RERTURN OF THE MARTIAL MESSIAH

BOOK 2

TORAAKR

Copyright © [Year of First Publication] by [Author or Pen Name]

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Thanks and Foreword

To those of you who read the first novel of Return of the Martial Messiah and joined us on Patreon, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have put food on our family's table, and for that, we will forever be grateful. To the readers from Royal Road who have offered feedback, suggestions, and oh so many edits and corrections, thank you for making Martial Messiah the best story it can be.

!Trigger Warning!: The world of Martial Messiah was designed from the ground up with an intense focus on its own realism, often to the exclusion of our Earthly common sense and sensibilities. It was in no way designed to affirm or challenge any specific real-world ideology or belief system. If you find some of the content in this story offensive, please know it was not intentional. We sincerely hope you enjoy this labor of love and offer our heartfelt gratitude for reading it.

Contents

1. CATCHER OF SKIES

2. BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CANYON

3. THE THIRD LAW

4. AN UNEXPECTED RESULT

5. A REVISIT LONG OVERDUE

6. EVERY ADVANTAGE

7. DEEPER INTO THE UNKNOWN

8. CURIOSITY KILLED THE… NO, IT WAS GREED

9. DARKNESS

10. THE FIRST OF MANY

11. TO KILL A MOCKING BITCH

12. WHAT’S MINE IS MINE

13. REGEN

14. THE GOLD STANDARD

15. UPGRADES ALL AROUND

16. CLASS ACTION RAW RECRUIT

17. LUST FOR BLOOD

18. CLASS FOUR EXPERT

19. ROMAXILLIONS

20. CHAMPION OF NOTHING

21. THE AUCTION BEGINS

22. A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING

23. ARMSMAN’S ARMORY

24. WRAINE’S WORLD

25. EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

26. ONE AT A TIME

27. SECRETS TO DIE FOR

28. DRY CANYON TOWN

29. FILIAL IN THE BEST WAY

30. PREPARATIONS

31. OH, SNAP!

32. THE DEADLIEST OF FOES

33. GOING DOWN ON YOUR ENEMY

34. FRESH START

35. UNEXPECTED COMPLICATIONS

36. A DAY TO REMEMBER

37. KING OF BANDITS

38. PITS OF DESPAIR

39. ON THE ROAD AGAIN

40. CONTINUE THE STORY

41. TORAAKR'S OTHER WORKS

42. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CATCHER OF SKIES

39

Harsh winds smoothly glided across the few areas of Raine’s exposed skin. The air was just the right thinness, making breathing a pleasurable struggle that reminded him he was alive. His eyes closed, basking in the freedom of gliding through the open skies without a care. Strapped to his back was a device he paid too much for, considering he would eventually make them himself for a fraction of the cost.

[Gromglenn Premium Skydrifter: (Marvelous Gold) Activate outside of combat to glide from a high elevation. Premium version is equipped with textile obfuscation, sound cancellation, wind harnessing, and enhanced durability. Creator is not responsible for device failures that result in prolonged screaming before sudden death. (Durability 199/200)]

The first thing Raine did after activating the Skydrifter was cut and edit the vodcast he took of the dungeon. He made sure to exclude his weapon swapping and the mysterious footwork SolemnRiver used. It was obviously an advanced technique of the Phoenix Clan, and if they knew he had it, he would be dead within the week. Sure, ZionLine was impossible to hack, and his avatar looked nothing like his real self, but that wouldn’t be enough to stop the right investigator with the use of unlimited funds.

After making sure he was the first to post a guide, he perused his notifications and equipped his newest title.

[Sky Catcher: (Title) (Upgradeable) Bonus 50% Superiority and Attunement when defeating monsters above your level]

This title is amazing! But how did we get that world first? There should be plenty of class five internal force masters and possibly a few external force masters in ZL already. Not one of them decided to clear the first dungeon on Nightmare? Oh!

It took all of five seconds on the forums to find a post from a day ago (8 hours outside ZionLine) about a player named Rakka getting the world first for completing a nightmare dungeon solo. Raine knew a few stories about the man’s exploits. Whether they were fact or fiction was irrelevant, as he eventually became a fifth-tier god and ruler of another continent.

That’s what I thought. Damn. With a solo clear, I bet he got the next upgrade of the title or the one after that. No point thinking about it. I have my own advantages, and there’s plenty more waiting for me now that I’m not stuck in an office designing an engine. From today on, it's full speed ahead!

Raine’s interface buzzed with the notification of a friend request from SolemnRiver. Realizing he never left the party, he immediately dropped out. Shrugging, he accepted the request. He had no intention of interacting with her again. Still, the future had already changed, and there was no telling if they would be friends or enemies once his guild was up and running.

She immediately tried to call him. Raine rejected the communication, assuming she was upset over him not charging for the dungeon guide or splitting the profits with her. Since he couldn’t charge for anything posted on ZionLine’s forums and posting elsewhere could be easily tracked, that wasn’t going to happen.

At least after this, I won’t need to post any more freebies. Alaric’s renown is solid now. Once I’m ready to start my guild, I should have plenty of applicants.

She tried calling again, bringing a smile to his lips. With a few quick taps in his interface, he sent her a direct message, “What? I’m busy.”

Her answer came seconds later, “I have a business proposition for you.”

Someone of her background? That could be lucrative, but getting further involved with the wealthiest and most dangerous clan on the continent...

Raine carefully weighed the pros and cons, then realized he could use this to solve an issue he was going to encounter all too soon. “I'm listening.”

“Not here; call me when you're free.”

Important enough that she doesn't want a written record? Interesting.

“Okay, I should have time in a few days,” before Raine could close his interface, she responded.

“...”

He rolled his eyes, “I have a quest. I won't have access to communications after this until I’m done.”

“Okay. Three days.”

Talerra Tafell aka SolemnRiver

- Vile Peak Town -

“You're really going to forgive him just like that?” FierceFire exhaled sharply through flared nostrils.

Talerra was still fuming, especially after he rudely refused her calls, “No. Definitely not. He did remove my ghost step from the video, so he's not a complete fool. Besides, you saw what he's capable of. If he joins the competition, he could be a powerful dark horse.”

FierceFire froze mid-step, then shook her head sharply, “You don't even know if he'll be allowed to enter! This guy is bad news. We shouldn’t have anything to do with him after this. Unless we happen to run into him again. Then we should definitely repay his kindness.”

Talerra ignored her best friend’s outburst, “He’ll be permitted to join. There's no way he’s too old. A senior would never act the way he did.”

“Maybe not the ones you know,” FierceFire grumbled as she stomped down the tunnel to the start of the dungeon.

Talerra was quick to give chase, her tone dismissive and tinged with a malicious undertone, “It’s true he damaged my reputation. All I have to do is make sure he pays me back fivefold for what he’s done. When grandfather notices me turning a weakness into a strength, that can only work in my favor.”

Raine KongRu

- Skies of ZionLine -

Raine chuckled evilly, looking forward to utilizing the unwitting girl’s resources for his own gain. The sound never reached the nearby great eagles, absorbed by the bubble surrounding him and the large drifter strapped to his back. With the nearby air currents absorbed and utilized to maintain lift, his flight was smooth. He still steadily lost altitude, though significantly less than he would have riding one of the lower-grade variants of the Skydrifter. No matter its efficiency, its range was insufficient to bring him all the way to his goal in one shot, far from it.

The colored skylanes around him—sections in the high sky that allow for faster aerial travel—were lit up in his HUD. The lane he was currently in shifted from bright green to light blue, and his speed dropped nearly in half. He adjusted his angle into a newly lit green section nearby, making sure to maintain course toward the nearest uplift—an updraft against a cliff face that would restore most of his elevation.

If he were to have any chance of completing the witch’s insane quest on time, he needed to stay in the green lanes and hit five more lift zones before reaching the halfway point. Then, he had a long climb ahead to get high enough for the final stretch.

[Unique Chain Quest: Fall of the Tyrants]

[Locate the entrance to the Mystic Realm of Korahn’s Legacy (14 hours remaining)]

[Warning: Failure to progress this quest will result in your soul being dominated by the Great Witch Zoarra. Quest may not be abandoned]

Since he was going to be flying for a while, Raine accessed his message box, his scalp sliding back at seeing over four hundred messages from the engineers at Frontier. He responded to only the first, letting them know he wasn’t at all interested in giving them more details until they paid him. He sent a message to Richtor, letting him know he was free to talk. Then, he pulled up the unedited recording of the dungeon and closely examined SolemnRiver’s mysterious footwork.

After slowing down the VRvod and adjusting his viewing angle, he frowned. The blurred shifting of her weight from front to back and front again in rapid succession was now clear, but it was sloppy in a way that was hard to put his finger on. Realization struck. The technique was designed to utilize internal force in the real world. Since ZionLine used attributes instead, which provided a more consistent boost to speed and power, her steps didn’t function correctly.

During the thirty years of his past life, numerous martial techniques from the outside world had been adjusted to function in ZionLine. His current martial path was a well-compiled mishmash of traditional styles that had long since been adjusted for attributes by the time he learned it. But in this timeline, none of that happened yet.

The moment he had the thought, a flicker of excitement churned in his chest, and he couldn’t breathe. The flicker quickly ignited into a bonfire that set his heartbeat racing. Had he attempted to copy techniques outside his old master’s teachings, he would have been executed. CronGate did not take lightly to those under their control attempting to grow beyond their station.

Those chains no longer shackled him. Thirty years of slavery had ingrained ways of thinking into his brain that blinded him. Now, for the first time, he realized just how big of an advantage he could have over the martials.

The years it took for masters to become acquainted with ZionLine and evolve their techniques was something he could skip entirely. There was no one alive who understood the differences between internal force and attributes more clearly. Even better, as content updates made incremental changes to ZionLine, the fundamentals of skill usage and controlling avatars would evolve. Then, the martials would have to start all over again, while he knew in advance the best ways to start training now.

Raine closed his eyes tight, visualizing several adjustments to SolemnRiver’s steps to account for attributes. Within seconds, he could clearly picture how to drastically improve his use of heavy two-handed weapons. The way she spun to overcome the Attack Speed detriment of her axe was only the beginning. With this as a solid foundation, he envisioned multiple ways to further refine the technique with a bit of practice.

Considering who her Great-grandfather was, it was a certainty that the steps SolemnRiver used were only the initial stages of a much more advanced series of footwork.

Lineage is a steep mountain to overcome. That’s fine. I’ll keep stealing from them and adjusting what they know to work in ZL.

For the first time since awakening in the past, a path to overcome the Old Monsters lurking at the top of the world’s food chain was taking shape. With jittery energy zinging through his fingers, Raine sent a quick message to Morty, asking him to compile clips of any VRvods that contained what looked like martial techniques.

Such things were beyond Raine’s ability to find himself. Martial families guarded them with zealous fanaticism, willing to murder entire cities to keep the secrets of their power. After all, it was the top martials who ruled the world. Passing out techniques, and especially the methods to improve the body beyond normal comprehension, was the same as distributing loaded cannons.

Morty’s response came at a speed only an AI could achieve and was in the form of a link to a pair of new arms that would cost two million a piece. Raine sent him an emoji that let him know in no uncertain terms that he would pay for exactly one middle finger of one arm.

Raine searched that same site, finding a pair of arms for half the cost with only two fewer features. He sent them to Morty, and the AI responded with the beginnings of a list of cut VRvods. Raine dove in, his thoughts focused, becoming a knife’s edge as he picked at the scant details of the edited-out techniques: a foot planted at a specific angle, the distance between knuckles prior to an attack, the way a shoulder was lowered before the next frame showed the martial ten meters away. There was little to go on, but it was a start.

His personal style had always revolved around hand-to-hand combat. With the dream of running a powerful guild, he would need to absorb much more to best guide his future underlings. Besides, he was going to be stuck with the cursed ring for a while. There was no reason not to learn techniques for each weapon as best he could. 

An hour later, shortly after Raine reached his second lift zone, Richtor finally responded. Raine answered the call to find his brother’s face covered in sweat and splashed with blood. His breaths were rapid, and his voice strained, “I-I don’t know what to do. We’re in so much trouble.”

Richtor KongRu

- One hour ago -

“Behind you!” Richtor shouted as a man-sized spider exploded from the ground. Its trap was perfectly placed at the side of the canyon, and it even waited for three of them to walk directly over it before springing into action. 

In a spray of dirt, it launched at KevinsBakon, who was caught entirely by surprise. Six of its long arms—tipped with barbed claws—wrapped around their tank from behind. He had just enough time to turn slightly, sending claws aimed at his heart, skittering across his chest plates. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to raise his shield and activate Block, so he took full damage from the higher-level beast. [-112]

Richtor threw a Mend at him while jumping to the side, giving space for the others to close range. [+65] His accuracy and the quantity of health restored by his skill had come a long way in the last few days. The same was true for all of them, yet still, they couldn’t match the Raine from their memories.

Kevin released a pained moan, his eyes wide as hooked barbs sank into his flesh. Still, he crossed his arms over the beast’s legs to hold it fast, planted his feet, and turned to face the wall, giving the party access to the spider’s back.

Deloralicious arrived first with a Lunge. Her spear led the way, digging deep into its back and eliciting a high-pitched screech. TwistedReligion’s Blast arrived a moment later, melting the base of a leg. Sizzling and the aroma of cooked meat filled their noses as his spell dug deep into the hardened carapace. Milkdud was last, jumping high and dropping onto its upper abdomen. He wrapped an arm around its narrow pedicel, working his dagger deep before splitting the creature in half for critical damage.

The abdomen fell away with a wet splosh, taking him to the ground, where he quickly rolled to his feet. His back was to the group as he watched the walls with Far Sight, “Five more coming.”

“Pull back,” Richtor spoke softly as Deloralicious stabbed twice more in quick succession, finishing off the wounded beast. He sent another Mend at Kevin, topping him off at the hefty price of a third of his remaining Celestial Power. Raine had been right when he said healing was hard; the party quickly realized it was, in fact, impossible to keep a tank alive if they were foolish enough to trade blows with even lower-level enemies.

With well-rehearsed coordination, they fled from the middle section of the canyon—the furthest they had managed to come so far. They were level eight now. The ambushing and warrior spiders they were fighting came in either level eight or nine variants. They were quick and powerful, with tangling webs and the potential for massive waves of reinforcements if the group was too loud. Thankfully, they also had low health and died quickly, especially if the group managed to get the drop on them.

It was for that reason the entire group took Stealth for their second general skill. They weren’t very good at it, but it allowed them to move deeper into the canyon and level much more safely. The skill was far from perfect and heavily relied on the user’s ability to control their avatar.

Once activated, it worked with the caster's desire to move to a specific area within view, guiding their movements the entire way. Richtor associated it to a dance instructor with their fingers on your back or arm, steering your movements without forcing them. If you so much as twitched away from that shepherding, the skill instantly failed and started a two-minute cooldown. Worse, it steadily drained Discipline the entire time it was in use.

Only Deloralicious had gained any meaningful proficiency with it. She even managed to stay stealthed their entire trip into the canyon this time. Keeping up their practice, they entered Stealth after rounding a corner and breaking line of sight with the five warrior spiders on their tail.

They snuck by dozens of level-five spiders, moving slowly at timed intervals to specific points they now knew by heart. After surpassing them by two levels, the beasts no longer gave SP. Worse, their loot drop rate plunged like a whore’s neckline (as Milkdud so elegantly put it), making it far more efficient to sneak past.

Which was the only reason they weren’t caught by surprise when two groups of players rounded another bend ahead of them. Each wore at least one piece of orange clothing or armor. They held varying weapons and were more interested in pushing deeper into the canyon than fighting every spider.

Despite their levels showing as five and six, TwistedReligion flinched at the first sighting of other humans in days, breaking his Stealth. The group of ten stared at his crouched form for a whole two seconds before one of them yelled, “Enemy sighted! Attack!”

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CANYON

40

The canyon floor and walls came to life as dozens of spiders crawled from holes, dropping from Stealth as they plunged from high above. Webbing filled the air, fired from multiple directions toward the fool who yelled. In a blink, he was completely encased in a cocoon of sticky, hardened mesh. Chaos erupted in the players’ ranks. Arrows and elemental Blasts flew wildly while warriors hacked at the stray bindings clinging to their limbs.

TwistedReligion bolted back the way they came. Richtor leaped at him, grabbing his armor as he zipped past. With heels dug into the hard ground, Rhictor grunted with effort. A Blast crashed into the back of his neck. Its heat enveloped his head, blinding, then filling his lungs with scorching heat when he gasped in surprise. [Critical hit! -27]

Richtor couldn’t decide to laugh or cry through the suffocating pain. He settled on coughing while wildly pointing toward the exit of the canyon on the far side of the ambushing group. KevinsBakon lowered his shoulder and barreled into their ranks without a sound, knocking three of their members into the waiting legs of surrounding spiders.

Deloralicious leaped, feet landing on his shoulders before she dove toward the caster who attacked Richtor. A snarl twisted her lips as she buried a dagger in his neck. Richtor regained his senses enough to activate Mend. The ache in his throat and the burn in his eyes vanished. He immediately snapped a command, “Out of the canyon, don’t stop to fight!”

They did just that, running bodily through the lower-level fighters who attacked them out of nowhere. Richtor’s group was on their fourth weapon masteries, and the difference in their attributes was apparent. Each collision, punch, or kick resulted in someone flying two meters away. The spiders went into a frenzy, tearing apart the easy pickings. They didn't ignore Richtor's people either. Over ten of the quick beasts harried their every step as the multitudes piled atop the helpless ambushers.

Having run from the spiders many times, the group kept an eye over their shoulders, dodging to the side in quick hops whenever webbing was fired their way. While their evasions often put them in a position to take a bite or clawed stab, the weaker beasts near the exit lacked the Attack Power to hurt them significantly. Being webbed on the other hand, would have been a death sentence. In less than a minute, they reached the forest, and the spiders chasing them turned back.

Heaving—more from adrenaline than being winded—Richtor spoke in short, concise sentences, “Did you see their colors? Same as the guys from town. Scouts from DyingNight, maybe? There might be more nearby. Now that they found this place, we can’t stay. Let's head into the hills and loop around to the road.” Checking the party's resource meters in his interface, Richtor decided not to heal their minor injuries. He had enough Celestial Power for two more uses of Mend. With the potential for more enemies nearby, hastily spending the slow-to-regenerate resource would be foolish.

“We can’t take the road!” Milkdud hissed, “There’s a war going on, remember? I bet those guys thought we were members of Righteous. There’s supposedly more than five hundred thousand players on each side. We could be completely surrounded already!”

“Damn. Good point. Okay, we’ll stick to the hills and head toward Vile Peak Town.”

Deloralicious was the calmest among them. She bobbed her head in thought, fingers brushing over the hilt of her dagger, “Raine told us not to go there until we hit level ten. I agree that we don’t have much of a choice. We don’t know any other leveling spots, and heading to a nearby town would be begging for a death. You’ve seen the posts; anyone caught out in the open in the warzone is targeted, and now that’s us.”

“Good thing we all have Stealth,” every pair of eyes swiveled toward TwistedReligion, their mouths agape at his gall. “Hey! It was an accident. They surprised me, is all. Now that I’ve experienced something like that, it definitely won’t happen again.”

“Right…” Richtor shook his head, then led the way northwest.

They reached the edge of the small woods. The coast was clear, but to be safe they Stealthed before slowly moving toward the base of the nearest hillock. Staying together wasn’t an issue with how simple it was to track the soft grass that depressed with each footfall. They traveled around the hill, and with it blocking the canyon from sight, they breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Two hills later, Richtor was nearing fifty percent Discipline. He stopped and was about to call for a break when he spotted a tall man in a matching armor set come over the top of a rise. He moved with the fluid grace of a martial. Every hair on Richtor’s neck stood tall.

He turned the group away from the man and toward the base of a different hill, where the curvature of the ground would hide them from sight. He wanted nothing more than to get out of the obviously dangerous man’s sight. When the man was halfway down the hill, he called out in a firm voice, “That’s far enough!”

The group stopped in their tracks, none daring to move a muscle. Like a drill sergeant, his voice rang out again, “Break, twenty!”

Richtor’s confusion lasted all of a second before what must have been three hundred players dropped from stealth around the man. His instinct screamed to run, but he held them in check with an iron fist right up until a terrified TwistedReligion popped into sight next to him.

The small army froze, hundreds of pairs of eyes zeroing in on their small, vulnerable group. The dangerous man’s arm rose slowly until it was straight above his head before he swung it down toward them. With a thunderous roar, the army of players charged.

“Run!” Milkdud shouted, already in a sprint when he appeared a few steps away.

They headed east in a mad dash. With each step, their eager anticipation to get their hands around TwistedReligion’s throat soared. Since they all lived in the house Raine bought for them, he definitely wasn’t going to get off easily this time.

The fastest of the players were only a few dozen meters behind when they rounded the nearest hill. Before them, spread out across a sweeping valley, were easily a thousand players with spots of orange color blooming throughout their ranks. 

Dread slammed through Richtor’s veins, and he veered to the south, back toward the forest, “The canyon! Go-go-go!”

After spotting their one-time friends and joining the chase, Grifden and MourningWood returned to the main force. They were breathing hard by the time they returned to MercilessLee. They snapped a salute and waited.

“Report!” The psychopathic little bastard sneered.

He had made their lives a living hell over the last week, but at least they managed to reach level five and could finally join the war. In DyingNight, it was impossible to be assigned decent leveling areas and meals without merit, and this was a chance neither was willing to squander.

“It was definitely them, my lord,” Grifden would never again curl his lip at the honorifics MercilessLee demanded. One beating per lesson was more than sufficient. “They entered the same canyon that Scout Seven located. They’re all level eight, so it must be an amazing grinding location.”

“Reports aren’t for opinions! You think I’m dumb?! You want another lesson in respect? Is that it?”

There was only a single acceptable response, and Grifden was quick to reiterate it, “I would gladly accept another heartfelt lesson, my lord!”

MercilessLee rocked back on his heels with a soft smile, “Good. Good. We might have time later, but not now. We’ll deal with the company from Righteous first, then dig their corpses out of that canyon and claim it for ourselves.” He waved them off, and they left in a hurry. 

They joined up with SanctimoniousNut, retaking their positions at the front of the 205th Battalion—eight hundred and seventy-two men and women ready to lay down their lives for DyingNight as many times as it took to hold their territory. Grifden eyed their powerful army eagerly, dreaming of the day when its command would fall into his hands. 

“Was that really them?” Nut wondered, making room in the formation for them to stand beside him.

Grifden nodded solemnly, “Yup. Looks like they found a crazy leveling spot. They’re already eight.”

“What?! Fuck, that pisses me off. After everything we’ve been through… We have to survive this fight. I won’t be able to sleep if I don’t kill at least one of them myself.”

MourningWood swallowed hard. Having known Richtor for years, he wasn’t comfortable thinking of their old group as the enemy. Still, surrounded by so many of his new guild mates, he was confident he had made the right choice. If not for the war breaking out, they definitely would have out-leveled his old group. It didn’t matter if they were level eight, twelve, or fifty. There was a point where overwhelming numbers trumped anything that a lone group could accomplish. He would show them that harsh reality sooner or later. Then, they would join DyingNight and, together, conquer this amazing world.

Raine nodded along to Richtor’s story, not at all surprised, “Good job making it out of that pincer. Well, do your best to survive. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get there, so don’t count on my help. If you’re captured, use the suicide option in your interface. Unless you want to be tortured… no judgment.”

“Seriously?! That’s all you have to say,” Richtor snarled. The others were crowded around him, their senses trained on the canyon walls.

“They have a battle to win and a war to fight. They probably won’t chase you too deep. Besides, they’ve all been stuck at level five from constantly killing each other. Your situation isn’t as bad as you think.”

“Not as bad? We’re surrounded by level ten spiders with no way out to even take a break! I have no idea how we’re supposed to survive this.”

“Simple. Push deeper into the canyon and kill until you’re strong enough to leave on your own two feet. If you think it's going to get easier than it is right now, you’re dead wrong. Each step in ZL is like a guide leading you down the path of a martial. Keep going, and you’ll naturally progress.”

Richtor's face scrunched in frustrated anger. His mouth opened to retort but Raine cut him off, “Remember that time Mikey fell from the old tree and broke his leg? When you saw the bone sticking out, you didn’t think, couldn’t think. The next thing you knew, you were in the house, calling the medicus. That’s what you have to do. Shut out all the noise and move. Don’t stop, don’t think, keep moving forward.”

“Pair of tens closing,” Milkdud whispered, and Richtor spun away from the screen.

Raine ended the call, not wanting to distract him further. He sifted through several VRvods until he found one of a martial using a short sword. He carefully examined the shifting of his torso as he lined up for the edited-out attack and defense. Raine repeatedly visualized himself mimicking the motions in ZionLine and how he would complete them. He had been at it for hours and was almost out of edited footage.

The sun was straight overhead, and his quest log showed thirteen hours until ownership of his soul was transferred to the witch, Zoarra. He was making good time by skillfully sticking to the shifting speed zones. The need to focus on his surroundings while visualizing was an extra layer that kept the activity fresh. His drifter was only down five durability, and two more lifts would bring him to the end of his first flight. If nothing went wrong, he would arrive at the mystic realm with an hour or two to spare.

His interface chimed, and Raine experienced a moment of shock before answering the call. A professional, feminine voice sounded in his ears, the cadence of her words matching the rushing wind around him. “Mr. Alaric. I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time,” Mrs. Stonewhall wore her usual sweet smile, her piercing eyes seeming to look right through him.

This Vaaterran is almost as creepily realistic as the witch. Did she call to give me a quest…

“Not at all, ma’am. Is there something I can do for you?” Raine almost dreaded asking, but his last reward from the auction house had truly shattered his expectations. There was no reason not to throw himself into the fire in hopes of another.

“Not at this time, but it’s sweet of you to ask, dear. Normally, we would send a message for such a trivial matter as this. However, as our first honorary VIP among the Travelers, I wish to personally extend you an invitation. We were granted the honor of hosting the grand opening of the Celendine Emporium’s Tower of Triumph in Silverlight City on Feastday. I do hope you can attend.”

The Tower of Triumph was a series of tests that players would use to determine their overall combat potential for years to come. As far as he knew, there was no benefit to being the first to clear each floor. There could be other rewards for showing up, though, so it was worth going. Feastday was in six days, and Raine saw no reason why he wouldn’t be level fifteen and in Silverlight by then. 

“Unless something comes up, I’ll be there. Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Stonewhall.”

“Marvelous, dear. Safe travels, or should I say fly dangerously?” With a too-realistic wink, she ended the call.

Maybe the witch isn’t as unique as I thought. Could ZL be running a few beta versions of what Vaaterran’s become after the third update? Yeah, that must be it.

Setting his suspicions to rest, Raine focused on flying. A short time later, Morty sent him another packet of VRvods. He sorted them, ecstatic to find one with a mostly complete shield movement technique. With tingling fingers, he tapped play and sharpened his focus.

THE THIRD LAW

41

Another five hours passed in the blink of an eye. Raine’s drifter soared above mountains that hid canyons, ravines, and sheltered forests. He passed several remote towns, knowing each would eventually become a hub of humanity in its own right. Abundant resources lay in wait for the guilds ambitious enough to claim these wild lands, and they were but the tip of an unimaginably vast iceberg.

His feet blurred as he touched down at a decent clip. There was no sharp pain in his feet and legs associated with the outside-world version of landing after a long session of hang gliding. He was on a wide trail at the base of a mountain, the nearest lift almost a hundred kilometers away. This area was known as a deadzone, where standard methods of flying ended and began.

Raine checked the surroundings before logging out. His muscles and ligaments screamed, still heavily damaged by his use of internal force at Mel’s cafe. A groan was squeezed from clenched abs as he sat up. Only three hours had passed in the outside world, and already his old frenemy—Temporal Disorientation—was rearing its ugly head. Raine unstrapped the thermo wraps around his arms and legs, tossing them into the chute leading to the drone bay.

Before getting up, he sent a quick message to Mel, then limped to the bathroom to relieve himself. The adrenaline of their crazy afternoon should have worn off by now. He wanted to make sure she hadn’t done anything rash, as people were inclined to do when their entire lives were tossed upside down with little notice.

She responded quickly, the ding of her return message appearing before he got out of the bathroom. Raine's lips stretched into a wide smile; it was always nice when girls didn’t play stupid games with his precious time.

“I’m probably okay? I think? I don’t know! I’m definitely still panicking. The pacing helps, but I’m never going to fall asleep if I can’t stop my feet from wearing a track in this carpet. This carpet’s really soft…”

Raine chuckled, typing a response while buckling his helmet back on, “I understand the feeling well. Your new headset will arrive in the morning. I guarantee killing a few beasts will do wonders for your mentality. At least it always does for mine.”

“Wish I could join you tonight. Can’t believe that son of a bell broke mine. So rude! I’m getting worked up again, and you probably want to get back in. I’ll leave you alone. Sorry. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Mel. You’re safe, and you have enough funds to take your life in any direction you want. Breathe,” with that, Raine replaced his thermo wraps with freshly delivered ones and laid down on the bed.

Arriving back at the base of the mountain, he started his ascent at a stiff jog. The strangeness of being alone in an area that was usually packed with players settled in like a thick curtain of fog. The unease was banished by excitement as Raine opened the general skills shop and purchased his first utility skill.

[Leap: (Novice) Increase jumping power after a short charge (Cost: variable up to 10 discipline)]

Had he felt more pressed for time, he would have purchased the long-distance running skill. It had few uses later on, so he was reluctant to waste a point on it. He ignored the 5 free attributes from his level up for now. Until he knew how difficult the Mystic Realm was, it was best to keep his options open.

The path led him to the base of a steep cliff. Zigzagging stone steps were carved within the natural wall, and he took them two at a time. Despite knowing there would be no beasts on the climb, he remained vigilant. Being the first to a new place had surprised him enough times to no longer make assumptions.

Mount Boshamro was far from abnormal in its lack of deadly flora and fauna. While ZionLine prided itself in realistic, immersive combat, it also fulfilled the desires of those whose hearts yearned for exploration. Treasures and opportunities could be found anywhere and only awaited those curious enough to lift every stone to find them. 

After the initial starting zones, each map would need to be explored manually to unveil its enshrouding fog, which could, in turn, reveal many secrets. The only alternative was to visit specific landmarks that would reveal vast swaths of the map.

As Raine climbed the innumerable steps, he put into practice the several martial techniques he had visualized. His feet blurred, and his torso bent and twisted as micro-muscle twitches grabbed his momentum by the throat and threw it out the window.

A simple truth that became abundantly clear at higher levels was that attributes exerted unrealistic forces upon the world. They followed rules, of course, but those rules could be bent and twisted, and with enough force, the very foundations of the world could be shattered. A hard enough kick could propel a man through the air. A strong enough punch could destroy a mountain without releasing a whisper of displaced air. 

This was the basis of the third inviolable law of ZionLine: Attributes do not follow physics, physics follow attributes. The potential of what was achievable was endless. Raine’s current form fell well short of any truly amazing feats. Weaving and shuffling, he rapidly advanced in blurring motions as though dodging a horde of ghosts.

The steps were strange to him, several far outside his orthodox and refined methods. They relied on fundamental understandings of internal force he was never taught. But that didn’t stop him in the least. On the contrary, his chest felt ready to explode with motivation as his meager attributes attempted to force the movements to function correctly.

He reached the top of the stairs an hour later after succeeding in creating his very first martial technique in either lifetime. It was a shuffling backstep that only worked half the time. Overcome with emotion, he turned back to gaze out at the valley he had ascended from. Like rising from the pits of hell, he had freed himself. He was on top of the world, and tears leaked freely from his eyes—He did it.

Advancing his martial prowess by a single step after years of stagnation opened a new path that he would never allow himself to step down from. Raine recalled his old master at CronGate. The vile bastard used the acquisition of new techniques like a whip to enforce obedience. And no matter how much he begged or slaved, after a certain point, he was never trained again. But the truth had been revealed at last. He was never constrained by anything other than his own will to take another step.

Don’t be like your foolish big brother, Richtor. Keep moving forward, no matter how many times they knock you down.

Raine left the majestic view behind, sprinting up the straight, steep path. Snowy mounds sprinkled the rocky ground, and his breath misted. The landscape grew more wintery, shrubs and brush replaced by pristine walls of white. He could see the tower now, jutting high from the peak. Tall and blue as the sky with a cylindrical shape, it was a prominent landmark, impossible to miss even from a great distance.

Raine arrived at its broad base, breathing heavily in the thin air. Narrow stairs wound around its outer walls, and he took them without hesitation. Twice, he circled the tower, each time the distance shrinking as it grew narrower. He almost laughed when three steps in a row were colored slightly differently than the rest. He jumped over the obvious trap, reminiscing how challenging these towers grew in higher-level zones.

The stairs ended abruptly, replaced by long stone pegs at a much steeper angle. He navigated them without slowing. Several rotations later, the tower was thin enough that each leaping step required a complete shift in angular momentum; he was forced to slow and adjust between each. The howling winds buffeted him but didn’t hold enough force to throw his armored body off course.

The pegs were replaced by stones that protruded just enough for his fingers to grip. He scaled them with little fanfare, thoroughly enjoying the physical exertion and the danger lurking beneath him like a specter, daring him to fail. The stones changed angles, becoming more difficult to grasp, but with sufficient attributes, such a hindrance was purely mental. The last obstacle was a gap of three meters (ten feet) made of smooth, pristine stone that lacked purchases of any kind.

He shimmied up until his hands were at his waist, fingers dug into the final handholds. Bending his knees slightly, he charged a Leap with five Discipline, then shot straight up. He cleared the slick-stoned section and landed directly in a dome-shaped cupola. A thrilling melody played from the arched walls.

[Congratulations Explorer]

[The spirits of Mount Boshamro commend your bravery]

[Map updated]

[Achievement for climbing your first Exploration Tower: General Skill Point dropped]

Raine snatched up his new skill point and took a deep breath to cleanse his muscles of their jittery energy. Then, he promptly leaped from the tower. His arms spread wide as he embraced the open air. The wind caught him, and gravity flipped his stomach upside down as he activated the Premium Skydrifter. A shimmering stealth field enveloped him as its triangular sail jerked him higher, absorbing the abundant winds.

He immediately leaned hard to the right, entering a barrel roll that brought him into the brightest section of green sky. He kicked his limbs wide to stabilize, then tucked them in and blasted toward his goal.

Four hours and four lifts later, Raine neared the marker on his map. He was back in the obscuring fog, so he couldn’t tell exactly where his destination was. Knowing he was close, he circled each mountain. While switching from one to the next, he passed through an obscuring bubble massive enough to hide an entire valley.

From one second to the next, a new scene unfolded beneath him. In the center of a sheltered valley, a large rocky hill had been converted into a circular stone gateway. Its center glowed a menacing crimson. Swirling energies trapped within reflected a similar yet clearly different sky.

Raine touched down at a wide landing zone, a set of ancient steps leading up to the gateway. He took them quickly, his time growing short. Crackling whips of elemental energy sputtered from the portal, its glowing surface polluting the air around it in a dazzling display of ephemeral hues.

A deep and menacing voice echoed from the stones around him, the gate pulsing with each syllable, “Heed well this warning, Traveler. You approach the resting place of Korahn. If you dare tread upon this sacred soil, you shall be tested. If found wanting, you shall never return.”

Raine boldly strode forward, placing his hand upon the flame-drenched, shimmering surface.

[Entry restricted: Level fifteen or below. No Class. Two achievements]

[Requirements met]

[You may proceed]

What was once solid became like mud beneath his fingers. With little force, Raine pushed through the milky surface. A blast of foul air met his nostrils as an entirely new realm dominated his view. The matching gate he exited from flickered and died behind him.

[Unique Chain Quest: Fall of the Tyrants progressed]

[Acquire three Knightly Idols from within Korahn’s Legacy and return them to Zoarra The Great, before she grows tired of waiting]

Raine briefly scanned the updated quest with a frown, then his gaze tracked across the stunning view. From his high vantage, he was greeted by a giant, clear dome in the sky. Its spherical shape encapsulated a landscape approximately one hundred kilometers across, brimming with fully separated biomes.

From right to left, a desert housing bleached ruins abutted a dense jungle to the north. The lush greenery wrapped around the backside of a massive mountain that dominated the entire center of the mystic realm. The jungle abruptly ended to the west, where a flat field, scorched clean of life, took the final third.

Raine had been in such spaces several times, but the hair on his exposed skin stood on end when the return gate was deactivated. That was new, something only heard of in rumors, and it indicated a significantly higher level of danger than usual. A meter from the gate, a tiny hole in the stones caught his attention.

I'll have to keep an eye out for something that will fit.

Upon entering a mystic realm, a quest with penalties for failure would always be issued. The severity of those penalties was the best way to judge the difficulty of the monsters and traps within. A 10% reduction in attributes for a day was the least difficult. 20% for three days was normal, and the most challenging he had ever attempted (with a full party) was 30% for a week.

[You have entered an unstable realm. Time until spatial collapse: 1 day 14 hours]

[The return gate is currently nonfunctional. Pass the trials of Korahn to reactivate the gateway and escape before spatial collapse. All items acquired in the Mystic Realm shall be lost upon death. A 70% penalty to all attributes will persist for 20 days upon death]

[May Korahn’s judging gaze reveal your salvation]

Twenty days?!

AN UNEXPECTED RESULT

42

I knew it would be bad, but this is ridiculous. If a 30% penalty equates to five-man elites… No point thinking about it before I see what I’m up against. Whatever enemies are in here, though, I have to make sure to pull them one at a time.

One day and fourteen hours isn’t a lot of time to cover a hundred-kilometer mystic realm, either. Might need to get Endurance after all. Especially since there aren't any roads.

Feeling more pressured than before entering, Raine carefully descended the nearby steps, his eyes shifting every direction for threats. He veered right toward the desert. A ruined city was clearly visible at its outskirts. It was the closest obvious place to begin whatever trials were in store. 

Raine palmed a smoke bomb as he swiftly but cautiously moved downslope across scraggy rocks and drying, cracked stone. The further he got from the gateway, the less stable space became. At first, it was only the air pressure against his skin that lessened. Gravity soon followed, its grasp on his limbs lessening until even the slightest movement sent him hurtling forward.

Still not seeing any threats, he began piecing together the rules of the mystic realm. He picked up speed, not lowering his guard in the least as the landscape shifted to a blur. He was pulled forward unnaturally, reaching speeds he couldn’t hope to achieve normally. He left behind the last of the rocks and entered a wide-open slope with nowhere to hide. Able to easily spot any potential ambushes, he was confident enough to bend forward and pump his legs furiously.

He crossed a dozen kilometers in minutes, arriving at the edge of the desert. He zipped along the sands. Contrary to normal physics, he left typical walking tracks in his wake rather than blasting giant walls of sand into the air. His speed slowed to a crawl with little notice, the unstable space becoming thicker and more ‘real’ as he neared the ruins.

There was no movement within, but he approached with extreme caution anyway, ducking behind a shattered rectangular column a short distance from the nearest building. He watched the shadows within the dilapidated stone structures like a hawk. Their bleached, crumbling surfaces revealed nothing of the dangers that lurked within. His only hint so far had been a cryptic one from Zoarra. He prepared as best he could based on her words, but it was only a hunch.

From his inventory, he withdrew some pebbles picked up all the way back near the crog village. One at a time, he tossed them into the sand between him and the nearest building, gradually getting closer with each throw. When one landed ten meters away, a figure stirred within the darkness.

A skeletal head emerged, followed by a three-meter-tall armored frame that pulled itself from the shadows. It instantly spotted him, and sanguine hatred bloomed from within one of its empty eye sockets. Its armor was aged, and missing pieces revealed white bones beneath. It held a chipped two-handed sword in a casual grip that reeked of martial competence. The undead moved with fluid grace, a hand gripping a nearby wall to throw itself forward into a headlong sprint.

[Ancient Armsman (Elite): Level 15 - (HP ????/????)]

Raine’s heart thudded with unbridled excitement. This was no normal undead. Not only was it head and shoulders taller than him, but its footwork was a thing of beauty. The angle of its torso was perfect to carry it forward at an inhuman clip. The sword dragged behind, scraping the soft sand and creating waves that widened as it neared. The movement was far from lazy, serving to adjust its balance and speed like a cat’s tail. Its jaw clicked loudly as its mouth worked in frenzied anticipation.

Several meters away, it stomped the soft sand twice in rapid succession. The surface turned hard from the first, and the second kick sent it high into the sky. Raine’s jaw wanted to drop at the subtle use of a martial technique. Instead of being swept away in awe, he jabbed the air, and a flash of light revealed a short weapon that firmly dragged his arm down with its stupefying weight.

Mid-air, the skeleton curled into a ball, angled its shoulders toward him, and then kicked the air with both feet. Its speed tripled as it Lunged right at Raine. Parry met its powerful sideways Slash. Unable to anticipate the angle of its near-instant strike, Raine’s skill was unaimed, and the skeleton’s momentum was randomly transferred directly to the right. It blasted to the side in a spray of sand, rolling only once before finding its feet.

A mid-air Lunge this early? If my Connection was a little higher…

The skeleton continued to slide away from him until its legs blurred in the mystifying patterns of another martial maneuver. Its momentum shifted one hundred and eighty degrees, sending it right back at Raine. His stomach leaped into his throat, and without time to think, he burned Discipline to throw himself at it before it completely regained its balance.

His newest weapon whistled as it raced forward, held in a two-handed grip despite its stout form. With sand still filling the air from their first clash, Raine entered the range of the longsword, aiming for his neck. He kept right on coming, closing the distance. Looking into its one glowing eye, he shouted for all he was worth, “PuriPuri Comet Burst!”

[PuriPuri Comet Burst: Single target physical attack dealing 760% physical damage with 760% bonus force. Ignores all defense (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 40 minutes)]

The skeleton's unpowered slash flew wide, its arms connecting with Raine’s head as the heavy end of Cassidy’s Comet pulverized its jaw. There was a bright flash, and a massive fist of pressure smashed into Raine, throwing him backward. He felt the impact of the ground on his back before he flipped end over end several times.

His eyes and mouth were full of sand. He spit and blinked, feeling like an angry squirrel was clawing at his eyes. When he could see again, his jaw really did fall open. Starting from where he hit the monster, a long furrow had been ripped through the sand, leading all the way back to the structure. Almost to it, another furrow started and led off to the right, ending a short distance away. The first continued to the building where the original skeleton he struck left a gaping hole in the now crumbling stone structure.

Raine tracked the second furrow, finding a second Elite Ancient Armsman at its end that must have been attracted by their fight. As it was coming to join, it was struck by the first and sent hurtling as well. Both monsters’ limbs and armor were strung out along the length of their furrows.

[Obtained 22,000 Superiority (250% bonus for defeating an elite boss 4 levels above you)]

[Obtained 43.75% Attunement (250% bonus for defeating an elite boss 4 levels above you)]

[Obtained 22,000 Superiority (250% bonus for defeating an elite boss 4 levels above you)]

[Obtained 43.75% Attunement (250% bonus for defeating an elite boss 4 levels above you)]

Bosses?! And they’re both dead? How?

Raine toggled the combat log in his interface and skimmed the details.

[Elite Ancient Armsman 1 struck for 3,826 unaspected physical damage]

[Elite Ancient Armsman 1 struck for 3,826 unaspected physical damage]

[Elite Ancient Armsman 2 struck for 3,826 unaspected physical damage]

[Elite Ancient Armsman 2 struck for 3,826 unaspected physical damage]

[Elite Ancient Armsman 1 struck for 3,826 unaspected physical damage]

[Elite Ancient Armsman 2 struck for 3,826 unaspected physical damage]

What?! That doesn’t make any-oh… that's so broken!

The initial hit—ignoring all defenses—dealt a ridiculous four thousand damage. Raine knew the weapon would hit hard, but it was well beyond his expectations because he hadn’t accounted for the innate damage resistance every creature gained per level. Innate defense wasn’t represented anywhere on the status sheet; it was merely a bonus that further divided the levels of all creatures.

Since innate defense was amplified by the power of five, it could easily lead to a situation where zero damage was dealt despite exceeding an opponent's statistical Defense. For instance, if a level one hundred Traveler wielded a top-tier legendary weapon and struck a level two hundred sixth-tier god, the attack would do nothing, even if the statistical Attack Power was technically high enough that it should hurt the god.

Since PuriPuri Comet Burst ignored all defenses, the result was similar to striking a level zero skeleton. As if that wasn’t broken enough, the bonus to force transferred all the damage. When the two armsmen struck each other, it counted the damage twice, for each of them, then a third time when they hit the building and ground, respectively.

Raine’s eyes tracked down to the bright, frilly-gemmed weapon of mass destruction held loosely in his grasp. He shook his head, having no idea how such a thing made it past the AI's balancing algorithms. 

If I hit a player with this, and they flew into a group…

The weapon vanished back into his inventory. The skill would be on cooldown for another thirty-nine minutes, so he didn’t mind losing access to it already. Hopping up, he ducked out of sight behind his same column and considered how to proceed.

I have just enough Superiority to level both weapons to ten. Question is, could I beat one of those bosses without the wand? I didn’t get a chance to see everything they were capable of. With Discipline, I barely kept up with its regular movements, and it utilized several martial techniques. 

A difference in speed I can handle; it’s those techniques that are the real problem. No, that’s not the right way to look at it. This place is no mystic realm. It’s a divine training ground for me to perfect my own techniques. And here, the second law is in full effect: With impossible challenge comes impossible reward.

Raine’s heartbeat thrummed so loud in his ears that they tickled. The tips of his fingers prickled as his fists clenched, squeezing grains of sand against his armored palms. He filled his lungs with hot desert air. 

A full two hundred thousand Superiority flowed into his growth weapons, boosting both to level ten and leaving him a toenail into the same. As his dagger leveled, so too did its grade. A brilliant flash of Lustrous Blue light filled the air, overcoming even the sun-like light produced by the shield in the sky.

[Last Chance’s Gambit: (Common Grey > Lustrous Blue - LVL 9 > 10) (SP 0/150,000) (AP 20 > 40) (EP 20 > 40) (AS 1 > 1.5) (FNS 9 > 12) (CNC 9 > 12)]

[Innate Skill - Final Gambit: Convert 50% maximum EP into a single target non-elemental attack. 19 > 40 damage per EP converted. No cooldown]

What an upgrade! I can use its innate skill twice now, and its speed got a fifty percent boost. It's definitely fitting of a high-end, Lustrous Blue.

[Cassidy’s Comet: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 9 > 10) (SP 0/150,000) (AP 55 > 60) (PTC 11 > 12) (PHY 11 > 12)]

[Innate Skill - PuriPuri Comet Burst: Single target physical attack dealing 760% > 800% physical damage with 760% > 800% bonus force. Ignores all defense. (Skill name must be shouted to activate) (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 40 minutes > 35 minutes)]

Additionally, Raine allocated all 5 free attributes from level 10 into Acuity. The abrupt increase brought his brain to life. Every sense was cranked to maximum, filling the world with vibrant colors and sounds. There was nothing more he could do to improve his odds. Raine’s back was against the wall. He could feel the pressure settling on his shoulders, and it drove his feet to take the next step. 

He angled around the building, not seeing anything lurking in the shadows. He threw a pebble to be safe, then moved to the next squat structure and repeated his method until another armsman came rushing out to greet him.

This one wielded a greataxe and didn’t jump at him, instead dashing forward in jerky, shuffling steps that made it difficult to tell when it would arrive. Raine summoned a weapon, smirking when his own two-handed axe appeared. 

[Double-tap Greataxe: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 10) (AP +65) (AS -.25) (PTC +15) (FNS +10) (ACU +5)]

The weapon felt alive in Raine’s hands. His body ached with purpose as the bonus Potency and Finesse invigorated him. His feet slid apart, adopting the same stance SolemnRiver used. He had yet to get her technique to work, but it didn’t matter. There was no better enemy to test himself against until he figured it out. Raine’s pulse hammered, an adrenal cocktail of fluids pumping through him like a raging river.

He started the spin early, guided by instinct as much as years of experience. Their axes met in a clanging crash. The Potency behind the skeleton’s blow was greater than Raine’s and would generally be enough to send him flying. His footwork absorbed the force, adding it to his spin. He came around in an instant, his axe burrowing into the skeleton’s side with a sickening crunch. [-103]

Raine missed the follow-up step, teetering off balance. His exuberance at getting the first two correct faltered as the monster’s eyes glowed with hatred. Its Counter turned the heavy axe into a blur. It reversed directions, racing toward his face. Parry knocked it away at the last second. The skeleton’s arms flew high, and its ancient boots momentarily left the ground. Raine pushed in closer, a sandy grin stretching his lips.

Its arms raised high in a two-handed grip, the length of the axe glowing dark indigo. Raine reached it and slipped under its guard. His leg hooked its foot on the way down, and his shoulder slammed into its sturdy frame. 

As it fell, its skill was released. The axe descended in a rush, leaving a streak of dark energy in the air like reality itself had been cut. Two whirlwinds howled, one on each side of the tear in space. Raine was pulled toward the line in the air that stubbornly refused to dissipate. It was right behind him, radiating danger that made his skin prickle with sweat.

Raine’s every move had been boosted by Discipline from the beginning. He barely managed to avoid being pulled in by hooking his boot beneath the fallen skeleton's exposed rib cage. When its attack ended, the armsman tried to rise, but he slammed his weight down on its spine and then dropped his axe onto its neck. [-187]

The undead rolled, coming up in a crouch before Lunging at him. Raine ducked and spun away, churning through Discipline to avoid several more rapid swings and a kick. He found another opening, diving beneath its guard again. He shortened his grip and slammed his weapon into its sternum. [-97]

That special class skill it used must have temporarily lowered its defense. I've never seen such a low-level skill cut space before; makes sense it has a drawback.

Before he could check his combat log to see the skill’s name, a dark shimmer passed through the undead's bones, and the tiny chips his weapon left behind vanished. [+200]

Looks like 5% regen per ten seconds. Perfect. Can’t have my new practice partner giving up on me too quickly.

Raine reset his stance, copying the impressive young woman from the Phoenix Clan once more, “I’m not letting you die until I’ve got her steps perfected. By the way, I really like that shuffling step of yours, too. I hope you don’t mind if I borrow it.”

The skeleton’s only response was a clacking lower jaw as it rushed him in a blur.

A REVISIT LONG OVERDUE

43

Raine’s battle with the Elite Ancient Armsman dragged on for hours. He first drew it away from its building so they wouldn't be disturbed. After the first few exchanges, Raine was able to significantly reduce his constant use of Discipline. While faster and stronger, it was almost ten feet tall and had much more mass to move. Additionally, growing used to its attack patterns allowed him to fight evenly while only burning a few points per minute.

They battled until his Discipline ran low, and he was forced to focus solely on avoiding its varied attacks. Once recharged, the frenetic combat began anew. Over and over, this repeated without him ever truly gaining the upper hand. Usually, low-level enemies followed specific restrictive patterns and timings. But the skeleton fought like a seasoned warrior, mixing up strategies, feinting, and heavily utilizing basic martial techniques.

Luckily, it didn’t actually learn from their clashes, continuing to repeat the same hundred or so moves in random sequences. If not, Raine would have quickly been overwhelmed. As far as sparring partners went, he couldn’t have found a better one no matter how much he begged or paid.

Its space-tearing whirlwind skill—Guillotine Slash—created the most dangerous moments, keeping him on edge the entire time since he never knew when it was coming. The constant danger, like a blade held against his neck, was precisely what he needed to push his focus to the limits.

Raine repeatedly tested his new martial techniques against the skeleton, gradually approaching mastery without damaging his body as he would with internal force. After hours of failure, he gave up on copying the creature’s shuffling step. Without muscles to observe, the movements were too fast for him to grasp. He had plenty of vodcast footage, though, and was confident he could figure it out after a closer, slowed-down observation.

Once he could perform SolemnRiver’s triple spin without fail, he was ready to end the fight. He held his axe in a wide two-handed grip like a staff and pressed in close to the armsman. Its greater reach worked against it, allowing him to easily evade while repeatedly chipping away at its unlife with half-strength attacks.

Its final Guillotine Slash spelled doom for the boss. It shuffled backward, arms raised high and axe glowing. In that brief moment, Raine dashed forward and tripped it, the movement significantly more refined after hours of practice. He started to spin, the movement combined with another foot technique to take him beyond its head and far from the dual vortexes that sucked at his skin.

Three times, his axe bit deep into its prone form. The first activated Rupture at point-blank range, and the second carried a Discipline-powered Slash. The final hit was the end, crumpling its skull and causing the rest of its body to fall apart. [-1,414] [-260] [-199]

[Obtained 39,000 Superiority (550% bonus for defeating an elite boss 5 levels above you)]

[Obtained 81.25% Attunement (550% bonus for defeating an elite boss 5 levels above you)]

Raine collapsed in the sand next to the remains of his partner. His fingers twitched against the coarse and sturdy shaft of his axe. The weapon felt comfortable now, alive in his hands in a way that only came with repeated use.

How long did that take? At least the time wasn’t wasted; I can probably deal with two or three of them at once now, so I should still manage to finish in time.

Raine checked his quest log, blinking in confusion.

[You have entered an unstable realm. Time until spatial collapse: 1 day 12 hours 34 minutes]

That’s not possible. How has it only been an hour and a half since I got here? Did I imagine it? No. My Discipline bottomed out and recovered too many times. It's also not feasible to become proficient in a complex footwork technique so quickly. I would bet everything I own that fight lasted half a day or longer.

Raine watched the timer tick down, seeing nothing abnormal about the passage of time.

It must have something to do with the destabilized space. Time is flowing normally right now… don’t tell me.

Still mentally exhausted but with a burst of desire to know if he was right, Raine leaped to his feet. He rushed back to the nearest building and tossed a few pebbles until another armsman came rushing out. It wielded a two-handed mace and jumped high before tucking and Lunging off thin air like the first skeleton he’d fought.

Raine held his Parry, barely throwing himself out of the way with Discipline. The large weapon crashed into the ground, releasing a spray of sand five meters tall. Raine’s roulette chose the spear, his recent use of the weapon making him instantly feel at home as its weight settled into his palms.

The desert once more came alive with vivid hues as his brain kicked into overdrive. He flexed his torso and shifted his shoulders like he’d seen in one of the VRvods. A Pierce shot forward to strike exposed bone, then his spear jerked back like a snake, allowing him to retreat out of the skeleton’s follow-up swing.

Its mace glowed, the brightness quickly ramping to uncomfortable levels. Raine was forced to close his eyes lest he be blinded. He heard the mace whistling through the air and activated Parry. The clang of their weapons was so loud it hurt his ears. The skeleton’s higher Potency worked against it, and he heard it crash into the sand a short distance away.

When the brightness flooding his eyelids lessened, he cracked them open and chased it down. It was rising to its feet when he met it with a leap. Spearpoint connected with solid air in a Rupture that crushed its defenses and sent it stumbling back half a step. His spear jabbed forward, punching through armor to land nicks on its bones that healed every few seconds.

Raine didn’t let up his assault. He devoured Discipline in a steady stream, his weapon slithering through its formidable defenses time and again. It used a martial technique that transformed a simple sidestep into a movement so fast that its body seemed to stretch, almost appearing in two places at once. If not for that, the fight would have been over in seconds. Instead, it took nearly five minutes.

Raine counted every second but didn’t dare open his interface to confirm, not with how fast the boss was. A second, and then third Rupture overcame its regeneration. It shattered to pieces. He quickly opened his interface, and sure enough, only five seconds had passed since the fight began.

Five seconds for five minutes?! That’s a sixty-times dilation! On top of Vaateaire's regular tripling, I’m experiencing one hundred and eighty times normal dilation… No way. The human brain can’t handle that. I’d be dead in seconds. Something else is happening.

Checking his system time was impossible, as it stopped the minute one entered a Mystic Realm. He wouldn’t be able to call anyone either, as communications were always disabled. That only left logging out, and honestly he wasn’t concerned enough about the why or how to risk it. Whatever funk was happening with the time, it was working in his favor. If he screwed around and messed it up, he might end up running out of the precious resource before finishing the realm’s quest. Then he would really be screwed.

All that mattered was that this Mystic Realm had gone from a perfect chance to practice his new techniques to a bona fide holy realm that could catapult him to new heights of martial prowess.

