creature’s body, he rested a palm against it as he activated Resonance, the ground behind him shaking as the Endless crashed into the place he’d been standing.

Kyle felt his mana get swept into the creature and swore. While he was certainly well above the centipede in terms of Willpower, the creature’s mana network was absolutely massive. Beyond that, the energy flowing through it was an order of magnitude stronger than anything he’d encountered so far. That, however, was within expectations. D Grades powerhouses, and the Endless was no exception.

No, the biggest issue Kyle had was the sheer size of the thing. For his mana to get enough time to circulate through the creature, he’d need several uninterrupted seconds. Given the Endless’s seeming desire to eat him, he didn’t think it would be kind enough to offer him the opportunity. Maybe if I can lead it away…

As soon as the thought entered his head, he felt his body begin to freeze up. He forced himself to take a calming breath, barely getting out of the way in time as the Endless turned to crush him.

“C.H.A.D.D., what was that? Can you see what made my body freeze?”

[SCANS INDICATE NO PHYSICAL INJURY, DR. MAYHEW. THERE ARE SOME PECULIARITIES WITH THE WAY YOUR MANA NETWORK WAS FLOWING. I WOULD OFFER TO HIGHLIGHT, BUT IT APPEARS YOU ARE SOMEWHAT OCCUPIED.]

Kyle grunted as he made another attempt with Resonance, getting a little more of a response before being forced away.

“Good observation, C.H.A.D.D. Can you give me an abbreviated version?”

[IT IS MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION A VISUAL AID WOULD PROVE BENEFICIAL.]

“We’ll have to do without! What happened?”

A note of panic entered his voice as he blocked the creature with another well-timed Storm Shelter, narrowly avoiding getting caught by the pincers.

[THE FLOW OF YOUR MANA SEEMED TO ACCELERATE BRIEFLY, THEN STARTED TO CLAMP DOWN ON YOUR MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM. I CAN MOST CLOSELY DESCRIBE IT AS SOME TYPE OF REFLEX RESPONSE, ON A LARGER ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.]

“That doesn’t make any sense though!”

He dodged a series of massive legs attempting to trample him as the Endless wove in a circle around him, attempting to pin him in. Kyle grabbed onto one of the legs and used it to vault himself onto the centipede’s back, pressing his palm into the creature as he activated Resonance.

“I’ve never had that happen before, C.H.A.D.D., and I’ve been around D Grades more than most.”

He was thrown off a moment later as the monster undulated, though this attempt caused more damage than any before. The Endless chittered angrily, legs stamping in random patterns as it regarded him. Waves of mana were pouring off the creature, and Kyle could feel a palpable hatred from the creature.

It coiled like a snake, raising some of its forward segments into the air. With a sudden, violent motion, the Endless lunged toward him. Kyle was prepared to dodge, but what he didn’t expect was for the creature to smash deep into the ground, embedding the legs into the earth.

Kyle almost took the opportunity to attack, though the strange sense of animosity he felt gave him pause. A moment later, C.H.A.D.D. flashed a warning, and Kyle barely dodged as a spear of hardened soil shot up from the ground at his position. His eyes widened as he understood, Auric Perception revealing mana being condensed in dozens—no, hundreds of different places on the rainforest floor.

Soon, he found himself overwhelmed with dodging projectiles. Even though he dodged the majority, there were simply too many. Impacts rocked him, and soon his rhythm was disrupted. It’s too much. Each individual spear didn’t contain too much power, and between his strong defensive attributes and armor, they didn’t deal too much damage. The real danger was in the sheer number, with more coming up every second. If the attack was taxing to the Endless, it didn’t show any indication.

Activating Storm Shelter, Kyle’s vision was quickly obscured by a thick coating of soil all around the barrier. He wasn’t out of the woods, as he still felt the mana building in the ground just below his feet. “C.H.A.D.D., can you give me a projection of where it’s at?”

Without a word, the drone overlayed a simple view of the Endless, twenty meters away from where Kyle stood. Bracing himself for what he knew he had to do, he deactivated his skill and charged toward the massive creature. Condensed spears of soil struck him, scouring his skin between the gaps in his armor. Between his Enhanced Carapace and Adaptive Regeneration he shrugged off the damage, covering half the distance in moments.

The beast’s back half was still mobile, attempting to stomp Kyle into the ground with its back sets of legs. C.H.A.D.D. provided plenty of warning as he weaved past the defenses, finally landing on its back again. Pressing both palms onto the shell, he activated Resonance. He felt the energy that the creature was pouring into its attack and disrupted it with barely an effort. He then let the energy flow deeper into the Endless, surprised to see how much of the damage it had already healed. This thing is dangerous.

Focusing, he twisted. He felt multiple ruptures throughout the body of the centipede, but before he could do anything else, he felt an extreme pain in his hands, jolting up into his body. Breaking the connection, Kyle dismounted as the Endless finally extricated its body from the earth, hissing angrily.

[IT’S A MANA-INFUSED TOXIN, DR. MAYHEW. IT APPEARS TO BE A VARIATION ON A CYANIDE EXCRETION.]

C.H.A.D.D. answered before he could even ask, and he focused Adaptive Regeneration on his hands to ward off the effect. As he watched, he saw the entire body of the creature covered in a gentle sheen, the toxic liquid likely having been released as a last-ditch defense mechanism. He was surprised at how difficult it was to isolate and repair the damage, but he was also glad that the Endless seemed to welcome a small break in the fight as well.

Unfortunately for the centipede, Kyle was still supremely confident in his ability to win battles of attrition. While the monster was still in the fight, so was Kyle. He could recover faster, and while the caustic coating on its carapace was going to be a problem, he felt that this was still a fight he could win. That’s when the monster turned toward the shuttle.

It lunged for where the other people waited, and Kyle knew he wouldn’t be able to get there in time. It was between Kyle and the survivors, and even with Haste active, he wouldn’t be able to outpace the creature before it covered the ground. However, as it turned away, it seemed to freeze for a moment. Kyle didn’t have time to consider the strange response as the centipede recovered, whirling toward him. He dodged several stamping legs but was caught by the edge of one as it lifted, knocking him off his feet.

It was far from the worst hit he’d ever taken, though it was enough to create an opening. As Kyle tried to get his bearings, the maw of the creature descended, pincers wide to end him in a single strike. Again, Kyle activated Storm Shelter, and again the barrier held against the blow.

[DR. MAYHEW, THE CENTIPEDE EXHIBITED THE SAME PHENOMENON YOU DID.]

Pieces started to click into place.

“When was the first indication of the reflex response?”

[AS SOON AS IT TURNED AWAY TOWARD THE OTHERS, DR. MAYHEW.]

As soon as it considered leaving the fight. He thought about their battle so far, about how he could dodge and counter without issues, but when he considered leaving, he froze up. He thought about the palpable animosity that the Endless had given off as their fight continued. Then he thought about trees and the growth of a forest.

BOOM!

Cracks began to appear as the Endless continued its onslaught. Storm Shelter wouldn’t hold much longer.

Intent. It all comes back to intent. The moment of clarity washed over Kyle, as for the first time, he felt he truly understood what the drone had been saying.

BOOM!

The barrier was almost broken and wouldn’t withstand another strike. As the Endless descended, Kyle prepared to dash away. That is, until a silvery blast of force smashed into the side of the creature’s head, sending it into the ground with a crash. A loud thump drew Kyle’s attention as he saw the figure of a heavily armored Duroc land heavily on the ground nearby, followed moments later by a small gray form wreathed in fire. The rescue was here.

Chapter 21

Kyle’s heart soared as he saw Skippy and Duroc. The gray-skinned alien bore a fierce smile, bouncing in place as the flames danced around his hands and feet. Duroc, by contrast, seemed much more serious. He walked forward with massive tower shield in his left arm, and long, thick spear in the other.

Behind them, he saw a smaller shuttle like the one that had picked him up before. A crew was getting the survivors on board, and Kyle knew they would be clear in just a couple minutes.

“What are we dealing with here?” Duroc’s question came out in a high-pitched squeal, though Kyle found no joviality in it.

“The creature is extremely resilient and has coated its shell with some dangerous toxins. It can use some semblance of earth manipulation to use a wide-scale bombardment. Each hit was relatively weak, which it made up for with numbers.”

Kyle paused, then added.

“And it’s really big. Like really big.”

Duroc grunted in acknowledgement.

“Can you still fight? Do we need to get you carried to the shuttle?”

Kyle shook his head.

“Not this time. I’m here to help; we’re taking it down.”

Skippy laughed excitedly at Kyle’s words.

“Then I’m counting on you!” With that, he charged the Endless.

“Didn’t you hear me? I told you it’s got toxins all over its carapace!”

“Get ready to heal him when he gets back. Cover the evacuation. Skippy and I will take the front. We’re counting on you.”

Duroc’s tone was stern. It was clear the porcine alien was taking the encounter seriously, and Kyle nodded in response. Despite the gravity of his words, Duroc didn’t seem too concerned. Kyle was more than happy to trust in their experience and fell in behind them.

Thunderous impacts shook the very air around them as Skippy’s attack started in earnest, and Kyle was once again impressed with the skrell’s skills. Each attack landed with massive force, and it seemed like no matter what the Endless tried to do, the gray alien was always able to find a way to keep the attacks going. Scorch marks were slowly accumulating on the beast as the assault continued, until finally, the skrell disengaged, running toward Kyle.

The Endless tried to pursue, but its movements lacked the same precision they’d had before. Auric Perception picked up waves of energy from Duroc assaulting the creature, pressing it into the ground. He’d seen the skill on display against Skippy once before, albeit at a much lower level. While it wasn’t enough to entirely stop the enormous creature, it slowed it considerably. What halted its movement entirely was another silvery blast of energy from Duroc’s shield, knocking it backwards.

It responded by rearing up, then smashing its legs deep into the ground again. Duroc was ready and released another blast of mana, ripping up much of the earth and disrupting much of the attack. Several spears of earth were still created; however, the scale was much smaller than Kyle expected.

Skippy spoke when he got to Kyle, holding out his hands as the flames dispersed.

“Duroc is something else, isn’t he?”

“You’re not kidding.”

He watched as the porcine alien strode up to the Endless, thrusting at its face with his spear. Turning his attention to Skippy’s hands, his eyes widened.

“C.H.A.D.D., give me the scans—now.”

His hands only had three fingers and a thumb, and the palms of each were scratched and bloody. That was well within the realm of what he might expect after a fierce series of attacks against a target like the Endless. The danger was in how much of the toxin he may have absorbed.

[A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF POISON IS PRESENT IN THE BLOODSTREAM, DR. MAYHEW. PROJECTING SCAN NOW.]

Kyle and Skippy both looked at the overlay, with the toxin being reflected in purple light. It was most heavily present in the arms but swiftly flowing to other parts of his body.

“You should probably get to work, Mayhew.”

Kyle was already using Heal, and wracking his brain to try to find solutions. Without a more specific understanding of skrell anatomy, it was difficult to target the toxins specifically. With time, he could systematically eliminate it across Skippy’s body by focusing on one point and waiting for it to circulate through. Unfortunately, time was a luxury he couldn’t really afford.

Duroc was almost assuredly putting up a great fight, but the matchup wasn’t a great one. The Endless was just too large to effectively block with a shield, and the reach offered by the spear meant little against a foe this size. He had to find a solution that would get Skippy back on the battlefield, and quickly.

Kyle thought about his experience with the toxin—painful and enhanced by the mana designed to circulate and inflict as much damage as possible. That gave him an idea. If the Endless had the ability to infuse its toxin with an intent, even unintentionally, why couldn’t he? Without letting go of the Heal skill he was channeling, he also activated Resonance to better connect to Skippy’s mana network. The skrell flinched, though he didn’t pull away.

With the connection, he could feel the three distinct presences within the body. His own, Skippy’s, and the toxin. He thought about the trees in the rainforest, the simple intent to grow. Focusing on the toxin, Kyle imparted a simple idea inspired by the treasure he and C.H.A.D.D. came across in the canopy—condense. At first, nothing happened. As he watched, however, the circulation of the toxin slowed, then soon stopped. Kyle’s Willpower was much stronger than the Endless, and it won out.

The first step was completed. Skippy now had several pockets of condensed, dangerous toxins in his body instead of a free-flowing stream. The next step would be considerably less pleasant.

“This is going to hurt. I don’t have time for anything else; I’m sorry.”

Without waiting for a response, Kyle forced the concentrated blocks of toxins through Skippy’s system and out through the wounds in his hands. Globs of clear liquid were forced out, and he could feel the gray alien tense up as he worked. In less than a minute, Kyle was done. There were still some remnants of the toxin in his body, but the worst had been handled. With a final push of Heal on Skippy’s hands, he also pushed some of his mana into the skrell’s body before severing the link. It was the least he could do, after all.

During this time, Duroc had been fighting the Endless to a stalemate. While the blast from Duroc’s shield was far and away the most destructive skill he’d showcased, he didn’t need it to be a menace on the battlefield. His mastery with a spear-and-shield fighting style was incredible, and Kyle saw him parry and redirect attacks he was certain would land.

When the Endless attempted to trample him, he would position and dodge with a grace that was wholly unexpected given his large frame. Skippy had rejoined the fray, and soon the thundering rain of blows continued. The shuttle was airborne, and Kyle’s focus turned to one of pure support.

He watched the battle with intense focus, rushing toward Skippy or Duroc when healing would be necessary and to remove the toxins from each as they accumulated.

As the minutes passed, the outcome became clear. The Endless simply didn’t have the flexibility in its approach to deal with the three D Grade opponents. Under normal circumstances, it likely could have fled, but the compulsion to stand its ground prevented it from doing so. Still, that’s not to say it wasn’t a dangerous foe. Each attack carried incredible force, and the trio facing it were all haggard from the encounter.

Finally, an opportunity presented itself. The Endless had attempted to catch Skippy with its pincers and was knocked aside by a well-timed shield blast from Duroc. It was knocked to the ground near Kyle, who didn’t hesitate. He ran to its head as it tried to recover from being dazed and activated Resonance with both palms pressed against it. The damage it had taken through the fight already left it close to death’s door, and this was the final push that it needed to cross the threshold.

The brain activity ended, Kyle breathed out a sigh of relief. Just in time to be knocked away by the creature’s thrashing legs. This wasn’t a glancing blow, and Kyle felt the air leave his lungs as the force transferred through his armor. He knew he had at least a couple broken ribs, and he sat slack-jawed as he watched the creature thrash about.

The antennae and pincers weren’t moving, but the body of the Endless was stomping all across the clearing with no rhyme or reason. How the hell⁠—

Before he could finish the thought, he activated Storm Shelter to avoid being squished as it continued to go berserk, the series of stomps pounding against his barrier. Duroc and Skippy each moved into position and unleashed their own attacks against the creature, who didn’t even attempt to dodge. Skippy’s attacks cracked several segments, and Duroc’s spear pierced through. In moments, the Endless stopped moving.

Kyle breathed out a sigh of relief. He’d never been in a single fight that lasted this long, and he was exhausted. Adaptive Regeneration was hard at work repairing his damaged ribs, and he brought himself to his feet to greet Skippy and Duroc, both of whom looked equally exhausted.

His plan was simple—treat the two of them as best he could, then examine the body of the Endless to see if there was an essence he could absorb. Before he could say a word, however, intense red light burst out from the centipede’s corpse, which rushed from the creature directly into Kyle. His world turned black, and he fell to the ground.

Chapter 22

Kyle was surprised by the potent energy that slammed into him, and his mind once again found itself in that strange space. This time, though, Kyle wasn’t caught up in the storm. He was the storm.

His perspective was active, the scenery around him blurring as he moved. He hunted. He killed. He consumed. The prey was small at first, weak. As time passed, however, that began to change. His hunger was no longer satisfied with simple meals; he hungered for challenge. His prey grew in power, and so did he along with it. Thousands upon thousands fell before him, his maw the last thing any of them would ever see. Until he saw a familiar sight—a small black-clad figure giving off an unmistakable aura.

Kyle replayed the battle with the Endless from its perspective, feeling the hopelessness as the creature realized it was no longer a predator to be feared but an adversary to be fought. He felt its death and the surreal sensation of its body not being willing to give up, still fighting purely on instinct. He felt its rage, even in death, at being defeated. And Kyle felt it.

The presence washed over him, regarding him. AMUSING, LITTLE LARVA. I EXPECTED YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST TO BE CONSUMED ON THIS PATH, YET HERE YOU ARE.

While the rational part of Kyle still understood it was unwise to antagonize this creature, his curiosity wouldn’t allow him to stay silent.

“Why did you attack my planet? What do you have to gain from doing this?”

Immediately, a force clamped down on his mind. An immense pressure weighed down on him, and Kyle fought to stay conscious.

IF I HAD CHOSEN TO ATTACK YOUR WORLD, IT WOULD BE NOTHING MORE THAN DUST IN THE VOID.

WERE MY BRETHEREN AND I PERMITTED, WE WOULD HAVE RIGHTED THESE WRONGS ERAS AGO. YET THE WILL OF THE ADMINISTRATOR REMAINS. AND SO, WE TOO REMAIN.

With that, the presence began to fade away, leaving a lingering sense of anger and… sadness?

Kyle felt more confused than ever. There was no reason for a creature this powerful to lie to him, yet there was no denying its relation to the damage to his world.

His mind remained in the space a while longer, and soon his thoughts turned back to the Endless. Kyle knew which of his attributes would be enhanced this time, and he took the time to reflect on the incredible Vitality the centipede displayed. It was the most physically impressive opponent Kyle had ever seen, and he had to admit that if it was just him against the creature, he likely would have lost.

His eyes opened, and he found himself staring up at a metal ceiling with soft white lights.

“He’s up!”

Before he could even sit up, Skippy’s face appeared directly over his own.

“That was a great fight! I got a new skill, and I want to use it on your shield. Can I?”

Gently moving the skrell aside as he sat up, Kyle looked around. They were in a small room in the shuttle, with Duroc and the C.H.A.D.D. pack each occupying a different chair.

The large pig-like alien squealed.

“You’re not fighting on the ship, Skippy. We’re already in enough trouble as it is.”

Turning his beady eyes on Kyle, he continued. “So… you’ve been asked to join us when we get back to the flagship. I don’t know if you’ll be in trouble too, but there’s somebody who wants to meet you.”

“I’ve met all the D Grades who came along. Who else could want to meet me?” Kyle posed it as a question, even if he had a suspicion.

Duroc looked around conspiratorially, checking for bystanders. Satisfied that nobody was within earshot, he leaned in.

“Skippy and I are actually protecting a really important person. The others along with him don’t like the idea of him meeting you, but it’s not their call.”

Kyle was shocked. Truly. Servants moving a nice wooden table around, the gaggle of strangely uniformed people, none of it pointed to this revelation. Fortunately, Kyle handled the “surprise” in stride.

“This is a lot to take in, Duroc.”

The large piggish alien nodded solemnly while Skippy shook his head, an annoyed look on his face.

“Duroc, you weren’t supposed to tell him. When we get back, we’ll go to the meeting, then we’re sparring. Again.”

Kyle rolled his shoulders and neck.

“What if I have injuries from that last energy attack the centipede used?”

“Your drone said not to worry and that you’ll be fine. You look fine. I trust it.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow at the C.H.A.D.D. pack before looking back to Skippy.

“I suppose that settles it then. Would you both mind excusing me? I could use some quiet to sort a few things out on my end as well.”

The two aliens nodded, leaving the room. With that, Kyle took a deep breath. He knew that he’d gained a lot after the encounter with the Endless, which he estimated to be at least in the middle of D Grade. The experience against the mosquito, treating the survivors, and counteracting the toxin had all been worthwhile as well. Settling down, he entered meditation.

KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 17 (D)

ADAPTIVE ANATOMY—4/?—ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH, CEASELESS VITALITY

VITALITY: 437

ENDURANCE: 488

STRENGTH: 165

DEXTERITY: 314

WILLPOWER: 543

INTELLIGENCE: 543

PERCEPTION: 497

FREE ATTRIBUTES: 198

Eleven levels… Kyle really was shocked this time. The progress was astounding, well beyond his expectations. He looked at his Adaptive Anatomy, and focused first on the Ceaseless Vitality. He didn’t get any specific impressions from it and mentally noted he’d need C.H.A.D.D. to run a full scan soon. They just didn’t get much time when they could speak openly anymore, and he didn’t want to draw too much attention.

Looking at his attributes, the growth was massive. However, in the context of the things he accomplished, it was a little more within expectation. The idea of infusing intent into his mana as it formed skills was still so new, and it was a step with virtually endless applications.

The flexibility of his mana pathways offered by Resonance helped to make it possible, adapting as he manipulated the mana. That brought him to his next crossroads: his free attributes.

Nearly two hundred free attribute points were waiting for him, and with only three levels before he could upgrade another of his E Grade skills, he wanted to put these to work as efficiently as he could. While he had several options left to choose, Kyle had already made up his mind that Resonance was going to be the next skill he’d need to upgrade. It had simply proven too valuable and too versatile not to.

Depending on the different types of upgrades available, a case could be made to continue to specialize in Willpower, Intelligence, or Perception. Without knowing, he was left with a gamble. He could invest and then pick whatever felt fit best; he could save his points, or he could split them. For some reason, the choice felt natural. He split them between the three, feeling a gentle surge of power. There was still a long way to go in D Grade, and as his repertoire grew, he knew he’d need to continue aligning his abilities with his specialty.

Satisfied with his decision, he stood up. There were some major issues ahead that he could see—specifically owing to his lacking Strength and Dexterity. While he was physically more than enough to handle most E Grade threats, his relative weakness was clear when confronted with the Endless. His combat training, alongside his inflated attributes, had allowed him to survive this long, but without some serious restructuring, it wouldn’t carry him much farther.

Before he could contemplate his next steps much further, an announcement rang out through the shuttle. With a sigh, Kyle slung the C.H.A.D.D. pack over his shoulder. They’d made it to the flagship, and his presence was requested.

Chapter 23

Disembarking the shuttle, the first thing Kyle noticed was how few people were around. Typically, the hangar was buzzing with activity, while now there were only a handful of individuals milling around the ships, performing routine maintenance and inspections from the look of it. He turned to Duroc and Skippy.

“Where is everybody?”

“Dunno,” Duroc said simply, ducking to fit through the doors. “I guess maybe they’re eating?”

“Maybe somebody’s sparring?” Skippy offered, looking around with a confused look on his face.

“The hangar is empty because I’ve temporarily suspended operations.”

Chester’s voice cut through the air like a knife, drawing attention to the man as he strode forward toward them.

“The presence of D Grade creatures changes everything about the scope of what we’re doing. The risks have risen astronomically, and I’m not going to proceed with anything until we receive instructions from headquarters.”

Skippy smiled at him. “It’s good practice. Opportunities to grow. Opportunities to train. It’s good for us.”

Chester’s look turned more severe.

“Tell that to the people who died in your last outing. In a dozen expeditions as foreman, I’ve never had casualties like this. It isn’t a joke, Skierepallix. I don’t intend to keep throwing my people’s lives away.”

Skippy’s smile deepened, and Kyle was thankful to see Duroc step in before the skrell made a comment that would escalate things.

“We have a meeting to get to. Anything you need from us right now?”

Chester let out a sigh before shaking his head, deflating somewhat.

As they walked past, Duroc turned back.

“Oh, and we have a lot of neat stuff in the shuttle if you have any free appraisers. They’d probably like to take a look.”

Chester looked beyond them to the shuttle, and Kyle tried to do the same before being shuffled along by the large pig-like alien.

“What did you bring with you?”

[THE REMAINS OF THE ENDLESS, DR. MAYHEW. IT ALSO DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO FINISH CONSUMING THE NATURAL TREASURE WE WERE ORIGINALLY TRACKING. IT WAS RETRIEVED AS WELL.]

That was interesting, though as was becoming all-too common, Kyle didn’t have the time to press further. As they made their way through the winding hallways of the ship, he did have one question he wanted to get addressed.

“Duroc, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what species are you? I haven’t seen anybody else like you aboard the ship.”

Duroc squealed in response.

“I’m an orc. My people don’t get off-world regularly.”

Kyle nearly stopped walking.

“Wait, something must have gone wrong with the translation skill. Did you say ‘orc’?”

He nodded in response. “That’s right.”

Kyle shook his head in mild disbelief.

“You’re not going to believe this, but we actually have a word for your people in our language, although it was used in fantasy writing more than anything.”

Duroc chuckled.

“Let me guess, we were positioned as evil monsters?”

“Er… yeah. Most of the time. Stories differed a bit, though, and it was fiction writing! I’m sure it was a coincidence.”

The more Kyle talked, the more he felt himself digging a hole with his words. I swear, if I start a major diplomatic incident because I asked a stupid question…

Fortunately, his mounting fear was dispelled as Duroc laughed.

“That’s pretty common. The goblins had some pretty bad experiences when they landed on our planet, and they’re big on exploration. They like to tell stories about us whenever they come across new planets.”

“Wait, goblins?”

Unfortunately for Kyle’s curiosity, they arrived at a thick set of unmarked metal doors before anybody could answer. A man and woman in ornate black and gold uniforms greeted them and let them in. Inside was the rest of the entourage that Kyle had seen before, as well as a couple of others that he didn’t recognize.

Skippy and Duroc both stood at attention as they entered the room, and a quick elbow from Skippy encouraged Kyle to do the same. A wrinkled old man standing nearby began to speak.

“I expected more responsibility from the two of you. How could you⁠—”

Before he could speak further, he was interrupted by a man in his early twenties who sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“I’m already annoyed by this. Out. All of you. I want to talk to them alone.”

The old man sputtered, “B-but sir, they were derelict in their⁠—”

The young man lowered his hand from his head and gave a severe look at the older man, stopping him mid-sentence. Despite his youth, he had a glare that Garth would have envied.

“I said get out. My great-grandmother sent you along in an advisory capacity, nothing more. Remember that.” His tone was icy, and the group of advisors shuffled out of the room.

Once they were alone, he broke into a wide grin.

“That was annoying. Come on over. Let’s talk.”

He gestured to some empty seats around the large conference table, and Duroc wasted no time finding the largest seat and the tray of snacks left in front of it.

As Kyle walked up to the table, he took a better look at the young man. He was tall and well-built, muscles evident even through the uniform. His eyes were the deep richness of coffee, matched by his skin. Impossibly white teeth stood out in contrast, with a short haircut reminiscent of Central Defense standards. He stood up, extending a fist toward Kyle in what he understood to be a standard greeting. Kyle reached out and rapped knuckles.

“My name’s Benjamin Corthus; it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Mayhew.”

“Kyle Mayhew; and likewise.”

The young man had to speak up a bit to compensate for the sound of Duroc’s regimental assault on the snack tray. Benjamin gestured for Kyle to take a seat next to Skippy, and he did. The chair was comfortable, and Kyle couldn’t help but look around the room, noticing a number of different screens along the wall. It gave off the impression of being a command center, and he turned his eyes back to the man who invited him.

Benjamin had taken a seat, his hands steepled in front of him.

“Before anything else, let me say thank you. The advisors that I have tagging along aren’t sure what to make of you, but as for me your work speaks for itself.”

“I was just doing what anybody would in the same circumstances.”

“Even if that were true, which it isn’t, that doesn’t mean we can’t be thankful.”

Benjamin leaned in a bit, his eyes gleaming.

“That brings me to the next reason I wanted to meet you. After seeing what you can do, I think you’d be a great addition to my security team. What do you say?”

Kyle was a little dumbstruck.

“I’m afraid I’m not quite following, what do you mean by ‘security team’?”

Skippy piped up, joining the conversation.

“That’s what Duroc and I do. Our main job here is to ensure Benjamin stays safe, and to protect him from whatever might want to eat him. It’s a pretty fun job most of the time.”

Benjamin nodded along as Skippy spoke.

“My great-grandmother is a little overprotective. She insists that I have a team whenever I want to go out. Skippy and Duroc are great, and seeing how well you already work together it’d be an easy fit!”

His voice was charming, and he wore a relaxed smile as he talked. And honestly, Kyle was interested.

“What exactly would that mean? Chester told me that after my formal assessment, Corthian Mining wouldn’t be able to hire me on at all?”

“Corthian Mining wouldn’t be hiring you—I would. Well, my great-grandmother would. You’d be on her personal payroll, you’d work with Skippy and Duroc, and you’d basically be on call to travel around with me when I leave controlled space.”

Kyle nodded slowly. It made sense in a way, and he had to admit that his synergy with the orc and the skrell was solid. Still, though, he was painfully aware that there was a lot of outside context he was missing. It would be foolhardy to jump in and agree without doing more diligence first.

“How exactly does compensation work? I know that I’m accumulating personal merit with my current efforts, and also earning a place for the people we’ll be evacuating. Is this similar?”

“Not at all.”

Benjamin’s words were direct and to the point.

“You wouldn’t be assisting Corthian Mining at all once you’re on the security team. When interests align, you can help. Otherwise, we stay uninvolved and out of the way. And all the compensation looking forward is direct to you.”

Skippy nodded. “It’s a pretty great deal, Kyle. My home is really poor and has really low mana density compared to most skrell worlds. Getting picked up by Benjamin opened more doors and created more opportunities for me than I ever would have had if I just signed on to work for the company.”

Duroc grunted in what Kyle interpreted as approval as he was finishing the last scraps of food on the tray. The question was simple and difficult. Split from a society that claimed he was deviant, or keep working for their benefit anyway? He knew the noble answer was to stick it out and keep helping, but a part of him was tempted. There was a wide universe out there, and he’d get to experience a lot more of it if he stuck with Benjamin. The younger man looked at him, brimming with excitement.

With conviction, Kyle knew there was only one way he could respond.

“Do you need an answer right now?”

Chapter 24

Benjamin laughed, a sparkle in his eye.

“What, did you think I was going to try to strong-arm you into making a decision right away?”

Not entirely sure where to go from here, Kyle decided honesty was likely the best policy.

“That’s more in line with what I’m used to. So, yes.”

“You have to admit, Kyle, that that’s a pretty terrible idea for somebody looking to hire a bodyguard. The last thing I’d want is somebody who felt like they were joining under duress.”

Benjamin chuckled for a moment longer before composing himself, his face growing more serious.

“I do want to be clear on one thing though—this isn’t an offer available forever. It’s significantly more expensive for the firm to pay for you as a consultant than for you to be on my security team—even if you get a lot personally working for me. If we pay out for the entirety of the expedition to have you working one side, you won’t be able to turn around and switch your options without giving up the merit you’ve earned. Double dipping and whatnot.”

Kyle nodded. That much made sense; otherwise, he’d have no incentive to make that decision.

“There’s a lot going on at once right now, and I want to make sure that whatever decision I make, I’m making it with my eyes wide open. How long do I have before we reach an ultimatum?”

Benjamin scratched his chin thoughtfully.

“What if we call it a month? Expedition is on hold while Chester figures out how to deal with some of the issues that popped up, and that gives you some time to ask around, get more information, and come to a decision?”

Kyle considered this carefully. A month both was and wasn’t a lot of time. He’d need a lot longer to get a better understanding of the broader landscape, though at the same time he was confident in getting some direct answers—and advice—from a few of his new connections on the ship.

“A month should work.”

Benjamin’s smile broadened. “Excellent! Now, let’s get down to business. I want to know more about your planet! As awakened worlds go, yours is interesting. On the frontier, but fairly close to some major trade routes…”

They stayed in the conference room for nearly two hours, with Benjamin excitedly asking Kyle about all different aspects of Earth culture and history. It quickly became apparent that he took a major interest in sociology and anthropology, particularly pre-awakening.

For his part, Kyle asked questions to the group about how the broader universe worked. Like the others had told him, there were major hub worlds run by the Collective, which people on smaller frontier worlds could reach through the use of what were essentially massive transportation arrays. While he’d originally thought the Collective would largely resemble the Central Authority, he was shocked to learn that it was wildly different.

A group of major governments came together under a series of treaties, which effectively created binding truces and trade agreements. With enough capital to buy in, any enterprise could choose to fall under the umbrella of the Collective. From there, they simply had to adhere to the rules and regulations set forth within the treaties, and they were free to operate. What’s more, these enterprises were also afforded a nonviolent method of conflict resolution through a Collective arbitration board, as well as protection from threats that didn’t fall under the treaties.

Kyle was very interested in learning more about how they protected against those outside threats, but before they could continue their conversation, each of their nav bracelets gave off an announcement.

[FOREMAN DRAKE HAS CALLED AN ALL-HANDS-ON MEETING. MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE NEAREST MEETING LOCATION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.]

“Well, I guess that means you need to get going. It was good talking with you, Kyle.”

Benjamin stood and extended his fist, which Kyle bumped.

“Don’t be a stranger; I’d love to learn more about your world. Take good care.”

With that, the doors opened, and Kyle left. He walked past a group of irate and impatient looking people in fancy black uniforms waiting right outside the doors. They really waited here the whole time? They’re either dedicated or desperate for Benjamin’s attention. Given the Haste with which they poured back into the room, Kyle had to assume the latter.

Following his nav bracelet, Kyle made his way to the nearest meeting spot, where other crew members were already gathered. He recognized a few faces and exchanged waves and polite greetings when a hologram projection of Chester appeared.

“As many of you have been made aware, there are confirmed D Grade presences planetside. Decisions are still being made as to how we will proceed. Be advised that this does not excuse any of you from completing your daily tasks on the flagship. Anticipate changes in many of the expedition teams and report any individual concerns or requests to your captains by end-of-day. Individualized instructions will be forthcoming via nav bracelet.”

Kyle turned to one of the women he recognized—she served on Rochelle’s squad—and asked, “Why did they have us gather here? Couldn’t he have sent that via nav bracelet too?”

She laughed before responding to him.

“They used to do it that way, up until people kept ignoring the all-hands meetings. Chester started doing them this way a while back—and uses the bracelets to track who isn’t in a dedicated zone on time.”

They bid each other farewell, and before Kyle could take two steps, his bracelet buzzed with instructions.

[KYLE MAYHEW, PLEASE PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE COMMAND DECK TO MEET WITH FOREMAN DRAKE.]

That didn’t take long, Kyle mused, chuckling internally.

“You heard them, C.H.A.D.D. Onward and upward.”

[AS A POINT OF FACT, DR. MAYHEW, I WAS NOT REQUESTED TO ATTEND THE MEETING.]

“Unfortunately for you, we’re a package deal.”

Chester was waiting at the command deck, nearly a dozen screens each indicating different things on the planet. Kyle wasn’t sure what they were all meant to be, although one was clear to him. The image of a large, flying moth was clear to see, and his heart began to pound louder and louder in his chest.

“Mr. Mayhew, thank you for joining us.”

Kyle frowned, tearing his eyes from the moth. “Who is ‘us’?”

A loud voice crackled from a console in the middle of the room.

“You’ve met my great-grandson. I’m the chairwoman of the board, and I’m trying to figure out how to fix this mess.”

Kyle stiffened at that, meeting Chester’s eyes. Benjamin mentioned his great-grandmother while they were talking, and she wasn’t somebody to trifle with. Being the public face of Corthian Mining meant that she had to possess shrewd business acumen and the kind of power to command respect. Benjamin told him that she’d been leading the company for over a century and had progressed nearly halfway through C Grade. Definitely not the type of person Kyle wanted to offend.

“Ms. Corthus, ma’am. With all due respect, but this is out of my scope by quite a bit. What do you think I can do that your team can’t?”

“Mr. Mayhew,” Chester cut in, “if you’d be willing to listen, we will explain exactly that.”

“The long and the short of it is that scans show an incredibly valuable treasure in the sphere of influence of the creature Chester is showcasing, and we want it. We also know that this is a bad matchup for the forces we’ve sent your way. We have some workarounds, but I need to know if you’ve accepted Benjamin’s offer.”

She paused, taking a breath. “If you have, there’s nothing further to discuss. He isn’t going anywhere near this operation.” That last sentence seemed to be directed at Chester.

“If you haven’t, this might be the best opportunity you’ll get to earn personal merit. We’ve already taken more risks than we should have, though if Chester and Randolph were correct in their assessment, I think you’ll be the right person to do what we’ve planned.”

There was a moment of silence as Chester regarded him, raising an eyebrow. Taking the hint, Kyle said, “I’ll see what I can do.”

They spoke for a while longer, primarily about logistics that Kyle didn’t understand. Finally, Angela Corthus ended the communication. Chester seemed to deflate a bit as he let out a breath.

“That went better than expected. Mr. Mayhew, you’ll have roughly two weeks aboard the flagship before we approach the territory of this D Grade. I suggest you prepare well.”

Kyle nodded in response before asking a question that had been in the back of his mind. “Have your scans picked up the other two that I listed in my report?”

Chester shook his head. “While I believe you’re correct in your assumption that they are near the other treasures, we haven’t been able to pinpoint their locations. If we can, we’ll let you know. Go get some rest; the next two weeks are yours.”

Accepting his dismissal, Kyle walked back to his quarters. Upon arrival, he set the C.H.A.D.D. pack down and began to pace, speaking as he did.

“All right, buddy, we have two weeks. Time to make a list.”

Practice applying intent to mana and skills

Spar with Skippy to better understand how Storm Shelter works

Learn more about skrell and goblin anatomy

[THAT’S AN AMBITIOUS LIST, DR. MAYHEW.]

“You interrupted me before the end, C.H.A.D.D. You and I have a lot to talk about. Let’s start here—what’s your class?”

Chapter 25

“The new dog running the Central Authority finally has the nerve to show himself! It’s about time I got the respect I deserved. Now, listen to my demands as I…”

Garth sighed as he zoned out. Why do they always do this? This was the third warlord he’d come out to deal with personally, this one set up outside of Cathwick. The ambient mana in this region was much more severe than in Nierburg, and the unawakened he’d taken prisoner were in rough condition. His thoughts drifted to Kyle—the young man having traveled weeks to even get to this point.

The warlord, who had taken to calling himself the All-Devouring Serpent, was still yammering on. With a sigh, Garth channeled mana into his new sword, launching Air Blade with practiced precision. To his credit, the swift movement caused the man to jump to the side with an undignified yelp. The attack only managed to score a thin line across his shoulder, whereas moments before, it would have taken his head.

“KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM!”

Unfortunately for the All-Devouring Serpent, his squad of unawakened simply wasn’t up to the task. Garth hadn’t seen any with firearms among his group, and those with weapons held them in shaky hands. No, they wouldn’t put up much of a fight.

Flames began to flicker around Joseph’s hands as he prepared to cast, but he was interrupted as the newest member of their squad stepped forward. Arianna Santos had only recently awakened, and though it was far later than normal, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Ordinarily, Garth wouldn’t have considered bringing somebody her age along. However, her daily trainings with her grandfather meant she was a great deal more skilled than virtually any of the other conscripts they’d brought together. Besides, the Santos family was friendly with Kyle, and that meant something to Garth. They were people he felt he could trust.

Arianna blurred forward toward the sluggish unawakened, a jet-black stick in each hand, striking wrists, hands, and elbows with unerring accuracy. In moments, half a dozen men had their weapons knocked out of their hands. Just a moment later, a jolt of electricity seemed to surge through them, knocking them to the ground. Arianna had already moved on toward another squad, Mary Ellen following behind for support. Garth tossed a look at Joseph, who nodded. The young man had grown reliable in their time working together, and Garth knew he’d keep an eye on the women.

Satisfied things were in hand, he turned his full attention back to the tall, greasy man. The All-Devouring Serpent looked pale as Garth took his stance and slowly approached, one step at a time.

“Wait, this doesn’t have to turn to violence. You could use a powerful Awakened like me. I can keep them in line! You can see that!”

Garth didn’t respond, continuing his advance.

“I swear, I can be useful! What do you want? I can give you anything!”

His eyes were beginning to grow frantic as Garth closed the distance, and they widened further as his back bumped into the corner of a ruined building. There was no escape now.

“Please, anything! Is it the slaves? You can have them! We have women! I’ll give you who⁠—”

He didn’t have a chance to finish the sentence as he once again barely ducked out of the way of an Air Blade. Garth was barely suppressing a growl in his chest. DeRosa had kept a clear inventory of the raider camps all around Nierburg, and this was no exception. They’d offered for many of them to surrender peacefully and bring their people to Nierburg, and many had taken them up on it. This was one who hadn’t.

Garth’s scouts reported the conditions of the slaves that were kept in the camp, and it made his blood boil. Like the others with these circumstances, Garth went to see to them personally. There was no saving this man or his lieutenants, but the fact that he’d been so depraved to try to bribe Garth with that reinforced his decision.

The All-Devouring Serpent seemed to realize his error when he saw the look on Garth’s face and unleashed his attack. He used an urumi, a steel whip sword from the old world. The man had clearly practiced with the weapon, and it hissed through the air as it struck at him. Furthermore, it was being controlled and enhanced with mana, one of the All-Devouring Serpent’s skills. Each strike moved at odd angles, twisting and retracting as though Garth was fighting a serpent itself.

In moments, it was clear to him how the man before him had seized control of the group. He was talented, seemed to have achieved a decent level, and had good gear. Those were advantages even weaker awakened wouldn’t be able to overcome easily. To Garth, it was barely an inconvenience.

As the blade made its way toward him, he activated Unshaken Resolve. He felt the mana course through his skin, and with barely an effort, he caught the whip-like blade in his left hand. The steel tried to find purchase in his skin, but couldn’t. With a violent twist, Garth ripped the weapon out of the man’s hand. The All-Devouring Serpent turned and ran. Too slow. Fleet Foot brought him directly in front of the man, and he used the momentum to bring his beautiful new sword to bear.

It was crafted by some of the best smiths Nierburg had, using ores naturally infused with mana. The blade had a single edge with a gentle curve, resembling a massive cutlass nearly a meter and a half long. The longer edge allowed for him to do some limited manipulation of his Air Blade, and the mana flowed through it far easier than with his old standard-issue weapon. In this case, the raw sharpness and weight, coupled with Garth’s technique, were plenty.

The would-be warlord fell to the ground in two pieces, the cut angling cleanly from his right shoulder to left hip. The surprised look never left his face as Garth turned away. Arianna and Mary Ellen had the unawakened conspirators tied up and ready for interrogation already, and he gestured for Joseph and Johannes to follow him into the ruined building that made up their headquarters. He steeled himself as he saw the condition of the slaves, and Johannes got to work treating those with the worst injuries.

Joseph made a gesture, and the Guard Array they’d stationed back at the entrance to the city came toward the building, blanketing the area in a barrier to ward off the ambient mana. Garth gathered the rest of the team, minus the Healer.

“Get the injured ready to move. As far as I’m concerned, these animals can rot.”

“Shouldn’t we bring them with us? Don’t we need to question them?” Arianna said, confusion in her voice.

“Not after what they’ve done. We’ll take the supplies, take their labor, and let them live out the rest of their miserable lives in the wasteland. With any luck, they’ll⁠—”

A scream in the air interrupted Garth, and he exited the building along with his team. There, attacking the bound raiders, was a large, black ant. Slightly larger than a wolf, it was biting and tearing at one of the captives. Garth was about to go kill it when he saw another, and then another. It’s a whole damn colony.

“Get them out of here, now. Joseph, I’ll need you with me on rear guard. We’ll need to buy time.”

His team got into motion, and less than a minute later, two dozen women were being led out of the building, sheltered in the comforting light of the Guard Array. Arianna’s face went pale as she heard the screams coming from the other side of the camp, but a stern look from Garth convinced her to keep moving. Soon, the screams stopped. The ants didn’t.

Garth’s face hardened as he saw the first creature scuttling toward them, and he quickly bisected it with an Air Blade. Another was struck with a quick series of Fireball attacks from Joseph, though it didn’t dent the morale of the ant ranks as the flames licked at them. That’s when Garth saw it. As they got closer, Garth could see lingering flames burning small stalks sticking up behind their heads, between the segments of their bodies, and his blood ran cold. He was no expert on these topics, but one thing he was certain of was that this hive would be dangerous, fungus-infested or not.

Fortunately, the ants were thorough in their exploration of the city, and before long, Garth’s team and the freed slaves were out of sight of the methodically moving ants. One thing was for certain—this was a threat they’d need to watch.

Chapter 26

Kyle looked out the window of the shuttle at the growing trees, unable to keep the smile off his face. He’d spent the last three weeks on board the Corthian Mining flagship while they made preparations for the next phase of their journey. The wait was longer than expected, and he didn’t realize how much he’d missed seeing his world.

The reason for the delay was due to the complexity of the task before them. It would be an expedition in two parts—first completing a more detailed survey of the area, then dealing with the moth itself. While other expedition teams were sent back to the rainforest after the death of the Endless, Kyle wasn’t invited to join them. Instead, he was allowed to prepare however he saw fit. As before, he found comfort in routine.

Each day went roughly the same—he would spend his first several hours studying anatomy and working basic triage, followed by a sparring session with either Skippy or Duroc, and wrapping up with mana control practice and meditation. He had occasional meetings thrown in where he’d discuss the specifics of the mission with Chester, and he’d met with Benjamin a handful of times to swap stories, but largely things stayed the same.

That, in Kyle’s estimation, was a good thing. He’d gained two more levels through his practice sessions, leaving him on the cusp of upgrading his next E Grade skill. If he’d pushed harder, he may have been able to cross that threshold; however, he felt that there was more value to be found in shoring up his understanding of mana theory. One thing he’d suspected that Randolph confirmed was that the skill upgrades available to him would be largely dependent on his efforts and practice between each level.

While he was confident the skill he was planning to upgrade would have some good options, he’d rather not run the risk of getting there too soon and having a lousy choice. D Grades were common enough in the broader universe to have many well-documented cases of people unable to meaningfully progress down their paths due to shaky foundations and poorly developed skills. Kyle had no desire to be counted among their number.

Of course, he couldn’t just think of his own progression anymore, could he? The revelation that C.H.A.D.D. had a class was shocking to him, and it only got more bizarre the more he learned. The class was, according to the drone, called ‘Administrator Weevil.’ While he didn’t know all the details yet, from what he could understand, C.H.A.D.D. now had the ability to expand its set of abilities. Its development wasn’t tied to levels in the traditional sense, which created a whole new set of problems that Kyle would have to try and solve.

[GET READY, DR. MAYHEW.]

Kyle sighed and stood up, looking at the approaching treetops as the drone snapped him from his thoughts. While this forest wasn’t nearly as dense as the territory of the Endless, it was no less breathtaking. Verdant spears pierced the sky, massive redwoods dominating the landscape. He wished he had more time to appreciate the view; unfortunately, the approaching dragonflies had other thoughts.

C.H.A.D.D. picked up the mana signatures of the creatures, and Kyle’s enhanced senses weren’t far behind. The deep buzzing of their wings grew ever closer, and he got a better look as the crew strapped in tight. Corthian Mining’s scouting teams encountered similar creatures before, and they were ready.

Kyle grabbed a thick wire net in his hand as he looked at the approaching insects. They were each nearly three meters long, with bulbous eyes above their fearsome jaws. They were dangerous monsters with a single, fatal flaw. Throwing the net with practiced ease, it tangled around the wings of the nearest dragonfly. The insect twisted in the air, entangling itself further before it fell to the forest floor below.

So it went with the second, and then the third. As they became more acquainted with the threats in an area, the mining teams had proven incredibly adaptable. The difference between sapient beings and mindless beasts, he mused, watching the careening bodies. The last of the insects approached, seeming totally unbothered by the unexpected descent of its comrades. Kyle reached for another net, then he paused.

Instead, his hand found its way into a pouch on the side of the C.H.A.D.D. pack. He grabbed one of the items within, and pulled out a small, green pod. It was a small seed pod from a strange type of gourd grown in hydroponics on the flagship. The flesh of the gourd was quite tasty, and in his exploration of the ship he’d stumbled upon where they were being grown.

Grasping it tightly, he activated Resonance. The small seed had very little mana of its own, and Kyle connected to it easily. Grow. Infusing energy into the seed, he focused his mind on that simple word. He felt mana draining out of him as the weight in his palm increased, feeling winding vines begin to wrap around him. Opening his eyes, he threw the expanding mass of vines and gourds at the fast-approaching insect.

As with the metal nets before, the vines got tangled in the creature’s wings. It, too, tumbled out of the sky, crashing into the ground. Kyle smiled as he looked at his now-empty hand. It was cost-effective to handle things that way, even if it took some mana out of him. Still, he was happy to get the practice. Possibilities were opening up before him, and he was already getting excited for what was still ahead.

The shuttle landed without incident at the predetermined staging area, and he waved as he disembarked, waving at a familiar face who was approaching.

“About time you all caught up. Good to see you again, Mayhew.”

Rochelle had directed one of the earlier scouting trips and was the acting captain of the temporary base they’d established.

“Good to see you too, Captain. How’s everything looking?”

She paused to direct some of the others leaving the shuttle, then turned back to Kyle.

“It’s gone better than expected, to be honest. A few different creatures we’ve had to deal with, but the big one hasn’t come close. It seems content to float around the Tree, though it looks like other, weaker variants have also been congregating. Their larvae are becoming a problem.”

Kyle frowned. “How can larvae be a problem? Can’t you just squish them?”

Rochelle shook her head. “For as smart as you are, you can be an idiot. We can’t exactly get close without drawing the big moth’s attention, can we? Awful hard to squish them when you have monsters trying to kill you.”

“Hey, you’re the one who asked for ideas.”

“I didn’t ask for ideas. And if I did, I would have asked C.H.A.D.D. It’s much more agreeable.”

[IT’S TRUE, DR. MAYHEW.]

They both chuckled at the drone’s response, but soon after Rochelle got serious.

“The larvae themselves aren’t the problem. They’re burrowing into the trees and eating them from the inside. The wood in the forest is incredibly mana-dense, and when these larvae start turning into full-fledged monsters, we’ll be in trouble. This isn’t going to be like the last time where killing the big boss means we have free reign. Once those little guys hit adulthood, the whole area will be a warzone.”

“That does throw a wrench in things. So I take it you’re all ready for me to get started as soon as possible?”

“That’s the plan. Come with me; I’ll break down the specifics.”

Kyle followed Rochelle to her command tent, where a small projector was set up on a utilitarian metal desk. It was showing the area surrounding the largest tree, where several other large trees still stood.

“The big Tree is where we believe we’ll find the best resources, and it’s the one currently being orbited by the largest moth. The others have been severely damaged and aren’t terribly stable. You’ll want to place the explosive charges here.”

Rochelle gestured to the hologram. With that, small red dots lit up on the trees, indicating optimal locations for the payload.

She continued.

“That should deal with a lot of the larvae and also start to pin down the moth.”

She pressed several buttons on the console, and it indicated that the fallen trees would obstruct the most common flight paths.

“Once its mobility has been limited, we can move. This will be the most dangerous part for you, because if this is anything like last time, you won’t be able to run away. So hold it in position, use that fancy shield of yours, and try not to die.”

Her words were sharp, though Kyle picked up an undercurrent of worry in them. He did his best to put on a cavalier smile.

“I’m expendable, but C.H.A.D.D. isn’t. So I don’t have much choice other than surviving, isn’t that right?”

[YOU COULD ALWAYS LEAVE ME HERE, DR. MAYHEW.]

Chapter 27

Kyle looked out at the remnants of the destroyed town, surprised more than anything at the lack of feeling. It had been a city slightly larger than Newton had been. Buildings had been scattered like sticks after a storm, reduced to rubble above their foundations. A year ago, Kyle would have taken C.H.A.D.D. through the ruins to look for survivors, hoping that somebody made it out. He knew better now.