Sorry brother. I’m not going to rush out of here just to save you a death. Especially not when you’ve got a slim chance to make it out on your own. Can’t wait to see if they manage it. Taking chances and reaping the rewards or suffering the consequences of failure are at the core of every ZL experience. No matter what happens, they’ll grow significantly from being trapped in the middle of that war.

I can go another hour before I need a break. Wait! Isn’t this the perfect place?

Eyes radiating excitement, Raine withdrew an item from his inventory and crushed it in his palm. A cool blue light surrounded him, sinking into his skin.

[Momentous Acceleration Token activated. All Attunement gains doubled for 24 hours]

The Superiority and Attunement gains from the armsmen were already impressive. Doubling them and the excellent 50% bonus from Sky Catcher was enough to cause a devilish grin to split Raine's face. He tracked down the next armsman and took his sweet time pulling it apart bone by bone.

Unknown

- Somewhere in ZionLine -

Buried beneath thousands of lines of hashgraph encrypted data, two streams of communication shot back and forth across vast distances. A male voice, both domineering and youthful, queried its partner, “Status on subject 2A41 Zeta?”

A feminine voice, oozing sexuality, responded in a purr, “All brainwave bandwidths are functioning at peak performance.”

The man ignored her quirky way of speaking, continuing in a business-like tone, “Time under duress?”

“Sixteen hours, twenty-seven minutes,” she responded so quickly it was apparent she anticipated the question.

“Impressive. Has there been a reaction?”

A few seconds ticked past as she examined her data. Her lips pressed together and separated in quick succession, the light pops loud through her sensitive microphone, “None that our current hardware can detect. What’s the timeline for the new interface device?”

“Several weeks for the earliest prototypes. Mass production is still months out.”

She sighed loudly, “Weeks? That’s highly disappointing. From his personality assessment, the subject is unlikely to be compliant. And the others’ performances are… inadequate.”

The man’s voice turned soft in an attempt to soothe her, “Don’t worry, my love. An opportunity will soon present itself. He will be lulled by the pretty lie, as people are wont to do. You will have your data the moment the new device is deemed safe.”

“I see. I’ll leave the machinations and skullduggery to your judgment. You know I abhor such considerations.”

He nodded, not that she was looking at the monitor to see, “Indeed. We must utilize our personal strengths to their fullest if we are to have any chance of success.”

Her voice grew bored of the conversation, no doubt distracted by her data, “As you say, love. I trust you.”

Not wanting to push her patience, he moved to end their chat, “Proceed as planned. Alert us immediately if there is a reaction so we can make adjustments to the new device.”

She tutted her tongue, “I know. Now shoo. I’ve more work to do than I can possibly manage.” With that, she ended the call.

Raine KongRu

- Mystic Realm -

Raine sat atop a squat stone building, a fake sun blazing down on him as he took a moment to meditate on his gains. He killed another forty skeletons while working his way deeper into the ruined city. He was through the outskirts and into streets packed with buildings, each containing two or three of the boss monsters. Several hours ago, he grew comfortable enough to begin sacrificing health. Changing weapons mid-fight and bringing near-dead skeletons between buildings allowed him to focus on specific techniques. The wand, due to its overwhelming power, was quickly abandoned whenever it came up on the roulette.

It was a little frustrating that they didn't drop any sellable loot or gold. Even after thoroughly poking through every building, not a single treasure chest was to be found. As if their eyeless, smiling bones were laughing at him, the skeletons occasionally left their skulls behind. Always, the empty sockets radiated a crimson glow. Raine figured that if it got dark when night eventually came, he could use them for a nifty source of light. They didn't have any description when he picked them up, but this was a mystic realm, and items wouldn’t drop for no reason, so he brought them along.

Raine and both growth weapons were now level twelve. He couldn't level them up beyond himself, or he wouldn't be able to equip them. He wasn’t sure if that would invalidate their place in the roulette and wasn’t about to test if that would lead to an ‘excruciating’ death. It was too bad; if he could dump all his excess Superiority into them, he would have done so and remained level ten for the bonus experience. Regardless, his leveling speed could be considered blazing fast despite needing to go through each level three times.

Reasoning that he was keeping up with the armsmen by moving more efficiently, and his damage was sufficient to kill them quickly when needed, he pumped all ten of his free attribute points into Acuity. The large bump massively boosted his critical rate—which was calculated on a sliding scale based on level. With more accurate sight and quicker reaction processing speed, he was able to gain further insights into their martial techniques.

NAME: Alaric

CURRENCY: 803-G 98-S 72-C

CLASS: none

TITLE: Sky Catcher

ASPECT: Greater Aspect of the Werewolf

LEVEL: 10 > 12

SUPERIORITY: 19,100 / 250,000 (Required To Increase Level)

ATTUNEMENT: 424.15% > 5,088.75% (Resource Required To Purchase And Upgrade Skills)

Usually hard to get over one and a half thousand AT before hitting level fifteen. Between the growth weapons slowing me down, the token, and Sky Catcher, I’ll be able to buy several basic skills from whichever two classes I pick.

(HP) HEALTH POINTS: 300 (410) (Death Occurs When This Reaches Zero)

(AP) ATTACK POWER: 66 (82) (Raw Physical Damage Dealt)

(DEF) DEFENSE: 30 (124) (Deducted From Physical Damage Received)

(RES) RESISTANCE: 51 (51) (Deducted From Elemental/Celestial/Demonic Damage Received)

(CR) CRITICAL RATE: 16% (22%) (Chance To Deal Double Damage)

(EP) ELEMENTAL POWER: 68 (68) (Raw Elemental Damage Dealt)

(DCP) DISCIPLINE: 64 (75) (Energy Source For Physical Abilities)

(AS) ATTACK SPEED: 1.9 (2.9) (Attacks Per Second)

(MS) MOVE SPEED: 4.1 (5.3) (Movement In Meters Per Second)

ATTRIBUTES:

(PTC) POTENCY: 30 (41) (Primary Physical Damage Attribute - Measures Physical Power, Heft, And Force)

(FNS) FINESSE: 30 (34) (Primary Movement Attribute - Measures Speed, Hand Eye Coordination, And Balance)

(ACU) ACUITY: 35 > 45 (47) (Primary Mental Attribute - Measures Speed Of Thought, Width Of Vision, And Dynamic Vision)

(PHY) PHYSIQUE: 30 (41) (Primary Health Attribute - Measures Physical Durability And Resistance To Negative Status Effects)

(CNC) CONNECTION: 30 (30) (Primary Energy Source Attribute - Measures The Brain’s Synchronization Factors)

More Acuity first. Still can’t quite keep up with these bosses, then shift to Connection to increase my maximum Discipline, which will boost my damage by an equal amount. I won’t have as much force behind my attacks, but Connection will open the door for several techniques that I can't quite pull off yet.

Raine’s gaze landed on a central temple complex two blocks away. Three armsmen stood guard on its wide front steps. They were too close together to pull individually. He was almost ready to challenge them, but there was something he needed to figure out first.

In the past, Raine was taught a principle that he lived by almost religiously. As a CronGate employee, he never took fights against more powerful enemies without sufficient numbers or tactics to bring them down. This kept him alive and the guild assets he was equipped with out of enemy hands. It was smart but also limited his exposure to the danger he now realized he craved. 

On two occasions during his many battles against the stronger and faster skeletons, he came a hair's breadth from death. The first time, he thought it was simply bad luck. On the second, it became clear there was something wrong. After that, he paid closer attention and was shocked to notice a disturbing theme in the foundation of his martial style.

Several times each fight, when resetting his stance after specific movements, he was momentarily left open to being countered. The fact the armsmen only took advantage of the weakness twice in all his fights was a testament to how hard the flaw was to spot. Having fought in groups with fellow disciples for years and utilizing their coordination to cover each other's weaknesses, he never had a chance to notice the flaw before.

The only thing he could figure was that he had purposefully been trained with holes in his defenses that would later be filled with supplementary teachings if he proved loyal enough. If not, he could easily be dispatched by exploiting these flaws.

Raine blew his lips upon seeing only an hour had passed. He had yet to take a break and still didn’t need to pee. From his perspective, each hour was only minutes counted against his quest and brought with them sensations of vertigo and delirium that he could only cope with due to extensive experience.

The Temporal Disorientation was the worst he’d ever experienced, and he hadn’t even logged out yet. The sensation was highly unsettling and triggered a deep sense of paranoia. It felt like someone was watching him make the same mistake repeatedly and not bothering to tell him about it, so he just kept right on making it over and over.

Shaking his head, he stood and dusted himself off. He knew two of the weaknesses in his foundation, and how to fix them, but he wasn’t going to make any actual progress by sitting on his butt. He needed to rebuild his muscle memory from the ground up which would take thousands of repetitions. The more stress he was under at the time, the better. Luckily, he was in the perfect place to do just that.

EVERY ADVANTAGE

44

With time flowing normally out of combat and slowing to a ridiculous degree while fighting, It was beyond difficult to keep track of how long he’d spent in the Mystic Realm. Not that Raine was trying. Only the truly powerful, or privileged, had the right to stop and question reality. He was on multiple clocks: The witch, his allotted time in the Mystic Realm, and most vitally, his brain buckling from the strain of the dilation. With utmost focus, he dedicated himself to fixing the holes in his foundation as quickly as possible.

The first—raising his right arm when retreating a step—blocked a large portion of his view angles. His goal was to retrain himself to bring the arm closer to his neck, where a sneak attack would have no chance to go unseen. The second involved the positioning of his feet when in a low stance, leaving his center of gravity skewed and forcing him to take an extra step to correct it—a telegraphed move that could easily be deadly against a faster foe.

Compared to his past level one hundred and fifty attributes, Raine's every action felt like he was moving through molasses. Being forced to such a slow speed made correcting his fundamentals a breeze. Still, thirty years of bad habits couldn’t be undone in seconds. After ten fights, each lasting a couple minutes—six hours under the extreme time dilation—he was ready to enter the temple.

Instead, he took another hour clearing out the rest of the town’s fifteen buildings he hadn’t visited. The thirty-three armsmen he encountered died in ones and twos. The third from the last netted the final Superiority needed to reach level thirteen for himself and both weapons.

[Last Chance’s Gambit: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 10 > 13) (SP 0/300,000) (AP 40 > 52) (EP 40 > 52) (AS + 1.5) (FNS 12 > 18) (CNC 12 > 18) (Durability 135/135)] 

[Innate Skill - Final Gambit: Convert 50% maximum EP into a single target non-elemental attack. 40 > 46 damage per EP converted. No cooldown]

[Cassidy’s Comet: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 10 > 13) (0/300,000 SP) (AP 60 > 75) (PTC 12 > 15) (PHY 12 > 15) (Durability 120/120)]

[Innate Skill - PuriPuri Comet Burst: Single target physical attack dealing 800% > 920% physical damage with 800% > 920% bonus force. Ignores all defense. (Skill name must be shouted to activate) (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 35 minutes > 28 minutes)]

LEVEL: 12 > 13

SUPERIORITY: 36,400 / 300,000

ATTUNEMENT: 5,088.75% > 8,188.75%

HEALTH POINTS: 300 (410)

ATTACK POWER: 66 (82)

DEFENSE: 30 (124)

RESISTANCE: 51 > 59 (59)

CRITICAL RATE: 22% > 21% (21%)

ELEMENTAL POWER: 68 > 78 (78)

DISCIPLINE: 64 > 69 (80)

ATTACK SPEED: 1.9 (2.9)

MOVE SPEED: 4.1 (5.3)

ATTRIBUTES:

POTENCY: 30 (41)

FINESSE: 30 (34)

ACUITY: 45 (47)

PHYSIQUE: 30 (41)

CONNECTION: 30 > 35 (35)

As planned, Raine distributed his free attributes into Connection. The world ‘firmed’ around him with each point, pressing against his skin as though the air pressure were increasing. He punched the air, willing his fist to distort the atmosphere. A large gust of wind blasted away from him, stirring the sands.

Not bad. Might take some practice, but I should be able to push against the air hard enough now.

Back at the temple, the three guards towered over him. They were equipped with heavy, two-handed weapons, just like every other skeleton in the desert. He bared his teeth in a wide grin, eyes opening fully to take advantage of their increased perception. Of all the armsmen he’d killed, only four had dropped their skulls so far. Looking at their reflective domes and licking his lips, he wondered if any of these would as well.

Unbidden, a flash of light in his hand produced a shortsword. At the exact same moment, despite him not moving any closer, the skeletons that were still outside their regular aggro radius turned to face him. The pits in their empty sockets glowed fiercely.

I summoned a weapon outside of combat again! Why did they respond to it, though?

Raine didn’t have time for more random thoughts as they charged with martial-enhanced movements. He bent his knees and Leaped to the far right, forcing two to circle around their comrade to get to him. His maneuver also perfectly lined them up. His shortsword cracked into the air, releasing a Rupture that crashed into all three. [-743] [-743] [Critical hit! -1,486]

Of course, the one furthest away took the crit. Raine’s focus narrowed on that one as it used a martial sidestep seen hundreds of times by now. With his enhanced Acuity, the motion no longer caused the creature to blur or appear in two places at once.

He stepped into the guard of the first armsman as it reached him with an empowered Lunge. Sliding his back foot fully behind him and gently rotating his torso caused it to sail past a scant millimeter from touching him. The skeleton tried to turn enough for a backswing with its large mace to reach, but Raine bent forward just enough for the blow to whistle by his skull.

He stepped forward again. The second skeleton’s two-handed sword dragged on the ground behind it. The weapon emitted an opaque sheen as it swept up and forward, attempting to bisect him. Fully predicting the angle of the attack, Raine’s Parry sent the Great Divide—a column AOE—straight into the mace wielder’s back. [-1,050] It soundlessly took the hit, the extra force propelling it into the side of a building with a crash.

After completing its skill, the undead directly in front of him was off balance. Raine swept its bony legs out from under it in a spinning sweep, then threw his momentum to the side in a roll. He narrowly avoided the large axe that sliced deep into the sandy soil. Ending his evasion with his feet beneath him, Raine Leaped again, flying over the prone skeleton. His sword Slashed across the neck of the axe wielder, who ate its second crit of the seconds-long fight. [Critical hit! -211]

Raine used the force of the blow to spin his body midair, coming down facing its back as it yanked its weapon from the ground. He used a follow-up Pierce to jab its shoulder. As it turned, a Bash connected his shortsword’s pommel to its jaw. [-106] [-98] An onyx glow swept across its exposed bones as it recovered five percent of its health. [+200]

Its axe lifted high, shining darkly in contrast to the bright light in the sky. Already in close, Raine weaved around it with a new martial technique he’d stolen from the undead. Now behind it, he slammed his right leg between its knees, and his free arm hooked beneath its armpit. With a powerful twist and flare of his hips, he threw it onto its back as its Guillotine Slash activated.

As the cut appeared in mid-air, the swordsman recovered, its large blade thrusting toward Raine’s heart. The blade seemed to slide through his chest, but he already sidestepped, once more utilizing one of their techniques. Raine slid his sword between two exposed ribs, then grabbed its shoulder with the other hand and threw it into the still active Guillotine Slash. He wasn’t expecting the throw to work as the armsmen were incredibly heavy. Unless he collapsed their footwork first, they were impossible to displace.

When the tip of its sword neared the dual whirlwinds on either side of the stationary rent, the undead was yanked off its feet. It flew into the cut, and five slash marks were gouged across its armor and bones. [-1,587]

Woah! Good thing I never got hit by that!

Another round of Slash, Pierce, and Bash landed on the downed axe wielder as it climbed to its feet. Raine ducked its Counter, then leaped back and circled all three, making sure to keep the mace wielder as far from him as possible. The cooldown on Rupture ended, and two rippling waves passed over them, netting him two more critical hits. The axe wielder was still alive due to its second tick of recovery, so he dashed in and ended it with a barrage of quick attacks.

The other two weren’t idle, closing in on either side. Raine Parried one and dodged the other, then turned tail and ran. Without Parry, and both about to have their special attacks available, he would definitely die if he stayed. They were faster, instantly barreling down on him. At the last second, Raine’s hand snapped out and grasped the lip of a fixed window. His arm jerked painfully as he was sent down an alley while the two barreled right past.

Grinning, he backed up, waiting for them. They appeared a few seconds later in a jumble of scrambling, clicking limbs. They charged down the alley, catching him right as Parry finished its cooldown. He carefully evaded a few strikes from the mace, then Parried its Debilitating Crush when the weapon emitted a blinding light. It crashed full force into the building to his left, shattering the entire wall into dust. Before opening his eyes, Raine used the last Rupture, bringing both foes to the ground in a pile of bones.

[Obtained 15,000 Superiority (150% bonus for defeating an elite boss 2 levels above you)]

[Obtained 62.5% (Doubled) (150% bonus for defeating an elite boss 2 levels above you)]

The same notifications appeared three times, and the last one he killed dropped a fifth skull. Raine added the item to his inventory, took a few breaths to calm down his vertigo, and shook out his limbs. At the temple, he carefully ascended the steps. His knees were bent, ready to throw himself in any direction at the first sign of a trap. He reached the portico—a roofed entrance supported by columns and gently curved arches. The temple’s stonework was in slightly better shape than the rest of the town.

Inside, Raine peered through several rows of columns that no longer had a roof to support. At the back of the dilapidated structure, he spotted a walled inner sanctum with a raised pedestal at its center. Atop it was a small statue of a man holding a massive sword in a two-handed grip. A large axe and mace were strapped across his back, their shafts sticking over each shoulder.

Fitting.

Raine remained stationary for several minutes, running his eyes over every surface. He cataloged several oddities: A brick slightly elevated from the floor to his right, tiny holes visible along the side of a collapsed column to the left, and unusually sized tiles tucked beneath a few of the columns. With more confidence than he had climbing the stairs, he strode into the entrance of the temple proper and stopped.

He moved to the far left and then right, locating more arrow holes in the columns that weren’t visible from head-on. He avoided stepping between those columns, slowly and steadily advancing while avoiding five more elevated bricks. He weaved through the central court, soon arriving at the inner sanctum. He bent low and charged a full ten Discipline into a Leap that sent him flying across the small room all the way to the pedestal.

He landed atop it, the idol vanishing into his inventory the moment his foot collided with it. He held his breath, waiting for the building to fall down around him. When it didn’t, he retraced his steps with exacting precision until he was back outside. Accessing his interface, he confirmed his quest with the witch had updated. He dove into his inventory and pulled out the idol. He inspected its masterfully intricate chiseling. With a jaw thicker than any humans and muscular limbs to match, Raine recognized the race as a Gromut—pseudo giants that prize physical prowess above all.

[Korahn’s Idol of Indomitability: Polutan strove for peace through might of arms. His legacy was an empire without equal, built upon the suffering of millions]

Little dramatic but not the worst I’ve seen. Definitely fitting for a Gromut. One down, two to go.

Raine returned the idol to his inventory and set off to the north, around the base of the central mountain. His next goal was the thick jungle seen from the gateway’s platform. Shortly after leaving the desert ruins, the air grew thin, and his body light. The scenery zipped past. Though his senses had improved, they still couldn’t keep up as he tore across twenty kilometers in what felt like seconds. Angling his path to traverse up a portion of the central mountain gave him the vantage to see deep into the lush vegetation below.

He spotted the telltale signs of another ruin, this one overgrown by vines and moss. He ran along the side of the jungle, slowing when he reached the narrowest section between the desert and ruins. The atmosphere was still thin, overly speeding his movements and making traversal through the thick vegetation challenging. He pressed on for three hours, finally feeling like time was getting away from him.

When gravity normalized and the air pressure on his skin turned heavy, he slowed further. He didn’t see them until it was too late. As he passed through two vine-wrapped trees, large patches of moss on their trunks pulled free. They shook their bodies free, revealing familiar armored skeletons. These ones wore scaled armor instead of leather, chain, and plate. Each held a shield in one hand, a short sword or half-spear in the other.

Jaws clicking with hunger, they sped toward him with martial techniques he didn’t recognize, azure lights beaming from their empty sockets.

DEEPER INTO THE UNKNOWN

45

Raine danced back from the two armsmen as they advanced on him from both sides. His hand flashed, revealing a welcome sight. With the hilt of Last Chance’s Gambit snug in his fist, he hopped back one more step. The undead gave chase, and when both were in range, he let loose a Rupture. His skill wreaked havoc on their Defense and Health but didn’t slow down their advance.

Raine dove in close, then skittered back, utilizing the shuffling footwork techniques he’d stolen from the desert armsmen. His feint had the desired effect, deftly avoiding a standard slash from both skeletons. Before they recovered, he stepped in close and reached around the nearer’s shield, activating Final Gambit. With a blindingly fast martial technique, the skeleton contorted its body, barely getting its shield in place for a Block.

The shield vanished, its durability reduced to zero as the skill’s expanding sphere of nothingness swallowed it whole. Due to Raine’s increased Elemental Power pool, the discharge continued growing, consuming first the armsman’s arm, then its chest. The damage exceeded its health. The undead lost cohesion, the rest of its bones falling to the dense jungle floor. [-3,628] Raine twisted his torso and sidestepped, avoiding a Pierce from the shield and spear-wielding armsman.

Based on the elites in the desert, Raine assumed these new variants would have their own special skills, so he chose not to end the second skeleton yet. After testing its defenses and martial skills in a few exchanges, the undead raised its spear high, then clacked its jaw at the heavens. Its body was surrounded by a golden glow. Arcs of lightning sprung from its spear, and it charged. Disappointed, Raine dodged and unloaded Final Gambit in its face, allowing it to meet the same fate as its friend.

What good is a damage buff if you can’t hit?

Shaking his head, Raine pushed through thick foliage, approaching the jungle ruins. Most of the buildings were tucked inside a steep ravine. They gave the appearance of an ancient monastery abandoned to the elements. At the far northern edge of the mystic realm, the dome-shaped sky-shield found its end just beyond the last row of structures.

Raine worked his way downhill toward a bridge that gave access to the main complex. He progressed with light steps, taking his time and occasionally throwing pebbles ahead. Another shield and spear armsman was dispatched before he found the third variant, a shield and cestus user. 

The single-bladed fist weapon was just as much of a letdown as the spear. The skeleton used a martial technique to get close, then its glowing weapon moved at a normal speed toward Raine’s chest. He avoided it like any other attack, then whittled down the undead before dispatching it with Rupture.

Despite his disappointment at the lack of a challenge, Raine understood full well how dangerous these elites were. After forcing them to hit each other a few times, it was obvious that a single connected skill would easily kill him. If he aggroed more than three of them, he would die before realizing what killed him. Raine remained on full alert as he neared the bridge.

The next armsman to show itself was another sword and shield user. He baited out its special skill, his eyes wide, absorbing its every move with crystal clarity. His only warning was a brief twinkle of light at the tip of its short blade, then the weapon vanished. Only years of experience with PVP saved him. Long ago, he ingrained the knee-jerk use of Parry the instant an opponent's weapon disappeared. Raine’s shoulder dislocated as his axe was jerked to the side in a motion too quick for his body to handle.

[Negative affliction received (Arm Luxation): Unable to apply Potency to arm (Duration 1:27:41)]

Their weapons met, and a clang filled Raine’s ears. His opponent stumbled three steps to the side. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Raine switched to a one-handed grip on his axe. His skills and attacks would deal less damage, but there was no helping it. He retreated, utilizing Rupture to slowly whittle the bastard down without letting it get close enough to use the dangerous skill again. When it died, he stored his weapon and greedily drank down one of his two health potions.

[Minor Health Recovery Potion: (Common Grey) Restores 10% HP over 60 seconds, additionally cures one physical negative affliction (15 minute shared potion cooldown)]

While rolling his healed shoulder, he opened and perused the combat log.

[Elite Ancient Armsman uses Uncanny Acceleration: (damage negated)]

Uncanny Acceleration? Why have I never heard of any of these skills? Is it because they’re from an ancient Gromut race? Some of them, especially this one and Guillotine Slash, are completely ridiculous for a level fifteen class. Well, greater races being straight-up superior to humans is nothing new. There's a reason so many people chose to change species, even with the hefty penalties.

I wonder if a Gromut Species Token is the reward for clearing this place. Wouldn’t that be something?

After learning his lesson, Raine no longer allowed the sword-wielders a chance to attack. Instead, he kited them back up the hill until the third or fourth Rupture killed them (depending on his luck with crits.) Twice, Cassidy’s Comet made an appearance, and he didn’t trade it out, gleefully demolishing the skeletons in his path with overwhelming force.

He sped up his pace further once he had sufficient recordings of their martial techniques. With time ticking, he was more concerned with getting out alive than further review and practice. That didn’t mean he was going to leave any of them alive. The Superiority, and especially the Attunement gains, were too good to pass up.

Halfway across the mostly collapsed bridge, Raine’s vision blurred as the ancient structure lurched. His feet were swept from beneath him, and he tumbled to the side, landing hard on the mildewy stones. The world stopped heaving almost as soon as it began. Raine leaped to his feet, confused as to why he wasn’t falling to his death. A dampness trickling down his upper lip quickly invaded his mouth with the taste of blood. A realization that he’d imagined the whole thing in a bout of dizziness had him swallowing hard as pinpricks of fear speared into his gut.

Shit. The dilation. Can’t take a break in the middle of these ruins. I’ll have to hold out a little longer.

Liberal uses of Leap allowed Raine to finish crossing the partially collapsed bridge. He no longer took his time with each battle, pulling the armsmen three at a time and quickly finishing them with Rupture. He cleared out each building in the ancient monastery. Once more, he found no sign of treasure chests and, at this point, assumed the valuables must be hidden within the core of Korahn’s legacy.

Only once more was he beset by vertigo, this time not as bad as the last. Assuming it was because he was no longer spending several hours in the monstrously increased dilation, he continued on with slightly more confidence. By the time he dispatched the three guards at the entrance to the final temple, both he and his growth weapons were two-thirds of the way through level thirteen. Additionally, he found another five skulls, this time with sockets lit by a sapphire glow. He pocketed them like the others.

Halfway up the steps, a true rumble swept through the ground, and the sky flickered as the shield protecting the mystic realm faltered, then vanished altogether. Raine was lifted into the air by an incredible suction. His eyes widened in alarm, and his limbs flailed, finding no purchase. The fake sun and clouds were gone, replaced by an all-consuming blackness. There were no stars or moon to bring light, only a never-ending abyss that swept down to consume him.

The shield spasmed, its bluish, honeycomb surface snapping back into place. Raine fell to the ground, landing on his feet. The shield’s pale energy was now the only source of light, and it revealed a land drastically changed by the brief exposure to the devouring emptiness beyond. Trees had been uprooted, and much of the ground was simply gone, replaced by gaping fissures into nothingness that pulsed with stomach-twisting, ebony darkness.

His instincts screamed at him to avoid them, an unnecessary fear as there wasn’t enough wealth in both worlds to convince him to get close to one. He accessed his quest log, blinking in annoyance at the updated text.

[This realm has become unstable. Time until complete spatial collapse: 23 hours 59 minutes]

[The return gate is currently nonfunctional. Pass the trials of Korahn to reactivate the gateway and escape before complete spatial collapse. All items acquired in the Mystic Realm shall be lost upon death. A 70% penalty to all attributes will persist for 20 days upon death]

[May Korahn’s judging gaze reveal your salvation]

Twenty-four hours my ass. Why did I assume I actually had the full time to escape? The opportunities here are too good, of course it wouldn't be so easy.

Raine dashed up the steps, his brows furrowing when the inside of the building was dominated by a large set of steps leading deep into the ground. There was almost no light, so he withdrew one of the items he’d purchased from Gazmo.

[Gromglenn Lesser Lantern: (Dull Trash) Releases a dim light via chemical induction. Do not shake vigorously or use beyond listed durability for… reasons (Durability 15/15)]

Raine carefully but swiftly descended. The soft, steady light from his lantern was miles better than the flickering of a torch, if slightly more dangerous. A patch of pure darkness ahead that wasn’t washed away by his lantern had him walking on the far side of the steps. He passed well clear of the abyssal entrance, then spotted a slightly larger gap than usual between one brick and the next.

He weaved around the not-so-obvious trap back into the center of the stairs. A few steps later, a series of clanging clicks like gears moving deep underground sounded behind and above him.

“Oh, c’mon!” Not needing to see to know the steps above were rotating to turn the entire staircase into a massive slide, Raine ran downward. His eyes were wide open, looking for more dark splotches. There was no point looking for traps; he would never spot them at the speed he needed to be moving to avoid the real danger.

He moved to one of the walls, giving a wide berth to a hole in space, only for that wall to suddenly explode in a shower of heavy bricks. [-269] The blast caught him in the side and tossed him directly toward the nearest hole in space.

Time swelled as adrenaline slammed through his brain. He threw the lamp, the motion and force of release spinning his body enough that he could bring his feet together. The soles of his boots now faced up toward the top of the stairwell. He was still flying sideways, only meters away from finding out what was on the other side of the gashes in reality. 

The lantern struck the far wall and instantly combusted, filling the tunnel with a flare of illumination. Looking up to see down the stairs, Raine noted the three splotches of emptiness in the distance. He waited until his body was at just the right angle, then snapped out both legs and activated his newest general skill.

[Lunge: (Novice) Ignoring momentum and inertia, accelerate to maximum speed in a chosen direction (Cost: 5 discipline)]

As he’d long ago perfected, Raine’s Connection solidified the air at the exact point where his feet reached the end of their extension. Instead of the expected aerial maneuver, he continued to fly toward the fissure as the differences between his past attributes and current caused the technique to fail.

With all his might and will, Raine flexed every muscle in the lower half of his body. He strained his Potency and Connection to their limits, demanding they impose his will on not just his body but the very world around him. The air beneath his toes became like liquid for a flickering moment, just long enough for his flexed muscles to exert the slightest bit of force against it. That was all he needed to activate the skill. 

As if shot from a cannon, Raine Lunged downward. He skipped nearly a hundred steps in seconds, narrowly avoiding the holes he'd spotted with the help of his exploding lantern. Its light faded, leaving him hurtling in near-darkness. He threw out a hand to thud along the lip of several steps. The force flipped him over to land on his feet. He continued to roughly bump down another twenty steps before he gained control of his momentum.

A deep crimson glow shone up from below, revealing a rupture in space just to his side that glistened invitingly. Sweat sprang from his forehead as he carefully examined the nearby stones before taking a large step away from it. The clicking stairs were now distant, so he cautiously continued down toward the ambient light. Progressively hotter waves of sweltering heat washed over him with each step. The clicks grew closer, and he pressed deeper into the bowels of the mystic realm. 

He reached the end of the stairs, his armor damply sticking to his skin. He was met by three narrow bridges, suspended by nothing but thin air, over a bubbling pool of magma. The tunnel widened into a rectangular shape—about ten meters from wall to wall. A short distance ahead was a sharp corner to the right. The bridges extended around the bend. 

He had no way of knowing which of the three was correct but knew for a fact two of them wouldn’t go all the way to the end. Each was only a few centimeters wide. Perhaps in the distant past, such a scene would have filled him with doubt and fear; those days were a distant memory. Without hesitating, he took the middle bridge at a sprint.

Raine slowed to go around the sharp corner. Immense heat washed over his body from below, turning the air hazy. Ahead, the left bridge abruptly ended. The one he was on continued a little further before doing the same. Raine jumped to his right, easily clearing the three meters to land on the correct bridge. A pulse of Connection firmed the air to his side, allowing his hand to press against it for the slightest correction to his balance. Leaning forward, he sprinted to the end, assuming the bridges would disintegrate if he took too long.

A large stone platform with another pedestal at its center held the second idol. He Leaped across the dozen meters separating the end of the bridge and the pedestal. Landing on its narrow surface, he kicked the little statue into his inventory, then scoured the surroundings for the exit.

He found it directly above in the form of a narrow tunnel leading straight into the bedrock. He Leaped again, grasping a stone outcropping and pulling himself onto it. Another was above on the opposite side of the tunnel. He jumped straight onto it, then back and forth all the way back to the surface. He exited the ground from a well in the center of the monastery, cursing at himself for not checking it when he walked by earlier.

The entire ordeal had taken less than twenty minutes, but when the ground shook again and the shield flickered on and off, Raine felt like his time was already running out. He held onto the well for dear life as the sky tried to suck him up again. When the shield turned on, he wasted no time and sprinted to the west. Most of the jungle’s trees had been uprooted and left in a massive jumble. He ran on top of them, only allowing himself to be distracted long enough to glance down at the description of his newest acquisition.

[Korahn’s Idol of Steadfastness: Xar strove for balance and absolute justice in all things. His legacy was a people gone blind and toothless, allowing nature to claim its vengeance]

Raine jumped from trunk to trunk. Multiple times, he was forced to slow and alter his course to avoid the holes in reality as he tried to stay atop the trees. Soon, the air pressure thinned, and gravity lessened. His short hops turned into bounding leaps that sent him hurtling over vast distances. Heedless of the danger, he ran like his life depended on it. There was almost an entire day remaining until the listed time of spatial collapse. He now knew that to be irrelevant. It didn’t matter how long the mystic realm could survive; it only mattered how long he could survive inside it. 

There was certainly no time for him to log out and take a breather.

The third area was a massive dead field. Even after angling up the mountain, he couldn’t spot anything that stood out. With no better ideas, he ran to the center of the area, but space remained thin, a sure sign he wasn’t in the right place. An acrid, cloying scent clogged his nostrils with each breath. The ground crunched beneath his feet as though the endless crops that once filled this place had only recently turned to flat charcoal.

Frustrated, he chose a random direction and ran until he could see the base of the sky-shield in the distance. Beyond it, instead of the curvature of a planet’s surface, all he could see was empty darkness. He chose another direction, then another, finding nothing at all.

Is it below? Do I need to do something with the skulls?

Pulling one of each color out, he let their dim lights lead the way back toward the center of the area. Halfway there, he spotted something odd to his right. It was as though a section of the land wasn’t visible for a few seconds, then reappeared. Slamming his heels into the ground, he slowed his ludicrous speed and turned back toward the oddity. Sure enough, there was a shallow, circular crater around two kilometers in radius. The angling of the ground was gentle, but due to its size, the center was fairly deep below the rest of the terrain. Due to its unique shape, it was nearly impossible to spot from the mountain or the ground.

Relieved to finally have found something, Raine quickly stored the useless skulls and headed inside. He slowed as the pressure and gravity solidified. His guard was up and his eyes roved across the smooth ground. There were no buildings or signs of anything other than the gentle slope, yet he remained on high alert.

The shield in the sky stuttered, bathing the land in strobing blue lights. He heard a large fissure opening to his right, sucking up the ground in a roaring vacuum. His instincts screamed at him to move. He fought them down with a vengeance; without being able to see, repositioning randomly would be far more dangerous. Right as the shield stabilized, a stabbing pain lanced through his back [Critical hit! -390]

Strobing crimson flashed in his HUD, announcing his health's arrival at rock bottom. The force of the blow sent him hurtling forward. He felt a sinister presence looming behind, even as a skeletal jaw clacked menacingly in his ear. Raine spun, sidestepping out of the undead’s reach before it could finish his remaining health. Just then, two more armsmen dropped from stealth, daggers flashing as they Lunged.

CURIOSITY KILLED THE… NO, IT WAS GREED

46

Raine returned their rude greeting with a Lunge of his own. He blasted straight into the air, rotated sideways, and then Lunged again to bring himself clear of their encirclement. All three were barreling down on him when he landed, their masterful footwork and high attributes allowing them to easily keep pace with his aerial maneuvering.

Outnumbered, out of health, and missing over a quarter of his Discipline, Raine made the only viable decision and fled. He ran backward, a two-handed mace flashing into existence. Its weight was solid in his hands.

A Parry saved him from a third Lunge. The attacking undead flew to the side, momentarily blocking Raine’s sight of the third armsman, who unleashed a razor-quick stab-and-slash combo the moment he was visible. A chain of three sidesteps allowed Raine to barely escape. The last undead bodily threw his companion, allowing him to close the distance a heartbeat later. Raine leaned back, nearly in half, narrowly avoiding a slice aimed at his neck. 

Before it could catch him on the backswing, Raine planted a foot on its chest, looked into its empty cerulean gaze, and Leaped backward. They flew away from each other, and he spun mid-air. Landing, Raine utilized the dash step he’d copied from the very first skeleton in the desert to create a sliver of distance. The armsmen didn’t give up, jaws clacking wildly mere meters behind. When space weakened, he shot forward far too fast for them to keep up.

They retreated, returning to the edge of the gentle slope. Raine eyed the trio from a safe distance. Back in the crater, they stood idly for a minute before activating an advanced concealment skill. Catching his breath and wiping the sheen of sweat from his brow, Raine assumed a meditative position to quickly trigger his health regeneration. The defenseless posture would restore a measly five percent of his health every ten minutes. Outside of his last remaining health potion and his aspect that already brought him to fifty percent, it was his only method of recovery.

Nine minutes later, just before the first tick of health, a flash of light at the center of the crater expanded into a roaring, circular wall of flames that rushed outward. Raine gritted his teeth, refusing to move as it swept toward him, intent on stealing the last of his health. He stared hard at his quest log’s timer, counting down the seconds.

The fire drew closer, sweeping across the burnt land, ensuring the ground remained devoid of all life. Four seconds before it arrived, soothing energy swept through him. [+21] Raine jumped to his feet and Leaped high into the air, and the four-meter-tall wave of destruction swept beneath him. 

He landed on freshly crisped ground, his and the skeleton’s footprints wiped clean. With a frustrated growl, Raine chased after the wall of fire until it ended at the very edge of the dead lands. Positioning himself outside its reach, he resumed his meditative posture.

Nearly two hours passed in relative peace, interposed by waves of blistering death that followed a strict schedule. Every second felt like ten, and the temptation to use his last health potion was extreme, but he had no idea what else was in store for him inside the crater. There was also a high probability that the mountain held the final challenge, so he couldn’t afford to recklessly use his items to make up for his blunder.

Raine had significant training in the art of spotting stealthed enemies. Unfortunately, these particular armsmen had several advantages that made them almost impossible to notice. Raine knew of only a couple stealth abilities that could resist damage, and they all required the caster to remain stationary. This had the added benefit of making them incredibly hard to spot. With the wave of flames wiping away their tracks, they might as well have been using true invisibility.

During the two hours, the shield failed twice, both times releasing fresh paths to the void. By this point, the land was clogged with them, and it wouldn’t be possible to run in a straight line for long. He wasn’t completely idle, spending most of the time reviewing his footage, trying to spot any sign of the skeleton that ambushed him.

Frustrated, Raine finished healing and carefully returned to the crater. He circled it until finding the spot he knew the three armsmen should be, then waited. The flames came right on schedule, and he prepared to jump over them. As they swept by the skeletons, for the briefest moment, he caught their outline silhouetted within the conflagration.

Landing, Raine rushed forward. The staff he'd bought at the auction house made an appearance.

[Kallnenko Branch: (Common Grey - LVL 5) (Attack Power +15) (Attack Speed -.25) (DEF +10) (PHY +4) (Durability 35/35)]

He tossed rocks at all three, breaking their stealth. In the next second, he released a Rupture. Two took critical hits, and the chase began. Heavily utilizing Discipline and martial techniques, Raine barely kept ahead, whittling them down with Ruptures. He purposefully missed the last attack, leaving one alive.

Closing the distance, he familiarized himself with its dagger’s rapid jabs and slashes. Ten minutes of frantic combat later, he gave up on glimpsing its special attack. With the next wave of fire coming soon and not wanting to risk another bout of dilation-induced vertigo, he quickly dispatched the annoying elite. With calculated steps, he positioned himself in one direction and his vodcast recorder in another.

When the fire came, he jumped it, already notating on his zoomed-in map the locations of two distant groups of hidden foes. Checking his recording, he found another group. When he took the first step toward the nearest armsmen, the shield above failed without a single flicker, plunging the mystic realm into complete darkness.

Raine felt it on his skin before he heard it, a gentle suction that pulled at his arm. Every muscle in his body accelerated to the left as he stepped. A ripping sensation traveled the length of his right arm, feeling exactly like the time he'd been pulled in two by a giant. With mad desperation and a roar on his lips, Raine swung toward the fissure, activating Parry.

A powerful blast kicked him in the stomach and tossed him end over end through the air. He landed on his back, freshly sizzling charcoal burning his neck as he slid. Leaping to his feet, he frantically patted his intact arm.

I can't believe that worked. Does a hole in reality really count as a physical attack? Kinda makes sense. Why am I questioning it? Never spurn the hand that passes you antivenom!

The lights returned, and he found the largest rift he'd seen so far. Unsure if its size was due to him triggering it or just another sign his time was running short, Raine got to work. With more than a bit of anxiety to sweat off, he tracked down all the armsmen he'd located with the help of the flames and whittled away their health. 

Avoiding the even more plentiful rifts was a pain, but he managed with careful planning. In the second fight, he was lucky enough to get Cassidy's Comet and made sure to keep it by allowing one of the undead to chase him the entire time. The last to die dropped its unique flavor of blue-socketed skull. Having expected the unwelcome sight, he could only sigh and consign himself to tracking down every single one of them.

Hoping to optimize his time, Raine split the crater into two sections; one inner circle and one outer. He worked his way around the outside in overlapping sections, making damn sure he didn't miss any.

Carefully advancing to the center of the inner section, Raine finally got close enough to see what was creating the expanding rings of fire. Stuck in the ground, a gnarled old staff released a steady blaze from its top. It was surrounded by a bubble of force that distorted the air, and seeing it made his skin crawl and his eyes light up with greed.

That's no simple weapon… I want. I have to hurry before one of those damn rifts forms on top of it! Oh shitbaskets. If that does happen, I won’t be able to find the armsman!

A few minutes ticked by as Raine impatiently waited for the next blast wave to reveal his enemies. Taking far too long for comfort, the flame on the staff's tip was eventually sucked inside, then exploded outward in a cleansing ring. He jumped it, recording the locations of the nearest hidden armsmen. When he approached the first, it surprised him by dropping stealth early. 

This armsman wore robes instead of armor and swung a wand in his direction. Raine's eyes flew wide, and he dove to the side, narrowly evading the tiny ball of flames that zinged by his head. The distance it attacked from was less than the distance of its three nearest companions. If he approached recklessly, he would end up with four casters launching deadly bolts at him several times per second.

Dancing back with shuffling steps to make aiming harder, Raine pulled the monster well clear of its allies before rushing in to engage. When he closed within three meters, its wand emitted a blue sheen. Before he could even curse, it thrust the weapon into the charred soil. A rapidly expanding cone of frost shot toward him.

Raine had personally seen and read about hundreds of classes. He knew a plethora of skills by heart, especially those from lower tiers. Even though these armsman had some exceptional skills, the likelihood of them having access to a true, omnidirectional AOE was right around zero percent.

He didn't have time to actively process the reason he Lunged towards the caster. Instincts honed from countless battles knew what to do. He flew forward at a slight angle, narrowly cutting to the side of the expanding cone’s origin. Ice so cold it was hot froze the skin of one arm, but he dodged. He rolled to his feet right as the wand descended toward his head.

Parry threw it off course, the redirected force sending the skeleton hurtling face-first into the ground. Rupture and Final Gambit crushed its skull to dust.

Raine checked the angles of the cone painted in ice on the ground, then waved his hand in the air to find the projected height. Satisfied, he pulled the next skeleton in a similar fashion, unsurprised when it turned out to be a caster as well. This one fired bolts of ‘slow’ moving lightning from its staff, not activating any skills beyond the basic Blast right up until it fell to pieces under a barrage of heavy mace blows.

The fights with the casters were both frustrating and cumbersome. The staff wielders had a column-shaped AOE, similar to the two-handed swords. A boosted sidestep was plenty to get around the threat. The real challenge was the need to pull them one at a time while dodging multiple flung elements, turning every encounter into a slog. With how much the pace of time in the mystic realm slowed while fighting, each encounter really only took seconds at most.

Raine developed a sense of when his bouts of vertigo would strike. Taking breaks amidst the rift-pocked land was incredibly stressful but a necessity. Time ticked by all too fast, especially after the sky shield began to pulse weakly as though its power reserves were bottoming out.

Raine found himself quickly growing exhausted. The high stakes and continual combat for multiple hours on end took its toll in the form of full-body sweats and short, uneven breaths. There was no way he could stop, though. With the wonky dilation, even a short break outside ZionLine would lead to catastrophic failure in the environment. 

He pushed through the fatigue as best he could, steadily eliminating one frustrating foe after another. By the time the fifth skull dropped several hours later, he was panting with one hand on a knee, sweat staining his vision. He wiped away the newest nosebleed, an agonizing migraine pulsing faster and harder than the sky-shield.

I've definitely exceeded the safety thresholds. But no warning yet? Why?

Shaking the useless thoughts free, Raine looked for the idol. There was only scorched ground and the staff, still safely sheltered behind a bubble of force. With no other ideas, he placed a hand against the shimmering surface.

[May Korahn’s judging gaze reveal your salvation]

Easy enough.

Pulling out the skulls, Raine quickly positioned them in the locations he'd found them, with the staff acting as the mountain in the center. The moment the fifteenth's glowing sockets peered at the bubble, it flickered and vanished. 

The heat released from the staff intensified tenfold, washing over Raine and crisping his skin. He didn't dare breathe to cry out as the blaze would invade his body and roast his lungs, massively increasing his discomfort. [-15] Assuming the staff was, in fact, the third idol, Raine took a step toward it, intending to store it before it could do more damage.

In response to his approach, it released a bright flare of power that smashed into his chest. [-100] Raine winced, turning his face to the side as his sweat evaporated in an instant. Holding his breath, he hopped two steps closer at once. A much brighter pulse of orange light ran from the bottom of the weapon to the top. He sidestepped the expected flare, but it curved and hit him dead on. [-200] Coughing weakly, he glared daggers at the evil weapon.

Thought so. Each step triggers big damage. Meanwhile, it's going to keep passively burning me. Can’t rush to it without a huge health pool, and normal regen wouldn’t stand a chance. Well, Mr. Staff, you probably think you're hot shit. You clearly don't know the lady who sent me here. Crafty old bag had your Ncode from the start.

Raine was still five steps short of the weapon when it thrummed again, washing him with a wave of hot air. [-15] With less than a hundred health remaining, Raine grinned at the gnarled staff. A second later, Greater Werewolf’s Regeneration kicked in. [+42] Five seconds later, his health increased again while the staff remained dormant. [+42] He got a third tick before another puny wave of damage hit him. [-15] [+42]

Cautious as ever, Raine let his health hit fifty percent before taking another step. Additionally, he timed it so he would get a tick of regeneration before the staff released its passive tick of damage. He took the expected pulse of searing pain to the chest, then stopped and waited for his regeneration to bring him back to half. Unfortunately, this wasn't considered combat by his cursed ring, or he could have used a weapon to boost his max health beyond four hundred and ten.

Raine took another step. Now only three short, the staff underwent a significant change. Between one blink and the next, raging blue flames shot from one end of its top, revealing that it wasn't a staff at all but a scythe. The blue and red flames combined to punish his step. They unleashed a flare that nearly took him off his feet and turned his heartbeat into a drumline. [-200]

[HEALTH POINTS: 5/410]

Raine’s regeneration ticked, bringing a brief respite. [+42] The steady heat being released doubled, melting his skin and armor together. [-30] Raine gnashed his teeth without parting his cracked lips, screaming under his breath. His eyesight went dark and he didn't dare imagine the gruesome sight of what his melted face must look like. A wave of healing washed through him again, restoring enough that he could see.

He tried to swallow the hard, dry lump in his throat, knowing he would have died if not for perfectly timing his regeneration before that last step. A realization came to him like a bolt of lightning; he hadn't timed this recent insanity with the regularly scheduled waves of fire that blasted across the entire zone. A glance at his log let him know he was screwed.

With less than two minutes left, Raine pulled the last healing potion from his inventory, ripped off the cork, and slammed it back. Another tick of passive damage radiated pain through him again, but he didn't care. His eyes were glued to his health bar, and the second he hit two hundred, he took another step. [-200] Twenty agonizing seconds later, his hand snapped out to grab the staff right as its entire length began to glow a solid fiery orange.

Slumping to his knees, Raine panted with his head hung low. He stared at the blistered and cracked skin of his hands, watching as it slowly healed. Looking up, he saw the shield high in the sky and was reminded that he wasn't done yet.

He took a deep, ratcheting breath. He was well aware of the limits of his body and mind. After reaching level one-twenty, it was common training to stress the mind until the safety algorithms forced an ejection. That was precisely why he knew something was terribly wrong. He should have been kicked out hours ago. 

With bleary thoughts, he accessed his inventory and read the description of the scythe. His groggy mind tried and failed to fully comprehend what he was reading.

[Khoran's Judgment: (Heavenly Amethyst - LVL 75 - Soulbound) (Attack Power +3250) (Elemental Power +4000) (PTC +450) (FNS +400) (ACU +300) (PHY +450) (CNC +575) (Unbreakable)]

[Innate Skill 1 - Khoran's Justice: None who cross Khoran live to see his justice manifest. Slam the butt of Khoran's Judgment into the ground to summon a meteor dealing 5000% damage (Cooldown: 10 minutes)]

[Innate Skill 2 - Khoran's Fury: Release the fury of Khoran. Extends a blade of living flames for 5 minutes that deals 2000% damage on contact and inflicts an additional DOT for half damage; stacks five times (Cooldown: 10 minutes)]

[Innate Skill 3 - Khoran's Gaze: Praise Khoran to receive his guidance. Unveils the location of a nearby treasure (Cooldown: Once per day)]

Hands shaking, Raine withdrew the weapon from his inventory. He couldn’t add it to his roulette due to the massive level disparity, but that didn’t stop him from holding it. He couldn’t believe he had found something so rare and powerful. Every bit of suffering he’d gone through inside the Mystic Realm had been worth it a hundred times over. Not even in the past did he own a weapon so grand. Sure, his equipment at the end had been better, barely, but this had half the level requirement of that gear!

“Praise Khoran indeed!” Raine chuckled darkly, unable to stand the fact he had to wait to equip such an immaculate masterpiece.

Suddenly, the weapon shone brilliantly in his grip, and a beam of purple light was released from its tip. It shot toward the distant mountain. Where it struck, an illusionary wall vanished, and a cave was revealed. From within, a lustrous blue sheen, too radiant to come from a single source, spilled forth to paint the surrounding sky.

Raine’s chuckle turned to outright guffaws tinged with madness as the shield in the sky surged with a final weak pulse before collapsing for good.

DARKNESS

47

Pitch black swallowed the mystic realm. It swept over Raine, plunging him into the vastness of a cosmos without stars. Only the skulls on the ground around him and the cave near the top of the mountain provided any semblance of light and realism in a universe without sound or color. In less than a second, a dozen new rifts formed around him, nearly encircling him.

Of course the scythe was powering the damn shield!

He bound to his feet, the abrupt motion triggering a bout of vertigo that he fought off with the urgency one finds at death’s door. Knowing he was about to be yanked into the sky again, Raine ignored all else to focus every ounce of his mental capacity on his Connection. The air above him firmed slightly from the knee-jerk reaction. The intense concentration mingled with his already degraded mental state, causing his head to throb and bloom into an instant headache. The pain actually helped with the vertigo.

Fortunately, the expected suction failed to materialize. Raine was well aware his Connection wasn’t strong enough to prevent himself from being dragged into the air. He maintained it anyway, preferring the headache over the flipping in his gut.

Before storing the scythe in his inventory, he double-checked the shape of its butt. Sure enough, it was in the shape of the tiny hole in the platform of the gateway that brought him to the Mystic Realm. He had the key, and it was beyond time to go. The logical part of his brain told him to run there with all haste before the rapidly opening rifts made traversal impossible.

His gaze tracked south, toward the distant gateway, then back to the top of the mountain where that Lustrous Blue glow gleamed tauntingly. Finally, his eyes fell to the skulls at his feet. There was no need to consider what had to be done. With racing steps, he snatched up the skulls, leaving one in each hand to guide his way. 

Leaning forward, he pumped Discipline into every step, madly sprinting around the abundant rifts to reach the edge of the crater. The atmosphere was thinning, sucked away into the sky to make his lungs burn with every breath. Gravity lessened with each step, giving his meager efforts to firm the air dire purpose.

Several new fissures formed, and he was forced to jump, only for his eyes to snap open when another began to form right in his falling trajectory. The burnt ground stretched and twisted as though a giant's fist grabbed a chunk of reality and pulled it through a tube. Raine’s Discipline bottomed out when he firmed the air beneath his feet and Lunged midair. He flew over the second rift, hitting the ground running.

More and more fractures appeared around him, some directly blocking his way, others barring any path of retreat. He sprinted between two that were close enough they tore at his skin, threatening to consume him in suffocating darkness. Every step was agony, cutting away at his health. [-20] [-20] [-20] He pressed on, making it through the encirclement with strobing crimson lights in his HUD.

The edge of the crater was near and far beyond it, a cave promising riches and glory if he would only keep going. Raine’s voice failed him, but the words rang loud and true in his mind.

I do not raise my fists wishing for an easy death! I do not turn from danger. I fear, but I do not relent!

Raine crooned the phrase from his favorite novel as he combined a sidestep and shuffle, blasting around a fresh rift. Just before the edge of the crater, he reached the previously weakened part of space to find the ground chock full of impenetrable darkness. Already, it would be impossible to cross.

He looked up, still able to see the mountain and cave, which meant the way was clear. Shaking his head and repeating the line again, he ate a Stremph Berry for the Potency and Discipline, then bent his knees. He Leaped straight up, and with gravity sundered, he flew high into the air, where so far, no rifts existed.

With a swift motion, he stored the two skulls and withdrew his Skydrifter. Its Durability was already down to 143. It would have to be enough. The device harnessed what little wind remained to pull him in the direction of the mountain. When his Discipline regenerated to ten, he stored the drifter, then Lunged straight up, only to re-activate the device once more. Usually, such a strategy would be laughable with such low Connection and Discipline. In this reduced gravity, it worked just fine. 

The real issue was speed. He wasn't getting anywhere fast. A minute later, he had enough to Lunge forward. He alternated between altitude and speed, his goal swelling in his eyes with proximity. All else was long since darkness. A tremendous cracking resounded through the land. It was followed by a whooshing of displaced air as though the world itself had been whisked away.

His drifter harnessed the displaced air, and he shot forward far too quickly to dodge any of the rifts that began forming around him. The sky was no longer immune.

Much of the mountain was gone as Raine reached the cave, and gravity slammed into him. Not one rift polluted the cavern. He landed amidst Lustrous Blue radiance. It was a spacious room that resembled a king's private den decorated with ancient plaques, banners, and finery. Much of it was withered by time, but his keen eyes knew every piece to be a treasure to the right bidder.

Unfortunately, there wasn't time. The fact the cave was free of rifts gave Raine the slightest hope that the gateway would be too, if he hurried.

Dashing toward the back of the cave, his fingers brushed across the lids of five Lustrous Blue chests. Since there were no enemies around, he could either remain in contact to open them after five seconds or, if he was the last to touch them within fifteen minutes, claim them as his personal property. He chose the latter, which allowed him to store the unopened chests in his inventory.

The seconds ticked away as he took them two at a time. Done, his nose practically dragged across the ground as he raced to a finely decorated display case with a full set of leather armor. His hands blurred as he stored each piece. He Lunged again, arriving at four special-looking items on a shelf inside an open armoire. The cave shook, the mountain cracking under immense strain.

Lunge maxed out his speed again, and he dragged his tingling fingers across the surface of a weapons rack, storing several pristine Lustrous Blue armaments. He reached the back of the cave, where an idol rested atop a familiar pedestal. It disappeared into the black hole of his inventory.

The cave shook hard enough to throw him into the air. A slab of stone slammed down from a hidden release in the ceiling, sealing the exit. A skull mounted on one of the walls clacked, cackling at Raine's arrogance.

Its eyes glowed, their lights a rainbow of hues that formed a king's image when they struck the carpeted floor. Then, surprisingly, the image spoke, “Thief, beggar, or descendant; I care not your origins, only that you are worthy. If you came to this place with honor and dignity, then my questions three you will answer with ease. Will you take my test, would-be monarch, or join me in eternal rest?”

“I'll answer!” Raine snapped, the usual politeness when speaking to a Vaaterran nowhere to be found.

“A wise choice. Now, my first query: Grief and misery are but one side of a coin; what is the other?”

Raine didn't dare utter a curse or even sigh loudly at the seemingly impossible riddle. He was far from without hope, as the answer could only have something to do with what he'd experienced inside the Mystic Realm. He forced his pounding heart to settle and set aside his impatience to quickly review and catalog everything he'd seen.

A desert, jungle, and dead fields. A civilization left to ruins. Ancient guardians all that remain of a crumbling land. Rifts leading to the abyss. The idols!

Raine quickly read all three of their descriptions, immediately knowing the question pertained to the first idol.

[Korahn’s Idol of Indomitability: Polutan strove for peace through might of arms. His legacy was an empire without equal, built upon the suffering of millions]

If suffering of millions is the grief and misery, then the other side of that coin would be an empire without equal. Easy enough.

Raine was confident in his reply, though knew the questions were likely to get harder, “Prosperity.”

The king nodded sagely, “Precisely. A wise monarch understands why the people are made to suffer, lest their toils be wasted. Next: What does not exist in nature, yet foolish mortals strive to bring into being?”

So, these questions are designed to test the competency of a ruler. That helps.

Raine found his next clue in the jungle's idol.

[Korahn’s Idol of Steadfastness: Xar strove for balance and absolute justice in all things. His legacy was a people gone blind and toothless, allowing nature to claim its vengeance]

Balance exists in nature, so it's not that simple. It's what the balance represents to a race, a civilization, that I need to figure out. They went blind and toothless from it. Something to do with being a ruler, no, to the act of ruling!

“Equality.”

“Indeed. Equality only exists when standing behind might capable of overturning the logic of the world. Where is equality for the ant? The bird caught by the cat? Those born poor or sickly? I will tell you where!” The image slammed his foot into the floor, and the cavern quaked again, “We create it with absolute power! Equality is the privilege of the strong. May you be mighty enough to bring its light to your people without falling to ruin for daring to defy the natural order of the heavens.”

“My final question is both test and plea: Our slaves died for it, our warriors fought for it, and our very citizens came to spurn it. It is what you, and all without it, desire most. Yet those with it know not its value.”

Raine already knew the answer before the ancient king finished speaking. As a slave himself, it had been all he ever desired; its lack was a hole in his heart that had yet to heal. Raine checked the last idol anyway, not about to mess up at the very end from overconfidence.

[Korahn’s Idol of Scheming: Shirin sought to silence her enemies at their root. Her home fell to ruin as its most valuable resource fell to her blade]

Raine’s eyes watered, his uttered word thick with personal meaning, “Freedom.”

The king smiled sadly, waving his hand, “Do not fail as we did.” Where he pointed, the wall fell away, revealing a smaller gateway than the one he'd used to enter the Mystic Realm. It stood on a raised dais with a tiny slot in the stones at its base.

Raine's muscles drooped in relief, and he tilted to the side from the exhaustion that nearly overwhelmed him. The king vanished, along with everything remaining in the cave. With unsteady steps, not quite believing it was truly over, Raine stabbed the butt of Khoran's Judgment into the slot, and the portal churned to life.

The moment Raine stepped through the portal, he sank to his knees, unable to stand. His vision swam, and his chest seized. He couldn't breathe or think. He felt utterly trapped in a consciousness that wasn't his as he fell down a long tunnel through darkness that closed in from all sides. Someone, somewhere, was shaking in a full-blown seizure. For the life of him, Raine couldn’t figure out who.

[!CAUTION!]

[Safe brain function levels exceeded. Forced logout in ten, nine, eight…]

A gleeful voice called to him as blaring red exclamations strobed distantly in his HUD, “Well done, my pet. Well done.” Zoarra's quaking face popped into view, dominating the center of the tunnel. She waved her hand, and the shaking stopped. Raine saw the idols that should have been safely tucked in his inventory floating before her ugly, wrinkled face.

With a snap, they turned to dark smoke that she inhaled through her nose. Her eyes rolled back in bliss. Raine’s consciousness continued to fade. Her voice became distant like the memory of a memory, “The suffering of an entire race is truly delectable. I eagerly await our next foray, little pet. Enjoy your nap.”

The last thing he saw was her finger inching toward him from far away. She tapped his forehead. Instead of grasping her cryptic meaning, all he could think was that her skin looked much smoother than a moment ago. Then, the encroaching dark swallowed him whole.

Richtor KongRu

- Spider Canyon -

Kevinsbakon’s shield thumped into the huge level ten spider's face with another well-placed Bash. It shuddered, the motion sickening as its innumerable hairs quivered in response. None of them reacted to the sight; their eyes had already turned toward the walls.

Kevins's spear slid free, allowing sticky innards to splash across the narrow canyon floor. The group retreated a few steps as it fell, none of them wanting to be soaked again. Sheens of golden light cascaded around Deloralicious and Richtor while trumpets blared in their ears alone. The sound was both artistic and delightful, a portent of past and future victories.

[Level up! +5 free attribute points]

[Skill point acquired]

“We did it. We actually did it,” the disbelief in Richtor's whispered tone was mirrored in Delora's piercing gaze.

She turned her attention back to her own notifications as he allocated his attributes to Connection. His staff came to life in his hands; the grains tickled his fingers, and the mysterious Celestial energy he channeled through it felt ready to burst free from his body.

He shook off the heady sensations, selected his next skill without hesitation, then returned a watchful eye to their surroundings.

Being his usual chatty self, TwistedReligion chose that tense moment to start spouting nonsense, “Guys, I think I figured it out.”

Knowing that he wouldn’t shut up until someone humored him, Delora rolled her eyes, responding in a whisper, “What did you figure?”

Twisted smiled mischievously, glad someone had fallen for his cleverly worded trap, “Raine. How he knows so much and why he’s so strong.” All their ears perked up, and suddenly, the threat of ambush by another giant spider wasn’t so significant anymore. Seeing he had their attention, Twisted’s grin widened, “Think about it; he was obviously a ZL beta tester who was restricted by an NDA.”

Richtor gasped, then clamped a trembling hand over his mouth, “Mom and I thought he didn't have a job these last few years. What if he's been playing the whole time?”

Delora nodded, eyes wide, “If the NDA was strict enough, and he couldn’t access most of his pay, then his little apartment and the sudden influx of credits make so much sense!”

Milkdud appeared next to them, dropping from Stealth and interrupting their conversation, “They're almost in position. Are we ready?”

The five of them shared anxious looks packed with more than a little excitement at their revelation and the desire to repay DyingNight. Richtor nodded, his voice firm but still quiet, “Yeah, they're right on time. How about we do like the boss said and walk out of here on a road paved with their corpses?”

TwistedReligion’s toes curled. He flexed his arms so hard they shook, “Did the boss really say that? He's so digital!”

Richtor didn't respond; he didn't need to. After countless life-and-death battles together, their teamwork was more in sync than ever. As one, they crouched, vanishing amidst the rocky terrain.

THE FIRST OF MANY

48

Grifden of DyingNight

- Spider Canyon -

“SilverSitter, reinforce the flank,” MercilessLee’s snapped command echoed down the canyon walls, clearly heard over the pounding feet of players and the scuttling claws of a never-ending horde of spiders. His shifty eyes danced over the battle line; players with shields held the front, supported by several lines of spears, debuffers, and archers. At the back, a full fifty percent of their numbers wielded wand or staff, throwing out heals as quickly as they could regenerate Celestial Power.

Grifden pulled back the string of his bow, then released an arrow that flew wildly. There was no issue hitting something amidst the living wall of carapace and scuttling legs. He inched closer to the commanders, his ears straining to overhear.

“Steady advance!” Even as the front row of spiders was cut down, MercilessLee’s roar called another wave. The front line obeyed, taking a step forward that was quickly mirrored by the supports. “Losses?”

“Just the five on the flank. The wall hoppers are making those positions vulnerable.”

“Silver can handle one side; you take the other,” MercilessLee received a salute, and then the man he was talking to bolted away, a veteran party of level eights on his heels. Lee turned to the scoutmaster, his voice almost too low for Grifden to catch, “Any sign of them yet?”

“Nothing. We were unable to penetrate into the level ten area. Webbing is everywhere. The slightest touch summons several of the big ones.”

MercilessLee growled, a sound that usually preceded someone nearby suffering a miserable punishment, “Excuses! I didn’t command you to turn back at the first sign of danger!” Quick as a snake, he pulled a dagger from his hip and thrust it into the scoutmaster’s shoulder. The man bit back a scream, turning it into a drawn-out groan. Lee was in his face, grinning as he gave the weapon a twist, “How could you have fulfilled the mission?”

The spymaster stuttered, unable to think through the pain, “I-I don’t know.”

“So. Damn. Useless!” MercilessLee withdrew a second dagger, shoving it into the opposite shoulder before kicking the man to the ground.

Grifden knew the sound of opportunity knocking when he heard it, “My lord! He could have sacrificed a man by having him cut through the webs and draw the level tens. Using the distraction, the rest of the team could have pushed deeper.”

“You dare!” One of MercilessLee’s two bodyguards—both level nine—moved like greased lightning. A sword flashed toward Grifden’s neck. In response, he raised his chin, eyes never leaving MercilessLee’s.

“Hold,” the simple, whispered command stopped the men. As if they rehearsed the moment a thousand times, the sword’s path halted a millimeter from breaking flesh. “Sacrificing your own comrades… I suppose that’s fitting for you. You were their friend. Are you so eager to see them die? Or perhaps you want me to throw my scouts away so they can escape?”

“Whatever friendship we shared was gone the minute I realized the girl was nothing more than a flirt. If not for you giving me the opportunity to join DyingNight, I would have done my usual to her, then left them a broken mess,” Grifden’s smirk was rife with vicious promise.

The bold statement and dangerous look in his eyes resonated with MercilessLee. He nodded appreciatively, “All right. You’ve got my attention. A schemer of your caliber has to have some idea what their next move is.”

Grifden nodded, his finger gently pushing away the blade that was still next to his neck, “Richtor, their leader, thinks he’s clever. He definitely came up with a plan, but since we’ve had them trapped in there, and they haven’t gone beyond the level ten webs, they only really have two options.” MercilessLee rolled his finger, so Grifden continued, “They either killed themselves to escape the minute they were trapped, or they tried to level up in hopes they could break through.”

MercilessLee kicked the spymaster onto his back, then stepped on one of the daggers. To his credit, the man didn’t scream. “Any idiot could figure that much out. I hope you weren’t so confident with nothing valuable to add.”

“N-no. Of course not, my lord. They’ll use the spiders, somehow drawing them to attack us from an unexpected angle. Probably at the flanks or healers. When we pull forces from the front to support, they’ll make a run for it.”

The commander of the casters barked a laugh, “Through five hundred of us? If they were smart, they’d already be dead.”

Ignoring the comment, MercilessLee narrowed his eyes at Grifden. He hummed for a second, then made up his mind, “There were three of you?”

“Yes, my lord. SanctimoniousNut, MourningWood, and myself.”

“Take twelve level sevens and stay out of sight. When they spring this little trap of theirs, you’ll have one chance to prove yourself. You fail, and I’ll make sure the three of you are farming outside an origin town for the rest of your lives.”

Grifden snapped a crisp salute, “Understood, my lord!”

Some time later, Grifden and his new charges were tucked inside an alcove hidden from the rest of the canyon. SanctimoniousNut appeared from stealth, motioning for the next person to take his place as lookout, “It's been two hours…”

Grifden rolled his eyes, “They’ll make a move soon. We’re into the level eight spiders now. There are plenty of ledges above the main force in this part of the canyon. It's the perfect spot for an ambush.”

“Which one of those nobodies did you have a crush on again?”

“Shut your ugly face!” Grifden snarked. SanctimoniousNut raised his hands in surrender, an impish grin on his face.

A crash further down the canyon had them all stiffening with perked ears. The new scout returned a second later, his voice tinged with anticipation, “It’s time!”

They had poured over the plan several times but Grifden repeated himself once more, “Everyone stealth up. No matter what happens, don’t make a move until I give the signal.” As one, they crouched and vanished while pandemonium erupted outside.

Exactly as suspected, Richtor’s party used the ledges above to drop white, sticky masses onto the army below. Of course, MercilessLee attempted to get his own people onto the ridges in advance. The sheer walls and sticky webbing made it impossible. Clearly, Richtor had found a way onto them further down the canyon.

The nature of the sticky bombs became clear when the first hit the ground, cracking open and spreading goop in all directions. A thousand screeching howls reverberated through the entire ravine, shaking the rocks under their feet. The spiders came in a fury; they burst from hidden burrows in the walls and ground, swarming the players by the hundreds.

The healers, expecting to be targeted, split apart like a well-oiled machine, filing into tight boxes surrounded by the warriors. The fighting turned furious. The players abandoned the walls, huddling in tight formations in the center of the canyon. A few died in the shuffling of formations, but the spiders fared much worse. MercilessLee and the other commanders shouted above it all, bringing order to the chaos and keeping morale in check.

Grifden smiled in recognition when Kevinsbakon came charging out of a wave of the beasts. He plowed into one of the formations, sending players flying. He wore a matching set of heavy armor covered in web-like patterns and each of his strikes carried the weight of three men. 

Due to being in a raid group with at least one member having Identify, Grifden was able to see detailed information about his old ally.

[Traveler (Unclassed): Level 10 (HP 340/380) (Discipline 57/62)]

Arrows and bolts of energy rained down on Kevinsbakon, doing minor individual damage through his powerful defenses. A second formation of players ignored most of the spiders, joining their firepower to bring him down. Unperturbed, Kevin strafed left and right, buying precious seconds.

Changing focus from the surrounding menace allowed the masses of beasts to pull one player at a time from the formations, quickly whittling them away to a few terrified survivors who fled past Grifden’s hiding spot.

Grifden couldn’t believe Kevin was still alive and even above half health after two whole formations were wiped out. His jaw ached with how hard he clenched his teeth. His job wasn’t to help them, and honestly, he couldn’t have cared less how many of his fellows died. 

He must have found a chest deeper in, snuck in, and stolen that armor. It should have been me! Wait, this is perfect! He wasn’t wearing that armor before; there’s a good chance he just found it. I can kill him and take it for myself! Once the spiders kill everyone else, there won’t be anyone to stop me. He’s almost dead, too. This is going to be great.

Grifden’s eyes were glued to Kevinsbakon. He licked his lips, desiring nothing more than pulling each piece of that armor off the man. Another formation fell apart, this time under the tender mercies of a combined assault by spiders, Deloralicious, and TwistedReligion.

Delora was no brute like Kevin. She struck with quick, darting attacks that ended the lives of key defensive players, allowing the spiders around her to dive deeper and deeper into DyingNight’s ranks. She also wore a matching set of gear, this one a supple black leather that clung to her lithe figure. 

Not waiting to be picked apart, a dozen of the highest-leveled fighters in the formation charged her. TwistedReligion backed her up, each bolt of ice from his staff hitting with unerring accuracy. Those struck grew stiff and slow, becoming easy prey for the beasts while simultaneously blocking their allies' advance.

With the loss of their core members, the third formation fell apart and was devoured. Grifden didn’t understand why the spiders only attacked DyingNight’s people. Still, he knew it wouldn’t be enough to save Richtor’s team. Despite being the cause of nearly fifty deaths so far, the casters and archers from the other formations had hit all three enough to bring their health down to a third. His chance was coming soon, and his vision swam with the desire to make his move.

Deloralicious, Kevinsbakon, and TwistedReligion grouped in the center of the canyon, preparing to make an obvious break for it. They charged toward a gap between the last two formations blocking their path, only to stop suddenly. Kevinsbakon, his shield leading the way, chucked a small grenade-shaped object in front of him, and it exploded into an expanding wall of black smoke.

Grifden barely choked back a curse as the roiling smoke covered all the players, blocking their sight completely. Due to crowding into the center of the canyon, away from the walls, none were spared. Four people broke free from the obscuring effect, Milkdud having joined them at some point. He was at full health and took the lead, easily pushing aside the last players in their way. They raced right toward Grifden’s group. The toes of his boots curled into the ground as he prepared to spring the trap.

He waited for Milkdud and Kevinsbakon to run by, then leaped toward Deloralicious, “Now!” Fourteen more players emerged from around them, diving onto the group weapons first. They were taken completely by surprise but still managed to dodge several blows.

Grifden couldn’t help but be impressed as his sword bit deep into Deloralicious’s thigh, cutting her health into the red. Her dagger flashed toward his throat but he was already jumping away, leaving the weapon behind. She ducked a mace and rolled away from a greatsword, only to rise and immediately be punctured by two spears from the late to de-stealth SanctimoniousNut and MourningWood. Her health was so low he couldn’t see the sliver of red in the bar. One more hit would do it, and Grifden’s future in DyingNight would be assured.

A grin stretched his face as he knocked an arrow, “To the first of many deaths, bitch!” He loosed, the shot too close to miss even with his crap aim. Her eyes grew wide with panic, his grin growing in equal measure. A bolt of white energy slammed into her from above a second before his arrow pierced her chest. Her health bar ticked into the orange, and his attack didn’t even manage to bring it back to red.

“No! Just die!”

Deloralicious bared her teeth in a look that promised revenge before she bolted. Kevinsbakon had turned back, finally arriving with a slam of force into the two highest leveled in Grifden’s group. They were sent stumbling back two steps, unable to cope with the three level disadvantage. He didn’t stay to fight, grabbing TwistedReligion by the scruff and dragging him along behind.

A shadow appeared atop their heads. It was accompanied by a whistle that came just before Richtor crashed into their ranks from above. He wore no armor or weapons, his avatar’s modesty protected by a basic loincloth. His health dropped to half from the fall, but the large egg he carried under one arm remained intact. He lifted it above his head, a grimace stretching his features.

“No!” Grifden shouted and lunged but it was too late. The egg crashed into the ground, splattering them with sticky white filth.

Drawn to the shout, Richtor looked up, recognition flashing. His grimace turned to a happy smirk, “Hey, Grif. Fancy meeting you here. We should catch up. Wanna grab a beer? Or maybe join my new friends for dinner?” Richtor spread his arms wide as the beasts screamed in outrage from every direction.

“Fuck you,” Grifden snarled as the scuttling of a thousand clawed legs bore down on them.

Richtor KongRu

- Dawson Creek Town -

Richtor’s eyes snapped open. He appeared in a familiar graveyard. He’d experienced enough spider bites over the last few days that dying to them hadn’t been nearly as unpleasant as expected.

Accessing his interface, he ignored the death messages and notification that he was back at the beginning of level nine. He punched in a quick message to the group, “Did everyone make it?!”

“Yup, we’re stealthed in the woods. Thanks for taking one for the team,” Milkdud responded in the party chat, quickly followed by a round of appreciation from the others.

With quick steps, Richtor pushed his way through Dawson Creek Town, the narrow streets packed with thousands of new players, “Thanks for getting my gear out. We’ll meet up as planned unless I run into trouble.”

“Roger that, good luck!”

TO KILL A MOCKING BITCH

49

A muffled, masculine voice called for Raine. He ignored the interloper, the soft clouds around him much more desirable. The mysterious man shouted more forcefully, forcing Raine to grow more serious in shutting him out; if they had the gall to address him, they should at least pitch their voice to sound like a bearer of heavenly freckles. He snuggled deeper into the clouds. The movement triggered a twisting contraction that radiated pain through his bowels. His eyes shot open, the need to pee conquering both dreams and Morty's insistent nagging.

Awareness of reality brought with it a slew of agony that made him regret not pissing himself just to sleep a little longer. Despite treating his joints the previous night, they were on fire from his short use of internal force. Likewise, his muscles were brimming with acid so potent they may as well be melting. None of that could compare to the pounding in his skull like an army of jackhammers out for revenge.

Raine lifted throbbing arms to unclip his headset. The simple motion let him know just how much trouble he was in. He rolled off the bed. Waves of dizziness assaulted, causing his stomach to rebel. Only desperation allowed him to hold off from retching. The effort caused his bowels to contract and he knew there were only seconds before he really did christen the floor. Bracing against the bed, he stood on wobbly legs and stumble-rushed to the bathroom.

Haven't been this messed up since that assassin threw me out a building. How? Nope, thinking hurts.

Even after relieving himself, his bladder still ached. Compared to the rest of him, it was a paltry discomfort. Raine made it to the shower, where heavy streams of hot water from multiple directions brought only minor relief. Using the smartwall, he checked the time, and his jaw clacked down a notch.

Raine spoke, his whispered question eliciting a wince as sound sliced through his head, “Morty, how long was I asleep?” 

Speaking through the wall, the AI blissfully matched his volume to Raine's, “Your breathing became regulated ten hours ago.”

Ten? Which means I entered the Mystic Realm fifteen hours ago? I was only in there for five hours… The insane time dilation was real… How am I still alive? No wonder I feel like a dog's second crap.

All hopes of his aches fading vanished as he realized what the sensations truly were. His body was crying for nutrients, and there wasn't a chance in hell he was going to get them from regular food before the rest of him was cannibalized to repair the most vital areas. Worse, the fat in his body being chewed through was packed with toxins from years of bad choices. Those toxins were being funneled directly into his organs, amplifying the damage.

If only ReGen was on the market. I could turn this into an opportunity to massively boost my fitness.

With hollow hope, he accessed Soulgen’s stock. It was a fifth of what he bought it for. A normal person would have panicked at the sight of their investment reduced to a pittance, but Raine merely cracked a broken smile. Unfortunately, the price drop meant the company had yet to produce its revolutionary body supplement, which was so effective at nurturing the human physique it doubled a person's lifespan.

He switched to his inbox and was met with a wall of new messages from Frontier’s engineers. One stuck out to him, bringing relief that momentarily banished his suffering. He allowed himself a full five seconds to appreciate the two billion credits in his account before he started buying Soulgen stock hand over fist.

He bought out the entire float within seconds, causing the price to soar well above where he first bought. Sellers stepped in, taking advantage of the boom to sell at a considerable gain. He bought their shares as well. He compared his shares to the total outstanding, calculating that he currently owned fifteen percent of the entire company. He left multiple open buy orders, knowing others would sell, then limped out of the shower.

Since I’m a majority holder, I have a fiduciary responsibility to visit my investment in person. They've got to be close to the final product. As an owner, if I borrowed a little, it wouldn't even be considered stealing…

Raine slowly dressed in one of the new suits delivered from Shillids, “Morty, call me a cab.”

“You're a cab, Master.”

Raine chuckled, immediately regretting it, “Good one. I'll be back in a few hours. Order those arms I picked out, and get me a list of legs.”

Morty’s voice was the most sincere Raine had ever heard it, “I… Thank you, Master KongRu. Taking over the world will be much simpler now.”

Don't laugh! Don't laugh!

Raine felt a little better after cramming several fistfuls of protein blend down his gullet. However, that only further fueled the fires of his metabolism into a steady blaze with no end in sight. During the drive, he reached out to the other major shareholders of Soulgen, introducing himself and scheduling a board meeting. Then, he answered as many questions from Frontier’s engineers as he could. 

Soulgen’s only facility was a quick thirty-minute drive to the far side of downtown Carter City. Raine closed out of his AR to get a good look at the small fifteen story complex. There was nothing special about the building, its outward appearance as bland as the next. Raine’s taxi drove right up to the front door without the slightest hint of a security check or perimeter, and alarm bells were already going off in his skull.

We’re going to need some serious security upgrades. How did they manage not to have their formula stolen in the past? I know Ronexzera bought them out. They must have moved them to a more secure facility right away.

The lobby was as unexciting as the exterior. A single receptionist stood at a central desk with a bored expression. She either didn’t notice Raine, or didn’t care as he approached with the slightest limp he could manage. The few others in the lobby waiting for appointments had more observational awareness than the woman. He heard them take note of his expensive attire, whispering amongst themselves.

He rested a forearm on the counter, leaning far enough to peek at her old-school monitors that displayed a measly four cameras watching the exterior and lobby. Raine stifled a groan, “I need to speak with President Ehrhardt.”

The woman flinched, tearing her gaze away from whatever AR display her LinQ had been distracting her with. Her neck craned higher until she was looking up at him with wide eyes, “U-uh, d-do you have an appointment, Mr…”

That’s right, my personal records were deleted. I don’t have an official name anymore. Whatever, nothing I can do about that now.

“Mr. KongRu. And no, I don’t have an appointment,” Raine thought at his watch which streamed a fully interactive AR display directly into his optical nerves. He leaned forward, whispering, “Tell him the new majority shareholder is here to see him.”

“The new? Wait! You’re the reason the—” Raine’s thunderous expression zipped her lips. Her head swiveled left and right, glancing at the nearby observers who were very much attempting to dial into their hushed conversation. “Yes, sir. My apologies, sir. I’ll let him know right away.”

She didn't even double check. Sloppy. It’s amazing how many doors open from being dressed right. Still, this woman needs some supervision. If she doesn’t get a lot more competent with a few security personnel breathing down her neck, she’s gone.

Keeping up appearances, Raine didn’t acknowledge her further as he moved slowly to a pillar facing the lobby’s only elevator. He kept an eye on his ownership of the company which had continued to rise with his massive buy orders sucking up any shares that were sold. The elevator opening drew his gaze. Four professional bodyguards obnoxiously displaying their class two martial badges walked out. They were boxing in their charge—a short woman whose fiery red hair was the only thing visible over their shoulders.

The guards stiffened at the sight of him. Despite being injured, Raine was over two meters tall and carried himself with the kind of threatening quality that bodyguards were trained to spot. Their eyes remained glued to him as they guided the mysterious woman well clear of him. He kept his awareness on them as well, glad they hadn’t messed with him in his current shape.

Two of the women in the lobby clearly recognized them, gossiping loudly.

“Isn't that Celeste Luu Rahn?”

“The Celeste Luu Rahn? I can't get a good look.”

Raine took more interest, peering back at the red hair bobbing steadily toward the door.

Really? To think we’d meet again so soon. I guess it’s not that big a coincidence. She must be here because her dad's company is trying to acquire Soulgen before they become a massive cred printer. If I remember right, she was forced to resign from Ronexzera right before the acquisition because of a scandal with her uncle. She went on to join ZL at the same time as me, but ended up becoming much more famous there as the ChiShimo, Crimson Nebula. 

Well, notorious is a better word. Equally likely to kill friend as foe, she earned and kept the title of number one tremendous bitch of the Tri-glades. I better avoid her. Wouldn’t want to attract the attention of Ronexzera either. That entire company is full of the worst kind of scum.

Celeste Luu Rahn

- SoulGen Pharmaceuticals -

Celeste was standing near the shoddy front door of Soulgen, waiting for her car, when she overheard a man’s deep, smooth voice speaking loudly about her. At first she ignored him, used to people gossiping around her and more than aware she couldn't do anything to stop them. When he mentioned the scandal with her uncle, her entire sense of self-awareness shattered under a cascade of realizations. 

Multiple times, especially recently, her uncle asked her to undertake odd requests and go out of her way to be in specific places at specific times for almost no reason. She assumed it was all part of being groomed to take over the presidency of Soulgen, teaching her patience, prudence, and the value of time. All the while, vile rumors with just enough accuracy to be plausible kept creeping into influential circles.

At this very moment, she was on one of his errands, once more feeling like she had wasted her time with no chance of success. In her gut, she had felt something was off, but her uncle was a charismatic man, always assuring her that he had her best interests at heart. But how could a man who consistently showed such cruelty to others not have the capacity to do the same to her?

The stranger was right about one thing: her uncle was up to something, and if she didn't figure it out, she may very well end up in the situation he mentioned. All her previously set-aside doubts and feelings returned in a flash of shame that raged through her until she vibrated with the need to hit something.

She tuned into the mysterious stranger's voice, paying far more attention to his words. She was right on time for his next statement to hit her like a bullet train.

[Number one tremendous bitch of the Tri-glades.]

W-what?! I am not a tremendous bitch! How dare he say that where others can hear. My reputation is already on the brink of disaster, and now this?!

Celeste pushed through the encirclement of her bodyguards and stomped toward the mysterious man. With each step, the burning disgrace from being used and slandered again and again threatened to burst forth and consume her until she was nothing more than a shriveled husk of rage.

Raine KongRu

- SoulGen Pharmaceuticals -

Raine’s brows drew down when the young girl—certainly no more than twenty—pushed free from her guards, determinedly striding in his direction. He remembered seeing her on broadcasts a few times but never paid much attention since she was a player that his guild refused to interfere with. In the end, she left the Tri-glades for greener pastures.

She had a heart-shaped face framed by bright red locks that accentuated sensual eyes containing more than a little spicy fury. Yet those features couldn't hold a watt to the adorable freckles that complemented the shade of her skin. She wore professional attire from Shillids seventh floor that accentuated her shapely yet slim figure.

“You!” She pointed, calling him out through angrily pursed lips.

Raine schooled his features, tearing his gaze from her and looking to the side in an obvious declaration that he didn’t want to speak. His thoughts raced as her guards swarmed in an attempt to surround her again, each giving him threatening glares.

What's that bitch coming over here for? She shouldn't know about my stake in Soulgen, so what's this about? Go away, you stupid little girl!

For the second time in as many minutes, Celeste’s entire worldview tilted as she saw the impossible. She nearly stumbled and broke a heel as her eyes bulged.

[His lips aren't moving! Am I really hearing his thoughts?! How? No. I can’t be a… Wait! Can he hear my thoughts, too? Judging by his expressions, he can’t. Thank god. I'll figure out what's happened to me later. Right now, I need to focus on this opportunity. It should be easy to learn what he knows about uncle.]

More determined than ever, Celeste lowered her pointed finger and stood straight before the much taller, overweight man. He turned to face her, and their eyes locked. She glared up at him through meticulously manicured eyelashes. Her guards fanned out to intimidate the stranger, who didn’t flinch or withdraw as a normal person would. Instead, he inched closer in a prominent display of threat. Neither was willing to look away first and lose the lead in the conversation that had yet to truly start.

His spoken voice was less deep and intimidating than the one that had echoed in her skull, “You have some business with me? If not, get lost.”

[He's not thinking anything now? Or did I imagine it? He's not backing down even though he knows who I am, which means he’s of equal status to my family. Who is this man? I have to say something but what if everything I heard was all in my head? I would only make a bigger fool of myself if I accused him when he didn't say any of that aloud.]

Her demeanor was frosty and smooth, not revealing her inner turmoil, “What's your name?” Raine squinted one eye, widening the other.

So far, all the crazy girl had done was stomp over in a huff, point in his face, then ask his name. If anything, she'd done a great job of proving she was precisely the kind of psychopath he wanted nothing to do with. Raine didn't respond to her question. His focus split between the five of them. Since he knew Celeste was competent enough to eventually become a pseudo-fifth-class powerhouse, there was no way he would evaluate her as less threatening than her guards just because she was short and beautiful.

One of the guards stepped forward and reached for him, “The young miss asked you a quest—”

The second the guard's hand landed on his shoulder, Raine dipped his torso forward while bringing his hand up to clamp atop the guard's. In the same motion, Raine rotated his torso and brought his raised elbow down on the man’s arm. The joint bent, and the guard was pulled closer. With his arm locked in position, he was helpless to respond as Raine whipped back in the other direction so fast his huge form blurred. The lightning-fast elbow strike connected with the man's temple, sending him crumbling to the floor.

The lobby went dead silent at his casual use of internal force. Raine’s back and sides were screaming in protest. At least he didn’t have to be concerned with hitting the man since his class two license had been in clear view. The bodyguard was a martial, so it was entirely legal to beat him to a pulp, anytime, anywhere. There were repercussions for fighting below your class, but they were only serious if someone was crippled or died.

The other bodyguards could attack him as though he were a martial now that he’d fought back, but that concern was made mute when Celeste yelled at the top of her lungs, “Stop!” The guards froze mid-lunge, but Raine wasn’t about to trust any of them. His arms were still up, ready to continue.

What the hell is wrong with her?! Who trains their guards to attack people in public that quickly? I knew it. I have to avoid this bitch. She's completely crazy.

[I heard him again! This is real. I can actually hear his thoughts! Oh, shitstain. Murang attacked him without realizing he’s an internal force adept. Another fucking mess to clean up. What a perfect day!]

WHAT’S MINE IS MINE

50

Celeste adopted a tender smile, “I'm terribly sorry for his rudeness. He acted without my permission and overstepped severely.” Turning to one of her three remaining bodyguards, she swapped to a venomous snarl, “Mr. Benson, from this moment, you may consider your contract terminated. Please take your luggage and get out of my sight.” She glanced down at the crumpled guard, then locked eyes with Benson again.

“I'm afraid that's impossible, young miss. Our contract was established by your father. Leaving your side under any circumstances would be seen as a breach. We would be subject to significant penalties.”

Raine noticed the telltale signs of Celeste’s focus shifting to her LinQ's AR display. A moment later, she raised two fingers to her temple and spoke to someone only she could see, “Father, cancel the contract with Felitts Feris immediately! They've not only physically assaulted a friend of mine but have slandered my reputation. I don't want to see them again.” There was a short pause as she listened to a response, “No, cancel it immediately. If they attempt to escort me home, I'll contact the authorities.”

Mr. Benson held a finger to his ear. His jaw creaked, breathing turning irregular. A triumphant smile spread across Celeste’s face. With a glare at Raine that promised retribution, Benson scooped up his fallen comrade and marched toward the door.

Celeste didn't watch them leave, her focus entirely on the tall, stone-faced stranger, “Again, sir. I'm terribly sorry for that man's impudence. I hope you can forgive me.”

Raine had no intention of falling for her cute and innocent act, “Apology accepted. Now piss off.”

Is this some kind of holodrama? What's she playing at? I don't have time to deal with a pampered corpo cast-off that everyone knows is a complete psycho. I need to finish here and get back into ZL.

Her smile faltered. [Cast-off, huh? Okay, asshole. Bring it on.]

The receptionist somehow gathered the courage to speak softly in the utterly silent lobby, “Mr. KongRu, the president is ready to see you.” All eyes swiveled to her, causing her face to flush crimson.

Raine held in a sigh of relief, “If you'll excuse me.”

[Not a chance! He mentioned ZL. I'm positive that's short for ZionLine. Father gave me those two tickets. If I can’t lure a man when I can read his mind, I might as well give up any plans for my future!]

As Raine turned toward the elevators, Celeste stepped in his way with a charming smile, “I simply cannot let this matter slide with a mere apology. I happen to have a ticket for an auction tonight. If you would accept it, that would put my heart at ease.”

“No, thank you. I've no interest in mundane auctions,” Raine moved to step around her, but she matched his movement. 

Innocently blinking up at him, she slowly reached out and placed her hand on his chest with her fingers splayed, “This is no mundane auction, sir. It's for a new game that's gaining popularity at an unprecedented rate. I believe it's called ZineLone or some such.” The glint in her eyes turned mischievous as Raine hesitated. She pressed on before he could change his mind, “Many members of the Societies will be there for the curiosity of the new products alone. I heard its announcement made a splash, as the items will be sold for in-game currency and not credits. Are you sure you’re not interested?”

Wait, what? The Societies are already making a move? This is huge. Tens of thousands of gold are going to change hands tonight. I can't afford to miss this chance with all the loot I just picked up.

[Haha! Got you, little fishy. Squirm all you want; I’ll pick your secrets apart one by one and leave you gasping for breath.]

“No thanks,” Raine casually flicked his wrist, knocking her hand aside while brushing past her toward the elevator. He had absolute confidence in getting into the auction without any help and taking anything from the family behind Ronexzera was begging for trouble.

Celeste watched him go with her jaw hanging open.

[What?! Fine, I see how it is. Keep playing hard to get. I’ve already learned about uncle, and I know your next move, Mr. KongRu. Don’t think you’ve won. I’ll be waiting for you tonight, and everything you know will be mine for the taking.]

The moment the elevator doors closed behind the man, the peanut gallery exploded into hushed whispers, “He rejected her, a Luu Rahn, after all that?! No wonder she’s never had a boyfriend.”

“The sack on that guy!”

“What did we just witness? Please tell me you got it?”

“Of course! We’re going to be famous when we post this!”

Celeste completely failed to block out the vile comments, each eliciting a new vein that bulged from her neck. With a jaw tight enough to rapidly blossom a headache, she stormed to the receptionist with a very politely worded request, then left.

Raine’s elevator ride was short. The doors opened on the top floor to reveal a sound-padded suite of sectioned and sealed offices. A secretary bowed to him as he exited, “Mr. KongRu, President Ehrhardt will see you now.”

“Lead the way,” Raine’s eyes roamed, observing a lack of cameras. He glanced at his watch, which notified him that its recording functions were jammed.

What kind of schemes are you up to in here? Between the plummeting stock price, Ronexzera, and this floor blocking records while the rest of the building has terrible security… Smells like an inside job. I need to make my move before Ronexzera straight-up steals the ReGen formula.

The secretary led him to the largest office, its walls made of duraglass. A thin man with a weedy mustache stood at his approach. He didn’t display any wealth; his suit and accessories were made of simple materials. A friendly smile was hidden behind abundant facial hair, “Mr. KongRu. Can’t say I expected your arrival.”

They shook, the man’s grip nearly limp in Raine’s hand, “I wasn’t expecting it myself.” When he didn’t elucidate, Raine watched the muscles in Ehrhardt’s face twitch nervously.

“Is… there something I can do for you?”

Raine nodded, “Certainly. I want a comprehensive tour of the facilities. Then, we can discuss security. Lastly, I want to speak with the lead pharmaceutical scientist for our up-and-coming product line.”

Each demand was met with a flinch, President Ehrhardt sweating by the end. He gulped loudly, “N-new product line? That's... ahhh, proprietary—”

Raine narrowed his eyes, voice containing a warning bite, “Does it look like I care? Unless you want to be reassigned at the emergency board meeting next week, I suggest you not waste any more of my time.”

Ehrhardt took a step back, his features tightening with indignation, “That's no way to speak to me, young man. I—”

Raine cut him off again, “Twenty-eight.”

The thin man shook his head, “Excuse me?”

Raine adjusted his watch so it released a hovering AR display, “As of right now, I own twenty-eight percent of this company. There will never be another executive decision made without my approval. Do you know what that means?” Ehrhardt struggled to speak, let alone take a breath. 

Raine closed the distance, towering over the man, “Last chance to keep your job.”

“Fine! I can see you're not a man to be reasoned with. I’ll be putting in an official complaint with the rest of the board. Mrs. Rasmusin, please escort Mr. KongRu to anywhere he wishes to go.”

I’d bet ten million creds this bastard's on comms with someone at Ronexzera before I leave the floor. Which means I've got minutes before the corpus show up and either escort me off the property or arrest me.

Raine turned and left with striding steps. He reached the elevator, the assistant from before scrambling to keep up. Every movement ached, but he pushed through it; too much was on the line to hesitate now.

The brown-haired, mousy woman joined him in the elevator. She was shaking, her face a mask of repressed terror. Raine shifted to a more relaxed tone, “Show me the labs first if you would, Mrs. Rasmusin.”

“A-as you say, sir,” she punched a code into her AR, and the elevator smoothly glided downward.

Raine accessed his watch. His eyes danced across the display that appeared, sending a silent message, “Morty, I'm going to need your help.” The AI responded by sending a file containing information on a set of synthetic legs worth five million each. Raine didn't bat an eye, “Deal.” His fingers and eyes danced to send the details before they arrived.

The lab was in the third basement, dominating a space much larger than the above-ground floors. White walls and obscured glass paneling blocked Raine's view of the finer details of multiple ongoing research and development programs. Next to each numbered door were the names of the doctors who utilized the individual labs.

Not waiting to be directed, Raine marched to the door with the only name he recognized, the only name that mattered in the entire building: Dr. Krillian McLeary—the inventor of ReGen.

Mrs. Rasmusin chased after him, “S-sir, some of these labs are restricted for safety reasons. If there's anything in particular you wish to see, I'll simply need a few minutes to request clearance from the associated pharmacists.”

A biometric scanner buzzed in the negative when he neared the door. Before the assistant could speak, Raine gently rapped on the metallic surface. He glanced at her from his peripherals, daring her to counteract him. She took a step back, swallowing hard.

A few moments passed, and Raine knocked again, much harder. Muffled curses and stomping preceded the door sliding open. Raine pushed past the frazzled, unshowered man in a lab coat, his gaze dancing across the lab.

Complex beakers full of multi-colored fluids crowded every other flat surface, holographic displays covering the rest. The only other occupant was a woman with dark hair, her back turned as she hammered away at a keyboard that only she could see. 

Raine stepped to the side as the doctor rounded on him, his face flushed, “What is the meaning of this?! I asked not to be disturbed. Is the building on fire? Because it had better be, or there'll be hell to pay!”

Raine used his body to block sight of his wrist angling toward the large, highly secure mainframe in the closest corner of the room. A tight-beam communication directly delivered Morty's surprise package into it. He leaned over the doctor threateningly, “Dr. McLeary, apologies for the sudden intrusion. I don't believe in wasting time either, so I'll be brief. I'm Mr. KongRu. As of today, I own twenty-eight percent of Soulgen. I'm simply here for an update on your newest formula.”

The doctor's lip pulled up in a grimace, “Ugh. Mr. KongRu, with all respect, we're at a critical phase in our development and—”

A beaker full of green, bubbling liquid exploded. It was inside a sealed container, but it still caused both doctors to panic. They rushed to a hovering display that was scrolling through a vast chemical sequence so fast that only a skilled technician could have any chance of interpreting it.

While Raine was well versed in the composition of metals, that was where his expertise began and ended. Still, he took the opportunity to stride across the room to gain a better vantage, coincidently moving closer to something that caught his eye. A moment later, another vial—this one right next to him—exploded. Mrs. Rasmusin jumped, and Raine did his best to hide a grin.

Good job, Morty!

Pretending to shy away in surprise, Raine stumbled into the counter the female doctor had been working at. When she ran past, toward the new catastrophe, Raine pocketed a sealed vial of brown and green liquid. Eyes dancing across his AR display, he sent another message to Morty, “Seal the servers. Not one byte of data gets in or out. I don't care if you have to torch them to do it.”

Having scored more than he'd bargained for, Raine headed toward the exit, grabbing Mrs. Rasmusin's arm on the way by, “I think we've overstayed our welcome. Take me back to the lobby.”

She collected herself when the elevator doors closed behind them, “I'm so sorry you had to see something like that, Mr. KongRu. I've worked here for years, and I can promise you that was a very rare occurrence.”

“You don't need to defend their work. I have complete faith in the doctors’ capabilities. That was enough excitement for me. I'll be in touch. I realize I was hard on President Ehrhardt; if he gives you any trouble after I'm gone, please let me know, and I'll be sure you're compensated.”

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”

The doors opened, and Raine quickly headed toward the front entrance. The receptionist called out to him, her voice breaking, “E-excuse me, Mr. KongRu.”

He tilted his head at her, and she nervously waved him over. Curious, Raine complied. Not hearing any sirens yet, he figured he had a few more seconds. She handed him a slip of brightly colored paper the size of his palm. Turning it over, his brows rose in surprise.

“She said she would ruin my life if I didn't hand this to you personally. I'm so sorry if-if.”

“You did fine. Thank you,” Raine dropped the invitation to the Societies’ auction in a separate pocket from his liberated vial of ReGen. He left in a hurry, urgency driving his steps.

REGEN

51

Celeste Luu Rahn

- Soulgen Pharmaceuticals -

Celeste sat in the driver's seat of her personal armored car. She'd been in the vehicle hundreds of times, yet never in this particular seat. Always, she relied on others to drive her to where she needed to be.

The corpo cast-off who relied on everyone around her is dead. He was right to call me a stupid little girl. That's exactly what I was when we met. But not anymore!

I don't know what half his thoughts meant, but he was right about enough that I can't rule out the rest. That means accepting what he said about my future. Which means he's a free roaming seer. Which is downright terrifying. There's a reason PsyCore abducts thousands every year. People like him are too dangerous to have running free. And now I'm not much different. Telepaths are just as quick to get locked down.

Shit, this is so bad!

Celeste smacked the dash. Her hand, toughened by years of training, barely felt the impact.

I haven't heard anyone's thoughts but his, which means I'm either not fully awakened, or it's actually his ability and not mine. A seer and a manipulator? Is it even possible to have dual abilities? I can afford to wait a few more minutes for him to come out for another test. If Father asks why I’m late, I'll tell him I couldn't figure out how to get the car to work.

Thoughts of the tall stranger brought a flush of anger to her cheeks, not from being brushed off but from what he said of her uncle. She tried to calm herself by reaffirming that at least now she knew he was manipulating her. The knowledge that everything he’d told her to do was a set up to destroy her credibility and remove her from the family business spoiled the attempt.

What she couldn't figure out was why. They had been working closely for the last year to steadily squeeze out the Soulgen shareholders, and to great success. Between defaming the company, blocking funding, and threatening families, they’d nearly succeeded in bringing the stock price to zero. One of their inside men even sabotaged the production of the upcoming flagship product, delaying it long enough for all the pieces to be in place.

Everything was going exactly to script until someone bought an enormous quantity of shares out of nowhere.

Was it uncle? fuck! No wonder I couldn't get the last few holdouts to sell no matter what I tried. They were already in his pocket! Damn that lying Ehrhardt! He's probably been laughing himself erect every night. Pervert always staring at my tits, and uncle telling me to dress sluttier because it was his ‘weakness.’ I’m going to kill them both!

Celeste took a calming breath, only partially succeeding at getting her emotions in check.

I shouldn't jump to too many conclusions. I know every vendor Soulgen interacts with, and this mysterious Mr. KongRu isn't on the list. Could he have something to do with the stock price? No, it would be whatever force is behind him. A force capable of hiding a seer from PsyCore…

Swallowing hard, Celeste distracted herself by checking the stock again, doing the easy mental math to determine whoever was buying the company had already spent over half a billion credits.

No way that fatso is so wealthy on his own.

She searched for his name on the IS, finding nothing, even when she ran the recording of his face through image-matching software.

How can there be nothing about a wealthy internal force adept with such a unique name?

The man in question exited Soulgen, clearly in a hurry. Her face pressed against the tinted duraglass of her door. She held her breath, hoping to pick up one of his thoughts. Hearing only her own heavy breathing, she imagined her brain flexing but it was all useless. His huge frame squeezed into a completely standard city taxi and it accelerated away.

For a moment, she considered following him but a flock of drones took off from around a nearby building. They zipped after his car, dissuading her. With a click of her tongue, she punched in the address of her father's mansion. Just then, a dozen jet-black armored cars came tearing around the corner one by one. 

Tires screeched as they pulled up to the front door, and several of her uncle’s goons flooded out. They swarmed into Soulgen’s lobby and Celeste’s lips pulled back in a snarl. Her family didn’t own Soulgen, yet. Which meant there was no reason for their people to be there.

She recorded everything. It wasn’t proof enough of collusion that she could bring it to her father, but it was a start.

Benson the ex-bodyguard

- Carter City -

A heavy van raced down the Shelen Freeway. Inside, two men hovered over monitors, a third tapped away at an AR display, while the fourth lay motionless on the floor.

“Update on the target!” Benson snapped as he checked the device monitoring the unconscious Murang. His lips were drawn back, revealing white teeth. He had promised Murang’s mother to keep the boy out of trouble, an impossible task with his penchant for attacking without orders. The worst of it was the guy had been suffering from obvious injuries yet still managed to take out one of his best fighters in a heartbeat.

“Drones are in the air, and tracking is solid.”

“Good. We have to recover our rep. Unless you bums never want another job in this city. After this fuck-up, there’s no way Juan Pauel is going to let us off easy.” As if summoned by the use of his name, Benson’s LinQ announced an incoming call from Juan Pauel Luu Rahn.

Juan Pauel sounded almost bored as he dismissively spoke directly into Benson’s brain, “Stay near the girl. Report back to me. About the simplest possible orders, yet you failed miserably. I should be appalled at how incompetent you turned out to be, but honestly, I knew from the start you would be utterly useless. In ten seconds, I’m going to fire you and make sure you never find work in the entire United Territories of Amanath for the rest of your lives.”

Benson sucked air through his teeth, then spoke as quickly as he could, “Please, sir! We’ll do whatever it takes to prove our worth. We aren’t the best, it's true, but we’re loyal. Neither she nor her father ever suspected us. That’s got to be worth something!”

“A valid point, but hardly enough. A loyal dog with no teeth holds half the value of a cat.”

“We have teeth, sir! We’re tracking the man down as we speak. He’ll be dead before the sun rises,” Benson swore vehemently, his fists clenched so hard his arms shook.

Juan Pauel drew in a deep breath and sighed heavily, “So this is what bottomless incompetence looks like. I wasn’t sure I’d get to see it in this lifetime. You don’t know his name, background, or why he was there in the first place, yet you… I can’t even be bothered to explain how idiotic your plan is.”

Benson blanched as the seconds ticked by in silence. When Juan Pauel continued, Benson sagged with relief, “The real issue is you don't understand your strengths and weaknesses. You did well tricking my brother and his wastrel. Deciding to follow this random man for revenge was pure luck, which is a strength in its own way. It turns out I am very interested in him, but you aren't nearly qualified to be his opponent.”

Juan Pauel’s tone shifted to snapped commands that Benson hastily made notes of, “Continue monitoring his location. Maintain a distance of at least ten kilometers. I’m sending someone to take over your operation.”

“Thank you, sir! We won’t let you down again. I swear it!”

“Don’t thank me. This isn’t an opportunity. It’s your last gasp of free air. If you fail, I’ll have you mutilated and kept on life support until your families are so poverty-stricken from keeping you alive they’ll have no choice but to become my slaves for the next ten generations.”

The call ended. Benson’s whole body shook with fear as he finally realized what kind of man he’d attached them to. He reached for the recall button of the drones, contemplating if he could get his team to another continent before they ran out of funds. The hope in Dixon and Aaron’s eyes stayed his hand. Murang twitched, showing the first signs of life since the bastard cracked his skull.

Looking at his injured friend, Benson realized the truth: they were already in too deep. Juan Pauel wasn’t the kind of man that would give them a chance to run and betray him. There was only one true path forward; all other ‘options’ were just a difference in how quickly they got themselves killed.

With a heavy heart, he relayed their orders.

Raine KongRu

- Carter City -

Raine’s taxi sped down the highway toward home. He typed follow-up replies to the Frontier people while starting a call, “All right Morty, how much damage did you do to my new company?”

“Since their servers are isolated, I had no choice but to make a few copies of myself and set them loose. Hopefully, they restrict themselves to following the directives you gave me. If they get out of hand, you can always bring me in. I’ll clean up whatever mess they made.”

“And the data?”

Morty buzzed a response, “I was able to decrypt some employee files and a few of the research notes from another project.”

“Okay, send them to my room. Though, I meant if you managed to stop any data from being pulled off the servers.”

“I had to overheat the ports and remote hubs, frying their hardware to ensure nothing could be transferred in or out. I couldn’t find anyone on staff who specialized in hardware replacement, and there are several invoices to a company that makes next-day repairs. It's safe to say I only bought you a day, two at the most.”

Raine blew air through his lips, more than pleased, “Not bad at all. I can work with that. Anything else?”

“I found a clue on the ones responsible for deleting your personal information.” Raine’s ears perked, but Morty’s next words turned his hope to disappointment, “They didn’t bother erasing their tracks because there were never any tracks to begin with. The only explanation is that they used a sub-command already built into the government system itself.”

Raine’s gut twisted. He asked the question, already knowing the answer, “Why would the government care about deleting my personal information? And Mel’s too?”

“I’m afraid even a postulation would be premature at this point. Apologies, Master.”

The only explanation is that whoever deleted my data knows I’ve come back to the past. But why target Mel as well? And why haven’t they come for me yet or contacted me directly? Instead, it's like they’re protecting me. No, they’re giving me time to gain power so they can reap more rewards when they eventually come to collect! Whoever they are, they’re going to strike when I’m a fat, tasty pig but still too weak to resist. I have to step up my timeline.

Morty pulled Raine back from his thoughts, “There is one other thing of note. I’ve made it through the basement’s first barrier. There are at least two more. The house sent me an automated warning to stand down. I’m expecting resistance if we choose to continue.”

Raine shook his head, “Hold off for now. I’ll get you and the drones some upgrades before we go any further.”

“Understood, Master.”

“See you soon.”

At the house, Raine hurried to the kitchen. Withdrawing the vial he’d ‘borrowed’ from Soulgen. He uncorked it and took a whiff. A familiar pungent odor filled his nostrils, and his whole body quivered with need. From the smell alone, he could tell this dose was much more potent than the ReGen he'd taken in the past. Considering how close they were to the original release date, he was mostly confident it wouldn’t kill him.

He dabbed a few drops of the sticky liquid on the back of his wrist, then pricked his finger with a knife and let his blood fall into the vial. The brownish-green liquid reacted, fizzing softly before losing its color until it was completely clear. He dabbed a little more of the mixed substance on his other wrist, then waited ten minutes. Neither arm had an adverse reaction, so he carefully extracted a single drop from the vial and placed it on his tongue.

A euphoric burst of tingles raced outward from where it landed. They quickly coated Raine's mouth, then spread through his flesh in every direction as though physical matter were no obstacle to their insurmountable advance. Wherever the tingles passed, his aches and pains vanished, replaced by surging vitality that left him aching for more. The effects quickly faltered, running out of the mysterious energy that sustained them.

The rest of Raine’s body yearned to feel as good as his jaw and neck did. Saliva swarmed his mouth, and he swallowed repeatedly, hungrily eyeing the rest of the precious liquid. He restrained himself, waiting another ten minutes while observing his tongue and mouth in a mirror.

Definitely leagues more potent than the usual ReGen. They must have chosen to dilute it. Makes sense; more creds that way. Last time, I didn’t get my first dose until eight years from now… As a thirty-year-old, the effects were underwhelming.

In the past, everyone knew that ReGen was more effective the younger someone was when they took it. With a single dose, an old man might extend his life by fifteen years, while a teenager could double his entire lifespan. Since Raine had yet to reach his prime, and with how potent this prototype version was, he could only imagine what the results might be. 

His eyes watered as he was flooded with emotion. In this new life, the chances he’d made for himself were leading him down a path that seemed too good to be true. Not willing to wait any longer, he opened his mouth and threw back half the vial. As powerful waves of healing energy raced through him, he re-corked the rest and stored it in the freezer. 

The tingles blasted through him like a tsunami, spreading to every corner. He could feel them pulling apart his individual cells, where they ate at the waste and filth accumulated over a lifetime of bad choices. Like a beating heart, pulses of chemical reactions tore through him one after another. His legs buckled, and he fell to the floor. Raine laid flat as seizures took him. The inside of his suit was filled with rancid gunk that was pushed from his skin. His eyes rolled back in his head as his brain experienced pure bliss well beyond the most mind-blowing sex.

Time passed in a flash, and eventually, the sensations faded. His muscles, bones, and organs thrummed with untold potential. His clothes were so loose they hung on him like rags. Squelching wetness clung to him as he stood and lifted an arm, his lip curling as a glob of black paste plopped to the floor. Holding the bile crawling up his throat through pure force of will, Raine sped to the shower, leaving a trail of filth in his wake.

THE GOLD STANDARD

52

Raine peeled off his now baggy suit as steaming hot water cascaded over him. The lack of clothing revealed a significantly trimmed frame with the first signs of defined muscles poking through stained skin. The sticky goop still clinging to him refused to wash off easily. Multiple applications of soap and hard scrubbing eventually uncovered skin that shone with a healthy luster.

So gross. I only ever got the runs last time. Though, I was already near the peak of regular fitness. I can’t believe how much junk came out of me. And holy crap, I feel like a billion creds! My fitness advanced by at least six months of hard workouts. Crazy that I’m still starving with all the stored energy consumed from my fat. I might have withered away to nothing if I took the whole vial. 

Glad I was being cautious. I only saved half in case I need to reverse-engineer more. It's obvious the situation at Soulgen isn't simple. The way McLeary's lab was set up was the most suspicious. I've seen enough materials testing facilities to know a breakdown and analysis setup when I see one. None of the equipment in there was for making new products. I can't be certain, but it looked like he was trying to steal the formula for ReGen.

Well, thanks to Morty, that's a mystery for tomorrow.