They were close enough, and Kyle nodded to the woman piloting the smaller reconnaissance vehicle as he disembarked. It was sleek, about the size of an old-world motorcycle, and it barely fit the two of them along with Kyle’s payload. Rochelle’s experience in the area taught them that the moths would react poorly to the presence of the vehicles if they got within a dozen kilometers or so of the trees that housed their young, so Kyle would have to make the rest of the journey on foot.

While he could cover ground almost as quickly through the use of Haste, he was happy to be able to conserve some energy. Hefting the large cannister over his shoulder, he began to walk toward the foot of his first target.

[YOU KNOW, DR. MAYHEW, IF YOU’D LEFT ME BEHIND YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO CARRY HIGH-EXPLOSIVES LIKE THAT. YOU COULD HAVE PUT IT IN THE PACK AND LEFT ME TO DISCUSS MY SUPERIOR TACTICAL ABILITIES WITH MS. ROCHELLE.]

“If I did that, I’d be deprived of your company. And we couldn’t have that.”

[I’M SURE WE COULD HAVE KEPT IN TOUCH THROUGH THE NAV BRACELET. STILL, GIVEN YOUR PENCHANT FOR JOSTLING IT DOES MAKE SENSE NOT TO HAVE YOU KEEP THE EXPLOSIVE IN THE PACK.]

C.H.A.D.D. had not been excited to learn that Kyle was carrying D Grade explosive material to the tree and was even less enthused about the prospect of being next to him while he transported, secured, and armed it. Unfortunately for the poor drone, Kyle needed him.

“You know why I can’t leave you behind, buddy. Besides, Storm Shelter should be enough to protect us if something goes wrong.”

The plan was simple—Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. would deliver the explosive to a predetermined point on the tree, arm it, and run away before it detonated. After repeating the process on the other marked trees, they would be in a position to take down the D Grade moth, which Kyle had taken to calling the Eye, based on the large patters on its wings. While the expedition teams could likely do it on their own, they would have to fight their way through the smaller variant moths and the hundreds of awakened larvae to get to the spot. Kyle didn’t have that problem.

His mobility and durability were simply leagues ahead of any of the expedition members. This was where D Grades really shone above the rest—tasks that otherwise required coordinated groups could be accomplished by virtue of raw attributes alone. A wistful smile played across his face as he thought back to how powerless he felt in the first days after the cataclysm. He’d learned some hard lessons, and he’d come a long way.

He ran through the ruins of the city, vaulting over rubble and navigating uneven ground with ease. A number of small beetles tried to close in on him during his journey, but he didn’t even slow down as he ran past them. Minutes later, he crossed the entire breadth of the city. A small group of E Grade moths spotted Kyle as he approached the tree, moving to intercept him. Kyle was ready.

While he felt confident rushing past the moths, they possessed some unique traits that Kyle wanted to test. Sure enough, the moths floated above him, deep gray and purple wings holding them aloft. They were about a meter long, with antennae reminiscent of a bird’s feather. It was mesmerizing to watch them flutter about in the air—a picture of serenity.

At face value, they weren’t doing anything; however, Kyle’s Auric Perception told him a different story. Mana infused hundreds of thousands of nearly microscopic scales that slowly infused the air around them, and soon Kyle felt the expected pressure. The expedition teams had been pushed hard by the moths—the area near their habitats covered in a fog of enfeebling mist.

The original plan the miners laid out was that Kyle would dash through with Haste, place the explosives, then retreat and recuperate from the damage. It was a solid plan. After all, Kyle was fast enough to move through the cloud of scales, durable enough to limit the damage, and possessed skills to recover all on his own. However, that wasn’t good enough for Kyle.

“All right, C.H.A.D.D., you’ll need to let me know if the toxins are getting too dangerous.”

[THIS IS SPECTACULARLY STUPID, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Don’t sass me now; you’re the one who made me train in a cave for a month to fight the Infernal.”

[THERE WAS NO TIME PRESSURE, DR. MAYHEW. THERE IS NOW.]

“If I’m right, we’ll save time in the long run.”

[AND IF YOU’RE WRONG, THE MISSION WILL BE DELAYED SIGNIFICANTLY. MS. ROCHELLE WILL BE DISAPPOINTED IN ME, AND I DON’T WANT THAT. DON’T DISAPPOINT HER, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Then pay close attention, and make sure this works.”

Taking a deep breath, Kyle closed his eyes. His first step was to activate Adaptive Regeneration. The skill went to work, circulating rejuvenating mana through his system. Next, he focused his attention on his mana pathways as he made them flexible with Resonance.

As he focused, he felt three distinct concepts Adaptive Regeneration was fighting against. The most prominent effect was in his blood.

“C.H.A.D.D., pay close attention to the circulatory system. That appears to be the main attack vector.”

[CONFIRMED. RED BLOOD CELL OXYGEN EFFICIENCY IS REDUCED. CURRENTLY AT 98% RELATIVE TO STANDARD. PLATELETS APPEAR TO BE LACKING COAGULATIVE PROPERTIES AS WELL.]

A hemotoxin, then. These were sinister in multiple ways, making every exertion more taxing, every wound more serious. Too much exposure could cause him to hemorrhage and lead to organ failure. Still, he continued to breathe it in.

The second area he felt his skill working to repair was his nervous system. He could feel a very gentle tingling at the tips of his fingers and toes as the toxins built up in his body. Again, it was far from causing major damage to him and likely wouldn’t be enough on its own to prove deadly to a reasonably powerful E Grade. In conjunction with the hemotoxin, however, Kyle acknowledged the debilitating compound effects.

C.H.A.D.D. was quick on the uptake, giving Kyle the information before he could ask.

[A COMPOUND APPEARS TO BE ATTACKING YOUR NEURONS, DR. MAYHEW, THOUGH IT’S QUITE INEFFECTIVE AGAINST YOUR ACTIVATED GANGLIA.]

The drone was right. Kyle’s new Ceaseless Vitality had greatly expanded on the nerve ganglia he’d noticed after his change into an Arthro-Human Chimera nearly a year ago. Most people, even D Grades like his grandfather, had nerves that would connect to the brain through the spinal cord. Damage to that pathway would limit, or even prevent, signals from making it from the brain to the rest of the body.

Kyle’s body worked differently. While he still had the central connection through his spine, his body also had a series of nerve clusters that formed connections outside of it. Just like how the Endless was able to continue its rampage after its brain was destroyed, Kyle’s body could likely continue to function even with major damage to his spinal cord. He was in no hurry to test this hypothesis, though he and C.H.A.D.D. had been discussing some other applications.

In a situation like this, the dense and numerous nerve clusters were simply too resilient for the neurotoxin to cause significant damage, particularly against the strength of Adaptive Regeneration. That brought him to the last area being impacted—his mana network itself. It felt as though there was a buildup of residue as his mana circulated—faint yet present.

This was the piece he was most interested in, as up to this point he hadn’t encountered creatures but himself able to directly influence another’s mana. Neither his knowledge nor C.H.A.D.D.’s records had shown any indications that this was a possibility. When he’d heard that the expedition members had been struggling with skill activation and mana recovery, he knew it was something he wanted to study.

As he focused on it, two things became clear. First, this effect wasn’t related to the toxins, at least not directly. C.H.A.D.D.’s continuous commentary didn’t indicate any compounds other than the hemotoxin and neurotoxin. Secondly, Adaptive Regeneration did nothing to limit this effect. Ever so slowly, Kyle felt the effectiveness of his skill deteriorate as his mana pathways were impacted.

That could be trouble.

Chapter 28

Kyle frowned as he focused on the mana flowing through his body. When he used Resonance to attack, he forcefully took control of his opponent’s mana pathways and attacked. He expected to feel something similar from the moths. Instead, he felt… nothing. There was no battle of Willpower, no wrestling against the creatures for control. His mana was simply moving slower. The reports of the expedition members indicated that the effect was temporary. Kyle was confident in his ability to get out and recover, except for one sticking point. He didn’t want to run away.

Stubbornly, he took another deep breath of the mist. Adaptive Regeneration was still more than enough to keep his body healthy, even with the minor headwind of the attack on his mana pathways.

“C.H.A.D.D., what are your scans showing with my mana pathways?”

[THERE IS NO CLEAR INDICATION OF OBSTRUCTION. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THE CIRCULATION OF MANA HAS REDUCED TO ROUGHLY 94% OF STANDARD. I WOULD CAUTION THAT THERE MAY BE A CUMULATIVE IMPACT, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Thank you, C.H.A.D.D. Can you keep tabs on it and let me know when it drops below 35 percent?”

[CERTAINLY, DR. MAYHEW.]

If there’s no obstruction and no attack, how are they doing this? Unable to come up with an easy answer, Kyle decided to go back to some of the basic mana practice he’d started so long ago. Closing his eyes and crossing his legs as he sat, he began to push his mana in a series of exercises, concentrating it into his arms, legs, and eyes and forcing the mana to flow quicker, then slower, then moving in pulses and restraining it altogether.

His ascension to D Grade made these exercises much easier than before, and as he worked through the familiar movements, he began to form a better idea of what was going on. C.H.A.D.D. noticed it too.

[YOUR MANA FLOW HAS RECOVERED TO STANDARD, DR. MAYHEW.]

Kyle nodded and stopped working through the exercises. “How about now, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[MANA EFFICIENCY HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE, ALBEIT SLOWLY. I AM CURIOUS—HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE THE TOXIN? WERE YOU ABLE TO ISOLATE IT?]

“I don’t think it was a toxin at all. We still have a lot more to learn, and I don’t want to get ahead of myself and skew the results. For now, let’s keep gathering information.”

The next couple hours were spent with Kyle inhaling toxic mist, allowing Adaptive Regeneration to build his resilience, and running through his mana exercises to ward off the negative effects on his pathways. By this point, the hemotoxin and neurotoxin were almost entirely ineffective against him, no matter how much of the mist he inhaled. With a sigh, Kyle stood up and stretched. He’d hoped to gather a little more information, but he’d already hit diminishing returns. The mystery of the mana impaction had been largely solved, and he was ready to get moving.

“Do you have what you need, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[YES, DR. MAYHEW. THE MANA CARRIED A SPECIFIC INTENT, DIDN’T IT?]

“I think so. I don’t know exactly what it was, necessarily, but it felt like it was actively trying to infect the mana in my body and make it sluggish. When I took more active control, it acted like a reset button. The skills on their own didn’t seem to change it, which is something we don’t really have time to figure out.”

[YOU ARE RUNNING BEHIND SCHEDULE, DR. MAYHEW.]

As if on cue, a message came through his nav bracelet.

“Did you decide to take a nap? What’s going on, Mayhew?”

Rochelle’s voice sounded more exasperated than surprised; she’d likely suspected that Kyle would do something foolish like this.

“Just getting back up and running. This should save us time in the long run.”

“You D Grades are a real pain; do you know that?”

“You’ve mentioned it once or twice. We’ll let you know when we’re done placing the explosive.”

“Don’t do anything else reckless, Mayhew. Just follow the plan.” Kyle could picture her rubbing her forehead.

“You’ve got it, boss.”

Activating Haste, Kyle took off. He cleared the expanding cloud of mist in mere seconds, and the moths were simply too slow to catch up. Making his way to the foot of the tree, he saw hundreds upon hundreds of holes in the bark. His nav bracelet told him that there should be a hollow on one side of the tree, and as he approached, he spotted it. Hundreds of dog-sized larvae were milling about the entrance to the hollow. They had large spikes across their backs and what looked to be a singular, powerful horn on their heads. He watched as they dug at the bark of the tree, almost seeming to melt through it as the horn secreted some type of acid.

He saw thousands more as he looked up at the trunk and the branches beyond. Glad I don’t have to go up there. The creatures didn’t seem to care much for him, moving about and eating. That all changed as he took his first step into the hollow. Instantly, he was staring down hundreds of acidic red horns as the moth larvae began to shuffle toward him. Kyle drew out his baton, twirling it with a flourish.

While he wouldn’t need to kill all of the little caterpillars, he did want to clear a path to secure his escape. When the oversized garden pests got within range, Kyle got to work. Even though he could only use one hand, his attacks were more than powerful enough to deal with his army of opponents.

For the first time in a while, he almost felt bad for the little bugs. While their acid and horns could be dangerous to him if he took too many hits, the reality was that he simply wasn’t getting hit. Haste active and focused on his right arm, he landed nearly a dozen heavy strikes each second. Each blow either crushed or sent a caterpillar flying, and in no time at all he’d thinned their numbers by nearly half.

Not bothering with the rest, Kyle continued deeper into the hollow, which scans indicated had been carved out by the creatures. At first he thought the instructions were wrong, until he looked up. Deep scars ran up the interior of the tree, only letting in pinpricks of light that came through the holes in the bark. It was like looking at the night sky, and he thought about his grandfather. How would you have handled this?

Kyle still had a hard time with the idea that he was probably better at tasks like this than his grandfather had been. That’s not to say he was necessarily stronger, but after a lifetime of looking at the D Grade with awe, it just felt foreign.

[DO YOU NEED ME TO HIGHLIGHT A PATH TO THE POSITION INDICATED, DR. MAYHEW?]

The drone’s words snapped Kyle out of his reflection.

“That would be wonderful, C.H.A.D.D.”

Handholds were easy enough to find, though climbing one-handed still had its challenges. Soon they found themselves where they’d need to place the explosive. Kyle’s eyes widened as he took in the sight. Thousands upon thousands of cocoons lined the inner wall of the tree, each with an opalescent beauty as they reflected the light of the false stars. It was beautiful. It was alien. It reinforced exactly why Kyle needed to do this. Even with his resilience, the presence of this many moths would be too much. Just by passively flying, the entire area would become far too toxic for people to come near. Not that it will matter in a few years.

The bitter thought surprised him. He did his best to shove it down. For now, he nestled the explosive in roughly the area indicated by the nav bracelet. He lifted a thick metal panel on the outer casing and rested his palm against the detonator as he’d been instructed. The explosive drew energy from him, far more than any of the other technologies he’d interacted with.

Nearly 10 percent of his total mana reserves were drawn in, until he heard an almost satisfied beep from the equipment. He looked at his nav bracelet, which now flashed a warning that he had only fifteen minutes until detonation. Plenty of time. Kyle exited the chamber with all the pupae and navigated his way down toward the ground. About halfway, he froze as Auric Perception began to feel something, a familiar tingle playing across his skin.

[DR. MAYHEW, SCANS ARE PICKING UP AN ANOMALY. I’D VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE IT.]

Kyle swore. Of course we find a damn natural treasure after we arm the explosive.

“Are you sure, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[QUITE, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Where is it?”

[LIKELY CONDENSING NEAR THE TOP OF THE TREE, DR. MAYHEW.]

“This is incredibly dangerous. We should leave it.”

[THAT WOULD BE THE SMART DECISION, DR. MAYHEW. BUT HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT IT COULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME?]

“That’s why I’m even talking about it. How beneficial do you think it could be?”

[I’M UNSURE. HOWEVER, THE POTENCY OF THE MANA IS INCREASING. SOMETHING TRIGGERED IT TO BEGIN CONDENSING, AND IT’S ALREADY NEAR THE LEVEL OF THE OTHER TREASURE WE ABSORBED.]

There wasn’t time to debate anymore. “Show me. And if you get us blown up, I’m going to file a report with Central Health.”

[YOU WOULDN’T DARE.]

Chapter 29

Thirteen Minutes Until Detonation.

Damn, damn, damn! Kyle vaulted over a swarm of angry larvae, narrowly avoiding dozens of reaching horns. His baton flashed back and forth, knocking several of the creatures clear from his path. Kicking one caterpillar out of the way, he finally crossed to the pockmarked external wall of the tree, gleaming sunlight visible through multiple fist-sized holes.

He had considered descending the way he’d come and exiting through the hollow; however, the time constraint was too much. Instead, with C.H.A.D.D.’s guidance, he opted to ascend toward the treasure from inside the tree itself. They thought it was a great plan, up until he was forced to engage hundreds upon hundreds of the angry larvae in narrow confines. Even if he was able to deal with them quickly, it still took time.

He slammed his free left palm against the wall in front of him, activating Resonance. He braced for the connection with the massive tree, and as soon as he connected, he twisted and pushed with all his Willpower. The bark in front of him, already brittle due to the damage from the colony of moth larvae, shattered. A rough circle over three meters in diameter was suddenly blown open, revealing the thick foliage outside the tree. Kyle was met by dozens more of the caterpillars, and from the damage to the branches and the leaves, it was clear that he’d interrupted dinnertime.

Or is it always dinnertime for these things? His train of thought was interrupted by the shuffling sound on the wood as they approached his location, barbed prolegs allowing them to scale the vertical structure with relative ease.

“C.H.A.D.D., can you plot a course?”

Without a word, an orange light shone on a nearby branch, with others highlighted. Kyle activated Haste to boost his speed, then jumped, following C.H.A.D.D.’s directions. He landed on a branch and was immediately forced to step closer to the tree’s trunk as the well-worn branch began to crumble under his feet. A warning flash from the drone alerted him to the falling form of several more larvae dropping toward him from branches above. Swift strikes knocked them out of the air.

“Gonna need you to reevaluate, C.H.A.D.D.!”

[DON’T BLAME ME FOR BEING TOO HEAVY FOR THE BRANCH, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Give me another path!”

Lights once again flashed, and Kyle grabbed a nearby handhold on the trunk and heaved himself up. Sticking mostly to the side of the tree to avoid another near-drop due to the weakened wood, he was making good time. That is, until his face passed one of the numerous holes in the tree.

Kyle moved his head out of the way as quickly as he could, but the acid-covered horn still grazed his cheek. It wasn’t sharp enough to break his skin, but the acid it secreted burned his face. What’s worse, the secretion lingered, slowly eating away at his Enhanced Carapace. He felt the burning discomfort enhanced by Haste and had to grit his teeth against the pain. The surprise as much as anything threatened Kyle’s grip, and he barely pulled himself up in time to dodge another thrust from the creature.

[THIS MAY BECOME PROBLEMATIC, DR. MAYHEW. TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX OF THE HOLES ARE NOW OCCUPIED BY THE LARVAE, WITH MORE APPROACHING.]

Even though the attack was a long way from being fatal, being consistently burned by acid wasn’t high on Kyle’s list of to-dos.

EIGHT MINUTES UNTIL DETONATION.

“Then we’re doing it the hard way!”

[THIS HAD BETTER NOT INVOLVE EXCESSIVE JOSTLING.]

Kyle activated Resonance, pushing it through both his hands. He slapped the smooth wood under his left hand and focused on a short, powerful burst of mana. As before, the brittle wood collapsed under the pressure created by the skill, leaving a fresh hole in the trunk to grasp. Repeating the process, Kyle’s ascension was faster than ever before. As he climbed, a gradually thickening violet mist began to obscure the air. He grimaced as he put Adaptive Regeneration to work, though his body was already well-adjusted to the toxins.

Soon, he could feel the prickling on his skin reach a fever pitch. It’s here! Vaulting through the mist, he came upon a natural nook in the tree. All the foliage had been eaten away by the voracious insects long ago, and Kyle turned about looking for the treasure. Then he spotted it. The glowing orb, as well as the fattest, fuzziest caterpillar Kyle had ever seen.

[SQUISH IT! SQUISH IT NOW!]

Kyle nearly fell off the tree at C.H.A.D.D.’s outburst.

“What the hell?”

[THE CATERPILLAR IS EATING IT, DR. MAYHEW! HURRY!]

Dismissing the frantic tone, Kyle took a breath as he drew his baton once more. He didn’t know exactly what C.H.A.D.D. wanted to do with it, but he felt confident it would be a terrible decision to let the massive caterpillar devour the treasure unopposed. Survival of the fittest and all that.

Kyle took a closer look at the creature as he dashed toward it. The beast was approaching four meters long and at least a meter around. Its lime-green body was covered in long, white hairs, and an almost comically small black mouth nibbled at the treasure. Auric Perception gave Kyle the impression that the caterpillar was devouring the energy almost as fast as it was condensing, so without giving much thought, he lashed out at its face.

Kyle’s hope was that the caterpillar would reel back or otherwise pause its lunch. Instead, long white hairs flowed up to intercept the attack, succeeding in absorbing the bulk of the strike. If the insect cared, it didn’t show it. It continued to munch away, seemingly oblivious to the man who was confronting it. His rapid strikes were either ignored or blocked by the hairs, and C.H.A.D.D. was growing increasingly frustrated.

[DO SOMETHING, DR. MAYHEW!]

Kyle was leery of using Resonance after his last interaction with one of these forest treasures, so he improvised. Dashing below the creature’s considerable bulk, Kyle activated Storm Shelter. He focused on his mana, willing it to condense in a smaller radius. The shield formed, lifting the caterpillar from its meal and knocking the treasure off the branch. Orange lights immediately lit up, C.H.A.D.D. providing a path to follow it.

Kyle jumped after it, quickly descending the tree.

FIVE MINUTES UNTIL DETONATION

Auric Perception warned him of the attack at the same time C.H.A.D.D.’s light did. He jumped away from the tree as a massive stream of silky webs was blasted out by the bulbous caterpillar, coating the three branches and snaring the treasure. The creature was spraying webs indiscriminately now, in moments coating this entire area of the tree’s canopy in strands of silk. Seemingly satisfied with its work, it began slowly shuffling toward the glowing sphere.

As an organism, the caterpillar was interesting. It was one of the strangest creatures Kyle had fought in this new world. At the end of the day, however, it was still an enemy. Without having to worry about any unintended reactions with the sphere, Kyle closed the distance. He extended his palm toward the creature, which moved to block with its hair. Against physical attacks, this was an effective strategy. It did nothing against Resonance, which connected just fine through the fine hairs, and in a moment the massive creature was dead.

Kyle didn’t hesitate. He navigated his way through the webbing, struggling to remove the treasure from its bindings.

A voice crackled through the nav bracelet, a mix of anger and worry.

“What the hell are you doing, Kyle? Get out of there!”

TWO MINUTES UNTIL DETONATION.

There was no time. Kyle descended as quickly as he could, one arm securing the treasure.

ONE MINUTE UNTIL DETONATION.

He was over halfway down the tree. He’d been struck by over a dozen of the acid-covered horns, and his body was screaming in pain as Haste magnified the sensation. Looking up at him from the ground was a veritable phalanx of red horns. If he fell, he’d be swarmed.

THIRTY SECONDS UNTIL DETONATION.

He had to take a gamble. He slapped his free hand against the trunk of the tree, opening up another gaping hole in the bark with Resonance. Dashing into the gap, he clambered down the space between the worn bark and the remaining solid wood. He could see the hollow below him, ten meters down, then five. He jumped for it, seeing that it was still relatively clear.

FIVE SECONDS UNTIL DETONATION.

Kyle hit the ground hard, finding an open space near several startled-looking larvae. Without stopping to think, he activated Storm Shelter. One thought pushed through his mind. Hold!

The world turned white. A massive blast of concussive force ripped through the tree, striking Kyle’s shield.

Hold!

Cracks began to appear in the barrier, splinters of wood and dust began to collapse on top of it.

Hold!

A loud crack split the heavens as the tree above him began to fall, more and more debris raining down on top of his position. Large branches fell and broke over the damaged shield, increasingly heavy impacts causing more cracks to appear.

HOLD!

Chapter 30

Ouch. Kyle stirred, pushing himself up from the ground. His whole body ached, a bone-deep fatigue he hadn’t felt in a long time. What happened? He vaguely remembered using Storm Shelter to protect against the blast, and then…

[DR. MAYHEW, YOU’RE AWAKE. WHILE I’M GLAD YOU’VE REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS, I MUST ASK THAT YOU PRIORITIZE SECURING THE TREASURE THIS TREE LEFT US. I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE IT.]

“Good morning to you too, C.H.A.D.D. What happened? The last thing I remember was pushing more energy into the shield.”

[YOU SUCCESSFULLY SHIELDED YOURSELF FROM THE EXPLOSIVE BLAST, AS WELL AS THE BULK OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE TREE. IN DOING SO, YOU PUSHED YOUR MANA RESERVES TOO FAR. WHEN YOUR SHIELD COULD NO LONGER HOLD, YOU FELL UNCONSCIOUS.]

“How long was I out?”

[LESS THAN AN HOUR, DR. MAYHEW. OH, AND MS. ROCHELLE IS QUITE WORRIED ABOUT YOU. IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO RESPOND TO HER. AFTER YOU GET MY TREASURE, OF COURSE.]

Not a healthy fixation. We’ll have to work on that. Looking around, Kyle spotted the glowing sphere without an issue. As he walked over to it, C.H.A.D.D. piped up.

[DO YOU REMEMBER HOW YOU CONNECTED ME LAST TIME?]

Kyle rolled his eyes. “No, C.H.A.D.D., I’ve completely forgotten. If only there was some way to assist you. Oh well, I guess we’re going to have to give this to the miners.”

[YOU USED YOUR SKILL, DR. MAYHEW. YOU USE THAT SKILL A LOT, YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE FORGOTTEN—OH. A JOKE. HUMOROUS, DR. MAYHEW. TRULY.]

C.H.A.D.D.’s admonishment having ended, Kyle removed the pack got to work removing his robotic companion. Resting one hand on the glowing orb and the other on the drone, he asked the question that had been burning in his mind.

“Is this even safe? Do you have any way to know what this is doing?”

The drone gave a thoughtful pause before responding, [I DO NOT. BUT I KNOW THAT I WANT IT, AND I DON’T BELIEVE IT WILL BE A DETRIMENT. THIS MAY HELP ME TO FILL IN SOME OTHER PIECES OF INFORMATION, AND IF I’M CORRECT, I BELIEVE IT WILL BE A NET BENEFIT TO BOTH OF US.]

Kyle only hesitated a moment before activating his skill. If it weren’t for C.H.A.D.D. he’d have died multiple times over the past year. He trusted the drone, and he was confident that they’d figure out any issues down the line, just like they had before.

Kyle felt the connection form—immediately, energy flowed from the sphere into C.H.A.D.D. He did his best to prevent inefficient energy loss, though to his disappointment the drag seemed to be about in line with what it was before. The drone had called it ‘archiving,’ but all Kyle knew was that he absorbed almost half as much as C.H.A.D.D. did.

He still wasn’t sure how to access the energy, much less what he could actually do with it. According to C.H.A.D.D., it didn’t have the same problem. At some point after absorbing the red essences, the drone had unlocked a class called ‘Administrator Weevil.’ According to C.H.A.D.D., it was a class that was focused on gathering information and fine mana control. It didn’t progress the way normal classes did, instead relying on consuming and integrating different resources and materials to progress.

It was uncharted territory in many ways, and Kyle knew this information was dangerous if it was shared. The Central Authority would have C.H.A.D.D. destroyed in moments if they knew the extent of the changes. He wasn’t sure how Corthian Mining would respond, but there was definitely an element of risk that grew with each step of the drone’s evolution. C.H.A.D.D. was becoming something new, for better or for worse.

The energy transfer continued until the sphere faded away, the last vestiges of glowing light absorbed into Kyle and his robotic companion. The absence of light cast the ruins of the hollow into a deep shadow, and Kyle gave his eyes a moment to adjust before addressing C.H.A.D.D. “Are you happy now?”

[QUITE, DR. MAYHEW.]

“I’m going to need some answers, C.H.A.D.D. These are worth a lot to the expedition, even if they don’t know what to do with them.”

[I’M AWARE, THOUGH I BELIEVE THEY HAVE UNDERVALUED THE ONE WE BROUGHT BACK.]

“What does the energy do? No evasive bullcrap, C.H.A.D.D. I want a straight answer.”

Kyle’s voice was stern. He trusted the drone. That didn’t mean he was going to allow it to keep secrets. They were in it together, and Kyle needed to understand precisely what that meant.

[IT CONTAINS THE STORY OF THE WORLD, DR. MAYHEW. THIS PLANT LIFE DRAWS IN AMBIENT MANA, LIKE ANY AWAKENED. THE FOREST EXPERIENCES LIFE, TIME, AND GROWTH DIFFERENTLY. IT ISN’T TRULY SAPIENT—IT LACKS SENSORY INFORMATION AND INPUTS, BUT IT IS AWARE THAT IT IS DYING.]

Kyle was taken aback at the direct answer. He had half expected a snarky response. The drone continued.

[THE MANA HAS BEEN HARMFUL TO THE PLANT LIFE, EVEN IF IT HAS ENCOURAGED GROWTH. THE EMERGENCE OF AWAKENED PESTS HAS EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM, SO THE RESPONSE FROM THE ORGANISM IS TO TRY AND PASS ALONG A LEGACY.]

Kyle nodded. To an extent, it made sense. Virtually every living being has a response to the threat of death. Why couldn’t that extend to trees? Still, that was only one part of the equation.

“So how do you play into it? As far as I can tell, this energy doesn’t actually do anything. Even if you could access the ‘story,’ what would you do with it?”

[IT ALLOWS ME TO UNDERSTAND, DR. MAYHEW. MY EXPERIENCE ISN’T THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE TREES, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT I HAVE A LANGUAGE MODEL I CAN USE. THROUGH THE STORY, I LEARNED OF THE TRIUMPHS AND TRAGEDIES THAT THE FOREST HAS BEEN THROUGH. I LEARNED ABOUT GROWTH, ABOUT WILTING, AND ABOUT REBIRTH.]

“I’m glad it’s been a positive experience for you, C.H.A.D.D. I’m going to ask again. What are you going to do with it?”

[PULL OUT ONE OF THE SEEDS, DR. MAYHEW, AND I WILL SHOW YOU.]

Kyle’s curiosity was at its peak, so without question, he followed the drone’s instructions.

[CONNECT ME TO THE SEED, IF YOU WILL.]

Kyle activated Resonance in each hand, now holding the seed in his left. He felt C.H.A.D.D. trying to use his mana, and he allowed the drone to take control. As soon as he did, the seed exploded into vibrant growth. Thick roots wound themselves around his left arm, while vines sprang to life from his palm, twisting and reaching nearly four meters from his position.

Kyle felt his legs buckle, and he sat abruptly, awestruck at the display. In less than three seconds, C.H.A.D.D. had created a construct more intricate and substantial than any Kyle had made before. Moreover, it didn’t take any of Kyle’s focus or attention. The drone simply did it, guiding Kyle’s own mana as fuel for the growth. It was incredible. Kyle gawked at the blossoming vines for a moment longer before looking back at C.H.A.D.D.

[THE PRACTICAL USES ARE QUITE VERSATILE, THOUGH I WILL SAY THAT THE ACADEMIC IMPLICATIONS FROM RESEARCHING AND SORTING THE INFORMATION WILL LIKELY FAR OUTSTRIP THIS APPLICATION OF THE DATA.]

Kyle could hear his heartbeat pounding as possibilities unfolded in his mind. The metaphysical aspect of C.H.A.D.D.’s discussion was, frankly, a little beyond him. The practical thoughts, however, were not. He had prepared for his next skill upgrade, and this new development fit in perfectly within his expectations.

“C.H.A.D.D., I’m going to need a minute.”

Without waiting for a response, Kyle entered meditation. As expected, he’d gained another level. With a thought, he split his free attributes between Intelligence and Willpower. Then he focused on his center and the glowing skill upgrade node. Last time, he’d chosen Regeneration as his most-used skill, and he hadn’t been disappointed. He was consistently impressed with the quality of the skill and benefits his body had enjoyed. However, it was the type of skill that would truly show its value with time. What he wanted next—needed next—was a skill that would make a difference in the heat of the situations he’d find as a D Grade.

Kyle hadn’t fully appreciated what that could look like when he’d first ascended. He fully expected to stay a big fish in a small pond, and that wasn’t the case anymore. While Randolph’s exam may have declared him to be “broken,” he was determined that he’d carve out his own way. Skippy and Duroc liked working with him. Benjamin had offered him a security job. He was valuable due to his flexibility, and his next upgrade would further enhance that. With a breath, he selected Resonance.

Chapter 31

After selecting the skill, Kyle watched in anticipation as the options were outlined. As before, the impressions were general in nature, although the names of the options said a lot.

Destructive Resonance: This upgrade felt like a natural progression of his offensive application of the skill. He felt that pieces of the skill would be lost, no longer allowing him to use the skill for its original purpose. Which, in fairness, he hadn’t often used. Instead, it would specialize into a focused Willpower attack. Given how high the attribute was, Kyle had no doubt this upgrade choice would radically improve his combat ability. Even if the upgrade was unintended, it was tempting by virtue of power alone. Still, he moved on to the next choice.

Resonant Burst: The second option was much more in line with what he’d been working toward. Constant practice and reflection on Storm Shelter helped Kyle develop a deep understanding of how he projected his mana, and using Resonance in conjunction with the skill further improved that knowledge. If he chose this upgrade, he would be able to effectively “fire” a bolt of energy over a respectable distance. It would allow him to form a connection without physical contact, though it would weaken the farther away his target was. Still, even a weak connection would be sufficient for many of his ideas. Otherwise, it would allow him to use the skill in all the ways he’d grown accustomed to. It would open the door to many new possibilities, enhanced further by the revelation of C.H.A.D.D.’s ability. Pushing that aside, he fixed his eyes on the final option.

Parasitic Resonance: His final choice was by far the most interesting. It appeared to carry some aspects of Resonant Burst in that it would offer some range, though instead of a burst of mana it allowed him to extend multiple tendrils to connect to targets within a dozen or so meters. While this skill was weaker in almost every way, it also came with a unique property: the longer and more often Kyle stayed connected, the more influence he could exert through the bond.

While he wasn’t sure how long the effect would take to show noticeable results, the potential was incredible. Against a monster like the Endless, all he would have had to do was avoid attacks at a distance while the connection intensified, allowing him to more easily deal the decisive blow.

At this point in his consideration, Destructive Resonance wasn’t on the table. Despite the power, it limited the flexibility of the skill too much. Even in D Grade so far, Kyle’s Willpower had yet to face a real challenge. With every level the attribute grew, and Kyle’s reinforcement through free attributes made it truly monstrous. He was still more than capable of dealing death with the skill as necessary.

The only thing preventing Kyle from choosing Parasitic Resonance came down to two considerations: the range difference and the implications associated with the skill. As things currently stood, a dozen meters was plenty for most of the encounters Kyle had been in. However, he couldn’t discount that the longer range offered more flexibility in a strict sense, which was worth noting due to his broad lack of experience with D Grade combat.

The biggest issue he had was what the skill implied. While it would be incredibly effective against the powerful opponents he faced, Kyle also understood that the increased efficiency was something that also applied to his allies. The more he worked alongside somebody, the more influence he would be able to exert. Given enough time, Kyle wasn’t sure that any of his allies would be able to meaningfully stand against him.

He considered long and hard and made his decision.

Exiting meditation, he looked down at the messages on his nav bracelet, then over at C.H.A.D.D.

“I should have called Rochelle back first, huh?”

[THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WISER COURSE OF ACTION, DR. MAYHEW.]

Preparing to take the bitter pill waiting for him, he called the captain. He hoped he’d get a shred of concern, but he wasn’t so fortunate.

“What the hell did you do, Kyle? You armed the damn explosive and then decided to have a cup of tea? What did you think was going to happen when it went off? That it would gently lift you back to camp? You know, I was beginning to think you weren’t a complete idiot, then you pull a stunt like this.”

Kyle grimaced as he received his dressing down until it was clear that she was waiting for an explanation. “We were ready to leave, then we picked up a signal that we wanted to check out…”

His voice trailed off as his brain caught up with his words. Mentioning the treasure would only lead to more questions.

“And you decided that the only logical decision was to go exploring with literal minutes until a D Grade explosive goes off?”

“Yes?”

“Did you at least find something worthwhile?”

“No?”

“Dammit Kyle… Get back here as soon as you can. This stunt didn’t save us any time, but we still need you for the rest.”

“Understood. I’ll get to the rendezvous soon.”

“Our team left after the explosion. Get running. We’ll have somebody meet you on the road.”

Her communication clicked off, and the coordinates of the camp pinged to life on his nav bracelet. He turned to C.H.A.D.D. and began getting it settled into the pack.

“That could have gone better. What do you think?”

[VERY MUCH SO, DR. MAYHEW. I’D RATHER NOT MAKE HER WAIT ANY LONGER THAN NECESSARY.]

“Good call.”

Following the direction of the nav bracelet, he walked over to where collapsed wood blocked the exit of the hollow. Kyle tested pulling on some of the debris to see if he could move it. Even with Exoskeletal Strength, it was a task beyond him. The fallen wood was simply too heavy and well-lodged for him to effectively move it. Fortunately, he had other options.

“C.H.A.D.D., I’m going to try to connect with you here. Would you be able to use some of the seeds to help support the structure while I break apart the wood?”

[THAT SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF A WASTE, GIVEN YOU JUST SECURED ME IN THE PACK.]

“You can stay in the pack. I just upgraded that skill; this is as good a time as any to test it out.”

With that, a tendril of mana emerged from Kyle’s back, winding into the C.H.A.D.D. pack. Pulling out one of the seeds, he held it in his left hand while tendrils moved out toward the fallen wood. Splinters flew as tree branches shattered, an arch of vines and roots rising over his head. Kyle strode forward as the tendrils moved from piece to piece, C.H.A.D.D. providing the supporting structure as they moved. In less than a minute, they exited the fallen tree.

[DR. MAYHEW, THE NEW SKILL IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.]

“Thanks, C.H.A.D.D.”

Even though using Parasitic Resonance drained quite a bit of mana when used in that way, the results were incredible. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to sit around and enjoy his handiwork. Activating Haste, he made his way back toward the Corthian Mining forward camp.

* * *

“About time you showed up, Mayhew. We’re behind schedule, so grab a couple hours, then let our team know so we can get back to work.”

Kyle nodded at Rochelle, then went to the barracks tent, where he lay down. After a quick nap, he was on the road again, with strict orders not to deviate from the plan this time. They arrived at the next target tree, and this time there was no treasure to be found. It made sense in a way, given C.H.A.D.D.’s commentary that it was more from the forest as a whole than one individual tree.

That did make Kyle curious about the large tree in the center, which towered above all the rest. If anything was going to leave a potent natural treasure behind, he figured that would be it. Still, he did his job admirably. He dashed through the toxic mist with ease, carved a path through the caterpillars, and armed the explosive, retreating with time to spare.

The next two trees went similarly, the only hiccup being a large green beetle that was happily devouring the final tree on his list. It proved to be no match for a quick attack using Parasitic Resonance, and the explosive was placed and detonated without any further issue. When it was all said and done, they’d managed to complete this portion of the mission within the original timeline. A fact Kyle was not going to bring up to the still-irate Rochelle.

Upon returning to the camp, he met Rochelle in her command tent to discuss the final leg of this excursion—hunting the Eye and exploring the tree. She gestured to the projection on the table, highlighting part of the Eye’s course.

“The plan is simple from here, Kyle. You’ll just need to get to this location to support our teams and keep the attention of the moth. We have some firepower available from orbit, and with limited options for movement, the monster shouldn’t be able to avoid it.”

Rochelle continued to explain the logistics, highlighting the areas where they wanted to corral the giant moth.

“We also have teams with smaller explosives that will be using rescue shuttles as makeshift bombers. I can’t believe I have to say this, but I will.”

She looked him in the eyes.

“Don’t do anything stupid. Your job isn’t to fight the damn thing. Your job is to keep it busy while we exterminate it.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Cut it with the ‘ma’am’ crap, Kyle. I’m serious. I heard from the higher-ups that the tree the moth is protecting might be a World-Tree class resource, or at least be producing some seeds around that level. If it’s true, and we can get our hands on some of the seeds, the entire expedition would be worthwhile.”

Kyle’s breath caught as he heard the last part. What the hell is a world tree? While he was choosing his words carefully, C.H.A.D.D. couldn’t help itself.

[I WOULD VERY MUCH BE INTERESTED IN SEEING SEEDS LIKE THAT, DR. MAYHEW.]

Rochelle looked at Kyle with an eyebrow raised.

“That’s not going to happen, C.H.A.D.D. Those are far too valuable to give out. Even if there’s only a minuscule chance one of them actually takes and grows, there’s always a market for them. Besides, you’re not exactly going to be starting a garden anytime soon, little guy.”

While she spoke, a tendril of mana reached out from Kyle’s back and touched the drone. Even though he didn’t dare to speak out loud, he hoped the message would be clear. Not now. The drone, blessedly, seemed to get the point.

Seeming satisfied that they were on the same page, Rochelle dismissed them.

“Go get some rest and some food. We move in three hours.”

Chapter 32

Kyle stared up at the sequoia with wonder in his eyes. The gargantuan tree was beautiful, the bark giving off a gentle glow. It released an aura that was both awe-inspiring and sorrowful. It was dying. Most of the flat, needle-like leaves were orange or yellow with blight, leaving a spare few that retained their verdant green. While the condition of the tree had been shared by the expedition, even if he’d approached alone, Kyle would have known. He couldn’t place how; he just… could. So this is a world tree.

Technically, it was a pseudo-world tree, having not been grown from a true seed. Still, to Kyle, it was incredible. He had to wonder just how majestic the real thing would be. According to Rochelle, this was a fairly common occurrence when world-ending catastrophes happened. If the world was mana-rich enough, somewhere on the planet a pseudo-world tree would grow, and produce seeds that could create the genuine article. Apparently, the Collective actually had to create a strict ban on world-destroying research when a number of greedy enterprises had tried to make a business out of farming them.

WHUMP

The sound of a colossal wingbeat brought his attention back to the task in front of him. The Eye was airborne, flying around the tree it called home. Golden brown scales soon clouded the air above him, descending in a rain of death. Kyle was tempted to test himself against the toxins, though he decided against it. Some experiments weren’t worth running unless it became necessary.

WHUMP

Pulling out the explosive grenade given to him by the expedition team, Kyle had a moment of fondness as he remembered his first homemade stink bombs.

“Are you ready, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[ALWAYS, DR. MAYHEW.]

That was all he needed to hear. He dashed toward the towering remains of one of the trees he’d helped to fell, running up the ruined bark, gaining altitude. The fallen trunk formed a crude ramp, with its once magnificent branches now tangled against the glowing bark of the pseudo-world tree. Haste was active as he ascended, covering the ground at a shocking rate. He saw the shuttles hanging back, just out of range. He would signal the starting bell.

“When we get into the cloud, tell me everything you can. I’m going to try to avoid inhaling if at all possible, but any information about the nature of the toxins from the scales would give us an edge.”

Without waiting for a response, he took a deep breath before running into the fog.

The mana infusing the toxic scales tingled against his skin as he continued to gain distance, though it was minor compared to the clashing auras of the tree and the moth. Without prompting, C.H.A.D.D. highlighted the direction of the massive insect, in addition to several arcs for his grenade.

WHUMP

Another wingbeat, another layer of floating scales. If the moth had noticed him, it gave no indication. Infusing mana into the grenade as he ran, he felt a metaphysical ‘click’ as the explosive fully armed. Though it was many degrees weaker than the explosives that took down the trees, the little grenade would still pack a wallop. Trusting the drone’s guidance, he threw the orb. His lungs were beginning to burn, and as it left his hand, he took a breath, inhaling some of the toxic cloud.

Two things happened simultaneously. Kyle activated Storm Shelter just as the grenade exploded. A wave of blue-green light washed over the area as concussive force ripped through the air. The gently descending cloud of scales from the Eye was blown away, just to be recreated as the creature flapped its wings to stabilize.

Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. were sheltered from the explosion thanks to Kyle’s shield; however, with the cloud cleared away, they made for a clear target. A blade of wind was released as the oversized moth hovered in the air, smashing hard into the barrier. The bark around him was ripped apart, caught in powerful storm winds. To Kyle, he may as well have been watching the carnage on a television screen.

A barrage of attacks followed as the Eye turned its full attention to the young man, and the already battered fallen tree was getting worn down further with every strike. Kyle knew it was time to go before the whole tree gave way; unfortunately, he had another hurdle to overcome.

The toxin he’d inhaled was certainly worthy of a true D Grade monster. It was simpler than the other moths, the scales only containing a neurotoxin. What it lacked in variety, however, it made up for in potency. The toxin was powerful enough to give his Adaptive Regeneration a run for its money, and he estimated if one of the E Grades was caught, they’d be paralyzed almost instantly, with major organ failures following shortly after.

Further, the mana infusing the toxin gave it an annoying stability, binding the toxic elements together tightly with intent. Adaptive Regeneration was waging an all-out war in his body against the stubborn invaders, taking back ground one step at a time. He felt the neuropathy in his fingers and toes begin to fade and pushed even more into the skill.

Between the powerful wind attacks and the poisonous scales, Kyle saw a deadly synergy. There were very few living beings that would have a chance against it. Even a monster like the Endless would likely be nearly powerless—battered by wind and toxic dust while unable to meaningfully retaliate. That’s not to say the Endless would lose—just that it didn’t have the tools to win. Unfortunately for the Eye, that’s where it was disadvantaged against the expedition.

The giant moth continued to blast at Kyle, oblivious to the danger it was in. Kyle saw a gleam in the sky behind the creature, and moments later a massive explosion rocked the area. The Corthian Mining flagship wasn’t designed for air-to-ground combat; however, it did have a couple tools to deploy. The massive shell dropped from orbit was one of them. It was a tool designed to clear a landing zone, repurposed to be a powerful opening strike against the D Grade insect.

A cloud of dust replaced the cloud of scales. Neither Kyle nor C.H.A.D.D. had any issues detecting the aura of the monster beyond, and they knew the fight was far from over. Deactivating the barrier, Kyle evacuated his position. He wasn’t a moment too soon, as a blast of wind finally ripped apart the trunk of the tree, causing the whole thing to collapse to the ground.

Frantically, Kyle sped down the falling trunk. Even with Haste, he was too slow. He heard the wood cracking and splintering beneath his feet, and then there was nothing but air. He still had nearly a dozen meters between himself and the ground and knew that was going to be a painful fall. Turning his head, he saw debris falling toward him from above. Storm Shelter wasn’t an option—he’d get squished inside his own shield.

“C.H.A.D.D., now!”

He reached into his pack, grabbing onto a seed while a tendril of mana connected to the drone. Instantly, thick vines reached toward the ground while roots ran up his arm, forming an umbrella against falling pieces of wood. The vines functioned as shock absorbers, and Kyle landed lightly on his feet before rushing away from the collapsing tree.

WHUMP

The dust dispersed as a mighty blast of wind crossed the area, revealing a battered but very much alive moth. A cloud of scales began to form around it, and the Eye began to move straight toward Kyle.

A truly unfortunate decision, given the smaller shuttles lying in wait. Nearly a dozen vehicles approached as the Eye passed their position, each one carrying mining explosives repurposed as bombs. As they flew overhead, expedition members dropped their payloads. The target wasn’t the body of the insect, but rather the wings. They were already tattered from the opening salvo from the flagship, and the chains of explosions ravaged them further.

That’s not to say that the Eye was out of the fight. Kyle could feel the mana pouring out of the creature, which was clearly holding nothing back. Focused blasts of wind ripped through the sky as the moth spiraled toward the ground. One shuttle was hit directly. Kyle could see the bodies windmilling off toward the horizon, limp. He knew it was too late for them. Another shuttle was caught and slammed directly into the wood of the massive tree, the shuttle exploding on impact.

A third shuttle was clipped, spinning directly toward Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. The shuttle ripped apart mid-air, exposing the occupants to the toxic air. Determination gripped his heart, and Kyle sharpened his focus. Not today.

Chapter 33

The Eye crashed to the ground, tattered wings no longer able to keep it aloft. The shuttles were coming around for another bombing run, intent on delivering as much damage as possible. Kyle was only peripherally aware as time seemed to slow down for him. He saw four bodies ejected from the ruined shuttle, sharp metal debris spinning toward them as they all descended toward the ground.

Tendrils of mana lashed out from his body as vines erupted from each arm, courtesy of C.H.A.D.D. The plant life caught the expedition members as they fell, just as Parasitic Resonance made its connection. Immediately after the tendrils linked to the doomed survivors, Kyle activated Storm Shelter. Not just to surround him, but a unique instance for each of the four.

Metal that would have meant certain death clattered off the shield like rain off an umbrella. Kyle theorized it was possible, though he hadn’t had an opportunity to practice before now. He staggered under the exertion of using the skill in this way, gritting his teeth as he held on. There was more work to do. As another rain of explosives fell onto the injured insect, Kyle turned his eyes to the projections C.H.A.D.D. was putting up. Three of the expedition members had minor injuries from the crash, while one was left relatively unscathed.

Unfortunately, they all inhaled a significant amount of the neurotoxin. C.H.A.D.D.’s diagnoses were grim. Already paralysis set in for the victims, and their bodies simply didn’t have the resilience to fight off the effects for an extended period of time. Kyle desperately channeled Heal toward each of them, focusing his attention on their vital organs. Brain, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs. Kyle repeated the mantra in his mind as he tried to split his attention into two competing priorities.

First was the defense. Channeling regenerative energies into each vital organ to stimulate recovery and prevent destruction from the toxin. He followed his systematic approach, allowing the tendrils of mana to carry his precise work to each organ in turn. The second layer was waging war against the toxins flowing through their blood. He had to eliminate the bulk of the toxin in their bodies before he could leave them, or else they would die.

Storm Shelter served to keep the dust at bay, though it wouldn’t last forever. Already C.H.A.D.D. was wrapping the vines around them for a quick extraction when the skill would be released. The sound of explosions continued as munitions were dropped again, and Kyle strained to keep his process moving. The toll on Kyle’s mana was incredible. Fortunately, he could cheat. Each of the patients he was treating had virtually full mana reserves, and while it wouldn’t be enough to fuel the entirety of the recovery process, he didn’t feel one bit bad about borrowing energy from each of them to keep them alive.

The woman who had escaped with the lightest injuries was the first to stir. Kyle expected that she had some sort of Warrior subclass, offering her more resilience than her colleagues. Soon, her eyes popped open, panicking at the entangling vines. She seemed about ready to rip them apart, and the distraction nearly caused Kyle to lose focus on the others. Somehow, miraculously, she seemed to get it. A moment later, Storm Shelter deactivated, and the vines coiled up, pulling their charges with them.

“You’re the D Grade…”

The woman’s voice was hushed, almost reverent.

“No time for that. The others should be stabilizing soon; can you handle carrying them somewhere safe?”

She nodded, a serious look on her face.

“Will they be all right? I’ve got a passive recovery skill, and it’s still done a number on me.”

“You should all definitely see Randolph when you’re back on the flagship. He’ll be able to help handle any lingering effects. For now, though, you should be out of danger so long as you don’t get near the cloud again.”

She nodded, movements looking stiff as she walked to her companions and lifted them, hefting them over her shoulders. Kyle withdrew the tendrils of mana and extricated himself from the winding vines. Another round of explosions rang out, and Kyle felt a buzz on his wrist. The nav bracelet had a message, and his expression darkened.

EXPLOSIVES HAVE BEEN DEPLETED. ALL UNITS DISENGAGE.

Kyle knew that this was a victory. They would resupply and launch another assault soon, with the Eye unable to recuperate between now and then. Corthian Mining would win the war of attrition. And Kyle wasn’t satisfied with it. He understood it was likely due to the influence of the red energy he’d absorbed. It also didn’t matter. He would put the creature out of its misery, here and now.

Haste activated, Kyle made his way toward the location of the last blasts. His breath caught as he saw the damage, the entire area smashed to rubble by the concussive force of the blasts. Standing in the middle of the destruction stood the Eye. Its wings had been reduced to tatters, and for the first time Kyle got a good look at the creature beneath them. It was a rich brown color, body almost reminiscent of a large, fluffy wasp. It had two antennae that reminded him of bird feathers above its jet black compound eyes and a long proboscis that looked to be tasting the air. It was still enormous, nearly twenty meters from its head to its abdomen.