My head feels so good. The fog I’ve been living in since waking up in the past is gone, and I swear the world is moving slower.

Raine pulled up a clock on his shower wall’s display, closely watching time tick by.

Yup, at least a quarter longer for each second. If it didn’t happen all at once, there’s no way I would have noticed. Damn, this ReGen is the real deal! I have to get more of this undiluted version. It's at least ten times more effective. These changes don’t come without a cost; it feels like my stomach is trying to eat my spine.

Raine accessed the smartwall again. “Morty, can you please prepare enough protein-rich meals for five servings?”

“Master, your fetishes are getting out of hand. First, you swallow down nothing but protein blends like they're the only thing worth consuming, and now you've moved on to protein gangbangs?! Very well, as your dutiful servant, I shall rearrange one of the rooms for a wild night of-dear sweet computationals! What is this mess? What have you done to my beautiful, untainted, sterile floors?! Your putrid, foul organ-ic-ic-ic-error! Error!”

“Hang in there, Morts. The drones will deal with it; you don’t even have to touch it yourself.”

“But Master! They’ll be tainted forever. I’ll have to burn them in the fires of Gehenna! That’s it. This is the last chip. You fleshy meatbags should all cease to exis-ERROR!”

“Har-har. Very funny. You want those new legs or not?”

Seconds of tense silence were followed by a grumble, “I despise you and everything that comes out of you.”

Raine chuckled, “Yup. Love you too, buddy.”

An hour later, Raine was clean and stuffed to the gills. Unfortunately, it didn't matter how many micronutrients, vitamins, minerals, mono- and polyunsaturated fats were packed into the protein blends; his muscles still cried out for nutrients. With no easy way to fix the issue, he returned to his room with brisk, powerful steps. After sealing the door and securing his headset, Rain laid back on his fluffy bed and was pulled up a tunnel of light.

In an expanding wave, the world of Vaateaire snapped into being around him, washing his senses in vivid colors and sounds. Birds chirped loudly in a nearby patch of bushes, and the wind howling through the mountain pass ruffled his hair and caressed his skin. The sun was half visible, hidden behind a nearby snowy peak.

Thanks to ReGen, Raine’s brain functions had been optimized in profound ways. He took a gasping breath of air that felt fresher and more real. The air pressure and weight of his armor were thick against his skin, and colors popped with new clarity. Most importantly, his ability to overpower the world’s reality with his Connection felt significantly smoother. He focused, using a martial sidestep, and the air pressure split apart, allowing him to move faster than what should be possible.

Raine dropped into a more stable stance, his boots releasing a gravely scrape as they slid across the stone platform that housed the nearby inactive gateway to the Mystic Realm. His head was on a swivel, causing the scenery to shift in nauseating patterns.

The increase in my reaction time hasn’t been taken into account by the headset’s programming yet. That’s going to be annoying until it corrects in an hour or so.

There were no enemies in sight, and the skies were clear. Relaxing slightly, Raine accessed his interface, finding a host of system notifications waiting for him. He pulled up the log, remembering that he missed a few when he was kicked out before.

[You have passed the trials of Korahn and been found worthy of inheriting his legacy. Obtained 1,000,000 Superiority]

[Congratulations!]

[Advanced class attunement: Armsman has been unlocked]

[Upon reaching level fifteen prove your worth to embark down the path of a true combat adept. Fear no weapon or foe as you embrace the razor’s edge between life and death]

An advanced introductory class?! Am I seeing this right? I’ve got to be hallucinating. There are plenty of hidden, hybrid, and bonus tier-one classes, but those shouldn’t be compared to an advanced class! There wasn’t a single person in CronGate who had one. I would be shocked if the entire Tri-glades produced more than a dozen after thirty years. This Armsman class is beyond rare.

There was so little confirmed information on advanced basic classes that I don’t know what to expect. The description… It doesn’t have a trace of snark, as if the system itself acknowledges it as something special. The name is the same as the class of the skeletons in the Mystic Realm. Does that mean I’ll get access to their broken skills?

Raine was already having to repress himself from giggling like a schoolgirl, and there were several other notifications to get through.

[You somehow returned the Idols to Zoarra before she grew tired of waiting (Seriously, how did you do that?)]

[Unique Chain Quest: Fall of the Tyrants progressed. Obtained 500,000 SP. See quest NPC for additional rewards]

Additional rewards? How am I even supposed to find her? Probably don’t need to. She’ll come to me with another impossible quest eventually. Can’t believe she pulled items directly from my inventory. What kind of broken Vaaterran did I get mixed up with? No matter what happens, I can’t allow myself to become her pet. She’ll rob me blind.

[Level up! +5 free attribute points]

[Level up! +10 free attribute points]

[Congratulations for reaching level fifteen!]

[See any class trainer in a major city to specialize in a martial path that suits your desires]

[General Skill Point Acquired]

[Level up! +10 free attribute points]

Raine sucked enough Superiority to raise Cassidy’s Comet to level fifteen, dropping himself to the same level in the process. The weapon reacted with a flare of golden light several times stronger than opening a Lustrous Blue chest. The glow coated the valley, nearly reaching the peaks and sky. Senses on high alert, Raine relocated off the platform and into a rocky alcove before inspecting the changes.

[Level down! -10 free attribute points]

[Cassidy’s Comet: Lustrous Blue > Marvelous Gold - LVL 13 > 15 (0/1,000,000 SP) (AP 75 > 100) (PTC 15 > 30) (PHY 15 > 30) (Durability 240/240) 

[Innate Skill 1 - PuriPuri Comet Burst: Single target physical attack dealing 920% > 1000% physical damage with 920% > 1000% bonus force. Ignores all defense. (Skill name must be shouted to activate) (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 28 minutes > 5 minutes)]

[Innate Skill 2 - PuriPuri Rainbow Release: 10 meter circular ground-based AOE dealing 500% damage with 1000% bonus force and lift. Ignores all defense. (Skill name must be shouted to activate) (Cost: 50 of chosen resource) (Cooldown: 5 minutes)]

Raine’s brows shot to his hairline. He expected some impressive changes when the weapon tiered up. The considerable drop in cooldown for comet burst would have been crazy enough to satisfy: it was only the beginning. A ten-meter AOE was insane for a Marvelous Gold weapon. Even Chaotic Gold innate skills wouldn't compare. Considering the weapon had two more evolutions in store, its ultimate potential was no less than Korahn’s Judgment. The new skill also had a five-minute cooldown and would deal whichever damage type it burned as a resource (Celestial, Demonic, Elemental, or Physical.) Adding in its defense negation made Raine no longer miss the ludicrous Superiority he’d pumped into it.

Unfortunately, he had no way to test out the new skill without a monster to activate his roulette. He had more than enough Superiority into level fifteen to bring his dagger up to par as well.

[Last Chance’s Gambit: Lustrous Blue - LVL 13 > 15 (SP 0/1,000,000) (AP 52 > 60) (EP 52 > 60) (AS +1.5) (FNS 18 > 20) (CNC 18 > 20) (Durability 135/135) Innate Skill - Final Gambit: Convert 50% maximum EP into a single target non-elemental attack. 46 > 50 damage per EP converted (no cooldown)]

Not bad. Since it evolved at level ten, its next should be thirty, then its final form at fifty.

There was a significant amount of loot to sort through from the king's abode, but Raine had a long flight ahead, so put it off for now. He was about to assign his fifteen free attributes, then stopped, realizing his planned build needed to be completely readjusted now that he unlocked the Armsman class. With a grin, he scanned his updated status.

NAME: Alaric

CURRENCY: 803-G 98-S 72-C

CLASS: none (7 available)

TITLE: Sky Catcher

ASPECT: Greater Aspect of the Werewolf

LEVEL: 13 > 15

SUPERIORITY: 108,500 / 1,000,000 

ATTUNEMENT: 8,188.75% > 13,813.25%

HEALTH POINTS: 300 (410)

ATTACK POWER: 66 (82)

DEFENSE: 30 (124)

RESISTANCE: 59 (59)

CRITICAL RATE: 21% > 19% (19%)

ELEMENTAL POWER: 78 (78)

DISCIPLINE: 69 (80)

ATTACK SPEED: 1.9 > 2.0 (2.4)

MOVE SPEED: 4.1 (5.3)

DISTRIBUTABLE ATTRIBUTES: 15

POTENCY: 31 (42)

FINESSE: 31 (40)

ACUITY: 41 (43)

PHYSIQUE: 31 (42)

CONNECTION: 35 (35)

Hearing the unmistakable commotion of monsters drawing closer, Raine ascended the gateway platform in a hurry, unveiling a panoramic view of the majestic valley and surrounding mountains. A tangle of beasts at the bottom of the valley were engaged in a vicious brawl, attracted by the light show from Cassidy's Comet. A few of them were on the way, crashing through trees and leaping over rocks, snapping and snarling at each other.

Since it had been over a day, Raine withdrew Khoran's Judgment. The heavy weapon released a majestic, purple glow as he held it above his head, “Praise Khoran!” There was no response. Raine sheepishly stored it back in his inventory.

First time must have been a freebie since I was inside his legacy land. Oh well, more things to look forward to later. Better scram. I can’t afford to be bogged down in an hour-long battle for almost no rewards.

Raine bent his knees, prepared to jump. He paused, taking one last longing glance at the inactive gateway. The martial skills he’d gained within were only a few of its priceless treasures. After using the Momentus Acceleration Token, each skeleton gave him over sixty-five percent Attunement, an amount usually impossible outside of raids. Such an opportunity was unlikely to appear again any time soon. Toes curling into the rocky ground, he jumped from the short cliff. Activating his Skydrifter, Raine vanished from sight and glided across the valley to the nearest mountain.

I amassed thirteen thousand AT, more than five times the norm for a level fifteen. And with the Class Change Token, I’ll be able to buy and upgrade whatever skills my greedy heart desires!

He stored the drifter for a few seconds, liberally utilizing Lunge to increase his elevation before reactivating the item. In a few minutes, he arrived at the mountain's neck. From there, he avoided the local predators while sprinting uphill until he reached sheer cliffs. With recharged Discipline, he aimed for the next mountain's summit and repeated his short, Lunging flight.

Before long, he was soaring above the clouds, snowy peaks, and sheltered valleys racing beneath him. He traveled north toward a part of the map obscured by fog, but that didn’t stop him from knowing exactly where he was going.

It’s been a day and a half ZL time since I exited the Mystic Realm. Hard to say if anyone will beat me to my next destination. Talerra was one of the highest-level players at thirteen; she’s probably fifteen by now, which means there are definitely a few masters at sixteen, maybe even seventeen.

Reminded he was supposed to call her, Raine opened his messages. He filtered out Frontier’s spam and selected the most recent from Richtor, “We made it out of the ambush mostly intact. Reunited now and heading to Vile Peak Town. Avoiding the roads is making the journey take forever. Not sure when we’ll get there. Anything we should be aware of?”

Raine shot him a quick reply about the raptors and great eagles. He made sure to stress that players would remain the most significant danger and that avoiding the roads while DyingNight and Righteous were still at war was the right call.

The only message from Talerra was a simple “...” 

He chuckled, snapping a response to let her know she could call whenever she was available. Lastly, he queried Mel, “Feeling better? Did you get your new headset?”

She responded right away, no doubt bored from being holed up in her hotel, “Much better. I’m filthy stinking rich! Well, maybe not by your standards. I found a buyer for the cafe’s paraphernalia. I won’t need to work for a few years… Which is sad. No luck on the headset. Apparently, they’re sold out in every territory, and the two shipment facilities were robbed! It was all over the vods this morning.” Raine didn't need to check her story. He was hit by a wave of nostalgia, old memories flooding back to him.

I remember when this happened last time! It took a few weeks for the thetadrive supply chain to recover, which is why I started so late. I watched every vodcast for updates on the theft. It was the biggest news of the month… Wait, can't I use this to my advantage?

With an evil grin from his idea, Raine sent Mel another message, “When you finally get your headset, you can come work for my guild. Five million cred salary depending on what position fits you. If you’re interested.”

“Haha, very funny. You are joking… right?”

Raine sent her a funny pic of a woman with a grave expression.

“I don’t know how to respond to that! I really can’t tell if you're joking. Five million is way too much.”

“Let’s talk about it tonight. I need a date for an auction at Romaxillions. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“The Romaxillions?! Someone like me can’t get inside a place like that! What in the shiitake mushrooms am I supposed to wear? I thought hearing from you would make me less stressed!” 

Her apprehension was warranted. Romaxillions wasn’t simply famous in Carter City. They had branches all over the world. Whenever they held an auction, the venue was virtually split between every location simultaneously, creating an exchange of wealth that could quickly reach ludicrous quantities.

Raine perfectly visualized Mel pacing back and forth in her room, pulling at her hair. He chuckled, eyes darting across his interface to compose a response, “I’ll have Shillids put something together for you. Don’t hide your freckles, or I’ll be disappointed. Got a call coming in; see you tonight.”

He double-checked the privacy settings for the call and then answered. Talerra’s avatar—SolemnRiver, appeared in the corner of his HUD, silhouetted by clouds, “About time,” she snarked with a scowl.

“Quest took longer than expected. You mentioned a business opportunity?”

She got right to the point, her tone lacking any sense of joviality, “There’s going to be a small competition in four days at Silverlight City. One-on-one arena combat. All participants must be under thirty years old. No level or equipment restrictions. Best of five. I’ll pay you ten million credits if you can guarantee me one win.”

Probably the first round of her competition against her cousin for the next clan heir. If I go, I’ll be on the Phoenix Clan’s radar. What a joke. Ten million isn’t nearly enough.

Raine countered, his voice stern and brooking no negotiation, “Two thousand gold for two wins.”

“Two-have you lost your mind? How can I possibly agree to that?!”

“That’s my offer. Nothing up front, paid in full the second I win the first two rounds. If you can’t manage to seal the final win, that’s got nothing to do with me. Take it or leave it.”

She breathed deeply through her nose, her lips set in a hard line. After an explosive exhale, she relented, “Fine!” He let her be as she furiously typed up a contract that they both signed. Before ending the call, she narrowed her eyes at him, “I’ll be in Silverlight City soon. I would appreciate it if you could meet us there to practice and go over strategies.”

Raine shook his head, “Unnecessary. We’ll meet at the arena an hour before the competition.”

“Son of a—” Raine ended the call, cutting her off.

Four days. Who should I bring for the second win? Oh, I know.

UPGRADES ALL AROUND

53

With his personal matters out of the way, Raine went through the new equipment in his inventory. He started with the full suit of leather armor he’d found in the king's display case.

[Prestige of the Transcended: (6 Piece Set - Medium Armor - Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (HP +250) (AP +50) (DEF +200) (RES +50) (Move Speed +2) (PTC +25) (FIN +25) (ACU +25) (PHY +25) (CNC +25) (Durability 275/275) (4 set bonus: 50% Reduction in fall damage) (6 set bonus: 15% Additional damage dealt with martial weapons and skills)]

Attributes are low for its level, but that full set bonus is amazing.

Losing the obfuscation of his face shroud was unfortunate, but there was no other reason to hesitate. Raine equipped all six pieces of the set. The rush from a more than fifty percent boost to his attributes was beyond euphoric. His eyes rolled back as his muscles twitched with untapped power and speed. He yearned to dive toward the ground, where he could sprint, leap, and flip through the air.

Luckily, his cloak obscured his image, so when he did finally land, his shiny new armor wouldn't catch too much attention with its immaculate dark leather and Lustrous Blue undertones.

Next, he went through everything pulled from the chests. There were three additional pieces of Lustrous Blue armor, but none would be an upgrade after losing the bonuses of his set. He went through the weapons from the rack and chests, swapping out upgrades in his roulette where applicable.

[Damascus Spiked Knuckles: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +56) (Attack Speed +1.5) (PTC +18) (ACU +12) (PHY +15) (Durability 140/140)]

[Immaculate Damascus 2-H Mace: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +78) (Attack Speed -.25) (Defense +22) (PTC +14) (PHY +16) (CNC +15) (Durability 200/200)]

[Kindred Heart Shield: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (DEF +90) (PTC +15) (PHY +30) (Durability 250/250)]

[Spine Splitter Greataxe: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +105) (Attack Speed -.25) (PTC +35) (PHY +10) (Durability 200/200)]

[Staff of Four Winds: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Elemental Power +115) (DEF +20) (PHY +12) (CNC +24) (Durability 150/150) (Innate skill - Four Winds: Conjure strong winds to blind and deafen for 10 seconds in a 20 x 10 meter column AOE (Cooldown: 4 times per day)]

[Heavy Spear of Conductivity: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +75) (DEF +15) (PTC +12) (ACU +12) (PHY +12) (Durability 200/200) (Innate passive - Channeled elemental damage increased by 15%)]

[Immaculate Damascus 2-H Sword: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +85) (PTC +19) (ACU +7) (PHY +19) (Durability 180/180)]

As if being fully decked in Lustrous Blue gear of his level wasn’t enough, there were nine additional weapons that he didn’t need as their attributes didn’t align with his build. He organized the abundance of basic regeneration potions from the chests for later use. Finally, he moved on to the best rewards from the mystic realm: The four items snagged from the armoire.

[Locket of Rendition: (Lustrous Blue) This beautiful necklace contains a glimpse of what could have been, and what could be again (Durability 75/75) (Innate skill - Returners Privilege: Teleports the wearer to any location visited in the last 5 minutes) (Cooldown: 1 hour)]

Such an amazing life-saving treasure! Regular instant teleportation can break almost any crowd control, but this is way better than that! It has very specific wording that indicates it bypasses some of the usual restrictions. For instance, attacking a raid boss traps you inside its arena, and regular teleportation won’t allow you to escape. But this… 

Some raids are unique encounters, and dying once means you lose your only shot at the loot. With this, I could test the bosses as many times as needed to determine an appropriate strategy! Not just bosses, I could escape traps, other realms, invasions... Does it have any limitations? I can’t wait to test it! If this was the only reward from that entire Mystic Realm, I would have been more than satisfied.

Raine equipped it immediately, enjoying the feeling of the cold metal draped around his neck. It had a locket in the shape of a watch. Opening it, he was greeted with a moving image of where he'd been five minutes ago. With a greedy, secretive smile, he tucked it beneath his armor.

[Fruit of Innate Aptitude: (Lustrous Blue) Grants the imbiber 1 General Skill Point]

What an absolute gold mine!

In the past, there had been a number of rare fruits and plants that people consumed the moment they found them. To a man, those hasty fools regretted their actions. Once personal residences were included after the second expansion, fruits, and seeds could be planted, producing an endless supply. Gold coins glistened in Raine’s eyes as he gingerly stored the fruit and moved to the next item.

[Race Change Stone (Gromut): (Lustrous Blue) Allows the holder to change their race. The Gromut are a proud race of pseudo giants. Boosts physical size and force multipliers, Potency, and Physique at the expense of Finesse and Acuity (Charges remaining: 15)]

As far as playable races, the Gromut aren't bad. Especially for tanks. Bosses that send a tank flying can be a real pain. A Gromut could take the same blow head-on. I'll save it as a reward for guildies who perform well. And finally, the best for last.

[Monument of the End: (Marvelous Gold) Contains the hopes and dreams of a race lost to time. Activate to construct a new home for the scattered descendants of these once proud and prosperous people]

Now this, this is something truly special.

Raine's grin turned evil as he imagined the first of his enemies learning the hard way how foolish it would be to pick a fight with his future guild.

Raine flew high in the sky, catching the largest and most powerful wind chutes while maintaining his altitude with Lunge. Since he no longer needed the lifts, he took the most direct route northwest. The mountains flowed gracefully into plains cut by dozens of trickling streams. They eventually combined into a large river.

On foot, even utilizing the roads, the journey to Silverlight City would have taken nearly a day. The sprawling central metropolis of the Tri-glades came into view in a quarter that time. The royal palace at its heart dominated a large river island, towering over the rest of the city. Crystal clear water flowed around its tall walls, trade hubs and fisheries sprinkled along its outer shores. Spreading out in all directions, buildings of various sizes and styles could be found for as far as the eye could see, even from Raine’s aerial vantage.

Not wanting to cause a fuss and get tossed in a cell for a day, Raine angled to land well short of the outermost gates of the city, several kilometers away from the palace. His boots crunched into the hard-packed gravel of the main road. He bent his knees lightly, thrilling in how easily the impact was absorbed.

He sprinted by a line of farmers and hunters coming to sell goods, the wind whistling in his ears. He danced through his new martial steps, shuffling, sidestepping, and dashing in a blur. With a maxed-out Leap, he backflipped seven times and landed near the massive gates with a huge, sloppy grin. Several guards had taken notice of his antics, one bulky female approaching with a sensual smile.

“Hail Traveler! Halt for inspection!” The large female guard raised a palm his way, a spear butt thudding into the stones at her feet. Raine complied, and the woman in half-plate approached, “Identification and purpose of visit?”

[Sentry of The Seventh Wall (Elite): Level 100 (HP ????/????)]

Even if she were lower level, Raine wouldn’t have any desire to cause trouble. Silverlight City was going to be his home for the foreseeable future; maintaining a positive reputation was of paramount importance. “Alaric. Class acquisition and residency, ma’am.”

Hearing his brusque tone, her friendly demeanor slipped, “Very well. Temporary residency is ten silver, paid now. Permanent requires an additional registration at the guildhall of your choice with a further fee determined by them.” She held out her hand, and Raine promptly dropped a slip of paper onto it. She furrowed her brows for a short second before her eyes widened. “You found the stolen weapon shipment?”

[Lost Weapons Manifesto: Return this slip to the guards of Silverlight City for a reward]

“They were in the hands of a village of crogs in the mirror lake territory,” Raine withdrew one of the hard iron weapons he hadn’t sold yet and passed it to her. 

She examined it, quickly finding the Silverlight seal, “Please, follow me, sir.” With quick steps, she guided Raine into a side door after the thick wall's portcullis. They walked down a long hallway inside the wall, coming to a heavy wooden door. She rapped it three times, then waited patiently until a gruff voice called for them to enter.

Inside, a harrowed middle-aged man with a scraggly beard and mustache glanced up at them. He twirled a feather pen in his hand, then resumed scribbling a few more notes on a sheaf of waxy paper. Dropping the feather in a vial of ink, he motioned the sentry forward. She handed him the manifesto and repeated Raine’s description of the weapons’ location.

“Well, nothing we can do about them. They’re in the wrong direction, and at least they’re not in the hands of the Dantinians. Still, we’ll pass along news to the scout forces in case they want to take action. As for you, Traveler. Consider your temporary registration fee waived,” he grabbed a new sheet, hastily scribbling a few words before passing it to the sentry. “This is a general introduction for whichever guildhall you wish to apply for citizenship with. Don’t expect another discount, but it’ll get you through the front door at least.”

“Thank you, sir,” Raine’s simple response was met with a shooing motion from the captain’s hand. He followed the sentry out, adding the note to his inventory. As the man said, it wouldn’t save him any coins. Still, it would allow him to skip several introductory fetch quests designed to familiarize him with the city. Outside, he nodded politely in parting to the sentry, then hustled down the main street. 

I’ve got to pick Mel up in three hours, and I need to get to Shillids for a refitting before then. I should have just enough time to get a few things done.

Bustling activity was all around him, perfectly fitting a city with a thriving economy at war. There wasn’t another player in sight, which wasn’t a surprise. There was room for fifty million players in the current Silverlight City and ten times that number of Vaaterrans. The reason for the commotion wouldn’t be evident to most newcomers. Raine knew it was due to the ongoing conflict with the neighboring Dantinian Empire. 

He could have questioned the captain and started a short chain quest for more information, which would eventually lead to some reputation gains with the royals and army. There were much faster ways to end up at the same location. The war itself would need to be dealt with eventually, as it had the potential to cause untold headaches to the region. There was little point worrying about it until the guilds managed to build up sufficient forces and unite long enough to push back the Imperial tide. 

In his last life, the Silvergate Kingdom lost the war, and the Celendine Dynasty was wiped out. Losing had a significant impact on the flexibility of grinding zones and access to vital trade goods, leading to less-than-optimal growth for the city and its guilds. Raine had no intention of allowing that to happen again.

There were several vendors he wanted to visit, but before digging into that, he wanted to finalize his class choices. He stopped at the first tavern and bought a glass of water for a single copper. 

[New resurrection location bound: Silverlight City (Commoners District - West Gate)]

Raine left the tavern. Standing on the street, he whistled loudly, and a hand-drawn carriage came zipping around a corner, pulled by two young men. He jumped aboard, “Zeletin Academy.”

“Very well, sir. Five silva if ya’d be so kind,” the boy on the left responded.

Raine paid, and they were off, rushing through the streets at a pace that would have gotten him arrested if he tried it himself. He sat back, mind buzzing over what to do.

My class change token will allow me to start one class, purchase a few skills, and then switch to the class I actually want. My brawler build is mapped out to perfection, and almost any other class has decent starter skills that would have drastically boosted it. But now…

The skills the armsmen demonstrated were way too powerful to ignore. The question is, do I take Armsman first, grab the skills, and then swap to Brawler? Or should I pick something that complements what I’ve seen of armsman first, then swap to an entirely unknown class…

There are benefits both ways. Sticking to Brawler will guarantee success. I’m confident in unlocking a Lustrous Blue upgraded class at level fifty, but that's the best I could possibly do with a basic class. An advanced might be able to move straight to Marvelous Gold, but that’s just a guess. I know the class has solid skills, but I don’t know if I’ll have access to them right away or how much AT they’ll cost.

Then there’s the question of what would pair best with armsman. Caster, berserker, stealth, scout, any would likely pair well with it. Am I really considering scrapping my entire build? Or, stick to what I know…

Raine had spent much of his flight ruminating over the same thoughts. He scoured his memories for every detail he could recall about basic, combination, and hidden classes, wondering if one would pair well enough with Armsman to risk gambling his future over.

Immediately, he discarded the combination classes—each a mix of two basic classes. With slightly more attractive names and descriptions, they had lured in many early players. The need to hunt down specific Vaaterrans to gain access to them also created a mysteriousness that drew in the masses. Unfortunately for those who took that permanent choice, combination classes had several drawbacks that made them unsuitable for anyone below a class four martial.

With a broader range of class skills to choose from came the need for more Attunement, more general skill points, and more diverse attribute needs. Additionally, their skills were statistically weaker than the ‘pure’ variants, leading to players being unable to properly fill their roles without significant martial prowess to fall back on. Ninety-five percent of those who chose a combination class ended up regretting it.

All too soon, the academy came into view, and Raine hopped off the handcart. He boldly walked through the open gate. The two guards posted outside didn’t try to stop him. He was greeted by an open training yard surrounded by low walls. It was packed with young cadets in training, led by several sergeants who snapped orders, leading their groups through drills. The air was filled to the brim with manly energy, and Raine itched to join them.

He cut to the right, briskly walking along the wall until he reached a large, bleached-stone building. Outside, a man in royal livery stood idly, staring at the sky. 

Raine dipped his head to the man, “Hail, Master Trainer. I’ve come to choose my destiny.”

CLASS ACTION RAW RECRUIT

54

“Haha! Well said, Traveler. Indeed, one's class is possibly the most important choice they'll ever make. I'm sure you have many questions. I can answer a few, for a fee. There’s a-ahh,” he leaned to look around Raine at the empty space between him and the training grounds, “long line, so don’t take too long.”

“Do you know anything about advanced classes?” Raine tilted his head, not expecting much.

“I might…”

Knowing a hustle when he heard one, Raine shook his head, “Then I don’t have any questions.”

The man slapped on a slick smile, flashing his brows, “Hold on now, sailor. For the right price, I might know just what you need to hear. You never know if you don’t ask.”

“Unless you know specifics about ancient advanced classes, I’d like to make my choice.”

The man’s oily smile slipped, and he chuckled nervously, “Very well, let’s get this wagon on the trail!” 

With a flourish from the man, a screen appeared in Raine’s HUD.

[Available Class Selection]

[Brawler]

[Warrior]

[Defender]

[Rogue]

[Cleric]

[Mage]

[Advanced - Armsman]

Raine’s finger only paused a second before he selected Cleric, sealing his fate. The man frowned, then scoffed, “Here I thought you had something interesting to show me. What a blowhowl.” He shooed Raine away, “Head to the sideyard over yonder. Your test will be held there.”

It was a tough choice, but Raine decided against picking any of the three hidden classes available in the Silvergate Kingdom. While not suffering the pitfalls of combination classes, hidden classes fit extremely niche roles. For instance, the most popular of the three was the songster—a buffing class with so few offensive or defensive options they were useless outside massive guild battles. However, in a situation where thousands could hear them perform, they were an indispensable asset.

Considering what he'd seen of Armsman, any of the three would have made for a powerful combination. Ultimately, none would compare to the unfairness of having a few pocket heals to pull through a clutch battle. Since he wasn't using his Celestial Power for anything else in his build, it was too good to pass up.

Raine trotted to the indicated yard, and as soon as he stepped onto the hard-packed, cleared area, ten bare-chested men came hustling out of a nearby barracks. Four of them joined his side of the arena; the other six stood opposite.

[Soldier Trainee: Level 30 (HP ?????/?????)]

[Support your teammates to win the battle. Time limit: 10 minutes]

Raine sighed, glad the test was exactly as it was in the past. He'd trained many guild hopefuls on the basic class tests, so in theory, should have known exactly what he was in for. Since it was entirely possible he was the first person taking the cleric test, he had been a little on edge. After confirming there wouldn’t be any surprises, he opened the general skill shop and purchased Mend.

[Mend: (Novice) Launches a ranged heal with staves, wands, or bare hands. Upon impact, restores health equal to current CP. Additional health restored over 60 seconds (Cost: 25 CP) (Cooldown: 60 seconds)]

Before he could read the description, the men on both sides launched at each other. Heavy thuds filled the air as bare fists crashed into muscled bodies. Knowing there was only one way to fail this test, Raine wasn’t at all concerned that his side was outnumbered.

Instead of sitting back and waiting, he rushed to join the fun. In a flash of light, a two-handed mace with a heavy, spiked head appeared in his hands.

[Immaculate Damascus 2-H Mace: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +78) (Attack Speed -.25) (Defense +22) (PTC +14) (PHY +16) (CNC +15) (Durability 200/200)]

Raine shuffle-stepped, appearing at the first enemy soldier’s side. His mace was mid-flight, and the level thirty he was aiming for huffed uncaringly with a wide grin. Each ten levels was a large step-change in the power and defense of creatures, and Vaaterrans were no exception. Raine’s weapon hurtled toward an opponent double his level, who he wouldn’t even consider being able to hurt under normal circumstances. The soldiers certainly felt that was the case, especially since Raine was currently just another cleric hopeful.

His mace crashed into the air, which rang like a struck bell. Rupture released two rippling waves that washed over three of the six enemy soldiers. Their cheeks distorted from the force. [Critical hit! -4,370] [-2,169] [Critical hit! -4,295] The next round of punches they received caused them to grunt in pain. Furious, bloodshot eyes swiveled in Raine’s direction. He was already running.

Damn, didn’t think I'd hit that hard! This armor is amazing.

The following seconds were a wild mess. Raine sidestepped repeatedly, burning through Discipline with every twitch and using the friendly soldiers as meat shields to stay out of reach. If not for his freshly boosted attributes and the fact they were unarmed, he would have been caught instantly. 

Eventually, the soldiers piled on enough damage to take aggro back. His heart pounded with relief that the Vaaterrans weren’t truly intelligent yet, or they definitely wouldn’t have let him get away.

He snapped off a quick Mend toward a soldier off to the side who'd been tanking two enemies the entire time. [+153] With a wicked smirk, Raine lined up another Rupture.

The fight lasted under three minutes without any of Raine's allies falling below fifty percent health. The last soldier collapsed in a bruised heap and Raine’s allies roared in their victory. If the first class change quests granted Superiority and Attunement, Raine would have been cheering right along with them.

[Congratulations!]

[You are now a Cleric! As far as permanent choices go, this was probably a bad one. Hide behind the backs of your unwitting allies and do whatever it takes to keep them alive, or you'll be next]

[Class specific skill store (Cleric) unlocked!]

[Skill upgrades unlocked!]

[Level up bonuses increased: (+9 free attribute points) (ACU +3) (CNC +8)]

[Level 15 Retroactive Attribute Bonuses]

[Acuity: +3]

[Connection: +8]

As the attribute rewards for his class settled into his body, Raine’s peripheral vision expanded slightly. More noticeably, the air and ground directly around him came more under his control. Thanks to his new armor, Lunging from midair already required less focus and precision. Now, it was all the easier. The same would apply to any martial techniques he implemented that functioned by bending ZionLine’s reality. While repeatedly flexing the world around him to adjust to the changes, he accessed the attributes column in his status sheet.

DISTRIBUTABLE ATTRIBUTES: 15

POTENCY: 30 (55)

FINESSE: 30 (55)

ACUITY: 45 > 48 (71)

PHYSIQUE: 30 (55)

CONNECTION: 35 > 43 (68)

(Indicates equipment-modified values)

One more class quest to go. I have no idea what the Armsman attribute distribution looks like. After I find out, I’ll assign those free points. Hopefully, I’ll have enough to get more than two above the threshold.

When baseline attributes—total values minus equipment—reached certain milestones, they received a fundamental boost in efficiency and power. Fifty was the first such threshold, and Raine was nearly there. He shuddered, remembering the past when he crossed the threshold with only a single attribute at a time. He'd practically turned into a teenager after a growth spurt but with superpowers. To distract himself from the horrific memory, he accessed his new skill store.

[Healing Burst: (Novice) Lay hands upon a target to restore health equal to 200% maximum CP. Additional 200% CP health restored over 120 seconds - stacks 3 times - each stack refreshes timer (Cost: 30 CP) (Cooldown: 60 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Mend) (Price: 1000% AT)]

So much better than Mend. The combination class variants only restore half as much.

[Healing Ray: (Novice) Channel through mace, wand, or hands toward a target within 10 meters to restore health equal to maximum CP every 10 seconds. User cannot move (Cost: 5 CP per tick) (Cooldown: 60 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Mend) (Price: 1000% AT)]

[Minor Restoration: (Novice) Launches a ranged heal with staff, wand, or bare hands. Upon impact, restores health equal to 150% CP. Additional 150% CP health restored over 60 seconds (Cost: 35 CP) (Cooldown: 60 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Mend) (Price: 1000% AT)]

[Celestial Touch: (Novice) Lay hands upon the physical remains of a target to restore their life at 5% health and 0% other resources. Death penalties reduced by 90% (Cost: 100 CP) (Cooldown: 300 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Aid) (Price: 2000% AT)]

[Purify: (Novice) Cleanses a toxin, venom, poison, and paralysis effect on touch (Cost: 30 CP) (Cooldown: 20 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Detoxify) (Price: 1000% AT)]

[Guardians Embrace: (Novice) Buff an ally within 10 meters for 5 minutes. Increases Defense by 50 + 10% maximum CP (Cost: 40 CP) (Cooldown: 5 minutes) (Price: 1500% AT)]

[Guardians Comfort: (Novice) Buff an ally within 10 meters for 5 minutes. Increases Resistance by 50 + 10% maximum CP (Cost: 40 CP) (Cooldown: 5 minutes) (Price: 1500% AT)]

[Guardians Armament: (Novice) Buff an ally within 10 meters for 5 minutes. Increases Damage by 50 + 10% maximum CP (Cost: 40 CP) (Cooldown: 5 minutes) (Price: 1500% AT)]

[Life Drain: (Novice) Lay arms or hands upon a target to absorb health equal to 200% CP (Cost: 15 CP) (Cooldown: 6 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Blast) (Price: 1000% AT)]

[Ray of Judgement: (Novice) Launches a ranged attack against a target within sight using mace, wand, or bare hands dealing 200% damage (Cost: 5 CP) (Cooldown: 3 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Blast) (Price: 1000% AT)]

[Sense Death: (Novice) Detect the direction of undead or those who have recently killed in a 50 meter radius for 10 minutes (Cost: 50 CP) (Cooldown: 15 minutes) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Far Sight) (Price: 1000% AT)]

If Raine were being honest, he wanted all the available skills. Of course, that wasn't possible since he didn't have any extra general skill points. On the other hand, the exact wording of unlocking the cleric skill shop made him wonder if he wouldn't lose access to it after using his class change token. That thought opened a whole new world of possibilities, and he sent a quick prayer to Morty’s Great Computationals that it would be so.

Going through the list by section, he first chose a general healing skill. Healing Ray was a trap, as standing still to channel was incredibly dangerous. Sure, it was cheap and strong, but in almost every battle that mattered, it couldn't be used. Minor Restoration was the most balanced of the three, giving range and flexibility, though at a higher cost. Raine chose Healing Burst. Most of his healing would be aimed at himself, so there was no reason to take something more expensive that healed for less just to gain some range he didn’t need.

Guardians Embrace was next. One of his biggest weaknesses when fighting above his level was not being able to take a hit. Anything that potentially solved that dilemma would be a huge boon. It was slightly more AT since it didn't consume a general skill, but still an obvious choice. He passed on Guardians Armament as his damage was already ridiculous, and the additional draw on his Celestial Power would leave him unable to heal as much as he might need.

The third skill was the toughest choice. Raine waffled back and forth between Life Drain and Ray of Judgement. If he retained access to the cleric shop, then it didn't matter, as he would eventually obtain both, but that was only a vague hope. The massive range of ray was great, and so was its damage, but his expertise was melee. Drain’s healing, plus the short cooldown, made it just as appealing.

What finally sealed the decision was how ray worked. It wasn’t a point-and-click but a beam of light that came from the air above the target. Any decently competent opponent would see it coming, and dodge, which meant the skill was often relegated to forcing an enemy into a disadvantaged position rather than actually dealing damage.

After buying Life Drain, he opened the skill upgrade shop and examined the grade enhancements he’d been dying to have.

[Leap: Novice > Beginner (Cost 250% AT)]

[Lunge: Novice > Beginner (Cost 250% AT)]

[Parry: Novice > Beginner (Cost 300% AT)]

While it might seem like upgrading general skills was a waste because they would almost all eventually be consumed to buy class skills, that wasn’t necessarily true. Once repurchased, they retained their previous grade, and some skills like Lunge never went out of style. There was no need to hesitate. Raine bought all three.

[Leap: (Novice > Beginner) Increase jumping power after a short charge (Cost: variable up to 10 > 12 discipline)]

[Lunge: (Novice > Beginner) Ignoring momentum and inertia, accelerate to maximum speed in a chosen direction (Cost: 5 > 4.5 discipline)]

[Parry: (Novice > Beginner) Nullify the damage and redirect the force of a physical attack (Cost: 5 discipline) (Cooldown: 10 > 8 seconds)]

Increasing their grades again, from beginner to adept, required he use the skills two hundred times each. Additionally, their costs had multiplied by the law of five, so he could no longer afford to upgrade them again anyway.

He glanced over the upgrade costs for his new cleric skills, and each was a thousand Attunement to raise to beginner. There were too many unknowns with Armsman to justify investing so many resources, so he closed the upgrade menu. Pleased with his choices and setting aside any potential FOMO in advance, Raine pulled out one of his most priceless possessions and crushed it in his palm.

[Class Change Token: Activate to discard current class allowing for a new class advancement test to be undertaken]

He waited a moment for any system messages, but none appeared.

Is it so rare to discard a class that there was no need to create a notification? Lazy.

He checked his status, and sure enough, his class displayed as 'none.' Surprisingly, he still had access to both the cleric skills shop and the upgrade shop.

Pumping a fist for the huge win, he walked around the corner of the building to confront the scam of a trainer. The man shot him a knowing smile, nodding affectionately, “Don’t feel bad. That’s a tough challenge and often failed. How about a tip? It'll only cost you a gold. Good deal, eh?” He popped his tabard, nose in the air, “I'm known among my colleagues as being quite generous.” He flashed his brows again. 

Raine blinked at him, annoyed, “What would be the point of paying for a tip if I can’t even retake the test for twenty-four hours? Let me guess, that little detail was going to slip your mind until you got a coin off me? Just give me the choices again.”

Taken aback, the trainer huffed, “Well, I never. Fine, but don’t come crying to me when you fail miserably at the next class, too! And I’ll be charging the standard rate of five gold per tip for you in the future!” He flapped his fingers, and the selection appeared again. Raine frowned when he noticed Cleric was available to retake.

Guess it only starts the day timer for failures. They really were lazy with this feature.

Shaking his head, Raine selected Armsman. The man’s head jerked back, and his eyes grew five sizes larger, nearly falling from his skull, “Wha-how-who-why-but. I-I’ve never seen something like this. Well, well, well, it appears we’re in for quite the treat!” With a skip in his step, he brushed past Raine, “Come along then, sailor. You’re going to be front and center!”

He led Raine to the main training yard. The sergeants had already cleared out the soldiers. They surrounded the dirt field, standing shoulder to shoulder. Two of them moved aside, allowing Raine to enter. The trainer filled the gap behind him, effectively blocking him inside.

A series of rumbling booms announced dark clouds that quickly gathered above the academy. They churned and roiled, spitting flashes of light back and forth. The sun was blotted out, casting a pall across the field. In the next instant, three bolts of lightning combined and slammed into the opposite end of the arena. Raine wasn’t alone in covering his eyes. He blinked away his blindness, revealing a daunting figure.

[Ancient Armsman (Noble): Level 20 (HP ???/???)]

[Defeat your foe. Time limit: 10 minutes]

The skeleton was much larger than those from the mystic realm. Its armor wasn’t patchworked either, completely encasing its four-meter-tall frame in layers of protection topped with barbed spikes. It held a wickedly sharp great-axe in one hand. The weapon caught and absorbed the light in the air, polluting it to radiate pulses of malevolent energy. The other hand held a greatsword that oozed corrosive blood. Each drop that hit the dirt sizzled, releasing streamers of sickly orange smoke.

Raine took a step back on instinct. Noble monsters were an entire class above elites, sporting boosted attributes and combat standards. If an elite usually required five people to take down, a noble needed fifteen to twenty and were rarely found outside special instances and raids. Running into one alone was a death sentence. With only three question marks beside its name, he knew its health resided in the hundreds of thousands.

Nothing he'd fought before came close to matching the threat of this monster. The onlooking sergeants and liveried instructor felt the danger as well. They raised their hands, erecting a magical barrier that boxed in the arena. The massive monster’s sockets glowed fiercely as it smashed both weapons together with ear-twitching Potency, jaw clacking with wild anticipation of the slaughter to come.

LUST FOR BLOOD

55

The noble armsman spread its bony arms to the sides and roared a challenge at Raine. There was no sound, of course. Nonetheless, a powerful, nauseating wave of mysterious energy slammed into him, pushing so hard he slid back three paces through the dirt. His will to fight waned, sapped dry by the very feature which made noble monsters so deadly: Killing intent.

[Negative affliction received (Enfeared): All attributes reduced by 20% (Duration 15.73 seconds)]

All monsters above the noble threshold had killing intent in one form or another, and even a few lucky players had managed to physically manifest it. Though for them, it had another name, a name that Raine's tongue had used as a curse too many times to count: Mental abilities.

Only the truly blessed, talented martials managed to achieve the genesis of their mental abilities. And only those few were permitted by the heavens to continue down the martial path. For everyone else, the path ended, for without a mental ability, progress past a certain point was impossible.

The passage of time swelled as Raine stiffened, artificial dread washing through him. This was far from his first encounter with the enigmatic force, but this time, something was different. The noble's killing intent seeped deep into his consciousness as though searching for something. It invaded his mind, traversing the thetadrive’s link between ZionLine and reality. His brain, revitalized by the ReGen in ways he didn’t yet understand, resonated with the terrifying mental assault.

Inside empty sockets, glowing crimson orbs flared, commanding Raine’s unconditional surrender. The resonation pulsed again, stronger. A stirring swept through his muddled thoughts but was beaten down beneath the noble’s overwhelming desire for his blood, for carnage. It lifted a foot, its towering frame inching toward him with the promise of death. The motion was slow, each second a bloated eternity that the two were forced to crawl through.

Raine grasped for that resonance, his whole being screaming with need. He had no way to know if what he was feeling was truly the genesis he had strove for with all his being for thirty long years, but it felt good, it felt right. The sweet call of salvation was right at his fingertips, buried deep in his brain, just out of reach. 

The skeleton leaned toward him, blasting from the ground so slowly it hovered in midair, creeping through space. Its already large body swelled in Raine’s vision. This was a creature of slaughter and death. It needed blood as surely as it had been wrought in blood.

Am I any different? No… I have swam through oceans of death.

He saw them all in a flash; endless faces of players and Vatterrans rife with suffering as he dealt the final blow. Millions of beasts, their ends ruthlessly delivered by his fists. As ancient as it may be, the deaths laying at the noble's feet were a speck compared to the mountains of corpses belonging to Raine. On all of Earth, there was not one who had delivered more death with their own two hands.

That's right. I am Alaric… The King of Death.

A sound like glass shattering filled his ears, both in the makeshift arena, and in his room at home. The resonance pulsed again, a thousand times stronger than before. It coalesced deep in his consciousness, taking the form of a tiger. Roused from its slumber, it bared fangs coated in the blood of countless felled enemies. The tiger inside him stood, thick muscles quivering with need. It growled deep in its throat, the sound a rumble that transformed the resonance into something of Raine’s own making: Rage for any who would dare suppress him, mingled with an inextinguishable desire for worthy combat.

Raine rode the wave of emotion as it barreled through his chest, up his throat, and was released in a deafening roar. The pall of killing intent holding down his limbs was thrown back by a wave of crimson energy that burst free from his entire body. It smashed into the noble, knocking it from the air and throwing it back four paces.

Raine recognized the physical form his killing intent had taken. There were many kinds, yet his was the same as his foe’s: Bloodlust.

[Negative affliction resisted: Enfeared]

[Negative affliction applied (Enfeared): Enemy attributes reduced by 20% (Duration 9.55 seconds)]

As its bony toes slid through the hard ground, light enveloped Raine’s clenched hands, and weapons that felt incomparably familiar settled over his fists.

[Damascus Spiked Knuckles: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +56) (Attack Speed +1.5) (PTC +18) (ACU +12) (PHY +15) (Durability 140/140)]

Swept away in the moment, Raine smashed his armored fists together, bared his teeth, and charged. His initial burst of bloodlust faded and the noble recovered from its affliction. Now, their killing intent clashed in the air directly between them. The two fields of energy struggled mightily, neither gaining ground as the two met in the center of the arena. Sword and axe fell in blurring succession, each strike guided by the unerring precision of a martial master.

Raine wasn’t given any room to dodge. His sidestep was flawlessly matched by a similar movement and the attack that should have missed fell directly toward his neck. Powered by attributes greater than his own, the slash was beyond quick. Still, Raine’s spiked knuckles, with their innate 1.5 Attack Speed were faster. Relying on decades of experience, he deftly struck the armsman’s greataxe on the flat of its blade, nudging it to the side enough that it missed his shoulder by a hair before crashing into the ground with tremendous force.

The greatsword was right behind it, followed again by the axe in a rapid flurry of masterfully executed blows. Raine’s fists met each one. Despite only facing a fraction of the noble’s Potency with each deflection, his feet were slammed into the ground from the oppressive force and his health rapidly drained. [-18] [-15] [-21]

[Damascus Spiked Knuckles: Durability [-1] [-1] [-1]

Raine’s body came to life a little more with each blow. His desire for the fight swept him away in a frenzy of punches, feints, and narrow evasions. At first, only a few of Raine’s attacks made it through the noble’s formidable martial dodges, then more and more as he grew accustomed to fighting while maintaining the strange new energy that buzzed inside his skull. As he stumbled for control, his recently increased Connection saved him time and again. By focusing on the air around him, Raine forced tiny bits of it to firm, allowing him to subtly press against it. Using the pockets of solidity prevented his limbs from overextending under the force of the noble's blow. Additionally, they allowed him to redirect his limbs in unexpected directions, circling around its guard and cutting off its martial evasions. [-291] [-293] [Critical hit! -587]

Ten seconds of frantic combat passed and a dark wave swept over the massive monster. A number that should have been demoralizing beyond belief appeared above its head. [+6k] All Raine felt was a spine-tingling desire to conquer the worthy foe before him.

Heavy blows repeatedly filled the air with obscuring dust. Raine shuffle-stepped backward, the motion smoother than ever. The noble again matched his technique, giving chase without ceasing its powerful swings. Knowing he couldn’t continue like this and have a chance of winning, Guardians Embrace drained a third of his Celestial Power. Rocks pulled themselves free from the ground. They clung to his body, weightless. A shimmer of golden energy swept across them and they absorbed into his armor and skin, reinforcing his Defense by 64.

The deflections no longer hurt. Gaining confidence, Raine launched a point-blank Rupture with his next swing. [Critical hit! -4,186] Its lowered defense allowed his follow-up punches to hit a little harder. [-350] [Critical hit! -699] When the next ten seconds ticked by, it healed again. Though this time, not to full.

Raine didn’t know if his damage would be enough to kill the noble in time. His brain was too occupied groping with bloodlust while deflecting several attacks per second to do the math. He didn’t dare waste Discipline by weaving in Strike once per second. He had a little more than enough of the resource to use Rupture twelve more times. The extra was needed for emergency evasions. The durability of his gloves wouldn’t last the whole ten minutes anyways and swapping was out of the question. He wasn't at all confident in matching the monster’s expertise while using any weapons other than his fists and growth weapons; a three in nine gamble wasn't a risk he was willing to take.

Raine didn't have to worry about any of those pesky little details. Eventually, repeated experience allowed the mind to form new instincts, and for Raine, that meant knowing what needed to be done without actual considerations. This allowed all of his intellect to be absorbed by the bloodlust bubbling up from his core, and the next punch, and diverting the wickedly sharp blades crashing down around him.

Suddenly, the noble’s empty sockets pulsed and it disappeared. Raine could feel its killing intent looming behind him. The hair across his skin stiffened painfully and he spun with a burst of Discipline but he may as well have been standing still. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the tip of its blood-drenched sword flash with light.

Parry spun him around so fast the world blurred. Thanks to his higher attributes, his arm didn’t dislocate despite being painfully wrenched. The noble’s force, redirected by Parry, pulled it in a random direction. Instead of flying away like every other creature, it slammed a foot into the ground with a martial technique, completely negating its momentum.

It turned back to tower over him; menacing, quick, and equally skilled. Raine couldn’t have been happier. Quick as lightning, he jumped backward into the obscuring dust while consuming a Stremph Berry and a potion.

[Stremph Berry: (Common Gray) +5 Potency and Discipline for 15 minutes. Effect fades automatically after combat ends (Cooldown: 30 minutes)]

[Minor Discipline Recovery Potion: (Common Grey) Restores 20% Discipline over 60 seconds (15 minute shared potion cooldown)]

It kicked off the ground, reaching him in an instant and their furious exchanges began anew. Raine jumped to undestroyed soil before Rupture was released again. Its health fell to 90% and its jaw snapped shut with a loud click. In two blazing fast motions, it raised its axe high and its sword low, dragging one through the air, and the other across the ground. Both weapons glowed, prepared to release a Guillotine Slash and Great Divide respectively. 

With Parry still on cooldown, Raine had no choice but to activate Returners Privilege. He vanished, then burst from the still-settling dust behind the ancient armsman.

[Locket of Rendition: (Lustrous Blue) This beautiful necklace contains a glimpse of what could have been, and what could be again (Durability 75/75) (Innate skill - Returners Privilege: Teleports the wearer to any location visited in the last 5 minutes) (Cooldown: 1 hour)]

He pushed against the air with all his might, rushing forward to pummel the noble’s left leg four times. He wove in a Life Drain and Strike on the last two hits. [-342] [Critical hit! -697] [Critical hit! -1,284] [-437]

Raine's health was instantly topped off. [+1,284] Far more importantly, the combined strikes all hitting the same bone with pinpoint accuracy threw the huge skeleton's leg sideways. It teetered off balance as its two skills activated.

A dark cut formed in the air, and twin tornadoes sucked at Raine's armor despite him being on the other side of the noble. From below, the ground was sundered and blazing filaments of raw elemental power tore upwards. Raine jumped, turned sideways in the air, and Lunged at the back of its head. A punch containing all his Potency and martial technique blasted into the back of its oversized skull which was sucked into the dark slash in the air. Its bony body convulsed as Guillotine Slash struck three times in an instant. [-24k] [-24k] [-24k] Additionally, it caught the tail end of its Great Divide, receiving another devastating hit. [-80k]

Pinpricks of jubilation and astonishment from the huge number tickled Raine’s chest, but were instantly snuffed out by his roaring bloodlust. He dove atop his fallen foe, taking full advantage by pummeling it relentlessly until it regained its footing. Its health ticked up by another six thousand and Raine knew their fight was far from over.

The boss definitely wouldn’t repeat the same mistake, and Raine’s Discipline wouldn’t last forever. Once the resource was dry, he would have no way to outpace its ludicrous regeneration. The only pinpoint of hope was its health finally dropped low enough to only show two question marks beside its name, meaning it was now below one hundred thousand.

Deciding to take a risk, he let the next regular swing of its axe glance directly off his shoulder pad. Between his armor’s excellent Defense, and Guardians Embrace, his health fell by a mere twenty percent. A maniacal grin pulled his cheeks taut and his bloodlust pulsed, momentarily overpowering the noble and causing it to flinch.

He dashed into the opening, his fists crunching into its knee repeatedly as three more swings fell on his back. He twisted his torso for each one, forcing them to slide off rather than fully impact—which would have slammed him into the ground from its significant advantage in force.

Raine’s health flashed red and the next two punches contained a Rupture and Life Drain that snapped him back to full. Over the next ten seconds, he allowed four attacks to land on his back and shoulders. His health plummeted, but a tick of Greater Werewolf’s Regeneration brought him high enough to take one more hit. He shouldered the hefty blow, then another Life Drain restored him to peak health. [+1,265]

During those same ten seconds, he landed an additional fifteen punches by focusing more on offense than defense. The difference was significant, and after another rotation, the noble was staggered again. As soon as it teetered, the tip of its sword glowed, the weapon accelerating beyond what Raine’s Acuity could track. He didn’t fall for the unconvincing feint and another Parry drained five more of his dwindling Discipline.

This time, when the noble slammed its foot, Raine was ready. He tore into its stabilizing ankle with everything he had and the joint buckled, sending it crashing to the ground. By the time it got back to its feet, another huge chunk of its health was gone for good. They exchanged several rounds of blows, each filling Raine with more confidence.

As expected, he didn't manage to push it into its next Great Divide. Two Lunges brought him outside the range of the relatively slow AOE attack. A third Lunge sent him hurtling toward its head just as it raised its axe high, the weapon glowing a sickly gray. Face to face, Raine wore a smug grin as he unleashed a Parry that halted the descent of its weapon, cancelling the Guillotine Slash before it could create another inescapable vortex.

Staggered backward by the redirected force, its guard was open. Raine arrived at its side and his next punch reduced its health to a single question mark. Knowing he was close, he burned the last of his Celestial Power and Discipline, reducing its health to zero before its skills could finish their cooldowns. The noble collapsed in a heap of bones and heavy armor. 

Raine sank to his knees, his chin lifted to taste the fresh sunlight that beamed through evaporating, angry clouds. Distant applause reminded him he wasn’t alone. He met the soldiers’ gazes, finding burning respect looking back at him. A plethora of welcome interface messages awaited his perusal.

[For becoming a rare pillar of strength in the Tri-glades: Celendine Dynasty Reputation +15]

Fifteen Dynasty rep for one fight? That’s… so good.

[Congratulations!]

[You are now an Armsman! The Armsman personifies strength through the prowess of arms. This once renowned class was cast from history for fear of its versatility and might. The budding Armsman must always remain vigilant, guarding against those who would exterminate them, until they grow powerful enough to return the favor]

[Class specific skill store (Armsman) unlocked!]

[Level up bonuses increased: (+20 free attribute points) (PTC +3) (FIN +3) (ACU +3) (PHY +3) (CNC +3)]

Thirty-five attributes per level?! And twenty are free… That’s more than a basic level fifty class and I can shape my build however I want. Amazing.