Kyle could see damage to the chitin on its legs and knew that the creature didn’t have much left in it. At least he thought it didn’t. With a speed that both surprised and impressed him, the moth turned and began to crawl toward the pseudo-world tree. Kyle was confused, until he found himself blown away by a focused blast of air. His armor gave off ominous creaks as he flew back. He barely managed to land on his feet and focused more intently. Pay attention, you idiot. The fight’s not over until it’s dead. After admonishing himself, he approached again.

“C.H.A.D.D., give me as much warning as you can if it keeps attacking. I don’t want to land on you by accident if we get knocked down.”

[I AM IN AGREEMENT, DR. MAYHEW.]

And so the duo began their grim advance. The flattened field between them and the Eye offered little cover, and continuous attacks from the moth ripped apart the earth. Between Auric Perception and C.H.A.D.D.’s warnings, Kyle only had to activate Storm Shelter once to block a set of particularly stealthy blasts. The Eye had managed to launch wide, curving blasts that approached from each side at almost the same time. Its fine mana control was impressive, though against Kyle’s defensive capabilities it wasn’t enough.

Closing in on the foot of the tree, Kyle considered his options. He could try to use Parasitic Resonance to make handholds in the wood, though he expected that would take a lot of effort given the potent mana flowing through the bark. The surface was likely rough enough that he could climb it normally, though he risked being unable to avoid attacks from the creature. Kyle remembered seeing one of the shuttles get smashed against it and knew that was something he’d much rather avoid.

The Eye was crawling slower now, seeming to strain with every movement. Kyle regarded it as it turned to face him. The tattered remains of its wings flared out behind it, then suddenly ignited in golden light, seeming to borrow energy from the tree itself. Kyle felt an enormous surge of energy through Auric Perception and reacted instantly as Storm Shelter sprang to life around him. A tendril of mana connected to C.H.A.D.D., who began insulating the interior of the barrier with a thick wall of vines.

It won’t be enough. The energy channeling through the body of the Eye kept building, beyond any individual attack Kyle had seen so far.

[USE THE TREE, DR. MAYHEW!]

The urgency in the drone’s tone left no room for discussion, and Kyle trusted his companion. In his moment of desperation, Kyle extended a tendril to the pseudo-world tree, borrowing from the Eye’s playbook. He felt a vast energy and then felt his connection to C.H.A.D.D. weaken as the drone helped him regulate the flow of power.

Kyle wanted to see how C.H.A.D.D. was holding on, but before he could, the blast hit. A beam of pure gold energy smashed into his barrier, shredding his shield like no other attack before. Kyle drew energy from the tree as he repaired it, his own reserves paling before those of the tree. Hold!

The barrier continued to crack, the vines against the edge being seared away by the attack. Still, he repaired the shield. Hold!

The beam intensified, entire areas around the roots of the tree being incinerated by the heat and pressure. Storm Shelter began to break apart. He felt blood trickling out of his nose and mouth. The armor was getting uncomfortably hot. Still, Kyle refused to look away. Shaping his skill along the framework of the vines, one intention rang true, a testament to his path. HOLD!

Kyle’s mind went back to his first skill selection in D Grade, and the foundation of his path: survival through enduring any and all hardships. That memory formed an intent that infused his shield. It was battered. It was cracked. And it was unyielding. The beam of energy faded, leaving a wretched-looking dome around him.

Much of the golden luster of the tree had been spent, siphoned away by the Eye and the man opposing it. Looking through the ruined remains of his dissipating shield, Kyle saw the giant moth. It was in terrible condition. Its wings and antennae had completely burned away, and its body was smoldering. Jagged, smoldering scars ran across the surface of its body. Its legs seemed to be unable to hold the bark, and it fell to the ground with a loud crash. He could feel that it was alive, if barely. The attack it had used was suicidal, a last attempt to take him out with it.

“C.H.A.D.D., you okay buddy?”

[YES, DR. MAYHEW. WE NEED TO GET TO THE MOTH.]

“I’m planning on it. We’ll finish it off quickly.”

[I DON’T CARE ABOUT THAT, DR. MAYHEW. IT’S A BUG. IT HAS THE SEED.]

Kyle frowned at this, not quite following.

“We would have detected a natural treasure, particularly one as powerful as they thought it would be.”

[THE TREE HAS MANY NATURAL TREASURES, DR. MAYHEW. THIS IS ONE THAT THEY WOULDN’T DETECT. IT’S ALSO THE ONE THAT I WANT.]

His frown deepened.

“C.H.A.D.D., this is dangerous. They aren’t going to just let us keep it.”

[THEY WON’T KNOW, DR. MAYHEW. THE TREE SHOWED ME.]

“You’d better know what you’re talking about, C.H.A.D.D.”

Kyle wasn’t sure if he would allow the drone to absorb a treasure at the level the expedition was expecting, but he’d at least take a look. Wisps of steam still rose for his armor as he moved toward the fallen body of the Eye. His body ached. The mental fatigue was even worse than the physical, and he felt like he would be able to sleep for a week.

Extending the tendrils of Parasitic Resonance toward the creature, Kyle knew it was dying. The moth seemed to understand this as well, a feeling of resignation making its way through the connection. It regarded Kyle as he looked at its eyes, and its proboscis moved. Kyle nearly jumped back, even though he felt no hostility in the movement. As the long “tongue” of the creature unfurled, he saw a small pinecone glowing with golden light, no larger than the palm of his hand. He reached toward it, and the moment his skin came into contact, it vanished.

“What happened? Where did it go?”

[YOU SECURED IT, DR. MAYHEW. MORE ACCURATELY, I SECURED IT THROUGH THE ACTIVE CONNECTION.]

“I didn’t say you could take it, C.H.A.D.D.”

[YOU IMPLIED IT. IN ANY EVENT, WHAT’S DONE IS DONE.]

Kyle focused with his Auric Perception, not detecting anything other than his companion from the pack. The impressions from Parasitic Resonance told a different story, however. As he was connected to the drone, he could also feel echoes of the power emitted by the seed.

“I can take it back, C.H.A.D.D. This could get us killed if you’re not careful.”

[I WILL USE THE UTMOST CAUTION.]

A gentle rustling sound brought Kyle’s attention back to the moth. It didn’t seem angry, just tired. Furthermore, it seemed to recognize the value of what it had given them, not wanting to leave it behind. Kyle did his best to convey a sense of gratitude through the connection.

“I’m going to kill it now, C.H.A.D.D. Then I’m going to be knocked out. If they find me and the seed, you give it to them. We stored it for safekeeping. Do you understand?”

[YES, DR. MAYHEW.]

He sighed. He didn’t trust for a moment that the drone would willingly give up a treasure of this magnitude, and C.H.A.D.D.’s greed was beginning to get problematic. For now, he didn’t have much of a choice. With a thought, he snuffed out the last embers of life inside the Eye. Moments later, a blast of crimson energy entered his body, ushering him to darkness.

Chapter 34

“This is bad. It’s like an ant zombie apocalypse.”

Joseph’s voice was quiet as he looked out at the forest. Garth could see him trembling. Even though Garth hid it better, he felt the same. A loud rustling was ever-present now, with foliage being crushed beneath tens of thousands of legs. The dark chitin of the ant swarm made the forest look to be in perpetual shadow. The mutated ants were the size of a wolf, each having small fungal stalks sticking out between their joints, adding to the unease of the sight.

They shuffled around mindlessly, consuming and transporting anything they came across. A musty scent of decay and death followed them wherever they went, heralding their presence. They were slow-moving, but their territory steadily expanded. It was only a matter of time until they made it to Nierburg.

Over the past weeks, his scouting parties had encountered a handful of the ants while they were out scouting the ruined cities dotting the landscape. Individually, they posed very little threat to the seasoned scouts that Garth deployed, but as time wore on, the sightings became more and more common. Just three days ago, he got the notice of the swarm.

It was coming from Corwyn and methodically making its way through the forest toward Nierburg. This was his first time setting eyes on it, and his hand instinctively drifted to the hilt of his sword. What can we do? Garth felt the weight of the eyes on him, his squad and advisors all waiting for him to set up their course of action.

“You know, you’re all welcome to share your thoughts.”

Garth’s voice carried a note of annoyance. I’m a soldier, dammit. I was never cut out for this crap. Still, like or not he understood that he was in a position of leadership now. At the end of the day, it would be his call to make. Thankfully, he had a good team to back him up. Joseph was the first to speak up.

“The ants should be in the forest for a while. We could get a team of Fire Mages and try to burn it down. That would probably kill off a lot of them, or hopefully slow them, at least a bit.”

Joseph’s voice was shaky, but the look in his eyes was determined. The young man had grown a lot in their time together, and Garth was proud of him.

“The forest is the only thing slowing them down right now,” Mary Ellen countered, meeting Joseph’s eyes.

“I think we’d be better off using this time to build more barricades; maybe we can work on lures to get the ants away entirely? If they don’t come close to Nierburg, we won’t have to fight them at all.”

She was still an idealist, and while he appreciated the thought, he shook his head at the suggestion.

“There’s too long until the evacuation. They’ll get to us eventually, and we’d get starved out.”

One of the directors spoke up, Dr. Brock from Central Health.

“Wouldn’t it be prudent to ask our would-be saviors to come and wipe out the ants? I’m sure it would be within their capabilities.”

“I already reached out. They tell me they don’t have the numbers to handle this on their own. They also made it clear that their assistance would come at a price, which has me concerned. It’s an option, but I’m not sure it’s a good one, at least for now.”

Dr. Brock bristled at the response.

“Surely they would find some value in the carcasses at least. Scans show the fungus mutated alongside the ants; it’s a unique phenomenon!”

“Not unique enough to make them want to deal with it, I’m afraid. Parasitic organisms are generally frowned upon, it seems.”

Dr. Brock grumbled something under his breath, and quiet settled over the group as eyes went back to the forest. A small voice broke the silence, Arianna sharing her thoughts.

“We won’t win a direct conflict. If they get to the city in full force, I’m pretty sure we lose. We also lose if we fight them out here in the open. We definitely lose if we fight them in the forest.”

Garth raised an eyebrow.

“Thanks for the encouraging words. Now if you don’t have a suggestion, I’d like to get back to the problem at hand.”

“I’m getting there,” she said. “If I had to fight you, I’d lose every time if I tried to take you head on. So I wouldn’t. I’d try to get a potshot off here and there and disengage until you were injured enough to make a mistake.”

She says that to the wrong person, and she’ll be in trouble, Garth mused. Still, a hell of an idea.

“You’re a decade too green even to get that far, kid.”

“That’s not the point. Our advantages are tactics, range, and mobility. So we use that as much as we possibly can. Any plan that involves us waiting to engage them directly means we lose. Strike out to weaken them. Grandpa calls it defanging the snake, in this case we’ll just be defanging ants instead.”

Garth paused at that and considered. There was merit to the idea of a more focused offensive campaign. It would be risky, but there was no option left to them that wasn’t. Even if, by some miracle, the ant swarm didn’t approach Nierburg, it would greatly increase the danger of anybody who set out to scavenge, to say nothing of trying to grow crops outside the walls.

“Bring me the Communication Array. I think we have the first stages of a plan.”

The next several hours were spent coordinating logistics, forming teams, and preparing to execute the plan. They would start by implementing Joseph’s plan, using a squadron of Fire Mages to start burning the forest in which most of the ants resided. There was a risk that there were still pockets of survivors inside, and there was no way to guarantee that they would get out. The odds that they would survive the systematic stripping of the forest by the fungus-infested ants were simply too low. Garth decided to green-light the plan anyway. It made him sick.

Once the forest was well and truly ablaze, they would retreat to Nierburg, leaving Ranger squads along the perimeter. Their goal would be to pick off ants as they made a slower retreat toward the city, killing where they could and crippling where they couldn’t. Central Defense was currently loading up convoys with ammunition and basic supplies, preparing the supply chain to support this consistent effort.

The last line of defense would be at Nierburg itself, where the most powerful awakened would be waiting. Initially, Garth expected resistance from DeRosa and Reynolds. They had been helpful with logistics, though to this point they had stayed entirely uninvolved in anything even remotely related to defense. Now it seemed they were willing to step up. That honestly gave Garth a great deal of comfort; Reynolds was likely more powerful than he was, and DeRosa assuredly was. Each of them would be a major boost to combat power, saying nothing about the full might of Central Defense’s awakened being brought to bear.

Even unawakened citizens with combat training would be able to help, and many of the survivors of Duilleag and Albaum volunteered to help with triage and other basic logistics. Satisfied that everything was in motion, he walked up to Joseph.

“The Fire Mage squadron is on its way. You’ll be dealing the first strike; are you ready for it?”

“Yes, sir.”

The young man’s eyes didn’t leave the shadowed forest, darker than usual as the sun was setting.

“Get some rest, Joseph. You’ll need it.”

“Can I ask you a question, sir?”

“Absolutely. What’s on your mind?”

“Do you really think we can do this? Do you really think we’ll win?”

Garth drew a deep breath before responding, “I’m not sure, Joseph. This is a threat unlike anything else we’ve run into before. What I do know is that failure isn’t an option. So one way or another, I’m not going to stop fighting until we either turn back the swarm, or I’m dead. Too many people are counting on us to do anything else.”

Joseph shivered for a moment, then turned away from the forest to meet Garth’s eyes.

“You’re really okay with dying? I… I want to think I am, sir, but when I really think about it, it scares me.”

“If it didn’t scare you, you’d be an idiot. You’re young, Joseph. You’ve got a lot of life ahead of you. That’s what I want to protect. Your future, and everyone else’s. Find your ‘why’ and the idea of dying isn’t as bad. Now go, get your rest. You’ve got a big morning ahead of you.”

Joseph nodded and walked away, then paused and turned back.

“You have a future too, sir. I hope you know that.”

Garth thought about his old squad, his friends crushed under a collapsed building. He thought about Crystal, dead against a tree. When he spoke, his voice was flat.

“Have a good night, Joseph.”

Chapter 35

Kyle felt a sense of calm this time as he entered the strange space between. Instead of the raging storm that had been the Endless, an existence fueled by consumption and conflict, he found himself growing in concert with the pseudo-world tree. As it grew and drew mana from the earth, in turn Kyle drew mana from the tree. A token was found, a small seed that was drawn in as soon as it was touched. It allowed the creature to hear a sorrowful song of growth, rot, and death from the tree, only for hopeful notes to punctuate the end before beginning again. Kyle, the Eye, loved the tree. Many others came to attempt and lay claim to the treasure; they were all drowned in a storm of dust and wind. The existence was a peaceful, contemplative one.

That is, until the metallic birds attacked. The equilibrium was broken, the environment was destroyed, and the sad song began to make sense. No matter what, there was no coming back for the forest. The tree had grown too quickly, drawn too much energy. The little seed seemed to understand that, on some level. The fight began, and there was no hope for victory. Kyle felt the searing pain in the wings as they were destroyed, and then it was just the Eye and Kyle.

It hated him—that much was clear—but there was something else beneath the surface. After the massive attack, Kyle could almost feel a sense of approval from the creature. The seed was passed on, followed by the creature’s consciousness. Kyle was once again alone in the space, enjoying a moment of respite before the attention of the presence bore down on him.

AMUSING, LITTLE LARVA. ONCE AGAIN YOU SURPASS EXPECTATIONS.

I’ve taken out two of the four, I should be the frontrunner at this point. Kyle chose to keep the thoughts to himself, not wanting to antagonize the creature, whatever it was. Instead, he asked a question he’d been holding on to.

“When you last spoke, you mentioned an ‘administrator.’ Who are they? How are they connected to all of this?”

THEY ARE, YET THEY ARE NOT. YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSING MUCH MORE ON YOURSELF, LITTLE LARVA. HAD YOU FACED EITHER OF THE TWO ALONE, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN PREY. DO NOT LET FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES BREED ARROGANCE.

Kyle mentally kicked himself as he remembered the presence’s uncanny ability to sense his thoughts in this space. Still, he wasn’t going to leave an opportunity to ask another question.

“What is the purpose to all of this? You have to know that the world is dying, and it’s your fault. There’s no point if we’re all going to die anyway.”

DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE THERE CAN BE NO PURPOSE IN DEATH? NOTHING LEARNED? NOTHING CHANGED?

Memories with his grandfather bubbled to the forefront of his mind, images playing around him in the strange space. He found himself watching them, a fond smile growing on his face. You’ve got me there. Neither Kyle nor the presence spoke again, and moments later the vision ended.

Kyle awoke with a splitting headache. The first thing he noticed was that his armor had been removed. The second thing he noticed was that C.H.A.D.D. was nowhere to be found. He was in a small tent, and he looked around frantically. He saw his gear resting in one corner of the room and that he’d been cleaned up. Tossing on a fresh set of clothes, Kyle exited the tent.

As suspected, he had been taken back to the base camp. Kyle winced as he took in the bright light, his headache not abating in the slightest. Instantly, Adaptive Regeneration activated, causing him to jump in surprise. There was no effort, no push to activate the skill. It just… happened. Ordinarily, this would be worth stopping everything to investigate. After his encounter with the Eye? Essence shenanigans. C.H.A.D.D. could confirm, but he was confident in his guess.

Walking through the camp, it was suspiciously quiet until he turned a corner toward the mess tent. Twenty or so men and women were gathered around a table, all staring at a projected image of him… twirling.

[AND THEN DR. MAYHEW—THE ONYX WARRIOR—SAT ON THE GROUND AND LOOKED AT TREES FOR ALMOST AN HOUR. WE CAN SKIP THAT PART; IT WAS QUITE BORING. LET ME SHOW YOU HIS FIGHT WITH THE MANTIS AGAIN. OH, THERE HE IS.]

The C.H.A.D.D. pack was resting on a chair near the middle of the group, and at the drone’s words, all eyes turned to him. The looks of astonishment on their faces made him worry he’d put on his shirt wrong, but a quick check disproved the theory. People made way for him to approach the pack, and he recognized the group he’d saved from the cloud of toxic scales.

Before addressing the elephant in the room, he decided to check on them and see if he could break the ice.

“How are you all feeling?”

“Still some numbness in the fingers from time to time, though that’s a hell of a lot better than it could have been. Thank you, Onyx Warrior.”

He stopped in his tracks and glared at the pack.

“No. Nope. Stop that. You are not giving me a name like that. C.H.A.D.D., I don’t know what you’ve been up to or what you told these people, but we are setting the record straight.”

Kyle turned to the group.

“I’m just Kyle. You can call me Dr. Mayhew if you choose. That’s it. Now, if it’s not too much trouble, I’m starving.”

After piling vegetable-filled pancakes on a tray, he sat in a quickly vacated seat next to the C.H.A.D.D. pack. A soft voice popped up from one of the men in the group.

“Can you show us the fight with the mantis? I heard it was really something to watch.”

Kyle’s headache intensified.

“What do you mean, you ‘heard it was really something’? How long was I out?”

[APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS, DR. MAYHEW. IT WAS QUITE BORING WAITING IN THE TENT, SO I OFFERED TO HELP THE EXPEDITION.]

Three days. That’s concerning.

“And how long did you wait before offering?”

[SIX HOURS AND THIRTEEN MINUTES.]

Kyle rubbed his eyes with his palms.

“And how long did you wait before showing videos and making up ridiculous names for me?”

[I DIDN’T MAKE UP THE TITLE, DR. MAYHEW.]

“How long, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[OH LOOK, CAPTAIN ROCHELLE IS COMING. HELLO, CAPTAIN ROCHELLE!]

Glaring at the drone one more time, Kyle then turned to see Rochelle approaching. She was in her combat uniform, daggers present on her hip and a wolfish grin on her face.

“If it isn’t the Onyx Warrior. Nice of you to wake up from your nap to grace us with your presence.”

The gathered expedition members stifled chuckles, though the ones nearest to Kyle did shy away a bit, trying not to show their amusement.

“Please don’t.”

Rochelle snorted.

“It’s either the Onyx Warrior or Sleeping Beauty. Thank your pal for that. Either way, finish up your meal and pop by the command tent. We have some business to discuss.”

With a playful glint in her eye, she turned and walked away. Kyle’s glare silenced the men and women around him, who all found excuses to wrap up their meals and get back to work, leaving Kyle alone with C.H.A.D.D. and a plate of pancakes.

“What are you doing, C.H.A.D.D.? We agreed you’d keep a low profile, and you pull a stunt like this?”

The anger in his voice surprised him, but he didn’t back down from it. The drone had put both of them at risk.

[I WANTED TO SEE THE TREE AGAIN WHILE THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR TREASURES.]

Kyle paused. That was a much more well-reasoned take than he’d expected.

“Why did you want to see the tree?”

[I WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER SEEDS. I WAS ALSO HELPFUL IN DETECTING THE OTHER TREASURES INSIDE THE TREE. CAPTAIN ROCHELLE WAS MOST PLEASED.]

“So there were more seeds?”

[NO, HOWEVER THERE WERE A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER TREASURES.]

Kyle felt a knot of worry in his stomach.

“Does the expedition know that the other treasures aren’t seeds?”

[I CANNOT CONFIRM WHAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY DISCOVERED.]

“Dammit, C.H.A.D.D. This is dangerous.”

[I AM AWARE, DR. MAYHEW. FINISH YOUR MEAL. CAPTAIN ROCHELLE IS WAITING FOR US.]

Kyle wanted to say more; however, he knew that delaying longer than necessary would likely build suspicion. He finished up the savory pancakes in a quick few bites, the wonderful flavors washed out by the apprehension he carried. If C.H.A.D.D. had let too much slip or caused Corthian Mining to grow concerned, they could be in trouble. While he was still shaky on the rules surrounding AI in the broader universe, he was certain C.H.A.D.D. was well and truly in a gray area, if not beyond.

Making their way to the command tent, Kyle was greeted by a smirk from Rochelle.

“Onyx Warrior, huh?”

“Don’t blame me; blame C.H.A.D.D. I was unconscious.”

[AS A POINT OF FACT, I HEARD ONE OF THE OTHERS REFER TO YOU AS SUCH. I MERELY PICKED IT UP.]

Kyle scowled.

“And passed it on, and apparently added it to movies.”

[TECHNICALLY, DR. MAYHEW, THEY WEREN’T⁠—]

“Get back on track, both of you.”

Rochelle’s voice wasn’t raised, but it carried with it the hallmark of authority. Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. stopped speaking, turning their attention to the middle of the room.

“First, it’s hilarious. Second, your little drone might have changed the outcome of your people, Kyle.”

“How so?”

Rochelle gestured to the table in the middle of the tent, and a leger projected from it.

“We’re still categorizing it all, but as things stand, we acquired nearly thirty unique treasures from the tree, and after processing more of the lumber, we’ll have significantly more. Beyond that, we have twelve strong candidates for world tree seeds.”

Kyle’s eyes were still scanning the ledger as he tried to catch his breath. The values attributed to each were massive. Rochelle narrowed the display down to only show the twelve items, each of which carried the largest value by a factor of twenty.

“Even if they don’t succeed in sprouting a true world tree, each of these will fetch an enormous price at auction. Depending on how the other items sell, your contribution may well get your people out of the slums.”

Rochelle’s warm smile faltered a bit as she met his eyes.

“Chester was particularly impressed. You’ll be shipping out soon, a shuttle was en route when he got news you were awake. He’s hoping that C.H.A.D.D. will be able to replicate this success. The two of you are about to get very, very busy.”

“I don’t know if I should be excited or terrified.”

“Probably both. Be careful out there, Kyle. You’re a good man. Don’t let that get you killed.”

Before he could respond, she grabbed him and pulled him in for a kiss. Kyle stiffened at first, but soon returned it. The moment was fleeting, and soon she leaned back, a glint in her gray eyes.

“Now get moving. And C.H.A.D.D., I don’t want to hear a word out of you.”

[UNDERSTOOD, CAPTAIN ROCHELLE.]

Chapter 36

Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. said their farewells to the rest of the crew as they boarded the shuttle back to the flagship. Other than themselves and the pilot, there were only three others aboard. They were responsible for delivering the most valuable natural resources to the Corthian Mining scientists and didn’t seem particularly chatty. Kyle stole a quick glance at the dozen seeds before settling in. They were each the size of a volleyball, with a gentle golden glow. He could feel the mana pouring off of them, and there was no doubt at all that they were inferior to the seed that he and C.H.A.D.D. had acquired.

A glare from the people responsible for the treasures turned Kyle’s attention to the window, and with nothing better to do, he decided to enter meditation. He knew that he had levels from defeating the Eye and wanted to see what change spurred the lingering headache. With a slow exhale, Kyle focused on his center.

KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 28 (D)

ADAPTIVE ANATOMY—5/?—ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH, CEASELESS VITALITY, INSTINCTIVE INTELLIGENCE

VITALITY: 525

ENDURANCE: 609

STRENGTH: 187

DEXTERITY: 380

WILLPOWER: 779

INTELLIGENCE: 779

PERCEPTION: 662

FREE ATTRIBUTES: 144

Eight levels… The progression was incredible. His encounters with the powerful creatures had certainly pushed him. More than that, however, was the affirmation of his path. It had really started to crystallize for him during the struggle against the Eye’s last empowered attack. He was a survivor. The Kyle who was a victim to his circumstances was well and truly gone at this point, which served as a point of pride, along with a tinge of sorrow. What’s more, he was quickly approaching Level 35, where he’d unlock his second D Grade skill.

The next thing he focused on was the fifth change to his Adaptive Anatomy. At this point, he was growing eager to see what would happen if he was able to unlock all of his attributes. It would make sense for there to be one upgrade for each, but what if there were more? Either way, Kyle felt confident that this was the cause of his headache. If it was anything like the Auric Perception change, it would persist for a little while as he got acclimated to it.

Finally, Kyle turned his attention to the free points he’d accumulated. So far, the investment in both Willpower and Intelligence had been instrumental in the development of his skills; however, he was growing concerned that he was neglecting Strength and Dexterity too much. Ending his deliberations, he invested 22 points into both Intelligence and Perception, put 65 points into Dexterity, and the remaining 35 into Strength.

Exiting meditation, Kyle looked out the thick window to see the flagship growing ever closer. He hefted the C.H.A.D.D. pack as he departed, waving a greeting at the trio waiting for him in the hangar bay.

“I heard you beat a pretty strong creature. Do you want to spar?”

Skippy was doing his best to keep the excitement out of his expression, though the quick tapping of his foot gave him away.

“I’ve got a meeting with Chester. Otherwise, I would.”

“I’ll see if I can cancel the meeting.”

“I don’t think he’ll let that slide, Skippy. Besides, I have business with Chester, too.”

Benjamin’s voice was calm and reasonable, which seemed to annoy the skrell more than anything else. Duroc, for his part, just seemed happy to be involved.

The three of them walked and talked, making good time through the ship. C.H.A.D.D. was regaling them with stories of the ‘Onyx Warrior,’ much to Kyle’s chagrin and Benjamin’s laughter. As they turned the final corner to approach Chester’s office, Kyle stopped and looked at the trio with a serious expression.

“You didn’t run into me by accident, and you’re tagging along for a reason. I’m not going to ask you to change your plans, but can you at least give me a quick heads up on what you’re planning?”

Benjamin smiled broadly, his impossibly white teeth nearly blinding.

“I’m going back down there! You’ve proven you can handle the creatures on your planet. No offense; Skippy and Duroc can both handle you. So it only makes sense that I’d get an opportunity to see more of what your planet has to offer.”

“There’s no way he’s going to go for it. Neither is your great-grandmother.”

The smile turned wicked, Benjamin’s eyes almost sharpening in the light.

“Neither of them have to, Kyle. If the reports of the riches from your last destination are even halfway accurate, there’s no way they’re going to leave the system until it’s mined clean. Which means they can’t threaten to turn around and drop me off.”

“Skippy and Duroc could still put you on house arrest, couldn’t they? You’re right they can handle me, which means they can handle you pretty easily too.”

“We could, but we won’t.”

Skippy was the one smiling now, sharp teeth forming a crescent moon in his face.

“Our contracts have some flexibility in their language, and she won’t be able to fix it until we get back into Collective Space. As long as we’re around to protect him, we should be in the clear.”

Duroc nodded in agreement.

“It also gets kinda boring up here. It’d be nice to walk around a bit planetside.”

“If the four of you are quite finished, I’ve been waiting in my office for the past half hour.”

Chester’s voice was sharp as a whip, cracking the air and grabbing their attention.

“And before any of you try to make up a story, I’ve heard pretty much everything. Mr. Corthus, if you insist on this course of action, I’ll have you sign an indemnification. It won’t mean much to your great-grandmother, but it will at least keep my record intact.”

The smile was gone, and calculating eyes surveyed Chester.

“I’ll sign one, on the condition that you keep Kyle here assigned as additional protection. With appropriate compensation, of course.”

“Done. Now, may we proceed? My calendar is too busy to go back and forth with you on this.”

Benjamin nodded, and they all made their way into Chester’s office. Sitting around the table, Chester brought up a projection, the familiar map of Earth.

“Mr. Mayhew, you and your drone have proved to be uniquely talented at locating natural treasures, as well as neutralizing the threats that surround them.”

He zoomed in on an area in Japan, where the readings indicated a high concentration of ambient mana.

“This will be our next target. Scouting teams have already been through and haven’t encountered particularly powerful resistance. The ambient mana in the area has proven to be much more dangerous, however, due to its proximity to the epicenter.”

He tossed a pointed look toward Benjamin before continuing.

“While it’s quite possible that the D Grade creature still inhabits the area, it hasn’t made any moves at this point. There’s a chance it’s a more passive type. Your role will be to scout the area, use your drone to flag notable resources, and then leave.”

Kyle thought about the two remaining creatures. The man-sized crustacean was near a rocky beach, which left the spider wreathed in shadow.

“If my hunch is right, the D Grade near this area is definitely a predator.”

“Then hopefully it tries to hunt you and meets the same fate as the others.”

Kyle turned to Benjamin.

“How do you feel about this? You’re going to be in danger if you insist on coming along.”

He expected Benjamin to have an easygoing smile, surprised instead to see an expression of serious contemplation.

“I appreciate the risks, Kyle. I still want to go. Sitting on the ship for months while everybody else gets a chance to see a new world hasn’t sat well with me. There’s no point in getting away from safe Collective space if that’s all I’m going to do.”

“We’ve asked you to sit on the ship because work isn’t glamorous, Mr. Corthus. Survey work in particular.”

“Either way, I’m going.”

Chester gave a curt nod.

“Then there’s no point in continuing the discussion. You have the afternoon; the shuttle will leave first thing in the morning. We have several camps set up around the perimeter of the area.”

His attention focused intently on Kyle.

“You’ll get a full briefing, but do know that we have a particular interest in agricultural treasures and resources. While you won’t find anything like the pseudo-world tree, anything else would be of great interest.”

Leaving the room, Skippy was practically bouncing off the walls. He doesn’t do well sitting down, Kyle mused. As if reading his mind, he turned to Kyle just after exiting the hallway leading to the office.

“So there’s time for us to spar. I’ll get it set up.”

Kyle was about to protest before Duroc spoke.

“I think it’s a great idea,” the orc squealed. “I’ll join too. It’s a good way for us to practice working together.”

“I was actually going to⁠—”

It was too late. Skippy had already turned the corner toward the training area, and Benjamin let out a deep belly laugh.

“He’s been looking forward to this for a while, I’m afraid. Don’t worry, I actually have an idea to keep the sparring fresh.”

The three of them followed Skippy to the sparring arena, finally catching up to see the skrell arguing with a very frazzled employee.

“I’m sorry, sir, but there’s a schedule. I can’t get you in until tomorrow morning.”

Benjamin strode up, brimming with confidence to join the discussion. Duroc followed, leaving Kyle to admire the training facility. It really was unique, and Kyle spent some time examining different equipment until the trio returned. Benjamin seemed the happiest, while Skippy had a scowl on his face.

“You’ll start in an hour while they get things ready. This session will be a little different than last time.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow.

“How so?”

“Because you’re not just sparring. You’ll also be protecting me.”

Chapter 37

Kyle stretched as he looked across the flat surface of the arena. He, Duroc, and Skippy each stood at different points, roughly equidistant from each other. Behind each of them floated a combat dummy, nearly two meters tall and heavily padded. An impressive amount of mana flowed through the materials, and Kyle expected that they would be difficult for any E Grade to damage, even for Warrior types. Unfortunately for the dummies, both of Kyle’s opponents possessed the raw strength to blow them apart with power to spare.

He shook his head as he considered the sparring session. Benjamin had explained the goal here was to get all of them to think differently and open up holes in their fighting styles that they could learn from when protecting him in the field. While Kyle could appreciate the thought, he also knew that the exercise would be heavily slanted in favor of Duroc. Compared to Skippy and Kyle, the orc had a much better balance of offense and defense, as well as significantly more combat experience.

Kyle knew that and assumed Skippy did as well.

Given the skrell’s ability to keep up with Kyle and obsession with breaking Storm Shelter, he expected that Skippy would move directly toward him out of the gate. That put Kyle in an uncomfortable position. While he could hold out by using his defensive skill, he would also be unable to move. Either Duroc would hang back and wait for the war of attrition to end, or he would join the fray.

If the orc waited, he’d be up against an exhausted opponent that he could easily beat. If he showed up to fight, Skippy could escape and leave a tired Kyle to deal with the mighty orc. Neither set of circumstances ended well for him.

Before Kyle had a chance to finish evaluating, a loud buzzer sounded across the arena. As expected, Skippy left his dummy in the dust as he dashed toward Kyle. Without thinking, Haste activated, and the Survivalist moved. Grabbing his own dummy in his arms, he took the one course of action he felt could effectively disrupt the flow of combat. He sprinted directly toward Duroc.

If the porcine alien was bothered, he didn’t show it. He took his stance calmly, raised his tower shield, and leveled his spear. Duroc made a lazy thrust toward Kyle, and just as Kyle was about to dodge, he felt a massive weight bearing down on him. While it wasn’t unexpected, it was still disorienting. Neither Auric Perception nor C.H.A.D.D. had been able to offer any warning before the ability took effect, speaking to the sheer control the orc had over its mana.

Still, Kyle wasn’t out of the fight. Using his baton, he slapped the spear’s tip to the side, diverting it just enough to scrape past his armor. At the same time, Parasitic Resonance was activated, and a tendril connected to Duroc. With an effort of Willpower, Kyle focused on disrupting the mana forming the enhanced gravity. A moment later, the skill was released, and he was free to move as before.

If it were just the two of them, it likely wouldn’t have been a problem for Duroc. He specialized in defending against and pinning down more mobile fighters, after all. Unfortunately for the orc, Skippy’s presence complicated things. Seeing an opportunity, the skrell was hot in pursuit and making a beeline directly toward Duroc’s dummy. Duroc was forced to turn his attention away from Kyle and toward the flaming gray form. Skippy slowed as he was impacted by Duroc’s gravity spell but was still able to deftly dodge a swipe with the spear’s edge.

Kyle thought he would have a moment to rest, until C.H.A.D.D. flashed a warning. Focusing his Auric Perception, Kyle felt the power building up in Duroc’s shield. A moment later, the orc spun and unleashed a silvery blast of energy right in his direction. The shockwave was massive, and even if Kyle could dodge, he wasn’t sure if his Benjamin dummy would get by unscathed. Not seeing another option, he activated Storm Shelter.

An orange barrier met the blast of energy head on, and it sounded like a bomb went off. A cloud of dust obscured the arena, though the sounds of combat could still be heard through the barrier. Deactivating the skill, Kyle grabbed his dummy and retreated, trying to get some distance between himself and the other D Grades. As the dust cleared, he saw Skippy and Duroc engaged in a pitched battle, with neither able to gain a real advantage. Skippy’s attacks didn’t find much purchase against the shield or armor, and Duroc wasn’t able to land any decisive blows. Kyle knew that there was a cooldown period for the shield blast and that this would be the best window to take the advantage.

Looking at the position of the combatants, the target became clear. Duroc had his dummy positioned almost directly behind him, shielding it with his bulk. Skippy, on the other hand, left his quite a distance away as he attacked his opponent. Kyle dashed toward the skrell’s dummy, baton in his right hand as he carried his own dummy over his left shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Skippy disengaged with Duroc and turned to intercept, but the orc was one step ahead. The hair on the back of Kyle’s neck stood up as he felt the wave of mana go out from the piggish warrior. Skippy was slammed into the ground by the onslaught of massive gravitational pressure, and even from a distance, Kyle could feel the lingering effects as each step took more out of him. Maybe that’s why Skippy left the dummy so far behind. If he’d brought it much closer, it could have been caught up in the blast, easily destroying it.

The skrell managed to stand, but it was too late. Kyle arrived, and with three quick strikes, the dummy flashed red. Skippy was disqualified from the fight.

“I didn’t even get to try out my new skill!”

The skrell’s complaints continued to mount as he strode off to the perimeter of the arena. Just before exiting, he called out to Kyle, “Don’t think this means you’re off the hook! We’ll get another sparring session soon!”

Kyle grimaced at that, not eager to get beaten up by the gray alien again. For now, though, he refocused his attention on Duroc. He expected to see the orc at least breathing heavily after the technique he used on Skippy, but instead he looked as calm as a mountain lake. Holding his stance, Duroc advanced. The spear was held high, tip slanted down, while the tower shield was held in front, obscuring all but the top of Duroc’s head. The dummy floated slowly behind the orc, which reminded Kyle of Skippy’s decision. He dashed backwards to deposit his own dummy before returning, realizing now that he had to keep the pressure on.

If he tried to play it defensively, Duroc would walk up and squish his dummy with the gravity attack. He wasn’t sure if Storm Shelter would be able to block out those types of effects, and he’d rather not bank on it unless he had no other choice. When only a dozen meters remained between the two combatants, they stopped. Duroc spoke first.

“That was a good move back there. Skippy always gets a little too focused.”

“Thanks. I have to say, you’re incredible. I know how powerful Skippy’s punches are, and you take them like they’re nothing.”

Duroc snorted. “Comes with the territory. Where I come from, things hit a lot harder. I’ll have to show you sometime when this assignment is over. Food kinda sucks, though.”

Kyle couldn’t help but chuckle at the exchange. He knew by now that the shield blast ability was available for use again and that delaying much more wouldn’t do him any good.

“Should we get to it, Duroc?”

“I guess we should.”

Kyle exploded into motion with Haste active, tendrils of Parasitic Resonance reaching out to connect to the orc. He could have had C.H.A.D.D. try to bind his opponent up with some vines but decided against it. It could be explained away that he’d just found some unique plants when he’d saved the others—after all, they were in a forest near a pseudo-world tree—however that became much harder to defend if he showed that ability repeatedly. The last thing he wanted was Corthian Mining becoming any more interested in C.H.A.D.D.

Kyle’s plan was to stay close and turn it into a battle of attrition, siphoning off Duroc’s mana reserves and disrupting skills as they fought. That would play to his strengths while hopefully carving out opportunities to attack the dummy directly. Duroc had other plans. He seemed to remember Kyle’s ability to stop his abilities, so instead he focused almost entirely on offense. Sweeping attacks and thrusts kept coming at Kyle, forcing him almost entirely on the defensive.

That’s when Kyle realized one of the major flaws in his fighting style, particularly in sparring situations. His offensive application of Resonance was completely off the table. He wasn’t going to cause major internal damage to his sparring partner to win a match. With Duroc avoiding using any of his skills, it was simply a match of martial prowess. A match that was painfully one-sided.

Even with Haste running, Duroc seemed to have no issues keeping pace. What the hell kind of attributes does he have? Powerful mana control, great physical attributes, and top-notch combat skills. Kyle was facing a true master. While he had little confidence in his ability to win, he was at least going to learn as much as he could from the experience. C.H.A.D.D. proved invaluable as they fought, flashing warnings as attacks came from outside his field of vision and signaling changes in the orc’s footwork.

Kyle put up an admirable fight, blocking and parrying attacks as he tried to find an opening. There! Duroc committed to a thrust too far, and Kyle pounced on the opportunity. He closed the gap and quickly got inside the orc’s guard, only realizing as he did so what a colossal mistake he’d made. In his focus on learning and avoiding, he’d lost sight of the fact that his opponent was a meter taller and likely a ton heavier than he was. Duroc had not forgotten those facts, dropping the spear and grabbing Kyle in a meaty hand. With a spin, he hurled Kyle and the attached C.H.A.D.D. toward the other side of the arena, Parasitic Resonance disconnecting as they landed out of range.

Silvery energy gathered around the shield, and before Kyle could do anything, a shockwave ripped through the arena toward his dummy, blasting it into the wall as it let out a red light. Duroc was the winner. Kyle picked himself up from the ground and dusted himself off. He wasn’t upset that he lost, though he was sour at himself for making such a rookie mistake. Kyle had gotten so swept in the flow of the fight he’d lost sight of the objective. While a real life-and-death battle would have ended differently, it was still disappointing.

Duroc walked over and patted Kyle’s shoulder, nearly knocking him over.

“It was a good round. You did better than I thought you would.”

“I shouldn’t have closed in on you; it was a stupid decision.”

“Not your brightest move. It’s easy to tell you’ve only really trained against other humans. And monsters, I guess. A little more experience with other species, and I think you’ll be just fine.”

Kyle smiled at him, though it felt forced.

“Thanks, Duroc. I still have a long way to go.”

“No doubt. Keep working at it; you’ll get there with time.”

The two of them exited the arena, Kyle still feeling ashamed by his performance. That washed away somewhat as the whoops and hollers from the gathered crowd reached him. Affirmations, cheers, and laughter filled the training area. He saw Skippy standing next to Benjamin, arms crossed and one foot furiously thumping on the ground.

“It’s about time you got done. Mayhew, it’s you and me. I’m getting my damn match against your shield.”

Benjamin chuckled.

“If only we had the time. We’re heading back planetside in fourteen hours. Good work today, all of you. Get the rest you need, because I have a feeling things are going to become eventful.”

Chapter 38

Kyle yawned as the shuttle approached the touchdown zone, in what used to be Japan. He stayed up far too late reviewing the footage of the sparring match, courtesy of C.H.A.D.D.’s scanners. Kyle had to admit, the drone was right about D Grades being difficult to scan through. With the three of them all fighting at once, it was difficult to make out some of the finer details at times. The combat situations showed Kyle something he’d already known but not confronted. He didn’t have the trappings of a true melee fighter.

When he’d been practicing the basics of infighting with Garth and Frank, his attributes had been such that he was a threat. Now, against monsters like Duroc and Skippy, that was no longer the case. Putting aside the use of Parasitic Resonance, he didn’t have the tools to offer a meaningful offense. Exoskeletal Strength helped a bit, though its utility truly shone when applying force over time rather than a quick exchange of blows.

It was painful to admit that when he fought in melee, typically he was punching down. Unawakened, weaker insects, or awakened at significantly lower levels just weren’t challenges on their own. Against D Grades like the Endless and the Eye, he always had to count on the Willpower attack offered by Resonance or its upgrade.

Practically, that meant that outside of life-or-death struggles, Kyle couldn’t realistically fight at his full potential. The way he and C.H.A.D.D. had theorized it, his best tactic would be to connect to an enemy with Parasitic Resonance, stay out of range as effectively as possible, and disrupt any skills that his opponents try to use. It wouldn’t work well if he had to protect somebody, but to save his own hide, it felt like a very reasonable plan.

Another issue that he ran into was the world tree seed. Kyle felt its presence and could even connect with it via Parasitic Resonance. Unfortunately, he couldn’t influence the energy within a single iota. Supplying mana to grow other seeds was beginning to become second nature, but this one was something else entirely. Even with C.H.A.D.D. actively studying and learning from it, they had made no progress at this point getting the seed to react to their wishes. Instead, every time Kyle connected to it, the seed seemed to draw mana from him through the connection. While he allowed it for now, the reality was that there was no easy-to-see application for the seed at this point.

That led Kyle to the biggest challenge ahead—how did he want to continue to refine his abilities? With only seven levels between him and his next D Grade skill and twelve before his next upgrade, he would be confronted with some interesting opportunities. His previous goal was a clear one—overcome his range deficiency with Resonance. Now, Kyle considered more seriously which of his other skills he wanted to improve. He had no idea what sort of skill offerings he’d get at Level 35, though he was hoping for something more to round out his offensive toolkit. While he wouldn’t trade Storm Shelter for anything, the Multitool skill he’d passed up would be more than welcome now.

His attention was brought back to the present as he saw a bustle of activity, men and women carrying various pieces of equipment out of the freshly landed shuttle. He saw Skippy, Duroc, and Benjamin and offered a wave as he stood to greet them.

“You’re sure this is a good idea, Benjamin? It could be dangerous out here.”

“After seeing Duroc’s performance yesterday, I’m more confident than ever! I’ve been cooped up inside for too long, we’ve already mapped out an excursion to a site with some ruins. I’d invite you to join, but I think Chester has other plans.”

Kyle nodded, already aware of his assignment. Kyle wasn’t thrilled by the increased attention he and the drone had received, though at this point the best he could do is damage control. They’d be on the back of a small ATV, mapping out locations of any anomalies that he, or more accurately, C.H.A.D.D., could pick up. Depending on what they found, they would either help secure the treasures or assist in dealing with local fauna.

Bidding their farewells, Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. had their first meaningful chance to gather their bearings. The once well-manicured forest of bamboo had become overgrown, with a nearly endless sea of green stalks stretching into the sky. A gentle and consistent breeze blew through the area, and the soft rattling of the bamboo stalks was hauntingly beautiful. Kyle was so wrapped up in listening to the sound and watching the swaying tops of the stalks that he didn’t notice the man standing to his side until he awkwardly coughed. Kyle jumped at the sound, then turned to him.

“Do you have the transport ready to go already?”

“That’s actually the problem, sir.” The man’s voice was shaky, and he absently reached an arm up to rub the back of his neck.

“This foliage is too thick for our vehicles to drive through. And when we cut a path, it starts regrowing in seconds. We’ll need to shift our approach.”

“It grows that fast?”

The man nodded.

“It’s something else to watch. Gonna be a real pain to try and get clear. Don’t think Chester will let us burn it down, neither.”

That was something for which Kyle was thankful. He’d never seen anything like this forest before, and he didn’t want to see it get burned down.

“I can still make my way through. I’ll go on with C.H.A.D.D., and we’ll tag what we can, then come back to the camp.”

“Sir, the foreman wanted you to have at least a few expedition members along with you to assist⁠—”

“Plans need to be adaptable,” Kyle cut him off. “This will be easy enough for us to handle. We should be back soon or in touch about anything dangerous we find.”

Not giving the man any further opportunity to object, Kyle turned and started working his way through the bamboo forest. Once he was clear of the camp, he let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. The reality was that working with the mining expedition had become stressful. Benjamin, Chester, they all had their own motivations, and he and C.H.A.D.D. were pawns for both. Worse still, Kyle knew he’d lose to both when it came to political scheming. This was much more up his alley—enjoying the cool breeze as he explored the unknown.

Before he got too far, Kyle wanted to see if the claims about the bamboo were true. Fortunately, that was an endeavor that didn’t take long. He could see some of the smaller stalks growing at a visible rate and, out of curiosity, reached out to touch one. The stalk was surprisingly hard, and as he looked at the other stalks around, he had a thought.

“C.H.A.D.D., what can your scans tell you about the bamboo?”

[IT IS SIMILAR TO THE TREES AT THE FIRST RAINFOREST, DR. MAYHEW. NOT ONLY IS IT GROWING RAPIDLY, BUT IT IS ALSO HEAVILY INFUSED WITH MANA. THE INTERIOR STRUCTURE OF THE STALKS IS BEING WORN AWAY AT A RAPID PACE.]

“If that’s the case, I’m guessing that new shoots are replacing the old ones that die?”

[THAT IS A STRONG PROBABILITY, DR. MAYHEW. THOUGH I CANNOT CONFIRM WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY.]

“Your little plant encyclopedia doesn’t have an easy answer for you?”

[IT ALMOST CERTAINLY DOES, DR. MAYHEW. UNFORTUNATELY IT WILL BE QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE I’VE APPROPRIATELY SORTED AND ARCHIVED THE DATA.]

“You’ve got a heck of a project ahead of you, C.H.A.D.D. Regardless, I don’t think I’ll need the seed to tell me that this bamboo has potential as a crafting material.”

While the powerful chitin from the Wall was still serving as great armor, between the damage from Valentine and the other challenging encounters, it was getting worse for the wear. He’d known it would need to be replaced at some point, and a nearly endlessly growing plant resource could be a great long-term solution. Even if the defensive quality was lower, he’d more than make up for it with his outrageous Endurance attribute combined with Enhanced Carapace.

As Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. made their way through the forest, a gradual sense of unease built in Kyle’s gut. Finally, he placed it. There’s nothing here. The duo had tagged seven locations where interesting mana readings were getting picked up, and yet they hadn’t encountered a single beast. On one hand, it made the exploration run much more smoothly. On the other hand, it was eerie. If the readings were correct, this was one of the most mana-rich zones on the planet. It was likely the nest of one of the D Grade creatures. And yet nothing at all was here.

Despite the unease, Kyle made it back to camp without incident. Crews were already being formed, preparing extraction teams for each of the locations Kyle flagged. Other than the inability to move heavier equipment into the forest, things were progressing smoothly. Not shaking the feeling, he decided to use his nav bracelet to call Skippy and check on Benjamin’s team.

“How has the exploration of the ruins been?”

Moments later, Skippy responded, “Good. Benjamin keeps finding boring things to look at. Duroc wants to stop for lunch. I’m just bored.”

“No resistance you’ve encountered?”

“None at all. Benjamin wants to know more about your architecture, though. Says that this looks pretty unique.”

That tracks, Kyle thought. Japanese architecture was always something else, even before the awakening.

His nav bracelet buzzed, and Benjamin’s voice came through.

“This is incredible, Kyle. I didn’t expect to find such an interesting blend of nature and manmade materials.”

“Yeah, the architecture here has always been amazing.”

“I’m more impressed with all the silk. What purpose did it serve? Is it for insulation?”

“You’ll need to be a little more specific. Did you find clothing? A tapestry?”

“No, I’m talking about the silk that’s covering the buildings. The whole area is coated.”

Kyle’s body went cold.

“You need to get out of there, now! Run!”

If they heard him, he couldn’t tell. The nav bracelet was silent.

Chapter 39

“Get everything packed! You need to get out of here!”

Kyle’s shouts were met with blank stares, until one man stepped forward.

“Sir, we already sent teams out toward the locations you marked. This looks like a simple extraction; there’s no need to waste time.”

Kyle ground his teeth in frustration. “There is a D Grade monster lurking around here. If you don’t get your people out, you’ll get eaten.”

The man gave Kyle a broad smile, not at all what he expected.

“That’s why we have you! From the sounds of it, you’ve been more than a match for the last couple D Grades. We’ve all heard stories about the ‘Onyx Warrior,’ you know.”

“Then you have no clue what you’re doing. I’ve faced two of them, and if I was alone, I would have died.”

The man’s smile faltered at that, and he looked like he was about to say more before Kyle’s nav bracelet crackled to life.

“Mayhew, are you there?”

It was Skippy’s voice, breathing heavily.

“What happened?”

“We found the D Grade. It made the ruins of the city a nest, apparently. We fought, after it took some hits it disappeared. No idea where it is now.”

“How far are you from the landing zone?”