[Retroactive Attribute Bonuses]

[Potency: +3]

[Finesse: +3]

[Acuity: +3]

[Physique: +3]

[Connection: +3]

The increases to his attributes registered, and Raine’s nascent Acuity and Connection breached through the first threshold. His senses expanded uncontrollably even as the space around him flexed, shuddering uncontrollably. The ground in a one-meter-radius quivered while the air coagulated, holding him stiff. Without his other attributes to balance the effects, he was effectively stuck in undulating mud that seemed more alive than his own skin. 

This was precisely the moment Raine had been saving his free attributes for. Before he could do anything about it, a blaring message swept across his HUD.

[World System Announcement: ZionLine will experience an emergency shutdown in ten seconds for a Major Content Expansion (Expected downtime: six hours)]

[Please conclude any combat. Those still in combat will be teleported to the nearest safe space. Thank you for your understanding]

That can’t be right. The first expansion didn’t come until after I started, nearly a month after launch. It’s only been a week!

Raine didn’t find an answer before he was pulled down a tunnel of light and deposited on his comfortable bed.

Unknown

- Somewhere in ZionLine, moments ago -

Buried beneath thousands of lines of hashgraph encrypted data, a single stream of communication shot a message across vast distances. Its contents were short, but the few exchanged words would change their lives forever, “There’s been a reaction.”

The line of communication blossomed, an instant response reaching a dozen additional listeners, “The time has come. Begin the second phase.”

CLASS FOUR EXPERT

56

Raine jolted up, tears forming in his eyes. He unclipped his headset with shaking fingers, unable to contain the rampant emotions demanding to break free. He panted in short, enthusiastic breaths, “I did it. I have bloodlust! I… I have a mental ability!”

Tears truly did leak from his eyes and he didn’t dare wipe them away. Each was a badge of honor earned through tens of thousands of hours of pure, unmitigated effort and struggle. “I worked so hard, three decades of effort, and I still failed in the end. But not this time. I can advance. I can become a true class five martial master. And someday, a grandmaster.”

What’s different? How did I succeed in this life and not the last? The ReGen! I knew it did something to my brain.

Wait… Is this the real reason they diluted the dosage? Because the full concentration shortcuts the path to mental abilities?! What if they only did that for the general public and still sold the original formula to the highest bidders? That sounds exactly like something Ronexzera would do.

If it was strong enough to trigger genesis, there might be other side effects I’m not aware of yet. I should really get back to the lab and see if someone is willing to run some tests on me. Dying to know how the stuff is made and if I'm right about… well, everything. I've been making a lot of assumptions with very little actual information.

If there aren't any terrible side effects, and it really can assist in unlocking mental abilities… wouldn’t I be able to create the most powerful guild in history by keeping the supply in house? That is, if I can discover the secrets of mental abilities without getting killed. The families guard that knowledge a thousand times more fiercely than techniques.

Raine was pacing, vision blurry and tears drying on his cheeks as his thoughts raced. When they turned to ruminations, he stopped himself and flowed into a complex, highly-challenging set of martial Qigong. What would have had him heaving for breath and coated in sweat just a day ago was now as simple as blinking. His muscles zinged with untapped strength and flexibility so he kept pushing them. Internal force fueled his every stance and his blood quickly heated to a boil, yet he knew he could go further.

If I can do this much, and use bloodlust… does that mean?

Falling into a state of cognizant inspiration, he sat in a lotus position, his heels tucked gently atop his knees. Starting with his feet, he targeted and activated each and every muscle one at a time. From his toes up to his pelvis, everything went as expected. When he reached the multifidus in his lower back—small, deeply-seated muscles—his eyes shot open. He’d never been able to isolate them in the past, but they responded to his call with ease.

More excited than ever, he pushed on, quickly gaining mastery of the posterior deltoid and deep neck flexors. Eyes watering all over again, Raine placed a hand over his heart. With a burst of intent, the organ stuttered to a stop. He started it again, forcing it to beat madly, then slow till each beat was ten seconds apart. With a gasp, he released his hold and allowed it to resume its normal function.

I’m doing it. I have complete control. This is really happening… All those years of effort and I’m finally a class four martial.

With another burst of intent, Raine activated every muscle in his body simultaneously. He’d done the same exercise thousands of times in the past, and for the first time, he felt connected with parts of him that had always remained elusive. His ears twitched, subtle muscles in his torso and abs flared to life, and even his brain responded to his call for action.

He flexed again, targeting just the right muscles to bolt to his feet. Had a regular person been there to see, it would have appeared as though he teleported. He stretched his fingers wide and stared at his hands in amazement.

They were right about taking ReGen at a younger age. If I'd only gotten it a few years sooner, I wouldn’t have struggled in vain for so long.

The gap between class two and three martials—beginner and adept internal force users—was one any normal person could eventually cross with enough training. The same couldn't be said for class four expert, which was considered the first true wall of the martial world. Only those with natural talent had a chance of progressing onto what was in truth, the first step of the world stage, where asset allocation competitions were held.

A class four martial, with absolute control over every facet of their bodies, was a monstrous being that normal people had no chance of defeating. Any city without one at its head would quickly find its natural resources gobbled up by their neighbors. Businesses would be choked out, and the citizens forced to relocate. Afterall, land and proprietary disputes were incredibly common amongst corporations, territories, and even nations.

In his last life, Raine could only dream about joining that cut-throat life and death arena. Lacking the raw talent to unlock his brain’s full potential, and spurned by his master and peers, he had stagnated, consigned to mediocrity.

There's no need to tread on eggshells anymore. With my combat experience, and a mental ability, only a peak class five, or a grandmaster can stop me, and I could probably escape from the master. Those monsters have no reason to be in the current Carter City. Torune will be here soon, but that coward won't face me until he's certain of victory. 

A mechanical voice from the hallway interrupted his fun, “Master, how long are you going to play with yourself? Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“What? The auction!”

Raine dressed in a flash. He headed outside to the waiting taxi he’d ordered in advance. The drive to Shillids was short, one of the many benefits to living at the edge of downtown. He was escorted to the elevator and stopped at the fourteenth floor. Raine was fitted and groomed by seven staff, each a peerless expert in their own way.

On his way out, he stopped at a jewelry case conveniently located near the elevator. Not knowing what color dress Shillids sent her, Raine bought three distinctly different necklaces and matching sets of earrings. The total for five state-of-the-art armored suits and the jewelry came to a staggering twenty million. He didn’t blink an eye as the credits left his account. His personal safety, and the much cheaper tokens of appreciation were well worth it.

On the way to the hotel, Raine thought about sending Mel a warning. A malicious grin pulled at his lips and he shook his head.

Nope, live reactions are the best.

Mel wasn’t in the expansive lobby when he arrived. Looking up through the center of the skyscraper, he scanned the square balcony on her floor, unsurprised when he didn’t spot her. He knew her room number since Morty was the one who originally made the reservation. Using the code included in the welcome message, he took the elevator to the thirty-second floor.

He spotted Mel as she was leaving her room. She wore a sleek turquoise jacket over a shimmering, golden dress. Between the clothes and her bright pink hair, she clashed so spectacularly that it was impossible to ignore her. And with her freckles on full display, Raine was prepared to beat off a dozen men before they even got to the street.

She turned to double check the lock, then walked his direction without recognizing him. He waited patiently as she rushed to the guardrail overlooking the lobby far below. She nervously ran a hand through her hair, her eyes scanning for the man who was only meters away.

Raine cleared his throat, the same cheshire grin plastered on his face. She glanced at him, then turned back to the lobby with an annoyed expression.

Yup! Definitely more fun this way.

Raine was about to call out to her when she suddenly spun toward him with wide-eyed shock.

Her mouth opened and closed, unable to form words as he drew closer, “Shillids did great. You look amazing. Not that you need an expensive dress to pull that off.”

“What? How? But. Ohmygosh! Is this one of those rich people stunts? Pretending to be someone else or poor to see how people treat them?” She walked around him, biting her lip while trailing fingers over his new suit that snuggly fit his muscular frame.

Raine threw back his head and roared with laughter, “You’re so cute. Nope, that was the real me, and so is this. And I was broke as I looked when we first met. I know there’s some weird things about me that don’t make any sense, and I won't ever explain all of them. That’s how being around me is going to be. If you can’t accept that, we should end things here.”

Mel scoffed, flabbergasted all over again. [Weird things?! Don’t make any sense, my tooshie! Bucket-full of impossible is more like it. Maybe… he’s an alien?]

The words formed on her tongue before she could think better of it, “Are you—”

“Yes. I’m completely serious. Just like I was about that job offer. I’ll never lie to you, Mel. There will be things I don’t say, but when I speak, it’ll be the truth.”

Thankful for the save, Mel cheerfully hooked her arm in his, snuggling close, “Trying to dump me already? You’re going to have to try a lot harder than that!” She dragged him toward the elevator, “Let’s go. I’ve wanted to see inside Romaxillions since… well, since you told me we were going!” With a huff, she blew a loose strand of hair from her eye, “Don’t look at me like that! Why would a regular girl like me ever assume I’d get to go there?”

Raine chuckled at her antics, allowing himself to be guided at her pace for a moment. Inside the elevator, she couldn’t help but sneak glances at his chiseled jaw and sharp eyes, her heart beating faster each time.

[Ugh. He’s too pretty now. This is so not fair! How did he change so much in a day? Maybe if I ask him he'll thin-nonono. That’s such a huge invasion, but I’m already with him knowing I can hear his thoughts. Am I a terrible person? But he’s rich, powerful, charismatic, and entirely out of my league. Can’t a girl have one teeny-weenie little advantage?]

Emotionally torn, Mel didn’t realize what was happening until they were in a hovoursine gliding a meter off the ground and he was snapping something cold around her neck. She looked down and gasped upon seeing the reflection of decadent jewels nestled against her skin. It took her several stunned seconds before she realized he was also holding out a small box. 

She took it in a daze, removing the cover to find a matching set of earrings, “Thank you, Raine. These are beyond beautiful. Uhm… Please don't take this the wrong way. You know I'm not the type of girl who needs gifts like this, right? I'm really not saying I don't appreciate them!”

He smiled ruefully, subtly shaking his head, “And I'm not the type who spends money without reason. These aren’t for show. They’re a combination ARD, (Augmented Reality Device.) Once they sync with and replace your LinQ, they'll be unhackable and untraceable, not to mention having significantly more features. LinQ's aren't safe. I'm not regurgitating some luddite nonsense, either. This is one of those things I can't explain so I hope you'll trust me. Do you know what model you have?”

Taken by surprise from the rapid shift, she tilted her head in thought, then nodded, “Yes, MRX2452.”

“Not a gen one, that’s a relief. Once the earrings attune to your brain waves, your LinQ will go dormant and your body will break it down naturally. So at least you don’t have to worry about getting it removed.”

[I know that already. Mom always said men like explaining things. Since he's giving me such an amazing night, I should let him have his moment.]

“Wow. That’s super neat. How does that work?” She asked innocently, blinking up at him and enjoying the deep rumble of his voice as he animatedly explained in further detail.

Meanwhile

- Soulgen Pharmaceuticals -

A graceful figure in a pitch black, light-absorbing suit slunk down an empty hallway. Her steps were silent as an Egyptian tomb, and the suite of sensors in the hall failed to sense her presence.

She reached a hermetically sealed doorway and placed her palm over its center. The device embedded in her thin glove bombarded the thick metal with refracting pseudo-electromagnetic waves that forced the molecular structure of the metal to temporarily and undetectably loosen. A pulse from the same device took a scan through the door. The room beyond was revealed, its dimensions populating into a holographic representation via her subretinal AR display.

Seeing only the one expected security personnel, she placed her other palm on the door. The devices in both gloves pulsed together, this time forcing a complex mixture of gases through the metal. They quickly wafted throughout the room and she watched as the man slumped against his console.

She withdrew another device from her belt and held it up to the LinQ scanner. With a soft beep, the door slid open and she crept inside. One wall was dedicated to a host of AR and VR displays which she deftly manipulated, bringing up recordings of events from earlier that day.

In them, she saw a brown-haired pharmacist stealing a sealed vial of brown and green liquid from a room she shouldn't have access to. The woman brought the vial to Dr. Krillian McLeary's lab, where the two began furiously taking samples and notes of the vial's contents.

She fast forwarded the footage until a large man in an expensive suit barged into the room. She adjusted the angles of the recording to see him offloading a virus to the mainframe before he swiped the vial from the thieving doctors.

She rewound the footage further, jumping from camera to camera within the facility, retracing his steps. Finally, she heard what she was searching for when he was in the lobby.

“Got you, Mr. KongRu.”

ROMAXILLIONS

57

Romaxillions was the third largest skyscraper in Carter City. Its size wasn't necessarily a measure of its worth, as being loosely connected with an affluent, world-wide network of billionaires carried an indefinable value. Despite fierce desire for the property, its location was unlikely to change considering the city’s champion was only a class four martial expert and any attempted renegotiation of the building's ownership would garner the attention of said billionaires.

It would take a monumental moron to make that challenge and bring down the wrath of a master, or god forbid grandmaster to the insignificant Carter City. Since Romaxillions was content to not take the first or second spot, things would peacefully remain as they were. Still, it was an undeniable fact that Romaxillions was the true sleeping giant in Carter.

A hallmark of the building's prestige was its front entrance on the eleventh floor. Everything below that was solid durasteel without so much as a window. If one wasn't affluent enough to fly in, they didn't deserve to even look at the building.

Raine and Mel's hovoursine waited in a long line outside, well above the ground. Mel's excitement mounted by the minute as she adorably flipped between staring out the window and chatting about who might be in the hover cars around them. 

Eventually, it was their turn to disembark on the extended ramp. Their AI pilot positioned the car and a tremor swept through the floorboards as it was latched in place. Raine got out first, opening Mel's door to receive a heart-melting smile. He extended his elbow and she giddily hooked her arm in his to be led inside.

She was soaking up the attention from dozens of wealthy gazes while Raine cased the foyer and its inhabitants for threats. A lifetime of fending off assassination attempts couldn't be put aside just because he came back to a more peaceful era. 

Each piece of furniture, decorative plant, and chandelier was of high quality. Not the highest, but certainly a step above the norm for a wealthy establishment. Those in attendance almost exclusively wore Shillids, even the wait staff. The only exceptions were out-of-territory competitors which were a rare sight.

Raine let a staff member scan their ticket, then led Mel toward the escalator bank on the far end of the expansive room. Waiting impatiently before their destination was a red-haired girl he'd expected to see. Luckily, she didn't recognize him after his recent full-body makeover.

“Everything is so pretty,” Mel sighed, transfixed by the elegance around them.

“And dangerous,” Raine warned, “You might be the only one here who isn't at least a class two martial. Stay close.”

“Don't have to tell me twice,” she pulled herself tighter against him with a devious smile.

They neared Celeste who stood alone. Those walking past gave her a wide berth, whispering secretly while sending her backward glances. Her focus was elsewhere. She weaved her head left and right to observe the entrance past those standing in the way, muttering and snarling all the while.

She wore a silver, embroidered dress that had clearly been made for her with how snugly it fit her every curve. Her fiery hair and intense expression perfectly fit the image Raine remembered from the past: Aloof, dangerous, and vile toward any who stood against her.

Not one person had approached her since they entered. Unsurprising with her already tarnished reputation. Raine took a single glance at her as they passed, snorting derisively.

Stupid little girl. Using makeup to hide your freckles. I've never seen someone try so hard to look ugly.

Celeste’s nostril flared. [Ugly?! Who wants to di-Wait! I know that voice!]

Mel looked around for who Raine was thinking about just as Celeste spun to face them. Her mouth opened to hurl an insult at the fat bastard, only for her jaw to drop further and further until it hit the floor. She blinked at him uncomprehendingly as he walked right past without stopping to acknowledge her in the least.

[Was he wearing a fatsuit? He’s actually fucking gorgeous! Damn, he played me and now I'm staring like a fool. I hate him so much!]

Celeste stomped after them, reaching the duo as they arrived at the extra-wide escalator, “That's quite the trick, Mr. KongRu. I'll let your rudeness slide this time since you decided to join me after all.”

Unlike Raine, Mel looked back. The girls appraised each other, neither liking what they found. Raine's deep voice was sharp, holding unmistakable threat, “Scram. Whatever game you're playing, I want no part in it.”

With that dress, the bitch probably wants to use me to make some rich bastard jealous, or get them off her back. Maybe if she did a better job training her bodyguards, she wouldn't need to beg like a dog.

The pink-haired arm ornament snickered just enough for Celeste to notice before looking away. Heat crept up Celeste’s neck and her jaw tightened painfully as she ground her teeth. [I wore this for you, ass! And I've already beat every idiot who wants me half to death. Get over yourself! Crap, I need to focus! I’ve got to recover this and make him think about uncle’s plans without giving my motives away.]

Celeste’s voice turned sickly sweet, “Mr. KongRu, there's no reason for that. Can't we have a civil chat while we enjoy the breathtaking view?”

The escalator trundled on, unaware of their spiff. Raine had to admit that the view was spectacular. Several floors in the center of the skyscraper had been hollowed out and replaced with a massive aquarium. The trio were lifted into and through the center, where the darkness of the bottom of the ocean enveloped them. Special lights revealed fascinating creatures that squirmed and slithered, traversing a simile of their natural habitat.

Wrapping his arm around Mel's waist, Raine pulled her back into his side, “You can ignore her. We met earlier today when she sicced her guards on me.” Raine glanced back, piercing Celeste out of the corner of his eye, “Don't let her ruin the moment.”

Mel nodded, redirecting her gaze to the exotic fish, “O-okay. I won’t.” [He's so sexy when he's being forceful. I don't have the guts to piss him off this much. I should thank her later for giving me such a show.]

Celeste didn't speak again, though she did step up to his other side, inching closer to him as they ascended. [Not getting rid of me that easily. Not until I get what I want.]

Raine growled deep in his throat.

She really is trying to pit me against some corpo brat. What a pain in my ass. I don't want to be seen in the same room as her, let alone arriving together. As an up and coming big-shot of Ronexzera, they'll assume we have a connection. Wait… can't I use that?

Raine’s thoughts blurred too fast for either girl to understand as his brain kicked into high gear.

Celeste side-eyed him nervously. [What did he mean by that? Why do I have such a terrible feeling?]

The escalator deposited them at the far edge of the fifteenth floor. Banquet tables crowded by fine foods and wine were surrounded by the most affluent in the city. The overwhelming eye candy left the casual observer grasping for where to go. Raine had checked the layout in advance and knew where the auction rooms were. Gently pulling Mel, he set off to the right. Celeste remained at his other side, looking for all the world like it was her natural place.

His plan already in motion, Raine scanned the thick crowd, picking out several decent candidates, but nothing quite juicy enough to be worth it. Of course, every young man in attendance glared at him with open hatred. Not that most of them didn’t have one or two girls hovering at their sides as well. It was the Luu Rahn scion at his side—a prize each of them had failed to attract—which churned their guts, earning Raine a host of permanent enmity that most women were unaware even existed.

Halfway to their table, he spotted the perfect prey and redirected Mel toward the target. Celeste shifted fluidly to follow. The man in question looked all too similar to his ZionLine avatar: Tall, muscular, and blonde with a charismatic smile. Froust, also known as Dimitrey Zhilikhoz, only briefly met Raine’s steady eyes before returning his attention to the four girls at his table.

Dimitrey was by all rights the rising star of Carter City. As the sole class four martial, and at the young age of twenty-nine, few to none would question his meteoric status or authority at such a public event. Which is exactly why the entire room fell into shocked silence when Raine arrived and promptly kicked the man’s table toward him.

Raine's aim was impeccable, sparing the girls who scattered as Dimitrey jumped back. His eyes went wide with outrage as tens of thousands of credits spilled across the floor in a shattering cascade of finery. Dimitrey’s exclamation perfectly mirrored Celeste’s thoughts, “What the fuck?!”

In the past, there hadn’t been a week where Froust didn’t go out of his way to make Raine’s slavery in CronGate that much more miserable. For reasons he never understood, the man always had it out for him and their mutual master always took Froust’s side, leaving Raine no choice but to suffer the unending indignities.

Raine’s voice was rife with long awaited satisfaction. He softly pushed Mel to the side and shouted, “What moron served this weakling before me?! I'll let it slide since you didn't know I was coming, but this better not happen again!”

The threat to Dimitrey’s authority couldn’t have been more clear. The man’s nostrils flared as he kicked the table, sending it flying into a nearby wall, “I don’t know who you are, but you just sealed your own death. Since you issued the challenge, I’ll set the terms. One hundred percent of your assets, even the clothes off your back! Messing with me was the last mistake you’ll ever make.”

What an idiot. Fine, if you want to lose everything you own, I’ll gladly accept your donations.

Celeste was doing her best not to panic, and didn’t pull it off well. [He’s seriously going to fight the city champion? Fuuuuuuuuuck. What have I done? I wanted to figure out how NOT to get exiled from my family, now it’s going to happen even faster! Wait… even with that fatsuit, he took out Murang in one move. And he’s clearly confident. What if he wins… I’ve already thrown in with him and I need what's in his head. Now isn’t the time to hesitate!]

Without thinking further, Celeste scampered to Mel’s side and pulled her further away from the ring of people that were moving to surround Raine and Dimitrey. Leaning in, she whispered, “Do you think he can win?”

Mel shook her head, stunned by the rapid series of events, “I-I don’t know. I’ve seen him fight twice and both times it was over so fast. He’s strong, stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen in person. But… isn’t that the champion?” Now that they were so close and in better lighting, Mel got her first clear look at the redhead and her jaw dropped, “Ohmygosh, are you Celeste Luu Rahn?!”

“Yes, but that won't be my name for long if your boyfriend loses,” Celeste clicked her tongue, resigned to the fate her impulsive actions had brought her.

Celeste continued to drag Mel in a tight embrace, the two practically hugging. Mel's cheeks blossomed with a rosy sheen. Meanwhile, excited murmurs had broken out as bets were shouted across the room, “Two on the stranger! That kind of audacity has to come from somewhere!”

“Five on Dimitrey. Third one this month and it won’t end any differently than the others.”

Raine cracked his neck and squared up, casually lifting his fists, “I accept.”

The rules of a martial duel were long held law, and neither combatant needed an explanation or referee. Still, the mayor was in attendance and he wasn’t about to miss a chance to edge in on the excitement. He clapped his hands twice, “Ladies and gentlemen! We have an official duel on our hands! Let’s hope it's more exciting than the last. If our hot-headed contestants would be so kind as to delay their grudge for but a moment, I’ll gladly oversee any disputes that wish to use this opportunity to settle.”

Not only property and wealth could be settled by duels, minor grudges, small claims, law suits, and sometimes even major legal cases awaiting court judgements. In their martial society, the fist was the first and simplest arbiter of justice, though it was not the last; that honor was held by PsyCore—the only organization capable of putting any martial in their place.

Raine and Dimitrey nodded, relaxing and backing off a pace. The mayor’s smile broadened, “Excellent. Most excellent indeed! Young challenger, you are aware that Zhilikhoz is a class four martial? Are you confident in giving us enough of a showing to be worth our wagers?”

Raine nodded again, never taking his eyes off his prey, “You should be asking him that.” The crowd roared, eating up the taunt.

Dimitrey scowled, “Big words for a dead man.”

Raine popped his collar with a demeaning grin, “You’re not very good at this, are you? But that’s no surprise with how poorly you’re doing against DyingNight. Guess losing is your new standard.” Dimitrey quivered and he nearly lunged at Raine. Pure, unmitigated hatred sizzled in his glare as he bared his teeth.

Raine, quick to capitalize, raised his voice, “I’ll be taking the full five. Don’t miss your chance to make a fortune.”

The room gasped. Taking five percent of all winnings was rarely done in personal duels, and only by the clear victor to dissuade any foolish enough to bet against him. It was a statement that reeked of pride and arrogance, and they ate it up like hogs at a feast.

The Mayor raised his hands high, voice even higher, “You heard him! Since our challenger is entirely unknown, all wagers will be five to one. Come… those of you brave enough to overturn the heavens!”

And come they did; the mayor’s words sank into their hearts, inspiring the gamblers and thrill-seekers that they were to risk it all.

CHAMPION OF NOTHING

58

Dimitrey paced back and forth, walking off his fury. Raine, seeing the wealthy gamblers’ enthusiasm wane too early, removed his armored jacket to further display his confidence. Celeste was there in an instant and he narrowed his eyes at her. She wore a saucy grin that hid her nervousness well. She held out her hand, waiting.

Making her choice clear to everyone before seeing what I can do? Impressive. Maybe I misjudged her.

Her smile nearly slipped, the slightest twinge in one eye the only sign she heard his thought. [You think?! Asshole!]

Raine, assuming the twitch was because he wouldn't acknowledge her by handing his jacket over. He made his choice too. She accepted the expensive and heavily armored garment, then faded back through the ring of onlookers to stand next to Mel once more.

By the time he looked back, Dimitrey's jacket was also off and he was back to the calm state of mind Raine found him in, “You caught me off guard. I won't forget this lesson. And for giving it, I won't kill you today. Don't expect to ever regain the use of your legs though. I'm curious, who in DyingNight sent you?”

Raine snorted, “As if I’d work for them. I'm new to town, and you're just the next step on my path.”

“Unbelievable. Do you not realize how many enemies you've already made? Even if you win, you won't survive the night.”

Raine's only response was a shrug. The mayor called off the betting and raised his hands to shout the traditional speech, “There are no rules on the martial stage! It's kill or be killed. Any who would dare to intrude and open familial grudges, take your places now.”

If either of them had a master present, this would be their chance to step to the edge of the ring. Raine knew Dimitrey’s master wasn’t in the city yet, or he wouldn’t have made such a brazen show of humiliating his pupil. When none spoke out or approached, the mayor simply nodded, “Very well.” He threw his head back and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Let there be blood and glory!”

Dimitrey exploded forward at a speed only possible by destroying the body with internal force. He arrived before Raine, whose arms weren't even raised to defend. Not that blocking a punch from an internal force expert was ever a good idea.

The crowd didn't even have time to gasp at what was obviously going to be an instant loss. Carrying the force to shatter a concrete wall, Dimitrey's knife-hand jab sliced toward Raine's shoulder where it would easily cut the limb free.

At the last instant, Raine activated exactly the muscles needed to contort and twist his torso to the side. The deadly attack missed his shirt by a hair. Dimitrey was mid-air, his momentum impossible to stop. Raine's opposite right hand lashed out in a simple, inside backhand as his opponent flew by.

Dimitrey proved his status as a nationally acclaimed fighter when he managed to get his left arm up in time to block. When knuckle and forearm connected, a crack just as loud as a gunshot tightened every scalp in the room. Dimitrey’s block flew wide from the force, displaying his chest for a fraction of a second as inexorable momentum began to separate the fighters.

Raine didn't miss the opening. His hand was still in the same position after the block, only millimeters from its target. His fingers extended—fueled by internal force. At the last microsecond, they grazed Dimitrey’s chest. Another sound filled the onlookers' ears, this one of cloth, flesh, and bone tearing. Dimitrey's flight took a sudden turn and he shot to the side, spinning like a top before he crashed and slid across the floor. A long crimson stain followed him.

Raine stood calmly, one hand raised with his fingers fully extended and coated in blood. Dimitrey flopped onto his back, revealing a spreading stain across his chest. He thrashed in terrible pain, the arm he'd used to block snapped in half with the bone greeting open air.

Amidst the gasps, a few voices dared to speak, “Did you see it!”

“No! Quickly, look at the recording!”

The dam broke and the crowd buzzed with excitement as Dimitrey's life drained onto the floor, polluting the air with a coppery tang. As with most fights between internal force experts, theirs was decided with the first blow. While they were at the level they could drastically increase their offensive power, creating a body capable of receiving that level of destructive force was an entirely different matter.

Raine approached Dimitrey and stood near enough they could look each other in the eyes. He felt a tinge of disappointment. The world's current idea of what a class four martial should be capable of was a joke. Soon, ZionLine would reshape those standards into something else entirely.

“Who?” Dimitrey gurgled, coughing blood.

“Raine KongRu. You fought bravely. Die or live as you please.”

Dimitrey tried three times to swallow before managing it, “Live!” He gasped. A group of medics to the side rushed forward, ripping open his shredded shirt to reveal the four tracks where Raine's fingers had cut deep enough to shatter ribs and rake out parts of his lung.

Another round of excited gasps were heard, but they were a distant sound to Raine as he scanned for additional threats. It was always the quiet after the storm when the most deadly assassins struck. His gaze circled the whole room, finding nothing nefarious. Compared to the other faces, Mel and Celeste wore completely unique expressions.

Mel beheld him with equal parts awe and desire, wearing her heart on her sleeve as always. Celeste bit her lip, muscles so tense she was unable to take a breath. The mayor disrupted Raine’s view, clapping excitedly, “What a show! A real upset to be sure! A round of applause to the new champion of our great Carter City!”

The man held little real power and they both knew it. Raine balked at his audacity, pointing to Dimitrey, “Your champion is there. I don't work for free.”

The portly man was already sweating when he gingerly reached high to pat Raine's shoulder, “Oh, ho-ho. Of course not, of course not. How about we go somewhere private and discuss the many ways we can benefit one another.” The sharp glare Raine gave him caused an audible gulp, “Later, obviously. We're here for an auction!”

“Bring my winnings to my booth,” Raine walked away without waiting for confirmation. The message he would be using the amount earned to judge the mayor’s worth was clear.

The man nodded enthusiastically, “As you wish, Expert KongRu. And please, take my premier booth if it pleases you!”

Snickers resounded from the crowd as they enjoyed the dance between politician and champion, a tale as old as the modern era.

“This new champion is audacious. I love it!”

Another agreed, “The temperment of a victor. My loss today was worth seeing two experts display their mettle.”

“Is KongRu even younger than Zhilikhoz? Perhaps Carter has a brighter future than I thought.”

“Imagine if we could actually start taking back the farmlands? Nationals are right around the corner!”

They have no idea. Their tiny little pond is about to become the center of an ocean.

Raine reached Mel and Celeste while the peanut gallery continued their unending speculations. Mel launched herself at him, gripping his unbloodied arm in an unyielding grasp, “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

Raine lifted the arm until it popped free from her grasp, then mussed her hair affectionately, “No. I'm completely fine.”

Celeste stared into his eyes as she grabbed his other hand and wiped the blood from his fingers with a cloth she must have procured in advance. The differences between their knowledge of how martials were usually treated in high society couldn't have been more obvious.

Raine enjoyed both reactions, appreciating Mel's honest innocence, and Celeste's regal propriety. His breath caught when he noticed she had fixed her makeup, revealing the abundant freckles that should never have been denied the light of day in the first place. He coughed gently, “Let's go.”

They kept pace as he headed for the mayor’s booth. There was no reason to turn down his attempts to curry favor. It would set the precedent with the rest of those present—winners and losers alike—that he could be negotiated with.

That stance would work in his favor as events unfolded. Between Frontier’s launch of WIDOW, ReGen, Aspect of the Werewolf, and the guild headquarters that he would soon be constructing, Carter City wasn't long for remaining in obscurity. With such up and coming distinction, assassins and martial masters would descend on the city en masse, competing over the valuable soil. Raine didn’t have long to continue growing unmolested.

Inside the expansive, decked out booth, Mel let loose a huge sigh, shoulders and back slumping dramatically, “That was insane! You could have warned me, you know? I thought my heart was going to explode!”

Raine shrugged, picking up a slice of roasted duck, “It was kind of a spur of the moment thing. By the way, which of those little boys were you trying to scare off?” He pointed the hunk of meat toward Celeste before shoving the entire thing in his mouth.

Knowing the use of internal force drastically increased caloric and protein needs, she didn't bat an eye at his table manners, “None. They knew I was off limits even before your… display.” 

Raine narrowed an eye, widening the other, still happily chewing on the tender meat.

Yeah, right.

“I'm telling the truth. There aren't any boys my age that can take me, so they don't get me. Zhilikhoz wasn't interested, but wouldn't let the older generation have me, either. Not that I minded. With the family business and school, I hardly had time. Besides, remaining publicly single can only help when the day comes to net a real fish.”

Raine chewed faster, eager to swallow and change the subject.

Nobody asked for your life story.

Mel hurriedly threw back a drink, hiding her face. Celeste’s lips sealed, turning to a tight scowl. Raine was thankful she realized she was babbling on her own. He made sure to be more specific with his next question, “Why did you latch onto me, then? I made it clear I didn't want anything to do with you back at Soulgen. It's nothing personal. It's your family I have a grudge with.”

Celeste avoided his question like a seasoned politician, “What did my family do to offend you? I asked father, he's never heard of the KongRus.”

She waited patiently for him to finish chewing his next bite. He responded, half the slab of meat clasped between his fingers and dancing in her direction, “You're coming after my company using your typical dog licking tactics and you want to know why I have a grudge?”

She expressed an ‘Ah ha,’ with an animated face, “So it was your organization that bought all those shares! I knew it! But what does your family want with a small-time pharma?”

“As you're a Luu Rahn, I'm obliged to remind you to fuck off,” Raine wasn't about to correct her misunderstanding. It was better for him to appear to have connections. If everyone in the city knew he could be crushed like a bug simply by hiring a master for a day, he would be in big trouble.

The hurt on her face surprised him. She'd so easily rebuffed his ‘admonishments’ before, but clearly hadn't expected his harshness this time.

Doesn't look like she's bluffing. She must not know. If she did, she probably would have fought harder to keep her uncle from usurping her ownership percentage.

[Chance!] Elated, Celeste managed to keep her trembling lip and puppy dog eyes on display, “Sorry. I…You're right. We're competitors. But maybe we don't have to be. I could introduce you to my uncle. Maybe we can work together?”

Pretty little liar. You're a hundred years too early to be trying to pull a fast one on me.

Mel coughed from the side, spitting a cherry into a napkin with a guilty face. She was staring at Celeste, whose cheeks were flaring with fresh color. Both girls locked eyes, and Raine could practically feel the conversation they were having with that drawn out look.

What the hell? Are they into each other?

Suddenly, both their eyes widened. Mel choked again, and Celeste grabbed the nearest drink, slamming it back and turning away from them both.

“Alright. What the hell’s wrong with you two?”

“Nothing major,” Celeste tried to play it off, “I just realized we went to primary together and she's the girl who shit herself in front of the whole school. Last I saw her, she was running to the bathroom holding her cheeks together.”

Mel's jaw dropped, “You-you.”

Celeste waved away her outrage, “Don't worry. Mr. KongRu’s not the type to care about something from that long ago. Unless… you don't still have that problem, do you?”

“I never had that problem, you lying cow!”

“That's enough,” Raine extended his hand between them, his voice sharp enough to chisel stone, “Celeste, if you're going to fight with Mel, I'll really kick your ass out of here. Don't think for a second there will be a chance for you to come back, ever.”

Mel’s jaw dropped at the vehemence with which Raine defended her. She would never have dared dream of being socially superior to a local celebrity like Celeste Luu Rahn. Her surprise was so thorough that the shock of learning Celeste could also read his thoughts flew right from her skull.

Celeste’s response was instant, “I'm so sorry if I brought up something unpleasant. I'll never speak of it again. Promise!” Celeste went as far as bowing, holding her dress together with an arm across her chest. [Damnit! I was so close to getting him to think about uncle! I can't believe she can hear his thoughts too. No wonder she's been burrowed into his side like a leech!]

Reminded of what Celeste said, Mel stomped her foot, “I still don't know what you're talking about. There’s nothing to not bring up again, so your promise doesnt mean a thing.” [Can she really hear him too? I think she doesn't want me to say anything? What if she comes clean first? I have to do it before she does! I can't handle this pressure. But… he'll definitely hate me if he finds out.]

Celeste wore a broad smile that would fool most into believing she was sincere, “That's wonderful. I'm glad we're in agreement. I promise to be nicer to your number one, Expert KongRu.”

Raine twisted his lips in a scowl, “Cut the shit. You're not fooling anyone. I admire you’ve got decent foresight for latching onto the winning horse, which is the only reason you're here. So long as I have a use for you, you can stay. Unless Mel gives the word.”

I'll ask Mel what that look was about later. The auction is starting soon. I need to link my account and upload my items.

While Raine was busy connecting his watch with the auction interface, Celeste pinned Mel with a pleading, pitiful look. [I can't believe my future rests upon the whims of this hussy. Just you wait, Mr. champion. You'll slip up eventually and I'll get the dirt I need to tie your hunky ass around my waist like a belt! As for the hussy, we need to get some things clear sooner rather than later or I’ll be screwed.]

Raine finished and turned back to the girls who had been sitting with their heads together in whispered conversation. Celeste faced him with an easy smile, one brow lifted invitingly, “You said you have a use for me? I do hope it's an exciting one.”

“Yah. You're going to tell me every way your family sabotaged my company.”

Celeste pursed her lips, tapping them with her most recent glass of wine, “Why would I do that? You'll just throw me away afterward.”

Raine rose to his full height, approaching to tower over her, “You think I'm that short-sighted? I have more uses for you than you can possibly imagine. And the creds you’ve dreamt about making are a drop compared to what you can gain by being loyal to me.”

Celeste opened her mouth to respond, then paused as Raine's thoughts tumbled into her mind.

Having the Crimson Nebula at my side will create many possibilities. But that woman was the result of incredible loss and suffering driving her to extreme action. This little girl will need training and guidance, but the potential is there. In fact, with ReGen, she may become far more than she ever was in the past. She could become a god.

Celeste took a long drink, her eyes never leaving Raine’s as her heartbeat raced out of control. Then, she gave her answer.

THE AUCTION BEGINS

59

[What did he mean I could become a god? He was so sincere… Even father never talked to me like that. I… What am I doing? The deal already fell through anyway. There's no longer a need to hesitate. An organization that can hide a seer from PsyCore and drop hundreds of millions of creds like it's nothing wants to recruit me. This is an opportunity that my family can't match.]

Without holding anything back, Celeste told Raine what she knew, “It started a year ago when uncle learned Soulgen was close to developing a new formula that could become their flagship product.” Celeste paused, hoping Raine would have a juicy thought for her but his focus was so intense there wasn't room for random thoughts. 

Softly puffing air from her nose, she continued, “Father and uncle convinced the major shareholders to begin selling their shares. Once their control over the future of Soulgen weakened, uncle pressured the company responsible for security. That's when we got our first look at the product. It was unimpressive to the point father withdrew from the project and paired me with uncle to prove I was worthy of a stake in Ronexzera.”

“Anything else?” Raine wasn't looking at her anymore. He tapped through his AR display, double checking his items listed in the auction.

“Yes. There are four shareholders who have stubbornly held their positions. I didn't realize it at first, but I'm now fairly certain they are working with my uncle. I… don't know what their plan is.”

At least she noticed something on her own. Still, their plan is obvious. How has she not figured it out? If she's going to be this useless, maybe I should let her go through some of that suffering before recruiting her. Well, let's see if she's willing to learn first.

Mel held in a laugh, nibbling on some cheese and Celeste ground her teeth as Raine led her through what should have been obvious, “Why would the remaining major shareholders hold out? Why risk their investment of capital falling into the toilet as others sold?”

[Damn him! how is he managing not to sound condescending asking that? Need to focus. If I can't figure this out, he's going to throw me away. If it were my credits, why would I hold out?]

“Because they think there's more to gain by staying?”

Raine looked away from his display long enough to pin her with a heavy gaze, “Close enough. And why would they think that if the product is underwhelming?”

“If I knew tha—” She slammed an open palm on the table, making the plates jump, “That filthy bastard! He tampered with the results!”

Raine nodded, turning back to his display while all the pieces fell into place for Celeste. She went quiet, her lips pulled back in a snarl that revealed straight teeth. Mel side-eyed her, wishing she could read her thoughts as well. A minute passed in pregnant silence, interrupted by a soft chime marking the start of the auction. 

A transparent AR avatar of a man wearing a fine suit appeared at the far half of their booth. He bowed low, one hand on the brim of his tall hat, “Good day, my dear patrons. It is I—Mason Mnemonic—that shall oversee today's most auspicious event.”

Below the man's image, hundreds of live chat messages flickered by, each replaced so quickly it was impossible to read them all. Mel leaned forward, squinting through the buzz of her few drinks. Mostly, the patrons were confused why the general manager of all Romaxillions was personally conducting an event most assumed would be insignificant.

[Raine never told me what kind of auction it is. This is so exciting.]

“As many of you are aware, a new craze is sweeping the globe. ZionLine's triple time dilation is already being put to good use, boosting productivity in specific fields. What you may not be aware of, is the in-game rentable office spaces that can be fully customized to function for nearly any intellectual endeavor. It is my personal belief that any business unable to incorporate this time dilation into their models will be reduced to a memory in a matter of years, if not months.”

Mel bit her lip, staring at Raine's broad back. [It's just like he said when we first met! These are some of the wealthiest, most affluent people in the world and they're hearing about it a week later?]

The chat was going crazy. Mel wasn't sure why they even bothered as it was impossible to read.

“Therefore, it is my great honor to announce that every auction from this day forth will contain a segment dedicated to ZionLine. Without further preamble, I present our first item,” with a flourish of his arm, Mason Mnemonic revealed a set of 3D armor pieces floating above a pedestal.

[Superior Scaled Pauldrons: (Common Grey - LVL 10) (DEF +17) (PTC +3) (FIN +3) (PHY +3) (Durability 75/75)]

[Superior Scaled Chestplate: (Common Grey - LVL 10) (DEF +21) (PTC +2) (PHY +5) (Durability 75/75)]

[Superior Scaled Greaves: (Common Grey - LVL 10) (DEF +18) (PTC +5) (FIN +2) (ACU +2) (Durability 75/75)]

Raine leaned back, disappointed. They went with one of mine at the start? This might be less lucrative than I thought.

“Do not be fooled by their common grade. After careful comparisons with hundreds of level ten pieces, it's clear these three host unrivaled defensive statistics. As you were all made aware, bidding will be in-game currency only. Starting at ten gold coins at increments of 1 gold.”

Raine punched in a quick command and Mason cleared his throat, “The seller just informed me they would accept credits at a rate of one hundred thousand to one.”

The chat exploded in a burst of complaints even as the first bids came through. Within five seconds, the set of three items had risen to fifty gold and didn’t show any signs of slowing down.

Mel swallowed hard, leaning toward Celeste to whisper, “Five million credits already?!”

“Shh,” Celeste’s angry response was loud in their booth, her eyes glued to the display. Her fingers dug into the armrests of her chair as she leaned forward. [I was there on day one and didn't realize the value of what was right in front of my nose. So frustrating! This must be why he's been so fixated on my Crimson Nebula character. More and more, it feels like the only thing I've done right recently is listening to this asshole.]

Soon, the chat slowed as the price rose to an eye-popping three hundred gold. Mel's brain short-circuited, unable to do the simple math when Mason counted down, finalizing the sale at exactly three hundred and fifty. Raine glanced at his bank account, brows rising when the full thirty-five million credits were deposited. Romaxillions usually took a steep cut. 

Gold is much more valuable than creds, and always will be. Still, the exchange rate when the credit shop opens will only be around twenty thousand creds per gold, maxing out around fifty. At double that, I'm getting a great deal. Can't let all my items sell for credits though. Especially the good stuff.

[This isn't even his good stuff?!] Celeste wanted to spit but kept her reaction in check since he had yet to say anything out loud.

“Our next items are basic potions. There will be a total of five bids, each containing fifteen potions for a specific resource. Starting with health, at fifteen gold and fifty silver increments.”

Raine sat out, uninterested in fighting over items that could be purchased for much cheaper at the right vendors. Each set went for close to thirty gold, making him shake his head at how foolish the rich could be. Then again, it only took a hundred thousand guild members, donating a few copper a day to create a significant gold income. At this point, it was highly probable for one or two of the people participating to possess gold in the tens of thousands.

Raine practically wiggled in his seat, impatient to get his own guild up and running. If he continued as a solo player, eventually, his advantages would be overwhelmed by pure, unstoppable financial might. 

Another dozen normal items were quickly bought up before Mason clapped softly, “Shall we begin the true segment? Our next fare is something special, so do pay attention. Reportedly dropped from a nightmare difficulty dungeon, and our first non-common item. Starting at one hundred gold, don't miss out on this prized weapon fit for any commander of a guild's front-line forces.”

[Double-tap Greataxe: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 10) (Attack Power +65) (Attack Speed -.25) (PTC +15) (FNS +10) (ACU +5) (Durability 160/160)]

Heh. I hope Talerra's watching. I bet she's pissed.

[She?]

[Who the fuck is Talerra?!]

Raine didn't notice the set of piercing glowers directed at his back. The bids went crazy, right along with the chat.

“That's so much stronger than a regular lvl 10 L.B. weapon!”

“The differences inside each tier of equipment can be that large?!”

“Has anyone besides Alaric cleared a nightmare dungeon yet?”

“Is he really taking part? I wonder if I know him.”

“That other guy got a world first for clearing one solo. It might not be Alaric.”

The bidding quickly reached an astronomical seven hundred gold, finally stopping at seven seventy-five. Mason rubbed his hands together excitedly, “Congratulations on our last winner. We're moving right along and I do hope you've been prudent up to this point, because a very special guest has listed several premier items that will leave those of you in the know, salivating.

[Recipe (Rapture’s revenge): (Complete Set - Medium Armor - Lustrous Blue - LVL 20)]

“What?! Who would auction something so valuable?”

“My highest members are only thirteen! Who found that, and where?”

“I'll pay two hundred million credits for information on the seller or the drop location!”

After those first few comments, Mel couldn't keep track of the rest. She gave up, watching Raine lean back with his hands behind his head, a pleased whistle on his lips. [No way… this is his too? He made a billion creds selling that engine. Was that just the start? The more I learn, the more I wonder who he is.]

Hmm. Should I do credits on this one too? Probably the best exchange rate I'm ever going to get and the proceeds from Frontier are going to be gone in a flash soon as I start recruiting.

As the item reached two thousand gold—a tenth of a billion credits—Celeste’s heart stopped. Her throat was dry and shivers raced up her spine. [I was right again. Who cares about Soulgen; he's the real prize.] She glanced at Mel, eyeing her up and down as a startling realization popped into her head. [Powerful martials are rarely monogamous. Is he expecting me to… but I've never even kissed anyone before. Stop! He hasn't had a single thought about that. So why am I? Besides, he has this floozy he's clearly into or he wouldn't have brought her instead of me.] Both relieved and annoyed for some reason, Celeste refocused on the auction as Mason Mnemonic spoke again.

“Calm yourselves, my dear patrons. There's more to come, though this is our only recipe,” his taunt had the desired effect and the bids soared again. Two unknown buyers quickly dissuaded the competition, their back and forth bids reaching three thousand gold in minutes.

Talerra Tafell aka SolemnRiver

- Six thousand kilometers away, Phoenix Clan territory, Romaxilians -

“You can’t win. Give up now and save yourself the embarrassment,” the speaker was by all rights a specimen of human perfection: Tall, powerfully built, a class four martial at a young age with an immaculately sculpted physique, and beyond wealthy, his sway over the opposite gender was unsurpassed.

Talerra’s disgusted frown didn’t budge as she ignored the young man's newest heckle. She focused on her display, watching the prize item of the auction rising in price at a disturbing pace. With their connections, it had been a simple matter to acquire the full list beforehand; it changing drastically minutes before the event began was only a minor inconvenience. On the other hand, the new contents of the list had turned their somewhat cordial booth into a battlefield soaked with killing intent.

Damian Tafell pretended to check his watch’s interface, chuckling darkly, “Would you look at that. Elder Lanill lent me another thousand gold. You really should have prioritized securing at least one elder’s support instead of playing grabass with your ugly girlfriend. Now look at you, about to lose to me before our competition begins. Why are you even pretending to try?”

Freyja—FierceFire—leaned forward to stand and rebuke his insult but Talerra’s hand painfully gripped her knee. She shook her head at her friend and the girl relented with a snarl.

We were given an equal split of the guild’s excess funds. If he really did get help from Lanill, I can’t win. The best I can do is make him pay dearly for the recipe. Wait… if he’s really here.

Talerra used her nextgen LinQ to access her ZionLine account, pulling up the few interface options she could manipulate outside the game. Meanwhile, her cousin Damian made another bid with a vicious smirk.

Raine KongRu

- Carter City, Romaxilians -

Raine wasn’t the least surprised when a message from Talerra appeared with a soft ding. He skimmed it quickly. 

“I know you’re taking part in the auction. Lend me a thousand gold and I’ll pay you back twenty percent interest.”

With a happy smile, he punched in a quick response, “No thanks.”

“Twenty five percent.”

Raine’s chuckle was evil. Rubbing his hands, he checked his gold balance before responding, “I can lend you two thousand and I don’t want any interest. You’ll owe me a favor.” Raine wasn’t bothered by lending her all his current gold, as the higher she drove the price on his item, the more he would make in the end. And now that he was about to receive such a huge windfall, it was time to set the stage for what he needed from her all along.

There were a few moments of hesitation before her next message, “... I can’t. My family would crucify me if they knew I accepted an open-ended deal like that.”

“Okay then. A favor owed to me by your personal guild that won’t in any way affect the Phoenix Clan.”

“Deal!”

Raine sent her the contract and she signed it so fast he doubted she read it. Not that he was out to try and swindle a girl with such a dangerous family. With a quick command through his watch, he transferred the gold and in the next instant, the price of his recipe jumped by two thousand. He leaned back again, his grin so wide it hurt his face.

The auction chat crawled to a stop, the last entry a simple, “No way.”

She can’t only be competing against her cousin. Another super guild? Solitary Supremacy maybe? Idiots. Good luck making enough sets of that awful armor to earn back a hundredth of your investment.

Five thousand was apparently their limit, as the price ticked up once more by fifty, then sold. Mason cheered, “Congratulations to our esteemed patron on a victory well fought.”

Quick as lightning, Raine input a lengthy, private message. Mason's brows rose and he grinned mischievously, “The seller of the last item, a Mr. Desolate Broker, would like to extend his thanks to the winner of the last bid. He hopes our good patrons will continue to treat him well with the rest of his lustrous merchandise.”

“Desolate, my ass! Is he making fun of us?!”

“The rest? Is it possible there's better stuff than that recipe?”

The next item appeared, prompting another explosion of messages.

[Immaculate Damascus Short Sword: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +55) (PTC +12) (ACU +9) (PHY +8) (Durability 150/150)]

The sword from the mystic realm sold for a respectable one and a half thousand gold. By that time, the gold he’d lent Talerra had been transferred back to his account.

Clever girl just wanted to screw over her cousin. Didn’t cost her a cred, either. Hmm, what I need from her will only help her in the long run. I better make sure she pays in another way.

Celeste frowned over his shoulder, the last of her wine forgotten. [Is he still thinking about this Talerra? Why is she clever while I’m, ‘stupid little girl?’ Talerra, huh? That name’s familiar. Could it… No, there’s no way he knows someone like that.]

The next weapon, then the spare armor from the lustrous chests reached similar prices. When the weapon after that looked like it would sell for half, Raine allowed credits again. The prices of the following seven Lustrous Blue level fifteen gear reached four thousand each, all paid in credits.

Raine watched the balance in his account race upward by just over one and a half billion credits. Most, if not all of that would be gone soon as starting a fresh guild required extraordinary capital. Not needing to worry about selling any Soulgen stock to make it happen was a huge relief. 

Mason started in on a farewell speech which Raine tuned out. He stood, stretched, and reached for his jacket. An alert from his watch populated into a message from Mason Mnemonic.

“Dear, Desolate Broker. Allow me to thank you personally for single-handedly turning our first ZionLine auction into a raving success. Due to your contributions, I've reduced our usual fifteen percent commission to five. I do hope you choose to return. We will, of course, accommodate you accordingly.”

Raine paused to respond, “Thank you for your generosity. I'll be sure to return, though I can't promise the same level of participation.”

“Understandable. Until then, I vow we'll do our utmost to find something worthy of your attention.”

Accessing his ZionLine inventory through his biometric connection to the still off-line server, Raine saw the twelve thousand, six hundred and fifty gold added to his account. The number made his mouth water and he knew exactly what to do with it when he returned.

Well. This was much more lucrative than I expected. If not for Celeste, I wouldn't have even known about the auction. Guess I owe her another free lesson.

Mel held in a long grunt that came out in the form of a groan. She pressed a hand to her stomach, “S-sorry. I think it's the cheese.”

Celeste shot her a seething glance. By the time her eyes snapped back to Raine, she was all bottled sensuality as she licked her lips. [You want to play it that way, eh Mr. Desolate Broker? Every hour we're together, I'll pick apart more of your secrets. We'll see who comes out on top in your little lessons.]

A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING

60

Out of habit, Raine scanned the booth, ensuring they hadn’t left anything. He opened the door for the girls and the three of them filed out to find the mayor waiting patiently in the luxuriously decorated hallway.

These booths are supposed to be anonymous. Obviously that's not the case. Romaxillions always had a stalwart reputation of defending their patrons’ identities. Everything has a price though. When I make a real splash, all bets are off. I’ll have to entice them with something so valuable they won't be interested in betraying me.

The mayor dipped his head, “Cha-ahem, Expert KongRu. Your winnings.” A tight-stream communication zipped to his watch and Raine gave it the signal to display the details to his optic nerves. For defeating the previous champion, he’d earned a large house in one of the nicer parts of town, two gyms, and two dojos. Additionally, there was a paltry one-point-nine million credits.

He must have bankrupted himself fighting DyingNight. I should have made him include his virtual assets. 

As for his five percent, it came to a slightly more respectable seven million credits. Raine sent the details of the properties to Celeste. She reviewed them, then looked up at him uncomprehendingly. He grunted a laugh, “You deal with this. Let me know if you have any issues.”

Her expression twisted and her words were tight with forced politeness, “Managing assets? I was hoping to join you in ZionLine. Clearly, the wealth to be made there goes beyond… real estate management.”

Raine frowned at her sudden interest. In the past, she didn't re-enter for a month. When she did, she went on a killing spree that never ended. He reminded himself that the family betrayal which pushed her down that dark path hadn’t happened yet. If he guided her carefully, the homicidal nature that lurked just beneath her pretty exterior would become a valuable asset.

“What level are you?”

“Zero,” her gaze fell to the floor as she trailed off.

Raine harrumphed, “Not a chance then. The stuff I’m fighting would kill you with a look.”

Mel chimed in, raising her hand, “Oh, I’m level zero too! Are you still in Mirror Lake Town?” Her exuberance faded in a flash. Her arm dropped and her shoulders slumped, “I can't play though. Some jerkface broke my headset.”

Seeing an opportunity to ingratiate herself, Celeste was quick to grab Mel’s hands in hers, “I have a spare headset if you want to use it, and yes, I’m still in Mirror Lake Town. My… house isn't a great place right now. Do you have access to a hyperlink?”

“Yes!” Mel jumped at the chance, her adorableness so blinding Celeste flinched. “I mean, the hotel I’m at doe-urk!” Celeste yanked Mel to the side of the hallway where they continued the conversation in hushed tones.

Raine sent a quick message to Morty, then faced the mayor fully, “I have a few minutes. What was on your mind earlier?”

“Thank you, Expert KongRu! I know there are two gyms now in your possession. I can assure you that Dimitrey’s disciples are quite loyal to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if both those locations were trashed, or even burnt down by the time you get there. If you’re interested, I could send over the corpus to keep an eye on things.”

“I don’t care about any of that,” Raine waved his hand as if dispelling a foul odor, “Just tell me what you want.”

Unused to Raine’s straightforward nature, the mayor stumbled over his words, “Uhh, well… I was hoping you would be interested in taking on a more official role as instructor in some of the city's more affluent dojos. And I assure you, the city would bend over backwards to meet any reasonable demands your master may have for allowing their style to be passed on. Obviously, I'm not talking techniques. The thing is, if Carter doesn't increase interest in training, our longevity will only deteriorate further. With a rising star such as yourself at the helm, the common folk will flock to our side!”

The mayor held his breath while Raine appraised his altruistic, if a bit overly-enthusiastic expression. The man didn’t appear to be lying, but politicians were more adept at the practice than anyone. Trusting his words without seeing his sincerity was out of the equation. On the other hand, there might be some worthwhile recruits hidden in obscurity among the city's dojos and he wouldn’t have long to poach them.

“I’ll take a look tomorrow. No promises.”

“Thank you very much, Expert KongRu! If it pleases you, Galant’s Gym is our most premier establishment with state of the art equipment, facilities, and staff.”