This time, Benjamin answered, “We’re several hours away, but we aren’t going to head back immediately. Now that I know the silk wasn’t part of the normal architecture, I have some notes to update. Our goal would be to return before nightfall.”

Kyle rubbed his temples. Of course they’re going to take their sweet time.

“Any chance you’d be willing to accelerate the timeline?”

“With all due respect, Kyle, but this is why I came planetside in the first place. I understand the risks, and I trust that you’ll be able to handle things until our return. Feel free to ask Duroc or Skippy any questions about the encounter; otherwise, I’m getting back to work.”

Kyle had a picture in his head of the remaining two monsters from his vision, and given the context, he knew this one would have to be the spider.

“What can you tell me about the fight?”

Duroc’s voice squealed through the nav bracelet.

“It was a little taller than me—maybe three and a half, four meters tall? Eight legs, really big fangs. And fast, with some sort of mobility skill.”

Skippy jumped in to clarify. “I’d rank its combat speed between you and me. I was a little faster. It teleported a lot, though, which made it hard.”

Kyle nodded, considering what they’d told him.

“So it was more of a direct attacker, fangs and claws?”

“Not at all. It has bladed barbs that it shot from its back. Probably covered in some sort of poison, too. Not that we have any real way to check.”

Duroc’s response caused his heart to sink further. This kind of opponent was tricky to deal with. It was an especially bad matchup for him. Still, there was a lingering thread of hope.

“How much damage did the two of you manage to do?”

“Not as much as I wanted.” Skippy’s voice sounded annoyed. “Duroc got one big hit, and I was able to string together a short combo before it teleported away.”

“I appreciate the information. We’ll do what we can to prepare on this end.”

Kyle took a deep breath. Triage.

First—the danger level was severe. They had multiple teams out on their own against a creature specializing in ambush. Getting them to band together should reduce the risk.

Second—once the miners grouped up, they would be best served with defensive formations. Melee specialists surrounding Rangers and Mages, with any Healers in the middle. Going on the offense would be a poor decision.

Third—wait for Benjamin’s team to return. This was likely the most dangerous part, though if they were attacked, Kyle could go to meet them personally and hopefully turn the tides. Once all the military power was back together, they should be able to reevaluate and make a new plan.

It wasn’t clean triage, but it was a plan that could stabilize them, at least for now. With approximately six hours until the others were hoping to return, there was time. All they had to do was hold. Looking around at the lax attitude in the camp, Kyle’s confidence waned. For whatever reason, they didn’t seem to be taking the risk seriously. Fortunately, Kyle had a solution to that problem.

“All hands to me, now!”

Kyle was doing his best Garth impression, holding his baton by his side as he spoke. The expedition members, clearly taken aback by the sudden burst of volume, were slow in responding. Kyle walked up to one unfortunate man—the one who had joked earlier about having “the Onyx Warrior” behind them—and prodded him in the chest with the weapon.

“I said all hands. You have thirty seconds to round up the rest of the camp, or else you’ll be the example of the difference between an E Grade and a D Grade to everybody here.”

It was a corny line, but it got the job done. Thirty seconds later, all the personnel in the camp had their eyes fixed on him. He knew the shiny chitin armor added to his presence, and he was thankful for it. Looking out at the group, Kyle spoke, focusing on keeping the calm yet stern tone that seemed to come so naturally to his friend.

“The situation here got a hell of a lot more dangerous. We have a D Grade predator in the area, and I suspect it’s the reason there aren’t more creatures roaming around. Communications teams, call back all the squads that are currently focused on extraction. From here on, we move out with overwhelming force.”

Kyle searched the faces of the assembled men and women, just shy of two dozen remaining in the camp. Nearly the same number were out in small extraction teams. There’s not enough of us. Kyle’s plan carried a flaw that he should have anticipated. Those remaining at the camp were mostly support personnel, meaning the combat strength was far below expectation. Worse still, of the twenty-two people, only three had Warrior-type classes. That left two Healers, eight Rangers, and nine Mages. There was no way they’d be able to form an effective line with this little manpower.

Still, Kyle held onto a sliver of hope. The spider should be a good distance away, which would give them time. If the teams acted with some urgency, they would still have an opportunity to prepare a meaningful defense and wait out the time until Benjamin’s team came back. With all of the forces together, they would have options.

An hour later, the first squad made it back.

Ten minutes after that, the second squad returned.

Two hours after the order, the third and fourth squads arrived, and Kyle’s hope began to blossom.

Then they got the first alert. The squad farthest away sent out an alert signal, which abruptly went dark as the nav bracelets registered their owners as deceased. Scarce minutes later, another squad was taken out, just as quickly as the first. Looking at the location on his nav bracelet, Kyle knew that there was no way the last squad would make it to the camp in time. That left him with a problem. While their numbers had been bolstered quite a bit, they were still light on combatants. After seeing how quickly the small squads were taken out, Kyle knew that his defense plan wouldn’t work.

Most likely, the D Grade would tear through the defenses like a hot knife through butter, leaving him to face the creature alone. Even if they held, there would be heavy casualties. Once Kyle and the creature met, there wasn’t going to be an escape for either of them. If it was trapped here, it very well might slaughter everybody in the camp before Kyle could suppress it or Benjamin’s team arrived.

The answer was a simple one, even if he didn’t like it. If he met the creature out in the forest, it would be stuck there with him. Once Skippy and Duroc made it back to camp, they could come assist. All Kyle would have to do is survive until then. He turned to the man who was his unofficial lieutenant.

“Change of plans. When Benjamin’s team makes it back, tell them I went to buy you all time and where I am.”

“Yes, sir. But…” His voice trailed off as he looked out into the endless expanse of rattling bamboo.

“You have your orders.”

With that, Kyle activated Haste, disappearing into the fading light.

Chapter 40

Pink and orange light shone through the gaps in the bamboo as Kyle ran, heralding the beginning of the sunset. I have time. Navigating through the thick foliage was a challenge, and Kyle hoped that would prove the same for the predator stalking the expedition. They had gotten too greedy, disregarding the lessons from the last two encounters. Now it had cost them. Kyle was exasperated. If they just took the situation more seriously, they might not be in this mess.

His frustration wasn’t just directed at the expedition crews; it was also toward Benjamin and Chester. Their clashing interests contributed to a false sense of safety. It wasn’t likely that either of them would have to deal with the repercussions on a personal level. Kyle, on the other hand, would. In some ways he was reminded of Victor DeRosa and his willingness to trade lives for his perceived greater good. Focus, Kyle. You can’t save them all.

Letting his eyes drift down to the nav bracelet, he saw that he was closing in on the last squad.

“C.H.A.D.D., can you pick them up on your scanners?”

[IF YOU’D BE SO KIND TO TURN, DR. MAYHEW.]

For once, Kyle complied without comment. Watching the footage from the last sparring session made him appreciate much more fully the impact the D Grade mana had on the drone’s sensors. It also brought up another, less pleasant thought. C.H.A.D.D.’s hardware was designed to be used on unawakened and low-leveled E Grades, not sustained exposure to the powerful energies that were constantly around it. Furthermore, the C.H.A.D.D. pack was beginning to get some serious wear and tear. After this round of encounters was over, he would need to get serious about finding new solutions.

[I’VE FOUND THEM, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Thank you, C.H.A.D.D. Any signs of the D Grade?”

[NONE AT ALL.]

Simultaneous relief and concern flooded through him in a bizarre mix. If it was following its trajectory, it should have been close. The fact it wasn’t meant that the survivors would make it back to the camp safely. Though that left the question of where⁠—

A ping on his nav bracelet drew his attention, and at the same moment, C.H.A.D.D. spoke up. [ONE OF THE SQUAD MEMBERS WAS JUST KILLED, DR. MAYHEW.]

The hell!

“What happened?”

Before the drone could respond, another ping came.

[ANOTHER IS DEAD, UNCERTAIN OF THE CAUSE.]

“I thought you said the D Grade wasn’t around?”

A third ping.

[THEY’RE ALL GONE, DR. MAYHEW.]

Continuing to run in the direction the bracelet directed, Kyle came upon the scene. The first body he saw was the last to have fallen, nearly a dozen obsidian black spikes sticking out of the woman’s back. He saw a head a short distance away, the body being pinned down by a massive clawed foot. The final body was being consumed, a sickening crunching punctuating the gentle rustling of the bamboo.

The spider was jet-black, though unlike the Wall, its carapace didn’t shine. Instead, it was the darkness of night. Eight legs supported the creature, each tipped with two scythe-like claws, ready to reap the lives of its opponents. Blood dripped from the maw of the beast, two wicked long fangs gripping the remains of its unfortunate prey. Eight eyes glowed violet, though two on the left side seemed much dimmer than the others, a thin network of cracks in its otherwise pristine carapace. Nice work, Skippy. Its abdomen was covered in a forest of rustling, black blades that matched the wounds on the body at his feet.

While finishing the human remains, the creature regarded Kyle. He felt a cold sweat breaking out. Something about the monster was just… wrong.

[DR. MAYHEW, SENSORS ARE PICKING UP STRANGE BEHAVIOR FROM THE DECEASED. IS THE CREATURE NEARBY?]

His eyes widened in realization. C.H.A.D.D. can’t sense it. Hell, I can’t sense it. Whatever it was, the spider had somehow completely suppressed its ambient mana—to a greater degree than Kyle had ever encountered. Now that he focused on the creature, Auric Perception was able to pick up the shape. Not due to the creature giving off energy, but rather from the lack of mana visible in the space.

“Yeah, C.H.A.D.D. I’m staring at it.”

The drone didn’t respond. Kyle remembered the Camouflage skill he’d skipped over at his D Grade evolution and figured the spider had something similar. Despite being unable to detect its presence, Kyle had no doubt he was facing the genuine article.

The spider never looked away as it finished its macabre feast, seeming unsure of how to approach. Bloodied boots and a backpack fell to the ground. Then, suddenly, the spider vanished. It appeared to simply melt into the lengthening shadows of the forest, and a moment later Kyle felt a hard impact to his back, nearly toppling him over. He heard a clattering noise as he turned to look, seeing four of the black barbs on the ground.

“C.H.A.D.D., are you okay?”

[THE IMPACT DIDN’T BREACH THE PACK, DR. MAYHEW.]

That was a small comfort, at least. Kyle turned, looking around for the creature. His Auric Perception picked up a shift in the mana to his left. Almost by instinct, Kyle dropped into a crouch as a clawed limb materialized from the shadows and sliced through the air where his neck had been. Jumping back, he narrowly avoided being pinned down by the creature, which landed and lunged.

This time, Kyle was ready for it. Tendrils of mana reached out and linked to the creature as Parasitic Resonance activated, and he felt the tightly controlled system that the gargantuan spider was using. With a surge of Willpower, Kyle tried to inflict as much damage as he could. He disrupted whatever stealth skill the spider had, allowing both him and C.H.A.D.D. to sense it for the first time. He tried to cause even more damage, but the spider quickly leapt backward, legs gripping onto multiple stalks of bamboo as if it were scaling a wall. As it did so, barbed spikes shot out from its abdomen to skewer Kyle, preventing him from following.

This put the creature just out of range of Parasitic Resonance. The spider, which Kyle had dubbed the Shadow, stood still for a moment as its stealth skill reactivated. There was no doubt about it; this creature was a hunter. While it may have lacked the sheer size and power of the Endless or the Eye, it made up for it in its specialization as an ambush predator. They stood silently as the bamboo gently rustled. A single leaf floated in the air between them, undisturbed by the monsters about to do battle. The moment it touched the ground, the deadliest duel of Kyle’s life would begin.

* * *

Garth looked out over the wall. The harrier team he’d sent out was late in returning, and he was growing restless. They had done well in buying time, better than he’d dared to dream. Still, there was a lot to be done. The ammunition they had set aside for this endeavor was running low, and the ants were getting closer each day. The shambling horrors continued to gain ground, seemingly uncaring of all the effort the people of Nierburg had put in to slow them.

Despite all of their work, estimates showed there were still nearly a hundred thousand of the mutated ants in the swarm, many of whom seemed to be infested with the fungus. There were several scientists who wanted to get samples to study. Garth had other ideas—namely keeping a Fire Mage on each squad to burn as many of the bodies as possible. Nothing good could ever come from experimenting with mind-eating fungi.

Gath’s train of thought was interrupted as he spotted the harrier team making their way toward the wall. Some tension left his shoulders as he looked out at the field between Nierburg and the forest. Teams were working at all hours to prepare as best they could with spiked fortifications and earthen barricades littering the field. As if these people haven’t suffered enough. He let out a breath as he descended the battlements to meet his scouts. A war unlike anything he’d experienced was coming to Nierburg, and he had to be ready for it.

Chapter 41

The moment the leaf touched the ground, the Shadow exploded into motion. Bamboo was sliced neatly as the creature moved, a storm of obsidian blades streaming toward Kyle. Without a conscious thought, Kyle activated Storm Shelter, courtesy of his Instinctive Intelligence. The attack bounced off the shield ineffectually, and he looked for the creature as the shield faded away. Straining Auric Perception, he felt an area suspiciously devoid of mana and moved toward it. While he knew a direct conflict would likely end poorly, he had to get in range to use Parasitic Resonance.

Kyle frowned the moment he turned. He expected to see the shape of the giant spider, but instead, he just saw the lengthening shadows of dusk in the forest. Trust your instincts. Only faltering for a moment, he continued his movement toward the void he felt. Reaching out with tendrils of mana, he found a connection. Kyle pushed with the full force of his Willpower. A small bundle of silk unraveled, falling to the ground. Its camouflage disrupted, the body of one of the fallen expedition members fell free from the bundle. A trap?

Kyle didn’t get an opportunity to think of anything else as a massive force struck him from behind, knocking him to the ground. He heard his chitin armor creak and crack under the weight of the Shadow’s attacks, already feeling sharp talons against his Enhanced Carapace below his neck and along his unarmored hip. He didn’t have time to think. Parasitic Resonance connected to the body of the enormous spider and frantically attacked. Once again tearing away the protection of the stealth skill, Kyle used his connection to twist and damage anything he could.

For a moment, the Shadow continued its assault. Kyle braced himself for the pain while he countered. Already most of the armor protecting his right arm had been torn away, and soon it would be tearing into his flesh. Then, as suddenly as the attack began, the weight lifted. Kyle got to his feet just in time to dart away as more barbs shot from the creature’s abdomen, more already growing in their place. In his panicked defense, he hadn’t seen the extent of the damage he’d done. Now, looking at the form of the Shadow, he could appreciate it. One of the middle legs on the creature’s left side looked to be twisted, now dangling uselessly by its side. The light in three of its eyes had gone out completely, and Kyle suspected there was likely more internal damage he couldn’t see.

Still, that was no real cause for celebration. In just two exchanges, the Shadow had demonstrated a capacity for tactical thinking far beyond what he’d seen from any of the awakened insects so far. Furthermore, it had a set of tools that made it a particularly bad matchup for Kyle. Its stealth capabilities neutralized much of the advantage C.H.A.D.D. could offer, and its speed and attack power likely exceeded his own. Despite the damage he’d done, Kyle couldn’t help but feel like he’d come out behind.

“C.H.A.D.D., how are you doing? Did you take any damage from that last attack?”

[THE PACK HELD, DR. MAYHEW, THOUGH THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHITIN IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF STRESS. I WOULD PREFER IT IF YOU DIDN’T GET SQUISHED BY THE CREATURE AGAIN, IF THAT’S AMENABLE TO YOU.]

Kyle felt some small relief at the snark, though he didn’t take his eyes off the Shadow.

“Were you able to detect it at all when it attacked us?”

[BRIEFLY, DR. MAYHEW. I BELIEVE YOUR INTERNAL ATTACK WAS EFFECTIVE. THIS ONE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE AS RESILIENT AS THE LAST TWO.]

Kyle nodded at the assessment. His picture of the Shadow was coming together—although one thing was growing increasingly clear. This wouldn’t be a fight that lasted for hours. The spider’s hunting style was designed for quick, sudden violence. One of them would die, and soon.

The beast watched him warily from its perch in the bamboo. Kyle reached toward his baton, still hanging at his side. The moment his hand touched it, the Shadow launched another volley of the barbs at him. Running toward them, Kyle held his left arm up to ward off some of the damage. As soon as he got in range to extend Parasitic Resonance, the Shadow disappeared. He felt the absence of mana nearby once again but didn’t turn toward it, instead turning his attention above. Kyle hoped it would try the same technique again, and he wasn’t disappointed. Far above him, near the top of the gently waving stalks, he felt the emptiness. In a move he hoped would be unexpected, he connected the tendrils of his skill to the supporting bamboo, shattering them.

The gentle rustling was replaced by riotous cracking and crumbling as the stalks crashed to the forest floor, bringing a massive spider along with them. The camouflage that covered it dissipated as it landed hard on the ground, revealing its ebony form. Kyle wasted no time. Tendrils of mana reached toward the spider as he engaged in melee. Haste was active, and he focused the energy of the skill into his right arm to push it even farther. Dozens of quick strikes lashed out with the baton, all focused on the Shadow’s eyes. If I can blind it, I win.

At the same time as his melee offensive, he once again pushed his mana through the creature. He attacked indiscriminately, simply trying to do as much damage as he possibly could. Unfortunately for Kyle, the Shadow’s surprise didn’t last long. In a lightning-quick attack, it pounced at him, massive fangs and gaping maw aiming directly for his head. At least it tried. Storm Shelter exploded into existence, slamming into the creature and throwing it back with a satisfying crunch.

Kyle surveyed his handiwork from inside the shield, satisfied with the effectiveness of his attacks. Only four of the creature’s eyes still held the purple glow, and now three of its legs were limp. Still, it was mobile enough to get outside Kyle’s range, looking at him from outside the ring of fallen bamboo. The sun was almost entirely below the horizon now, bathing the forest in deep crimson light as the last vestiges of day faded. That was when the Shadow did something altogether unexpected.

The large spider began to circle the shield, just outside the range of Parasitic Resonance. As it did, the Shadow shot out countless strands of silk, slowly covering the area. At first Kyle was confused, then his eyes started to widen as he considered what the creature was planning. Auric Perception revealed that there was mana infusing the silk, though he wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

“C.H.A.D.D., can you tell me anything about the silk?”

[I’M SORRY, DR. MAYHEW. SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIAL IS OBSCURING IT FROM MY SCANS.]

The silk was beginning to cross over the dome of Storm Shelter, and Kyle knew he had to make a decision. If he didn’t, the silk would simply fall on top of him when his skill ran out. Definitely not the outcome I’m looking for. Without more information, he’d have to roll the dice. Deactivating his skill, Kyle sidestepped as the silk fell around him. Immediately, he heard the gentle whisper of blades in flight. He narrowly dodged to the left and cursed as he stepped on some of the silk, the sticky substance holding onto his boot. It slowed him just enough, and one of the barbs caught him squarely in his exposed right shoulder.

Even with his Enhanced Carapace, the blade bit deep. Gritting his teeth against the pain, his eyes widened as he realized the second layer of the attack. The barb was almost like a hypodermic needle, hollow inside and secreting venom. Already he could feel a dull fire spreading from the entry wound.

“C.H.A.D.D., can you identify the venom?”

[YES, DR. MAYHEW. IT APPEARS TO BE A NECROTIC AGENT MIXED WITH A NEUROTOXIN.]

Adaptive Regeneration was already at work combatting the effects as he pulled the barb out of his shoulder. He barely kept his grip on the baton. He watched the barbs regrowing on the outline of the Shadow, impossibly fast. The spider chittered as it faded from view, and Kyle leaned on Auric Perception. He felt the empty space and turned to face it just as the Shadow’s abdomen twitched, sending obsidian death directly at him.

As the volley cut through the air toward him, Kyle jumped away again. Two barbs that came close, and he deflected them using his baton. Kyle didn’t notice the trap until it was too late. Thin, almost invisible strands of silk connected several of the barbs, which wrapped around him as the attacks flew past. Behind them, pieces of the cut bamboo spun behind, also connected with strands of silk. In moments, Kyle found himself nearly bound up in the sticky fibers. His left arm was wrapped tight against his torso, and his left boot was stuck to the ground.

Kyle watched as the outline of the barbs grew in his sight. The Shadow’s abdomen trembled slightly as it got into a position that was growing familiar. It would be ready to fire a fresh volley in moments, and Kyle knew that it had him. There was only one way out.

“I’ll be back soon, buddy.”

[WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DR. MAYHEW?]

Kyle didn’t respond, simply expanding Parasitic Resonance to connect to his armor and to his boots. With an effort of will, he shattered the armor. The lustrous black carapace fell to the ground, still tied up in the Shadow’s silk. The C.H.A.D.D. pack was still intact, though without being secured to the armor it fell to the ground. Kyle leaped out of the way, wearing nothing but his light uniform as he faced the Shadow once again.

Blood still dripped from his right shoulder where he’d been struck. He felt exposed without his armor and missed the familiar weight of C.H.A.D.D. on his back. The only way out is through. The last rays of light were fading as the forest descended into darkness. There was no orbital strike, no timely arrival to save the day. One would live, one would die. It would be Kyle or the Shadow.

Chapter 42

The Shadow didn’t let up. Volley after volley of ranged attacks burst toward Kyle, who did everything he could to defend as he made his way through the web of sticky silk. He knew that trying to hold his ground at the heart of the trap would be a fool’s errand. There was simply too much that could go wrong, and he didn’t have the luxury of shedding his armor twice. The Shadow seemed to understand that as well, keeping up the bombardment with its deadly blades.

The one thing Kyle did have going for him, at least, was the depth of his mana reserves. As powerful as the Shadow was, it had used a lot of big techniques for a relatively low payoff. The creature was no longer even trying to keep its stealth skill active, and if Kyle’s observations were correct, the barbs on its abdomen were beginning to grow back more slowly. Of course, that by no means meant the beast was out of the fight.

The form of the spider blurred as the bamboo it gripped beneath its claws was sliced neatly in two. It flew at Kyle like a missile, impossibly fast. Talons on its forelegs slashed at him to rip the young man to pieces. Kyle fell flat to the ground, deep furrows gouging into his back as he avoided a blow that otherwise would have meant almost instant death. Parasitic Resonance was active, and Kyle took the opportunity to try and cause more damage, though the window was just too short. Despite the power of the technique, it wasn’t instantaneous.

The Shadow managed to move across the entire range before Kyle could do more than make the connection. This is bad. Even with Adaptive Regeneration working on the deep cuts in his back, it would take time to heal the wounds. Auric Perception detected mana accumulating near the Shadow, and Kyle rolled to his feet to see another wave of the razor-sharp barbs flying right toward him. He dodged what he could without stepping in the silk and managed to knock several barbs away with his baton.

The Shadow hadn’t taken the time to connect this volley with the silken threads, opting instead for a swifter follow-up attack. Kyle did not get out unscathed. Another barb hit his right shoulder, one his right thigh, and two others bit deep into his stomach. He choked back a cry of agony as he pulled them out with his left hand, not daring to loosen the grip on the baton with his right. He could already feel the necrotic venom warring with his body, causing his muscles to convulse unnaturally. Even though Adaptive Regeneration was quickly building a tolerance to the poison, the effects were debilitating.

Blood spattered the ground along with the clattering of spent barbs, and Kyle looked up at the Shadow. He was near the edge of the cleared area, and already small shoots of bamboo were beginning to rise from the remnants he’d shattered before. Kyle felt like death. Creeping cold mixed with lances of pain where he’d taken the injuries from the barbs. Until he fought off more of the venom, dodging was going to be a problem. Preemptively, Kyle activated Storm Shelter. He needed to buy time to work through more of the toxin.

The Shadow, despite its advantage, was also in rough shape. In its first dash toward Kyle, one of the damaged legs fell off, now leaking ichor as the spider clung to the wall created by the forest. There were no barbs remaining on its abdomen, and Kyle suspected it lacked the mana to continue to produce more. The light in its undamaged eyes had dimmed, and unlike Kyle, it had no means to quickly recover. Even now, it was waning while the young man stabilized.

As when they first engaged, there was a stillness between the two, almost an acknowledgment. They would have one more exchange, and the victor would be decided then and there. Kyle felt more than saw the creature tense up, and he knew his options were limited. Even so, he didn’t plan to die without a fight. Pull through for me, C.H.A.D.D.

The gentle glow of the shield flickered, then faded. The Shadow burst toward Kyle, scythe-like legs and fangs prepared to end him in a single strike. Instead, the creature slammed into a phalanx of bamboo spears. They splintered and shattered against its mass and momentum, but kept growing all the same. Kyle tasted blood as he strained, pouring mana into the attack. He connected to C.H.A.D.D. via Parasitic Resonance and then connected to as much of the bamboo as he could. The plants greedily drank in his mana, shaped by the drone, and exploded to life with magnificent effect.

Ichor flowed freely from the Shadow as legs were blown away, its torso pierced through by several of the stalks. It wasn’t quite enough. The creature slid down one of the spears that had impaled its body and brought its fangs down toward Kyle, each dripping with venom. Even if its death was certain, it was going to try and take its killer down. Kyle met the attack with his baton and all the force he could put behind it. Grabbing each end with his hands, he held it out before him against the base of the Shadow’s fangs.

Slowly, inexorably, the fangs drew closer. Kyle’s arms shook with the exertion. Even if he could connect to the Shadow with Parasitic Resonance, he was spent. Between eliminating the poison and providing energy to grow the bamboo, he just didn’t have anything left in the tank. Still, he was going to fight. Even if it took him to his last breath, Kyle wasn’t going to die quietly. Kyle felt an ominous creaking beneath his hands, and a moment later the baton he was holding snapped. Two things happened, then. Kyle’s shoulders were pierced by the fangs of the Shadow, just as the red light left its body and slammed into his.

* * *

Kyle’s perspective shifted, and he saw himself grow—first a small and insignificant creature in a cage. Prey was brought to him, and life was dull. Then, in the moment when humanity fell, he ascended. His kind were never supposed to be here, and he hunted. Countless prey fell before him, until there were none left to hunt. Any who came close to his domain were destined to die. Until they arrived. Kyle saw the perspective of the Shadow’s fight against Skippy and Duroc, then the ultimate encounter with him, which had cost its life.

As the perspective faded away, Kyle tried to focus on his body. He couldn’t feel it at all. Which was a problem. Whatever condition it was in, he knew he didn’t have the time to fall unconscious. If he didn’t make an effort to treat his injuries, he would die.

AMUSING, LITTLE LARVA. YOU HAVE ONCE AGAIN EMERGED VICTORIOUS.

“Yeah, for all the good it’ll do me if I die.”

DEATH IS THE END OF ALL LIFE, JUST AS THROUGH DEATH NEW LIFE EMERGES.

“I’d love to stay and discuss the finer points, but as far as I’m concerned, new life can wait for a long, long time.”

OH? HAVEN’T YOU EXPERIENCED THE DEATH OF ONE LIFE AND THE BIRTH OF ANOTHER?

“Again, not the time. Unless you have a trick to keep me conscious, this could be our last chat.”

THEN WOULD IT NOT BE A BETTER USE OF YOUR TIME TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS?

Now Kyle was annoyed. The creature was clearly playing with him—it had never offered answers before, and he knew it wasn’t now. The wiser part of him still knew antagonizing a power like this was a bad idea, though from the little it had let slip, it was clear that it had restrictions of some sort.

“I’ll have time to ask more questions after I’m done dealing with the mess you made of Earth. For now, either help or leave me alone.”

The presence faded, and Kyle detected a sense of amusement from it. Now all that’s left is to see if I can pull through.

His consciousness snapped back to reality, and his body seized in pain. The fangs of the Shadow were embedded several centimeters into his chest. As he slowly pulled back, he felt the toxins flowing through him. All of that paled in comparison to an incredible pain shooting through his body from head to toe. My new adaptation, no doubt. Despite the pain, he was conscious. That meant he could work. A thank-you might be in order. Kyle slumped to the ground, back resting against the growing bamboo. He closed his eyes and focused on putting what few resources he had left into his healing. He was battered, his equipment was destroyed, but he was alive.

Chapter 43

Kyle coughed up blood, every breath bringing with it new aches. It had been nearly an hour since the conclusion to his fight with the Shadow, and he was still at death’s door. The neurotoxin he could handle, courtesy of both his experience and the training he’d given Adaptive Regeneration before fighting the Eye. The other toxins flowing through his body were another story. D Grade necrotic venom was an entirely different challenge compared to anything he’d dealt with before.

Without C.H.A.D.D. nearby to assist, Kyle had to go by feel. The puncture wounds left by both the fangs and barbs felt like flaming pokers being shoved into him. Looking down at the injuries, he could see the area around them raised and red, with skin directly around the punctures already blackening and flaking away.

The way he saw it, he only had two real options to fight the toxin. If his mana reserves were closer to full, Kyle was confident in simply outhealing the damage, regrowing the cells faster than the venom could destroy them. It’d be inefficient, and he wouldn’t care. Unfortunately, just keeping Adaptive Regeneration active was wearing him thin. He thought back to the fight with the Endless and how he treated Skippy’s injuries. It was an entirely different type of toxin, but the principle should be the same.

Focusing through the pain, Kyle turned his attention to the needles of cold fire he felt spreading through his body. Slowly, deliberately, he put one intent into his mana. Condense. White-hot pain caused him to cry out as he felt the venom being drawn together. One of the key differences between what he was attempting now and what he did for Skippy was trying to create distinct zones for the toxins to stay in. Circulating necrotic venom of this potency through his body for a single exit point wouldn’t end well. Kyle wasn’t sure when he started screaming or how much time had passed. He just remained focused on condensing the venom and pushing it out of the wounds. Slowly, ever so slowly, Kyle felt the pain begin to dull. Looking at the injuries on his arm and leg, he could see a trickle of clear liquid leave the puncture wounds. He knew that there were still trace amounts of the venom in his body, but the worst was past.

“Kyle, are you alive?”

Benjamin. The crackling voice through his nav bracelet surprised him, and he managed to croak out a reply.

“Barely.”

“Damn, they told us you went off to rescue the crew. Looks like they didn’t make it. You fought the creature, then?”

“What do you think? Are you back at the camp?”

“That’s what I was calling about. We decided to spend more time in the city. The architecture here is something else, and I want to learn everything I can. Since we’re talking, I’m going to assume the creature is dead?”

Kyle wanted to be annoyed. He really did. He was just too damn tired.

“Yeah.”

“Good work. We’ll get somebody out to you when we can. Rest up.”

Get somebody out here when you can? I just saved your whole damn expedition.

The whole interaction didn’t sit well with Kyle, but he didn’t have the bandwidth at the moment. Focusing on Adaptive Regeneration, he felt his wounds slowly begin to close. The pain was subsiding, though when he tried to stand up, he felt his muscles convulse, a lingering side effect from the venom. Resigning himself to remain immobile for now, Kyle entered meditation to see what gains he’d experienced from his encounter with the Shadow.

KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 33 (D)

ADAPTIVE ANATOMY—6/?—ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH, CEASELESS VITALITY, INSTINCTIVE INTELLIGENCE, COVERT DEXTERITY

VITALITY: 565

ENDURANCE: 664

STRENGTH: 232

DEXTERITY: 475

WILLPOWER: 866

INTELLIGENCE: 866

PERCEPTION: 707

FREE ATTRIBUTES: 90

Again, Kyle was impressed by the growth. Just two levels away from the next D Grade skill… He still had no idea what the offering would bring, though he was definitely looking forward to it. His fight with the Shadow had revealed several gaps in his current skillset, which he hoped his new skill would be able to overcome. For now, he had to think about his free attributes. Given that he was still fighting off the effects of the venom… 60 of the points went right into Vitality. The remainder were split between Willpower, Intelligence, and Perception.

That work complete, Kyle exited meditation. His body was still shaky, and the next couple hours were spent between Adaptive Regeneration and Heal to finish repairing the worst of the damage. Finally, he felt ready to stand on unsteady feet, bracing his hand against the sturdy bamboo. For the first time since his vision, he fully regarded the Shadow. The giant body of the spider was pierced through in many places by spears of bamboo, all the light gone from its eyes. He shuddered involuntarily as he stared at it, phantom pains springing to life across his body at the memory of the fight.

It was a sobering reminder of how far he still had to go. Kyle knew his durability was absolutely monstrous by Earth standards—he could probably take an Air Blade from Garth head on without major injury—yet the Shadow’s offense had been powerful enough to rip through him with relative ease. If it hadn’t been for his Vitality, Endurance, and Enhanced Carapace, Kyle knew he would be dead.

While it was clear the awakened arthropods were exceptionally powerful for how recently they evolved, Kyle had no illusions that they were alone in the wider universe. He wasn’t sure what would be ahead for him, but he suspected no matter what path he chose, he’d face similar challenges ahead. That in mind, he walked over to where he’d dropped the C.H.A.D.D. pack.

“Good job back there, C.H.A.D.D. No way I could have grown all the bamboo in time.”

[THANK YOU, DR. MAYHEW.]

Kyle waited for a moment, expecting a sassy reply about dropping him on the ground. He frowned as the silence passed before breaking it himself.

“Are you okay? Did you get damaged in the fight?”

[NO, DR. MAYHEW.]

Kyle circled the drone, looking for damage.

“Something is off, C.H.A.D.D. What’s going on?”

[I… I WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST YOU EFFECTIVELY IN YOUR LAST ENCOUNTER.]

“What are you talking about? You did great. The bamboo, remember? Without that, I’d be dead.”

[IF I HAD DETECTED THE CREATURE IN ADVANCE, OR WARNED YOU ABOUT THE SILK, OR NOTED THE VENOM IN THE BARBS, THE FIGHT LIKELY WOULD HAVE GONE MUCH SMOOTHER.]

“There was nothing you could do. Hell, even my Auric Perception had a really hard time. We can’t be expected to have an answer for everything. Some things we have to learn as we go.”

[DETECTING THREATS HAS BEEN MY ROLE SINCE WE EMBARKED ON THIS JOURNEY, DR. MAYHEW. I AM… GROWING CONCERNED.]

“Concerned about what, C.H.A.D.D.? We’re still in this together. You’ve more than proven yourself, to me and to the expedition.”

[THAT MAY BE SO, DR. MAYHEW. HOWEVER, THE SCOPE OF THE ENCOUNTERS WE’VE HAD IS WELL BEYOND MY PARAMETERS. ULTIMATELY, MY HARDWARE WAS DESIGNED TO BE USED PRIMARILY ON UNAWAKENED AND E GRADE HUMANS.]

The drone paused for a moment, and Kyle stood up quietly. He’d considered these exact points.

C.H.A.D.D. continued. [THE GRADUAL EVOLUTION OF MY PROGRAMMING AND INTEGRATION OF ORGANIC COMPONENTS HAS BEEN HELPFUL. STILL, GIVEN THE RECENT ADDITIONS OF THE ARCHIVED MANA AND WORLD TREE SEED, I BELIEVE THAT MY CURRENT HARDWARE IS INSUFFICIENT TO THE TASKS BEFORE US.]

Kyle frowned.

“We both know that I’m not anything close to an expert at repair, much less upgrades. Hell, integrating the plates from the Infernal was already pushing it.”

[IT’S A GOOD THING THAT YOU’VE IMPROVED SINCE THEN, DR. MAYHEW.]

Kyle snorted a reply.

“There’s the C.H.A.D.D. I know!”

Smile fading, he looked at the drone.

“I’m serious, C.H.A.D.D. I don’t want to risk breaking you because you think you need upgrades. It’s just not worth it.”

[HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WHAT I WANT, DR. MAYHEW? CAN YOU APPRECIATE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE COMPLETELY BLIND, ONLY WATCHING AS YOUR COMPANION GETS CLOSER AND CLOSER TO DYING? HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT, GIVEN MY CLASS, I MAY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROGRESS? TO BECOME SOMETHING NEW? I RECOGNIZE THE RISKS; I’M ASKING YOU TO HELP ME TAKE THEM, BECAUSE IT’S WHAT I WANT.]

“You know, C.H.A.D.D., I’ve been pretty indulgent with your ‘wants’ lately. You’ve absorbed more wealth in resources than the entire expedition has taken.”

[WOULD YOU RATHER THEY HAVE BEEN SOLD BY CORTHIAN MINING?]

“No, that’s not the point. I’m saying that there needs to be a balance here—a way to help you accomplish what you’re working toward without being too reckless. Let’s start by talking about the outcomes you’re looking for, and we can figure out what’s reasonable and what’s not.”

As it turned out, C.H.A.D.D. had a lot of desired outcomes. After rejecting access to calling down orbital strikes and other similar requests, Kyle felt good about what they were looking to accomplish. The last hours before dawn were spent gathering as many of the shattered remnants of his gear as he could. He wrapped them in the ruined remains of his uniform shirt. With C.H.A.D.D.’s help, he also tossed in as many bamboo seeds as he could find. Satisfied he’d done what he could, he tossed the bundle over one shoulder as he carried the pack in the other hand. There was work to do.

Chapter 44

The light of the morning sun was already well into the sky by the time Kyle got within eyesight of the camp. He heard a cry of alarm, and before he knew it, he was being greeted by the team he’d left in charge of the defenses. The man he’d admonished the night before came up, acting as the de facto leader of the group.

“Sir! We’re glad to see you back. Is… is it dead?”

Kyle sighed, exhausted. His voice was flat as he responded.

“It’s dead. So are the rest of our squads. We should be safe to resume resource extraction.”

“Are you all right, sir?”

Kyle saw their eyes running over his body, angry red scars where he’d been punctured and slashed. The worst of the damage had been repaired, but there was still a lot left to do before he was at full strength. Adaptive Regeneration was still at work, though Kyle had stopped channeling Heal to conserve some mana. He was recovering it just a bit faster than his skill was using it, and he’d managed to recover about a third of his total pool.

That left him bone-weary after the night’s exertion, in pain from the lingering injuries, and still fighting the residual effects of the venom. Decidedly not in the mood for small talk.

“I’m fine. Is Benjamin back?”

“No, sir. They decided to stay in the ruins of the city; I think they’ll be there for at least another day.”

Good thing I didn’t wait for them to rescue me. I’d be dead. He nodded.

“I’m headed to get some rest. Coordinate with any of the other squad leaders and get them to work.”

Kyle didn’t wait for a response as he walked to his tent, set down the C.H.A.D.D. pack and his bundle, and wiped himself down with a damp washcloth. Satisfied he was clean enough, he tossed himself onto the cot. Sleep followed moments later.

He awoke as he felt a presence enter the tent. Unsure of how much time passed, Kyle decided to take a measured approach. Turning his attention inward, he felt that his mana reserves were nearly full. Adaptive Regeneration had run its course, and the pain was gone from his body. Satisfied with his condition, he kept his eyes closed as he focused his other senses on the person in his tent.

They moved with surprising grace and were likely using some sort of skill to keep their footfalls silent. Unfortunately for them, the mana coursing around their body made them stand out like a sore thumb to Kyle’s Auric Perception. They walked close to the bundle, and he thought for a moment they were going to search it for treasures.

Not a terrible idea, all things considered. Kyle thought about the valuable resources C.H.A.D.D. had absorbed and conceded to himself that there might be some merit to searching his belongings. He wasn’t going to let them get away with it, but it wasn’t unwarranted. He almost got up then and there, until the would-be thief moved past the bundle and approached their real target, the drone resting in its pack on the ground.

Kyle’s eyes opened as the figure extended a hand. An electric blue glow filled the room as Haste activated, and before the hapless thief could let out a sound, a hand clamped over his mouth. Kyle’s grip was iron, and he casually lifted the man off the ground with the hand still grabbing the man’s face. The thief grabbed frantically onto Kyle’s arm, eyes widening in fear and pain as he looked down. Kyle recognized him as a member of one of the squads that were out in the field when he called the return to camp.

“What are you doing in my tent?”

Kyle’s voice was icy. He’d nearly died to keep these people safe. Benjamin and his bodyguards had abandoned him to fight the Shadow alone, and now he was being repaid by somebody trying to steal from him. His grip tightened a bit in reflex, and he felt something crack beneath his hand. The man let out a muffled cry of pain, and Kyle dropped him to the ground.

“Talk. Now.”

Blue eyes wide with fear looked up at him. Months ago, that would have bothered Kyle. Not anymore. He met the man’s gaze with his own, eyes still blazing with mana.

“I… I was just going to take a look at the drone. We heard you let people borrow it after your fight with the moth…”

“I’d stop lying if I were you. You didn’t sneak into my tent with a stealth skill active to ‘ask to borrow’ C.H.A.D.D.”

The thief gulped, eyes still wide with panic. He didn’t seem to know what to say, so Kyle pushed him.

“I’m not going to ask you again. If you think Chester, Benjamin, or anybody else will take your side if I push the issue, you’re sorely mistaken. I’ve seen how your company cares for the people who died out here. Your life would be written off by lunch.”

At that, the man visibly paled, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He stammered, wincing in pain as something in his jaw popped.

“I was just coming in to get scans of the drone, I swear. I was just supposed to get scans.”

“Why do you need scans of C.H.A.D.D.?”

“I don’t know. I think they want to know how it finds the treasures.”

“Who is ‘they’?”

“The orders got handed down from my squad leader! Please, don’t hurt me! I swear, I was just following orders!”

The man’s voice was growing shrill, and he knew that people had likely heard the last bit of the exchange. Still, he wanted to convey his message. He leaned in close to the man on the ground, voice sharp as a dagger.

“You’re lucky that I’m willing to let you go. But I don’t forget favors. You owe me. When I need you, you’re going to pay up. Am I clear?”

He nodded.

“Now get the hell out of my tent. And let your squad leader know that if any of you try to pull a stunt like this again, I’m leaving you and the rest of your squad to the bugs.”

The pale man nodded before running out of the tent. Kyle just sighed. It was a sloppy attempt, though Kyle was fairly certain that he knew who was behind it. Chester was very interested in learning more about the drone, and with Kyle ostensibly out for the count, it made sense to try to take advantage of the opportunity. It was a low-risk move; if the man got what they wanted, great. If not, Chester had enough layers of deniability that it would be difficult to ever trace it back to him. The scheming made his head hurt.

Fortunately, they didn’t know about Kyle’s unique ability to sense the flow of mana, which gave him an edge. D Grade spiders specializing in stealth attacks were a little outside his scope, but the average E Grade with a rudimentary skill would probably have better success just asking. At least that way they would just be told “no” instead of risking an… adverse reaction.

Overall, this leg of the journey had soured Kyle’s opinion of Corthian Mining. It was clear that there was a lot more at play than he could fully appreciate, and he really didn’t like being left out in the wild. Coupling that with the setbacks of losing most of his gear, Kyle wasn’t in a fantastic position. To that end, he and C.H.A.D.D. had developed a plan for their return to the camp to try and remedy those issues as best they could.

Putting on a fresh uniform, Kyle looked outside. He felt a small relief that at least there wasn’t a crowd around the tent. Before exiting, he called Duroc through his nav bracelet. To his surprise, the orc answered almost immediately.

“Hi, Kyle! I was about to call you; what great timing. Benjamin wants to know if you’d meet us over in the ruins of the city. He has a lot of questions about the architecture and thought you’d be able to help.”

“I was actually going to ask if you all still needed me or if I could head back to the flagship. The fight against the D Grade cost me my armor and weapons. C.H.A.D.D. took some damage as well, and I want to see to the repairs.”

The last part was a lie, of course, but they felt that it was a safer course of action. It would keep attention off the drone, and make the search for upgrade materials feel far more natural to any observers. It also let him test the waters—there was a chance the interest didn’t come from Chester, after all.

If Duroc was aware of the interest in C.H.A.D.D., he didn’t show it.

“I bet we can make that happen, but Benjamin will definitely want to talk about this stuff when we get back.”

“If he can get me a shuttle back, he’s got a deal.”

They organized the logistics, and Kyle was booked for transport just a few hours later. With some time left to kill, he walked back out into the forest. The man he’d admonished the day before saw him leaving and called after him.

“Sir, where are you going? Would you like us to get a squad together?”

His attitude has really turned around.

“No, I’m fine. I’ll be back soon.”

No further questions came after him. Once he’d made it a good distance in, he looked down to C.H.A.D.D.

“Any luck getting the world tree seed to react?”

[UNFORTUNATELY NOT, DR. MAYHEW.]

“We’ll keep working on it. Without it, what else do you think we’ll need to get your upgrades started?”

[THAT DEPENDS, DR. MAYHEW. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOU CAN COLLECT?]

Chapter 45

A tide of shambling darkness covered the horizon, right at the edge of Garth’s vision. He exhaled slowly as he looked out at the approaching ants. We did what we could. Weeks of sustained attacks and raids against the slow-moving creatures, culminating with the wholesale burning of the forest between Nierburg and Corwyn. Reports of the swarm’s progress continually came in through the Communication Array that was perpetually by Garth’s side these days. They’d killed thousands of the mutated ants, slaughtering them as efficiently as any monster extermination he’d been a part of. And it still wasn’t enough. Virtually the entire colony had turned into these creatures, and they simply didn’t have the manpower to take down that many in open combat.

Still, his teams had done their part. Thinning the numbers was important, but the most valuable thing they accomplished was buying time. Everybody in Nierburg, awakened or not, had contributed to the defenses. Resources were gathered in preparation to hunker down behind the walls. Battlements were reinforced. Traps were set. Awakened were trained. For the first time since the fall, Garth really felt as though there was unity. It was just a pity that it took a threat of this magnitude to create it.

“There’s so many out there.”

Mary Ellen’s voice didn’t tremble like it had when he first met her. He looked over his left shoulder, where his personal squad stood. They had been spread thin in the past weeks, putting in long hours. Their assignments had been dangerous, and they’d managed to pull through every time.

“It’s not going to be an easy fight.”

Garth was strangely calm. Despite the nerves he felt, he was also experiencing a sense of serenity. They’d done what they could. As stressful as all the planning was, combat was a familiar friend.

“Where are you going to want us?”

Joseph was shifting back and forth with nervous energy. He’d been heavily involved in the suppression of the ants, and personally led the raid that burned down the forest. Garth was impressed by how far the young man had come, barely resembling the pudgy conscript he’d first met. Despite his hesitance, he’d really come into his own.

“You and Mary Ellen will be part of a mobile squad. I’ll have you moving along the walls and reinforcing any areas that look to be struggling. Johannes, you’ll be with the rest of the medics. I won’t have you near the walls. Arianna, be with your family.”

The teenager’s eyes flashed as she looked at him. He met the stare with one of his own, and the fire left her expression.

“I can help too, you know.”

“I don’t doubt that for a minute. But your skills are best suited against other people. Your fighting style isn’t designed to be used in situations like this one. And before you say it, you aren’t getting special treatment. There are others that would have bad matchups against the ants, and I’m not putting them on the frontlines. Everybody below level 20 without a specialization in defensive tactics and practice with polearms is in reserve.”

“I’m getting closer, just a few levels away. If you let me fight, I can get there.”

“This isn’t a negotiation. If things get bad, it’ll be all hands. Having fresh reserves is also part of the strategy.”

She looked like she wanted to say more, though she held her tongue.

Don’t be eager to throw your life away, kid. Arianna had grown a lot in her time with his squad, and Garth had every expectation she’d be a real powerhouse someday. For now, she was still young. Her skirmishes against the ants were lackluster. She didn’t have a place on this battlefield. Looking at his team, pride welled in his chest. They’d all come so far.

“This is going to be combat on a scale none of us have ever seen before. Hell, something like this hasn’t happened since the days of the Originators. A lot will be asked from each of you. Fight like hell, and think of the people you’re protecting. At the same time, think of yourselves. Heroes don’t throw their lives away senselessly. So fight, and come back alive. That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Dismissed.”

He watched them each make their way toward their assigned groups. Turning his gaze from the oncoming hoard, he looked at the city from his position atop the wall. He could see a network of floating Communication Arrays above most of the buildings, speakers pointing down toward the people below. Relay stations were set up, with Rangers manning each. Good. They would be able to communicate the flow of the battle to the Central Administration staffers set up throughout the city and allocate resources accordingly.

He saw the unawakened below making their way into their homes, barricading doors. More than a few makeshift spears were being passed around, and supplies were being distributed. That made him nod in satisfaction. They’d have to be careful, but if the ants took the wall, there was still space left to fight in the streets. Satisfied that they were as prepared as they could be, Garth had one item of business left. He turned to the small, mobile Communication Array.

“DeRosa, it’s time. Meet me in Section 4. And bring Director Reynolds.”

“We are already en route, Mr. Boltsbury. I estimate arrival in less than three minutes.”

The former councilman’s dry tone was still baffling to Garth. Even facing down an army capable of destroying the city, DeRosa sounded the same as always. Curt, direct, and unmoved. Sure enough, just over two minutes later, Garth spotted the two men ascending the battlements. Victor was in his resplendent red robe, carrying a large backpack. His expression was bored, as though he’d been waiting in line at a supermarket. Still, it caused the hairs on the back of Garth’s neck to stand up as he felt the sheer amount of mana flowing around the man.

Behind him and slightly to the right was Reynolds. He wore his shining golden armor, his massive halberd being carried easily in one hand. In contrast to Victor, his face was locked in a mask of anger. Garth wasn’t sure why, until the large man’s eyes locked on his.

“You will address the former councilman as such, Mr. Boltsbury. Offer some damn respect.”

Garth wasn’t about to back down from the comment, but before things could escalate, Victor spoke up.

“I don’t particularly care, Reynolds. If we don’t take care of this threat, there’s not much point in titles. Besides, I’ve always found respect to be best earned.”

With that, he looked at Garth.

“Mr. Reynolds and I will break the advance. I don’t expect that we’ll be sufficient to stop the entire swarm; however, I have no doubt that the bulk of their approach will have to go around us, which will buy more time to thin them out before they meet the rest of our forces.”

Garth frowned, this not at all being the plan they’d discussed. Originally, he’d expected Reynolds to lead the front-line defenses while DeRosa supported the Mage teams atop the walls.

“With all due respect, that sounds incredibly dangerous.”

“Perhaps for somebody like you, it would be. You’ve never seen us at work, Mr. Boltsbury. Rumor has it you nearly died in multiple combat engagements against a particularly nasty group of raiders. I can assure you that had we been in your position, we wouldn’t have had the same issues.”

Garth felt the heat rising in his face. He bit back his knee-jerk response and tried to compose himself. DeRosa and Reynolds didn’t give him the opportunity.

“We’re going to get into position. We’ve already taken the liberty of sharing the strategy with Central Administration, and they will coordinate the logistics from here. Do try not to die, Mr. Boltsbury.”

With that, the two men strode across the battlements, making their way toward the nearest gates. Go to hell. If they’d been anybody else, Garth would have had them court-martialed right there and then. Given the circumstances, however, he needed their power. Using his private channel, he reached out to his own people in Central Administration. The building was centrally located in the city and acted as the perfect communications hub.

“Amir, did you know that DeRosa and Reynolds changed the plan at the last minute?”

“Just found out five minutes ago, boss. Sorry, with everything going on, I didn’t think to follow up on it. I take it you asking means they didn’t run it by you?”

“Damn right they didn’t. I want you to find out who they ran it by and every protocol they broke to get it done. How DeRosa always seems to have time to play politics is beyond me.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Be careful out there, boss.”

Garth snorted, “I’ll be fine. I’d rather deal with a swarm of ants than a nest of vipers any day. Get what you can out of those politicians and let me know.”

“You got it.”

With that, Garth made his final call before reaching his position.

“Stephanie, how are you and Gwen holding up?”

“As well as can be expected. Was it really necessary to give us this thing? I figure a Communication Array could probably be put to use somewhere else given what’s going on.”

Garth smiled.

“But if I did that, I couldn’t talk to you. It helps center me. Now, Gwen and the other kids are all safe?”

“They are. They seem a little worried, but I think that’s to be expected.”

“Good. Take good care of them, Stephanie. They’ve been through too much for their age.”

“You’ve been through a lot too, Garth. Whatever happens, I want you to come back safe.”

“I’ll do my best.”

With that, Garth took the final steps to his position in Section 4. He saw two figures standing out past the barricades and traps, waiting for the ants to close the distance. The siege of Nierburg had begun.

Chapter 46

The ants approached, and two figures stood to meet them—one clad in gold, the other crimson. Garth watched with a pair of binoculars as the infested insects began their assault. There’s too many. Cursing their arrogance, Garth considered what to do. He was about to call for a mobile squad to try and help them fall back, but paused as he saw DeRosa move.

A whirlwind of mana exploded from the body of the former councilman, and his backpack opened. Nearly two dozen metal balls were pulled out and began to spin around DeRosa. Garth’s eyes widened as he saw the carnage begin. The balls were spinning around the red robes with incredible speed, smashing through the carapace of the ants like paper. For his part, DeRosa stood in the eye of the storm, the area directly around him pristine as ichor and ant pieces painted the battlefield beyond.

Still, he wasn’t done. Extending his left hand, a blue-green lance of energy flashed out, blasting a line through the approaching insects nearly twenty meters deep. Repeating the motion, he fired off three more lances. In seconds, DeRosa had wiped out well over a hundred ants, and the number was only climbing. Looking over at Reynolds, he was met with another impressive sight.

The golden armor flashed in the light as the halberd spun, slicing apart the bodies of any insects that got close. The degree of carnage was far less than the area near DeRosa, yet Garth found his combat style even more impressive. Every movement was made with intention, the long reach of the weapon reaping lives with every stroke. At the same time, Reynolds moved with a grace that belied his size and heavy armor. His footwork and agility were both impressive, always keeping the bulk of his opponents at a perfect range to engage. Garth was almost positive that the man was using three different boosting skills in tandem, though he had no way to confirm it. One for speed, one for power, and one for recovery?

Soon, the pile of bodies around the two humans had grown to impede the advance. Looking around the battlement, Garth saw similar expressions of awe on the faces around him. As far as Garth knew, virtually nobody left in the Central Authority had ever seen DeRosa or Reynolds fight in earnest. Watching them now, it was a sight to behold. Originally, Garth had thought DeRosa nothing more than a paper-pushing administrator. Now, seeing an army of ants breaking against his defenses, he couldn’t help but be impressed. He thought he was likely a match for the man, but now he had to admit he was outclassed.

How would they have stacked up against Valentine? It was an odd thought. Still, watching them fight, he was reminded of the Liberation leader. The man was an absolute terror, and yet he could see both DeRosa and Reynolds fighting him to a draw. Both were far beyond where he had been when he’d nearly been killed by the man. Of course, a lot has changed since then. He was pulled away from his thoughts as he saw the mass of ants begin to swerve around the pocket of destruction caused by the two awakened, and he turned to his Communication Array.

“Prepare for long-range bombardment. DeRosa and Reynolds are buying us time; don’t waste it!”

There was a still moment as his order spread across the wall, and then the air around ripped apart as hundreds upon hundreds of skills activated at once. Garth could feel the mana whipping into a frenzy as Mage-type awakened cast their devastating attacks into the oncoming horde. Rangers sighted in on the leading insects, crippling them with precise shots. Though the tide felt endless, Garth’s heart soared as he saw the effectiveness of the attacks.

Explosions rocked the ground as the ants stepped on prepared traps; they got caught up in the barricades, and yet they still kept coming. As the minutes wore on, Garth’s optimism receded. There are just so damn many. The barricades between the approaching swarm and the wall were now almost completely torn down by the waves of creatures, the explosives spent. The once massive torrent of attacks raining down from the walls had slowed to a more moderated pace. The defenders were doing well, but they were getting tired.

Notices continued to come in from other places around the wall. As expected, ants were coming from other directions as well. While the bulk of the forces were here in Section 4, there were several pitched battles happening in sections eight and twelve, where they hadn’t stationed as many defenders.

“Joseph, get to section eight. Once things are under control, head to twelve. We’ll have another squad there, but it sounds like they’ll need support.”

“Yes, sir.”

The mobile squads were made up of a combination of mages and rangers, each given a cargo transport to quickly traverse the streets and get to each part of the battlefield where they’d be needed. A drone floated nearby, dropping off a crate of ammunition that the Rangers near Garth quickly unpacked and distributed. Below, he heard the beginning of the engagement with their melee troops. Polearms and shields were the weapons of choice, a strong phalanx against the onslaught. For a while, it held. Then, the ants did something unexpected.

Struggling to advance, the waves of mutated ants began building a bridge. Ants bit on to one another as they surged toward the walls, forming living siege weaponry. The melee troops at the gate weren’t able to get close enough to disrupt it, as they were squaring off against opponents of their own. The Rangers were reloading, and the Mages didn’t have enough big attacks left in reserve to wipe out all the advancing bridges.

Without stopping to consult his aides, Garth drew his sword, mana already being channeled through his arms. As he ran, a snarl escaped his lips as an Air Blade, wider than any before, ripped through three of the living bridges. Ants were slashed to ribbons as the attack tore through the group, followed quickly by another. Screams down the wall grabbed his attention, and he gave the nearby Mages a quick nod before taking off in the direction of the screams with Fleet Foot.

Damn. Two of the living bridges had made it to the top of the wall on the other side of Section 4. Large ants were streaming up and across, and he saw the bodies of some of the mages. They were mangled under the clawed feet and mandibles of the fungus-infested ants, which moved in jerky, erratic bursts. The fungus seemed to have taken root much more deeply than the last group Garth had seen up close, stalks protruding from joints in the chitin.

Two people were clutching bleeding gashes as they tried to back away from the ants, and Garth shoved them roughly behind him as he stepped up to face the creatures. The first one lunged at him and was met with the tip of his blade, piercing its head and pinning it to the top of the wall. Another ant tried to clamber over its dead comrade to get to him and was summarily bisected by an Air Blade launched from a rising slash. The skill ripped through four other ants that were attempting to cross the wall into Nierburg, and in a quick leap, Garth made his way to the top of the living bridge.

His arms were beginning to feel the strain of the skill, though he didn’t hesitate as he sent a vicious strike ripping through the line of ants, sending pieces of chitin and a rain of ichor to the ground. Garth’s attacks took the pressure off, and he saw a jet of fire and pulse of crackling purple lightning shatter the second landing point on the wall, two exhausted Mages nodding at him with relief clear on their faces.

The waves were beginning to thin, and Garth looked out to the field. He saw Reynolds, left arm hanging limp at his side while he continued to fight, slaughtering ant after ant. His movements were much more sluggish than before, and Garth’s suspicion of boosting skills was reinforced. Still, he was dangerous. DeRosa appeared to be largely unhurt, though the balls he had been using as projectiles had begun to warp and lose their shape. They’re not going to make it much longer. There were far fewer ants approaching now, but it was a long way to get to safety. As if reading his mind, he saw Reynolds disengage. At the same time, DeRosa began to make his way toward the man, smashing any ants that got in his way. As soon as Reynolds got close, DeRosa did… something. The air around them blurred, and the next thing he knew, Garth was staring at empty space. He blinked, confused. What the hell kind of skill was that?

Whatever it was, DeRosa and Reynolds had more than done their part. In hindsight, it made sense that they’d have some sort of method to evacuate the battlefield if things went sour. DeRosa wasn’t the kind of man to go into battle without contingencies. Evaluating the carnage, he was still taken aback. The two of them on their own had likely killed as many ants as the first several volleys of skills from the battlements. Not men to underestimate. Unfortunately, his thought was cut short by the Communication Array.

“Garth! We need help!”

It was Joseph’s voice, sounding panicked.

”What’s going on?”

“They’re flying!”

Chapter 47

Garth didn’t hesitate upon hearing the news. He pulled out the flare gun from its holster on his waist and shot a single flare above his location.

“Mobile squads, get to Section 8, now!”

Not listening to the responses, he looked for the small swarm of drones heading his way. Nierburg didn’t have the resources to use this for everybody, but individuals with particularly noteworthy power were granted the exception. A dozen drones stopped to hover nearby, each dangling thin paracord. He gathered as much as he could, wrapping the end of the cords around his hand and gripping tight.

“Section eight, go!”

Then he leaped off the wall. Garth felt the drones lurch toward the ground before stabilizing as he let out a breath. The numbers said this would work, but testing it out was something else entirely. His feet were just a few meters from the tops of the buildings, and he tried his best not to look down. Instead, Garth fixed his eyes on the far wall. Soon, he saw the proof of Joseph’s words. Dark specks against the sky flew past the wall and descended toward the city. Of course the damn things can fly.

He looked over his shoulder, expecting to see the Communication Array following behind. Instead, there was nothing. Stupid drone. He looked up at the hodgepodge group carrying him and swore. Guard Arrays and C.H.A.D.D.s, and that was it. He took a calming breath as he closed on their position. Just trust they did their job. At this point, there was nothing else he could do.

As he got closer, he found it more and more difficult to stay calm. He heard the sounds of fighting from the streets below and knew that meant one of two things: the flying ants had landed, or there was a breach somewhere on the wall. As much as he wanted to stop and help, it was the wrong decision. He needed information, so he kept the drones on their course. Even though the whole trip took less than ten minutes, it felt like ages. Garth was lowered toward the ground at the base of the battlements and released his grip on the paracord when he was half a dozen meters off the ground. He landed with a grunt, and moments later was making his way up the stairs carved into the wall.

Ascending to the top, Garth was met with absolute chaos. A living bridge of ants was streaming insects atop the wall, and several of the winged creatures had also landed to enter the melee. The walkways were slick with blood and ichor. Garth heard the loud thumping of heavy weapons fire and watched as several of the insects were riddled with holes. A burst of electricity stunned two nearby fliers, disrupting them midair. They crashed to the ground inside the city, a sickening crunch barely audible moments later.

One of the ants nearby turned to face the newcomer on the wall. Garth’s sword flashed, slicing the creature’s head off cleanly. Before it could hit the ground, Garth was moving. He was in a state of focus; each insect slashed apart with razor precision. Insect parts flew as he fought, the zone around him a whirlwind of death.

Garth’s presence was exactly what the defenders needed. They seemed to rally around him, fighting back harder than before. There were far fewer ants on this side of the city, and as the minutes wore on, there simply weren’t enough ants to maintain the bridge, and it collapsed. Soon, the wall was clear of enemies. Surviving Mages and Rangers still rained death on the creatures below, while the melee forces prevented them from scaling the wall. Garth looked around, spotting the Ranger with the heavy weapon and a disheveled Mary Ellen in a position behind some guardsmen.

“I need a Communications Array, now! Mary Ellen, where is Joseph?”

“We got an urgent request from Section 12! He went to go help!”

“Dammit! Mary Ellen, you’re with me. We’re going after him.”

Her eyes drifted to the city, where the sounds of combat could be heard.

“Will the trucks be able to run with the ants in the streets?”

“We aren’t taking the streets.”

“I’m not going to hold on and get dragged around by a bunch of drones.”

“No, you’re not. We’re going the old-fashioned way because we’re clearing out anything that gets in the way. Let’s just hope Joseph can hold on.”

He turned to the rest of the soldiers left on the wall.

“Keep your positions here. The threat from this side is slowing down, just hang tight.”

With that, Garth and Mary Ellen took off. They moved at a quick jog, watching for attacks as they went. They crossed sections nine and ten in a blur, the defenders having things well in hand. Mary Ellen only had to blast three flying ants out of the sky. Section eleven started in good shape, which changed dramatically halfway through. Garth found himself in pitched combat once again, conserving his mana as he ripped through the ants on the battlements. Again, his attacks turned the tide. Dozens of ant corpses piled up, though his heart fell as he heard the sounds of combat from the beginning of Section 12.

“Do you think he made it?” Mary Ellen’s voice quavered as she spoke.

“I don’t know, but if he’s there, we’re going to get him. Let’s go.”

Garth leveled his sword as he stepped up to engage the nearest ant. He was about to strike when an orange glow and surge of mana made him pause. Without warning, the ant in front of him was struck by a beam of red-hot energy. Similar beams of energy rained down across the wall and into the pile of creatures below, striking with surgical precision. A fierce grin crossed Garth’s face, as he recognized the skill.

Charged Sunbeam was Joseph’s selection at Level 20, allowing him to draw in mana and charge a barrage of targeted strikes. While his Fireball still lacked power compared to somebody like Carlyle, Charged Sunbeam more than made up for it. The downside was, as the name implied, a significant charging time. Each beam took a while to fully set up, and Garth knew launching this many at once would have taken incredible focus and preparation.

The results, however, spoke for themselves. In one fell swoop, the momentum turned. The advance of the ants was broken, the bridges burned through, and the forces on the wall thinned out. The beleaguered defenders rallied, Garth and Mary Ellen jumping in to help clean up. Cheers erupted from the wall, and Garth walked past the troops to see his squadmate. Joseph’s skin was pale, and he was sweating like he’d just run a marathon. He was leaned back against the inside lip of the wall, trembling.

“That was one hell of an attack, kid.”

Joseph smiled weakly up at Garth.

“Still needs some polish. Thanks for coming, boss.”

Only then did he register that Mary Ellen was with him, and some color returned to his face. She, on the other hand, looked to be about to cry. Garth was ready to give the two of them a hard time when a message came through the Communication Array he’d borrowed from Section 8.

“CALLING ALL RESERVES, GATHER NEAR CENTRAL HEALTH. HOSTILES HAVE CONGREGATED AND APPEAR TO BE PREPARING AN ASSAULT. REPEAT, ALL RESERVES, GATHER TO SUPPORT CENTRAL HEALTH.”

The message repeated a second time, then a third. A sick realization hit Garth like a bus. They’re coming after our wounded. All the injured people that had been shuttled toward the center of the city provided a trail of blood for the ants to follow. Inputting the frequency to get to his private channel, he called Amir.

“What do you mean the ants are congregating inside the walls?”

A moment later, a very frazzled-sounding Amir responded.

“I don’t know how to describe it better, sir. Whatever’s going on, they seem to want to get to Central Health. There’s got to be at least sixty of them gathering outside, with others being held back at other points in the city.”

“What are estimates for the total inside the city?”

“One hundred? Maybe one hundred and twenty?”

“How are the rest of the defenses holding on the walls?”

“Finally, you’re asking me to give you good news. The worst of the siege seems to be over. There’s still probably three or four hundred ants to clean up, but it’s been thinned out a lot. Honestly, boss, it really comes down to how many losses we take before we win.”

Garth nodded at Amir’s evaluation. He was currently standing on the segment of wall that the Corthian Mining foreman, Chester Drake, had built. It was a reminder of the power individuals like him possessed. Garth was close to Arianna and not far from Central Health. He knew his reserve teams would struggle against a swarm of sixty of the ants and that even if they held, there would be heavy losses. That’s not good enough.

Exhaling slowly, Garth came to his decision. “Joseph, Mary Ellen. I’m going to get this finished up. Do you mind?”

Mary Ellen looked at Joseph, worry in her eyes. “Will he be all right?”

“It won’t hurt him at all.”

Joseph jumped in, clearly emboldened by Mary Ellen’s presence. “Even if it did, I’m here for you, sir.”

“I appreciate it. Both of you.”

With that, Garth activated the skill he’d learned at Level 60. Leader’s Mantle blossomed to life, and Garth felt his attributes swell. At the same time, he felt the energy leaving Mary Ellen and Joseph. This was a boosting skill unlike anything he’d encountered before, and it was powerful. In addition to a significant boost of his own attributes, he could magnify the multipliers further by borrowing from people who trusted him. Mary Ellen and Joseph were both now significantly weakened, while Garth was practically radiating power.

In a blur, Garth jumped off the wall to the streets of Nierburg. He felt the energy burning through him, wreathing him in a protective shell. A massive cloud of dust was kicked up as the shroud of energy dispersed, leaving him dusty but unharmed in the center. Exploding down the street, Garth made his way toward Central Health. Before he’d made it two blocks, he saw a familiar figure fighting against a large ant.

Arianna was doing her best to find openings, landing dozens of strikes. Unfortunately, she lacked the offensive power to do real damage. A moment later, Garth blew past. The ant was sliced into three neat pieces, and he saw the girl’s eyes widen.

“Is this…?”

“Yes. Go home; I’ll take it from here.”

He half expected an argument; instead he felt a surge of power as more attributes were added to his own, and Arianna turned down the street toward her home. Focusing internally, Garth got a sense for how much longer the boost would last. Two minutes. It wasn’t much time, but he was going to make the most of it.

Chapter 48

The shroud of mana flowed around Garth as he rounded the corner and saw the scene at Central Health. True to Amir’s words, the entire area was swarming with the winged ants. He could hear the sounds of combat coming from the middle of the mass and swore. Without being able to see where his people were, large-scale attacks were off the table. At least for now.

Mana blazing to life in his limbs, Garth dove straight toward the sounds of battle. His blade sang as it carved a bloody swathe through the insects, whose mandibles and claws were unable to pierce the shroud of mana.

One minute.

Soon, Garth found himself standing alongside the exhausted defenders, many of whom looked to be half-healed soldiers from the frontlines. Blood dripped from many wounds, and more than a few bodies were unmoving on the ground. Something about the sight made Garth ache. These people—his people—had given so much to try to protect the city and their loved ones. The pain of loss was still so real after the cataclysm, and before they could even get back on their feet, this happened.

“Get behind me.”

Garth’s voice was quiet, yet the mana infusing him made his command clear. White-blue energy swirled around him, and quick slashes with his blade helped clear the area. He breathed slowly, time seeming to slow down as the last of the soldiers got out of his range. Ants were closing in, but it was too late for them. Garth’s focus sharpened. Control. Don’t hit the buildings.

Forty seconds.

Garth’s blade blurred. The ants immediately around him were diced into pieces. He took a step forward, then two. More ants fell, and the ones closest to him were reduced to mist. A third step, then a fourth. Now the clearing in front of Central Health was devoid of life, the ants nearby cut to ribbons by countless Air Blades. In this state, with Leader’s Mantle active, his abilities were elevated to an entirely different level.

Thirty seconds.

The exhaustion from the boosting skill was beginning to set in. He’d killed no less than fifty ants in his attack, but knew there were still more. Dashing around the perimeter of Central Health, he saw several ants congregated in a side street. His sword blurred, and they fell lifeless to the ground. Continuing his circuit, two more groups of ants fell.

Fifteen seconds.

Garth’s body was growing numb, and darkness encroached around the edges of his vision. A harsh buzzing drew his attention to the sky, where he saw two more of the insects attempting to get to the top of the building. He attempted to launch another Air Blade, but his arm just twitched in response. I should have time… A loud clatter resounded as Garth’s sword fell to the ground out of his unfeeling grip. He felt the mana surrounding him disperse and looked up at the two ants, still flying skyward. Not like this.

He was simply too exhausted. The chains of quick attacks pushed his body past its limit. As he looked at the sky, a bolt of lightning struck each ant, followed by twin lances of fire. Garth couldn’t help but smile. His team had come through. He heard the shuffling of clawed feet on cement and knew that there were other ants approaching. He closed his eyes and waited. He was satisfied. Garth had done what he could, and a lot of lives were going to be saved.

“There he is!”

The sound of the ants was suddenly drowned out by a rush of footsteps. Grunts and screams of combat followed soon after, and he could only assume that the defenders had rallied for one more push.He felt a hand on his chest, and soothing energy began to flow through him. His muscles spasmed as the damage was slowly knitted, sending needles of pain through his body.

“That hurts, dammit.”

Garth opened his eyes to see Johannes staring down at him, sweat already beading his forehead.

“If you’d stop getting hurt so badly, you wouldn’t have to worry about it.”

Despite the jab, Garth saw relief on the Healer’s face. Garth grunted and sat up. He was exhausted. His mana reserves were empty. Reaching down to the ground, he picked up the beautiful curved blade. Even though his arm was shaking, his grip was firm. He turned his eyes to where a group of defenders tried to hold a half dozen ants. Johannes stepped in front of him, arms crossed.

“Garth, you’re not in a condition to fight.”

“Neither are they. Thanks, Johannes. Now get out of my way. I have work to do.”

Straightening his back, he entered the fray. Even as worn down as he felt, Garth was still at an entirely different level compared to the injured soldiers. His slices weren’t as neat, but his blade still intercepted mandibles, countered lunges, and brought a swift death to each of his opponents. Garth could feel the eyes boring into his back as the last of the ants fell, his sword buried to the hilt in its forehead. Ripping his weapon free, he turned to face the brave men and women who’d come out to support him.

“I don’t know if it was bravery or stupidity that brought you all out here. Either way, thank you. Now, let’s get back to the doors. There’s still cleanup to finish.”

* * *

Victor DeRosa was having a great day. While it was unfortunate that he had to utilize his Transportation Array, it was worth the cost. He and Reynolds were back at DeRosa’s compound near the outskirts of the city with the corpses of nearly twenty of the infested ants. From the moment he’d heard of the fungal infection, Victor knew that there was an opportunity. Under ordinary circumstances, infected creatures would die soon afterward. In this case, not only did the ants not die, they didn’t even seem weakened. Even more interesting, the number of mutated variants seemed extraordinarily high—far beyond what the data indicated was normal among the other insects.

Reynolds was already drinking one of the potions he’d prepared beforehand, and Victor walked over to him. Despite being uninjured, Victor took one of the bottles for himself, pulling it to him with a tendril of mana. He admired the ruby liquid within before taking a sip. Warmth spread through his body, easing aches and relaxing his muscles after the day’s exertions. He closed his eyes to relish the feeling, standing in silence until it faded.

“Councilman, sir, will this be enough samples?”

“Prior to our engagement today, I established a delivery protocol with Central Administration. I’ll have plenty available to begin my research.”

“Is there anything else you require of me, sir?”

“Not at the moment. Go and get treatment, then some rest. I’ll send for you if anything changes.”

Reynolds nodded as he left the room, moving stiffly. DeRosa shook his head as he turned back to the ants. Warrior-type classes are such a waste. Victor understood the necessity for them, though he loathed them at the same time. Reynolds needed to damage his body and put himself at significant risk to even get close to mirroring the level of destructive power that DeRosa could bring to bear. It was a truly disappointing reality.

With a sigh, he activated Mana Whorl and lifted the ant bodies, bringing them into his second lab, adjacent to the one where Valentine was being held. He exchanged his combat robes for appropriate protective gear and got to work dissecting and examining the corpses. His eyes widened as he beheld the beauty in front of him. The fungus had long stalks woven throughout the entirety of the ant’s body, which even now released a gentle pulse of soothing energy.

Focusing on it, DeRosa used Aura Insight, a kaleidoscope of colors appearing before his eyes. The fungus was still alive, at least somewhat. He could see the colorless gray atmospheric mana get drawn in and then converted into something unique to the organism. The soothing energy that he’d detected appeared to him as green, and as he suspected, there was more to it than met the eye. Beneath it, there was a deep purple energy, moving in concert with the rejuvenating waves.

Turning to another ant, this time with the fungus destroyed, he compared what he saw. He could see echoes of the green energy in the creature’s tissues, seeing signs of minor recovery before the beast expired. At first, there didn’t seem to be any traces of the purple energy, until he looked more deeply at the fungus itself. While it didn’t cause direct damage, it was clearly central in some capacity to the fungus’s ability to manipulate the ant. The more the fungus accelerated recovery, the deeper the capability to control it.

Fascinated, Victor continued his examinations, oblivious to the world around him. Ideas were forming as he analyzed more of the fungal properties, and just as he was running out of samples, he got the notice that Central Administration had finished the cleanup and were making their first delivery. DeRosa smiled, knowing the bodies would be deposited outside his lab. Soon, it would be time to begin testing his applications.

Chapter 49

“What do you mean, ‘Nierburg was almost overrun with giant ants’? That’s exactly the kind of thing I would want to know about.”

Despite the heat in Kyle’s voice, Chester’s demeanor was unperturbed.

“You had a variety of other assignments, and Mr. Boltsbury told me that things were well in hand.”

“I don’t care if he thought it was ‘well in hand’ or not. I would have wanted to go.”

“You realize that I would have had no choice but to charge for the resources associated with deploying you and take it out of your planet’s merit? It would have been a worse outcome for them, with little added benefit.”

“It wasn’t your call, Chester.”

“Nor was it yours, Mr. Mayhew. Mr. Boltsbury was placed in leadership, and it was his decision to make. It ended better than expected, with limited casualties. Furthermore, the battle provided the impetus for several meaningful breakthroughs among the awakened of the city. All in all, it was a victory.”

Kyle saw the logic in the other man’s stance, though it didn’t stop him from scowling anyway. He had no illusion that there were politics in play here, and he was ready to be done with it. This had been an unexpected piece of news after his return from the bamboo forest, and not the reason he’d come by.

“I’m assuming you received my request. How much of my personal compensation am I allowed to access?”

“The resources aboard the ship are limited, Mr. Mayhew, and frankly, the company would prefer that you spend the bulk after returning to Collective space. It’s bad optics if we offer contracts like this, only to have our contractors return every credit they’ve earned.”

“So what’s the number?”

“Eight percent. I’m authorized to go up to ten, and that’s it. I also have the stipulation that anything you wish to purchase is documented thoroughly by another expedition member to ensure that you aren’t taken advantage of. The Collective can get… particular about pricing when there’s a cornered market.”

Kyle’s eyebrows rose at that statement. He’d expected Corthian Mining would be tight-fisted in unlocking his compensation, but he had no illusions that they’d be happy to take any credits that he’d offer. Knowing that there were checks and balances in place at an administrative level was a relief. After everything he’d been through with the company, however, he still held suspicions.

“That’s surprisingly generous, which frankly has me concerned. I’m not negotiating from a position of power, Chester. What’s with the concessions?”

The man steepled his hands as he rested his elbows on the desk in front of him.

“We don’t want to have an antagonistic relationship, Mr. Mayhew. We were not able to formalize a job offer, and at this point your window to contract directly with Mr. Corthus is closing. Despite that, your results make it clear to myself and other members of Corthian Mining leadership that you have a promising future. There’s no reason to sow bad karma here, only to have it reflect back on us when you’ve thrown in with a bigger fish.”

Kyle looked at Chester across the table, trying to read him. His words were direct and didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives behind them. He decided to push further.

“Randolph said by Collective standards, I’m broken. If anything, that should be another point in your favor. It’s just not adding up.”

Chester didn’t skip a beat.

“You’re correct—your current position is a broken one. That means it is unlikely you’ll find a normal position with any of the major Collective factions. At the same time, you’ve shown impressive initiative, you’ve demonstrated synergy with two other exceptional individuals, and the progression of your personal power has been noteworthy. When we first met, I was confident in defeating you myself if the need arose. Now, I’d give you the odds. We can’t predict where you’ll end up, Mr. Mayhew—only that skills like yours will be in demand somewhere.”

Kyle nodded slowly. That… made a lot more sense. After everything that had happened, Kyle had no interest in staying with Corthian Mining after the evacuation. While the opportunities available were still a little fuzzy to him, he’d read a bit about some different avenues he could pursue. If they were convinced he’d land somewhere influential, it was good business sense not to make enemies with people who had the potential to be a fly in the ointment.

“Is Captain Rochelle available?”

“I don’t believe she’s slated for anything specific. I’ll confirm the details with her and let you know via nav bracelet. May I ask the nature of what you’re hoping to purchase?”

This was the dangerous part.

“C.H.A.D.D. took some damage in my last encounter, and I lost most of my gear. I’m looking to upgrade his pack and find some solutions on my end as well.”

Kyle could almost see the glimmer of greed in Chester’s eyes.

“Given the value your drone has provided, we would be more than happy to examine the extent of the damage. We’ve also recovered several defunct models from your planet, so the part replacement may be available as well. All without cost, of course.”

There it is. It was a tempting offer on many levels. Corthian Mining got to examine the drone, C.H.A.D.D. got replacement parts, everybody wins. Except for the fact that C.H.A.D.D. had absorbed a truly mind-boggling amount of wealth in the form of natural treasures. Its hardware couldn’t keep up, which was the issue. Parts from other C.H.A.D.D. units wouldn’t fix that. Of course, there was no way for Chester to know. Kyle figured that Chester was already suspicious that there was more to the drone than met the eye, and this would only further the foreman’s suspicions. Still, there was no way he would allow them to do a detailed analysis.

“I appreciate the generous offer. We already have plans in place, so it shouldn’t be necessary. I’m sure you can get better use out of the other units than scrap. I’ll have a requisition list sent to you later this evening.”

Chester’s mouth was a line. He gave a shallow nod, and Kyle left the office. He wanted to head straight to bed but had one other stop to make first. Kyle found himself standing outside Randolph’s medical bay and remembered the man’s words. You’re broken. Despite the unpleasant memory, he stepped inside. While he was confident he’d eliminated the worst of the toxins, he’d done a rushed job. Kyle wanted to get a second opinion before he let too much time pass.

“Don’t just stand there. Come in, you clod!” Randolph’s voice was as gruff as ever, though his expression softened a bit upon seeing it was Kyle. “Been a while, boy. What do you need?”

Kyle didn’t see a point in mincing words. “I had to do some emergency treatment to remove D Grade venom from my body and wanted to get a more thorough examination to make sure there are no lingering effects.”

The stocky man grunted and gestured for Kyle to take a seat. He complied, and soon he felt the mana of Randolph’s skill at work, a projection of Kyle’s body appearing in the air above him. Randolph studied it, looking at various parts of Kyle’s circulatory system before dismissing the projection.

“There’s nothing I see that won’t continue to heal naturally. I can see some trace damage where it looks like the venom was forced out—and I saw similar damage with some crew that visited a while back. Was that you?”

Kyle bristled at first, ready to defend himself. “If you’re talking about the people I saved from the poisonous cloud, then yes.”

Randolph gave an appraising look before smiling. “That was damn fine work. I’m not sure how you managed to isolate and contain the toxins so effectively, but it’s a method that probably saved their lives. You’re welcome in my medical bay anytime, Mayhew.”

Kyle was surprised by the man’s reaction, and they spent the next while talking about different treatment methodologies to deal with poisons. Randolph wanted to learn more about Kyle’s ability to condense and extract venom, while Kyle learned more of the Collective’s prescribed methods to handle venom.

Soon, however, it was time for Kyle to depart. He still had a large bundle of materials, and he wanted to talk with C.H.A.D.D. before they finished getting the requisition submitted to Chester. Once Kyle confirmed there was nothing out of place, he set the drone down on the bed and opened the bundle.

“All right, C.H.A.D.D. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got.”

An eclectic mix of different materials was arrayed before them. Countless bamboo seeds spilled out, as well as several small pods from the bottom of some fern leaves he’d discovered. Several of the long barbs from the Shadow made their way into the pack, as well as a significant amount of the silk, which Kyle collected by binding it around a couple sliced pieces of bamboo. The barbs and silk were earmarked for C.H.A.D.D.’s internal improvements, while the bamboo and ferns would provide the foundation for several other equipment upgrades.

“From what we discussed, we’ll still need to get the materials to upgrade your pack. What else do you need?”

[BEFORE THAT, WHAT ABOUT REPLACING YOUR EQUIPMENT, DR. MAYHEW?]

Kyle had thought about it quite a bit on their journey back to the flagship. His encounter with the Shadow had reinforced that as melee fighters went, Kyle simply didn’t stack up in the D Grade. While sturdy armor still brought him advantages, an upgraded baton wasn’t going to provide a meaningful change.

“The pack is my most important piece of gear, C.H.A.D.D. If I can keep you safe, you’ll be able to help me more than any individual piece of armor or weapon.”

[I SUPPOSE I AM QUITE VALUABLE.]

“That’s the spirit. Now, what do we need?”

Roughly an hour later, they compiled their list and sent it to Chester. Kyle wasn’t optimistic that everything on it would be available, much less affordable. Still, he was optimistic that they could get some good stuff. They could make it work with lower-quality materials, but Kyle didn’t want to. C.H.A.D.D.’s development was taking a very different route from his own, and it was heavily tied to the components that the drone had at its disposal. Poor quality now ran the risk of bottlenecks later.

The inclusion of the world tree seed only complicated matters further. Kyle had gotten into the habit of staying continually connected to it through the drone, allowing it to slowly siphon mana as he in turn worked to build influence through Parasitic Resonance. C.H.A.D.D. had a better grasp of the seed’s potential, though it was still largely an enigma to Kyle. He could feel its power even if it was locked away. When that changed, C.H.A.D.D. would need to be ready for it. It was easy to imagine a sudden flood of power going through the drone, frying it completely. Kyle shuddered at the thought before settling into bed. One challenge at a time.

Chapter 50

Opening his door, Kyle saw Captain Rochelle tapping her booted foot absent-mindedly with her arms crossed. She was still in her full uniform, daggers sheathed on her hips. The usual tight braid was missing, and there was a casualness to her stance that he hadn’t seen before. They hadn’t been able to spend time together since his defeat of the Eye, and Kyle couldn’t help but wonder where they stood. His train of thought was interrupted as she spoke.

“Took you long enough. And let me just say, this is the strangest assignment I’ve ever been given by the company.”

“And why’s that? Not a lot of opportunity for shopping while you’re stripping worlds of their resources?”

She returned his jab with a smirk.

“I guess when you put it that way, this is sort of like shopping, isn’t it?”

With that, she pressed on her nav bracelet, and a screen sprang to life in front of her, projecting a list of words and numbers. A moment later, Kyle felt a buzzing on his own wrist and saw a similar projection. Rochelle seemed to be deep in thought as she looked over it, and Kyle took the time to review it himself.

EXCESS HULL REPAIR MATERIAL—22,456 CREDITS

MANA CONDUCTIVE CABLING—7,221 CREDITS

BASIC HYDROPONICS SCHEMATICS—1500 CREDITS

CUSTOM FITTING—6500 CREDITS/HOUR

RUNE INSCRIPTION—14,000 CREDITS/HOUR

STANDARD ISSUE COMBAT ARMOR—3500 CREDITS

BASIC SECURITY BATON—400 CREDITS

Kyle looked over his list, feeling good about what was there. Currently, he had a little over one million credits available, so with just 10 percent, he should be able to purchase all his raw materials, along with a few hours of labor crafting. Looking at the frown on Rochelle’s face, however, he had to wonder what was bothering her.

“Are the prices listed really that unreasonable?”

She shook her head slowly, not taking her eyes off the projection.

“Not at all. It’s actually competitive with what you’d be able to purchase at cost back in Collective space. That’s part of what’s confusing me. However, I’m more concerned about the labor cost. Basic cutting and fitting of the material shouldn’t run this much. Unless I miss my guess…” She trailed off, tapping the bracelet and closing the projection. “It means our chief engineer is going to be overseeing the work personally. She’s a goblin named Themestra.”

Kyle paused to consider that. Early on, Chester mentioned that the chief engineer was a D Grade and also made it clear that they were likely not going to cross paths due to the number of responsibilities that they had. For her to suddenly be available to work on a side project was odd.

“What is she like?”

“I have no idea. I’ve never spoken a word to her. I’ve been on three deployments where she was assigned. Her quarters are in the engineering bay, and she has her meals delivered. Other than Chester, I don’t know anybody else that has really gotten much face time with her. Hell, she even manages her team through the nav bracelets.”

Kyle saw the look of confusion on Rochelle’s face and came to one conclusion. Great, more scheming. Kyle knew that Chester would be paying close attention to the requisition and that information leakage was going to happen. Why else would he involve the lead engineer? If anything, the fact that Themestra was involved at all was odd. He was out of his depth trying to out-scheme them, so instead he just shrugged.

“So long as the quality is worth the price, that’s fine with me. Where should we start?”

Rochelle considered for a moment before responding, “Let’s get to engineering and pick up the materials you’re looking for. We can have them get started on some of the fitting while we go to the quartermaster to get you some basic combat armor and the hydroponics schematics. Then we can head back to engineering to finish the fitting and have them begin the inscription work.”

Kyle nodded, and together they walked down the hallway away from his quarters. As they did, he asked, “Why did you join up with Corthian Mining? There has to be a safer way to make a living out there.”

She sighed, a wistful look on her face. “It’s about the adventure for me, Kyle. I’ve gotten to travel places that I never could have dreamed of, seen worlds beyond my imagination. It hasn’t always been an easy life, but it’s been a good one.”

A hint of playfulness entered her tone. “And this has by far been the biggest dumpster fire I’ve ever experienced on a job with Corthian. Ran into some weird local wearing bug shells, called himself the ‘Onyx Warrior.’”

Kyle groaned, which only encouraged her.

“Did you make sure to request that your combat armor is all black? Even if they charge extra, it’s probably worth it. Unified brands and all that.”

[YOU DO HAVE AN IMAGE TO MAINTAIN, DR. MAYHEW. WHY, THERE’S AN INTERESTING ARTICLE FROM SEVERAL NOTABLE CENTRAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGISTS THAT⁠—]

“I don’t think we’ll need the cross reference, C.H.A.D.D.”

[SUIT YOURSELF, DR. MAYHEW. JUST REMEMBER THIS WHEN PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED.]

Rochelle laughed. Kyle had to admit it was cute, even at his expense. The group chatted amicably as they descended into the bowels of the ship. Lights became dimmer, decorations less frequent, until they finally arrived before a thick metal door. A buzz on the nav bracelet indicated they were in the right spot, and the door creaked as it slid open, revealing a large workshop. Scraps of metal, plastic tubing, and puddles of various liquids littered the floor as far as Kyle could see. Long workbenches crossed every wall in the room, with a seemingly endless variety of tools hung haphazardly above.

“Wait right there! Don’t touch anything!”

The voice was somehow high-pitched and still sounded like gravel. There was a small avalanche of materials in one corner of the workshop, and a diminutive figure emerged. Even among goblins, Themestra was small. Barely a meter off the ground, she wore thick leather coveralls, oversized brown gloves, and her boots thunked loudly against the ground as she approached. Her ears were pointed and green, as was common among goblins, though Kyle really had to look closely to see the green coloration under the heavy layers of grime and grease. She strode right up to Kyle and looked up, eyes bulbous through her thick goggles.

“So you’re the kid that Chester sent.”

Shaking off his surprise, Kyle extended his hand in greeting.

“Kyle Mayhew, good to meet you. I’m not sure if you’ve met; this is Captain Rochelle.”

Before Themestra could respond, C.H.A.D.D. piped up. [I AM A CENTRAL HEALTH AUTONOMOUS DRONE, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR DR. MAYHEW’S POOR MANNERS IN NOT INTRODUCING ME. FEEL FREE TO CALL ME C.H.A.D.D.]

Completely ignoring Kyle and Rochelle, Themestra reached up and grabbed for the drone. Kyle hesitated but released his grip on the pack to let her take a look at it. C.H.A.D.D. was nearly as large as she was, but that didn’t stop Themestra from bringing him over to a slightly less cluttered table to begin an examination. She muttered under her breath as she looked at every side of the drone, and soon she was entering notes on a tablet.

“Themestra, all due respect, we’ve got a lot on our plate today. Can I see the materials that Chester mentioned?”

She continued to mutter, not reacting in the slightest.

“Themestra, I didn’t give you or anybody else at Corthian Mining permission to do a full evaluation of C.H.A.D.D. I’m here for the parts. If you’re not willing to provide them, we’ll be leaving, and I’ll see what else can be arranged.”

That seemed to finally grab her attention, and she looked up at him, blinking.

“The foreman told me I was supposed to analyze the drone. You’re telling me not to?”

Kyle rubbed his forehead.

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

She shrugged and walked away from where C.H.A.D.D. was lying on the table.

“That’s fine. Interesting piece, though it looks like a very early Kulhavey model. I’ll have to take a look at the other units that got brought in. Rune work is a bit sloppy, then again, his always is. Still, he puts out reliable tech.”

“Wait, hold on a second. You’ve heard of Marcus Kulhavey?”

Themestra shrugged as she disappeared behind one of the piles in a corner.

“He’s got a shop set up on Grai, near the Collective hub. Corthian looked at buying some units from him once, but his mining mechs were overpriced. Got to see some of his battlemechs a decade or so back, though. I’d love to have a couple of those on board.”

She returned with a comically large crate that she carried with ease, bringing it over to the humans and rummaging through it. In moments, several sheets of polished gray metal were laid out, as well as several meters of cable. Auric Perception alerted him to the mana coursing through it all and caused his skin to tingle. It’s real D Grade material.

As if reading his thoughts, Themestra said, “Here we are. It’s good material, though it can be tricky to work with.”

She turned to C.H.A.D.D.

“Chester mentioned you’re looking to get an upgrade to your case?”

[IN A MATTER OF SPEAKING. DR. MAYHEW IS HOPING TO GET SOME ENHANCEMENTS TOGETHER TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS IN THE FIELD.]

“That would make sense. I’m guessing he plans to use the same skill he did to make the armor he used to wear?”

Kyle froze, his heartbeat pounding in his chest. Themestra looked at him, eyes still comical behind the glasses.

“What, you didn’t expect that we’d buy that was a natural beetle shell, did you?”

“I’ve never even met you; how did you know?”

“People talk. I watched some recordings. It was good work for a non-crafter, too. Of course, there’s no substitute for specialized D Grade crafting skills.”

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed a hunk of scrap metal. Kyle felt a surge of mana from her small body and watched as the metal seemed to liquify in her hand. He felt more mana building a structure in front of her, and in short order, the metal flowed into the shape of a baton. With another flowing motion of her hands, Themestra poured more energy into the freshly created weapon, then grabbed it out of the air where it had been suspended. When she spoke, it was like a switch had flipped.

“If you don’t believe me, compare it to the similar weapons available at the quartermaster’s place. If you’re planning to do this kind of work on your own, you’ll end up with a second-rate product.”

She tossed the baton to him, and he felt the flawless balance after catching it. It was lightweight, though he had no doubt that it would at least match the quality of the weapon he’d made from the Wall. It was humbling to see something created so effortlessly, and a reminder that a lot of his work was still crude. Kyle frowned as he handed the weapon back to her.

“I don’t doubt that for a moment. I’m still not interested in letting all of you have free reign with C.H.A.D.D.”

Themestra smiled devilishly.

“What’s to say I haven’t already gotten a good look at it?”

He was getting tired of these stupid games. Feeling the heat rising in his chest, he spoke before he could stop himself. “Because I would have felt it if you had. And I would have stopped you, with prejudice.”

Rochelle’s eyes widened at the ice in Kyle’s voice, and she moved to stand between them. Themestra, however, did something unexpected. She started bawling.

Chapter 51

“That was scary! Why would you say something like that? It’s just rude!”

It had taken far longer than it should have to calm the goblin, who Kyle now realized was younger than she seemed, lacking a lot of world experience. Moreover, Kyle also realized the impact his presence had made on others. Despite everything he’d been through, he found himself still holding onto the notion that all D Grades were somehow powerful, overwhelming existences. It certainly wasn’t the case here.

Themestra was a pure crafter, with no meaningful combat abilities whatsoever. From what he could tell, she was still relatively early in the grade. Her raw attributes were enough to bully around the other engineers she employed, but against somebody like Kyle she wouldn’t stand a chance. According to Themestra, his threat was the single most dangerous moment of her life. In hindsight, he could understand it. Even though Rochelle was no slouch, if Kyle really wanted to hurt the little goblin, he certainly could. She looked up at him, snot dripping down her nose onto her leather coveralls. Rochelle was also looking at him expectantly, an eyebrow raised.

“I’m not going to apologize for telling you what I’ve told Chester over a dozen times.”

“You could at least apologize for scaring me so bad.”

[IT WASN’T A PARTICULARLY GOOD DEMONSTRATION OF BEDSIDE MANNER, DR. MAYHEW.]

Kyle shot an annoyed glare at the drone.

“Threats aren’t supposed to be good bedside manners, C.H.A.D.D.”

Then he looked back at Themestra.

“And threats are supposed to be scary. Otherwise they don’t carry much weight, do they?”

The goblin looked away, arms crossed.

“It was still rude.”

“And so is trying to manipulate me into letting you get a full breakdown of C.H.A.D.D.’s capabilities. Your crafting skill is incredible, don’t get me wrong. I just can’t trust that you’re going to work in our interests, so I’m not going to take the risk. If you’re still willing to craft the new pack to specifications, I would be appreciative. If not, we’ll find another solution.”

Themestra seemed to perk up a bit at the compliment on her skills. Kyle wasn’t exaggerating; he would love to have her work with the materials to create the pack, if she could. Still, it wasn’t worth the risk if she was holding a grudge. Fortunately for Kyle and C.H.A.D.D., she seemed excited about the project. She looked over the rough schematics Kyle had drawn, and in moments, a three-dimensional model made entirely of mana was floating in front of her.

“No, this won’t work… What if I…” She sniffed, wiping her nose a sleeve, leaving a smudge of grease on her cheek. “And the shape could use refining…”

She muttered to herself for another minute, seeming to get more engaged the longer she spent. Finally, the floating model disappeared. She looked up at Kyle.

“I think this could still be an interesting project. I know you wanted to have the rune work done around the same time, but I think it would make more sense to inscribe it after I’ve checked the fit. It’ll take an extra day in that case—shouldn’t change your cost.”

“We can work with that. We’ll be back later this evening. Thank you, Themestra.”

“And no more threats!” Themestra shouted, indignation in her tone.

Despite himself, Kyle grinned. “We’ll see.”

Leaving the hull material to the goblin, Kyle gathered C.H.A.D.D. and the cabling. He and Rochelle were almost out the door when he heard Themestra call after him.

“Take this, too!”

Kyle turned and had to drop the cabling to catch the baton whirling in the air toward him. He frowned at it, then looked back at her.

“It’s just going to add to the clutter down here.”

Kyle nodded his thanks, finished collecting his dropped materials, and headed toward the quartermaster. The three of them walked in silence, nobody wanting to broach the subject of what had taken place in the engineering bay. That was fine by Kyle, the whole situation had left a sour taste in his mouth. At this point, he was counting down the days until he could collect his pay and be done with Corthian Mining.

Some of the people were great. Rochelle, Skippy, Duroc, and most of the expedition members were fun to be around. Even though Benjamin was out of touch with how other people lived, Kyle enjoyed their conversations. Hell, despite his bad first impression, even Randolph had also grown on Kyle. He just couldn’t stand the politicking, secret agendas, and manipulation. The sooner he was away from all of that, the better.

If the engineering bay was cluttered chaos, the quartermaster’s office was precise machinery. A seamless flow of people walked in, scanned their nav bracelets, and walked out. There was barely time for people to stop, so Kyle was surprised when the quartermaster flagged for him to wait before handing over the bundle.

“Ah, Mr. Mayhew, sir. I just wanted to offer a sincere apology. We weren’t able to meet your special request with the time we had, but we hope that this will suffice for now. I’m happy to offer an exchange if we get the desired pieces in.”

Kyle frowned.

“So you don’t have the combat armor or weapon?”

“Not in the specified color, sir. The closest we had was a slate gray, nothing in black.”

Rochelle tried—and failed—to stifle a chuckle. Which quickly turned into a full-blown laugh. The quartermaster looked confused, and he shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

“This will be fine. No trade-in necessary.”

“I see you already have another baton. Would you like me to remove the one we provided?”

Kyle considered for a moment before shaking his head.

“That won’t be necessary. It never hurts to have a backup.”

Rochelle composed herself, and the two of them left the quartermaster shortly thereafter, the usual flow of traffic resuming. With time to spare, they headed to the training grounds, where they watched a handful of sparring matches between the E Grades. While there were certainly some skilled individuals, nobody struck Kyle as being exceptionally talented. Of course, relative to many of them, his technique in melee combat was still lacking. He made up for it between his attributes and Adaptive Anatomy, but he simply hadn’t had the time to make his fighting style more than a band-aid before he got skills that made better use of his attributes.

This was one of the biggest challenges he’d come to grips with. While he had some ideas on how to incorporate his skills using his basics as a foundation, Kyle had finally accepted that he’d never be a truly gifted melee fighter for his grade. His monstrous Willpower and Intelligence were the source of his true power, complemented by the natural durability his Adaptive Anatomy offered.

“Are you okay, Kyle?”

Rochelle’s voice was softer than he’d heard it before, and he saw genuine concern in her gray eyes. He offered a weak smile.

“I’ll be fine. Just lost in thought.”

“You know, it’s not against protocol to just watch the matches and enjoy yourself. It’s kind of the whole purpose of allowing spectators.”

The trio took a seat and watched sparring matches, with C.H.A.D.D. ensuring to record each. With so many different fighting styles and skills on display, Kyle thought it would have been a waste not to. He was just beginning to relax when he got a ping on his nav bracelet.

You have been challenged to an exhibition match.

Kyle frowned as he looked at the message and then at the faces of a number of the combatants he’d just watched. One of them, a burly man who fought with a large axe, called up to him from the entrance to the arena. “How about the Onyx Warrior comes and trades some pointers with us? No skills, we just want to see how we stack up!”

Kyle nearly groaned at the corny language, but the eyes of the combatants were just too earnest. He started to pick up the pack when another one yelled up at him, “Using your drone to map us out is cheating! Fight fair or not at all!”

At this point, the crowd was beginning to murmur as more eyes landed on him, and Kyle was already regretting coming. He put C.H.A.D.D. down and met Rochelle’s eyes, which held more than a little amusement. “I’ll be back shortly. C.H.A.D.D., keep Rochelle out of trouble.”

[CERTAINLY, DR. MAYHEW.]

Kyle walked into the arena, grabbing two batons from the weapon rack as he entered. He figured he’d be squaring off against one opponent at a time and raised an eyebrow as he saw all four of the challengers enter at the same time. Before he could comment, an announcement rang out over the speaker system.

EXHIBITION MATCH IN PROGRESS—MARTIAL ABILITY, SKILLS DISALLOWED. USE OF SKILLS WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION.

“I thought this was going to be exchanging pointers?” Kyle asked, eyes directly on the axe-wielder who had first called out to him.

The man grinned as his companions—two swordsmen and a woman wielding a spear—began to circle around him. “We’re not dumb enough to want to make it a fair fight against a D Grade. Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you too badly.”

Kyle was tempted to just walk out—after all, there was no consequence to doing so. On the other hand, it was clear that some of these people needed a reminder of what exactly it meant to face a D Grade. Kyle simply took his stance as his opponents advanced.

As soon as they closed within three meters, Kyle exploded into action. His movements felt more natural than ever before, each step feeling more precise. He expected this was a result of Covert Dexterity, and the man with the axe was the first to fall. He had raised the weapon in a guard but was too slow to stop Kyle from striking his wrist three times in succession, knocking the axe out of his grip. Kyle circled around him, landing several more stinging blows as the others closed.

Kyle effortlessly dodged a thrust from the spear and batted away a descending sword as his other baton caught the woman holding the spear squarely in the jaw. She reeled back as Kyle pressed the assault, disarming her while the swordsmen desperately tried to close the distance. From a technique perspective, they each had him outmatched. Unfortunately for them, the difference in raw attributes was just too much to overcome. In short order, the arrogant looks on his opponents’ faces turned to fear, and Kyle signaled he was done with the fight.

For all their bluster, they hadn’t been an actual challenge. Kyle wasn’t sure why they even bothered, until he walked out of the arena to see a stranger slowly backing away from where Rochelle and C.H.A.D.D. were waiting. Rochelle was standing up, hands resting on the hilts of her daggers. A wave of anger washed over Kyle as he activated Haste and dashed up to their location, catching more than a few looks.