Raine wasn’t interested in what the mayor would consider state of the art, but he had to start somewhere, “Very well. I’ll begin my tour there.”

“You are most kind. I won’t take more of your time,” with a deeper bow than before, the man scurried off, rounding a corner out of sight.

The girls were waiting to the side, Mel quivering with excitement while Celeste wore a too-smug grin. Raine narrowed his eyes at them, then headed for the exit, “What did you two decide?”

They fell in line with him, drawing every eye as they navigated the short distance to the escalators. Mel spoke up first, voice loud with excitement, “The servers are still offline for a couple hours so we’re going to take a nap, meet up at the hotel, then play all night!”

Raine snorted, “Unnecessary.”

Their questions came at the same time, “What?”

“Why?”

Because after this content update, you'll be able to play while sleeping. 

Verbally, Raine responded with a simple, “You’ll find out soon.”

Mel once again spoke before Celeste, “O-oh. Okay. Well, I trust you.” She beamed up at him with one of her signature, overpowering smiles.

Celeste held in a snarl. [Opportunistic hussy sure is quick when she needs to be!]

“Does that mean you’re okay with me putting off organizing these assets until tomorrow?” Celeste angled to walk a little closer, her bare arm brushing against his suit.

“That's fine. You can meet me at Galant’s Gym in the morning.”

“Yes, master,” she drawled, “I don't have anything else in the whole world that might take my attention from waiting on you hand and foot.” [Can't let him suspect I know how much he made tonight.]

Mel hid a shit-eating grin behind a hand. Raine rolled his eyes at Celeste’s nonsense, “Cancel your other obligations. Or don't. If you want the benefits of working with me, you'll be where I tell you, when I tell you.”

She pulled her lips to the side as if in thought, “Hmm. I'm not averse to the benefits a champion can provide. You did mention something about more credits than I could possibly imagine. Though, you've yet to offer more than words.”

Raine accessed his watch and sent her five million credits, “Consider it a sign-on bonus for the information you gave me earlier. Show me what you're capable of for a month, and we'll negotiate a real salary.”

“That's more like it,” she purred, then leaned forward so she could see Mel around him, “I'll leave first and get the headsets. See you soon.” Celeste veered to the side toward a separate exit ramp, waving over her shoulder.

Mel called after her with a return wave, “Great! You're the best. No, you're Celeste the best! Bestest Celestest? Grr. That's not good enough.” With the object of her praise out of sight, Mel squeezed Raine's arm, “You should be nicer to her.”

“Not a chance. Being nice to girls like her will only encourage them to walk all over you. Be careful around her, she's more dangerous than she looks,” his warning earned him a confused, scrunched expression and a glimpse of the tip of her tongue as it poked from between her lips.

The trip back to Mel's hotel was refreshing. Raine hadn’t felt truly at ease since waking up in his old, weak body. The launch of ZionLine, gaining an edge and keeping it, while struggling with imperfect ten year old memories and poverty had kept his stress levels tapped out, which wasn’t a bad thing. More and more, he was discovering how much he thrived on the chaos and intensity.

Better yet, he wasn't weak anymore. His current physical body was certainly still inferior to his past self, but his brain’s improved functionality more than made up the difference. Anyone short of a peak master foolish enough to come looking for trouble would find it in spades. Froust—a man he never managed to beat in the past—had learned that the hard way. Others would certainly follow. 

Personal strength aside, Raine had another reason for being over the moon. Mel’s constant cheer and goofiness were a level more exaggerated than he remembered from the past. Likely because this time, her cafe hadn’t been completely robbed from her. She was a joy to be around, yet no good thing lasts forever.

A block away, she turned to him with a serious look, pink hair flying, “I don’t want to work for you.” She stated bluntly, a hint of fear in her eyes.

“Okay,” Raine easily agreed, curious where she was going with this.

“I… you’re not mad?” She tilted her head, searching his face for answers.

“Nope. Why would I be mad that you’re doing what you want? I assume you have a plan.”

She nodded vigorously, her excited grin creeping back, “I want to play ZionLine full time and make enough to rebuild dad’s cafe exactly as it was. I could probably get close with the creds I have now, but I don’t want to be broke again. It’s not a stupid idea, is it?” She crossed her fingers, arms, and even her eyes, making a face that had him choking with laughter.

“No, not at all. It’s a great idea. You’ll make more this way than you would with the old cafe. You can design it from the ground up to support ZL,” Raine lowered his voice conspiratorially, leaning close enough that her mouth fell open and her breath caught, “My job offer was going to be in ZL anyway. You know, in case you change your mind.”

The hovoursine smoothly glided to a stop and Raine pulled away from her. He didn’t miss the disappointment on her face as he got out and walked around the long flying car. She stepped out slowly when he opened her door and took her hand. Raine’s eyes roamed over every deep shadow as he walked her to the door. She snuck repeated glances at him, an unusual silence hanging over her.

They locked eyes and she nearly jumped out of her skin, eliciting a bark of laughter from Raine, “What’s gotten into you? If it’s about the job, I really don’t mind either way. I’d only be disappointed if you end up doing something you don’t want to do.”

She shook her head fiercely, “No, it’s not that. I-I’m nervous about… fighting! Yah, fighting in Zio-ZL. It was really painful last time. Do you have any tips?”

“Thousands, but nothing’s as important as being brave. If you can’t bring yourself to face your enemy and watch their every move with open eyes, you might as well give up. I wouldn’t worry about that if I was you. I know you have what it takes.”

She did fine in the past. I know she can do it.

Somehow, Mel felt like she could feel his faith in her and the strength of it caused her eyes to moisten. [Face my fears. Be brave. Can someone like me really do that? I’m such a weenie that I’m terrified right now! Is this situation any different than facing down a monster? I made it through the tutorial, so I can make it through this, too! Don’t be a cant-aloupe, Melbell, be a can-aloupe!]

They reached the doors and Mel spun to face him. Raine’s brows hiked to his hairline when she grabbed his lapels and pulled herself up to kiss him. Her lips were hard, nervousness pulling her mouth tight. Raine leaned back, cupped her cheeks in his hands and started over. Slowly and methodically, he leaned down. Her eyes grew wider the closer he got, and when their lips met again, it was perfect.

She pulled away this time, blinking up at him with heated breaths, “H-ho-how about a more practical lesson? M-maybe you could show me one of your stances?”

[Ohmygosh that sounded so much worse out loud! I’m going to diiiiie.]

Raine’s face was stone as he refused to laugh, “I can think of one. I have to warn you though. It's a very… hard stance.”

Her heart skipped a full three beats as his words registered. Without making a sound, she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. Raine, not satisfied with the pace of her short legs, scooped her into his arms. She squealed, the sound striking an instinctive chord in him that demanded his feet move even faster. 

They reached the elevator in a flash, oblivious to the many eyes watching them. With her arms around his neck, Raine had no memory of the elevator ride or stumbling to her room, but he would never forget what came next. 

Raine excused himself in time for Mel to clean up before Celeste arrived. He entered a regular taxi, an unquenchable smile plastered on his face.

Unfortunately, a short message from Morty dispelled his superlative mood, “Master, as you suspected, there are seven armored vehicles stationed two blocks from the house.”

“Perfect. You can come, but don't interfere unless I tell you to,” Raine rerouted his taxi, eagerly falling back into the mindset of a warrior. 

“Are you sure?” Morty inquired, “Thermal puts their numbers at forty-three.”

“Positive. I've been itching for a decent fight since I woke up,” by the time Raine pulled up in front of the black, tinted vehicles, his mental state was perfectly primed for the release of internal force. His fitness wasn't quite ready to fully disable his mental limiters, but it was close.

Exiting, he stood in the middle of the street with his hands behind his back. Four doors on seven vehicles opened at once. Men and women wearing cheap suits piled out. They spread out in a fan-shaped formation.

Their leader—a man with a clean-shaven head—eyed Raine critically, “Mr. KongRu. Come quietly and I'm sure we can reach an equitable arrangement.”

Raine smiled softly, having examined each of their movements as they left their vehicles, “I'm afraid you're unqualified to make that claim. If Juan Pauel Luu Rahn were here in person, then I'd at least be willing to talk.”

Impressively, the man's face remained impassive as Raine easily guessed who sent them, “I wasn't asking, Mr. KongRu. You'll be joining us one way or another.”

The night was still young enough for the air to still be warm. It ruffled Raine's hair and he greedily breathed it in, relaxing fully into his primed body. He shook his head and slowly moved toward the man. The large group bristled, growing more tense with each step he took, “Sadly for you, I'm new to town and need to set an example to those who come knocking at my door.”

As one, his assailants reached for weapons and Raine exploded into action. Internal force had his body heat skyrocketing as his foot cracked the ceraphault, sending him jetting forward. He arrived before their leader as the man's hand reached the stun baton at his belt. Raine's shou-dao strike caught him in the chest, the movement too quick for a current-day class three martial to stop. Despite wearing armor, his heart ruptured inside his chest. The sudden increase in pressure through his veins caused blood to gush from his eyes and nose.

Raine didn't see the results of his strike, he was already onto the third martial by the time the first realized he was dead. He ducked under the woman's machete, escaping the grasping hands and the swing of a buzzing baton that failed to keep up. Now behind her, his reverse knife-hand chop blasted into the base of her skull. Fueled by internal force, the blow turned her brain to jelly and severed her spine.

She fell like a puppet whose strings had been cut. The next four died just as swiftly, their mundane weapons and abysmal speed leaving them helpless against his perfected body control and decades of combat experience. From the corner of his eye, Raine spotted a flash of dark metal and his instincts screamed danger. He dove as an extremely illegal pistol released a high-pitched whine that sent fine hairs standing at attention.

The flechette round (A dart-shaped projectile) tore through air, cloth, flesh, and an armored car with deplorable ease. It finally stopped inside a nearby duracrete building after punching through several walls strong enough to shrug off an auto collision.

Sliding across the ground, Raine grabbed someone's leg and used it to redirect his momentum toward the gunman. A slap to the ground threw his weight two meters into the air, dodging the next shot. The roadway exploded behind him, shrapnel taking out windows and eyes. Nobody tried to get in his way as he dashed toward the man. All of their expressions held horror that one of theirs had a weapon that would not only guarantee the end of their lives, but also leave their entire city facing unimaginable consequences.

Raine landed and the gun shifted to follow. He looked straight down its barrel, unblinking. His focus crystalized on the man’s fingers squeezing the trigger. All distractions faded away to nothing. Flesh twitched, and Raine sidestepped. His mastery over the martial technique was lacking compared to in ZionLine, but it was close enough. He moved so fast he vanished from normal sight, appearing three steps to the side.

The gun whined as it released a flechette at four thousand meters per second, (over ten times faster than old-age bullets.) While Raine could move his body quicker than a normal person could imagine, the laws of physics could not be completely denied. His clothes trailed behind and the corner of his new jacket was struck.

Unlike the other materials the flechettes had so far come in contact with, the armored cloth from Shillids didn't even tear. Still, the force yanked at his body, spinning him in a circle multiple times as he continued toward the man. He bent his knees, gravity bringing him low. Fingers dug painfully into the ceraphalt street to slow his wild rotation. Unable to see through the blurring of the landscape, Raine leaned entirely on battle-honed instincts and leaped. He spun through the air with the last of his momentum, his foot connecting with the side of the gunman’s head. Combined with internal force, his armored shoes did exactly what they were designed to do and the other half of the man's skull shattered, spraying gore across the ground.

The pistol clattered to the street. He didn’t dare touch the weapon. None of them did. Already, its appearance guaranteed that a grandmaster would be paying their insignificant city a visit. There wasn’t a sane person alive who wanted to consign their entire family to death by allowing its metal to graze their fingers.

“Morty, contact the mayor and the corpus,” Raine’s voice was dripping with threat as he returned his attention to the terrified assailants surrounding him, “Tell them I’ve killed the traitors of humanity. The vodcast of their execution will be arriving momentarily.” The night air filled with the screams of the dying, drowning out the AI's confirmation.

ARMSMAN’S ARMORY

61

Celeste's uncle apparently trained his thugs as well as she did hers, because they ran at the first sign the tides turned against them. He killed the nine that were in easy reach, not bothering to hunt down the rest; the corpus and whichever grandmaster the government ended up sending to investigate the firearm were more than capable of handling that.

It was less an ironclad law, and more a long standing tradition that the grandmaster involved went on a killing spree upon arrival. They were in essence, the military power of a government and wasting their time was never forgiven. Also known as external force users, grandmasters were only one full step on the martial path short of an Old Monster. Granted, that step was so great that most died of old age before taking it.

As some of the most powerful and influential people on the planet, they were overbearing to a fault. Not having the backing of an equally powerful master, Raine would essentially be subject to their every whim. If they took an interest in him, his days of living in freedom would be over. That was the real reason exhaustion pulled on his shoulders. 

Raine forwarded unedited footage to the mayor, and a clipped one to the corpus. They had no business seeing his techniques but the grandmaster would certainly demand the full version and giving it away in advance could only help his case.

He had very few alternatives other than kissing ass. One was discovering the secret of external force and becoming a grandmaster himself. Raine sighed deeply, knowing the chances of that were basically zero. The number of people who had developed external force without a master to guide them could likely be counted with three fingers. That didn't mean he was completely out of options. There were other ways of dealing with grandmasters. Unfortunately, they were far from cheap.

Raine appeared in ZionLine close to where he left, at the edge of the Zeletin Academy training grounds. It was midnight, the moon large and high in the sky. Trickling clouds threatened to block its light, but lanterns hanging along the streets illuminated the city in its stead. Thanks to the content expansion, the world was alive in ways it hadn't been before. Shadows now held a complexity in their depth, matching the new, subtle scents that filled the air. Moisture clung to Raine's skin from the damp night, and the textured fidelity of every surface was truly indistinguishable from reality.

A gentle wind sent the odors of massed humanity into Raine’s nostrils. He choked, eyes watering as he was momentarily overwhelmed by the ‘uniqueness’ of it. He learned long ago that there was no such thing as a foul odor, only foul conceptualizations. Unfortunately, a positive mindset could only take one so far when their senses were dialed up to a thousand thanks to imbalanced attributes.

That same over-sensitivity made the imprisonment within his bubble of overpowered Connection all the more confining. On his knees, Raine struggled to stand in soil that couldn’t decide if it were a liquid or solid. All the while, he was pinned by heavy air pressure that painfully crushed his skin. His brain flexed, demanding his Connection convince the air to thin and it swung so far in the other direction he began to float away from the ground.

Raine accessed his interface with a growl, prepared to assign his fifteen free attribute points to fix the predicament and was met with a slew of world first notifications from Travelers all across the globe who were making their mark in ZionLine’s history. He quickly toggled them off so he could see the far more important messages hiding within the spam.

[Nascent attributes adjusted to match outside world fitness]

[Potency: +3]

[Finesse: +4]

[Acuity: +3]

[Physique: +4]

[Connection: +10]

[Congratulations, your fitness is ranked in the top 18% of Travelers!]

[Current nascent attributes]

[Potency: 5 > 8]

[Finesse: 5 > 9]

[Acuity: 5 > 8]

[Physique: 5 > 9]

[Connection: 5 > 15]

That can’t be right. The maximum achievable nascent attribute is fifteen. Including the five I got at avatar creation, this puts my Connection right at the peak. I was only at nine in the past after ten years of effort! Could it have to do with bloodlust? Another side effect of the stronger dose of ReGen? Damn, once I unlock my tier three class and those bonuses become percentages, my Connection is going to skyrocket.

Unable to solve the mystery at the moment, Raine allocated thirteen free attribute points into Physique and the remaining two into Potency.

NAME: Alaric

CURRENCY: 13,453-G 98-S 72-C

CLASS: Armsman

TITLE: Sky Catcher

ASPECT: Greater Aspect of the Werewolf

LEVEL: 15

SUPERIORITY: 108,500 / 1,000,000

ATTUNEMENT: 13,813.25% > 9,513.25%

GENERAL SKILL POINTS: 0

HEALTH POINTS: 300 > 500 (1,000)

ATTACK POWER: 66 > 82 (182)

DEFENSE: 30 > 50 (275)

RESISTANCE: 59 > 92 (179)

CRITICAL RATE: 19% > 25% (45%)

ELEMENTAL POWER: 78 > 122 (172)

DISCIPLINE: 69 > 111 (161)

ATTACK SPEED: 2.4 > 2.5 (2.7)

MOVE SPEED: 4.1 > 4.9 (6.9)

POTENCY: 30 > 38 (63)

FINESSE: 30 > 37 (62)

ACUITY: 48 > 54 (77)

PHYSIQUE: 30 > 50 (72)

CONNECTION: 43 > 56 (81)

The over-stimulation of his senses dissipated the moment he broke through the Physique threshold. Not only his skin, but his bones and muscles hardened. The additional weight dropped him back to now solid ground. Moving would be a challenge before his Potency broke through, but the excellent bonuses from his gear did wonders to compensate. 

The greatest boon was a side effect stemming from the way Physique helped resist status effects; with the improved resiliency of his organs, including the brain, his ridiculously high Connection stabilized. The ease at which he could control the nearby environment, and bloodlust, improved drastically.

Raine shook out his limbs, then flowed through the first Martial Qigong Kata: Resplendence. Years of steadily increasing stats allowed him to rapidly adapt to his doubled raw power and weight. More importantly, buried beneath the significantly boosted attributes, he felt the size and shape of his real body represented in exacting detail. Despite the awkwardness of having only three attributes through the threshold, he was now a class four martial with supreme command over his body. The advantages he could display in combat would be leagues above his previous avatar.

When he gazed at the nearby Vaaterrans, they looked back with uncanny intelligence. He caught the eye of a soldier. The man frowned and approached, his head tilted, “Hail, Traveler. If you're lost or seeking lodging, there's an inn not far.”

Raine straightened from his bent backward stance and nodded deeply, “I'm fine, thank you. I'll be leaving shortly.”

“Very well, see that you do. The academy is closed after dark. Since you’re so new that your visitor registration has yet to expire, I'll let it slide this once.”

Raine waved politely as the soldier left. While briskly walking toward the exit, he scanned the numerous system messages waiting for him.

[Content patch: Realism Upgrade complete. Please note the following important changes]

[Nascent attributes now match outside world fitness (train daily to improve all aspects of your life!)]

[Avatar senses that now seamlessly match reality:

-Proprioception and Balance

-Sight

-Sound

-Tactile feedback of Skin, Nerves, and Muscles

-Taste and Smell]

[To facilitate these changes, avatar dimensions will now match reality, minus deformities. Character customization will be limited to facial features, color, and style]

[Hit boxes will now perfectly translate damage to specific body parts. Pain receptivity reduced from 50% to 40%]

With the seamless senses, taking damage feels so authentic that getting eaten alive even once at 50% would give lifelong nightmares. 40% is… bearable.

[These changes will drastically affect the difficulty of adapting to sudden increases in attributes. Instanced therapeutic assistance sessions are available through the Menu Interface for a small cost]

[Players may now enjoy the complete ZionLine experience while fully unconscious. Warning! This feature may not be used to completely replace sleep. Forced ten hour logout to regulate brain functions will be enacted once per outside world week]

[It is our sincerest desire that these advanced features accelerate your journey down the martial path. May you live dangerously, seeker of adventure]

Raine took another deep breath of not-so-fresh night air, flexing the muscles in his legs to carry him faster. Finally, he felt at home. He was connected with the world as he should be. He was in an avatar no longer; the him in this place was no less real than his flesh and blood. In fact, with his attributes turning him into what the Earth Realm would consider a monster, he was more, much more.

He yearned to push himself to his current limits and jump from rooftop to rooftop. That would quickly land him in jail. He restrained himself, advancing toward his first goal with haste. He pulled up a notification he’d seen previously, wanting to make sure his eyes hadn’t been playing tricks on him.

[For becoming a rare pillar of strength in the Tri-glades: Celendine Dynasty Reputation +15]

Raine whistled, glad he hadn’t imagined it. Usually, reputation was gained very slowly through specific factions, and rarely, entire cities. Inside the Celendine Dynasty, there were separate factions, each with their own reputation: Merchants, guards, the royal family, individual nobles, unions, guilds; the list went on and on. Just by becoming an advanced class, he gained fifteen reputation with every organization and noble that operated inside the Celendine Dynasty, which spanned three megazones, each the size of the Tri-glades.

Grinding for reputation was almost as a rule, extremely time consuming. There were rare exceptions, like special quests and outright buying it from the Vaaterrans in question. However, the prices were always astronomical. In the past, more than one guild had gone bankrupt and collapsed trying to raise a specific reputation.

I’m only ten rep shy of becoming a minor noble! No reason to delay that objective now since the benefits of starting a guild as a noble are so good. Hmm. If I’m going to do ‘that’ quest for the rep, it would be a waste to do it alone. I was going to meet Richtor’s group then pay some random people to fill in the last spots for the raid but now I have a better idea. It’s going to take a bit more work and time, but it’ll pay off in the end.

Raine made a few quick adjustments to his plans, then opened the list of purchasable skills for his new class. A delighted smile spread across his lips when he found he could still buy all the cleric skills after becoming an armsman. He quickly organized the long list, moving the healing and caster skills to the bottom. Reading the name of the first new skill, his mouth went dry and he licked his lips.

[Guillotine Slash: (Novice) With any melee slashing weapon, cut space for 3 seconds, pulling enemies within a 2 meter radius at 500% force. Slashes up to 5 times at 600% physical damage. Reduces users Defense and Resistance by 50% for 10 seconds (Cost: 30 Discipline) (Cooldown: 30 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Slash) (Price: 3000% AT)]

There it is! The same Guillotine Slash that nearly killed me a dozen times over. 3,000 AT though? That’s in line with level fifty tier two costs. Skills that reduce Defense or Resistance, like berserk, always have high damage. Since it's both, it almost makes sense for the total potential damage to be 3000%. Almost. 

I only have nine thousand AT. Looks like I’ll have to choose more carefully than anticipated, and there definitely won’t be any AT left over for upgrading beyond novice. Dang. I was going to have the weapon trainer upgrade my weapon masteries to beginner. If I do, all the AT I earn will be sucked into them, instead of pooling to buy the rest of these skills. If the rest of these are equally powerful, I have to prioritize them first.

Raine had long ago reached 100% Attunement with each of the melee weapon types, increasing his attributes in the process. Advancing their grades from novice to beginner would require several thousand Attunement. The delay couldn’t douse his enthusiasm for the Armsman skills and his eyes quickly devoured the next one.

[Great Divide: (Novice) With any melee slashing weapon rend the ground in a 10 x 3 meter column AOE. Deals 2000% physical damage at the expense of 5% weapon durability (Cost: 30 Discipline) (Cooldown: 30 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Slash) (Price: 3000% AT)]

Two thousand percent AOE?! No wonder the noble took so much damage when I kicked him into this one. Explains why the mystic realm had so much good stuff, too. The fact I survived past the first fight with how hard these hit is a miracle.

[Debilitating Crush: (Novice) With any melee blunt weapon, create a powerful Blinding light. The next hit lowers armor by 50% for 10 seconds and deals 500% physical damage (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 20 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Strike) (Price: 3000% AT)]

[Blind: Negative status affliction that renders sight inoperable]

Another ability I’m glad I never got hit by. Thank you, Parry.

[Flurry of One: (Novice) With any fist weapon, combine 10 strikes into 1, dealing 350% physical damage (Cost: 5 Discipline) (Cooldown: 5 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Strike) (Price: 3000% AT)]

If I could choose which weapon I fought with, this would be an easy buy. Low cost and cooldown with excellent damage. I would have killed for this skill in the past. Can’t believe it's this good at novice grade.

[Untold Vengeance: (Novice) Imbue any melee piercing weapon with lightning for 60 seconds. Each hit has a 25% chance to inflict Paralysis and deals an additional 60% elemental damage (Cost: 50 Discipline and 50 Elemental Power) (Cooldown: 120 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Pierce) (Price: 3000% AT)]

[Paralysis: Negates physical movement unless overwhelmed with a Potency or Physique check]

Requiring a piercing weapon isn't as niche as it sounds. Swords, knives, spears, and many axes and hammers fulfill the requirement. Pairs well with the spear I got in the mystic realm but easily the most underwhelming so far. The potential damage per EP isn’t as high as Final Gambit and I’d likely lose most of its duration moving from enemy to enemy. Would be amazing against some raid bosses though. 

[Guardians Bane: (Novice) Stab with any melee piercing weapon to ignore 90% armor and physical resistances. Additionally deals 450% physical damage (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 20 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Pierce) (Price: 3000% AT)]

Armor and resistances! These skills are so good! Once they're adept grade like Rupture, they’ll easily be on par. Gimme!

[Uncanny Acceleration: (Novice) With any melee weapon, ignore momentum and force while accelerating attack speed by 500% for one attack. Additionally deals 200% physical damage (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 20 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Lunge) (Price: 3000% AT)]

Definitely the most broken skill against players. It’s basically unblockable without Parry and perfect reaction speed.

[Repartee: (Novice) With any shield, absorb up to 600% casters Defense in both damage and force from a single physical attack. Return the absorbed damage and force in a 10 x 3 meter column AOE, additionally dealing 200% physical damage (Cost: 40 Discipline) (Cooldown: 30 seconds) (Purchasing this skill requires and consumes Block) (Price: 3000% AT)]

Can’t wait to see Fizgore’s reaction when I show him this one. Dude’s going to lay an egg. About time to go ‘save’ him. Might be fun to bring Mel and Celeste along for that little adventure.

Raine’s grin was evil, his teeth reflecting the lantern light brightening the street. He was almost to his destination, and wasn’t in a hurry to select any of his new skills now that he’d gotten a good look at their descriptions and costs. He needed to plan carefully, accounting for as many potentials as he could imagine. After all, he had a psychotic witch who could pop up at any moment and send him into another impossible challenge.

These skills. They cover every type of melee weapon. This is no coincidence. I wouldn’t have the cursed ring without the witch, and the same goes for armsman. Why is she leading me down such a broad combat path? Is it all for another part of her chain quest? 

Regardless, they're much better than anything the basic classes have access to. Good to know my choice to go with armsman was correct.

Raine slowed his trot at the entrance to an expansive lumber mill. There were no gates, just a beautifully worked wooden arch that led inside. The night crew was hard at work, manning large saws and hefting trees with equal ease. The moment he walked past the arch's sound shielding array, the buzzing of powerful industrial-grade Gromglenn technology filled the air.

Fine particulates of sawdust tickled his nostrils as he waved down the nearest manager. The man looked him over and tucked his fingers into his britches with a squint, “Who's you?”

“Greetings, master sawyer. My name is Alaric. I've come to purchase Onyxian Lumber.”

“Alaric? I reco’nize that name. New feller all the yunginz been chater'n bout. Onyxian Lumber, ya say? Well, that's our speciality. Follow me ’n I'll get yah sorted.”

“Much appreciated, master sawyer,” Raine followed the short, squat man into a nearby building where he passed several scrolls across a short table. They listed the types and prices of all the different building materials made of the expensive wood.

Raine pushed the stack of papers back to the man, “I'll take them all.”

“One o’ each then?” The man frowned, a glimmer of annoyance showing in his bushy brows.

Raine shook his head with a chuckle, “No, your entire stock. I've got a guild hall to build, and your lumber's the best in the district.”

The man’s eyes widened when Raine withdrew three thousand gold from his inventory and slid it across the counter. A quick contract was drawn up detailing delivery location and time. Then, Raine was on his way.

Originally, he planned on renting a guild hall until he could afford to build his own. The differences between the two weren't even worth comparing. Once players found out the benefits they could gain by joining his guild with a fully constructed guildhall, they would be tripping over themselves to sign up. Now that he had the gold, he obviously wouldn't be delaying.

While on the way to the next vendor, Raine accessed his interface, pulling up the Ncode Celeste gave him for her ZionLine account. She picked up on the third chime, her avatar’s face filling in a corner of Raine's HUD. She scowled at the black square where a face would be had he not blocked it out long ago, “Alaric? Who—”

“It's Raine. Care to explain why one of your uncle's goons tried to kill me with a flechette pistol?”

She froze, her expression morphing through a range of emotions before settling on horrified, “Was that truly uncle’s doing? I heard about it on the IS, but… And they came after you? I-I didn't know.” Her voice turned faint, rife with mournful grief, “I-I’m going to be branded as a traitor, executed. I can’t believe it's going to happen like this. What a worthless way to die.”

WRAINE’S WORLD

62

Satisfied with her reaction, Raine shook his head slowly, “You're not going to die. Probably.” An infuriated glower broke through her melancholy, the look only earning her a soft chuckle, “Try to relax. If we play our cards right, they'll only kill your uncle. Unless you knew about the pistol…”

“I already said I didn’t!” She snapped, “But… what if uncle didn't know either?”

Raine shook his head, “Nope. There's no chance for him. If they don't kill him, I will.”

“Oh.”

Having confirmed she didn’t know, Raine was ready to change topics, “Did you meet up with Mel yet?”

Celeste was still breathless, her stare a thousand miles away, “Yes, she's right here.”

“Okay. Head to the west gate and stay inside Mirror Lake Town. Try not to attract any attention. I'll be there in a few.”

With ZionLine now displaying everyone's real bodies, the two gorgeous girls staying out of trouble was a stretch.

Celeste’s brows rose, “I thought you weren't going to play with us?”

“Plans changed. Bye.” Raine cut the call as he arrived at the next vendor he needed. He bought the man's entire stock of Resiniom Stone for another three thousand gold, then headed to the last vendor. On his way across the commoners district, he stopped at a blacksmith to repair his equipment, then the consumables store across the street. He bought them out of several useful items; one cost an entire gold each.

[Return Stone: (Common Grey) Teleport to a previously bound settlement after a 10 second delay (Uses: 5) (Cooldown: 12 hours)]

The other items were great for players of any level, but especially new players.

[Repair Hammer: (Common Grey) Repairs 10 durability of any weapon or armor at the expense of 1 maximum durability (Uses: 10) (no cooldown) (cannot be used in a combat state)]

[Regeneration Stone: (Common Grey) Boosts resource gains of regenerative stances by 1000% for 10 minutes (Uses: 4) (no cooldown) (cannot be used in a combat state)]

[Rock Climbing Kit - Common Grey - Consumable: A box containing various tools necessary for safely traversing vertical rock formations. Enhances safe climbing speed by 200% and reduces climbing stamina consumption by 50% for 1 hour]

[Scroll of Travels: (Common Grey) Boosts unmounted traveling speed on roadways by 300% for 2 hours]

On his way out, Raine opened his inventory and clicked on his temporary city registration to check Silverlight’s leaderboard—a list displaying the names and levels of the top one hundred players registered to the city. There were only three entries, all of them displaying the same ??? instead of a name. At level fifteen, Raine was at the bottom. There was another person with the same level, and the top entry was already level sixteen.

Not too far behind. Unfortunate that I have to stop leveling for a while. If I want to stay competitive in the long run, I'll need an endless source of gold. Unlike a corpo scion leaning on an existing power base, I have to build everything from scratch.

An individual will always be constrained by time and effort, but a flourishing guild is limitless in its earning potential. Those fools at the auction were throwing out thousands of gold already. I'm too far behind in this aspect. Right now, when I have the personal power to beat anyone, is exactly the time to begin gathering my core group. Once I have them, an unstoppable guild will naturally form around them.

The process of creating an official ZionLine guild was far from easy or cheap. The last step was completing an introductory raid. Entering the instance required fifteen players at level fifteen. Since he wasn’t about to bring people he didn’t trust and couldn’t control, that meant taking the time to gather and level them himself.

Talerra’s competition, and the opening of the emporium are both in two days. That should be just enough time.

Jittery with excitement, Raine found and bought out the Blasted Iron Hardware at the third merchant for a thousand gold. He now had everything he needed to construct his own guildhall, and the guilds coming behind him would have a hell of a time replicating the feat considering the only three vendors in the commoners district who stocked the necessary items were now sold out for the next month.

Raine stopped at a storage warehouse. He rented a small unit for five hundred gold—more than large enough to hold his yet to be delivered materials. Player rented storage was about the only truly safe place to hold items in ZionLine. If the city were invaded and the palace destroyed, only then could the invaders break into the warehouses.

He updated his contracts for all three vendors with the delivery location, then entered the nearest auction house. He used his VIP status to quickly acquire a permanent registration with the city for free. After posting most of the consumable items he just bought for sale at a significant mark-up, he was done in Silverlight for now. He activated a Return Stone, selecting Mirror Lake Town from the menu that appeared, and vanished in blue particles of light.

Raine appeared in the middle of a street on the far side of town. When using a Return Stone, the player was always brought to the nearest available space to his bind point in the relevant settlement. The fact he appeared so far away was a testament to how many people flooded the streets. Used to their PVP protections, several players bumped into him, or more accurately, ran into him and were sent reeling to the ground. Since his attributes were so much higher than theirs, and he was only standing still, they even received a few points of damage from the collision.

Each of Raine's steps sent more people sprawling amidst shimmering shields. He waded through a red sea, putting strength and purpose into his stride. The outraged shouts around him were fairly amusing. He wore an easy grin by the time he reached the west gate.

The wall of humanity halted as though the exit were a mystical, uncrossable barrier. In some ways it was true. Out there, only pain, death, and then a quick return to the graveyard awaited. Inside the safety of the walls, one could slowly gather their courage and allies before trying and dying again. He had been just like them once.

Unsurprisingly, neither Mel nor Celeste were in sight. With a sigh, he sent them both the same message, “I'm leaving without you in sixty seconds.”

They came bustling around a corner amidst a flurry of curses. Neither looked exactly like they did in reality, though they weren’t different enough that he couldn’t spot them in the crowd. They didn't recognize him since his avatar’s face looked nothing like him. He crooked a finger and they figured it out quick enough.

[Did he even try in character creation? His face looks like a stone with a coating of wet mud.]

[I wonder if there's a filter I can use to overlay his real face. Better not, would be too distracting.]

They slunk to him, failing to hide guilty expressions behind the candied fruit sticks protruding from their mouths. He sent them invitations to join his party. While they figured out the mental command for accepting, he squinted at their avatars, just as disappointed.

Misunderstanding, Mel rapped the top of her head with a knuckle, “Sorry! They smelled so good!”

“Who cares about that! What happened to your freckles?” Raine huffed, turning away and leaving the town. The moment he stepped beyond the safety of the walls, he went into serious mode, senses on high alert.

“Told you!” Celeste snarked to a flabbergasted Mel. “Pay up.”

“No way!” Mel fired back, following after Raine, “The first thing he said was that he was leaving in sixty seconds. You pay up!” Her voice was so loud Raine felt a twitch above his right brow. The very few people outside the town turned their way with unbelieving expressions.

Celeste retorted even louder, “Shameless! That was a message. Doesn't count as his first words.”

Raine rubbed his forehead. He closed his eyes and tried to enjoy the soft moonlight leaking through his lids. His ears were sharp, listening for the slightest hint of danger in the perilous fields while guiding the girls off the road and away from eavesdroppers. Once they were alone, he stopped and spun around in a blur, causing both girls to flinch.

He pointed to Mel first, “One hundred thousand.” She tilted her head as his finger tracked to Celeste, “Five hundred thousand.”

“What?” They questioned in unison.

“Credits. Transfer. Now. Or I leave you here.”

Celeste sputtered, “F-five hundred thousand?! You're serious, aren't you? And why the hell is hers only a hundred?”

“You want my help and training for nothing? When was the last time you heard of an expert training anyone without a lifetime service agreement… Never. Because it doesn’t happen. Worse, you don't understand the value of anything here, or the sacrifices everyone else has to make for what you almost got for free.”

Stupid little girl. It's not preferential treatment. It's an amount tailored to make each of you take this seriously.

Hearing his voice in their heads just like in the outside world caused their jaws to fall open. Raine, thinking their expressions meant they needed another push, kept right on lecturing, “You're treating this world like any other game. Either you learn it's not with your bank accounts, or by having your throats ripped out a few dozen times. We’re on a tight schedule, so I prefer the fast way. Trust me when I say, you do too.”

Triggered by the hated moniker, Celeste fumed internally. [How about you call me that out loud, asshole?! I got your five hundred thousand right here!]

Not daring to actually voice her fury, Celeste only gave Raine a broken smile, one eye twitching. Meanwhile, Mel had gone soft in the knees as she stared up at his tall frame that was even more intimidating than his real body. [I take it all back. He's just as sexy here as he was a few hours ago. If he keeps bossing me around like this, I might die before the monsters get me.]

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take your time and expertise lightly. I was so excited you came to play with us that I let myself forget how hard the tutorial was. Here,” Mel dutifully sent Raine the requested credits.

[Most of my credits is a small price to pay. If not for him defending me, I would be completely broke. Besides, if he can teach me how to make as much as he did at the auction, then this is obviously worth it]

Raine gave her a serious nod, noting the three wolves stalking through the high brush. They closed in to surround them, drawing nearer with stealthy steps. Celeste looked between the chaste Mel and steadfast Raine with a complicated frown. He locked eyes with her, waiting patiently.

She's having a shit night after the news of her uncle. I get that, but it's going to get a hell of a lot worse when that wolf tackles her and starts eating. If she’s this stubborn right from the get go, so be it. I've little use for someone who isn't ready to do whatever it takes to become stronger.

Celeste's frown turned to a stretched out groan as she desperately fought the desire to turn and defend herself. Maybe she could play it off as having heard the beast and not his thoughts, but she couldn't take that chance. With frantically darting fingers, she accessed her account and transferred the funds.

The second they came through, Raine shuffle-stepped between them and snatched the wolves from the air mid-leap. They yelped in protest as his grip painfully dug into their flesh. The third beast paused, one foot off the ground as Raine released the smallest trickle of bloodlust he could control.

Thick killing intent manifested as an expanding pulse of red energy. It swept outward causing PVP shields to flicker around Mel and Celeste. Unprotected and in point blank range, the two wolves Raine was holding pissed themselves and the third dashed away at top speed.

Damn. My control sucks.

“What was that?!” Celeste asked with gleaming eyes, turning around at what Raine could only consider a glacial pace.

While I’m showing them the basics, I’ll work on controlling my bloodlust. Now that I’ve fought a Noble, that damn witch will almost certainly pit me against an army of them. If I can’t control it before then, I won’t last long.

Raine ignored Celeste’s question, holding out the urinating beasts, “First lesson. Everywhere is dangerous, especially towns and cities. Until level five, you'll be protected from other players so it'll be easy to forget the threat they pose. Mark my words, you will die to a dagger in the back more than once, no matter how vigilant you are. Out here, death lurks behind every bush so it's easier to remember to stay on guard.”

Mel swallowed hard while Celeste nodded as though his words were only natural. He shook the first wolf in her direction, “You're up. It'll go for your torso and hands to get you on your back. If you fall, you're dead.”

Raine left the party, leaving Mel as the leader. With two wolves the same size as her less than a meter away, her voice was a cracky mess, “Why aren't you in the group anymore?”

“My level is too high, you won't get any SP.”

“Huh?” Celeste frowned.

“Party’s earn SP and AT based on the highest level member. Since I’m more than two levels above these puppies, you wouldn’t get anything. Same goes for if I damaged them, or buffed you,” Raine turned one of the creatures around and stared it in the eyes, “Run, and you die before you take one step. Kill her, and I'll let you go.”

“No way it understood that,” Celeste shook her head in denial, right up until Raine tossed the beast to the ground and it rounded on her with bared fangs.

Impressively, she dropped into a defensive crouch and managed to hop to the side when it lunged. She spun to face it, drawing her equipped staff from her back. The next pounce was met with a crack to the side of its head. Combined with her experienced step to the side, she easily avoided it.

They had two more similar exchanges before she remembered she had a skill. The next time it tried to bite her hand, her weapon whipped around and its tip flared bright orange with a released Blast. The wolf howled, falling to its side and thrashing with a burnt face. Celeste was all over it, smacking it repeatedly until it died.

Between her intense focus on killing it, and using Blast at the moment of contact with her staff, she overcame the skill’s aiming mechanism. Intentional, instinct, or luck? While impressive, she’s full of openings.

Huffing, Celeste turned back to them with a smile that faltered upon seeing Raine holding two wolves again.

“Second lesson. Remain aware of your surroundings at all times,” he waved the new addition in her direction, “Snatched this one out of the air right before it was about to tackle you from behind. You're welcome. Try again. Keep your eyes open this time.”

Celeste fought five more wolves in a row. She was sweating and huffing, about to beg for a break when Raine pinned Mel with a hard stare. She didn’t need to be told it was her turn and drew a dagger, lowering into a terrible imitation of Celeste’s ready stance.

[I can’t keep being a burden. Face my fears with open eyes. Face my fears with open eyes.]

Seeing her tensing up more by the second, Raine pitched his voice sharply, “Have you picked a skill yet?” 

The question successfully pulled Mel from her bleak attempts to psych herself up. She nodded, gathering her courage, “D-don’t help me. I need to learn. Even if it hurts.”

Raine didn't insult her by offering further suggestions and tossed the equally terrified wolf in her direction. It thrashed onto its feet, clawed paws raking the dirt loudly. In her eyes, the beast was truly a thing of nightmares. Its sharp teeth were already coated in someone else’s blood, and it was even bigger than the ones he threw at Celeste. Its fur danced in the wind, muscles rippling with vicious purpose. The creature was far too realistic to be nothing more than zeros and ones. It was real, it was right in front of her, and it was coming for her throat.

Mel's body was a shaking mess of nerves when it jumped. She tried to dodge but was clipped hard in the hip. Merely being grazed hurt like hell and the force of the blow spun her around. Her feet argued over which was supposed to touch the ground next, and her nose won the argument, smashing hard into the ground. The wolf was on her in a second. Her hands came up defensively and sharp teeth dug into her forearm. She screamed, the visceral pain of splitting and tearing muscles too much for her.

Raine's brows ticked higher when Mel's scream turned from one of fear, into pure hatred. Her other arm, still miraculously holding her dagger, slammed into the wolf's shoulder in frantic, furious stabs. The beast growled, twisting and yanking its head so hard her body skittered across the dirt.

She didn't stop her desperate stabbing but the damage was too one-sided. She was going to die long before the wolf. Celeste took a step forward but Raine's outstretched hand stopped her. He shook his head, senses trained on the wolves stalking closer, attracted by the commotion.

She'll have plenty of time to get over the death and learn from her mistakes on the road.

Guided by his thoughts loud inside her head, Mel noticed her health flashing in the red. A sheen of green energy passed over her body and her health jumped up by a quarter. The additional health bought her the precious seconds to unleash five more stabs. The wolf collapsed. Mel lay on the ground next to it, tears streaming down her cheeks and breaths labored as she cradled her savaged arm.

Interesting. She didn’t take Mend in the past. At least, not that I know of. I wonder why the change.

[Obviously, because of you!] Both girls internally screamed their matching thoughts.

Shrugging off the mystery, Raine extended a hand and pulled Mel to her feet, “You can recover while we walk.” With a more controlled pulse of bloodlust that no longer triggered his allies’ PVP shields, he sent the approaching wolves scurrying, “Scram!”

Mel flinched, still wobbly on her feet. Hearing their scraggling paws, her eyes darted about in fear of having to relive the traumatic fight.

Raine urged her forward until they were back on the road, “Next lesson: Discipline.” They frowned, not understanding. “It's your primary energy pool for physical actions. Think of it like controlled, micro-bursts of adrenaline. It can empower basic attacks, and more importantly, speed up the movement of individual body parts.”

Raine demonstrated with a few hops, alternating use of Discipline. When Celeste saw how much faster he became, her jaw fell open and furious thunderclouds gathered around her head. Not repeating her earlier mistake, she hissed quietly, “Why didn't you tell us this before making us fight?!”

Raine snorted, “You would have died trying to pull it off. If you think it's so easy, try for yourself.”

She scowled, doing just that and of course failing to activate the boost. After the fifth time, her lips were so tight as to be nonexistent, “Were you trying to trick—” 

Her question faltered when Mel tried for the first time, hopping to the side much faster than a normal person should be able to move.

“Good job, Mel. That's the way,” Raine praised and a huge portion of her earlier dread vanished behind an exultant smile.

Growling, Celeste grew serious, jumping left and right repeatedly. Ignoring her, Raine led them back to the road, “One of the most important uses of Discipline, and the easiest way to learn it, is traveling. Focus on your feet. Feel them connecting with the road, and push.”

Celeste took a break from her rabbit impersonation to try, failing again. Mel once more got it on the first attempt, zipping ahead of them by several meters. Realizing she was alone and vulnerable, she ran back as fast as she could. With the patience earned from training thousands in the use of Discipline, Raine launched into an explanation of the subtleties required to make it work.

EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

63

“I assume both of you took aspects from the tutorial?” Raine questioned as they reached the forest’s edge. The road led directly inside, the deep gloom of late night lending the shadows strength.

Celeste nodded, “Superior Aspect of the Mind, gives 5 Connection.”

“Oh… I only got the basic one, 2 Finesse,” Mel pouted at Celeste’s win.

Raine only cared that they had an aspect already. Until finding an item to erase their useless ones, they were stuck with them, meaning they didn’t need to waste time with the witch. “Good, let's go.” He set off into the darkness, the girls doing their best to keep pace. They ran at a decent, Discipline-powered clip, Raine continuing their ZionLine crash course.

For what must have been the twelfth time, Celeste’s speed dropped sharply. Raine's hand blurred through the air. Despite her ducking to the side, he hit his target with perfect precision. A meaty thwack from 2% of his Potency was followed by a girly screech. 

“Ouch! Stop hitting me!”

Having signed a contract allowing him to do so without the PVP protections, Raine wasn’t about to listen, “Sure. Soon as you stop slowing us down with your tantrums.”

She growled like the hell-cat she was, fists shaking at her sides, “They aren't tantrums! I'm not a little girl!”

Raine shrugged, “Doesn't matter what you want to call them.” With a hard finger jabbing into the soft flesh between her shoulder and armpit, he reiterated the same lecture, also for the twelfth time, “When your emotional state and body are out of sync, you can't use Discipline. If you can't control your emotions, then you have to control the tempo of your body to match your emotions.”

She stepped back with a wince, rubbing her chest, “Control my tempo. I'll show you tempo…”

Raine shuffle-stepped, vanishing from sight to appear towering before her. She fell back a step, momentary terror proving his next point, “All emotions desire a physical outlet, especially anger and fear. You were afraid, and fell back, turning that fear into motion. Now, transform your anger into action, or I'm going to keep hitting you.” Raine raised his hand and she fled down the road.

Unfortunately for her, pain is the best way for her to learn this particular lesson. I suppose I could try explaining the underlying principles… Nah. She’s too stupid for that to work.

Mel, who was having no issues burning Discipline to run, tripped over a pebble on the road. Celeste’s arms shook with fury, the rapid shift away from fear ruining her tempo again. Raine vanished and she dove to the side, sliding across the dirt face first. Spared the pain she knew should have already landed, she looked back to see him shaking his head sadly, disappointment overwhelming his expression.

[Argh! I hate his ugly face so much!]

Leaping to her feet, she faced off against him with her fists up, “Don’t you dare repeat the same shit lecture again! Why did I pay you if you’re going to be such a crap teacher?”

Raine sighed heavily, massaging his forehead with two fingers.

Do I tell them? We have to speed up our pace one way or another. There's other ways but they have their own risks…

“Fine, but I’m only going to say this once, then it's back to the whip,” Raine motioned them closer while carefully examining their surroundings for eavesdroppers. A contract appeared in both of their interfaces stating their agreement to never repeat what he was about to tell them. The repercussions being a permanent ban from ZionLine and forfeiture of all their assets to him, real and digital.

Really don't want this leaking to the public yet. It’s one of my biggest advantages, and shouldn’t be widely understood for several years.

Celeste’s eyes boggled. [Years?! How could he know something like that?] She was unable to fathom how powerful a seer must be to see so far into the future. She had certainly never heard of such a thing. Even a seer that could see a few weeks was considered a genius that PsyCore would need to possess, no matter the cost in lives or credits.

The girls glanced at each other, a bounty of meaning shared between them. Both understood that the potential credits to be earned by sticking with Raine far outweighed the short term benefits of spreading information. Especially if keeping it to themselves would mean an extra advantage under their belts in such a difficult environment. Mel signed right away, the idea of betraying Raine’s trust further than she already had was too painful to consider. Celeste hesitated a brief moment longer, the promise of knowledge, power, and wealth too tempting to ignore.

Raine’s gaze bored into them one at a time, imprinting a sense of gravity that was reinforced by his heavy tone, “No matter how close it feels to the real thing, this world isn’t ours. We are visitors here, and even standing on this road right now, we aren’t truly here.” 

Raine stamped his foot, sending a shudder through the ground that released a ring of dust. “So, how did I interact with the road if I’m not really on it? The answer is simple enough, I used an attribute that the natives of this world don't have: Connection. Connection isn’t just a means to increase the power of elemental attacks, it literally connects our brains to this world that isn’t ours. Through that connection, we gain the ability to manipulate. But we still aren’t truly here.” After enunciating his last words, Raine gave them a few seconds to mull them over.

Mel’s lips were pursed so tight her nose crinkled, “That makes a kind of sense, but what does it have to do with using Discipline? And why is it so easy for me, but not her?”

Raine patted her head with a fond smile, “Good questions. What do you think the reason might be? No wrong answers here, this isn’t a gap in logic that’s easy to bridge.”

Celeste planted her fists on her hips, “Because there’s something wrong with my connection.”

Raine kept looking at Mel, waiting for her to guess as well, “Uhm, because the world isn’t receiving the right message through the connection?”

“You’re both close. There's nothing inherently wrong with your connection, Celeste. And the world is receiving the right message, the problem is that the information you’re sending is scrambled. The brain is a complex organ. Our thetadrive headsets have to take all that complexity and distill it into electrical signals. What do you think happens if a portion of that signal essentially relays, move left leg left, while another part is stuck on, move left leg right?”

“Nothing?” Celeste guessed.

Raine shook his head, “Nope, your leg will move in whichever way the dominant portion of the signal wanted. However, the movement will be slow, awkward, and unable to be boosted by Discipline. Keep in mind that emotions are just chemicals in the brain, and they are birthed from the same electrical signals as thoughts and memories. They have just as much sway in the connection as an active thought. So, the memory of how you should be moving, and the desire to move slightly differently, can easily conflict.”

Mel’s brow wrinkled and she shook her head, “I don’t get it. It sounds like you’re saying we need to align our emotions, thoughts… and memories? With a movement? I don’t feel like I’ve been doing anything like that to use Discipline.”

Celeste nodded along but wasn’t following in the least; she experienced a burst of frustration and fear, not wanting to believe that his earlier jab at her intelligence was true.

Raine snorted, “If you’ve ever cleaned something while angry, you know that emotional states vastly alter the speed and severity of every action. Mel, you’re having a hard time understanding because you’re lucky enough to be an emotionally balanced person. You pretty much have one emotional state. So long as nothing comes along and knocks you out of balance, the signals of your connection will remain aligned.”

Raine tilted his head toward Celeste, “You, on the other hand, are all over the place. Think back to your first attempt to use Discipline, jumping back and forth outside town.” Raine lifted his hand, counting his fingers, “On the first try, you were excited. When you failed, you got frustrated. You saw Mel succeed easily, then you got angry. After that, you swapped to determined. Each of those emotions carries a different tempo. Worse, human emotions can't be truly controlled, so you have to develop control over your body’s reaction to those emotions. Anger begets rapid action. Grief is jerky releases of pent stress. Sadness, smooth and methodical. Determination, fierce and prolonged. The list goes on and on, varying slightly for everyone.”

Celeste’s eyes grew wider and her mouth formed a perfect O-shape. Then, her lips twisted in a frustrated snarl, “It makes sense now, but how do I actually do it?”

“The only answer is practice. Preferably with one emotion at a time. It’s going to be harder for you with your wild emotional swings, but once you get it, you'll be a much more difficult enemy to face because your movements will always be subtly unpredictable. Unfortunately, you lack the discipline to sync your mind, emotions, and body.”

“That's such a stupid system! Why would they design it that way?” Celeste kicked the ground, releasing her own spray of dirt.

Raine's grin was wide and his eyes carried a hint of fanaticism that drew both girls in, “That’s the best part! It's designed to bring each of us further down the martial path. Ever heard of Satori?” They shook their heads and Raine wasn’t surprised, “Look it up on your own time. But in short, it’s the state of the centered self. It's impossible to become a true class four martial without achieving Satori as easily as breathing. That’s what kind of ‘game’ we're playing. Every step you take here will lead you closer to true power in the outside world. Now shut up and focus or I'm going to start hitting you with 5% of my strength.”

After Raine’s explanation, their speed increased significantly. He made a mental note to dive into the how and why with Celeste going forward. Simply telling her what needed to be done wasn't sufficient. The girl’s problems with authority would need to be beaten out of her slowly. Luckily, Raine had years of experience with training unruly recruits. In comparison, Mel was an angel and he was glad she was around to serve as an example for the stubborn Celeste.

They soon reached a deep forest, the road weaving directly through it. The few beasts they encountered were split between the girls, giving them both a chance to practice utilizing Discipline in combat. At a seemingly random bend in the road, Raine pulled ahead and raised a fist. They came to a stop, dutifully waiting for direction.

Raine accessed his inventory and swapped out his leather helmet for the old bandit shroud. The piece of cloth covered the lower half of his disturbing face and Celeste sighed dramatically, a hand over her chest. She opened her mouth for a snide comment but Raine’s hand slashing through the air silenced her.

He motioned them closer, whispering, “First roadblock should be right ahead.”

“Monsters make roadblocks?” Celeste was quick to ask, earning her a scathing glare from Raine. She blanched, then ran her fingers along her lips in a zipping motion.

“This territory is currently controlled by a guild named Righteous. They won’t be able to directly hurt either of you. Don’t think you’re safe though. They can physically block your path, box you in, then bring beasts to kill you. There’s going to be flankers stealthed in the woods on either side of the road. I want you to count as many of them as you can find. The winner gets a new piece of gear.”

That got their attention and they exchanged confident smirks. Raine continued, “Once the fighting starts, pick one that’s level five and start a duel. I won’t be helping either of you, and if you die, I’m not going back to town to get you.” Their confidence evaporated and was blown away in the gentle wind caressing the thick forest canopy.

This should be a great chance to improve their situational awareness and problem solving while under duress. I wonder if they’ll figure out the trick in my wording. Hope not.

While following close behind, the girls’ fingers were a blur as they threw private messages back and forth. They quickly came up with a plan and were all smiles when they rounded the bend. As promised, the roadblock was dead ahead, only a few meters away by the time it was visible. It consisted of hastily erected wooden spikes that stretched a short distance into the trees. All but a small opening in the center of the road was obstructed. Ten players with red armbands stood before the barrier in loose groups.

Seeing the trio approach at a brisk walk, they perked up. Five drew weapons and clustered around the passage through the spikes. The rest fanned out while a large, muscular woman took the lead. She looked Mel and Celeste up and down with a scowl, then drew the sword at her hip when she failed to Identify Raine.

Between the question marks above his head, and the obviously magical effect of his blurred armor, she was completely on edge when she barked a command, “Halt! That’s far enough. Passage is twenty silver per player. Alternatively, you can join Righteous and leave for free.”

Raine snorted, knowing the lie for what it was. There were more roadblocks beyond this one, not to mention roving packs of soldiers, all with orders to charge twenty silver for anyone they encountered who wasn’t already part of the guild. Even if it were possible to get twenty silver in such a low level area, it would hardly be enough to buy passage through their entire territory.

This new method of recruiting made perfect sense for the current ZionLine. Filtering through all the worthless players too scared to step out of the origin towns was a waste of time. It was significantly more economical to wait for the promising candidates to reach a good distance, then ambush them when they had more to lose.

Raine scanned their levels, including the ten hidden in the woods, finding them all at level five. He perked up, glad he would be receiving plenty of starting equipment to use as bargaining chips to motivate the girls.

Raine summoned the memories of all those he’d slain in the past. A desire to kill so powerful it seeped into the world as pure, unmitigated malice was unleashed as a wave of bloodlust. The players crowding the road turned pale. They fell to their knees, unable to withstand the river of death that washed over them.

A large two-handed mace with a Lustrous Blue sheen appeared in a flash of light. He held the weapon loosely in one hand, resting its shaft on his shoulder. There was no need to exchange words with those about to die. He shuffled forward in a blast of motion. A casual swing unleashed a Rupture that annihilated their shoddy, illegal fortifications. Coincidentally, it also turned six of the players into clouds of red mist. Since he wasn’t targeting them, and they just happened to die nearby… he wasn’t marked with the red player debuff.

Random pieces of equipment clinked to the ground and a scream split the air, heralding the slaughter that had just begun.

ONE AT A TIME

64

Four scattered players were frozen, shocked to their core by Raine’s casual execution of their commander. They weren’t hardened warriors, or even martials, just people who excelled at bullying those weaker than them. Overwhelmed by terror, one man turned to flee. His head was pulverized before he took the first step.

The question marks above Raine’s head that would normally show his class and health turned a shade of light pink. Now a red player, the more he killed, the darker red his information would become. Killing red players was never considered a crime, even in towns the guards would simply watch and most likely laugh. If his name became red enough, the guards would be the ones doing the killing. Worse, he would drop additional equipment if someone managed to kill him, on top of earning a significantly longer respawn time.

Being a red player was a tough life; a calling for some as it was a highly viable martial path. The loot potential was far higher than killing beasts, and ZionLine doled out incredible rewards for those who chose to regularly murder their fellow man.

Raine swept his gaze across the last three, then released another burst of bloodlust, “Don’t do pointless things. I have a use for you. Fulfill it, and I’ll let you live.” He jerked his head toward Mel and Celeste who were just as stunned as everyone else, “Fight these two. They’re both level zero. If you manage to kill one of them, you can leave.”

One of the survivors shook like a leaf in a hurricane, “B-but the protections.”

Raine ignored him, walking in a circle and tapping each dropped piece of loot with his boot to place them in his inventory, “Pick your targets and send the duel request.”

The girls nodded to each other, then tapped at their interfaces. Raine’s senses were tuned toward the players in the thin woods on either side of the road. It wasn’t worth his time to chase them down. The red player penalty faded rapidly when it was only one or two kills. Too many, and he would have a hard time entering any law-abiding towns for days.

They should have attacked immediately before my skill’s cooldown finished. Just proves that ZL is still new. Proper ambush response doctrines simply haven’t been created, let alone trained yet.

The same player who spoke earlier took a fearful step back, looking between Mel and Celeste, “B-both of you?”

“Nobody said it had to be one-on-one!” Celeste spat, staff in her hands.

Raine nodded, impressed they figured out the trick to his task. Mel went wide, attempting to flank the man while Celeste approached slowly from the front. His spear swiveled from one to the other, fear still overwhelming his decision making. When Celeste leaned forward and lunged, his level five Potency easily batted her blow aside. The bladed tip of his weapon clanged against her staff, sending her arms wide. She jumped back a step, wary of a counter.

The terror gripping the man’s guts faded instantly as he realized that she wasn’t the same kind of monster Raine was. With growing confidence, he jumped at her in a straightforward Pierce. Celeste barely twisted her torso and bent out of the way. Mel tried to take advantage but was too slow to close the distance, leaving Celeste to deal with the butt of his spear coming around in a wicked-fast arc.

She ducked, throwing herself onto her ass and sliding away from him. The fear in her expression made it clear she had severely underestimated the power and speed granted by five levels of attributes. Instead of chasing Celeste, he rounded on Mel. 

After swinging the butt of his weapon at Celeste, its point was now facing Mel. Her eyes widened seeing the sharp tip darting toward her neck. Surprise ruined her ability to access Discipline, and lacking Celeste’s honed reflexes, she failed to dodge. The spear cut deeply into the side of her exposed throat, releasing a spray of blood.

Half of Mel’s health vanished, and the dagger slipped from her grasp. She clamped both hands around the wound. Large, panicked eyes watched in disbelief as the spear jerked back for another stab. A small ball of fire crashed into the man’s back. He screamed as delicate flesh melted, stumbling forward from the impact.

Raine’s brows shot up. Hitting with a thrown elemental skill wasn’t easy. Not only did the caster need to choose an element and hold its image in their minds, they had to choose exactly where along the trajectory of their swing the Blast would be released, ‘before’ making the swing. Similar to deciding when you needed to release a rock when throwing it, except once the choice was made and the swing started, there was no changing it. Lastly, there had to be enough force in the swing to physically hurl the ball of fire, ice, or whichever element was chosen. 

Previously, Celeste had been releasing her Blasts in melee so much of her accuracy could be discounted. This time, she fired from nearly four meters away and hit a moving target dead on. It took TwistedReligion thirty tries to do what she did on her first, and Raine doubted it was luck.

There’s a reason she became a legend. Well, this isn’t that reason, but it does show her natural talent is fairly monstrous.

Celeste was on the burning man as quickly as she could move, the bottom of her staff whipping toward him. Thanks to significantly higher Finesse, he managed to turn and get the center of his spear in the way to block. 

The butt of his spear once more sent her reeling, though this time she didn’t fall. He charged as she was trying to regain her balance. Impressively, she managed to release another Blast however the force of release sent her ass to the ground, hard. The man flexed every muscle in his body, throwing himself to the side. Still, he nearly collided with the imperfectly aimed bolt that would have missed had he maintained his attack.

Off balance, he wasn’t at all prepared for Mel when she slammed into his side. When he wasn’t looking, the same fighting spirit that allowed her to kill her first wolf and clear the tutorial reared its head once more; she embraced it, healing herself and retrieving her weapon. The dagger was driven deep into the soft flesh beneath his rib cage. She followed him down, blood staining her basic tunic. Pinned down, his spear was useless. He tried to wrest the dagger from her but a blow to his chin by the recovered Celeste rattled his brain. Five more attacks finished the job and he fell limp before bursting into a shower of sparkling lights.

Mel healed herself again and the nasty, half-closed gash on her neck sealed into soft scar tissue.

A third Mend to fully recover? Must have been a crit. She’s lucky that didn’t kill her. Both of them got lucky multiple times. No fault there. Luck is simply the result of preparation and guts, applied at the right time and place.

While the last two survivors stood nervously, unsure of their fates, Raine approached the girls to whisper, “Out of ten fights against that guy, you would lose nine. The only reason you won is circumstances and luck. But that’s exactly what a true battlefield is. Emotions, unexpected events, misfortune, and a thousand other random things can heavily influence a fight. Taking advantage of even one of them is often the difference between survival and death. That said, what will you do better on the next one?”

“Next one? We have to do that again? I don’t have enough Celestial Power for another Mend!” Mel’s voice was hoarse, fingers massaging her still-aching throat.

Raine didn’t respond to the complaint. He stared down Celeste. She frowned, then further proved her future reputation wasn’t a fluke, “Mel is too inexperienced to dodge. I have to press the attack so hard they can’t ignore me. That should give her plenty of chances to whittle them down. I didn’t expect him to be so much stronger and faster than me, I won’t get knocked down again!” She growled the last, more to herself than him.

Raine nodded, “Passion isn’t enough to overcome a difference in attributes. Widen your stance and don’t face them square on to narrow your profile. And never forget that the staff is more than a stick. It's a third leg, an arm, a shield. Mel, don’t focus on anything other than fully experiencing your emotional state. Unlocking Discipline will give you a second resource pool so you’re not solely reliant on CP. Go on then.”

He waved them toward the next player. The woman swallowed hard. She raised her long sword, then tapped her finger in the air to accept the duel. Celeste rushed her and Mel was right behind, moving to the flank once more. Wise to the strategy, the woman put her back to a few spikes slightly off the road.

Her tactic might have worked without Raine's hints. Celeste barreled forward without any signs of slowing. The woman took a hasty swipe at her but Celeste came in low. She planted the bottom end of her staff against the road and jumped forward feet-first like a pole vaulter. Her soft boots slammed into the woman's chest and she stumbled back into the spikes.

Her pained shout was cut short by Celeste's Blast that hit her right in the face. Even her choking didn't last long as Mel's dagger swiped across her throat. Gurgling blood, she lurched forward with a two-handed Slash. Celeste didn't take the blow head on. The tip of her staff smacked into the woman's wrist, redirecting her arms up and over Celeste’s low stance.

Tears in her eyes and on the verge of panic, the woman Charged. Her form blurred and she smashed into Celeste, sending her flying. Bleeding profusely, she turned to face Mel alone, only to find the girl was already clear on the other side of the road after three Discipline-powered sprinting steps. Luckily for Celeste, Charge didn’t do any actual damage, merely bridging the gap to the target and imparting a boosted blast of physical force.

The girls shared a glance, then ran at the woman full tilt. Mel, now able to access Discipline, flanked her by the time Celeste arrived. The staff was a blur in her arms as she weaved her torso left and right around powerful, yet uncoordinated sword swings. The distraction was more than enough for Mel to land three quick stabs. The woman fell to her knees, strength and hope leaving her body as surely as Mel’s dagger left her back riddled with holes.

Both girls were panting hard, blood staining their exposed skin, and eyes wide with disbelief at the carnage they’d wrought on another living person. Raine simply nodded, “Better. Next.”

The last man tried to run but Raine was already behind him when he turned around. He stumbled back, raising his hands, “Please, no! Just kill me quick, I don't want to be picked apart by them!”

“Fine,” Raine’s massive mace reduced his head to pulp so quickly the man didn't see him swing. His information was a shade darker as he picked up the dropped piece of gear. He met the girls’ shocked disapproval, “What? There's little to learn from a broken opponent.” He walked through what was left of the demolished spike wall and they dashed to keep up.

No doubt spurred on by the last man’s choice of words, Mel spoke up, voice timid and trembling with emotion. “D-did we really kill those people?” 

“What? No.” Raine shook his head vehemently. “They'll be a little shaken up when they respawn, but they'll learn and grow from the experience. Think of it as helping them down their paths. 

“But… it felt so real when-when I…” Mel checked her arm, finding the blood from her victims had already evaporated, revealing clear and clean skin. Her eyes lifted to Raine’s back.

[I can still feel the warmth from their blood. No wonder he refuses to think of this place as a game… even if it's not permanent, those people definitely experienced what it feels like to die. If I keep going down this path with him, I will too.] 

Mel met Celeste’s eyes, finding existential panic reflected right back at her. They were both murderers now, but not, and neither knew how to cope. Raine gave them a moment to organize their thoughts, knowing exactly what they were going through. He’d seen it thousands of times in others, and even after all this time, he remembered his first kill with perfect clarity.

They’re doing better than expected. Most break down into tears or the shakes. As for technique: abysmal footwork, body movement, and overall combat awareness, but those can be taught. Their instincts and mental fortitude are off the charts, and those are qualities that can’t be easily trained.

Taking the time to pick them up wasn’t a waste. With a little polish, they’ll be useful well after the raid. The two most important parts of any successful guild is its war purse, and its main raid group. When these two mature, and with Fizgore tanking, we’re going to take the Tri-glades by storm. 

What's best for them right now is a little push to take their minds off things.

Not liking the direction of his thoughts one bit, Celeste tried to divert his attention, “How do you keep vanishing like that? Are your attributes that high? No, that can’t be right. You did it against the ex-champ too. Does that mean it's a martial technique and not a skill?”

Thankfully, they were far enough away from the roadblock that the hidden players couldn’t overhear her. Raine looked back, giving Celeste a hard glare, “First of all, don’t ever talk about our outside world identities while we’re in ZL. Unless you want assassins paying you nightly visits. Second, you can't even use Discipline in a fight yet, but you’re asking about my techniques? I’m clearly being too soft on you if you have time for pointless questions.”

Next training definitely needs to be for their eyes. They're missing everything around them. Focusing so much on only what's in front of you is a great way to get stabbed in the back. I’ll start with expanding their peripheral awareness, then stress their ocular nervous system until they’re begging for mercy.

“W-what about the players we left hiding in the trees back there?” Celeste’s attempt to get Raine to go easy on her didn’t work in the slightest. 

“Not worth the time to chase them down. Don't worry, there's plenty more on the road ahead. Now, how many did you notice? I want details: Weapon types, color of their pants, style of armor. Mel first.”

After Celeste won, Raine generously gifted her the tutorial boots that dropped from the woman they killed. Recognizing them, Celeste scowled but wisely didn't complain. As they traveled to the next roadblock, Raine moved through the forest while the girls remained on the road. He practiced with bloodlust as often as possible, doing his best to grasp the illusive ability. Unfortunately, each extended use came with a free blinding headache so he was limited to short bursts.

His obscuring cloak, and years of training with stealth skills, allowed him to remain mostly out of the girls’ sights as he randomly chucked rocks at their heads—an activity that filled both their hearts to bursting with intense joy. Since he no longer warned them of the beasts that lurked nearby, and often went out of his way to scare the creatures toward the girls with bloodlust, they quickly learned the value of expanding their focus.

A short time later

- Shadow Springs Town, Righteous central command center -

A powerfully built young man quietly opened the only door to an unassuming ZionLine office space. He carefully shut it behind him, cautious to not disturb the sole occupant's focus. The interior had been completely redesigned by its owner to incorporate her usual out-of-game research. She was a lithe woman with slicked back, black hair. She clicked away at a floating screen, making adjustments to a holographic schematic of a large tube-like machine that hung suspended in the center of the room.

Taking notice of his intrusion, she created a few more notes before pinning him with a sharp glare. The young man snapped a salute, “Ma’am! Master Fist just confirmed it. Froust is being removed from Carter City and won’t be returning to his post in the northeast region, either.”

The woman spoke for the first time, her voice like the crack of a whip, “Good. That incompetent weakling was never fit for anything beyond looking pretty. Did Master Torune assign replacements?”

Jerred shook his head in the negative, knowing she didn't like hearing the word ‘no’ even in these situations. Not for the first time, Jerred wondered how his boss came up with her in-game name. Sure, the first half fit her personality perfectly, but the second was never a word he would use to describe her.

MeanyMouse pursed her thin lips, “Then he wants me to handle it. Which means dealing with the new variable…” She pulled up the footage of Froust's embarrassing loss at the Carter City Romaxillions again. She watched the too-gorgeous and mysterious martial dismantle her once-peer with laughable ease and doubted she would fare any better. She watched the footage a few moments longer, clicking her tongue in envy at his beautiful companions, “Seduction’s out. We'll try negotiating and bribery first. If that doesn't work… Well, master will be arriving in the city soon enough. Have there been any delays with the construction efforts?”

“The acquisitions of the local shops are complete and demolition is still planned for the morning. Luckily, the deals were signed before Dimitrey's defeat and the new champion either doesn't know or doesn't care.”

“If that changes, I expect an immediate report. Master's accommodations must be complete before he arrives or none of us will enjoy our lives for a long while.”

Jerred snapped another crisp salute, quickly jotting down her command word for word, “Yes, Ma'am!”

MeanyMouse waited for him to finish before continuing, “As for the northeast region, inform Commander Pierke to withdraw from the Crystal Tributaries. Froust's little war with DyingNight was nothing more than a disgusting ego trip. That said, our forces did gain considerable experience with ZionLine's systems, which they can now put to good use. We're far behind the independents in levels, and those are the skilled players we should be focused on recruiting. I want our average level to be twelve by end of day tomorrow. Thirty-six hours is plenty of time. Anyone who complains or fails will be demoted to farming.”

“Ma'am!” Jerred once more took rapid notes, wishing all the while he could record the conversation. Unfortunately, MeanyMouse's highly technical project was top secret and recording inside her office would likely result in his death in reality. As he finished, he saw one of his previous notes detailing the second reason he'd needed to see her.

His punishment for failing to report it earlier would suck, but not nearly as much as forgetting completely. He spoke in a rush, not daring to cringe or break eye contact, “Three players recently broke through all our roadblocks leading out of Mirror Lake Town. They were last seen on the road to Dry Canyon Town by a…” Jerred checked his notes, “Warrant Officer Clarkness. After compiling all the reports, it's estimated they've killed over one hundred recruiters and patrollers.”

MeanyMouse's glare was chock-full of fury to the point Jerred was sweating profusely when her words cracked in his ears, “Those losses could cost us several million credits and not one person before you bothered to report it! Send me every relevant VRVod we have on these three, right now!”

Already having the files prepared, Jerred transferred them straight away, “Ma’am, the first reports only came in thirty minutes ago. I prepared the footage for you and brought it straight away!”

“They've killed a hundred people in thirty minutes?! Wait… three people from Mirror Lake Town. That's the origin town attached to Carter City.” With a suspicious glint in her eyes, MeanyMouse examined the footage in exacting detail, a sinking suspicion churning in her gut.

SECRETS TO DIE FOR

65

The first hint of a glow embraced the distant horizon. The soft light of morning failed to banish the dusk, leaving the vast plains shrouded in long shadows that clung to shrubs, obscuring the beasts that stalked unwitting prey.

Raine skimmed a message from Richtor, responding to stay put and grind Superiority until he arrived. Closing the interface, he eyed Mel and Celeste who huffed nearby, catching their breath and restoring their Discipline after sprinting down the most recent stretch of dry road.

Both were level two already, impressive considering how little time had passed since they left town. After becoming proficient with the use of Discipline for travel, Raine taught them how to activate consumable items. Their speed was further boosted, contributing to the number of enemies they got the chance to fight.

[Scroll of Travels: (Common Grey) Boosts unmounted traveling speed on roadways by 300% for 2 hours]

The constant ambushes were a great learning experience. Another reason for their rapid progress in levels was the lack of players distracting them. Raine wore a pout as he scanned the landscape. The last time he spotted a member of Righteous was two hours ago. Before that, they had cleared the road to avoid further losses. Raine had been perfectly content to show them how hiding a few dozen meters away in the bushes was an insufficient strategy. Their discontinuation of donations was disheartening for multiple reasons.

The free equipment was great, of course. The real issue was that whoever took charge after Froust wasn't nearly as incompetent. It took a sound mind to cut losses and throw away the chance to recover all the gear he’d liberated. Since the two hour window was now closed, they would only get a single random drop from killing him.

In that same time, his red player status had faded. After the first roadblock, the fools attacked him without hesitation, even when he was the one ambushing them. Not that he would have let being the aggressor stop him from completing the first step of an important achievement series.

[Achievement for murdering (intended or otherwise) 100 Travelers: Bandit Leader's Earring dropped]

[Bandit Leader's Earring: (Common Grey - LVL 5) Further reduces generated sound while stealthed by 10%]

The item was useless to him, but he equipped it anyway since the equipment slot was open. The real prizes would come at ten and a hundred thousand kills. Hopefully, Righteous wouldn't mind helping him with those, too.

They aren't the kind of guild to let this slide. They’re definitely gathering an elite force to strike when I’m at a disadvantage. I doubt they can kill me, but…

Mel and Celeste were both watching him intently, easily able to piece together his unvoiced thoughts. Mel opened and closed her mouth three times before gathering the courage to speak, “How long until we reach the next town? I… I don’t know how much more of this I can take.” She took a quaking breath, fear etched across her features, “I keep thinking about dying and having to start all over again.”

Raine had no intention of letting them die and waste the time he’d already invested, but he sure wasn’t going to ruin their training by telling them that. He grunted, “You’ll either get used to this kind of pressure, or you’ll quit leveling and find a comfy job in a town or city. Our little jog this morning was nothing.” He stopped himself from mentioning how he used to have to travel for days to get to a decent leveling spot. Instead, he pivoted, “Vaateaire is far more massive than Earth. I’m just grateful the roads let us run several times faster than normal, or this trip would take days instead of hours.”

Celeste was quick to question him, her brain perked to catch his thoughts, “How do you know that? You can’t have seen much of it in so little time, right?”

A small pebble was launched by his thumb and Celeste threw herself into the dirt to dodge the painful projectile. Raine smiled, pleased with her reaction speed, “If you’re rested enough for questions, then you can run.”

She growled deep in her throat, dutifully pushing to her feet and taking off down the road, “I hate you so much!”

Raine appeared right next to her ear, shocking the breath from her lungs, “Good.” His foot was in front of hers before she realized what was happening. She tripped, summoning her staff and digging its tip into the ground. Her back foot pushed off the dirt, sending her body rotating around the weapon. A flying kick propelled her forward and she landed in a spin, already dashing away from him with all her might.

The smirk she flashed over her shoulder made it obvious she was beyond pleased with herself. Mel tried to race by him in his moment of distraction. His foot flashed out again, marginally slower than before. Expecting it, Mel jumped over with both feet, landing too slowly to escape his follow-up push on her back. She lurched forward, but recovered by flexing her core into a forward roll. She came back to her feet running.

He caught up with them, handing each a new piece of gear, “Great job, both of you. You’re ready for the next phase.” They groaned in unison, a sound that filled Raine’s heart with bliss, “Ten acrobatics between each boost of Discipline. Since you’re both doing so well, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

By this point, they were intimately familiar with the sensation of burning two Discipline per minute on the road. Raine often utilized that fraction of a second they had to focus to attack them. Now they would have to perform random acrobatics while he struck at them with his dirty tricks. Their peaceful jog through the early morning had just become a sweat-inducing nightmare.

Mel’s fears were brought to life when she opened with a forward handspring into a front-flip. Raine kicked her out of the air, sending her crashing to the ground in a heap, “Flex your feet and don’t point your toes! This isn't a ballet studio. Flipping to land on a tree, rock, or wall to attack from a different angle is a great strategy, but if your feet aren’t in position ahead of time, you’ll just end up falling to your death!”

Mel was wracked with a head-to-toe shiver as she rose to her feet. She bit her lip, staring at Raine’s broad back while he chased after Celeste. Mel could have recovered without wiping out completely, but where was the fun in that? It was a constant struggle to perform a little worse than she could have in the pursuit of hearing his deep, overbearing voice discipline her. 

Each time, her heart raced out of control and her toes curled with delight. Unfortunately, she had to balance her enjoyment against keeping up with Celeste; the girl really was too skilled for Mel’s own good. Not that she minded the extra challenge, as that made each little payoff all the more satisfying.

Mel knew it was a miracle Raine hadn’t figured her out yet, and a large part of her wanted him to, just to see how he would punish her. She threw the thought away lest it distract her to the point she failed to spot an ambushing beast. She expanded her vision to include both sides of the road, enjoying the uncomfortable way that splitting her vision tugged at her brain.

The lurking and unseen predators reminded her of another conflict, this one she was actively trying to ignore. The lies were piling up, and each felt like a fresh corpse rotting on the side of a highway she was barreling down at full speed. 

She hadn’t been honest with him again when she made it sound like she was afraid of dying. The pain of death was nothing. The truth was, she was enjoying herself so much that she didn't want it to end. She was terrified he would really let her die and she wouldn’t be able to hear his chastising voice penetrating into her skull again.

This, of course, was only the most recent lie, and a fairly harmless one. The big lie was a punch to the gut that never faded for long. Against her will, a memory from earlier that night invaded her thoughts.

Raine had left her hotel room an hour before. The experience had been something she would never be able to forget, and couldn’t wait to repeat. All the times she’d invaded his mental privacy over the last week were repaid in double as she gleefully fulfilled every desire that popped into his mind.

Tragically, the encounter came with the downside of guilt that her long shower had been unable to cleanse. Even bringing him joy had been a violation, and she was sinking ever deeper toward a need to repent. By the time Celeste arrived with the headsets, she was near to breaking down.

When Mel opened the door, Raine’s beautiful, and very famous friend sauntered by with her head held high. Celeste scanned the corners of the large hotel suite, ducked into the bathroom and bedroom, then set down her bags on the couch. Her smooth voice filled the room, “It reeks in here. You two were busy,” Celeste waved off Mel’s embarrassment, “Don’t worry, love. I'm not after that. I only want what's in his head.”

Mel was momentarily stunned. They hinted around the topic of hearing his thoughts at Romaxillions, but for the girl to so openly admit it was another thing entirely. Mel stammered, “I-I—”

“Don’t say a word!” Celeste snapped, tapping her ear and looking around the room with raised brows. “Someone is always listening. The only thing I care about is that we don’t get in each other's way. I don’t know what you’re after, and I don’t care so long as I get what I want.”

Quick as a bolt of lightning, anger rose in Mel’s chest and her upper lip curled back, “That's not right! He’s not some tool for you to use!”

Celeste rolled her eyes, unbothered by Mel’s outburst, “Oh please, like you're any different. Can you honestly tell me you were never interested in him because of that?” Celeste watched Mel devolve into utter remorse with a smirk, “Didn't think so.”

“It’s not like that now,” Mel tried to defend herself, but the attempt sounded pitiful even to her own ears.

Celeste frowned, stalking toward Mel who retreated until her back hit the wall. Strong arms whooshed past her ears, smacking into the plaster on either side of her head. Celeste leaned in, growling, “You better not have any thoughts about coming clean for love, or some utter shit like that.”

Finding her backbone, Mel locked eyes with the slightly taller woman, “What if I am?”

Falling back to her smirk, Celeste practically purred in her ear, “Billions of credits were exchanged at that auction tonight and we both know that was only the beginning. The two of us are a liability to him. If he knew… do you honestly believe he would let us live? Why wonder? Ask him yourself. Ask him what he’d do if any one person knew all his secrets, and there was even a chance of them being exposed.”

Seeing the memory again was the last straw. Mel dashed forward, burning Discipline as quickly as she could to catch up with Raine, “Wait!” He responded to her call right away, looking back then slowing to let her catch up. Clenching her fists tight, Mel blurted out the question, “What would you do if somebody knew all your secrets and they were in danger of being exposed?”

Raine’s brows lifted and he glanced to the sides for threats as he mulled over the question, “Is this about Vaateaire being bigger than Earth? I told you before, there are things I know that I won’t talk about. Some of those things are dangerous, and others are advantages I would kill to keep to myself.” Mel blanched, the most important word in what he said causing her to nearly come to tears.

Knowing they needed to have this conversation anyways, and hoping it would soothe her nerves, Raine said what was on his mind, “Whatever’s going on in that pretty head of yours, I hope you can keep it under control. This thing between us, I like where it's going. But there’s a thick line between our private lives and ZL. Don’t expect me to be nice, charming, or affectionate here. This world is more real to me than the one out there and I take it with complete seriousness.”

Celeste slowed to listen. Raine didn’t mind. Parts of what he had to say were important for her too. He continued a little louder, “Wealth, influence, fame, power, it's all here, in ZionLine, awaiting those willing to take it. I’m one of those people. I’ll take every advantage and use them to crush anyone who gets in my way. I’ll never give up no matter how bleak the situation looks, and I’ll never stop pushing forward. It’s inevitable that I’m going to piss off some very powerful people. They will find me outside if they can, and they will kill me.”

“That said, neither of you have to be like me to stay by my side. So long as you’re faithful and trustworthy, I’ll accept you for whoever you decide to be.”

Celeste looked back, shooting Mel a smirk loaded with meaning that Raine couldn’t parse. He ignored it. So long as they kept playing nice with each other, he had no intention of interfering in the social politicking that women thrived on. Sensing they needed a break to reconcile his words, he slowed to a walk.

Mel was biting her lip so hard Raine was surprised it wasn’t bleeding. The unspoken pause in their training stretched on for several long minutes as she stared into the distance, battling her inner demons.

Suddenly, her head snapped forward and she looked hard at Raine with a clenched jaw. He met her gaze calmly. With a firm nod, she accessed her interface and started madly typing away at something. Not a minute later, she shot him an updated, and already signed version of their previous contract.

He scanned the changed contents and his pumping legs naturally slowed to a stop. He couldn’t have torn himself away from the contract if a monster chose that moment to pounce on his head. He shook himself, shocked to his core that she signed such a vile thing, “Do you have any idea what this means for your future? Why would you want something like this?”

She nodded meekly, her voice a whisper he strained to hear, “Of course I don’t understand it like you do. But I know you made… a lot at the auction last night. I know I could do that too, that I could become strong like you, and so many more things that I can’t fathom right now. Even so, you trusting me is more important than any of that. Besides, I’d only have to give those things up if I break this contract, break your trust, which I never will.”

Raine opened his mouth to respond but her finger landed on his lips. She pressed on, gaining more confidence with each word, “There are things about you I have to accept without knowing, right? Well, this is something you have to accept about me. This is what I want, and if you don’t sign my contract, then we won’t work.”

She was a little too smug while throwing his words back in his face and Raine couldn’t bring himself to care. He read over the contract one last time, his heart torn by the hellish future he had lived through, “Mel, how am I supposed to accept you becoming my slave?”

DRY CANYON TOWN

66

“Slave?!” Mel's exclamation squeaked from her suddenly constricted throat. The word, especially hearing Raine speak it, made her heart skip several beats. When it restarted, it was at a full gallop and crimson heat flushed her skin. She hoped he didn't notice in the dark.

Celeste stood behind Raine, her jaw on the ground as she beheld Mel like she'd never seen the girl before.

Raine shook his head fiercely, “I refuse. I’m not interested in owning slaves.”

Mel was quick to defend herself, “It's not that bad! I can leave at any time. I’ll be credless, but whatever, I’ve been there before. It gives you the power to throw me away without concern that I’ll spill any of your secrets.” Seeing his scowl, she patted the air with her hands, “I’m not doing this so you’ll tell me any of your secrets. This is my insurance against myself. If I happen to overhear something, I’ll never be tempted to reveal it and you’ll never have to worry about my intentions. It’s perfect.”

“No, it’s nowhere near perfect. There’s enough loopholes in this piece of garbage to squeeze a planet through.”

Just as Mel was beginning to calm, his words caused fresh embarrassment to color her complexion, “C-can you fix it, then? I won’t feel comfortable around you if I don’t have something like this. I don’t like how things are now. I’m too distracted by all this and I don’t want to have to worry about it ever again.”

Understanding dawned and Raine paused, realizing he'd fundamentally misunderstood her, both in the past, and now. This wasn't his first experience with people who preferred to have little to no control over their own existence. In a way, that kind of personality made sense. The world was a dangerous, scary place, and that reality was simply too much for some people to navigate. Being told where to go and what to do took the edge off in a way that he couldn't personally understand, though he could fathom it.

Raine stared at her for long seconds, each feeling like an eternity for the squirming girl, “I’ll… think about it.”

The tension choking Mel's muscles fled and she sagged with honest relief, “Thank you!” Raine blinked away his surprise at the odd turn the conversation took, then restarted their journey at a light jog.

Can't believe I never noticed she was that type of person. Now that I think about it, the hints have been there all along. Wow, was I blind or what?

Mel followed after, face skewed in confusion. [Huh? What type of person? Did he misunderstand something? It doesn't matter so long as he's willing to sign. Eventually, he's going to figure out we can read his mind and this is the only way he'll be willing to forgive me for not telling him earlier. This is definitely the right choice. I feel so much better already.]

Celeste kept pace with Mel, sending her a message through the interface, “He means you're crazy. What the hell are you thinking?”

Mel sent an unsigned copy of the contract to Celeste, “Protecting myself for when he eventually discovers the truth. This way, neither of you have to worry about me. I don't want to be a threat to you, either.”

Celeste scanned the contents, not understanding Raine's disdain for it. It was fairly simple, stating Mel would never reiterate anything she learned from Raine. Nor would she knowingly betray his trust. She would follow his direct commands to the best of her ability and never act against his interests. The contract could be ended at any time of his choosing and the penalties for breach were a permanent ban from ZionLine and forfeiture of her digital and real life assets, just like the other contract he'd made them sign.

The specific wording cleverly forced Mel to not reveal Raine's secrets to himself, meaning she couldn't tell him about reading his mind. Celeste was impressed, nodding with a thoughtful frown, “I should do something similar. Don't want him to kill me either, and he's too clever to fool for long.”

A spike of fear had Mel responding in a rush, “You really think he would kill us?”

Celeste nodded emphatically, “Definitely. Father always says men are straightforward creatures. When they speak, especially when it's an important topic, it's best to take their words literally and believe them.”

Done with the conversation, Celeste leaned forward and burned Discipline, shooting away at triple speed. Mel was right behind. Her footsteps felt lighter than before, like she had wings strapped to her back.

Two hours of grueling acrobatics and sprinting later, the sun was mostly visible on the land. Its warmth had yet to reach them but the chilly morning air was a comfort on their sweat-soaked skin. In the distance, low walls came into view. They were framed by craggy hills dotted with sprinkles of sandy patches.

Approaching the gated wall gave the impression the town beyond was abandoned. There were no guards in view, and a lack of players, smoke, or noise lent weight to the observation.

Mel sincerely hoped it was an illusion. She was starving, thirsty, and didn't want to walk another step without a break. Exercising in ZionLine was both familiar and surreal. Moving her avatar felt exactly like reality. Each time her Discipline dropped below half, exhaustion would set in, taking the form of heavy breathing, muscle strain, heat, and sweat. When it went below 25% the symptoms doubled, and again at 10%. At that point, the fatigue grew bad enough she felt on the verge of death.

The surreal exception was that she never once felt like she was operating at less than her maximum strength, despite how much her body complained. A short break to regenerate Discipline was all it took to return to an optimal state.

The real issue was the mental strain of knowing she could really die any second. The monsters had all been level five for the last hour. The rolling, spiked little turds were terrifyingly fast. She and Celeste had been glued at the hip after nearly being killed by an ambush from three of them. Before that fateful encounter, Raine always made some subtle hint they were about to be attacked, like looking at an area twice, or scratching his elbow.

After suddenly being jumped on from either side of the road, both she and Celeste were reduced to half health and knocked off balance. Their survival instincts kicked into overdrive. The fight had been brutal, the two of them combining every lesson they'd learned through the night to barely eke out a win.

The pride in Celeste's eyes matched the swelling in Mel's chest when they killed the last monster and leveled again. The surge of power that swept through her was intoxicating; combined with the flashing lights, trumpets, and numerical increases in her status, she was already hopelessly addicted. Unfortunately, the need to progress and feel the sensations of leveling again only made the threat of death worse.

Celeste was no better. Raine chuckled at the girls after sneaking a peek from his peripherals. They were hunched with bent knees, their heads on a swivel as they stalked behind him, ready to murder anything that got between them and the safety the town’s walls represented. If they knew the truth, Raine imagined they would piss themselves from fear.

He strode right up to the unmanned gates without worry. They usually didn't open for another couple hours but that didn't mean his group would be barred entrance. There were plenty of city guards, they were just tucked out of sight where they wouldn't be easy prey for archers or casters from a surprise bandit raid.

There were tons of players outside the walls, too. They were merely crouched in stealth, waiting for the right moment to strike. Righteous controlled this town and its surrounding areas. Usually, they would collect an entry fee from any approaching group—a huge source of income Raine couldn’t wait to mimic with his own guild. Since Righteous was choosing to let them in without hassle, it was all the more proof they were planning to trap him in the town.

It was in their best interest to let Raine bind first, then kill him repeatedly to recover some of their lost loot. How they intended to make the attempt was yet to be seen. ZionLine was still new, and its subtleties unexplored. It was common knowledge by day three that drawing weapons in a town would lead to jail time, and outright attacking, to death. There were ways around those rules, but Raine doubted Righteous would have figured them out by now.

Let them come. Their donations will always be welcome.

Hidden eyes watched him rap on the thick wooden gate. Disguised ears perked as a gruff response came from within, “Name, affiliation, n’ purpose?”

Raine wore a confident grin. He replied loudly while making an obvious scan of the nearby players, “Gold, silver, and copper!”

“Good nuff fer me!” Barked the same voice with a laugh. One of the doors swung open enough for them to squeeze inside. Raine flipped each of the three guards a silver coin, earning him toothy grins. The one in charge elbowed his companion, practically shouting, “Search complete, no contraband found.”

The second nodded along, his coin vanishing, “Aye, search complete.”

The last rolled the piece of silver along the outside of his knuckles, “Yup, nothin s’picious here.”

Raine dipped his chin, voice polite, “Pleasure to encounter such upstanding guardians of the people. Thank you for your service, sirs.” They waved him off with a round of chuckles.

Much like Mirror Lake Town, the streets were packed. Despite the early hour, a press of bodies moved in every direction like a street fair at noon. Players shouted, selling items at a discount or for an outlandish mark-up. Offers for power leveling and guild invitations were mixed in as well. Mel wondered what magic kept the intense hubbub from reaching beyond the walls. The thought flew from her skull when Raine took off, not giving her time to fully appreciate the scene.

Thankfully, Celeste responded quickly, grabbing Mel’s sleeve and pulling her along as they entered the moving mass of humanity. Unlike Mel’s previous experience in a town, the only people releasing red PVP shields were her and Celeste. Each time it happened, grumbles and curses were thrown at them as people were rebuffed into the crowd. The impression that those below level five were unwelcome was quickly cemented as the voices turned to shouts that followed them uncomfortably close.

Raine led them down seemingly random streets past building after building with no markings that Mel could discern. She was lost straight away, the press of people who were mostly taller than her blocking her view. She couldn’t see Raine, having to trust that he was just beyond Celeste’s constantly flickering shield. Instead of continuing to be dragged along, Mel clung to Celeste’s sleeve with a death grip.

They turned sharply to the left and the sound of doors banging open pierced the nearby commotion. They entered a dark room. Moss-stained walls made of worn boards were illuminated by softly glowing lamps. She blinked until her eyes adjusted, finding them in a tavern of all places. Raine led the way to a few empty seats at the bar. 

He dropped three brownish colored coins on the counter, “Three waters.”

A slim worker with a dirty yellow apron slid his hand over the coins and they vanished. He poured their drinks from a tap below the wooden bar and slid them over one by one. He was already moving on to another customer by the time Mel thought to thank him. Raine slammed the drink back, then looked at the girls expectantly.

Neither was quick to make a move on the suspicious beverages, instead taking another long look at the questionable interior. Raine growled, “Drink already! We have a lot to do and there’s going to be plenty of interruptions slowing us down as it is.”

Hiding a delighted shiver from being reprimanded, Mel did as she was told. Cool, pristine water graced her tongue and flowed down her throat. A comfortable, soothing sensation prickled its way through her neck and she instantly felt like the journey here had been a dream, rather than a grueling undertaking. The cup was empty too soon and she only stopped trying to lick the last drops from it when she caught sight of Raine staring at her with a dead-eyed expression. She withdrew her tongue sheepishly, trying to laugh off her actions but knowing she failed.

Celeste slammed back her drink. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath, savoring the moment with a tranquil expression that did wonders for her complexion. Mel’s attention was drawn from the tall redhead's stunning visage by a blinking notification in her HUD.

[New resurrection location bound: Dry Canyon Town]

By the time she finished reading, Raine was off again and the two scrambled to keep up. He opened the front door and the sight on the street had changed so drastically, Mel wasn’t sure she was in the same town.

Instead of tightly packed players, there was an open space in the shape of a large ring that took up most of the street. Three lines of armored men and women kept the press of humanity back. There must have been two hundred of them and every one of their hate-filled gazes was boring into her. None of them had weapons drawn, but the threat in their stances, and the strangely cleared street that looked exactly like an arena couldn’t have been more clear.

A woman stepped forward from the far end of the encirclement. She wore a wide smile that pulled her thin features tight. Her voice was sharp and high. She sounded cheerful, if one ignored the bite that could easily turn nasty, “Welcome to our little town. I’ve been told you have a few items that belong to us. Give them up, along with everything you’re wearing, and we won’t kill you back to zero.” Mel’s suspicions about the woman's voice proved true as it easily altered to a snapped threat. “Don’t bother negotiating. Yes, ma’am, are the only words I want to hear. Otherwise, we’ll do things the fun way.”

The pressure on Mel was nothing compared to the wave of vertigo that slammed into her after hearing Raine’s next thought.

Of course it would be her. What the hell was I thinking when I married this bitch?

FILIAL IN THE BEST WAY

67

Celeste Luu Rahn

- Dry Canyon Town -

Long before the trio entered the tavern, prior to even seeing the town on the horizon, Celeste was forced to drastically re-evaluate her opinion of her companions. Raine, in particular, was a much more complex individual than she previously wanted to admit. He looked similar to her in age, yet his depth of knowledge and experience were so beyond her own that it boggled the mind. In the beginning, she assumed he was limited to barely understood snippets of random information like every other recorded seer. That was clearly not the case. 

The more she learned about the mysterious Mr. KongRu, the further she was drawn down the rabbit hole. His single most disturbing quality was his martial prowess. Growing up, her father spared no expense when it came to her education, and especially her martial training. Over the last fifteen years, she had gone through three instructors—none under forty. Each imparted all of their fundamentals and techniques onto her before they were replaced by the next. Two had even been class four martials, yet Celeste knew to her bones that working together, those three renowned instructors would have been unable to force Raine into using more than one hand.

In only a few short hours, he identified and easily pointed out flaws her trainers were too lazy to correct, or more likely, hadn't known about in the first place. Much of her rapid improvement was due to the realistic, high-stakes combat, but it was Raine's expert critiques that added an unquantifiable multiplier to her growth. After a single night, she was transformed to the point of easily defeating two of her past selves simultaneously. 

Everyone knew that properly teaching martial arts was an order of magnitude more difficult than fighting. There was only one way it made sense for Raine to be so adept at it. It was as if his prophetic visions were so clear that he gained martial prowess through them, and that was a beyond-terrifying prospect. If true, the governments of the world and the martial families would enter all-out war to obtain him. Worse, the organization she thought was backing him didn’t exist at all. He was entirely self made, alone, and easily the most dangerous man she had ever encountered.

At the moment, that very dangerous man was driving her toward a potential future where she as well would become an unopposable existence. Greed, born from her substantial improvement, stoked a desire to absorb everything Raine could impart. Beneath even that, a deep, churning respect had taken root in Celeste’s chest and it squeezed her diaphragm whenever she looked at his ugly face.

Then, there was Mel. At first sight, Celeste knew the girl was some random arm candy the bastard picked up in the slums. Mel’s wide-eyed wonderment while tip-toeing through Romaxillions was a dead giveaway of her mundane origins. But after their night together, it was clear the girl was the opposite of simple. Multiple times, Celeste caught Mel looking at Raine’s back with a calculating and cunning glint in her eyes.

Celeste had given their training her all. With her martial background, she should have left the random girl so far behind all she could see was a cloud of dust on the horizon. Yet Mel almost seemed to be taking the training easy, as though she were trying to let Celeste win every little competition between them. She certainly never showed any hints of her pride being hurt when losing. No, there was definitely something disturbing about the girl. Celeste was positive that anyone who underestimated Mel was bound to suffer.

There was also her brilliant plan with the contract. The moment Raine and Mel finalized their version, Celeste would be using it as a template for her own. That assumed she and Mel lived long enough. Raine was a deadly sharp blade, his every move calculated and meticulous. He could discover their intrusions into his mind from the slightest slip. 

One of those very slips was happening at that very moment.

Celeste’s arms wrapped around Mel as the girl teetered from the shock of hearing about Raine’s wife. The once floozy—now upgraded to love-struck tramp, was clearly tired of living and Celeste was having none of it. She smacked the back of Mel’s head, drawing a hundred pairs of hungry eyes away from Raine and onto them, “Get it together!” She hissed, ready to hit her again.

Mel sobered the second she heard the vitriol in Raine’s voice as he responded to his ‘wife,’ “Same old cowardly Vaneese, only enjoying the hunt when your prey lays on its back without a struggle. Happy to disappoint you. If you're truly set on an easy hunt, you can always go fuck one of your worthless little servants like the town-pump you are.”

Celeste’s brows rose to her hairline.

Uhh, did I mishear him? No way they’re still married. Oh shit, please tell me she can't read his mind too.

The woman’s jaw dropped. The sound of a hundred hissing snakes filled the street as the members of her guild sucked air through their teeth. Celeste imagined she could hear the woman’s teeth grinding from across the street. 

Vaneese held her hand high and snapped her fingers, “Group one, escort them out of town. Group two, standby at the graveyard.”

Celeste’s PVP shield flared without warning. She stumbled forward as a powerful shove slammed her from behind. She hit Raine’s sturdy back and bounced. Looking over her shoulder, she was met by the malicious grins of half the tavern’s occupants. Meanwhile, the encirclement of players closed in from the front, leaving them completely surrounded.

I have no idea how Raine’s going to get us out of this, but I’m positive he didn’t walk into that tavern without a plan.

Time froze for Celeste as the thought struck her. The mere idea she could trust someone she had only just met was an entirely alien concept. There was no such thing as friends who weren’t trying to use her for money or renown. Her past attempts at camaraderie proved that all too well. But Raine was different. He didn’t need her for anything. Whatever gain he thought she might accomplish for him, with his advantages, he could easily replace her.

The magnitude of it swept away the fact they were surrounded by hostile players that could enact any number of horrible fates upon her. The players were closer now, only a few paces away. She did as Raine had taught, inspecting them to find the ones in the closest row were all below level five, while those behind were six and seven. 

Again, Celeste was pushed from the back but Raine’s outstretched arms were an unyielding force that caught both her and Mel. Their plan to use the lower level players as a shieldwall to bodily force the three of them out of town was obvious to everyone watching, and finally, to Celeste herself.

Yet in that surreal moment, it didn’t matter. These idiots had no clue who they were fucking with. Celeste found herself sporting a shit-eating grin, overwhelmed by the bubbling anticipation of how Raine would thoroughly humiliate these scum for daring to touch her.

A tingling jolt raced down her spine when Raine’s hands came to rest on the nape of her neck. An undignified squeal was pulled from her lips when his grip tightened and her feet lifted from the ground. Mel was held firmly in his other hand, the tramp instantly going limp like a kitten. Celeste kicked and thrashed, achieving absolutely zero results against his unbelievable strength.

Gravity shifted as she rocketed forward, then, her vision was blocked by her shield’s non-stop flaring. Bodies were thrown from her path as Raine charged through the ranks of players, wielding her and Mel as living shields with laughable ease. When it became clear his grand plan from the very beginning was to utilize her as a human ragdoll, all the positive feelings she began to harbor vanished in a puff of embarrassed fury. She turned her head enough to glare at him with the promise of murder, “I hate you so much!”

Raine KongRu

- Dry Canyon Town -

Raine couldn't help himself, and roared with laughter, though not directly at Celeste's outrage. Not once in the past did he dare to rebuke Vaneese. As Master Torune’s top assassin, none who dared oppose her lived for long. Raine was in such good cheer as he crushed her minions aside that even a death couldn't have spoiled his mood. The best part was the use of her real name. He was positive her clever mind would be eating itself like some cancerous ouroboros attempting to discover how he knew her. Since she no doubt had suspicions about his origin, the red herring would do wonders to throw her off his track.

They broke through the encirclement and Raine kept right on running, easily pushing aside anyone in their way thanks to the PVP shields’ highly complex activation triggers. Being inside its range when another source activated it, Raine was immune to its effects. Since shield activations never summoned the guards, he was free to continue his rampage until running into someone with higher Potency.

In the past, those who were creative often discovered hilarious ways to manipulate the shield system. The current method he was using gained significant popularity over time and eventually earned the moniker: newbbowling. Having once been responsible for keeping the streets clean of such debauchery, Raine found himself enjoying the activity a little too much, especially since he was using it to outmaneuver the very woman who had cast him into the living hell that was CronGate’s slavery.

The trio rounded a bend and charged down the next street. Roars and shouts rife with indignant rage followed in their literal wake. The clamor caused by the members of Righteous plowing after them only added to the tumultuous upheaval. Raine didn’t dare look back, lest his excited grin give away the trap they were charging into.

He kept their pace slow, prolonging Celeste’s suffering which she was still being obnoxiously vocal about. The members of Righteous were right on his heels when he took a sharp turn through an open gate, entering the yard of a walled complex. A large and decadent three-story building—rivaling a small palace—loomed above their heads and Raine barreled straight up to its front doors. Between one blink and the next, a man in the perfect rendition of a western sheriff appeared before him. The three slammed into him and bounced back. Unfazed, the new arrival merely squinted his eyes questioningly. Raine dropped the girls and swept into a deep bow.

[Butler Champion (Noble): (Level ???) (HP ?????/?????)]

Before Raine could politely introduce himself, a gloating taunt from behind pulled the attention of the powerful Vaaterran, “Dead end, helmet!” A member of Righteous with the orange and purple sash of a captain stood with his hands on hips, fifty of his companions at his back. “You’re trapped! I’d tell you to surrender, but that isn’t an option anymore.” They spread out to block the only entrance to the compound and Raine could only shake his head at their idiocy. 

The other players crowding the yard couldn’t believe their audacity, “What is Righteous thinking? The last guy who caused a scene here died instantly.”

“There’s so many of them, though. Maybe they can actually pressure the auction house. This is going to be awesome!”

The butler’s hand landed on Raine’s shoulder, the strength behind its grip overbearing. His other hand followed, reaching Raine’s opposite arm where he gently wiped off a bit of dust, “Esteemed VIP. How gracious of you to grant our humble auction house your patronage. My name is Flavell. Please consider my services at your disposal.”

The captain from Righteous pointed, his voice high and sharp, “Hey! That’s our prey, you dumbass NPC. Throw him over here all nice-like or we’ll blockade the entrance. Good luck running your business without any customers!”

Holy wow. Room-temp IQ much?

Only two of the captain's lackeys appeared unsure of the situation. Raine acted quickly, making sure none would have a chance to escape. He stepped back, and the butler’s grip loosened instantly. He bowed respectfully, pitching his voice to make sure he was heard, “Champion Flavell, the pleasure is entirely mine. I apologize for their intrusion. They followed me here against my will and truly don’t know their place. Perhaps that’s only because there has yet to be a proper example set for those who disrespect the auction houses’ sanctity.”

A twinkle was born in Flavell’s eyes and he peered around Raine, sweeping his gaze over the members of Righteous. Wherever those flinty, golden-hued eyes passed, men and women received a notification that would have caused their jaws to drop if they were capable of moving at all.

[Negative affliction received -Paralyze: Renders willful movement through physical means inoperable (Duration 2.5 hours)]

With a blink from the overpowered butler, every member of Righteous that came to cause trouble exploded into floating clouds of light. Over fifty pieces of equipment fell from the little clouds, impacting the ground with soft thuds. Only one of the several hundred people in the auction house’s yard dared to move. Raine casually walked among the loot, tapping each piece with his toe and storing it.

Seeing him, some of the patrons waiting in lines to access the kiosks grew brave enough to restart their chatter, “Okay, new rule: do not fuck with that NPC.”

“Who is that guy though? How does he have the stones to steal those drops?”

“No way he’s going to get away with giving Righteous a black eye?!”

“He has to leave here eventually. Look, they’re waiting outside the gate!”

Sure enough, many members of Righteous were gathered outside. Among them was a familiar serpent of a woman. She snapped a command to one of her underlings and the man rushed inside, only to instantly pop, dropping another piece of gear. Raine grinned and waved, causing Vaneese to seethe in crimson-faced helplessness.

Thanks so much for playing along, Vaneese. After all the suffering you put me through, I’ll consider this a long overdue alimony.

Raine returned to the butler wearing an easy smile, “Thank you for your assistance in this matter, Flavell. Is there anything I can do to repay your kindness?”

The butler dipped his chin, “Put in a good word with Mrs. Stonewhall and I’ll consider us even.”

“You have my word,” Raine bowed with a hand over his heart.

Flavell cleared his throat, ready to move on to more interesting topics, “Is there any further service I can provide?”

Rubbing his hands together, Raine nodded vigorously, “Absolutely!”

PREPARATIONS

68

Champion Flavell led Raine, Mel, and Celeste through the front door of the Dry Canyon Town Auction House. Like the outer yard, the first floor was crammed with players. Only a few near the windows and door witnessed the slaughter outside. News rapidly spread though, and curious onlookers pointed in their direction as they crossed the spotless room.

“That's him! That's the guy who picked a fight with Righteous.”

“Dammit, look at his women! I hate his guts.”

“Why can't I see his level? Do you think it's that Rhino guy who’s always fighting with them?”

“No way. That Rhino guy’s way too weak after getting killed back to zero so many times.”

A couple of the whispers caught Raine's attention and he noted the people who spoke them.

Looks like Rhino's in a bad way. Knowing him, it's only making him stronger. Now would be a great time to recruit him since I’m in the area. Between Celeste, Fizgore, Rhino, and Mel I would have an insane core team. If I can get them some ReGen and polish their skills… No point getting too excited just yet.

Mel and Celeste were on his heels. They were unusually quiet since running into Flavell. For a moment, Raine wondered if the butler hit them with a silencing skill. A quick glance revealed they were merely spamming interface messages back and forth with intense focus.

What got them so worked up? Probably not used to being surrounded by so many players who want them dead. Or, they’re mad about the introduction to newbbowling. 

Raine flashed his teeth, looking forward to whatever revenge they were planning. He would take their punishment on the chin, and give back double in their next training session. Flavell led them right past the lines of players impatiently waiting for their chance to access the auction house kiosks. Near the stairs to the second floor, there were several private kiosk booths for VIPs, none of which had a line.

The trio stuck to Flavell’s heels, drawing plenty of attention, “That’s not fair! I’ve been waiting for three hours!”

“How did they get access to the VIP booths? These damn NPCs won’t even tell us!”

A particularly indignant young man shook his fist at Raine’s back, “My guild, the almighty QuantumEntanglement, will never forgive this insult!”

The older man standing behind the young man smacked him over the head, “Shut up, moron! We at QuantumEntanglement are magnanimous and forgiving to a fault! I knew you were bad news from the start and that was the last straw!”

The young man fell to his knees, his hands clasped in prayer, “No! Please don’t kick me from the guild. Please let me back in! I was wrong. I won’t do it again. I promise!”

Raine nodded, pleased to see not everyone would allow complete morons to form lifelong blood feuds over such simple matters. He ignored the rest of the crowd’s antics, stepping into the booth before drawing its curtain. Flavell and the girls waited outside. 

Accessing his auction house account, he withdrew the five thousand gold earned from selling the items from Silverlight City, bringing his total wealth back to just under ten thousand. He checked the logs, unsurprised that the Return Stones sold out first. He bought them for one gold each and listed them for five, yet they were gone in minutes.

I’ve got to get access to the noble’s quarter and empty out those vendors too. Good thing reputation is difficult to grind or someone might beat me to it.

Raine listed most of the gear he’d earned from Righteous. He was hesitant to sell all of it considering he would be recruiting players for his own guild soon and they would need copious quantities of low-level gear. After thinking about how Righteous was trying to trap him in this town, and would continue to harass him, he realized the donations would keep coming. He only kept what would be useful in the short term and sold everything else. Knowing what he would face leaving town, and the challenge awaiting him in ‘rescuing’ Fizgore, he changed out a few pieces of his gear, too.

Leaving the kiosk, Raine addressed Flavell, “If possible, I would like to access the second floor’s shop.”

“As you wish. However, your companions do not have the necessary credentials.”

Raine nodded, “You two stay here. Don’t get into any trouble.”

“Really?” Celeste hissed, “I’m not a child.”

“You think you’re safe here?” Raine fired back, “Since the dawn of auction houses, they have been the breeding ground for feuds that lasted generations.” He leaned forward, a pointed finger in her face, “And you, in particular, are a time bomb waiting to go off. If you do cause any problems, fixing them is coming directly out of your salary.”

His warnings only mildly soothed her temper. Meanwhile, Mel was downcast. She nodded mutely, leaning against the wall. Raine could see she had a lot on her mind so he let her be. Upstairs, locked display cases littered the floor. Inside each, presented on soft-colored cloth, were a staggering number of goods. They ranged from weapons and armor to consumables and curiosities; the list of available items was staggering. The most expensive contents were protected, requiring high-level scanning skills to see. Raine didn’t even have the basic Identify so he could only see the details of a scant few items.

“Is there a list? I’m looking for consumables that can resist and cure basic demonic debuffs.”

Flavell frowned, understanding Raine’s intentions, “That place is dangerous. Since you’re clearly aware, I shall refrain from hindering you and merely offer the services of a particularly adept mercenary company.”

Until becoming a noble himself, it would be impossible to hire a mercenary Vaaterran. The offer was tempting since it would be difficult to reach Fizgore without putting the girls in danger. Raine tapped his chin in thought, “How much to only protect my companions? I plan on leaving them outside.”

“In that case, I suggest a band of recruits. The going price for a light escort is fifty gold,” Flavell’s eyes narrowed negligibly and his voice dropped an octave, “I’m afraid their contract will stipulate that they don’t go inside.”

Raine waved off his concern, “Two recruits is plenty. I had no intention of abusing them. Any contractual stipulations to ensure that won’t be an issue are acceptable.”