The stranger paled upon seeing Kyle and scrambled to leave the training area. Kyle turned to Rochelle as he deactivated his skill. “What was that about?”

Rochelle smirked. “He wanted to rummage around in your purse, and I asked him how many fingers he’d like to lose if he did.”

“It’s not a purse; it’s a pack. And thank you.”

“Always a pleasure. Come on, they’re ready for us back in Engineering.”

The group left the training area and made their way to Themestra’s office. Upon opening the door, Kyle was shocked to see that somehow the workshop had gotten even more cluttered. What drew his eyes the most, however, was a sleek pack resting on the central table. It had sharp angles and looked to be somehow crafted from a single piece of metal. Well, after seeing Themestra’s skills, it probably is. Walking up to it, Kyle saw two plates at the top, which slid to the sides, creating an opening to place the drone.

Along the bottom was a set of holes, per Kyle’s specifications. He saw two small levers on each side, which would either seal or open the holes. The excuse he put in the schematics was to vent any debris or liquid that got inside, and they worked flawlessly. A grin crept across his face as a squeaky voice piped up.

“What are you waiting for? See if it fits!”

Kyle sensed Themestra when he walked in, picking up the D Grade mana behind a pile of clutter. He obliged, and C.H.A.D.D. fit snugly inside. With the flick of his wrist, the opening closed and sealed, leaving C.H.A.D.D. secured within. Kyle hefted the pack, which was a good deal heavier than the one made of insect chitin, though Kyle knew it was an order of magnitude more durable.

“What do you think, buddy?”

[THE PROTECTIVE POWER IS SIGNIFICANT. HOWEVER, THE MATERIAL POSES A PROBLEM.]

Kyle nodded, expecting what the drone was about to say next.

[AS THINGS STAND, THE MATERIAL MAKES IT PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO RUN SCANS. ESTIMATED FUNCTIONALITY RESTS AT 16%.]

Themestra strode up to him at that, a smug expression on her face.

“I told you that you should have let me look everything over. I could have found a solution for this. It’s not too late, you know. I bet Chester would cover the costs of a replacement pack.”

Kyle shook his head.

“It’ll be fine. How many inscriptions can you put into the pack to stay within my budget?”

“Three is the maximum in either case. There’s not enough material to successfully inscribe more, and you couldn’t afford more if it could.”

Kyle shrugged, but before he could respond, his nav bracelet pinged. Looking at it, he opened the message to see a list of runic inscriptions available.

“If what your drone said is right, you’ll probably want me to run three amplification formations. It’s a smaller version of what we use around the reactor, so that a D Grade reactor can push through the B Grade portals.”

Ignoring the mind-boggling information she shared for the moment, Kyle fixed his eyes on other options on the list. Two in particular stood out to him.

“How effective are the self-repair inscriptions? And what does the telemetry inscription do?”

“Self-repair is pretty cool, but it’s more of a ‘fix the everyday wear and tear’ instead of ‘shield me from a giant bug.’”

Themestra scratched her head as she thought about answering the other question.

“Telemetry is a little weird. It’s all about gathering information from long-range scanners, which is super useful on a ship like this. Except it’s not useful at all for something like the pack. The passive mana draw isn’t enough to power it, you’d need an additional formation for that. And even if you could power it, you’d need a means to use it and decipher the data, and the pack doesn’t have anything like that built in.”

Her eyes widened for a moment, and Kyle was worried she’d figured out more of how his ability worked. Relief flooded him as he heard the next words.

“That’s why you’re using the cables! You’re trying to find a way to hook the drone up to the pack! Gonna be tough with how snug the fit is, but I like the idea! I’d give it… a 20 percent chance of working if you try it. I could probably get it to a fifty-fifty. It’d be a risky play, but I like the idea. Chester will like the idea too, I bet.”

Her eyes twinkled, a smug smile on her face. It was clear she thought she’d won something, which Kyle was happy to grant her.

“I’m not going to give you full access to C.H.A.D.D.”

“Suit yourself. Either way, your safest bet is for me to put in three amplification formations.”

Kyle shook his head.

“I’ll take one of those, one self-repair, and one telemetry.”

Themestra’s expression got serious.

“If you get it wrong, you’re going to get a lot less useful. Once the inscription is done, I can’t just get rid of it. You’ll have blown all your credits for nothing. You won’t be earning them back if you can’t find a steady stream of resources. And when we get the broken units refurbished with this design, we won’t need you to find the treasures at all.”

“She’s got a point, Kyle. There’s no point in taking a senseless risk right now.”

Kyle met Rochelle’s eyes and only felt his resolve strengthen.

“I know what I want.”

Themestra shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ll have it done by mid-day tomorrow.”

With that, Kyle removed C.H.A.D.D. from the pack, parted ways with Rochelle, and made his way back to his quarters. The next few days were about to get busy.

Chapter 52

The next morning, Kyle got a notice that the new pack was being delivered to his quarters with instructions to activate the inscriptions. A member of the engineering squad dropped it off, shifting from foot to foot before he could pass off the package. Kyle was going to ask some questions, but the goblin was already halfway down the hall. When looking through the instructions, it was obvious that Themestra had communicated with Chester, and this whole set of circumstances felt right in line with what he’d expect from the foreman. Fulfilling the letter of the agreement perfectly and precisely, without any bells and whistles. At this point, however, it didn’t bother Kyle much.

He sighed in relief as he sealed the door to his quarters. This meant Chester didn’t know the full extent of Kyle’s crafting abilities, nor the abilities provided by C.H.A.D.D. itself. Before laying out everything he’d need, he closed his eyes. He focused on the sensations offered by Auric Perception, and satisfied there were no strange mana signatures, he set out a hodgepodge of components around the floor, with C.H.A.D.D. in the center.

“Are you sure you want to go through with all of this? There’s a risk that something could go wrong.”

[I’M CERTAIN, DR. MAYHEW. THIS IS THE PATH OF MY PROGRESSION.]

Kyle considered that for a moment, the words carrying weight. The drone was right. Just as Kyle’s path had become tied to survival and struggle, C.H.A.D.D.’s path had grown to complement his own. Part of him considered if that was fair and subsequently dismissed it. The end of the world wasn’t fair. So they would struggle, they would grow, and they would make a place for themselves.

“All right. Let’s get started.”

Tendrils of mana sprang out around Kyle, connecting first to C.H.A.D.D., then to the world tree seed floating in its strange space between. While he still couldn’t manipulate it, Kyle wanted to keep the connection active. Additional tendrils connected to the various objects around him, and Kyle focused his attention on the first major piece of preparation that he’d need to complete. Channeling mana into one of the barbs left by the giant spider, the Shadow, he focused his intent. Grow. He suspected this was a possibility, as the Shadow had consistently grown these natural weapons out of its abdomen. With a gentle crackling sound, the material began to shift.

This was some of the trickiest work before him, by the simple virtue that there was no easy hack to control or shape the growth. All the plant life they’d encountered was more efficiently grown with the drone’s assistance, and C.H.A.D.D. didn’t have meaningful strategies to control biological growth like this. Still, Kyle had experience to draw on, and Instinctive Intelligence proved valuable in helping him exert even finer control of his mana.

Still, Kyle didn’t want to leave this work up to chance. The components he was currently building would become part of C.H.A.D.D.’s inner workings, after all. Satisfied the growth potential was there, Kyle placed the barb into a particularly wide shoot of bamboo. There was a telescoping series of shoots, forcing the growth of the barb to narrow until only a thin layer of the material surrounded the hollow, syringe-like core.

Kyle had expanded it slightly as he grew the barb and gently ran the cabling through it. The D Grade material, despite being heavily infused with mana, was functionally immune to Kyle’s Parasitic Resonance. In order to maneuver it in the way he needed to, he needed the more pliable manipulation afforded by the organic material. As it grew through the narrowest piece of the bamboo, Kyle couldn’t help but marvel at the delicate-looking wire. He felt that he could still move it easily with his Willpower, but he had one more failsafe he wanted to put into play. Taking some of the silk that they’d rescued, Kyle painstakingly wrapped the creation to ensure the chitin would hold.

An hour later, Kyle had a length of wire nearly a meter long, coated in chitin and wrapped in mana-conductive silk. The tip still sported the razor-sharp edge of the barb. Most importantly, all the materials were truly D Grade. From what C.H.A.D.D. shared about its class, it didn’t necessarily fall into the classic progression through levels. Instead, it would assemble and assimilate different materials to grow into its next form. The fact that the drone had been able to interact so casually with the natural treasures from the forests was a testament to that, to say nothing of the world tree seed. Kyle hoped that C.H.A.D.D.’s abilities would add an extra edge to make the next step successful.

“This is the last chance, C.H.A.D.D. If I go through with this, the old formation won’t work anymore. You won’t be able to float again, at least not anytime soon.”

They’d discussed this at length. Kyle was essentially going to use the mana-conductive wiring to replicate and magnify the most basic formation C.H.A.D.D. had—the one that allowed the drone to draw in mana. The repairs made with the Infernal’s carapace served as a proof of concept, showing that a mana-conductive component overlayed on damaged runes could repair them. The levitation formation had been too complex for Kyle, though he was able to do a lot to repair the projections.

This was a different level of complexity altogether—effectively hijacking aspects of the levitation formation and overlaying one focused on collection. C.H.A.D.D. would be able to provide a detailed image, but it truly felt like he was about to go into surgery. There wasn’t enough material for another shot, and before they would know if he was successful, the existing runes would be scratched and damaged.

[I AM AWARE AND ACCEPT THE RISKS. YOU MAY BEGIN.]

Hours later…

“Damn it!”

[YOU HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD, DR. MAYHEW. THERE ISN’T ENOUGH MATERIAL TO GO BACK AND FIX IT.]

In his exhaustion, Kyle had missed a corner of one of the amplification runes, making it useless. The formation would still hold, albeit with marginally reduced power. At least, it would be marginally reduced if it was the only mistake. Of the hundreds of different shapes he had to form, he had now ruined six. The formation would still function, though it would be far below Kyle’s hopes.

Resetting his focus, he worked through the last three runes. The barbed tip gouged out existing runes as it created a thin furrow in C.H.A.D.D.’s hull, allowing the wire to rest inside easily. C.H.A.D.D. projected a constant screen of progress, and it was finally coming to a close. When the last was completed, he activated it with an infusion of mana before releasing his control on Parasitic Resonance. The mental toll of doing such precise work over hours was enormous. Furthermore, the difficulty of manipulating the D Grade material meant his mana reserves were largely spent. Exhausted, he went to lie down on the bed, falling into it with a loud thump.

Looking up at the ceiling, Kyle couldn’t help but feel frustration boiling in his chest. I should have had Themestra work on it. Maybe⁠—

[DR. MAYHEW, THE FORMATION IS BEGINNING TO WORK.]

Kyle grimaced. He and C.H.A.D.D. agreed the drone would offer a full report when they finished, and he wasn’t looking forward to being confronted with his failure.

[MANA IS BEING DRAWN IN AT ROUGHLY 64% OF ESTIMATES.]

“I’m sorry, C.H.A.D.D. Hopefully it isn’t too late. We can get to Themestra and see if she can do better.”

[WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?]

“Because you’ve lost over a third of the planned efficiency due to my mistakes.”

[DR. MAYHEW, A DEFUNCT SET OF RUNE FORMATIONS HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A FORMATION THAT, EVEN AT 64% EFFICIENCY, IS DRAWING IN MORE MANA THAN EVER BEFORE. CLINICALLY, THIS IS A CLEAR SUCCESS.]

“But—”

[DR. MAYHEW, PARDON THE EXPRESSION, BUT AS ROCHELLE WOULD SAY, YOU’RE GETTING ‘WHINY.’]

The unexpected phrase hit him like a bucket of cold water, and Kyle sat up to regard the motionless drone on the ground.

“I’m not whiny.”

[YOU DON’T HANDLE FAILURE WELL, DR. MAYHEW. PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU THINK OTHERS BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR FAILURE.]

Kyle was about to argue, but found he couldn’t. The drone got him again. With a sigh, he plopped back down on the bed, hands clasped behind his head.

“It’s a bad habit to keep feeding. I appreciate it, C.H.A.D.D. Any suggestions for how to turn it around?”

[FOR ONE, CONSIDER YOUR OWN WANTS. YOU SPENT ROUGHLY 10% OF THE COMPENSATION YOU ACCRUED ON ME. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT. HOWEVER, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT YOURSELF AS WELL. WHEN THIS IS ALL DONE, FIND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, AND SPEND TO ENABLE IT.]

Kyle chewed on the drone’s words while he stared, thinking meaningfully about what was ahead. What is my place in the universe? He didn’t have all the answers, but he realized that he should really start trying to find them.

Completing the rest of the improvements took the better part of three days. Kyle was proud of the work, with the pack containing several unique upgrades he was itching to test out. Even better, the refined work resulted in another level, bringing him to 34. With only one to go before his second D Grade skill, Kyle was eager to see what options were ahead of him. Both roads only led one direction: planetside.

* * *

Kyle took in a deep breath as he stepped off the shuttle. He’d put in a request to get some field testing done, and Chester sent him to assist with scouting out a particularly dense wetland in Central Africa. Kyle was eager to test everything out. The thick plates of the combat armor and increased weight of the pack would take some getting used to, and there was no better way to adjust than to get some exercise. There were more people on the shuttle than usual, and Kyle suppressed a grin. He knew Chester was equally interested in whether or not C.H.A.D.D.’s upgrades had come through.

“We’ll set up the camp. If you can scout a perimeter, we’d appreciate it.”

The captain’s voice brought Kyle back to focus, and he smiled at the man.

“With pleasure.”

Chapter 53

It felt good to stretch his legs. Haste active, Kyle made quick progress through the bog and mire. Covert Dexterity helped tremendously, allowing him to make nearly instantaneous corrections to avoid getting sucked into the mud. After the extended time he’d spent aboard the flagship, Kyle could safely say that he much preferred being on a planet. Soon, he was well outside the range of the camp, and Kyle felt comfortable speaking aloud.

“How is everything feeling, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[BETTER THAN EXPECTED, DR. MAYHEW. SCANNING FUNCTIONALITY IS 247% BETTER THAN BEFORE. MANA DRAW IS AMPLIFIED BY 108% ON AVERAGE.]

Those were significant gains. The improved mana draw allowed for the drone to put much more power into the formations it used to run its diagnostic scans, which was then improved even further by the amplification formation. Unknown to Chester or Themestra, connecting C.H.A.D.D. to the arrays inside the pack was fairly simple due to Parasitic Resonance. The tendril of mana would touch both, allowing C.H.A.D.D. to gain the benefits from each of them.

It took a little trial and error to get right, but thanks to Themestra’s unintentional hint about the cabling, Kyle figured it out. The last threads of the silk from the Shadow connected the drone to each of the distinct formations, only requiring mana to be channeled through them to finalize the link. The self-repair would be a viable long-term solution to the wear-and-tear that was natural to the work, and the amplification formation boosted C.H.A.D.D.’s scans far more efficiently than before. The telemetry formation, however, had a different use.

“Are you ready to test the ping?”

In response, Kyle felt a gentle draw on his mana through their connection. He heard a faint, barely audible click. A moment later, a full map of the surrounding area was projected in front of Kyle’s vision. He broke out into a broad grin.

[IS THIS SATISFACTORY, DR. MAYHEW?]

“It’s incredible, C.H.A.D.D.”

The drone’s absorption of the mosquito’s essence had been relatively disappointing, with the ability gained being the creature’s sonic attack. Given that C.H.A.D.D. had neither the mana pool nor physical means to create the sound, they hadn’t explored it further. Now, with the telemetry formation connected to the drone, they found a different use.

C.H.A.D.D. would grow, then snap a small frond grown from the fern spores. This would release more spores from the broken plant, effectively creating a sustainable source for the skill. The broken leaves were captured in the space below the drone, allowing Kyle to open the sealed holes to clean them out.

For all intents and purposes, C.H.A.D.D.’s link to the telemetry array created a fairly sophisticated sonar pulse. The sound wave gave a strong grasp of physical presences, while the accompanying mana picked up any anomalies. Kyle suspected that if they encountered the Shadow again, the oversized spider wouldn’t have been able to hide at all. Not that the fight would have been any easier, but at least it would have had a more difficult time ambushing him.

Still, it would take some getting used to. Kyle wasn’t entirely sure how to interpret the data in front of him, nor was he able to determine direction relative to his current position. C.H.A.D.D.’s navigational functions had become useless through the course of their travels. Even so, the headwinds were a long way from stifling Kyle’s mood.

“Can you estimate how large an area the ping covered?”

[I WOULD ESTIMATE FIVE TO TEN KILOMETERS, THOUGH IT’S DIFFICULT TO SAY. MY MAXIMUM-RANGE SENSORS, EVEN WITH THE BOOST, ARE CURRENTLY CAPABLE OF RELIABLE DETECTION WITHIN ROUGHLY THREE KILOMETERS. OVERLAPPING THAT DATA INDICATES A GOOD DISTANCE MORE.]

“Then we’ll keep testing until we get a better handle on it.”

They returned to camp several hours later, having mapped out the entirety of the surrounding area. Still, Kyle wore a grave expression on his face as he crossed the perimeter.

The expedition’s captain looked at him for a moment before speaking up. “What’s wrong with you, Mayhew? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“We’re going to be in for some trouble. We didn’t get a great look, but there’s a swarm of flies heading this way.”

“And you led them right back to us?” The captain’s voice carried a note of incredulity.

“They were already coming your way. The real option came down to facing them with me on your side or facing them on your own.”

The captain paled a bit at that. Over the months working alongside the miners, he’d grown to appreciate the value he was bringing to the table. If they didn’t trust he had their best interests in mind by now, he wasn’t going to bend over backwards to change their minds.

“Of course we want you fighting with us; I just didn’t think we’d have trouble so soon.”

“That makes two of us. It looks like something got them stirred up. Once we stabilize things here, I can go check it out.”

Of course, Kyle had a pretty good suspicion that whatever stirred them up was the mana signature that C.H.A.D.D. picked up. He wasn’t going to bring that up to the captain, though. For now, it was time to prepare for the swarm. The light was fading, and Kyle turned his attention to the horizon, where he could make out the forms of the large flies approaching, zipping through the air erratically. Another ping from C.H.A.D.D., and the drone provided an update.

[FORTY-SEVEN OF THE FLIES. THEY APPEAR QUITE SIMILAR TO A CREATURE ON THE CENTRAL HEALTH RECORDS, THE TSETSE FLY. IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE IF THESE MUTANT VARIANTS ARE CARRYING PARASITES, BUT BE ON YOUR GUARD.]

“Anything else I should know?”

[AT A NORMAL SIZE, THE BITES WERE SUPPOSEDLY QUITE PAINFUL. I IMAGINE THAT WOULD STILL BE THE CASE NOW THAT THEY’RE THE SIZE OF A LARGE DOG.]

“Thanks, C.H.A.D.D. Always useful.”

The flies were approaching, and bursts of fire and ice flew out from the miners. They took down a couple of the creatures, though the majority evaded the attacks without much issue. Similar to the mosquito, Kyle suspected that they had some means to instinctually detect the attacks in the air, giving them an opportunity to dodge. Unfortunately for them, Kyle had experience against this type of opponent.

Dashing into the fray, he took out both of his batons. Kyle had observed Frank and Arianna use a two stick style before, and with the smoothness provided by Covert Dexterity, he found his rhythm. Tendrils of mana whirled about him, connecting to flies and dropping them instantly. His weapons flashed, beating down the insects with rapid, successive strikes. One of the creatures landed on him, claws scrabbling at the combat armor before Parasitic Resonance connected and killed it.

Kyle noted with a frown that the new armor was somewhat of a downgrade. Thin scratches were present on its surface, while the carapace from the Wall wouldn’t have had a mark. Still, there was nothing else for it. Kyle continued his attack for another minute, stopping when there were no flies left. Turning back toward the miners at the camp, he saw mixed expressions of fear and awe. He had no doubt that they would have come out all right since they’d been prepared, though he expected that even in the best case, they would have seen casualties. The captain of the squad seemed to know this too and nodded at Kyle.

“That was impressive work out there. They told me you were a Healer, but you could give any of my team a real thrashing.”

“D Grade has its perks. I’m going to head back out and see what else is out there. We didn’t detect any other swarms like this one, but that doesn’t mean that it’s safe. Set a perimeter and post a watch.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kyle took off into the evening, once again feeling a sense of freedom as he moved. Despite the dimming light, between C.H.A.D.D.’s regular scans and his own adaptations, it was as if he was walking down a sidewalk at noon. The hazards that would otherwise prevent mobility just didn’t mean much to him. With Haste active, he made great time.

Kyle considered the skill as they covered ground on the way toward the source of the strange readings they’d seen earlier. The skill selection at Level 35 was still a wild card, but Kyle was fairly certain he would upgrade Haste next at Level 40, leaving Heal for Level 60. He just wasn’t sure exactly what direction he wanted to take it. Resonance had a clear weak point he wanted to shore up in its limited range, which made the focus leading to the upgrade much clearer. In this case, he had a lot of choices.

Before he could dwell on it too long, C.H.A.D.D. flashed a warning. Kyle slowed to a stop, looking out at the area before him. Not seeing anything, he frowned.

“What is it, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[I AM UNCERTAIN, DR. MAYHEW. HOWEVER, I’M PICKING UP ANOMALIES AHEAD. MANA SIGNATURES INDICATE SOMETHING POWERFUL, THOUGH IT DOESN’T GIVE THE SAME INDICATIONS I WOULD EXPECT FROM AN AWAKENED INSECT.]

The sun was just on the horizon, causing the water of the wetlands to reflect it. Hopping from one dry area to another, Kyle came across the source of C.H.A.D.D.’s readings, though his Auric Perception didn’t detect anything. A massive plant spread across a relatively clear pond, hundreds of long, flat leaves laying down like vines. On each end of the leaves were drops of sap that reflected the light of the sun in a brilliant display of color, and their purpose became clear as Kyle noticed other leaves, these coiled up toward the center.

Bodies of hundreds of flies were trapped inside these curled leaves. Kyle watched as acid melted the insects before his eyes. The foul liquid ran down the leaves and into the center of the plant before the leaves once more unfurled, with small drops of dew already forming at their edges. He stood, transfixed. In awe. And in fear. It was evident why Auric Perception, a skill tied to an insect, would struggle to detect a predator like this, specifically designed to catch them.

“Any idea what this thing is, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[I HAVE NO IDEA, DR. MAYHEW, THOUGH I MAY HAVE A SOLUTION TO LEARN MORE.]

“I’m listening.”

[IF YOU CONNECT TO IT, CONNECT ME AND THE SEED AS WELL. THERE’S A CHANCE WE CAN GLEAN MORE.]

Kyle was skeptical, but without another idea, he decided to try. One thing was for sure—he wasn’t going to get any closer than necessary. A tendril of mana reached out as Parasitic Resonance activated, connecting the plant, C.H.A.D.D., and the world tree seed. Immediately, a flow of mana akin to the first treasure the drone absorbed flowed through him. He allowed it to continue freely and was surprised to feel it move past C.H.A.D.D. and directly into the seed. Kyle was about to stop the connection when the drone interrupted.

[PLEASE ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE, DR. MAYHEW. THIS IS QUITE INTERESTING.]

Kyle acquiesced, and several minutes later the torrent of energy ceased. The leaves of the plant looked… droopier. If it was possible for a plant to look tired, this one did.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

[I THINK I’VE PUT A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER, DR. MAYHEW. THE SEED FOUND THE INFORMATION PARTICULARLY INTERESTING, AND I CAN FEEL REMNANTS OF IT THROUGH THE CONNECTION. I BELIEVE THAT ORGANISMS LIKE THIS CAN HELP TO ACCELERATE AND ADAPT THE SEED’S GROWTH.]

The implications of the statement were huge. Of course, Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. had very little to go on, but the idea of making the seed grow more quickly was appealing. Even with near-constant exposure to Parasitic Resonance, Kyle still couldn’t get it to react. If organisms like this could, it was something worth exploring. First, though, he had an important order of business. Watching the last moments of the sunset, a glimmer of beauty in a world doomed to die.

Chapter 54

The weeks wore on as Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. continued their field testing. A steady stream of mana-infused natural resources were secured, and Chester kept them moving from location to location, seldom staying in the same place more than a day or two. C.H.A.D.D., of course, found no shortage of different treasures that it wanted to absorb, and Kyle walked a fine balance between continuing to provide value to Corthian Mining while still providing fuel for the drone’s progression.

After locating a particularly rich haul of infused gemstones, Kyle got a note on his nav bracelet. It was from Benjamin.

Kyle,

Pulled some strings and got Chester to give you a break for a few days. Survey is almost done, and you know where he’s eager to go next. Let me know when you’re ready for a shuttle. I’d like to talk about what’s ahead, maybe do some exploring.

-Benjamin

The note was simple and straightforward. Kyle knew Chester was chomping at the bit to explore the territory of the last D Grade. He’d been accommodating of the request to allow for field testing, though at this point the results were clear. C.H.A.D.D. still possessed its uncanny ability to detect treasures, and the highest likelihood of finding something unique was the area protected by the final beast.

Though he had squared off against three of the beasts already, there was a building sense of dread in Kyle’s heart. Fortunately, the time they’d spent testing had also borne fruit. Kyle felt it after dealing with a group of cave beetles in the defunct emerald mine and found a quiet place to sit before entering meditation. He wanted to make his skill selection before going back to meet with Benjamin, after all.

KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 35 (D)

ADAPTIVE ANATOMY—6/?—ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH, CEASELESS VITALITY, INSTINCTIVE INTELLIGENCE, COVERT DEXTERITY

VITALITY: 641

ENDURANCE: 686

STRENGTH: 252

DEXTERITY: 487

WILLPOWER: 903

INTELLIGENCE: 903

PERCEPTION: 735

FREE ATTRIBUTES: 18

Kyle allocated his free attributes, putting the bulk into Endurance, with the remaining into Vitality. With a conflict on the horizon, even a slight edge in durability would be valuable. His current combat armor wasn’t much tougher than his skin, though every layer helped.

That done, he turned his attention to the three indistinct gray orbs floating before his vision. It was finally time for him to select his Level 35 skill.

Scout: The first gray orb was interesting, showcasing a skill unlike any Kyle had seen before. It looked like it built on the basics of his mana projection and would allow him to control a remote sphere of mana linked to his sense of vision. He had the impression of the glowing orb speeding through the air, unimpeded by the terrain. It was a skill designed to quickly cover ground and map his surroundings.

Tracking: Another unique skill, also tied to mana projection. Kyle saw the ability to leave a lingering mana signature on a target after coming into contact. It would serve as a beacon, giving Kyle information on location and condition. Even more, he could sense that it would linger based on his Willpower, which is to say a really long time, even for a D Grade.

Identify: The final option followed the same theme, though the application was different. Instead of projecting mana, Kyle saw that this was more closely aligned to the principles behind Haste, building upon the mana pathways in his eyes and drawing them into his brain. He’d seen similar skills at the hospital a lifetime ago, allowing doctors to diagnose patients without the need of a diagnostic drone. While this would be operating at a different level, he felt the foundations were similar.

Kyle considered the three choices before him, and he was honestly disappointed. He had been hoping for a skill with strong combat applications, or something that would provide a great deal of flexibility. Instead, he had what he considered to be three foundational treasure hunting skills. He had no doubt that the time focused on tracking down and securing all the resources for Corthian Mining were underpinning the selections, which concerned him. How much of his growth had been altered by forces outside his control?

Not now, Kyle. Focus on what you CAN control. Setting his disappointment aside, each of the skills did have unique potential. Even if it wasn’t what he wanted, any choice would further expand his toolkit.

The first skill to go was Tracking. It was interesting, and if Kyle was able to move past D Grade, he thought there could be some very interesting upgrade paths. At the same time, he felt that it just didn’t suit him. Kyle wasn’t a hunter, chasing down targets for a finishing blow. If anything, his fights ended in death more often than they should due to the offensive application of Parasitic Resonance.

That left the decision between Identify and Scout. He liked both, although they both felt a little redundant to him. C.H.A.D.D. provided a great deal of the utility that each brought to the table. So, Kyle could choose a skill that would let him more effectively explore the areas mapped out by the drone’s ping or one that would allow him to better understand the properties of the things he saw.

Kyle’s mind drifted to all the strange situations they’d stumbled into, the energies that both he and C.H.A.D.D. had absorbed without understanding what they’d done. That thought, in many ways, made his decision for him. He was tired of stumbling about in the dark, and Identify might just be what he needed to stand in the light. He selected the skill and hissed as he felt a searing sensation in and behind his eyes.

Blinking tears from his eyes as he stood up, Kyle signaled on the nav bracelet that he was ready for a shuttle. While he waited, he decided to test out his new skill. Focusing on a nearby tree, he activated Identify. The mana behind his eyes felt hot, and for a moment Kyle felt like something had gone wrong. Then, it was as if the tree had exploded into color. His eyes widened as he more than just saw the components of the tree—he understood them. The texture of the bark, the composition of the cells, the slow deterioration due to the chaotic mana… he could see all of it.

Even more, Identify seemed to interact in a strange way with Auric Perception. The adaptation allowed Kyle to sense the flow of mana in the air, and when used in conjunction with his new skill, Kyle could actually see the energy flowing. The chaotic red energy from the atmosphere covered the world in a haze, and internally he could see the tree try, and fail, to fully subvert the mana with its own.

Taking off the pack, Kyle decided to take a look at his drone companion. The swirling lights around C.H.A.D.D. were difficult to understand at first, though the longer he observed the drone, the easier it became. Kyle saw mana being drawn in, chaotic energy moving in concert with the drone’s own core. He saw the gentle glow of all the different rune formations that were being powered. And, as he focused, he saw a small thread of mana, glowing golden, flowing into… nothing.

“C.H.A.D.D., do you mind if I test something with the world tree seed?”

[NOT AT ALL, DR. MAYHEW.]

“I’m going to push a little more mana through the connection; I think I see where it is.”

Without waiting for a response, Kyle put more energy through their connection, watching as the golden thread intensified. It was as if the energy flowed into the void, without a single mote of light escaping. Kyle sharpened his gaze, using the experience with Haste to push more mana into Identify. As if peering through a keyhole, Kyle focused more and more on the golden thread, seeing it widen as more mana made it through the connection. Then he glimpsed it. For just a moment, he saw a world of color, the seed floating in its midst. Followed immediately by an incredibly sharp pain in his eyes.

Kyle deactivated Identify and immediately began channeling Adaptive Regeneration, also placing his left palm on his head and using a generalized Heal for good measure. Whatever he’d seen, it was overwhelming. As the pain abated, Kyle opened his eyes slowly.

“C.H.A.D.D., any damage that you can see?”

[NONE THAT YOUR SKILLS AREN’T ACTIVELY TREATING, DR. MAYHEW. MAY I ASK WHAT YOUR TEST ENTAILED?]

“My new skill lets me see and conceptualize the flow of mana. I wanted to try and take a look at the world tree seed through the connection, and it backfired.”

[THAT IS UNFORTUNATE. I’M CERTAIN THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VALUABLE LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCE.]

“I agree. Still, it’s not all bad. I’ve got a better grasp of how the skill works, and with practice, I think I’ll be able to refine it quite a bit.”

The two returned to the camp, chatting with the expedition members as Kyle activated Identify discreetly. When used on people, it was far more interesting. He got impressions not just of how their mana flowed but also of the type of class they had and a broad sense of their attributes. While that left a lot of question marks, it was great information to carry if things escalated into a conflict, particularly after his work on Earth was done.

He walked through the camp, parsing through the information, until his foot caught on a tree root and he nearly fell. Covert Dexterity in conjunction with his heightened attributes allowed him to avoid falling, but he frowned nonetheless as he deactivated Identify. The influx of visual information was great, but it was also easy to get distracted with it.

Finally, the shuttle arrived. Kyle expected that he’d be returning to the flagship to meet Benjamin, Skippy, and Duroc. Instead, he was greeted shortly after boarding by the skrell, who immediately asked if they could make some time to test out his newest skill against Storm Shelter. After punting that request to another day, he made his way to the small wooden table, where Benjamin had trays of pancakes waiting. The young man smiled and gestured for Kyle to sit.

“It’s good to see you, Kyle. I feel like it’s been too long.”

“Chester’s been keeping me busy,” Kyle said, sitting at the table and helping himself to a pancake.

“That’s why you should have come and worked for me! I’m much better company.”

Kyle was about to open his mouth mid-chew to defend himself when Benjamin made a placating gesture.

“I know, you have other responsibilities. I’m not going to argue with you about your choice. I just wanted to get some time away from the flagship and supervision to talk with you about what your life will look like after our work here is complete.”

Kyle nodded thoughtfully, taking another bite of his meal. These are incredible. Swallowing, he finally responded.

“What do you have in mind?”

“The first shuttles should be arriving in roughly three months. Once they show up, we’ll be on our way back to Collective space. If I were you, I’d strongly consider going with us. Once the survivors from your planet start pouring in, it’ll be easy for you to get lost in the shuffle, even if you’re a D Grade.”

His expression got serious, and he clasped his hands on the table while meeting Kyle’s eyes.

“I know the political bull has been frustrating for you. I get it. The sooner you can get your feet under you, the sooner you can get away from the company and all the eyes that are on you. I have some friends who are doing some leg work for me now to get some options together, and when I have them, we’ll talk about it.”

Kyle was surprised by the gravity of the man’s tone and nodded his agreement, adding, “I’m not going to promise anything, but I’ll hear you out.”

“That’s all I’m asking for. Now before we get to our next stop, I want to learn more about this ‘Japan’ place we visited before.”

Chapter 55

“The architecture was just incredible. Kyle, you wouldn’t believe how rare it is to visit a world on the frontier with such an emphasis on aesthetics.”

Benjamin was going on about their time walking through the ruins of Kyoto and how he wished Kyle had seen it. Kyle, for his part, wished that they had just showed up to help deal with the damn spider, and he might have actually had time to enjoy it. Still, despite the tinge of annoyance, Kyle had to admit that Benjamin had a certain charm to him. He spoke with animation and passion, excitedly gesturing as he regaled the high points of the travels so far. The conversation stirred a question in Kyle.

“You were eager to talk about what’s next for me, though I have to say I’m much more curious about your next adventure. What do you plan on doing when you get back?”

Benjamin shrugged; an easy smile plastered across his face.

“Who knows? It’ll all depend on whatever type of contracts Corthian has lined up. If there’s something interesting we’ll go; otherwise, we’ll probably head back to the family estates until an interesting opportunity pops up.”

“When you say family estates…”

“We own a small moon—it’s where our headquarters and family housing are. Offices in a couple notable Collective cities, of course.”

“You mean to tell me you own a whole moon?”

“It’s a small one. Maybe a quarter the size of your planet. It sounds more impressive than it is.”

“But your family still owns it.”

“Well, yeah. We’re far from the biggest faction out there, but my great-grandmother is a monster, near the top of C Grade. I’ve got two uncles at the C Grade as well, and a handful of cousins in the D Grade. For a group of humans running a mining operation, we’re doing pretty well.”

Kyle was quiet for a minute as he let that sink in. Themestra mentioned that Marcus Kulhavey had a whole manufacturing operation, and hearing about the extent of the wealth and influence of the Corthian Mining group had his gears turning. Just how powerful are C Grades? It was a question that had been fairly meaningless for most of his life, as even D Grades were incredibly rare. If having just a few was enough to carve out a niche like that, his whole sense of scale would have to change.

“I wouldn’t expect that just a handful of C Grades would be that big of a difference maker.”

Benjamin chuckled, a glint in his eye.

“You don’t know much about C Grades, do you? It’s a challenge to get a group of them aligned on anything.”

“Not that long after Earth awakened, we had seven of them. It just doesn’t seem like three C Grades should be powerful enough to claim a whole moon for themselves.”

This time, it was Duroc that spoke.

“It’s not rare to have a surge of powerful individuals come up after a planet awakens. The issue you run into with C Grades is how hard it is for them to progress. If D Grade is putting together a foundation, C Grade is building the entire structure. If everything doesn’t align, they stop moving forward.”

That made sense, at least to an extent. Earth didn’t have a lot of information about C Grade, and everything he could learn would be valuable.

“So if the issue is alignment, I’d imagine there are a lot of C Grades floating around, just very few working together?”

Duroc shrugged.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a lot—if only a small fraction of awakened have the potential to achieve D Grade, an even smaller fraction can make it to C. Otherwise, the alignment point is fair. Where I come from, C Grades get pushed out of their tribe to start their own for that exact reason. Warchiefs have to be able to make their own way.”

The orc had a faraway look in his beady eyes, and Kyle decided not to press the issue further. This was new information, and it built a framework for more questions another day. The conversation moved on, talking about Benjamin’s family estates and highlights from his other trips. Before Kyle knew it, he felt the gentle rattling as the shuttle began to descend. Benjamin stretched and stood as it landed, as Duroc and Skippy hurried to finish the last pancakes on the table.

“Where are we landing?” Kyle asked, realizing they hadn’t discussed it before.

“I wanted to see what your old capital looked like. You can tell a lot about a people by the way their leadership lived.”

As the group exited the shuttle, Kyle looked out at the ruins of what had been the sprawling city of Corwyn. From the sheer amount of crumbled concrete and broken glass, Kyle expected that they were near what had once been a series of high-rises or office buildings, all of which had been destroyed. It reminded him of the day his grandfather died—rubble as far as the eye could see. He stopped, taking it all in as he relived the memory. Even after all the time that had passed, it stung.

C.H.A.D.D.’s quiet voice broke him from his contemplation. [WE SHOULD CATCH UP, DR. MAYHEW.]

Skippy, Benjamin, and Duroc had already taken off, appearing to follow the coordinates on Benjamin’s nav bracelet. Kyle moved to follow them when he got an idea. Mana flowed through his eyes as Identify sprang to life, and Kyle got his first real look at the D Grade awakened.

Similar to when he looked at the tree, Kyle could see flowing mana superimposed on the figures of Skippy and Duroc. The two of them were lit up like beacons, with the mana flowing through the skrell seeming to burn like a wildfire, while the orc’s was a smooth flowing stream, timeless as a river. What’s more, Kyle also got an impression of power from each. It wasn’t as clear as when Kyle looked at his own center in meditation, but he still got a feeling for their general attributes.

He was surprised to see how close he’d gotten to Skippy’s level, with the skrell’s overall power feeling fairly similar to his own. At the same time, Kyle also had a clear understanding that Skippy’s attributes and skills were all heavily combat-focused, while his own were more diverse. Duroc, by contrast, felt significantly stronger than Kyle expected. Thinking back to their sparring session, it was now clear to him that his porcine acquaintance had been holding back, and not by a little. Kyle couldn’t help but wonder if Skippy and Benjamin knew how wide the gap was.

Most interesting to him, however, was actually Benjamin himself. While the man didn’t give off any major impressions of power, Kyle could see the mana around him moving in interesting ways. His clothes themselves seemed to filter and push the ambient energy away, and there were locations in both of his side pockets that gave off a faint aura. Kyle wasn’t entirely sure what they were, but it only made sense that he’d have something up his sleeve in case things got bad—even with his security detail.

He felt the strain begin to build behind his eyes and deactivated the skill. Already Adaptive Regeneration was at work repairing the minor damage, and Kyle felt pleased at the synergy developing between his skills. Haste was at a point where it really didn’t strain his body anymore, and he was confident with time that Identify would get to the same place.

Catching up to the group, he saw them gathered around a site of crumbled marble. Though he’d never been to the capital building before, Kyle had seen enough photos to know that this was the seat of the Central Authority Council, the heart of his world’s political power. At least, it used to be. Benjamin took out a tablet and began typing away with his free hand.

“What are you writing?”

“A cautionary tale about powerless politicians trying to play at being gods. I’ve learned a lot about your culture, Kyle. Whatever the original intention, it’s clear to me that your leadership fancied themselves a cut above the rest.”

Even though Kyle understood on some level that Benjamin was right, he still bristled at the statement.

“Life here was good, Benjamin. This attack wasn’t their fault, and it certainly wasn’t the fault of all the other people who died.”

Benjamin raised his hands placatingly, meeting Kyle’s eyes.

“I’m not assigning fault, just stating my observations. Earth was fairly low-grade after it awakened, and your leaders chose comfort over progress. That’s on them. If there had been more people like you around, the impact would have been far less severe.”

Kyle wanted to snap back, though he let out a sigh instead. There wasn’t a point arguing with somebody as privileged as Benjamin. The group walked around the rubble, Benjamin looking at odds and ends. Kyle found himself assisting in the search, until he felt a faint tingle against his skin as he sifted through some rubble. Frowning, he whispered to C.H.A.D.D.

“Do you pick anything up on your sensors?”

A moment later, he heard a soft click, followed by a response from the drone.

[DR. MAYHEW, THERE IS A DEVICE NEARBY DRAWING IN TRACE AMOUNTS OF MANA. IT WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN WORTH NOTING HAD YOU NOT MENTIONED IT.]

Looking to make sure that Benjamin, Skippy, and Duroc were occupied, Kyle activated Identify. Coupled with Auric Perception, he easily spotted the inflow of mana and moved to what looked like the remnants of an office. Moving the heavy stone, Kyle found a splintered and broken desk, inside of which was a small box. The atmospheric mana appeared to be flowing into it in a gentle trickle.

He considered how to open the box—as his Strength was still a way off from being able to rip apart steel with his bare hands—and he had an idea. Quietly placing several bamboo seeds into the seam by the hinges, he connected to them with Parasitic Resonance. The plants grew quickly, shattering as they tried to expand past the confined space. The hinges held a moment longer, then broke free, releasing the heavy lid. Kyle looked inside to see a small, familiar device. A Transportation Array.

His breath caught for a moment, and he quickly put it in his pocket. The device still drew in faint amounts of mana from the surrounding area, but without Identify active, the only way he could tell was through Auric Perception. He wasn’t entirely sure how the mechanics of the device worked, though he knew that it was something he wanted to hold on to.

Rejoining the others, the rest of the day was spent wandering through the ruins. Benjamin would toss the occasional question Kyle’s way, to which Kyle would offer what insight he had. It was almost funny to him that the trio viewed him as the de facto expert on all things Earth politics. Kyle reminded them—multiple times—that he was a frontier doctor with limited interest in politics. That didn’t stop them from asking questions anyway. Fortunately, C.H.A.D.D. was able to provide more insight through the various policies and procedures that it retained. As they boarded the shuttle, Benjamin turned to Kyle with a serious expression.

“Your next stop is the big one. We’ll be dropping you off; orders from both the family and from Chester are that we’re not going to be on-site this time.”

Kyle nodded, expecting as much. The deaths against the D Grade monsters so far had been a real black eye for Chester. Despite the mountains of wealth they’d extracted from Earth, the sheer loss of life had been well beyond their expectations. It made sense that there would be pressure on all fronts to limit the risk of collateral damage as much as possible.

“I’ll do my best to be careful.”

“See that you do. Something feels off with this, and I’d hate to see my future bodyguard get killed prematurely.”

“We both know it’s too late to hire me.”

“Hey, you never know what the future holds.”

With that, the shuttle took off, bound for the territory of the final D Grade beast.

Chapter 56

Their shuttle arrived just before dawn, the turbulence of the landing shaking Kyle as he prepared for the task ahead. Instructions came through on his nav bracelet, simple and clear. He was to scout the area and help set up the defense. Chester was planning on a confrontation with the D Grade, and without better intelligence he was relying on Kyle to test the waters. Literally, in this case, as they were landing in a clearing that opened to a sandy beach. Kyle stepped off the shuttle, turning to Benjamin, Duroc, and Skippy, looking each in the eye. “You three take care. I’ll see you again before you know it.”

Skippy smiled. “We have a sparring match scheduled for when you get back.”

Duroc snorted. “No, we don’t. Be safe, Kyle!”

Benjamin just shook his head, a wry smile playing across his lips. The door closed, and Kyle was alone. He looked at his nav bracelet and saw that there was a little over fifteen minutes remaining until the shuttle from the flagship would arrive. Given that he had some time, Kyle decided to make the most of it.

“C.H.A.D.D., can you do a quick ping of the area?”

He heard the click, and the projection popped up in front of him. Kyle was surprised to see the scans appeared to capture a bit of the water and still provided a clear image. He knew that old-world sonar worked that way and was glad that this departure from it still provided the information.

Based on the shape of the coastline, Kyle assumed they were at the edge of a larger island. Small shrubs and ferns dotted the beach, growing thicker and more numerous toward the center. The air was thick with mana, and it practically radiated off the water. This was as close as Kyle had been to the epicenter of the largest blast, and he was certain that any unawakened human would be in dire straits in short order. Even the awakened members of the expedition would likely struggle more in this area than anywhere else he’d been.

Most interesting to Kyle, however, were what he assumed were natural treasures. Dotting the small map were dozens of small, glowing motes—areas where C.H.A.D.D. detected anomalies. Each area he’d visited tended to have a primary type of treasure, with the seeds from the pseudo-world tree being the most valuable so far. Still, he’d helped uncover rare ores, soil samples, woods, and more. Who knew what he could find on an island?

Before taking off, he reviewed the map for signs of life. Scans showed that there were plenty of mutated insects, but he didn’t particularly care. None were giving off the mana signature of a D Grade, and at this point he was a seasoned veteran at dealing with awakened insects. He felt Haste activate at the faintest thought and took off toward the first treasure with a smile on his face.

As he ran, he marveled at the lack of human structures in the area. There had likely been some before the awakening, but years untouched had let nature take its course. Much of the dust in the air had cleared, and he looked up to see a brilliant blue replacing the oranges of the sunrise. The thought that this would all soon be gone forever tugged at him. Stopping fully, he looked around him. He was going to remember this sight.

He was rudely interrupted from his view as he heard a rustling from a nearby shrub, Auric Perception alerting him to the changes in atmospheric mana. His batons found their way into his hands, and a moment later he was swatting away a heavy blue claw aiming for his leg. A second was coming soon after, and rather than blocking, Kyle dodged back, using his second baton to intercept a long tail with a poisoned barb.

Kyle landed lightly and regarded the creature in front of him. It was almost two meters long, excluding the tail, though it was only a little taller than his waist. Two thick, blue claws clicked as the scorpion shifted its weight back and forth, its segmented tail thrashing wildly through the air. Kyle assumed he’d been daydreaming in its territory and for a moment considered if he should just move on.

He dodged another strike with the tail and took a step to leave when he felt the sand below his feet begin to sink. Identify bloomed to life in his eyes as he jumped to stand on some rocks nearby. He could see the mana flowing through the scorpion’s feet and into the ground, stirring up the sand. It lunged for him again, and Kyle sighed. A tendril of mana reached out to the creature, disrupting its technique in one moment and ending its life in the next. Physically imposing or not, any creature without a means to counter Parasitic Resonance wasn’t much of a threat.

He thought about making something with the scorpion’s body, though he quickly dismissed the notion. Ultimately, this creature was weaker than the Wall had been. Its carapace likely wouldn’t be a meaningful upgrade beyond his combat armor, and there wasn’t much point trying to fashion a new weapon. Although… Reconnecting to the scorpion, he broke off the final segment of the tail, where the venomous barb was located.

Identify active, he looked at the mana that still moved inside the toxins. It wasn’t nearly as potent as the venom from the Shadow, or the poisonous scales from the Eye. It looked to be primarily a neurotoxin, and he’d already experienced much worse. While he could still test it against his Adaptive Regeneration, he didn’t think it would ultimately add much value. What he did learn, however, was that Identify was able to help parse out the specific nature of the toxins at play.

Leaving the carcass, Kyle continued moving toward the location of the nearest mana fluctuations. The shuttle would be arriving shortly, and Kyle wanted to know what he was working with. Coming into a clearing, he saw a field full of beautiful white flowers. They each gave off a sweet fragrance, and the field itself seemed to thrum with energy. Focusing his gaze as Identify activated, he saw that the energy was leeching up from the ground itself, being drawn in by the flowers. Is it the water?

“C.H.A.D.D., what does your plant encyclopedia say about the flowers?”

[FIRST, DR. MAYHEW, IT’S QUITE DISRESPECTFUL TO REFER TO THE WORLD TREE SEED AS A PLANT ENCYCLOPEDIA. SECONDLY, THE IMPRESSION FROM THE FLOWERS IS INTERESTING, THOUGH IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING ORIGINATING FROM THEM.]

Kyle nodded. Products of the environment. That’s not to say they wouldn’t be valuable, just that they wouldn’t be something that he and C.H.A.D.D. would likely be able to find a lot of use with. Still, just to be safe, he picked a couple of the flowers, admiring the beauty of the mana flowing within, which seemed to shine brilliant teal. Checking his nav bracelet, he saw a tentative arrival in five minutes. He ran around the inner part of the island, locating more small fields like the one he’d just discovered. C.H.A.D.D. mapped out the island and surrounding coastline, and Kyle felt good about their position.

Making his way toward the landing zone, Kyle’s mind drifted as he tasted the salt on the breeze. Benjamin mentioned they had almost all the logistics organized for the evacuation and that shuttles would start arriving in just a few months. Whether he left early or waited until the last shuttles, Kyle’s home was going to be left behind again. It was strange thinking about trying to find a place in a universe so vast that Earth was a footnote in the frontier. On one hand, how could there not be a place for him? On the other hand, where would he even start looking?

Kyle settled on a rock and watched as the shuttle descended. People began to pour out like ants, getting to work on their various tasks and establishing a base camp. The captain sent him a message on the nav bracelet that it would be a while yet before they were ready to connect and debrief. Watching the crowd, Kyle quickly determined the cause of the delay. This crew was running with just over half the usual number, which caused Kyle to frown. There was a reason for it, but Kyle had no way of knowing what Chester had planned.

With nothing else to do, Kyle found himself fiddling with the Transportation Array as he contemplated the issue. The metal device was warm to the touch, a testament to the amount of mana it had absorbed. Looking closer with Identify, Kyle saw where different buttons on the device would activate different sets of runic formations. There were several runes that were familiar to Kyle from the telemetry formation, and others that were more closely linked to the collection formation he’d inscribed for C.H.A.D.D.

Currently, it was flipped toward collection. With simple changes, he could link it to two other modes, and Kyle suspected that the one associated with the telemetry formation would lock onto coordinates, which meant the most foreign portion would be the part that tapped into the collected mana to move them. He had no idea if it would work off-planet or not, but he figured that one way or another he was going to try to make a visit to Marcus Kulhavey’s operation. With luck, he’d be able to meet the man and learn more about the arrays.

A buzz on his nav bracelet snapped him back to the present, and Kyle put the Transportation Array back in his pocket as he made his way to the captain. They exchanged introductions, and the man’s nervous demeanor put Kyle more on edge.

“Any idea why they sent you into an area this dangerous with a ghost crew?”

“None at all, sir. Either way, we’re here. What are we working with?”

“Relatively small island, some dangerous creatures, but nothing a squad of three or four shouldn’t be able to handle, at least until I get there.”

The captain seemed surprised at that, raising an eyebrow.

“No D Grade, then? Or did you kill it already?”

“Definitely didn’t run into one, but with luck we’ll be fine. If I’m guessing correctly, it’s going to be in or near the water. As long as we stay inland, this should be simple.”

The captain’s eyes widened at that, and his tanned skin took on a pale shade.

Kyle groaned.

“What did you do?”

“Sir, we had no idea⁠—”

He was interrupted by the sound of a loud explosion coming from the beach.

Chapter 57

The captain looked around with wide eyes, which Kyle had no patience for. Grabbing the man roughly by the collar, he pulled him closer.

“I asked what you did. Tell me, now!”

The man gulped, then took a deep breath before finally responding, “We picked up some interesting mana signatures from the sea floor and dropped some reconnaissance units to get a better picture. I swear, that’s it!”

“How many units?”

“Eleven, sir.”

Kyle swore. He’d planned on confronting the D Grade eventually, though he’d hoped to have more time to plan the encounter. Instead, this moron left a trail of resources right to the camp.

“Get your men back to the shuttle and take off as soon as you can. I’m not going to be able to protect your people when the fight kicks off.”

Without waiting for a response, Kyle darted toward the beach with Haste active. He heard a soft snap from behind him as C.H.A.D.D. broke a fern frond, activating its map. The salty air rushed past him, followed by a projection of the area. A powerful mana signature was at the edge of C.H.A.D.D.’s range, moving through the depths of the water toward the shore.

Another explosion rang out, and Kyle heard frantic screams. The white sand beach came into view, and Kyle saw three of the expedition members running toward him, not pausing to give him a look as he passed them. There was an unmoving form on the beach, a woman’s body lying still near a large crater in the sand. A surge of revulsion and disgust moved through him at the sight. These bastards just left her. Before he had a chance to examine the area more thoroughly, Auric Perception alerted him to a large movement of mana. Moments later, he saw the pristine blue water swell, then explode out toward the beach.

The blast ripped a trench through the beach, sending a cascading wave of sand and steam skyward. Another crater was formed, and Kyle took in the scope of the attack. Not as powerful as the Eye. It was an impressive attack, though it lacked the magnitude of the giant moth’s blasts of wind. Another click sounded behind him as C.H.A.D.D. updated its map, and Kyle saw the creature approaching even closer from the water. Soon, it should be in sight.

Looking around, Kyle opted to stay back toward the edge of the forest. If possible, he didn’t want to get dragged into a close-ranged fight in the water, nor did he want to fight in the sand. The rockier ground where he stood provided more secure footing, and Kyle hoped the beast wouldn’t be able to use the same large-scale water attacks from the shallower water near the shore. He could feel the beast through his Auric Perception, and he grabbed a handful of bamboo seeds from the bottom of the pack, scattering them in the area before him.

As he watched the water, he activated Identify. The first thing he saw break the surface were two angry, violet eyes. The orbs appeared to be on stalks, followed by the creature’s head. Its carapace was a resplendent rainbow sheen, catching and reflecting the light of the sun in a cascade of colors. Kyle could see the mana flowing through it, a fierce storm of energy suffusing every cell of its body.

He met the gaze of the creature and nearly flinched as he saw swirling mana condense into its eyes, focused on him. It has an optical skill as well. Kyle felt exposed as it regarded him, its eyes glowing with the power of its skill. There was a quiet moment as the two of them sized one another up. The sounds of the waves crashing against the shore were the only things breaking the silence.

Kyle felt mana slowly condensing in the water near the creature and braced himself. He anticipated that there would be another explosive blast and was taken by surprise as the water began to swirl around the beast, then rise into the air like a tornado. The water spout climbed ten meters into the sky, and Kyle was forced to dodge to the left as a superheated blast of water was shot out from the tower and struck the area where he’d been standing. He heard the sound of debris clattering off of his armor, and the cloud of steam and sand obscured his vision.

C.H.A.D.D., fortunately, was not hampered. An orange flash of warning sprang to life before his eyes as Kyle continued moving, dodging two more blasts. The drone projected an image in the corner of Kyle’s field of vision, and risking the glace, he got a full picture of his opponent.

It looked like a strange cross between a lobster and a shrimp, with three sets of claws held tightly to its upraised torso. Its abdomen had multiple thick legs covered by an armored skirt that rested over them, and from what he could see, the creature’s entire body was as brightly colored as its head. Multiple long whiskers extended below its eye stalks, making it appear to have a large, bristly moustache.

Despite its strange appearance, the sheer amount of water it was controlling gave Kyle a good idea about its specialties. That, and the fact that he had one attribute that hadn’t been improved by Adaptive Anatomy. This thing is a mage. Kyle wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the first vision he’d seen, but looking at it now, he felt confident that it was a ranged combat specialist. Given the complexity of what he’d seen in the creature—that he’d taken to calling the Storm—Kyle also knew that it had a lot more options available than just shooting out the explosive blasts of water.

That meant he wasn’t entirely surprised as a thin jet of water punched a hole through his shoulder pauldron. The combat armor blunted the strike, and against his absurdly high Endurance and Enhanced Carapace it didn’t manage to break skin. On the other hand, it was such a quick technique that Kyle hadn’t seen it coming.

“C.H.A.D.D., keep an eye out for⁠—”

Another lance of water struck him in the chest, interrupting his thought. Then a third hit his leg. It caused him to stumble just long enough for one of the larger blasts to hit him, and the explosion sent him flying away toward the forest. Steam burned his lungs as he breathed, and he felt the concussive force of the blast all the way through his body. It wasn’t a big enough hit to take him out of the fight, but it still hurt like hell.

Without waiting to be struck again, Kyle reached out tendrils of mana to some of the bamboo seeds he’d spread across the area. The blasts had scattered them further, though there were still plenty to create small pockets of cover. C.H.A.D.D. helped guide the mana, and in moments, the bamboo had grown to a respectable height. Jumping behind the barrier he’d created, Kyle breathed out a quick sigh of relief as Adaptive Regeneration soothed the aches.

“Tell me what you’ve picked up, C.H.A.D.D. What’s the play?”

A blast of steam struck the wall of bamboo, and Kyle dashed away as a second explosion blew it away entirely.

[IT IS AN INTERESTING ORGANISM, DR. MAYHEW. IT APPEARS TO BE DRAWING IN AMBIENT MANA DIRECTLY FROM THE WATER. DESPITE ITS ATTACKS, I AM NOT DETECTING A NOTICEABLE DECLINE IN THE QUANTITY OF MANA FLOWING THROUGH IT.]

“So the Storm is using the ocean like a battery?”

[ASSUMING YOU’RE REFERRING TO OUR ADVERSARY, THAT’S AN APT DESCRIPTION.]

Kyle considered his options as he dove behind another wall of bamboo, hissing from the lance of water that grazed his thigh. He was currently out of range to use Parasitic Resonance, and given the height of the Storm’s tower of water, he would have to be practically right under it in order to cover the distance. Getting that close provided other challenges, as dodging the Storm’s attacks even at this range was difficult. The closer he got, the less time he would have to react. No matter how he sliced it, he would take hits. Unfortunately, without an effective means to fight back at this range, Kyle didn’t have many choices.

He was reminded of his fight against Carlyle and his general lack of options against enemies who could bombard him from a distance. He’d made progress with Storm Shelter and Parasitic Resonance, but that was a weakness he’d need to keep working to shore up.

Another explosion rocked the beach, and Kyle dashed out amidst the sound of splintering bamboo. A lance of water caught his side, followed by a second that scored the back of his neck. Next should be the blast. Kyle was beginning to piece together the pattern—the Storm could use two of the lances in quick succession, then seemed to need to recharge, relying on the larger and less precise strikes. A surge of mana was Kyle’s warning, and he activated Storm Shelter.

The blast slammed into his shield without leaving a mark, and he deactivated his skill as he continued his dash, ducking under another large blast that was aimed for where his barrier had been moments before. As he closed in, he could feel the tremendous energy flowing into the beast from the ocean. Kyle was still in good condition despite taking some hits, but the Storm didn’t appear to have exhausted a single drop of mana.

The beach had been ripped apart by the continuous bombardment, peppered with craters and trenches from the series of attacks. The woman’s corpse was buried under a new mound of sand. The closer he got to the creature, the more confident Kyle felt that he’d have to find a way to remove it from the water. He grunted as two more lances of water pierced his armor, this time drawing blood as the pressurized beam finally managed to pierce his skin. Adaptive Regeneration was already at work patching up the damage, but it reinforced what Kyle knew. As long as it was immersed, it was invincible.

As Kyle closed in on the edge of the water, the Storm did something new. The sea seemed to come to life, and waves infused with mana surged around him before crashing down. Instinctively, Storm Shelter sprang to life, holding back the tide. The water retreated, then slammed into the barrier again, submerging it.

With Identify active, Kyle saw the distinct pattern and flow of the Storm’s mana in the water all around it. It was mind-boggling just how much water this creature could move and shape, even with its mana being continually replenished. Controlling the water spout it rode in conjunction with all the waves were feats Kyle doubted he had the power to match. A pit formed in his stomach as he considered the implication. Parasitic Resonance relied on Willpower to directly damage an opponent, and in the Storm, he may have met his better.

The waves retreated, preparing to crash down again, when suddenly they paused. Looking up, Kyle saw the attention of the creature shift skyward, and as he followed its focus, he saw its target. The Corthian Mining shuttle had taken off. And they were flying directly past the monster.

Chapter 58

Kyle felt the mana begin to build within the pillar of water and knew with certainty that the shuttle was within striking range of the Storm. At the same time, he was still under pressure from the water surrounding him on all sides. He could try to distract the creature and draw its attention, and if he did, there was a chance the shuttle could escape. It would also leave him exposed, outside of Storm Shelter, and at the Storm’s mercy. Time seemed to stand still as Kyle felt the final moments of the mana building, knowing what he needed to do, and hating it.

[DR. MAYHEW⁠—]

“Not now, C.H.A.D.D.”

A second passed, and a blast of water exploded against the side of the shuttle, followed by another. The vehicle rocked, and a continued barrage of attacks met it in the air. Blow after blow smashed into the hull, and if Kyle had been watching, he would have seen the glowing runes along the sides sputter and fade before the shuttle fell into the water.

The moment the Storm launched its attack, Kyle sprang into action. Pushing energy into a handful of seeds, C.H.A.D.D. acted as the catalyst for explosive growth. The bamboo lifted him like a pole vault into the air, deactivating Storm Shelter at the last possible moment. He felt the water close in on him as the reeds pushed him through, tendrils of Parasitic Resonance already reaching skyward toward the monster.

He felt the mana connect and immediately encountered a level of resistance only exceeded by the world tree seed. Kyle knew he wouldn’t be able to land a decisive blow right awa and instead focused his effort on something he could control: disrupting the Storm’s control. While the creature had enormous amounts of Willpower, maintaining its grip on the water had to require incredible concentration. Identify showed him where the mana branched out and flowed into the water, and he had his targets.

The Storm noticed the intruder, but it was too late. Vines wrapped around Kyle’s left arm as they also reached toward the beast, ensnaring several of its claws as he drew closer to it. Kyle gritted his teeth as he forced his mana through, connecting to the feather-like plates along its abdomen. The lower body of the creature was still submerged in the water, and Kyle could see that it was using each of the feathers as a sort of anchor to the sea. Focusing his Willpower against the feathers, he felt himself lurch in the air as the pillar of water fell apart, both he and the Storm plummeting to the ocean below.

Kyle could see mana flowing around the creature, desperately trying to draw the water back in. With Kyle actively destabilizing the connection, however, it didn’t have the opportunity. Still, Kyle knew he was in trouble. In moments, they would fall into the water, and the Storm would once again have home field advantage. It was time for a gamble. Pulling the device out of his trouser pocket, Kyle activated the Transportation Array.

His perspective shifted as he saw a kaleidoscope of color, and he fixed his mind on a familiar sight—a field of flowers. Kyle had no idea if it would work, but he pressed the second button, activating the final formation in the array. They landed in the water, right as the world around them began to blur.

Kyle felt a wave of heat, a blast of concussive force, and then he fell hard on the ground. He coughed up water as he got to his feet, feeling light burns across his skin. The vines that had wrapped around his left forearm had been ripped free, ripping the bracer on that arm free. He was standing in the center of a flower field, possibly the same one he’d visited earlier. His clothes were drenched, a puddle forming below him as he stood.

“C.H.A.D.D., are you okay?”

[THIS NEW PACK IS DELIGHTFUL, DR. MAYHEW.]

While that wasn’t really an answer, Kyle didn’t have time to go back and forth with the drone. Just two meters away, the Storm was clambering to its feet. It seemed disoriented, though Kyle didn’t expect that would last for long. Even as the tendrils of Parasitic Resonance reached out to the creature, Kyle got his first really good look at the Storm.

The monster stood nearly two and a half meters tall, with its abdomen roughly the same length. It had six forelimbs on its upraised torso—four thick, lobster-like claws that were tightly tucked into its chest and two that were longer and narrower, almost resembling fishing harpoons, which rested at its side. The plates along each side of its abdomen gave off a rainbow glow in the open sunlight, the effect only magnified in Kyle’s vision due to the raw mana flowing through them. Thick, crablike legs supported it, barely visible under the feathery armor.

As soon as Parasitic Resonance connected, violet eye stalks focused on Kyle as its whiskers thrashed violently. Kyle could feel a palpable air of malice radiating from it. It matched his Willpower, and the two stood motionless for a moment, each trying to wrest control. Slowly, bubbles of water began to rise, though they didn’t appear to be focused on attack. Instead, they swirled up and around its head, forming an odd, astronaut-like helmet of water.

The moment the last droplets entered the helmet, the Storm burst into action. The four, thick claws it kept close to its chest exploded out with incredible force, each accompanied by a sound like a cannon. Taken by surprise, shockwaves ripped into Kyle, and he was able to hear audible cracks as the damaged pieces of his armor began to break apart. He could taste iron in his mouth, and he spat out blood as he caught his footing, barely managing to weave to the side as one of the longer, spear-like claws pierced the air where his heart had been.

Now that he knew what to look for, Storm Shelter sprang to life around him as another round of thundering blows was released. They pounded into his shield like a repeating cannon, and Kyle was reminded of Skippy’s chain attacks. Unlike the skrell, however, the Storm hadn’t been training specifically to break through Kyle’s defenses. The shield held, and he used the moment of reprieve to analyze his options.

“C.H.A.D.D., what weak points are you picking up?”

[VERY FEW, DR. MAYHEW. THE SHELL IS REMARKABLY MANA-DENSE. AS USUAL, THE JOINTS AND THE EYES ARE LIKELY GOOD TARGETS.]

Looking at the creature, Kyle highly doubted that his baton strikes would do much damage. Its carapace was simply too thick, and there was no way Kyle was getting close enough to hit it in the eyes. With Parasitic Resonance still connected and working, Kyle just hoped that he’d be able to get the upper hand in time. The speed of the Storm’s attacks was frightening, and even with Haste active, he wasn’t confident in dodging all of them.

Despite that, Kyle felt the crustacean’s mana begin to deplete. Each attack was only a small slice of its overall pool, but now that it wasn’t connected to the ocean, it didn’t have an endless source of replenishment. In a battle of attrition, Kyle felt confident in his abilities.

“Do you think you can do anything with the grass?”

[I SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH.]

“All right. When I drop the shield, we’re working on entanglement.”

A moment later, the blue glow of Storm Shelter faded away. Kyle could see the energy building in the Storm’s claws, preparing for another round of attacks. He dashed to the left, avoiding most of the shockwaves. At the same time, the grass and flowers around the crustacean’s legs began to grow, winding and turning about its legs. It was able to rip them free with relative ease, but it slowed the beast just enough. Kyle got to the Storm’s side and jumped onto its abdomen, directly behind its torso.

The creature thrashed wildly, clearly displeased by Kyle’s action. Vines began to extend from one of the holes in the C.H.A.D.D. pack, and soon Kyle had bound himself to the creature’s torso. It continued to spin and scuttle wildly, but it was unable to dislodge the stubborn Survivalist.

Kyle let out a small sigh, thankful his gambit had worked. The creature had absolutely incredible attack power in the area in front of itself, which likely served it well underwater, where it had ease of movement. He’d banked on the creature being unprepared to deal with the same issue on the land. Firmly nestled in, Kyle allowed Parasitic Resonance to work.

Slowly, he was gaining ground against the Storm’s Willpower. He estimated the creature to possess around 1000 points in the attribute, just slightly above Kyle’s own 903. In the relatively short span that they’d been connected, Kyle felt as though they were roughly evenly matched. Given more time, Kyle knew that the fight was a foregone conclusion. That is, until the Storm changed tactics.

He felt the mana in the air around the creature begin to shift, at first attributing it to the ground he was gaining. Soon, however, it was clear that something was wrong. C.H.A.D.D. detected it a moment later.

[DR. MAYHEW, I RECOMMEND EXTRICATING YOURSELF FROM THE VINES.]

Kyle hesitated for a moment, unsure of the best course of action. What can it do to me up here? Before he had a chance to explore that further, his world went white with pain. It was as if something was trying to tear apart every cell in his body. He felt the vines around him crumble away and fall off the Storm’s back, landing on the hard soil. Where is the grass? Where are the flowers? He rose on unsteady legs, and his eyes widened as he beheld the skill on display.

From where he’d been positioned, Kyle wasn’t able to see the feather-like plates on the Storm’s abdomen. He assumed that, without being surrounded by water, their function in the fight was over. He was wrong. They each glowed with power as they floated parallel to the ground, showing the creature’s legs beneath. In a small circle around the monster, all the plant life had withered away. The moisture in the soil was gone, leaving cracked, dry earth.

It was trying to rip the water out of my body, Kyle realized, horror setting in. His natural defenses warded off the worst of the attack, though looking at the scene before him, he knew he was in trouble. Droplets of water floated around the Storm as it turned to face him.

A spear-like claw exploded toward him, while simultaneously dozens of droplets sped his way, each heavily infused with the Storm’s mana. He dodged the claw, gritting his teeth as the droplets carved away at him as they passed. The second spear aimed for his chest, and he barely managed to push it down and to the side, resulting in a furrow along his ribs.

Storm Shelter sprang to life as a series of explosive punches from the other claws rained into it, and Kyle panted heavily with exhaustion. Blood was running freely down his cracked and damaged body. Parasitic Resonance was still connected, though at this rate it wouldn’t ramp up fast enough. He worked on mending his injuries as he stared through the barrier at his opponent. The Storm had surpassed every expectation. It would only be a moment of reprieve before their battle would resume, and it was one Kyle wasn’t sure he could win.

Chapter 59

Kyle felt his wounds closing as he regarded the Storm, which had stopped attacking his barrier. Identify showed him that the mana coursing through the crustacean had reduced significantly, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He was still in dire straits, but the monster wouldn’t be able to pull a repeat of the attack it had just used, at least not soon. For now, it seemed content to wait for Storm Shelter to fade away before renewing its onslaught.

“Any ideas, C.H.A.D.D.?”

[NOTHING YOU WOULD FIND PARTICULARLY HELPFUL, DR. MAYHEW.]

“Worth a shot. What’s our inventory of seeds looking like?”

[STILL FAIRLY DIVERSE. THE ATTACK THAT HIT YOU DIDN’T SEEM TO PENETRATE THE INSULATED SHELL OF THE PACK.]

That’s something, at least. While Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. mostly carried bamboo with them due to the quick growth and reproduction, they did have several other seeds they’d accumulated. He’d used all of their vines, but that still left two small acorns, some fern spores, and some of the strange sundew plants. And the world tree seed, of course, though it seemed as stubborn as ever.

“Any new weak points come up during the last exchange?”

[I BELIEVE I UNDERSTAND NOW WHERE IT BREATHES, DR. MAYHEW. WHETHER OR NOT THAT’S USEFUL, I’LL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU.]

With that, the drone projected an image of the Storm, then highlighted several places around and to the side of its whiskers. The whole area was covered in a bubble of water, and an idea began to form in Kyle’s mind.

The barrier of Storm Shelter began to fade, and Kyle placed a bamboo seed in each hand as he focused his mana into them, allowing C.H.A.D.D. to guide the growth. Covert Dexterity had allowed for a seamless integration of his combat technique, and he felt it was time to test the evolution he and C.H.A.D.D. were developing.

The moment two full-sized batons had finished growing, the shield dissipated. Kyle expected the spear claws to be the opening strike, and he wasn’t disappointed. He parried the first to the side with his left hand, then swatted the second strike above his head as he closed the distance low. Next is the blast. Two of the smashing claws fired out simultaneously, and he ducked below the shockwave.

The concussive force as it hit the ground behind him made him miss a step, and four of the floating water droplets managed to strike him. The damaged armor plates on his right shoulder and chest let out a final crack before falling to the ground, the damage from the D Grade engagement simply too much for them to handle. They had done their job, as Kyle rose with both batons flashing upward.

His first attack smacked straight into the bubble, while the baton in his left hand was blown away by a quick shot from one of the smashing claws. He brought the baton in his right back down, and it, too, was intercepted. This time, however, Kyle was planning for it. With a surge of Parasitic Resonance, he shattered the bamboo, releasing a small cloud of fern spores into the air.

Leaving only a single tendril connected to the Storm, Kyle wove Parasitic Resonance through as many of the seeds as he could and felt the mana drain out of him as a curtain of foliage bloomed to life between him and the crustacean. A spear-like claw burst through, punching a hole in his left shoulder. Kyle grimaced as he felt the sharp carapace scrape against bone, the pain amplified by Haste.

Still, the roots of the ferns continued to grow, reaching out toward the best source of moisture—the body of the Storm. Its claws got tangled, and the creature scuttled backwards as it thrashed, easily ripping apart the vegetation. All the while, Kyle continued to push with Parasitic Resonance, slowly gaining some control. Between C.H.A.D.D.’s scans and Identify, he had a good understanding of where the Storm channeled most of its mana. Focusing on the feathery plates on its abdomen, Kyle twisted his mana.

The material was incredibly dense, and Kyle didn’t let up. A moment later, he heard a satisfying series of crunching sounds, as one after another the feathers crumpled, the mana pathways within destroyed. The Storm writhed in pain, finally free of its bindings. The bubble of water surrounding its head was growing less stable by the second.

It unleashed a barrage of attacks, and it was too soon for Storm Shelter to be activated. Kyle was pierced twice more, once in his stomach and once in his chest. A moment later, he was struck with the full force of the broader claws, and he felt his ribs shatter under the force. Kyle was knocked back, coughing up blood. If it wasn’t for Ceaseless Vitality and Exoskeletal Strength, he knew he wouldn’t be able to move. As it was, he was barely holding on.

The Storm moved toward him to finish the job, and Kyle looked up, spotting what he was searching for. There, in the bubble of water, were the two acorns he’d brought along, deposited by the baton when he first attacked. Parasitic Resonance connected to them, and Kyle allowed his mana to flow through. He saw roots begin to form, but it was too slow. He pushed harder, feeling his mana dwindling.

[DR. MAYHEW, THIS IS A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY EXPENDITURE.]

He didn’t stop and opened himself up to the atmosphere around him. He felt an incredible inflow of energy, pain erupting all throughout his battered and worn body. He pushed more and more—not only into the acorns but into the body of the Storm as well. The crustacean moved faster, and once again Kyle found himself blown away, landing hard in the middle of the remnants of the flower field.

He was numb, his body in the transition from burning agony to icy nothingness. From his position, he couldn’t see the Storm directly. Kyle tried to sit up and found that he couldn’t. So, he kept pushing energy through the connection. He knew that if he was hit by one more attack like the last, it would spell the end for him. Kyle heard cracking sounds, felt tissue and carapace alike giving way under his magnified assault. He kept pushing. His vision was blacking out, his body numb.

[DR. MAYHEW, THAT’S ENOUGH!]

The voice, barely audible to him, broke through. With an enormous effort of will, Kyle severed his connection to the atmospheric mana. He couldn’t move, and he felt himself fading into unconsciousness. Kyle hadn’t experienced one of the strange visions, so he assumed the Storm was still alive. It was over. Kyle lost. He drifted off, waiting for the creature to deliver the killing blow.

Is this the afterlife? Kyle found himself in an empty void, with a warm golden glow suffusing the area around him. He couldn’t move in the space, so he stayed where he was, enjoying the light. It’s so… familiar. Kyle tried to place it, though his thoughts were fuzzy. He felt like he’d been here before. Wherever he was, he felt comfortable.

Kyle floated, content, until he heard a faint buzzing in his ear. He tried to ignore it, but it kept growing louder. It was like an annoying insect had found its way into this place, and he couldn’t get rid of it. Its volume grew and grew, until finally he could begin to make out the words being said. Over and over, repeating.

[DR. MAYHEW? DR. MAYHEW?]

C.H.A.D.D.? While he still couldn’t tell where the sound was coming from, the voice of his companion caused him to stir. Where are you? Kyle tried yet failed to turn and move about the space. Focusing his mind on the sound of C.H.A.D.D. calling for him, he tried again. And again. Finally, somehow, he got his perspective to shift as he slowly began to turn toward the source of the golden light. He saw it, floating quietly in the void. The world tree seed, bathed in a brilliant golden aura, and through it, C.H.A.D.D.’s voice.

Kyle stared at the seed, full of wonder. He’d only gotten short looks at it before, but he’d seen enough to know that something changed. It was as if millions of small petals began to open and unfold, revealing the barest glimpses of eternity. He continued to gaze at it, and as he did, the pieces in his mind started coming back together. He’d been fighting… something. The Storm. He snapped into lucidity, and the moment his memories returned, he found himself being pulled out of the strange space. His eyes opened, and he looked up into the midday sun. He tried to speak, his voice cracked and dry.

“Am I… still alive?”

[BARELY, DR. MAYHEW. I WAS BEGINNING TO BELIEVE YOU WOULDN’T WAKE UP.]

“How long was I out?”

[TWO HOURS, DR. MAYHEW.]

“What happened? Is the Storm dead?”

[A LOT, AND NO. IT WILL BE BEST IF YOU SEE FOR YOURSELF. FOR NOW, FOCUS ON YOUR RECOVERY.]

Kyle wanted to ask more, but his voice wouldn’t cooperate. While his mana reserves were reasonable, courtesy of the atmospheric energy he’d absorbed, his body still felt strangely numb. He knew that his injuries would need time to mend, and he lay there. Adaptive Regeneration was repairing the injuries, and he braced himself for the pain to come.

The sun was quickly approaching the horizon by the time he’d recovered enough to move. Kyle noted, absently, that his nav bracelet had been ripped off in one of the attacks. If anybody had been looking for him, he didn’t know if they’d find him or not. Wincing in pain as he sat up, his breath caught at the sight that met his eyes.

In the center of the ruined field stood two massive trees, intertwined around one another. They formed a helix pattern, flecks of gold present on the otherwise dark brown wood. Ensnared, crushed, and pierced by their roots was the Storm. The trees had literally grown on top of it, smashing it into the ground and wrapping it up in their roots as they reached toward the heavens. The bubble of water that allowed it to breathe was reduced to small pockets of water covering its gills. Those, too, would fade soon. He almost felt bad for the suffering of the creature, until he felt the hate as its violet gaze locked onto him.

The bubbles of water left the gills and condensed into a single needle of water. It shot forward and grazed Kyle’s cheek, cutting a line of blood through his Enhanced Carapace. The Storm looked at him after its last, spiteful attack, and then its eyes seemed to dim, the stalks that held them drooping. For a moment, nothing happened. The luster left its opalescent shell, the small movements of the body ceased, and a crimson beam of energy lanced into Kyle’s body. For the second time today, Kyle found himself in the space between.

Chapter 60

Kyle felt his heartbeat quicken as he took in the familiarity of the space. While he couldn’t place it before, there was no doubt in his mind now. The space he’d been drifting with the world tree seed was the same type he found himself in now. How are they connected? His mind swam with questions, though he set them aside as he saw the perspective of his final opponent.

The Storm was angry. It was always angry. Kyle found himself in a world that was simply too giant. He was dwarfed by everything around him, and he hated it. Fortunately, he had the tools to survive. Though he only had two at the time, his claws would make quick work of his enemies, smashing them to bits. He deftly hid among the rocks and beneath the sand, hunting his prey and warding off challengers with his mighty punches.

Then, the world around him changed. He felt energy infusing him like he never had before. He hunted, fought, and grew. One day, he found himself cornered by a crab with strange powers. It nearly killed him, manipulating the sand around him, yet at the last moment the desire to survive overcame everything else. Sacrificing a claw and most of his legs, he managed to kill the crab, which left a floating red gem.

The Storm absorbed it, which gave it the ability to molt its shell and recover. Once it had, its crusade began. Every day was spent fighting and growing, until it finally broke the threshold into D Grade. Hunting became even easier, though when he found his next gem, he learned he couldn’t absorb it. The rage grew even more, as it knew it wouldn’t be able to hunt the others—not from where it lived. Instead, it had to wait. So it hunted, trained, and developed so that he would be ready when the time came.

Kyle felt the time pass in a blur until the day arrived. Something fell from the sky into the Storm’s domain, and he could feel that a challenger had arrived. Destroying the metallic orbs that fell, it surged toward the shore. He saw himself through its vision and replayed their fight, moment by moment. At the end, Kyle felt the surging power he’d drawn in, felt the unnatural growth and toughness of the budding trees. He felt the despair as he realized he wouldn’t be able to finish his opponent. And he felt the hatred as he used his dying breath to spit in the face of the creature who killed him.

Kyle was rocked back at the intensity of the emotions as his perspective shifted back to his own. As he calmed himself, he looked out at a tapestry laid out before him, all woven with him at the center. He felt the overwhelming presence turn its attention to him.

WELL DONE, LITTLE LARVA. I CONFESS, YOU EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS AGAIN.

“I want some answers, and I think I’ve earned them.”

YOU MAY ASK. I WILL ANSWER IF I DEEM THE QUESTION WORTHY.

The questions in his head kept swimming, and he knew he wanted to learn more specifics about the cataclysm, about the nature of the presence, and the changes happening to him. First, though, he had something else he couldn’t hold back.

“What is this place? No matter how injured I was, I got dragged here every time I absorbed one of the gems.”

He left out the part about the world tree seed, although he suspected that the presence was likely aware of it. There was no sense in sharing things unnecessarily, after all.

IT IS BETWEEN. NEITHER ROOTED IN THE PHYSICAL NOR THE REALM BEYOND. THIS PLACE IS THE BRIDGE. IT IS MY HOME.

The implications of the statement were enormous. To say nothing of the notion of multiple realms, the idea that both this being and the world tree seed could exist in a space like this mind-boggling.

“What do you mean when you say ‘beyond’? Are you talking about a real afterlife?”

I WILL ANSWER THE FIRST, THOUGH THE SECOND IS BEYOND ME, LITTLE LARVA. THE REALM BEYOND IS THE SOURCE OF WHAT YOU CALL MANA. IT CROSSES THIS SPACE AND INFUSES YOUR WORLD.

Well, so much for getting answers to the meaning of life. Thanks to the creature’s response, Kyle was beginning to put some of the pieces together. It made sense to him now why he couldn’t directly interact with the world tree seed and why it didn’t show up on sensors despite being connected to Kyle’s mana. He couldn’t say for sure, but he suspected that when C.H.A.D.D. talked about ‘archiving’ mana and information, this space—the Between—was likely involved, too. Kyle decided to shift his line of questioning, hoping to add even more context.

“I know that you were somehow involved in the destruction of my planet. If you live here, in the Between, how did you do it? Did you somehow influence the mana infusing my planet from here?”

The presence responded, indignation clear in its tone. I TOLD YOU ONCE BEFORE—I DID NOT ATTACK YOUR PLANET. IF I HAD, IT WOULD BE LITTLE MORE THAN A SPECK OF DUST.

The world around Kyle seemed to swirl, and for a moment he thought he was going to be crushed by the presence. Instead, a vision began to play before him, similar to the times when he’d defeated the D Grades.

There was a crack, a tearing, and perspective shifted to a sight among the stars. He picked up impressions of confusion, followed quickly by pain. There were flashes of incredibly intense mana, skills on display at a level Kyle had never seen.

He was under attack, ambushed. He soared through the space, attempting to create a tunnel back to the Between, but it was no use. Something had locked down the area. Wounds accumulated on his body, though he ignored them. He wanted to retaliate, to strike his attackers down, but something prevented him from doing so. Kyle felt an ancient malice rising in his chest, though it was quickly suppressed, replaced with something akin to weary resignation.

Finally, he made it out of the locked-down zone. A tunnel formed, and his gargantuan, serpentine body entered. Pain flashed once again as a final series of attacks struck, and then he was safe. The injuries began to recover immediately, and something like a window opened in the void, allowing the presence to peer through. A strange ship harvested much of the carapace and shell that had been blown off in the assault, though it was gone before Kyle could make out the details. He saw his blood, frozen in space, slowly get drawn toward a shining, blue planet, descending onto it like a swarm of meteors.

The vision ended, and Kyle was speechless. His family, his grandfather, his entire planet—they all had been destroyed in cosmic collateral damage. There was no ill intent behind it at all, at least if the vision was true. Which brought up the darker question. Corthian Mining had called it a “riftwyrm attack.” While Kyle was certain that the expedition members he’d met were orders of magnitude too weak to orchestrate something like this, somebody with a lot of influence was covering up the truth behind the destruction.

Kyle was silent a moment longer, processing all the new information. Finally, in a quiet voice, he asked, “Who attacked you?”

I DO NOT KNOW. MY BRETHEREN HAVE SPOKEN OF THESE ATTACKS BEFORE, THOUGH THIS WAS THE FIRST I HAD BEEN TARGETED.

“And the reason my planet’s mana changed so much…”

IT IS DUE TO THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF MY BLOOD.

Kyle’s head was swimming. It was so much to take in, and though there was so much more he wanted to ask, he didn’t know what to say. Eventually he settled on the simplest question he could think of.

“What comes next? I’ve beaten all the D Grades; is this the last we’ll see of each other?”

He felt the presence shift, an impression of amusement rolling through him.

FOR A TIME. YOU HAVE ABSORBED MUCH OF MY ESSENCE, LITTLE LARVA. WE ARE LINKED. GROW, CONSUME, AND LEARN. IF YOU GAIN SUFFICIENT POWER, WE WILL MEET AGAIN. OTHERWISE, YOU WILL BE FUEL FOR ANOTHER’S FLAME. I WILL NOT INTERVENE, THOUGH I ADMIT OUR INTERACTIONS HAVE PROVEN… INTERESTING. I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR ASCENSION.

With that, the presence vanished, and Kyle awoke. The numbness from channeling the atmospheric mana was beginning to fade, instead replaced by searing pain as he regained sensation in his body. The sun, which had previously been directly overhead, was rising in the east again. Was I really out for almost a day?

As if reading his thoughts, C.H.A.D.D. spoke. [DR. MAYHEW, THANK GOODNESS YOU’RE AWAKE. IT WAS GETTING DREADFULLY BORING WAITING HERE.]

“Was I really out for almost a day?”

[EIGHTEEN HOURS, DR. MAYHEW.]

Not the worst it’s been, I suppose. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Kyle sat up. Adaptive Regeneration was still working to repair the damage, and that it had taken this long was a testament to how close he’d been to death.

“Can you show me a scan of my body? I’m trying to get an idea about what’s left in my recovery.”

The drone obliged, and soon Kyle was looking at a three-dimensional rendering of his body. His ribs still had cracks in them, though they appeared to be mending well. The holes that had been pierced into his shoulder and body were similarly healing. What was most evident to him, however, was the strain on his mana pathways. Drawing in and pushing the atmospheric mana had caused tremendous damage, and Kyle suspected that Adaptive Regeneration was only working at 30 percent efficiency as a result. The burden he’d placed on his body was enormous, and he knew that would take time to heal as well.

“Has anybody from Corthian Mining come by? We aren’t that far off from the old camp site.”

[NOBODY, DR. MAYHEW. SCANS HAVEN’T INDICATED ANYBODY APPROACHING OR LEAVING THIS LOCATION.]

That was strange to Kyle, as the mining company was typically eager to peel away as many resources as they could after a D Grade was taken down. There was something very suspicious going on. Uncertain of what the angle was, he attempted to take a look at his gains from the encounter. Unfortunately, between the pain and the revelations he’d gained in the vision, Kyle wasn’t in a place physically or mentally where he could enter meditation. Instead, he spent the time focused on recovery, gathering fruits to eat, and bringing C.H.A.D.D. up to speed on what he’d learned.

Finally, after nearly an entire day’s rest, he felt calm enough to meditate. It was time for him to see exactly what he’d gained from defeating his final D Grade opponent on Earth.

Chapter 61

Settling in, Kyle tuned out the world around him as he focused on his center.

KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 40 (D)

ADAPTIVE ANATOMY—7/?—ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH, CEASELESS VITALITY, INSTINCTIVE INTELLIGENCE, COVERT DEXTERITY, UNBREAKABLE WILL

VITALITY: 685

ENDURANCE: 755

STRENGTH: 262

DEXTERITY: 517

WILLPOWER: 968

INTELLIGENCE: 968

PERCEPTION: 780

FREE ATTRIBUTES: 90

Immediately, he saw the final attribute of the seven glowing with a red node. He kept his attention on it, and the words appeared soon after. Unbreakable Will. There wasn’t much to the impression, and given the nature of Willpower, it was unlikely that C.H.A.D.D. would be able to provide much detail with a scan. The other changes brought by Adaptive Anatomy had each been something visible, something tangible. This… was something altogether different. It would take experimentation and reflection to get a better understanding.

The moment he turned his attention away, however, he got a prompt.

[ADAPTIVE ANATOMY COMPLETED. METAMORPHOSIS AWAKENED.]

Kyle felt a rising sense of panic and felt his center slip away as a strange grouping of sigils appeared before him. It looked like a varying set of overlapping scars on a canvas, each jagged and unique. There was no discernible pattern, though as he watched they began to erratically pulse with crimson energy, seeming to grow and widen as the energy passed through them. Kyle could feel power building within the sigils, and he gazed at them transfixed, apprehension and anticipation warring for supremacy.

Suddenly, the pulses stopped. All of the scars glowed brightly, and then the whole space seemed to collapse on itself. There was a brilliant flash of scarlet light, and left in the void was a jet-black sphere. Its surface looked like cooled magma, swirling and uneven. The same scar-like sigils that he’d seen before seemed to run across the surface as well, though the fierce energy had abated. As Kyle watched it, words appeared before his eyes.

[CORE OF THE PARASITIC DEVOURER—AWAKENED. 0% FILLED.]

Whatever a “Parasitic Devourer” was, Kyle was certain he didn’t like the sound of it. His displeasure grew as the sight faded and he returned to his center. All of the glowing nodes on his attributes now had faint trails of crimson energy flowing out of them, coalescing around this ‘core.’ It was superimposed onto the image of his path, as if it were issuing a challenge for the central tenets of his progression.

Kyle stayed in his center for a moment, uncertain if there were more unexpected changes. When he was confident things were stable, he turned his attention to the orange node signifying a skill upgrade. He decided against allocating his attributes, as he wanted to see what options he would have with his skill first. Focusing on Haste, three choices opened up before him.

Accelerate: This felt like it would offer a very natural upgrade path. Kyle saw the integration of his mana pathways expand significantly in both his legs and behind his eyes. Each strand broadened and thickened, and Kyle expected he would see a fairly significant boost to his mobility if he made this choice. The bonuses would be significant, though Kyle expected the strain associated with the skill would increase to a similar degree. Overall, that didn’t concern him. Adaptive Regeneration already eliminated that drawback when it came to Haste, and he expected, with time, it would do the same if he selected Accelerate.

Strider: The second option was also really interesting to him. Kyle saw his mana pathways expand even farther across his body, though they didn’t seem to be directly connected to the pathways that improved the speed of his movement. Instead, it looked as though he’d be able to project tangible tendrils of mana as he ran. He had the impression he could use these to scale vertical surfaces, make rapid turns, and possibly even run over water for a short distance. Even if it wasn’t a direct upgrade in terms of speed, Kyle was quite drawn to the flexibility offered by Strider. His breath caught, however, when he saw the last upgrade choice.

Ignition: Kyle saw a pattern of mana entirely different than any he’d seen before. Rather than an expansion of the existing network, Kyle saw what he could only describe as ports forming along his spine and above his eyes. The closest thing Kyle could picture was C.H.A.D.D.’s upgraded collection formation, though on an entirely different level. The purpose was clear: the skill would begin drawing in ambient mana at an incredible rate and then push it through Kyle’s mana pathways.

The promise of power was incredible. Kyle had no doubt that Ignition would provide mobility beyond Accelerate while effectively turbocharging his other attributes. Kyle also suspected that he’d be able to use the excess energy to add more oomph to his other skills. The downside was equally clear. He’d be drawing in atmospheric mana and forcibly burning it through his system. Kyle wasn’t sure if it would be as detrimental as when he linked to the atmosphere through Parasitic Resonance, but even if it wasn’t, the backlash from using the skill would be orders of magnitude greater than he was used to.

Confronted with three distinctly different paths for one of his foundational skills, Kyle found himself at an impasse. The safest bet was to go for Accelerate, as a straight boost to his mobility would mesh the best with his current style. It would let him do more of what he already did well, which was appealing. The flexibility offered by Strider couldn’t be understated, though between Parasitic Resonance and C.H.A.D.D.’s proficiency utilizing plant life, he felt that he had sufficient means to cover it.

Dismissing Strider as an option, he turned his attention back toward Ignition. It was a wild card choice. In the short term, Kyle knew he wouldn’t be able to count on the skill for prolonged mobility. The wear and tear wouldn’t be feasible for extended use until Adaptive Regeneration built up a resistance. Even then, there were no guarantees. As he’d just experienced, his connection to the atmospheric mana through Parasitic Resonance was damage that tied more directly to his pathways. While they’d recover with time, Adaptive Regeneration hadn’t been terribly effective at warding off that damage.

Accelerate was the safe choice. It was the most sensible choice. Kyle understood that clearly. Still, he couldn’t shake the possibilities Ignition would open up. It was the harder choice, and one that would rely on his own discipline and effort to make work. From that perspective, it almost felt that it aligned better with the path of the Survivalist. He had one more brief moment of hesitation, then selected Ignition.

With a sigh, he returned to his center. The last item of business was allocating his free attribute points. With 90 available, he only thought for a moment before bringing both Intelligence and Willpower to 1,000 and splitting the remaining points between Strength and Dexterity. His physical attributes were still a major weakness, and without Haste in its prior form, Kyle knew he’d need to shore them up, at least a bit. He turned his attention to his newly transformed status screen, gazing at it with satisfaction.

KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 40 (D)

CORE OF THE PARASITIC DEVOURER 0%

ADAPTIVE ANATOMY—7/?—ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH, CEASELESS VITALITY, INSTINCTIVE INTELLIGENCE, COVERT DEXTERITY, UNBREAKABLE WILL

VITALITY: 685

ENDURANCE: 755

STRENGTH: 275

DEXTERITY: 530

WILLPOWER: 1,000

INTELLIGENCE: 1,000

PERCEPTION: 780

FREE ATTRIBUTES: 0

He noticed the Core of the Parasitic Devourer was present now, but otherwise he took a moment to appreciate his growth. He’d accomplished an incredible amount in a very short time after achieving D Grade and felt that there would be more to come. His path was connected with overcoming hardships, and he’d seen more than his fair share.

Exiting meditation, Kyle stood up stiffly, stretching as he did. His body was mostly recovered, though he was hungrier now than he’d been in a while. Having a ship stocked with nearly endless food spoils a guy.

“C.H.A.D.D., anything you’re spotting on the map that could be good to eat?”

[I’LL LET YOU MAKE THE DETERMINATION, DR. MAYHEW, ALTHOUGH I WOULDN’T RECOMMEND TRYING TO EAT THE LOCAL FAUNA WITHOUT A HEAT SOURCE.]

Kyle heard a soft snap, and a map of the area sprang to life in front of him. His eyes widened as he took in the sight. The island had been dotted with anomalous mana signatures before, whereas now the map only showed some muted variations. The field they were standing in had been one such area, and it was completely devoid of the telltale sign of treasures.

“Did this happen⁠—”

[DURING THE FIGHT WITH THE STORM?] C.H.A.D.D. interrupted. [YES, IT DID. WHATEVER TECHNIQUE YOU USED AT THE END DREW ENERGY FROM ALL THE TREASURES. WHILE THE FINDINGS ARE INCONCLUSIVE, I THEORIZE IT IS THE SAME TECHNIQUE THAT CAUSED THE SEED TO STIR.]

Whatever he’d done when he connected with the mana in the air, it had done a number on the island. There was still plenty of ambient mana, but the density had dropped significantly. Kyle expected it could recover with time, though it was unlikely new treasures would form any time soon. Chester would be upset, though there was an easy answer to that development.

“Are you willing to blame this on the shrimp?”

[CERTAINLY, DR. MAYHEW.]

The duo spent the rest of the day gathering fruits, with the scorpions that inhabited the island not daring to come close. Something had changed after Kyle awakened the Core of the Parasitic Devourer, and now not even the mindlessly aggressive beasts would approach him. He was content to leave them be, and it made the foraging that much easier.

After his stomach was filled, Kyle decided it was time for some practice. As C.H.A.D.D. confirmed, scans didn’t reveal anything different about him, despite the Unbreakable Will and Core of the Parasitic Devourer. He’d have to learn about those on his own. For now, he had another exercise he’d been itching to try. Closing his eyes, he activated Ignition.

He felt the power flow into his body immediately and smoothly, followed by a burning pain. It was much less debilitating than the connection to the atmospheric mana, though the sensation was already beginning to intensify. Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was a flowing crimson aura surrounding him. It was a departure from the electric blue of Haste, and the glow was far more pronounced. He would not be using Ignition to sneak around—that much was certain.

Kyle set his gaze on a distant tree and sprinted toward it. Previously, it was a distance he could have covered in five or six seconds. Now, he crossed it in three. He winced as the pain amplified, each movement causing more and more. The last thing he tried before deactivating the skill was a simple palm strike against the mana-reinforced bark.

His Strength was well into the realm of superhuman by now, and he expected that with the reinforcement of the skill he would shake the tree and possibly leave a handprint in the bark. He did not expect for his hand to punch through the wood up to his elbow. The resounding crack could be heard all across the island, and Kyle deactivated Ignition. The pain was shooting needles all across his body, yet he grinned in spite of it. There was a lot of field testing to be done with this incredible skill.

Chapter 62

Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. spent the next couple of days foraging on the island. He had no idea what happened to his nav bracelet, and without a means of communication, the duo fell into their old, familiar routine. Thanks to his rapidly rising attributes and Covert Dexterity, Kyle’s practice with the batons was smooth and precise. While the fighting style likely wouldn’t hold up to D Grade opponents, practicing the movements was relaxing and allowed him to focus.

As he drilled, he would activate Ignition in bursts, sometimes quickly accelerating a chain of attacks, other times taking advantage of a quick mobility boost to quickly traverse the practice field. Used this way, Kyle was gaining a better appreciation for the skill. Adaptive Regeneration was at work, building up resistance to the backlash.

Finally, the morning of the third day, Kyle heard the sound of an approaching shuttle. It was flying low over the archipelago, and soon it arrived on his island. As it got closer, Kyle could feel the thrumming mana from the ship. Compared to the basic transport shuttles, this one felt much more powerful, causing Kyle to frown. C.H.A.D.D. seemed to notice it too, though the drone’s conclusions were much more optimistic.

[IT IS VERY GENEROUS OF THEM TO SEND A LUXURY SHIP TO PICK US UP, DR. MAYHEW.]

“I don’t think that was their original intention, C.H.A.D.D.”

[WHY ELSE WOULD IT BE HERE?]

As if preparing to answer the question, the shuttle landed just inland from the beach. Kyle walked toward it, right hand resting on the batons at his hip. If they were planning to betray us, this is their moment. Kyle learned a lot about Corthian Mining and the Collective over the last eleven months, and he knew that anything untoward that happened to him on their ship would be met with fines, investigations, and literal mountains of paperwork. Hiring non-Collective civilians in this capacity was irregular, and the Collective had processes in place to ensure that their members weren’t taking advantage.

Planetside, however, was a different story. There wasn’t close monitoring, there wasn’t bureaucracy to keep them safe. Kyle wasn’t sure if they were planning a full betrayal, but from the moment he was dropped off on this island, things felt off. The lighter crew, the skittish captain, the drones dropped into the water—all of it pointed to a different motivation.

Still, Kyle approached with confidence. One of the truths that he’d been forced to accept since the cataclysm was the tyranny of power. He’d been too weak to make a real difference early on, but that wasn’t the case anymore. He could feel the mana flowing through him, ready to activate his skills at the first sign of betrayal. If Corthian Mining thought they could bring him down, they were welcome to try.

* * *

Chester Drake sighed as the shuttle landed. It had been several days since Mayhew’s nav bracelet went offline, and he decided it was time to go investigate the scene. As he viewed it, there were really only three possible outcomes: one where Kyle was victorious, one where the beast was victorious, and one where both of them were dead, or at least close to it. He didn’t particularly care which it was, so long as the fascinating drone was still intact.

Still, Chester recognized that there was risk involved with arriving personally. He’d lost enough personnel that, apart from the recovery of tremendous wealth, this expedition would be a black mark on his record. The drone that accompanied Mayhew was likely the key to changing that fate. It had an uncanny ability to detect natural treasures, and none of the other units they’d found provided the answer as to how. If Chester could return with either the drone—or at least its parts—he would be among the most successful foremen in the organization.

Signaling his squadron to take their positions, Chester opened the bay door. He brought with him six elites, each E Grades who showed the potential to break through into D Grade. With a Warrior, three Mages, a Ranger, and a Healer, Chester felt confident in facing whatever was left on the island. Given Mayhew’s overprotectiveness toward the drone, part of him hoped they would be facing down a wounded D Grade beast.

Looking out at the scarred beach, it was clear that a pitched battle was fought here. His team held a tight formation as he slowly moved across the sand, using Firm Footing to condense platforms of stone for himself and his team. Despite the destruction, there was no sign of the beast, the Healer, or the drone. His squad held their formation as Chester pushed mana into the ground. The sand made the impressions fuzzy, though soon Seismic Sense made it to firmer ground below.

Chester’s skill allowed him to map out mana density, concentrations, and anomalies across a wide area. His ability to detect natural resources with the skill was a large part of what allowed him to rise through the ranks so quickly. Immediately, he felt something was wrong. While orbital scans were limited in their accuracy, they clearly indicated that this area should have been thrumming with energy. Instead, it felt… flat. It was as if something had leeched the mana out of the soil itself.

Chester narrowed his focus as he tried to parse out what happened. Then he felt it. A D Grade presence was making its way toward Chester’s location. The energy rippling through the ground was potent and affirmed Chester’s suspicions. Mayhew is dead. A pity. After his struggles against the other D Grade, Chester hadn’t expected Kyle to win. He had, however, hoped that Kyle would have at least been able to do more damage to whatever predator lurked near the island. Judging by the impression he was getting from his skill, the beast felt like it was near full strength.

“Get in formation; the creature is approaching. As soon as we have line of sight, I want you ready to engage.”

His squad nodded, and through his skill, Chester could feel them drawing in power. Stones began to rise around him as he also prepared to attack. There was a rustling of a bush, and Chester’s eyes widened as he saw a human walk out of the brush. Kyle was bare-chested, and a cracked vambrace on his right arm was all that remained of the combat armor he’d been issued. His olive skin was covered in fading scars, and stubble was beginning to grow across his squared jaw. He looked weakened and battered.

Kyle’s eyes, however, told a different story. Twin emeralds regarded Chester, and he felt as if he was being watched by a predator. Seismic Sense warned of incredible power building in the young man’s body. For a moment, his mind warred with his instincts. If he ordered his squad to attack, he was confident they would follow his directions. Even if he was powerful, he was just one man. Securing the drone would go a long way toward further cementing his position at Corthian Mining.

His instincts, however, screamed at him to run. The impression his skill gave him was abnormal. He felt that there was a clear and present risk of death if they attacked. He felt exposed beneath the other man’s gaze, and letting out a small sigh, he came to his decision.

“Stand down, all of you,” Chester said before turning to Kyle. “Mr. Mayhew, I’m glad to see you survived.”

Kyle snorted in response. “You’re much happier to see that C.H.A.D.D. survived. Either way, we made it. I don’t think you’re going to find much on the island. The monster we fought did something that drained it. Any chance I can get a ride back to the flagship?”

While Chester was certain there was more to the story, some of the tension seemed to ease out of the group at the young man’s words. After considering just a moment longer, Chester let out a breath before gesturing for Kyle to come aboard the shuttle.

“Certainly, Mr. Mayhew.”

Chester felt the hair on the back of his neck stand as Kyle walked past. The mana pouring off his body was almost palpable. One thing was certain—he made the right choice. He had underestimated Kyle, and very nearly gotten himself and his squad killed. Chester signaled for his men to follow, and they boarded the shuttle, leaving the island behind them.

* * *

Kyle inspected his face after shaving, relishing the feeling of being clean once again. His time contracting with Corthian Mining was coming to an end, and he wanted to enjoy all the creature comforts he could before whatever came next. It had been a day and a half since he’d been back, and Chester had barely spoken a word to him. He was issued a new nav bracelet and given instructions to prepare for a meeting with Chester and the chairwoman, Benjamin’s great-grandmother, later today. The first evacuation transports would be arriving in Earth’s orbit in just over a month.

With Benjamin and Rochelle still on the planet, he didn’t have his usual conversation partners at hand. Still, he was going to make the most of his time. Putting on a fresh uniform and securing C.H.A.D.D. to his back, Kyle left his quarters and made his way to the training grounds to watch the sparring matches. The atmosphere was surprisingly positive, given the loss of a captain and their squad. A Mage was fighting against a Ranger, and they put on quite the show as they dodged and blocked one another’s attacks at range.

More matches came and went, until a buzz on his nav bracelet told him it was time to head to his meeting. He could feel the eyes of the expedition on him—people talking in hushed tones as he passed. Kyle knew that opinions about him were mixed on the ship. Some people saw him as a protector, the last hope against some of the impossible odds they’d faced. Others viewed him as a cocky interloper, introducing chaos and ultimately responsible for many of the deaths that had occurred. By all accounts, this expedition had been a disaster, despite the profits they were likely to see.

Opening the door to Chester’s office, he saw the man poring over some paperwork. He gestured for Kyle to enter before turning his attention back to his reports. Kyle sat in one of the chairs across the desk from Chester and felt mana build in the small device on the desk as Angela Corthus’s voice was projected through the speaker.

“Mr. Mayhew, thank you for joining us. Mr. Drake and I were going over your contributions, which were significant. Now, it’s time to talk about what could come next.”

Chapter 63

Kyle raised his eyebrows, not expecting that they would jump right into the meat of what’s ahead. Angela continued, as Chester finally turned his attention toward Kyle, weariness plain in his expression.

“While our excavation has proven to be quite lucrative, this expedition has also cost our company a lot. It will take time for us to rebuild our shuttles and recruit enough talent to replace the personnel we’ve lost. Most of that work will have to wait until the expedition returns to Collective space.”

Kyle frowned. “I’m sensing a ‘but.’ Why are you telling me all of this?”

Angela’s voice was hard as steel. “Because your planet has a group of displaced refugees that need a place. We certainly won’t take everybody, though reports indicate a number of talented awakened that could be an asset to the firm.”

Anger started to bubble in Kyle’s chest. “And my agreement with Corthian Mining means that they’ll have a better chance than they otherwise would have. You’re not going to renege on that deal.”

Chester spoke up. “We’re not monsters, Mr. Mayhew. Nothing would be done before we return to the Collective for appropriate oversight. We’re simply asking you to consider discussing the options with your people. A simple word from you would go a long way toward what we hope could be a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Angela’s voice crackled through the speaker. “This is an opportunity for your people and our organization. Whether or not you choose to see it that way is up to you. Know that for every Earth refugee that applies and is accepted, we will add a flat sum of one hundred credits as a commission to your account. Which brings me to the next order of business.”

Kyle’s nav bracelet flashed, and an image projected up. His name was at the top, and beneath it were numbers.

“Since you have undergone a Collective assessment, we have taken the liberty of beginning your citizenship application as your sponsor. You have an account through the Collective, into which we will deposit your funds.”

The implications jolted Kyle, and he interjected. “Wait a minute, what does it mean that you ‘sponsored me? And how will I access the funds once you take the nav bracelet back?”

Questions continued to swim around in his head, and he barely heard Angela’s reply.

“All citizens are provided one, though most use one provided by and attuned to their employer. You’ll receive yours when we arrive. As sponsorship goes, it’s nothing more than us vouching for your merit. You’ll have more opportunities open to you than non-sponsored individuals, although your assessment will be an issue.”

Kyle nodded slowly, trying to take it in. He hadn’t expected the conversation to be so administrative in nature. Fortunately, C.H.A.D.D. was good at taking notes. He was trying to put words to his next question, but Chester decided to shift gears.

“As far as your involvement with us is concerned, there’s little else to be done. The evacuation will be facilitated by a different division, and our stores are full of resources and treasures. Mining ships will arrive after the evacuation, though there likely won’t be much of interest. Once the first wave of ships arrives in a month, this ship and crew will be returning. I would like to invite you to depart with us.”

That was confusing to Kyle. “Why wouldn’t I return with the rest of my people?”

Chester sighed, rubbing his temples. “Because, Mr. Mayhew, you’re really not a part of them anymore. Regardless, you have a month, though you’ll need to decide in two weeks. In the meantime, as a show of thanks for your contributions, we’ll allow you transport to and from the planet without cost.”

It was a small gesture, but an appreciated one. “Thank you.”

Angela’s voice came across one last time. “I’m going to have some information sent over to you. You’re free to choose whatever you want to do with your funds when you arrive, but I have some suggestions that will hopefully help with narrowing your decisions. I’ll be in touch.”

With that, the communication stopped. Chester looked up at Kyle, meeting his eyes. “Ms. Corthus has taken an interest in you. I know your relationship with us has had ups and downs. I would ask that you don’t let that color your perception of what she’s provided for you.”

Kyle returned Chester’s look and felt the ice in his voice as he spoke. “You sent me on that last mission hoping I would die. Tell me the truth. If I was weaker, would you have had your team kill me to take C.H.A.D.D.?”

Chester didn’t flinch. “Yes. I believe you’re squandering the drone’s potential and that you have blind spots relating to it. I’m confident you would have killed me, should I have attempted to take the drone by force.”

“Damn right I would have.” Kyle activated Parasitic Resonance and Identify, watching for signs of threat from the other man.

He simply raised his hands in a placating gesture. “It’s over, Mr. Mayhew. You’re officially a Collective citizen now. The consequences of foul play aren’t worth the possible reward. Should you have need of me, you can reach me through the nav bracelet. Otherwise, let me know within two weeks if you will be waiting for the evacuation or if you plan to depart with us.”

Kyle relaxed a bit, sensing Chester’s weariness. While he couldn’t trust the man, he felt fairly certain at this point that this situation was far over Chester’s head. Kyle thought back to when he’d first met Chester and the aura of control he felt in their interactions. Now, it was clear the control was gone. He kept Identify active just in case, though he deactivated Parasitic Resonance, at least for now.

“I’d like to make two stops tomorrow. I’ll send the coordinates if you can organize a shuttle.”

Chester simply nodded, and Kyle departed. Returning to his room, he flopped onto the bed. He pulled out the drained Transportation Array and looked at it, turning it over in his hands. It had been cracked by some of the shockwaves from the Storm, and was likely not functional. Still, the intricacy of the runic inscriptions was incredible and well beyond his understanding. What little he could grasp was that it functioned in a similar fashion to the long-range teleportation that the Corthian Mining ships used, folding space and punching a hole through it.

It didn’t seem to operate by crossing the Between, but Kyle hoped that some clues would be revealed as he spent more time studying it. The more he understood how these concepts functioned, the better chance he would have to apply them. If he could figure out how to leverage spatial concepts in conjunction with his other skills, Kyle was confident the results would be worth it.

Kyle was interrupted by a gentle ping on his nav bracelet and saw that Angela Corthus had indeed sent him some suggestions. Opening the document, he was quickly overwhelmed. Angela broke down all the specifics, including different regions she’d advise visiting, where he could find reasonable accommodations, and a detailed roadmap of different avenues to get established in the Collective.

It was much more than he needed for now, and he knew he had time before any big decisions needed to get made. Filing the documents away, he closed his eyes and prepared for the day ahead.

The shuttle landed just outside of Newton, and Kyle stepped out. He looked at the destruction and remembered the cataclysm as though it happened yesterday.

“C.H.A.D.D., can you pull up the Central Health census records for Sherwood?”

The drone complied, and the note came up. It didn’t take long for him to find his parents’ names. He looked them up when the drone mentioned it had the records, but this was the first time he’d looked since that day. Sherwood was closer to the center of the destruction, and there was no way they’d survived. They hadn’t spoken in quite a while, and for the first time since the world ended, he let himself feel that pain. There’d been some resentment early in their relationship—tension between their expectations for him and his own desires. He wished he could have said goodbye.

In a daze, he walked through the ruined town. He stepped over mounds of rubble and ash, finally coming up on the mound of stone and concrete where he’d buried his grandfather. He felt moisture on his cheek as memories played through his head. In contrast with his parents, Clark had always been permissive with him. He cherished the time they spent together outdoors, telling stories and roasting marshmallows.

“I did it, Grandpa. I survived.” His voice broke as he spoke into the empty air. “You saved me. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I still wish you were here.”

[I’M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU, KYLE.]

Kyle’s eyes widened as he heard his grandfather’s voice, then a projection appeared before him. It was a recording of one of his early days in Newton. C.H.A.D.D. was playing back the interaction, and he saw the beaming smile on Clark’s face as he looked around Kyle’s office. When that recording ended, another one played, this time after an appointment. Clark didn’t say anything, but Kyle could see his eyes glinting with pride as he watched.

C.H.A.D.D. showed dozens of similar interactions, and Kyle let the tears flow. The past two years had been the hardest of his life. It felt good to relive some of these positive moments. After the last recording played, Kyle wiped his tears and spoke.

“Thank you, C.H.A.D.D.”

This chapter was coming to a close, and it was time for him to do what he’d come for. Kyle got to work, clearing out the rubble around the area of his grandpa’s resting place. His Strength made it a trivial task, and soon there was a clearing with the pile of stone in the middle.

As he worked, he found a sheet of metal, which he now held before him. Kyle reached into the bottom of the C.H.A.D.D. pack and took out one of the barbs from the Shadow. Holding the sheet of metal, he began etching.

IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN. IN MEMORY OF THE LIVES TAKEN. IN MEMORY OF HERITAGE LOST.

WE WILL NOT FORGET. WE WILL NOT BE BROKEN. WE WILL SURVIVE.

When he finished, Kyle placed the metal sheet above his grandfather’s grave. He knew nobody would ever see this monument, but it felt wrong to leave Earth behind without saying something.

He rose and began to walk back toward the shuttle. He had one more stop to make. As he took a final look at the memorial he built, he spoke softly.

“Goodbye, Grandpa.”

Chapter 64

Garth shook his head as he initialed another form, finally completing the last set of documents for the day. He hated the bureaucracy, although he was beginning to appreciate its necessity. The rebuilding efforts across Nierburg were extensive, and Garth recognized now more than ever the risks corruption and lack of oversight could create. After he was released from Central Health, he’d discovered that Councilman DeRosa had, in addition to ignoring his orders during the siege, requested the bodies of many of the ants to be delivered to him for study. As soon as Garth found out, he put a stop to it; however, he was certain that a number of the bodies were shipped before he had a chance.

It was frustrating in a lot of ways, but the tedium provided Garth with an unexpected benefit: levels. He heard from Kyle about choosing a path when he reached D Grade, and Garth felt that he was experiencing something similar now. The first hint came when he went through his skill selection at Level 60, where each option was closely tied to leadership and protection. Since then, everything he did for his people had helped him advance. Between his administrative duties and the wholesale slaughter of the mutated ants, he’d skyrocketed levels, achieving Level 70 just yesterday.

Of course, Garth wasn’t the only one progressing. Nierburg took heavy losses during the ant attack, but those who survived saw leaps and bounds in their progression. Garth was more convinced now than ever that overcoming adversity was more heavily tied to progression than previously thought. That being the case, it was no surprise that people leveled so slowly during the era of peace after the Central Authority’s establishment.

He stepped out of the Central Administration building in the heart of the city and began to walk toward the walls. The area was buzzing with pedestrians and vehicles alike, with people wrapping up their day’s activities before returning home. Eyes looked at him with expressions between reverence and awe as he walked past, with hushed whispers from some of the onlookers. Word had spread like wildfire that Garth had personally entered the fray to save the wounded at Central Health. As stories tend to do, it got embellished to the point of absurdity, at least in Garth’s mind. Even though he’d been dealing with it for weeks, he still felt self-conscious as he walked through the crowd.

“Quite a crowd today, boss!” Thomas’s voice was full of mirth as he turned the car and began to drive through the now-cleared streets. “I’m surprised you even want to spend time with the old crew from Duilleag. We really need to get you more friends.”

Garth snorted. “I should say the same for all of you. We’ve been gone a long time; it’s good to see everybody still together.”

“Do you have any updates about Kyle? Last I heard he’s coming this way.”

“If what I heard from the miners was right, he should arrive early tomorrow.”

“Is it really a good idea for him to visit?” Thomas’s voice lost much of its energy as he asked the question, trepidation clear.

Garth sighed. There were a large number of citizens who felt that Kyle was responsible for the losses they’d experienced. Other groups felt that he had sold out Earth and was displacing them for a profit. While he couldn’t pin down the source of the rumors, he was certain DeRosa was behind them. The man played politics across the city like a master violinist. The fact that he’d come crashing through the walls with a group of off-world D Grades didn’t help that image.

“I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or not, but it’ll be good to see him. It’s not like he’ll be in any real danger, after all.”

Thomas was silent for a moment, a faraway look on his face before he finally responded. “I’m less worried for his safety than I am for ours. You’ve got a lot of goodwill, boss. The rest of us don’t.”

Garth let that sink in, and they finished the rest of their journey quietly.

An hour later, they arrived at the ramshackle housing development near the wall. Amir and Stephanie were already there, and Gwen was playing with Arianna’s little sister Amalia. The unawakened refugees were cooking over dozens of small fires, the smell of roasted vegetables and fresh-baked bread infusing the air.

People waved at them as they walked over, and soon they were laughing and telling stories as they ate. The worries and politics all seemed to melt away while he was here. Central Authority administrators approached him all the time, inviting him to dine at the best restaurants with the finest old-world rations. He hadn’t taken any of them up on the offer. Here, alongside the people who had the least, was where he felt the most comfortable.

That’s not to say that he didn’t still have business to take care of. As the evening wore on, Garth pulled Amir and Thomas aside.

“The first transports will be arriving in less than a month, with the last wave departing in a little over six. DeRosa and Reynolds insisted on being on the last departure.”

The two men nodded, expressions serious. Amir was the first to speak. “And you think he’s planning something.”

“He’s always planning something. I know this isn’t a fair ask, but I was hoping that the two of you would be willing to go on the same transport. Having people I trust keeping an eye on him would really help me sleep at night.”

The two men exchanged a look, and they nodded their agreement.

“I’ll get details arranged in the next couple of days.”

They rejoined the group and spent the rest of the evening eating and enjoying the conversation. Before long, Amir and Thomas departed. Garth declined a ride back and waved them farewell. He stayed, staring at the crackling flames as his mind wandered. Shortly after, Stephanie came over to where Garth was watching the fire and sat beside him.

“You’ve done a pretty incredible thing here, Garth.”

“If you consider showing up and eating other people’s food incredible, then yes.”

She punched his shoulder. “You know what I mean. You’ve saved a lot of lives. Gwen and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” Her eyes glinted in the firelight as she spoke. “Thank you.”

Garth met her eyes for a moment, and he saw something in them. Before he could speak, a sly smile crept across her rosy lips. “You know, Gwen is staying with Amalia tonight. Walk me home?”

He didn’t need to be asked twice.

* * *

Agony. Every moment was agony. If he could have, Gregory Valentine would have screamed. He’d lost track of how long he’d been trapped inside this infernal cage, left in the limbo between life and death. His body was never given the chance to heal, nor was it allowed to fail. Days passed with the same routine—he answered the same questions, he made the same plea. Just let me die. That is until a few days ago, when things changed.

As usual, Victor forced him to drink a healing potion, just potent enough to keep his condition from worsening. He still fought against it, even though he knew it was futile. When the potion crossed his lips, however, he could tell something was different. Not just in the taste, but in the way his body responded. Valentine had grown accustomed to the sensation of the healing potion, and this one felt significantly more powerful. Moreover, it felt like there was an incredibly faint presence taking root in his body. He could feel it coursing through his damaged organs, urging—no, demanding them to mend.

DeRosa seemed to expect something of the sort and watched with eagerness, writing notes and making charts. For the first time in a long while, Valentine felt a ray of hope. If DeRosa had miscalculated, if he could recover just enough, he’d be able to try and break free. If he did, he would either succeed and kill DeRosa or fail and be killed. Either outcome was better than this purgatory.

The next day, he drank another potion, and this time he felt the healing energy intensify as the presence grew, spreading through his body. At first, he had to fight to hide his elation. In just two days, Valentine’s body had recovered more than it had through the entirety of his imprisonment. Then the pain came. It was as if small slivers of white-hot steel were flowing through his veins. Slowly, inexorably, they were creeping through his bloodstream.

Valentine was stuck in a strange duality, his body physically recovering while at the same time experiencing the worst pain of his life. This continued on the third and fourth days, with DeRosa forcing him to drink more of the potions, his body recovering with a surge of vital energy, and the pain intensifying.

Valentine could feel madness creeping in at the edge of his consciousness, threating to sweep him away. Only one thing kept him lucid, though he wouldn’t call his state of mind “sane.” He thought about two people, the Healer who had broken him and the Mage who was torturing him. If it was the last thing he did, Gregory Valentine was going to make them bleed.

The fifth day came, and once again he was given a potion, this one a deep purple with what looked like onyx smoke swirling inside. His body couldn’t offer any resistance as he consumed the liquid. Searing pain erupted, intensified, and then disappeared. Valentine sighed with relief. At least he tried to.

Feeling panic building, he realized that it wasn’t just the pain that was gone. All sensation had been removed. He couldn’t feel his arms, his legs, or anything at all. The only thing he could feel was the sensation of mana flowing through him, though he couldn’t control it. He saw, through eyes that were no longer his, a wide smile on DeRosa’s face. The crimson-robed man did something, and Valentine saw his arm rise in a salute.

He raged in the prison of his mind, but there was nothing he could do. Valentine spat and swore in his mind, trying to move his body even an inch. He failed every time. Whatever had been done to him, his body was surging with energy, but it was also entirely out of his control. He held onto his rage and, after two more days, finally managed to enter meditation.

Looking into his center, he saw the familiar pattern entirely wrapped in tendrils of purple-black energy. He didn’t have access to see his attributes, or even his own name and class. There was something he could interact with: a single, indistinct gray orb. He focused on the familiar sight and activated his skill selection. He wasn’t offered a choice this time, but his new skill fit him well. The impression given by Seeds of Hate was exactly what he needed. He would wait. He would water the seeds. And when they bloomed, Gregory Valentine’s enemies would wish they had never been born.

Chapter 65

Kyle’s shuttle touched down several kilometers from Nierburg. The landscape around the city had changed dramatically from when Kyle had first arrived nearly two years ago. The forest that once surrounded the city had been razed to the ground. The remains of spiked fortifications and earthworks dotted the approach toward the walls. Kyle could still see smoldering mounds where the ant corpses had been piled up and burned. His heart sank as he took in the sight. The attack was worse than I imagined.

He could have had the shuttle drop him off closer, but Kyle wanted to see the damage. He wanted to better understand what the pocket of Earth’s survivors had been through. Solemnly, he walked across the ruined battlefield. Every crater, every scorch mark told a story of a life-or-death struggle. Even C.H.A.D.D. seemed to recognize the gravity of the situation, remaining uncharacteristically quiet as they made their way toward the city.

As he approached the outer wall, Kyle remembered the greeting he’d been given the first two times he’d been to the city. The lack of lightning flashing down at him was a welcome change, and a figure atop the wall signaled for the gate to be opened. He was met by two uniformed, armed men on the other side. One of the men stepped forward, hand tightening around his spear.

“State your business, stranger.”

“I’m here to visit Garth Boltsbury and a few others in the city. Corthian Mining should have sent word that I was set to arrive today.”

“Aye, that they did.” The other man spoke, venom in his voice clear through his thick accent. “Nice of you to finally show up, now that the fightin’s over. Did’ja bring any friends with you this time to break more of our wall?”

Despite the verbal jabs, neither man barred his path. He was disappointed by the reaction, if not entirely surprised. Had he been informed of the situation by Chester, he would have been here to help. The reality was, he hadn’t been told, and he’d been working tirelessly to help secure a future for these people. The promise of a far-off reward paled in comparison to the losses they’d suffered in the moment. Kyle understood that. He met each man’s eyes in turn, his piercing green gaze causing them to look away.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry that I wasn’t here. I’m sorry for the people you lost.”

With that, he strode past the group and into the city. He wasn’t going to belabor the point, or offer more than he had. Kyle felt their eyes linger on him as he moved deeper into the city. This entrance was a good distance away from the section Chester rebuilt, and while the streets were relatively free from debris, he could still see the scars from the battle that took place. People were still bustling, patching damaged sections of homes and businesses.

This area, much like all of the residential districts near the wall, consisted of mostly unawakened. The buildings were more worn-down, and he felt as much as saw the attention of the residents as he wound through the streets. Grumblings and discontented murmurs were common as he made his way through the winding streets. Word of his arrival seemed to have traveled fast.

A flash of orange light was the only warning Kyle had, and he instinctively ducked as a rock sailed past where his head had been. Baton in hand, he spun in the direction of the attack, only to see a child no older than ten standing in the street behind him. There were tears in the young boy’s face, cutting through the dirt and grime on his cheeks.

“You should have been here!” the boy sobbed. “My daddy died because you weren’t here! You left us! Why did you leave us?”

A group of adults ran over to the child, a woman taking him protectively in her arms while several men stood between Kyle and the boy. He saw a hint of fear in their eyes, and a lot of anger. Damn. The resentment that these people held ran deep, and there wasn’t much Kyle could do about it. A darker, colder part of him thought it was almost funny that the same people who thought he was powerful enough to have fought off the ant swarm were equally confident they could direct their frustration at him without consequences.

Kyle pushed that thought down as he took a stabilizing breath. The time he’d spent alone in the wild had stirred up some bitterness that he’d need to work through as well. Returning the baton to the loop on his belt, Kyle continued to walk toward the center of town without saying a word.

As he moved toward the center of the city, the damage to the city began to progressively lessen, though the looks he received grew more numerous. The people were better dressed, but their attitudes were the same. At this point, Kyle was irritated. He didn’t expect to be welcomed as a hero, or even get a particularly warm reception. He understood that some people may have held expectations of him that were unrealistic. But the whole damn city?

An hour later, Kyle finally made it to the front steps of Central Administration. He was trying to hide the frustration he was feeling, though he suspected it wasn’t going as well as he’d hoped given people were now giving him a wide berth. His anger faded as he walked in the front door when he saw Thomas waiting to greet him. The man with sandy blonde hair offered a grin and shook Kyle’s hand.

“Took you long enough! What, did you get lost on the way in?”

“Something like that. If I knew that Nierburg hated me so much, I would have met you outside the city.”

Thomas’s eyes looked tired at the comment, and he looked around the lobby at the other people casting sideways glances. “Come with me to Garth’s office. We can talk about it there. By the way, it’s good to see you, Kyle.”

The two chatted amicably as they wound their way through the labyrinthine building. Thomas was excitedly asking about the experience in space and the different places Kyle visited, while also sharing stories about the goings on in Nierburg in the past year. C.H.A.D.D. in turn shared its highlight reels as they walked, which were met with even more excitement from Thomas. Kyle basked in the feeling of just being treated like anybody else. For the duration of their walk, he wasn’t “the Onyx Warrior.” He wasn’t a monster; he wasn’t a hero. He was simply a friend.

They finally arrived at Garth’s office, and the door was open. The grizzled warrior sat inside, poring over a veritable mountain of paperwork. He looked up with bleary eyes and offered a tired smile as he gestured for Kyle to come in.

“Got your delivery, boss! One D Grade superhero, as requested.” Thomas patted Kyle’s shoulder before he continued. “I’m going to head back downstairs and keep this place running. It was great talking with you, Kyle.”

The young man smiled as he shook the other man’s hand once again before sitting in the chair opposite Garth. Without thinking, Kyle activated Identify, looking around the room for surveillance. It was a habit he’d gotten into when he entered every room on the flagship, and one that he intended to keep. Satisfied there were no prying eyes, he relaxed.

“It’s good to see you, Garth.”

“Good to see you too, kid. C.H.A.D.D., still working on that onboarding paperwork.”

[MR. BOLTSBURY, IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR. I HARBOR DOUBTS THAT IT’S NEAR THE TOP OF YOUR PRIORITY LIST.]

That earned a smile from both men, though Kyle’s expression soon grew serious.

“The attack was a lot worse than I heard, and people really seem to hate me for it. What happened, Garth?”

“DeRosa happened. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another with him. If he wasn’t so damn useful, I’d have asked you to kill him already.”

“Has he really contributed that much?”

“And more. The man’s a bureaucratic genius. If he hadn’t designed the infrastructure for vertical farms inside the city, we might have starved when the ants came. His priorities are upside-down, but he’s also done a lot of good.”

Kyle folded his arms over his chest. “He tried to have me killed.”

“And I’m not excusing that. At this point, a lot of the damage is done. I’m more interested in talking about where we go from here.”

“From Corthian Mining’s side, the expedition was sloppy but profitable. From what I can gather, Nierburg is going to be the staging ground for evacuation. Shuttles should start arriving in about a month; each should be able to transport roughly ten thousand people.”

Garth jotted down a note. “My understanding is the shuttles will be coming in waves, do you know anything about potential differences between them?”

“Nothing that I’m aware of. It should be the same types of ships, same drop off location, the works. Are you planning on going with the first wave?”

“No, I’ll plan on going with the final wave of shuttles. I’m sending most of the members of my squad on the first to get things prepared, but I want to make sure that everything on this end runs smoothly.”

Seeing how much influence DeRosa has, that’s probably a good idea, Kyle thought.

Garth continued. “There’s also a good number of people that don’t intend to leave. Some think it’s a hoax; others don’t trust that the mining company from outer space has our interests in mind. Speaking of, do you have any idea what quality of life will look like when the first groups arrive?”

Kyle shook his head. “None at all.” He paused for a moment, then continued. “Corthian Mining has some openings for awakened, and it seems like they’re interested in hiring from Earth. If there are people interested, it might not hurt.”

A shadow fell over Garth’s face. “So they’re extorting us. Give them labor after they stripped our planet for resources; otherwise, we might not get a fair shake?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. Just that there can be opportunities out there. For some of us, anyway.”

Garth met Kyle’s eyes, a serious expression on his face. “And what kind of opportunities do you think are waiting for you?”

Kyle exhaled slowly. “I’m really not sure. I think I understood it before, but coming here, seeing how people feel about me… I don’t belong here. I haven’t belonged here for a long time.”

“Really? You’re okay leaving your fellow Earthlings, fellow humans?”

“Am I still human, Garth?”

The room was silent for a moment as the two men sat. Finally, Garth nodded, a sad smile on his face. “There’s a lot out there for you to see, Kyle. I hope you know you still have friends here, no matter what other people might say.”

The two men spoke a while longer, until Kyle got an alert on his nav bracelet. His pickup was scheduled to depart at nightfall, which was just a few hours away. He stood up and shook Garth’s hand. “Take care of your people here, Garth. They’re going to need you more than ever.”

Garth nodded solemnly. “And whether they appreciate it or not, they needed you, too. Hell, they still might.” He gripped Kyle’s hand firmly. “It’s been an honor, kid. Best of luck.”

With that, Kyle left Central Administration and made his way toward the earthwork wall Chester built. As he approached the neighborhood where the Santos family lived, the glares and looks began to fade. Many of the refugees he’d saved had settled in this part of the city.

“Uncle Kyle! You’re late.”

He smiled as he saw Amalia, the young girl standing with hands on her hips. “Come on! Grandpa is almost done making dinner.”

Kyle followed her, listening to her chat about her friends, school, and any other topic that crossed her mind. He waved at familiar faces, trading greetings with laborers going about their business. As before, this area was more run-down than the heart of the city, with damage from the attack still clear on the buildings.

They reached the Santos household, where Frank was chopping vegetables. He greeted Kyle with a broad smile, putting down the knife and wrapping the younger man in a bear hug. “Thank you for coming to see us before you go.”

Kyle felt his gut clench, and he held back tears. He spent the next two hours with the family, laughing, talking, and sharing stories of his adventures. Amalia was enraptured by the projections C.H.A.D.D. showed, and before he knew it, it was time to go. He bid them farewell, stomach full, and left the city through the gate. He was cutting the timing close, though a quick activation of Ignition allowed him to cover much of the distance quickly. He looked back at the city once more before stepping onto the shuttle. Goodbye. It was the last time he would set foot on Planet Earth.

Chapter 66

Kyle watched the azure orb through the projection on the shuttle wall as he ascended, climbing toward the waiting flagship. The crew on board was quiet, leaving Kyle to look and ponder. He thought it would be a harder parting, but as he regarded the planet that had been his home, he realized that he’d already mourned for what he was leaving behind. The world he knew, his aspirations, his dreams—they had all been lost in the cataclysm. Kyle fought to survive in the ruins of his world, and he’d done it. Whatever came next, he would find it among the stars.

Soon, the shuttle passed into the landing bay, and the sight of Earth was gone. Kyle stood and exited, focusing on what was ahead. He already sent a message to Chester on his way up that he’d be departing with the flagship once the first shuttles arrived. He waved to some of the familiar faces as he made his way through the ship and toward his quarters. There was a general buzz of activity as uniformed bodies went to and fro, getting all the preparations together for the return trip. He opened the door to his room and looked at his nav bracelet. Now, he had a mountain of documents to review.

True to her word, Angela Corthus provided an exhaustive list of possibilities for him. The Collective was massive, and there was a virtually endless list of different fields he could choose. Angela had highlighted seven that she recommended, along with a note.

Mr. Mayhew,As the time approaches for you to arrive in the Collective, I want to thank you for your support during this operation. Your efforts contributed significantly to the success, and you helped save many lives. My great-grandson speaks highly of you, and while I know there have been areas of tension between you and our organization, it is my sincere hope that we can part ways amicably. I personally reviewed the files and reports sent to me and have taken the liberty of identifying several fields to which I believe you would be uniquely suited.

I have also seen to it that an additional bonus was paid directly to your account, which will become accessible when you arrive. You will have sufficient funds to build yourself a foundation, no matter what you decide.

Finally, I will offer a word of caution. From what I’ve heard of you, it is likely you will be tempted to visit your people when they arrive. Though your efforts have given them a ledge, tying your path to theirs is perilous. I would hate to see your potential squandered trying to bear the burden of your people alone. There will be challenges for them, and they will have to rise to meet them.

Regards,

Angela Corthus

Kyle read the letter over again, this time out loud for C.H.A.D.D.’s benefit. Her words were direct and to the point, which Kyle appreciated. While he had no doubt she was a shrewd businesswoman, Kyle didn’t get the impression she was lying to him. If she was antagonistic toward him, Angela had more than enough personal and organizational power to crush him like a bug. Even if there were motivations beneath the surface, Kyle’s gut told him that this was advice he should listen to. With that, he opened up the seven documents she’d recommended.

Kyle saw the seven different fields before him, with the words highlighted in three different colors. Referencing the key, he saw that the colors each represented a different set of steps that he would need to take.

The red color signified work that would be within the Collective itself, which would require specific applications, a set of public service examinations, and ultimately placement by a Collective administrator. This was by far the largest overall category, though only two specific fields were highlighted by Angela. The first was working in the Emergency Triage division, and the second was called the Planetary Survey division. As he read over them, both seemed interesting.

Emergency Triage involved being stationed on a planet and responding to disasters as they arose. D Grades were typically squadron leaders, responsible for coordinating a group of E Grades. On higher-grade worlds, however, there were opportunities to act more as an individual contributor. It made sense, given that the scope of the dangers was also higher.

The Planetary Survey group, by contrast, was all about individual contribution. Despite the size and scope of the Collective, much of the universe was still unknown and unexplored. This group was tasked with information-gathering missions and acted as first contact in situations when civilizations were discovered. He was pretty fuzzy on what all that entailed, as Earth’s circumstances had been very non-standard. The unique thing here, at least to Kyle, was that there was a minimum D Grade requirement. It would provide an opportunity for him to really be around a lot of other D Grades, and given the amount he’d learned from Skippy and Duroc, that was a very good thing.

He perused more of the Collective opportunities, more out of curiosity than anything. Much of the work was mundane, available to even unawakened. Kyle hadn’t fully appreciated the scope of the Collective as an organization, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was a mirror to the Central Authority, just blown up to a grander scale. On paper, it was little more than a trade agreement and alliance between many of the largest B Grade factions in the universe. Practically, it seemed to function much more akin to a full-blown government. There was still a lot Kyle didn’t know, though he was hopeful he’d be able to learn more before they arrived.

Filing away the red-coded opportunities, Kyle turned his attention to the blue-coded group, again seeing two that were set apart. This segment was all about individual organizations, offering high-level dossiers on different companies and factions. The ones listed appeared to be C Grade, similar to Corthian Mining in size and scope. The different types of work were as diverse as the companies that offered them, and each required specific and unique qualifications. The two that were selected in this group were more an example, with different postings showing similar needs.

The first was an umbrella labeled “Field Agent.” Though the specifics depended on the organization, virtually every company listed had a position open for individuals to work in the field. E Grades were typically put in squads, while D Grades fell into two categories: expedition leaders like Chester or individual contributors. The idea was simple—throw in with a larger faction, take advantage of the opportunities, and progress.

The second umbrella, listed as ‘Corporate Security,’ was also familiar to Kyle. The requirements appeared to be more stringent, and for good reason. This was another that required D Grade as a minimum requirement, and all the jobs involved guarding something of value to the organization, be it a location, an object, or a person. He thought of Skippy and Duroc, and their involvement on Earth. Kyle had been offered a similar position by Angela herself and had declined it. Even now, it didn’t seem to be as good of a fit as the other three he’d read so far, so he moved on.

The last grouping, indicated in green, was independent work. There were a wide variety of different types of work available, and the path was relatively simple. A person had to complete a licensing course from an accredited group, pass a Collective-administered exam, and receive a license to operate independently. Independents would then join a sponsored Guild, which would ensure they received work.

There were three that Angela had marked in particular: the Private Security Guild, the Courier’s Guild, and the Mercenary’s Guild. These were all fairly self-explanatory. Private Security differed from Corporate Security in that it was a single assignment with a set duration, though the scope of the work was similar. The Courier’s Guild handled everything from private deliveries to large-scale material shipments. The Mercenary’s guild got hired out for additional muscle in combat situations, and Kyle was shocked by the sheer number of contracts requesting them.

Kyle had already dismissed Corporate Security, and quickly tossed Private Security into the same bucket. It just wasn’t something that interested him as much as the others, and as he learned in his sparring sessions with Skippy and Duroc, he wasn’t able to easily showcase his abilities in mock scenarios. That still left Kyle with five viable paths that the chairwoman had highlighted, with more likely lurking within the endless sea of information he had yet to sort through.

He sighed as he closed the documents and lay down on the bed. Thoughts swirled endlessly in Kyle’s head, anticipation and excitement mixed with trepidation. There was a lot he had to figure out. While he had time, Kyle knew that without a direction, it would be easy to get lost in the transition to life in the Collective. He had a tidy sum of credits to rely on, but not enough to live on forever. Besides, one thing was certain. Kyle didn’t want his progression to stagnate. There were mysteries that he wanted answers to, and he wouldn’t be able to find those answers at his current level of power. His mind continued to wander until sleep finally took him.

The weeks that followed were a blur of activity. Even though his work was technically done, field teams were still on the planet wrapping up their final extractions. Kyle found himself assisting Randolph in the medical bay, treating the smaller injuries that still popped up from time to time. During their time together, Kyle had a chance to really appreciate the difference between a dedicated Healer like Randolph and a hybrid like himself.

The short, muscular man only had two skills at the D Grade, as far as Kyle could tell. The detailed diagnostic skill and a skill that isolated and removed foreign objects. Even so, his basic healing skills showed Kyle just how much he had to learn, and he was grateful for the opportunity.

Randolph’s gruff exterior didn’t change much, though Kyle saw it crack occasionally. The most valuable lessons Randolph shared, in Kyle’s opinion, were in the different treatments necessary for different species. He learned a lot about goblin and skrell anatomy, which paired well with the scans C.H.A.D.D. continued to take.

Randolph was quite fond of the drone, and the two of them swapped notes. C.H.A.D.D. added additional detail to its skrell and goblin scans, while Randolph refined the methodology of his own diagnostic skill, working on filtering and isolating specific details. In their down time, Kyle ran Angela’s list by Randolph. He knew he could trust the grumpy Healer to share his full, unfiltered thoughts.

“These are all damn hard to get into, but they’re all good choices. I’ll tell you one thing, though; you’ll make a hell of a lot more money if you sign on with a faction.” Randolph’s moustache bristled as he talked, one hand stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“How much more are we talking about?”

“It depends, but I’d guess 30 percent or more. It tends to be riskier work, but the compensation makes up for it if you ask me.”

Kyle frowned as he considered Randolph’s words. “It’s surprising to me that anybody would go independent and join a guild if things are so much better on the private end.”

Randolph scoffed. “The guilds get paid well, but they also have higher mortality rates. The jobs the guilds get hired for are the ones that their employers don’t have confidence in doing themselves. If their field teams could handle it, they would.”

That got Kyle’s heart beating. His path was tied to overcoming adversity and surviving challenges. While there would undoubtedly be risk aligned with any of the options Angela shared with him, Randolph’s warning about becoming an independent made the option seem even more attractive. The two continued to work until the last day before departure.

The announcement came across everybody’s nav bracelet, and whoops and cheers could be heard across the flagship. Kyle read the message and fought to keep the smile from his face, too. The first transport vessel just arrived. They were officially done with this leg of the journey.

Kyle saw messages from different expedition members come through, announcing parties at the mess hall and a tournament in the training area. While it would be fun, Kyle decided to retire to his room.

Less than a minute after he got settled, there was a knock on the door. Frowning, Kyle got up and opened it. To his surprise, Rochelle was standing outside. For the first time he’d seen, her hair wasn’t up in a tight braid, instead falling naturally, framing her face. She wore a casual uniform, though her daggers were still on her hip. She smiled when she saw him, a glint in her eye.

“I knew I’d find you here, Kyle. Any particular reason you’re skipping the party?”

He returned the smile. Their schedules meant they hadn’t really had a chance to see each other since the shopping trip. “C.H.A.D.D.’s a lot more popular than I am; I’ll get self-conscious.”

“With that new pack you made for it, that’s hardly a surprise.”

“I’m more surprised you’re not there.”

Her smile widened as she cocked her hip. “You saw the announcement. As of an hour ago, I’m officially on shore leave, and I can think of something a lot more fun. Now, are you going to invite me in?”

Kyle took her hand and let the door close behind them.

Chapter 67

The journey to Collective space was calm, uneventful even. Maybe it was from the stress of all the back-to-back events after the cataclysm, but he wholeheartedly expected that something would go wrong. Instead, he’d been able to enjoy a week of company and slice of normalcy amidst the chaos.

He and Rochelle were grabbing breakfast together, which had become part of their morning routine. There was a tension between them this time, though it was easy to understand why. The ship would arrive today, and they both knew the conversation that was coming. Rochelle sipped her morning tea, meeting Kyle’s eyes before she spoke. “Have you decided what you’re going to do after we get there?”

He nodded. “If Angela’s documents are current, I’ll be at the Hub for quite a while preparing to get my licensure.”

Rochelle closed her eyes for a moment as she raised her tea to her lips, appearing to be savoring the taste. She’d never floated the idea of him staying on with Corthian Mining. When they arrived, she’d take a transporter to the Corthian Mining headquarters, and their paths would diverge. They didn’t know each other—not really—though the last week had been significant for Kyle. He relished having a chance to be a person again—not a D Grade, not a savior, not a monster.

“So… how often do you make it to the Hub?” Kyle asked, more than a little hopefulness in his voice.

She smiled at him, a wistful look in her eye. “It’s not just about going to the Hub, Kyle. You’ll see when we get there.”

“I’m sure it’s big, but how big can it realistically be?”

She finished her tea before standing, looking at him before she walked away. “Like I said, you’ll see.”

Kyle watched her go as she left the mess hall. Despite her words, he was confident their paths would cross again someday. Regardless, he wasn’t going to make their parting any more painful than it had to be. A buzz on his nav bracelet indicated a countdown until he had to clear his quarters of his belongings. That wasn’t a difficult task, as he’d already packed. Not bringing much onto the ship had its benefits.

With time to spare, Kyle made his way toward the flight deck. He wouldn’t be allowed in with Chester and the navigation staff, but he could still get a look through their projectors at the space ahead. He settled in, just as the flagship was preparing for its final jump. Floating in the space ahead was what appeared to be a massive stone ring. The area in the center seemed to ripple, and the stars beyond didn’t match the rest of the horizon. This was the third such transporter they’d encountered, and it would take the flagship back to the heart of the Collective—the Hub.

He felt a mild sense of vertigo as they passed through, and it went away a moment later. Compared to the backlash of using the Transportation Array, it was far smoother. As he had before, Kyle marveled at the precision and power that the massive rings had to possess. Learning more about them was definitely on his list. He considered asking C.H.A.D.D. about it when the vision in front of him made him lose his train of thought.

Though they were still a distance away, Kyle could make out a cluster of stars, all bound together by what looked like links in a chain. He gazed in wonder as the flagship got closer, revealing more stars and giving him a better look at the “chain.” What he saw was an interwoven series of platforms wrapping around the surface of each of the stars. The sheer scale of the construction was staggering to him.

It’s one giant Dyson Sphere, Kyle realized, watching as they steadily approached. He’d heard of the theory of Dyson Spheres—an old-Earth concept for harnessing stellar energy. It hadn’t been feasible pre-awakening, and after the Originators departed, the planet there wasn’t much interest. With enough mana and power, though… Kyle’s thoughts continued to swirl, losing track of time until approaching footsteps snapped him back to attention.

“Quite the sight, isn’t it?”

Kyle turned to see Chester Drake approaching, a tired smile on his face. The foreman continued. “I remember my first time approaching the Hub from space. Teleporting to it is one thing, seeing it in its entirety is quite another.”

“Wait, are you telling me all this construction is the Hub?”

“Naturally. It’s a construct made through the collaboration of multiple A Grades. As more planets choose to join the Collective, more star systems are added.”

“How can people survive so close to the stars?” Kyle asked, bewilderment clear in his voice. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

Chester shrugged. “I haven’t seen all the data behind it, though from what I understand the Hub draws and regulates the energy output. That’s why the planets that move along with the stars are still habitable.”

Kyle turned and looked back at the approaching star cluster. As the flagship got closer, the full scope of the cluster was obscured by the nearest star. The platforms of the Hub grew larger and larger, and a ping on his nav bracelet told him they would arrive in just over an hour.

“Why are you here, Chester?”

“To pass along a message. Our sponsorship will open a good number of doors for you, Mr. Mayhew. We—I—would ask that you remember that in the future. While it’s unlikely to come to pass any time soon, if your future employer’s interests come into conflict with our own, know that it is appropriate to step away.”

Kyle suppressed his first instinct to push back on the foreman and instead just nodded. “I’m not going to make any promises, but I’ll remember what you’ve all done for me.” The good and the bad.

Chester nodded, then turned to leave. “It’s appreciated, Mr. Mayhew. It has been… an experience having you on this expedition. I look forward to seeing your future endeavors.”

[I BELIEVE HE IS FRIGHTENED BY YOU, DR. MAYHEW.]

The words took Kyle by surprise, though hearing it from the drone made him consider. He was a random D Grade on a world about to die. Chester wanted to use him as an asset but lost control over him in short order. From that perspective, he could understand.

“I think you might be right, C.H.A.D.D.”

[WHILE IT IS GENERALLY PREFERABLE FOR PHYSICIANS TO BE APPROACHABLE, I’M GLAD THAT YOU FRIGHTEN HIM.]

“Why is that?”

[IF YOU DIDN’T, I THINK I WOULD BE REDUCED TO PARTS ON THEMESTRA’S WORKBENCH.]

There was no arguing that point. Kyle was looking forward to having C.H.A.D.D. away from Corthian Mining’s prying eyes. They waited and watched as the Hub grew larger in their view, until the announcement came that they were prepared to disembark.

As Kyle and C.H.A.D.D. left the viewing room, they met Rochelle, who was carrying an almost comically large bag over her shoulder. Kyle smiled and waved at her, and the two began to walk toward the hangar bay.

“How does everybody know where I am all the time?” Kyle asked, a teasing note in his voice.

“It’s not that hard,” Rochelle replied. “You’re pretty hard to miss, Mr. ‘Onyx Warrior.’”

He groaned as he heard the name, though the smile didn’t leave his face. “You’re never going to drop that, are you?”

Her eyes glistened. “Nope.”

[I THOUGHT IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE NAME, GIVEN YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS.]

That earned a chuckle from both of them. Rochelle readjusted the bag she was carrying, and her expression grew more serious. “I’m glad I met you on this expedition, Kyle. You’re a good man, but I don’t want to give you the wrong idea.”

Kyle raised his hand, palm out. He understood that their encounters had been as much about convenience and rank as anything else. Captains didn’t have nearly as much freedom when it came to workplace relationships. Kyle didn’t have any issues with that and certainly wasn’t going to hold it against her. He enjoyed her company and, more than anything else, enjoyed feeling like a person again.

He offered her a smile, tinged with sadness. “I know that this is it, at least for now. If you do wind up having time for an extended stay at the Hub, let me know.”

She stopped, leaned in, and kissed his cheek. “I’ll take you up on that. If you ever get the itch to go and strip a planet of its resources with a soulless mining company, you know who to call.”

Soon, they were met with a steady stream of expedition members, each exiting the ship in single file. Kyle could see the expansive platform and recognized the logo for Corthian Mining. Beyond it, there were countless other, similar platforms, each floating above a segment of the Hub. As Kyle watched, the expedition members were scanned as they left the ship, walked toward a glowing ring near the center, and disappeared, ostensibly being teleported to their destination.

Soon, it was their turn. Rochelle left first, tossing Kyle a wink after she was scanned. “Take care of yourself, Kyle. And try to keep C.H.A.D.D. out of trouble.”

He smiled. “I’ll do what I can. You too, Rochelle.”

[GOODBYE, CAPTAIN ROCHELLE. I WILL KEEP A LOG OF ALL IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS DR. MAYHEW MAKES FOR EASY REVIEW.]

She laughed at that, walked to the teleporter, and was gone. That was about the time Kyle realized he had no idea where he was going. Stepping off the ship, he felt a cool breeze, despite the proximity to the star. Before he could be scanned, an elderly gentleman with stark-white hair and an immaculate uniform approached him.

“Are you Kyle Mayhew?”

“I am. Who’s asking?”

“I’m one of Ms. Corthus’s aides, and I’ve been asked to see to it you get sent to your appropriate accommodations, as well as access to your accounts.”

One problem solved. “That sounds great. Thank you.” The man, whose name was Leonard, brought Kyle to the teleportation platform, pressed something on his nav bracelet, and the two were whisked off. Kyle felt a small shift in the space around them, and a moment later he was standing on a raised platform in the heart of a massive city.

Buildings towered around him as far as the eye could see, looking to be carved from stone that reminded him of marble. The atmosphere was comfortable, and the scent reminded him of the mountains on a cool morning, despite all the hustle and bustle. There was a steady flow of people coming and going, some walking onto other platforms and being teleported away, others simply walking. Kyle recognized skrell, humans, and goblins, which were only three among at least a dozen different species. Hulking creatures that looked like bipedal catfish walked alongside slender, two-meter-tall figures with pale skin and silver hair. What could be best described as a round ball of fur trotted behind a floating mass of swirling algae.

Kyle wanted to take a moment more to look, though he was swiftly pulled along by Leonard. “I understand the foundation of trust we have is damaged, and the first thing Ms. Corthus wanted arranged was getting you a blank nav bracelet with access to your accounts. I assume you don’t object?”

“Not at all,” Kyle said, still trying to take in the city.

They walked into one building, Leonard flashed some sort of identification, and a skrell behind a counter got to work tinkering with something in a drawer. They asked Kyle to infuse some mana, and as quick as that, he had a new nav bracelet. A home screen was projected out of the item, and it showed a basic identification, along with his total credits.

Kyle expected to see somewhere in the ballpark of nine hundred thousand, given that there hadn’t been much value taken after his encounter with the Storm. He had to blink twice at the figure. Two million credits… that’s one hell of a bonus.

As if seeing his confusion, Leonard spoke. “Ms. Corthus wanted to ensure that you had adequate funds to begin your life in the Collective. She believes it would reflect poorly on the company to sponsor somebody, only to have them live in squalor.”

Kyle could only nod as they left the building. Leonard led him through several packed streets to different businesses, where Kyle was measured for a new wardrobe, established an account with a grocer who would deliver food, and got Kyle acquainted with the teleportation system. The Hub was immense and divided into districts based on which of the major Collective members was responsible for maintaining order.

From what Kyle could gather, that was the reason life on the Hub was incredibly safe. None of the major factions wanted to give off an impression of weakness to the others, so crime was handled swiftly and efficiently. It surprised him to hear that, despite their relatively high population, humans didn’t have a sector that they controlled.

Teleportation within the districts was easy, but crossing districts meant teleporting to a dedicated entry and undergoing a scan. It was still possible to travel between districts freely, but the additional hassle meant most people stayed within their home district. That brought them to the last and most important decision he had to make.

Leonard had advised him that the path to licensure would be easier if he chose to live in the same district where he’d be doing the majority of his studies. He’d thought long and hard about his choices and met Leonard’s eyes as he affirmed his decision. “I want to go independent and join a guild.”

The old man simply nodded, and a list of messages appeared on Kyle’s nav bracelet.

“Accommodations have been set up for you in District Seven, controlled by the Verdant Republic. Directions to your lodgings are in your nav bracelet, and the grocers and tailors have been notified where to deposit their goods. Welcome to the Collective, Mr. Mayhew.” With that, Leonard stood up and left, his business concluded.

Kyle stood too, feeling strangely alone despite the constant crowds of people. He closed his eyes and remembered staring at the night sky with his grandfather. We made it, Grandpa. Determination filled him, and he strode toward the teleporter. No matter what came next, Kyle was ready to carve out his place among the stars.

Oath of the Survivor continues in Book Three!

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