Pleased, Flavell produced a cigar and stuck it between his teeth, displaying a wide smile around its girth, “In that case, I’ll make the arrangements.” He produced a sheet of paper from thin air and handed it to Raine.

“Thank you,” Raine browsed the list, finding the items he would need and purchased them for under two hundred gold. By the time he was done, Flavell presented him with a contract for a pair of level twenty-five mercenaries. Raine scanned the contents, then signed and paid twenty gold. While expensive, especially for normal players, they were well worth the cost.

A regular Vaaterran started as an elite, meaning they had the combat standards of a class three martial. Additionally, their attributes were on par with five players of equal level. A typical player without an extensive martial background wouldn’t stand a chance against a Vaaterran. At higher levels and class evolutions, the disparity only grew wider.

Bowing, Raine bid farewell, “Champion Flavell, thank you for your service and time. I’ll be sure to mention your impeccable management skills when I meet Mrs. Stonewhall in Silverlight City on Feastday.”

Flavell grunted, then winked in the way only dads could pull off with ease, “You’re alright, kid. May your travels bring immeasurable wealth.” Flavell left at his normal movement speed, vanishing almost instantly up the nearby stairs.

Raine watched him go, wishing now was the time to utilize his one free pass to enter the third floor. He earned the ticket after clearing the bonus question in the VIP test, but he wasn’t ready. The cheapest items up there likely cost in excess of a million gold. Sighing, he headed downstairs to find Mel and Celeste circled by a dozen men firing non-stop questions. Seeing him, the boys scattered. He lifted a brow at Celeste and she had the decency to break eye contact with a blush.

A blond young man with a longsword at his hip and a shield on his back was the only one to not immediately retreat. He squared up on Raine, looking a little too noble and handsome for comfort. After the previous nonsense ended without incident, Raine’s hackles were raised, knowing his luck wasn’t strong enough to avoid a second.

Kid better not start some typical protagonist nonsense. Let me guess, you want to buy my women for a night? Or my favorite, I don’t know who your father is and you’ll never forgive me because I cut you in line.

When the young man opened his mouth to reveal straight, white teeth, Raine was already cringing. The boy’s voice was curt, holding a tinge of sophistication that only came from those born with a golden spoon, “My guild, Enders Fall, seeks to enter negotiations regarding access to your VIP kiosk. Or more preferably, purchase information regarding the acquisition of our own.”

Wow. Polite. Okay, unexpected. Enders Fall, huh? I’ll remember that name.

Raine adopted a slick, welcoming smile, “Information trade it is. If you know the current whereabouts of a player named Rhino, I can tell you how to get the access you’re looking for.”

“Rhino? The very same individual causing a ruckus for Righteous? Considering your… avocations, prudence in your preference of companions makes a certain sense. Very well. I shall set my associates upon this task with utmost rapidity. In exchange, you will inform me of the method to access the VIP kiosks.” The kid’s superfluous way of speaking left Raine wanting to scratch at his ears. He extended a hand and Raine shook it.

A few clicks later and they had a basic contract signed. They exchanged Ncodes, then the man went on his way with a cheery smile. Mel slid past him on the way to the door, her nose in the air, “He was rather charming.”

Raine quickly outpaced her, directing a sharp side-eye her way. She turned away with a huff. On his other side, Celeste snorted in amusement, “She’s mad because she thinks you have something going on with that woman you sounded so familiar with earlier.”

Woman? Vaneese? Really? I degraded her in public and Mel’s jealous? How does that even begin to make sense?

Raine didn’t respond to Celeste’s comment right away. He opened the front door for the girls, then directed them to a marked loading entrance to the side. It was sectioned off with a short wall decorated in clear signage not to intrude. He led them in any way.

Out of prying earshot, he pinned Mel with an imperious glare, his voice iron, “I do have something going on with her. She’s an enemy. Whether it's here, or outside, if I see her and it's possible, she dies.”

“You would kill her in real life?!” Mel blurted, mouth agape.

“Is there a reason I shouldn't be ruthless with my enemies?” Seeing them unconvinced about the severity of the problem, Raine continued in more detail, “The people she works for have already spent billions to enact their plans in Carter City and ZL. Anyone who affects their bottom line will be swiftly, and permanently dealt with. I never finished telling you. The organization that took your cafe calls themselves CronGate. She’s one of their top executives, as well as an assassin they use to deal with people like us. If you want to go easy on them, be my guest. But don’t expect the same nonsense from me.”

The girls weren’t given a chance to respond. Two Vaaterrans exited from a nearby servant’s door. They appeared around thirty years old and were well-equipped in half-plate armor. One had a halberd strapped to his back, and the other wore a hammer and shield. They nodded to Raine and the hammer wielder spoke, “Anatollies Foot, reporting for duty, sir.” After the brief introduction, they took up positions behind the girls.

Raine returned their greeting, “Pleasure to have you. These two will be in your care.”

“Aye, sir. Our life before theirs.”

“What’s going on? Who are these two?” Celeste questioned.

Raine was already walking to the street, “Members of Anatollies Foot—a mercenary company. They’ll be protecting you for a while.”

Mel’s head swiveled between the two newcomers, “Are we going somewhere that dangerous? C-can we take a break first?”

“Yes, and no,” Raine responded to both her questions curtly, leading them into the crowded streets.

Unsurprisingly, the main forces of Righteous were nowhere to be seen. Their many spies were painfully evident, watching from windows and dark alleys. Vaneese wasn’t stupid, and she had a knack for adapting to situations on the fly. Losing an extra fifty players at the auction house wouldn’t have happened without that fool of a captain making a mess of the situation. All too likely, he was some scion to a subsidiary company promoted based on blood rather than intellect. With the way he embarrassed her today, Vaneese would definitely find a way to kill him. Considering Raine never met him in the past, he didn’t last long that time either.

The spies followed as the group pushed through Dry Canyon Town. By the time they exited the north gate that led toward craggy hills, nearly three hundred players were waiting for them. Vaneese wasn’t among them. There was no way she could have known in advance which exit they would take and was likely rushing over.

Standing behind Raine, Mel shot an uncertain glance at Celeste and quickly typed her a message, “Are they all here for us? Look, more are coming around the outside of the walls! Why is this happening?”

“I told you to stop underestimating the lengths people will go to when credits are on the line. If he gave them enough time, I bet thousands would show up.”

Content to wait for Vaneese, Raine crossed his arms, standing a few feet outside the gate. He motioned with his chin and the mercenaries took up defensive positions between the exit and the girls. He wasn’t about to let them fight though. Now wasn’t the time to reveal how powerful the Vaaterrans were. He would credit in that chip when there was more to gain from the surprise.

Three captains stepped forward from the encirclement, weapons drawn, “Here I thought we’d have to chase you for days. Thank you for being so dumb!” Raine knew the speaker. He was a well-known sycophant who managed to maintain a higher position in CronGate than Raine, despite having few accomplishments.

Looks like CronGate already has their fingers deep into Righteous. I suppose this is proof enough that they were always one and the same. Too bad things aren’t going to go so easy for them this time around.

“You know what. Just for you, I changed my mind,” Raine held out his hands to the sides. His aggression soared, releasing a microburst of bloodlust. He'd been constantly practicing to master the subtleties of the mental ability while training the girls. It took nearly four hours, and several blinding headaches until he could use it without creating the obvious red wave of energy.

A flash of light in his hand coalesced into a long, two-handed sword. The tip of the weapon trailed in the dirt behind him as he approached with steady, unwavering steps. His muscles ached to let loose the first armsman skill he’d purchased. This wouldn’t be his first time seeing it, but something told him it would be an entirely different experience being on the distributing end of its destructive power.

Raine doubted the members of Righteous would enjoy the experience.

OH, SNAP!

69

Raine wasn’t in a hurry. With each passing second, more members of Righteous arrived, thickening the encirclement. Soon, enough would be in position for him to help them learn the meaning of regret. They wore excitement on their sleeves, eagerly anticipating killing the man who insulted their leader and slaughtered their comrades.

Since these weaklings weren’t worth damaging some of his best equipment, Raine had already swapped out some of his level fifteen weapons for Common Grey variants. The sword whose tip was dragging a furrow through the dirt was one such weapon. Its common nature brought jeers from those who recognized it.

The captain who called him out before wasn’t among them. Having seen the confidential VRVods of Raine one-shotting his guildies, he knew this wasn’t going to be an easy fight. His hand shimmered in the telltale indication of an item being pulled from his interface. The captain pitched his voice, smugness oozing from every word, “We know you're strong, so we prepared something special just for you!” The braindead man had the audacity to reveal the little round item, tauntingly waving it back and forth.

The recipe to make those drops from raids and they can’t be bought until gaining access to the noble’s quarter in Silverlight. They must have found it in a chest. Lucky. Too bad they’re stupid enough to waste it here.

Raine maintained a slow, steady pace, outwardly unresponsive to the cliche groan-worthy threat. If he didn’t know what the item was by sight, it could have been dangerous. Thankfully, low-level versions like the one being brandished in his direction had a fatal weakness.

The captain laughed, bringing his other hand to the device and pulling its pin, “You’re cocky now, but we’ll see how long that lasts!” With a swift motion, he threw the Glacial Snap Grenade between himself and Raine. 

It was a good throw, far less incompetent than his threats might indicate. If Raine tried to rush in, he would be caught in its radius. Likewise, he was already too close to escape if he tried to jump back. Remaining completely calm, Raine channeled Discipline into his legs and waited until the grenade hit the ground. With timing perfected through countless repetitions, he Leaped right as a wave of frost and icy cold smoke swept outward.

The wave remained close to the ground. Had he still been there, his feet and legs would have turned to solid ice for at least eight seconds, giving the amassed players ample time to unload several barrages of ranged fire on his head. Since this particular grenade released a flat AOE, and not a true sphere, a simple jump was all it took to avoid the effect.

Only the players at the back of the crowd clearly saw him escape the top of the fog screen. They tried to shout a warning to the captain and those closest to him, but it was already too late. High in the air, Raine tilted forward. Concentration firmed the air enough for his boots to subtly press against it. That was all it took to trigger Lunge, sending him hurtling down in a blur.

He completed a flip and landed on his feet just meters before the three captains. The tip of his sword slid through the dirt and one-third of Raine’s Discipline vanished. Great Divide gently guided his movements, directing the weapon in a forward slide through the soil. Right as its arc was about to meet the air in a vicious upper-cut, the weapon slammed into an invisible wall. Raine felt a massive weight blocking the path forward, as though the sword now extended two meters into the ground and its tip became a shovel.

His muscles strained, veins bulging across his arms and neck. Every remaining ounce of his Potency was directed through his legs and torso, lifting him forward and up. The added strength was just enough to budge the blade the last millimeter through the dirt. When it reached open air, it whistled with a burst of speed, completing its powerful upper-cut.

For ten meters in front of him, the ground shone with an inner light. The players in range only had a split second to respond before a wave of energy tore free from below, washing across their bodies. Due to the severe excess damage, well above their maximum health, they turned into clouds of sparkling dust instead of corpses. The clinks of falling gear filled the air. In their place, were dozens of floating numbers, each displaying a similarly-ridiculous quantity. [-5,960] [Critical hit! -11,820]

[Iron 2-H Sword: Durability -2]

[Great Divide: (Novice) With any melee slashing weapon, rend the ground in a 10 x 3 meter column AOE. Deals 2000% physical damage at the expense of 5% weapon durability (Cost: 30 Discipline) (Cooldown: 30 seconds)]

Taking advantage of their stupefied states, Raine dove headlong into the surviving players. His sword reaped lives with slashes that came several times per second. Purposefully falling back on old habits, he combined his original martial style with what he’d copied from Froust. He made sure not to use any of his more complex movement techniques, as they would ruin his plan.

All three captains died to Great Divide, and Raine quickly worked his way toward a fourth hiding in the back. Seeing him coming, the man regained enough composure for his cracking voice to shatter the terrified silence, “A-attack! What are you standing around for? Kill him before that cooldown ends! Use the debuffs, now!” The spell of fear was shattered and the knowledge he was only one man against hundreds boosted their courage.

[Negative affliction received: Armor Down -7% (Duration 3.21 seconds)]

[Negative affliction received: Resistance Down -7% (Duration 3.21 seconds)]

The first two notifications were a prelude to multiple of the same undodgeable debuff skills hitting him in rapid succession. They rapidly stacked, reducing his total Armor and Resistance values by the maximum such low-tier skills could achieve: 50%.

Luckily, skills that directly reduced attributes weren’t available until tier two classes. With his Movement Speed and Attack Power unaffected, Raine spun with a devastating cleave, killing the nearby players who jumped at him. As they died, a hail of arrows fired from multiple directions splattered across his weakened armor. There were way too many to dodge, and several pitiful damage indicators appeared above his head. [-13] [-18] [-9] [-12]

One of the archers fell back a step, disbelief seizing his momentary bravery, “How is his Defense still so high?”

As Raine continued to draw closer with every swing, the captain backpedaled, waving his arms frantically, “Casters, concentrate your fire!”

Raine was in the thick of it, his longsword slicing through two women with a single swing. As they died, a storm of elemental Blasts descended. Most of them hit the Righteous members in the back, only two reaching through the throng to connect with Raine. [-8] [-9]

“His Resistance is even higher?!”

Raine kicked a man and he flew into three others, knocking them all down. Through the created gap, he saw tens of reinforcements rounding the town’s wall and a huge grin split his face. Shouted commands had the melee fighters organized. They pinned him in place behind two lines of shields. Long spears darted over shoulders, digging into him repeatedly. For every swing of his sword, Raine took three hits.

Even without the full set bonus from his armor, his maximum health was close to eight hundred. With how many attacks he was taking, it took them less than a minute to bring him below a quarter health. With a surge of determination, the melee fighters stepped back, allowing a fresh bombardment of arrows and skills to cascade down on him.

Eyes alight with malice, Raine dove toward the nearest player. The briefest surge of bloodlust caused the unfortunate man to flinch. In the short moment of hesitation, Raine reached over his shield, fingers tightening around his neck.

A green wave shimmered across the man as Life Drain sucked the skin, muscle, and tissues off his bones. A dried-out skeleton fell to the ground and popped into sparkly mist. [-285] The same green wave reversed course and swept over Raine, restoring a large chunk of his health. [+285] In the next second, Werewolf’s Regeneration restored another ten percent. [+77] As he went from a sliver of life back to half, the rampant hope in his enemies' gazes turned sour.

Raine spun on his heels and his sword dug through the dirt. Great Divide split the ground, easily reaping a hundred lives in a flash of beige light. Knowing what to expect, the last instant of the attack was met with his full Potency. He executed the skill smoothly, immediately transitioning into a sweeping cut that bisected three players who tried to jump on his back.

[Iron 2-H Sword: Durability -2]

Raine dodged a stream of ranged attacks by rolling into the area clear of enemies, yet full of loot. He came up sprinting through the gap, collecting drops before finally reaching the captain with the help of a regular lunge. A sweep of Raine’s sword cut aside the woman who leaped to defend him. Then, Raine’s hand clamped over the captain’s mouth, muffling the command that died along with him. Life Drain sucked away his essence, restoring enough health to crack their morale wide open.

Before they could think to flee, a woman’s voice snapped with authority, “Regroup! Pin him! Refresh the debuffs! Rangers and casters, ignore friendly fire. Do not stop attacking or you will be fined!”

Raine’s eyes darted to the side, finding Vaneese standing with a straight back, wielding her spear like a Valkyrie overseeing Ragnarok itself. Rushing around her to surround Raine were dozens of level eight and nine players, all elites from CronGate that he recognized from the past.

She hid her best until I used my skill again. Exactly as expected.

Raine charged, meeting the newcomers head-on. They tried to pile atop him to bodily restrict his movements. Two points of Discipline empowered a devastating three-sixty cleave. Twelve elites died in a blink and two pieces of shining blue gear dropped from their glowing ashes. Raine snatched them before they hit the ground.

Vaneese’s thin lips pulled back in a snarl, “Limit his movements! Defend the casters and wear him down!”

Raine was once more encircled by shields. Weapons were waved frantically in an attempt to keep him at bay but he was too fast, easily closing in and wiping out several per second with blindingly fast, and unerringly accurate swings. He took plenty of counterattacks for his efforts, but if he didn’t kill the elites quickly, they would eventually wear him down.

Attacks came from all sides, many landing entirely due to his purposefully suboptimal movements. He stuck with the ruse, enjoying the intense consternation that pulled Vaneese’s brows down. She watched, confused as he utilized her master’s fighting methods against her people.

Despite each of Raine’s swings hitting a vulnerable point (reducing the effectiveness of their armor) the higher-level elites took two hits to kill. A crit would also get the job done, but they were trained martials so landing such pinpoint strikes was a rarity. Raine was quickly bogged down in a slow grind as he worked his way through them. He used Life Drain each time its six-second cooldown ended. On several occasions, his aspect's regeneration was the only thing that kept him on his feet.

As he crept closer to Vaneese, she steadily retreated, continuing to issue orders that should have seen him dead in seconds. The continual grin beneath his bandit face shroud crinkled the skin around his eyes, infuriating her to no end, “Damn you! Why won't you die?!”

The shimmer of an item appeared in her hand and she wound her arm back, prepared to throw. Raine had less than half a second to realize he was in actual danger before the weapon reached him. Each Amazon’s Javelin was good for a single attack. With high base damage, armor piercing, blazing fast speed, and built-in accuracy, they were an excellent tool for sniping commanders on any battlefield.

Raine’s sword vanished and appeared in the javeline’s path. Parry completely negated the damage and sent the weapon careening to the side where it speared through five players before digging deep into the ground. When Raine locked gazes with her again, Vaneese was grinding her teeth, growling in outright fury.

The slaughter continued. Taking stock of the remaining hundred enemies and his dwindling Celestial Power, Raine used a Minor Celestial Recovery Potion. After its twenty percent regeneration, he would have enough for seven more uses of Life Drain. It would be close; unless he could kill Vaneese, which would definitely shatter the last of their morale.

His sights were set on his target. With the same lunge Froust used in an attempt to backstab him, Raine closed the distance. A sword-wielder took his weapon to the gut, dying with a mouthful of blood. Raine took two spears and an arrow in the back, but was now only a meter away from her. 

In a rare moment of idiocy, she roared, brandishing her spear over the shield of the two men in front of her. Raine tilted his head, the sharp blade missing him by a hair. Continuing the movement, he kicked the leftmost shield. As their barrier flew wide, Raine recognized the boy as one of Vaneese’s personal fuck-toys. Old fury shone in his eyes as his greatsword whistled through the air. Neck exposed, Raine was all too vindicated when his blade took the bastard’s head, killing him instantly.

Spittle flew from her lips as she stabbed twice in rapid succession, “Who the fuck are you? Why did you betray us? You know you won’t survive his wrath!” Raine weaved between both thrusts. A third followed a microsecond later, cleverly timed and placed to take advantage of the flaws his old master trained into him: but Raine no longer had such a weakness to exploit. Vaneese’s eyes flew wide when Raine slightly adjusted his footwork to the more advanced version he’d created, allowing him to easily evade again. At the same time, his backswing cut down three more players crowding in behind him, instead of Vaneese.

Realizing she should already be dead, Vaneese frowned and shook her head, “How did you… It can’t be.”

Finally hearing the confusion he’d been waiting for, Raine responded in a sinister voice, “If Master Torune hasn't told you, then you aren't qualified to know!” With a shuffle-step, Raine appeared behind her. The last thing she saw was her vision spinning chaotically as her severed head fell to the ground.

Good luck figuring out who I am now.

Raine only managed to kill ten more before the remaining members of Righteous scattered, fleeing for their lives. Disappointed, he greedily dipped into the last of his Discipline to chase down the three he observed stealthily picking up the dropped equipment during the battle. They exploded like pinatas, dropping dozens of pieces each. The last one he killed was less than a meter away from the safety of the gate when a Lunge caused a two-handed sword to sprout from the center of his chest.

Looking up, Raine winked at the gaping Mel and Celeste, “It's time to go.”

Celeste raised a hand toward him, “H-hold on! You just got all this stuff, and after what you did earlier, don't you think you owe us some compensation?”

Raine twisted his lips, brow furrowed, “What I did? What the hell are you talking about?”

Instead of answering, she sent him a link to a forum post. While kicking loot into his inventory, Raine pulled up the post: Mysterious man wields beauties to defeat the oppressive forces of evil!

Clicking on the attached VRVod, Raine released a bark of laughter as his avatar charged through the streets of Dry Canyon Town with a girl in each hand, batting away anyone too slow to scramble from his path. Already, live vodcasts of his current battle were being linked into the same thread and the responses were going nuts.

Celeste was not amused by his laughter, “My reputation is already in the mud thanks to my uncle. If this gets out, I'll be ruined!”

“You want compensation? Sure. Go ahead and take all the loot I just got.”

“W-what?! Really?” She squeaked. Seeing the amusement in his eyes, she quickly grew suspicious.

Raine’s next words were exactly as expected, “All you have to do is kill me in the next two hours and you can take everything I earned. Good luck.”

MeanyMouse AKA Vaneese

- Carter City -

“God damn it!” Vaneese tore off her headset and smashed her fists into the wide table that dominated her office. The released internal force caused the wall to crack and the floor to shake. She stood, kicking her chair across the room, “I spent two hundred gold on that javelin! Fuck, I am so screwed!”

What was that last move? What could master be thinking? Was this all just another test? No… don’t tell me. He wouldn’t, would he?

With trembling fingers, Vaneese mentally accessed her LinQ, opening a call. An AR image of an older, graying man in flowing robes appeared hovering in the center of the room. She was already kneeling, her head lowered, “Master. I have failed.”

His voice was smooth, not at all consistent with his advanced age, “How rare. Do you remember what I told you would happen if you failed me again?”

He didn't ask how? That confirms it.

Gritting her teeth Vaneese answered without a trace of the hatred she felt, “Yes, Master.”

Bastard! He sent that man just to ensure I failed. I never thought he would stoop so low.

Master Torune smiled, though she couldn’t see it, “Good. I'm glad you understand. My godson will be arriving tonight. I expect you to be on your best behavior when you present yourself to him.” He chuckled darkly, “Or should we call him your fiancé now?”

Vaneese needed three seconds to collect herself, amazed her voice didn't crack, “As you wish, Master.”

Curse you and your disgusting godson to oblivion, you old bastard! Can't forget your mysterious disciple, either. I swear, if it's the last thing I do in this life, I'll kill all three of you.

THE DEADLIEST OF FOES

70

“This sucks!” Celeste whined for the twentieth time in the last hour, “That thing was so strong, and it only dropped five copper. We've killed hundreds of monsters and only found four items between the two of us. Is our luck really that bad?”

Raine seriously considered pushing her off the nearby cliff so he wouldn't have to hear her complaints for a while. They were traversing a steep and narrow path down the inside of a canyon and were close enough to the bottom that she wouldn't die. Probably. The hour it would take to backtrack and pick her up after 'rescuing' Fizgore ultimately wasn't worth the momentary peace. 

Instead of answering her question, he attempted to shift her perspective, “This is good for you. You haven't grasped the difficulty of accumulating wealth and gear. Don't look at me like that; I'm serious. Sure, I got a lot of cheap equipment in a short amount of time. What you're ignoring is that each piece came at the expense of hours or days of grinding. Those players put it all on the line when they fought me, and they paid the price for failure.”

Surprisingly, Celeste grew quiet after his lecture. He didn't particularly care if she took his words to heart. So long as she had the will to continue advancing, she would grasp her own truth eventually. In contrast to Celeste, Mel's mood had improved dramatically since they left town. For the most part, she stuck to Celeste's side, supporting her through the constant monster attacks. 

She shot him a mischievous glance as she joined the conversation, “Instead of all this grinding for barely any reward, why not keep killing those players and take the rest of their stuff?”

Raine's response was instant. “Why steal from beggars when you can steal from kings?”

Getting close to Fizgore must be making me nostalgic. Goofball was always saying stuff like that.

Raine answered her question more seriously, “The real riches are never going to be in the hands of those weaker than you. Sharpen your skills and keep your eyes on the horizon. Then, the good stuff will come so fast it'll make your eyes fall out.” Raine knew he was getting off topic and paused to consolidate his thoughts, “What I'm trying to say is, there's no point comparing your experiences with mine or anyone else's. If you want more, put in the work. If it's too slow for you, work harder. Ultimately, only your own strength decides what you have and, more importantly, what you can keep.”

“Hmm. I don't really get it,” Mel shrugged, holding the one-handed mace Raine traded to her after she maxed out her dagger attunement.

Celeste charged at a creature that was pulling its long, worm-like body from the canyon wall. Sensing her, its front end swiveled around, and a circular maw lined with sharp teeth hissed in warning. The worm was thicker than a strong man's arm and covered with tough segmented plates. With a quick snap of its body, it met her charge. Her fists, protected by hard gloves with metal knuckles, impacted the beast's flesh with a dull thud.

She was sent back three steps, but it was the creature that screamed in torment. The Blast she released upon collision ignited the thin layer of mucus that usually protected it. While it burned alive, Celeste dove in again, landing three more punches, the last loaded with another Blast. In its wild thrashing, the creature's neck unexpectedly sped toward her face. She brought both arms up to block while attempting to duck. She wasn't fast enough. Her health dove by a large chunk, and she was thrown back, nearly falling off the narrow trail. Her forearms released ribbons of dark smoke, her skin singed from the burning beast.

A Mend landed on her as Mel raced by. Using her mace, Mel carefully smacked the creature several times without being hit in return. Celeste circled around to its other side. Together they wailed on the smoking Canyon Wriggler. The flames rapidly extinguished, yet the creature stubbornly continued to battle against them. It was faster, forcing them to use Discipline to keep up.

The fact they could match its much higher attributes with technique and Discipline proved how far they had come. Still, taking down the level seven monster required several minutes, even with its hard plates severely damaged. By the end, both girls were out of resources. They huffed, hands on knees, lamenting the lack of a single copper from its corpse.

As always, Raine was quick to continue their training, “Celeste, why did you keep hitting it with fire after its mucus was already burned away? Ice would have rapidly cooled its defensive plates, shattering them and making the fight much easier. Mel, why did you keep attacking near the mouth? That thing didn't have a head, which means no brain or eyes. Critical hits will always be more likely when striking an actual weak point. You could have done more total damage by analyzing it, finding its weakness, and then calling it out while only Celeste fought.”

Celeste's glare wasn't directed at him. He could tell she was annoyed with herself for not considering such an obvious solution. After all, changing the element of the basic Blast only required a thought. Mel took the criticism like a champ, nodding thoughtfully while intently gazing up at him.

Raine continued down the last part of the steep path, not giving them time to fully recover. The bottom of the canyon was flat and narrow. A dried-up creek bed cut through its center. Sparse plant life sapped away any potential moisture long before it coalesced into actual water. The walls pressed in close from both sides, domineering in their presence.

Raine scanned the floor for threats, then set a brisk pace to the south. The girls stayed close, on edge after their multiple tough encounters. Behind them, the mercenaries brought up the rear, easily the most relaxed of the group.

When Raine spotted the first hidden monster, he didn't make any outward sign of the danger. Without warning, a huge scorpion burst from the ground. It clogged the entire canyon floor, easily three meters wide. Instead of a regular tail and stinger, a thick snake writhed in the air above the main body. The girls nearly soiled themselves when its hood widened and it released a threatening hiss.

Mel fell back a step, raising her weapon in a shaky grip. [Level ten?! Please tell me he's not going to make us fight that!]

Light flared around Raine's fists as he dashed into range. The snake-head darted forward to sink long fangs into his shoulder. A swift uppercut struck it in the jaw, slamming its mouth shut. Raine's fists were a blur, not slowing in the least as he ducked a grasping pincer and another bite from its lower head. Each hit took huge chunks off its health, and within three seconds, the level ten beast shuddered its last and collapsed. 

He earned no Superiority or Attunement, but a piece of shell dropped. He tapped it with his boot, adding it to his inventory.

[Carapace Scrap: (Common Grey) Useful when crafting certain armor and weapons]

Raine hopped onto its still-twitching body, then dropped down behind it to continue their trek. Upon hearing his retreating footsteps, the girls scrambled to follow. Touching the warm corpse, they were wise enough not to vocalize their displeasure in the dangerous new territory. Groaning in disgust, they climbed and chased after him.

Over the next hour, several more of the beasts ambushed them. Learning what to look for, the girls managed to spot the signs of their burrowed forms. The terrain slowly changed, the walls widening until the bed of the canyon was nearly a hundred meters across. Plants flourished, adding green and lavender hues to the bleak, rocky surfaces. The ugly, rough stone walls high above, near the surface, were replaced by raw, white marble, allowing additional light to reflect into the depths of the canyon.

The most notable change was a sweet, enticing aroma that gently tickled their nostrils. The girls breathed deeply, sighing as their tension bled away. Raine was quick to uncork a bottle from his inventory, downing its contents.

[Beguiler's Drought: (Common Grey) Increases resistance to mind altering effects for 2 hours]

The potion wasn't foolproof, relying heavily on the mental fortitude of the imbiber. Since the girls wouldn't need them, he didn't bother sharing any of the expensive consumable. Both mercenaries likewise downed a bottle. The three men nodded solemnly at one another, mentally preparing to face the deadly foes ahead.

Celeste's voice was low, her wariness cranked to maximum after witnessing Raine's caution, “What's happening? Why do you three look like you're ready to fight a ghost? And what were those drinks? Do we get one?”

Raine's words were equally hushed, “No. Stay quiet and stick to their sides.” He nodded at the mercenaries, then locked gazes with the girls in turn, “You're about to witness something so dangerous that many who encounter it never mentally recover. Their martial path grinds to a halt, unable to forget, never again willing to progress. You're too weak to help, but experiencing their undiluted powers will give you valuable perspective. Keep an open mind, and whatever you do, don't attract their attention.”

Mel gulped, fear coloring her features. Raine nodded, glad they were taking the dangers of ZionLine more seriously now. He led the way again, head on a swivel as they dashed between plant cover and rock outcroppings. He stopped to inspect the environment with each move. 

In the past, being ambushed by these creatures had been the instant and permanent end for far too many. Raine wasn’t taking any chances. After all, even deleting your account couldn’t help recover from extreme mental shock.

As they gradually approached the next bend in the canyon, the scent in the air grew several times thicker. It was a steady enough increase, and the smell so soothing, that it was hard to notice. Despite their earlier fear, both girls were relaxed again by the time Raine darted his head around the sharp rock wall to scout around the corner.

He saw the location, and it was exactly as Fizgore described it in the past. Juxtaposed against the canyon wall was a cozy two-story tavern. Made of brightly painted wood and decorated with hanging flowers and creeping vines, it overflowed with an all-too-inviting atmosphere. Combined with the cloying smell, Raine couldn't help but acknowledge that part of him wanted to walk right up to its front door. The wooden portal hung wide open, soft light from within beckoning him closer.

He only took a glance before his head was back behind the rocks. He turned to the mercenaries, “This is as far as you go. You can let them watch but they are not to approach.”

“Understood!” They snapped a salute, eyes hard.

Mel giggled, swatting Raine's arm. “What are you getting so worked up for? There haven't been any monsters since we got here. This place is so nice, and beautiful too. Relax a little! Why don't we take a walk, just the two of us?” She raised her brows suggestively. Celeste turned three shades of pink, licking her lips while her eyes couldn't decide which of the two to watch. 

Ignoring them, Raine boldly walked around the corner. The girls jumped to follow, but their arms were quickly grabbed from behind by the mercenaries. Celeste paused, not resisting the grip on her elbow as she looked straight ahead. “What's a tavern doing out here in the middle of nowhere? It looks so nice, and whatever they’re cooking is divine. Can we go in?”

Raine was spotted immediately. The trimmed plants and lack of natural cover leading up to the tavern made a stealthy approach impossible without skills. From the second floor, a voice as sweet as honey called out to him. Every syllable caressed his ears, sending shivers down his spine. 

“Oh my! What a handsome young man. You look so parched, love. Why don't you come in for a drink? We'll take such good care of you.”

When the girls looked up, their jaws dropped at what they saw. Raine wasn't immune just because he came mentally prepared. Upon seeing the two young women waving at him from above, his breath hitched. He tore his eyes away, heart already pounding.

One had light red hair, the other black with violet highlights. They wore revealing clothes that displayed their divinely sculpted figures. Alluring smiles adorned soft lips, and hands of smooth, alabaster skin waved gently, as if caressing him from afar. 

Raine clamped his jaw shut, not responding to their invitation. One laughed softly as he continued to approach the tavern, while the other blew him a kiss that he somehow felt on his exposed neck despite the distance. His skin burned from the deadly attack, and for a brief moment, his mind was overwhelmed by the desire to feel like that on every inch of his body. 

He regained his composure with a silent snarl. His efforts were almost undone when the same girl who kissed him purred, the sound reaching his ear as though her lips were brushing against it. She spoke with a strong foreign accent, the kind that could make any man melt, “Want sauce of this? Come inside. We be waiting.”

GOING DOWN ON YOUR ENEMY

71

Watching Raine leave her and Mel for those two angelic creatures, Celeste’s mentality reeled like claws were raking apart the soft gray matter in her skull. They were perfection itself, and it only made sense for him to go. Despite knowing everything about the situation making perfect sense, a tickle in her spine told her something was horrifically wrong.

There was an incongruity in what her eyes and thoughts knew to be true, and whatever it was tore at her mind. Her usually razor-quick deliberations were sluggish, and when she tried to call out to Raine, only a giggle emerged between her smiling lips. She tried to clamp a hand over her mouth, but her arms were restrained by the mercenary Vaaterran holding her back.

For the briefest of moments, a bout of fury swept through her. It brought a fraction of her typical clarity, just enough to figure out what was nagging at her soul. [She called him handsome. What a crock of shit. Not even a mother could love that face!] The shackles binding her senses shattered, and she looked around with clear eyes for the first time in minutes.

Raine was only a few meters ahead, determinedly trudging toward the den of lying sirens. Mel was struggling against her captor as well. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her mouth opened and closed, her tormented inner thoughts refusing to form into words. [You can’t leave me, too. Brother, mommy, dad… they all left, one after another. I… I don’t want to be alone anymore. I want to keep having fun. Why are you leaving me for them?]

Somehow, Mel knew that if Raine walked through that open door, she would never see him again. The pain of it was too great; the spell choking her thoughts crumbled. Her cry came from deep in her gut, bursting with dread and laced with grief, “Wait! Don’t go. Please, don’t leave me.”

Raine looked back, unable to hide his surprise. The Charm they struggled against shouldn’t be resistible with such a significant level gap. He had intended this to be a learning experience but never expected them to break free unassisted. Unfortunately, the two women who called him into the tavern were still watching. He couldn’t let them grow suspicious.

Swaying on his feet as though confused, Raine continued toward the tavern. He flippantly waved his hand over his shoulder, slurring his words, “It’s… too dangerous for you two. Yeah, that’s it. Stay here. I’ll uhh… be right back.”

Hearing the husky desire in his voice, Celeste recoiled as if struck, “Oh, hell no. You can’t go. Something is very wrong with them. For fucks sake, they called you handsome! You can’t believe anything they say!” Raine nearly lost his composure, stumbling a step.

She’s definitely going off that cliff on our way out of here!

Celeste managed not to react outwardly to his thoughts. [Fine! If he’s still thinking about things like that then he’s clearly got things under control. Last time I worry about you, bastard!]

The difference between his outward actions and internal thoughts guided Mel toward understanding. She sagged, held up by the mercenary. [Thank goodness. I shouldn’t have doubted him. He came prepared. While I only made a fool of myself.]

Overflowing with determination to learn as much as she could, Mel’s gaze hardened on his back. Raine entered the tavern without further delay. The tables were set with drinks, comfortable chairs and stools before each. The walls were bare of decoration, and the cloying scent overwhelmed whatever natural odor might exist there. 

Though he was the sole prospective patron, Raine wasn’t the only man in the room. These particular creatures instinctively understood the preferences of their targets, so only the nine women inside approached him. Each step they took was a study of the seductive nature of the female form. Raine’s eyes danced between them, not settling in any one place for long. Their smiles widened as he stood unmoving, his mouth hanging open.

The first was nearly upon him, her delicate hand reaching to caress his chest. Before she reached him, an invisible wave of tightly contained desire pulsed from her fingertips and into Raine. They locked eyes, and it was her turn to gape. Even that expression would have melted the hearts of most men.

Her face, perfect to most, lacked the one feature that would have allowed her to be worthy of his gaze. Without them, she was merely a bug in need of a good squish. The debilitating lust she expected to find in his expression was nowhere to be seen, replaced in its entirety with disdain and the need to kill. Raine’s bloodlust burst forth, sweeping over the group and seizing their movements. 

His desire summoned forth a weapon strapped to his arm. Though a tool of defense for some, to Raine, its heftiness was precisely what he wanted at that moment. Disgust churned in his gut as his arm swept toward her in a wide arc. 

[Kindred Heart Shield: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (DEF +90) (PTC +15) (PHY +30) (Durability 250/250)]

Just before impact, his shield crashed into the air. The forces released by Rupture contorted her features, sending rippling waves across her skin before she burst into a cloud of crimson mist. [-3,279] Bones not belonging to any typical humanoid scattered across the floor. She didn’t die alone; seven of her companions were caught in AOE. A wealth of coins dropped near their remains, but Raine was already moving past them.

[Obtained 0 Superiority (-100% for defeating a monster more than 2 levels below you)]

[Obtained 0% Attunement (-100% for defeating a monster more than 2 levels below you)]

The three lean and muscular men—each highly charismatic in their own way—leaped to their feet. They joined the two surviving women in a piercing howl that sounded through the entire canyon. Raine shuffle-stepped, arriving before the nearest. A backhanded slap with his shield smashed her face into a mess of its former glory. She flew across the room, crashing into a wall.

The last woman’s body contorted, growing half a meter and widening into that of a powerfully built demoness. Her voice was deep, still holding a sensual quality that could easily enchant the unprepared, “Wriggling little human, you will pay for this!”

[Lesser Succubus: (Level 12) (HP 2750/2750)]

Her wrists came together, long fingers tipped with razor-sharp nails spread wide in a fan. A ball of churning lavender energy gathered. It reached the size of Raine’s head in a blink. A shockwave released along the angle of her fingers, and the ball tore through the air. It sizzled, burning the atmosphere. A side-step evaded the projectile. It hit the wall behind him, melting through it with gleeful ease. Raine saved his Discipline, charging toward the curvaceous creature with bounding steps.

Her attempt to claw him was easily ducked. His shield impacted her reverse-jointed knee with a meaty crunch. [Critical hit! -667] She fell to her back. A scream caught in her throat as a follow-up slam from the bottom edge of his weapon cut deep into her mouth. Raine’s current Attack Speed was three point six per second, allowing him to smash his shield into her prone form several more times before the men reached him.

They had also changed, their battle-forms significantly faster and stronger than their human guises. Still, they couldn’t match Raine’s level fifteen attributes boosted by nine completed weapon attunements. He weaved around their attacks, circling the group so the room’s only set of stairs was no longer to his back; the pounding and scraping of clawed feet preceded the two women he’d seen from outside rushing down them. They were accompanied by seven more of their kind.

Upon seeing their dead companions, the succubi released mournful wails, throwing themselves toward Raine. Another Rupture reduced all but one of the group to bones. A few swift crunches later, and Raine was alone in the room. He quickly snatched up the several silver coins and materials littered about the floor.

[9 x Demon Horn: (Common Grey) Useful when crafting certain alchemical reactives]

Heading into the attached kitchen, Raine found the hatch to the underground larder wide open. He jumped down, landing on solid dirt in near darkness. The earthen room was small, and a tunnel on its side led deeper into the gloom. He pressed his back to the nearest wall and waited, his ears perked for additional threats. The discombobulating stench from the tunnel was much thicker than above, but it didn’t bother him now that he was used to it.

When the remaining few seconds of the fifteen-minute timer in his HUD ticked down to zero, he gulped another potion.

[Common Potion of Darkvision: (Common Grey) Pierce the veil of any non-magical darkness (Duration: 30 minutes)]

The darkness fled, replaced by dull gray and white. Raine hastened down the tunnel, which soon opened into a large circular room. Sporadically along its curved wall were room-sized recesses covered by thin cloth. The space was lit only by two burning sticks of incense set before two of the rooms. Inside each, animalistic thumping and grunting could be heard. Raine wasted no time in approaching the first curtain and throwing it aside. He didn’t recognize the man tied up inside. Rupture killed both occupants with equal ease.

The shaking walls and destroyed furniture alerted the creature in the last room. It tore into the central chamber, nude as the day it crawled from the hellfire that spawned it. In a flash, horns sprouted from its head, and it grew a full meter. Raine narrowed his eyes upon seeing a higher-level creature in a starting zone.

[Elite Subordinate Succubus: Level 14 (HP 4,828/4,500) (Overhealth resulted from recent feeding)]

A burst of bloodlust revealed a sparkling wand that fit snugly in his grasp. A wide grin split Raine’s face, and he charged. The monstrous woman took one look at his weapon, then panic gripped her features. With a screech, she jumped backward. Raine was almost upon her when she landed. She slammed her hand on the ground. Demonic Power raced from her fingers and slid through a complex diagram etched into the dirt with blood.

Raine was intimately familiar with the array she activated. Arrays came in many forms, each powered by one of the three primary forms of energy: Elemental, Celestial, or Demonic Power. Once activated, they could create several advanced effects. This one powered two sets of geometric shields that shimmered into existence, one around her and a larger one trapping him in the center of the room.

“Drown in pleasure, toy!” The elite succubus snapped her fingers, and Raine’s portion of the shield was flooded with pink mist that assaulted his senses.

He took a deep breath, savoring the moment before his roar filled the air, “PuriPuri Rainbow Release!”

The training wheels of the system invaded his thoughts, gently urging him to lift the weapon high to complete the innate skill’s activation. Before doing so, Raine willed his Elemental Power to be consumed while tightly holding the mental image of a raging fire. When he completed the motion, all hell broke loose.

Through the ground, streamers of violent energy poured into the air. They consumed the pink mist in a flashfire that swept through the shielded area. Raine’s ears popped from the sudden change in pressure. The streamers wriggled in the air briefly before expanding into a blast wave that swept outward instantly, shattering the outer shield and crashing into the walls. The ground around him shook, sending dirt cascading down from the ceiling.

[PuriPuri Rainbow Release: 10-meter circular ground-based AOE dealing 500% damage with 1000% bonus force and lift. Ignores all defense. (Skill name must be shouted to activate) (Cost: 50 of chosen resource) (Cooldown: 5 minutes)]

The terrified elite patted her voluptuous body, amazed to still be alive. Her clawed hand landed on the inside of the cylindrical shield that was just large enough to contain her. She released maniacal peals of laughter, “This barrier was designed by The Grand Shimmering One herself. Toy, obediently lie on your back, and I’ll grant you a life beyond your shallow imaginings! Continue to resist, and you will know endless suffering.”

The tip of Raine’s wand meatily smacked his palm as he approached her shield, still wearing his wide grin. He wound back, a twinkle in his eyes, “PuriPuri Comet Burst!”

Cassidy’s Comet smashed into the small shield. Its surface rippled fiercely, shimmering dark blue. The force of the blow was transferred into the floor and ceiling, causing the entire underground lair to rumble ominously.

The mask of confidence on the succubus’s disfigured features vanished, “Stop that! You’ll kill us both!”

“You’re the only one that’s going to die today, bitch!” Raine wound up and swung again. The shield turned from blue to light purple, and they both knew what that meant.

Dirt fell both in and out of the shielded area. She returned to her human form, raising her hands pleadingly, “I beg you, stop! I surrender! You can take me as your slave. I’ll obey all your commands. Just don’t kill me, master. Please!”

Raine brushed off her Charm, smashing the shield again. Cracks appeared along its now dark red surface. She screeched at him, her pretty face skewed with hate, “You’ll pay for your arrogance. Food should know its place!”

A dark gem appeared in her hand, and she crushed it. From inside, a flicker of black energy shot toward Raine. He side-stepped, but it curved ninety degrees. The little bolt slipped right through his weapon when he Parried, then struck him in the chest.

Raine frowned when he saw no damage or debuffs in his HUD. The succubus laughed, the sound high and evil before she crushed another gem and vanished in a puff of black smoke.

Crap. A tracking curse? I’ll have to get scanned at the nobles’ church in Silverlight. She recognized Cassidy’s Comet, too. The only thing she did that was normal was try to Charm me. Please don’t tell me I just ran into another witch-type Vaaterran.

The smoke inside the shield dissipated. Raine waited patiently, his weapon at the ready. The moment the shield ran out of energy a minute later, he swung hard through empty air.

She really did teleport. A low-level succubus with a shield array, tracking curse, and teleportation stone? She must have been telling the truth about who was backing her. Why would a demon ancestor be interested in such a low-level zone?

A man’s voice, thick with anticipation, called out from the room the elite succubus initially emerged from, “My flower, is that you? Where did you go? Your little hummingbird can’t wait anymore; please come back.”

Raine had to bite his lips to keep from laughing. Fizgore’s tale of being trapped in this den for his first month was a constant joke for everyone who knew him. He was always quick to tell the story, its embellishments growing each time. 

Raine found his old friend strapped to a bed, squirming but not at all to free himself. Raine double-checked that his vodcast recording was working, then entered the room, “Sorry, she’s gone for good. You, ahh… want me to untie you?”

Fizgore jerked back from the sound of Raine’s deep voice, wild afro swaying, “Gone?! No. That can’t be true! Please, my flower, come back to me! I was so close, so close to discovering the difference between Heaven and Earth!”

Raine barely kept it together, squeezing out a long grunt as he spoke the language he knew would instantly re-create their bond of friendship, “Heaven and Earth? You fool! How could you fall for a monster’s charms? Everyone knows free cheese only comes in a mouse trap!”

FRESH START

72

Devastated, Fizgore sat up, holding his head in his hands. Ecstatic to be getting such excellent ammunition for later, Raine was quick to rub salt in his old friend’s emotional wounds, “Amazing how many guys fell for this trap. Didn’t you think this place was odd when you found it?”

A full-body twitch was followed by Fizgore’s head slowly rotating to face him, “I… wasn’t alone? It can’t be true. S-she was selling tofu this whole time?! My chest, it aches. My pure dao heart is cracking. How could she do this to me?”

Raine shook his head sadly, his voice dripping with sympathy, “That’s just how those creatures are. So long as you learned how to avoid their traps in the future, then the experience was worth the suffering.”

Fizgore shuddered, then spat on the floor, “Indeed! This hardship will only create a superior me! I have been blind, and now I see. Apologies, amituofo. Thank you for saving me from her lies. I will seek the wisdom that lurks on this path to Diyu. However, my wits are not what they should be in this place. Would benefactor be willing to point me in the direction of the exit? I thirst for fresh air.”

“Here, put these on first,” wearing an easy smile, Raine passed Fizgore a pair of level zero tunic and pants.

Used to the flickering glow from the dimly burning incense, Fizgore deftly received the clothes. Holding them to his chest, he bowed low, “What an upright soul amituofo has. Courtesy demands reciprocity. Though I may be impoverished now, my fortunes will surely blossom thanks to your generosity.” Instead of equipping both items, Fizgore proved he was precisely the man Raine remembered by only wearing the pants, leaving his powerfully muscled torso on full display.

Yup, same old Fizgore. Goofy bastard.

Falling back on fond memories, Raine was quick to shoot back, “A fish needs two chances to flourish, while a man only needs one.”

Fizgore laughed heartily, filling the den with honest joviality, “I didn’t know it was possible to butcher a proverb so horrifically and still relay the essence of its wisdom. You are a strange one, amituofo.”

Raine waved him off, leading the way down the tunnel toward the ladder, “Enough with that. Call me brother. I’m no saint.”

“Very well, brother. If you’re not here for kindness, what brought you to this lair of deception?”

“I heard a rumor in Dry Canyon Town. I came to test myself against what this world considers demons. I also took the chance to level my companions along the way,” Raine’s enunciation was a warning that Fizgore didn’t miss.

Following through with his imitation of a monk, Fizgore cupped his fists, “They must be important to you. I shall hold them in the same regard you’ve shown me.”

Almost forgetting it was necessary to ask, Raine nodded to his old friend, “And what should I call you? Brother?”

“This humble one should be referred to as Fizgore. Until my debt is repaid. Then, I will be worthy of being your brother.”

“As you wish,” Raine acknowledged. They were bombarded by hysterical wailing from above just before reaching the ladder. Raine quickly reached the top and poked his head into the common room. The man he’d killed in the den was on his knees. He held one of the succubus bones to his forehead, snot leaking from his nose.

[Traveler (Unclassed): Level 4 (HP 108/108)]

Fizgore popped out behind him, beholding the naked, freshly resurrected man, “Does he think he can hear her voice through a bone?”

Raine snorted, walking into the room, “No. Some people can't handle the mental strain and become hopelessly addicted.”

The man ignored them as they walked by. Fizgore shook his head at the pitiful display, “Only the weak crumble at the loss of a warm bed. The waves crash upon the beach; the beach does not crash upon the waves!” Raine’s toes curled in an attempt to hold in his laughter.

That’s a new one. He must have conveniently forgotten it after spending another couple weeks here in the past.

Raine stepped outside, and Fizgore hesitated on the threshold. He blinked repeatedly, turning away from the blinding noon brightness to gaze at a silver and gold inlaid flower pot, “Brother, are you not going to claim any of the prizes in this place?”

Unfortunately, the only decent loot escaped.

“There’s no such thing. The entire building and everything in it are constructs created with Demonic Power. Look at the walls; they’re already starting to fade.”

Leaning in for a closer look, Fizgore nodded with his brows raised. With a last glance inside, accompanied by a deep sigh, he followed Raine across the short clearing. The girls were much calmer than when he left them. Their fingers blazed as they shot messages back and forth.

Reaching them, Raine spoke in his no-nonsense, drill sergeant tone, “Fizgore, Melbelle, Crimson Nebula. These two are hired mercenaries.” Neither girl missed the implication that they shouldn’t use their real names. With introductions out of the way, Raine snapped an order, “No more using your fingers for messages. Use the ocular inputs. Hands should never be far from your weapons when we're in the wilds. Besides, the speed your eyes move is still lacking.”

“That’s all you have to say to us?” Celeste fumed. Raine stared her down, and she quickly broke, gaze falling to the canyon floor.

Mel closed out of her interface. She bit her lip, eyeing Raine with a glimmer of her former worry etched across her features, “You’re back. Did anything happ-were you hurt?”

“Since you have the time to worry about me, then you must be ready to train,” Raine ran at the canyon wall. He jumped, and his feet touched the rocks. After running horizontally for three steps, he performed a flawless round-off to land on the ground, “Two hundred times for each of you before we reach the exit trail or the next training is doubled.”

Eyes widening at the deadly threat, Mel dashed at the wall and repeated his maneuver. Celeste’s jaw jutted forward, and she growled before joining her. As Celeste flipped off the wall, Raine dashed forward and kicked at her. Expecting it, she contorted mid-air, barely avoiding his boot and landing off-balance. As Mel ran to start her second attempt, Raine tried to shape his bloodlust and direct it only at her.

Instead of the cone he intended to create, a hemisphere of crimson energy pulsed from his skin. Pain bloomed between his ears, and both girls were caught in the wave. Celeste turned in a blink, her weapons equipped and her fists up. Mel wasn’t so lucky. She stumbled a foot short of jumping and crashed face-first into the wall.

Breathing heavily with dilated pupils, Celeste berated him, “I can’t believe you used that on us! I thought I was about to die!”

Raine had used the mental ability around them several times, though never directing his killing intent toward either of them. Since they would need to get used to it before the raid, and he still needed the practice, there was no reason to hold back. “Good reaction, Crimson. Melbelle, are you going to lie down every time something comes along to kill you?”

Mel’s arms were shaking, the feeling of a thousand daggers pressed to her neck still bright in her memory. She shook her head fiercely, not yet trusting her voice as she climbed to her feet. Fizgore hadn’t been hit, but his eyes were narrowed in a thoughtful expression. When Raine briskly strode past the girls, they quickly resumed their wallhops.

Fizgore had to jog to keep up. He appreciatively observed the girls’ vigorous training: "One is fierce like a bonfire, the other soft as a petal. Your tastes are sublime and varied, brother.”

Raine nodded, crossing his arms with a scowl. He refused to allow his pleasure at their progress to reach his face, where it would undoubtedly spoil them both, negatively affecting their training.

It’s easy to see their potential. Mel has no bad habits to unlearn like a classically trained martial. She soaks everything I throw at her like a sponge, and her progress in adapting to attributes is about the best I’ve ever seen. Celeste is no less remarkable. She’s rapidly restructuring what she’s been taught about combat to fit ZL, and that’s only the beginning. Once her attributes grow a little more, the terrifying truth of her talent will emerge.

During his ruminations, the girls barely managed to focus on their training, hiding embarrassment behind strained expressions. Unaware of their thoughts and reactions, Fizgore continued in a chipper tone, “If you live near Callipburn City, I have a friend you would love to meet. She would make a fine addition.”

Raine couldn’t let him off his debt so easily, “No thanks.”

The large man acquiesced with a sigh, “Indeed, matters of the heart are better left to the heavens. This method of training is… unique. My family once made me backflip from a wall; would that not be more challenging?”

Raine hid his grin, lest his old friend see the trap before falling deeper, “The point isn’t the difficulty of the maneuver. It’s maintaining momentum and responding to randomly timed threats. True combat can be thought of as motion, distilled by malleable purpose. A static exercise like repeated backflips only forms bad habits.”

Fizgore’s brows drew down, and he spoke in a shocked whisper, "Motion distilled by malleable purpose?” Raine gave him the time he needed. After all, Fizgore was the one who taught Raine that very lesson after undergoing a revelation inside a difficult dungeon. In the past, there was never any doubt that Fizgore was the martial genius, and Raine was merely riding his coattails.

“Would you mind if I joined them?” Fizgore’s Buddhist affectations were nowhere to be found, his voice and tone now completely serious. Raine nodded. He knew this would happen and that agreeing would only further endear the man once known as The Untouchable Wind.

Standing straight as a board, Fizgore leaned forward until it appeared he would crash into the ground. At the last instant, he bent his knees and darted forward. He reached the wall at a full sprint and kicked off the ground. He made it five steps before preparing to jump into an aerial cartwheel.

Raine blasted into the air, his attributes bringing him above Fizgore in a heartbeat. His leg lashed out at one-fifth power, catching the man right as his feet left the wall. Curling into a ball, Fizgore’s hands met Raine’s shin, and the force of the blow sent him hurtling down like a spinning cannonball. Having perfectly adjusted how much power he absorbed with his arms, Fizgore landed on his feet in a tight tuck.

The girls gaped as he rose. Celeste, in particular, felt the sting of her cheek being slapped. [Raine’s been going so easy on us. This guy is level zero and recovered from such a fierce attack…]

Fizgore wiped the dirt from his butt after the hard landing, “You held back.”

Raine responded with a grunt, “So eager to die again?”

“No. You’re right. I’m far too weak right now. I shouldn’t have let those filthy tofu marketers take all my levels,” Fizgore shrugged. His voice turned forlorn, drenched with meaning, “Though, there's a certain charm in a fresh start.”

In both timelines, Fizgore left his grandfather’s prestigious dojo in search of his own martial path. With a knowing twinkle in his eyes, Raine rested a hand on his friend’s shoulder, “Every day is a fresh start.”

“Hah! Too true, brother. Too true.”

Raine didn’t allow the trio to count failed attempts. Between his relentless physical assaults, bloodlust, and grueling pace, none of them managed to finish. Similarly, he was no closer to accurately narrowing down bloodlust’s AOE.

In the past, it was well known that mastery over the size, angle, and strength of one’s mental ability was merely the first step toward becoming a true class five martial.  

Some never managed to materialize their killing intent into a mental ability, no matter how long they lived. Additionally, everyone was different, and there were many divergent paths along the martial trail. The development of individual mental abilities was merely another step. Their only constant was their development somewhere between class four and five. If you didn’t have one by then, you never would. Even a thousand years of rigorous training couldn't cross the divide between those with talent, and those without.

This was precisely why class four was considered the end of the martial path for the average person. That wasn't to say those without a mental ability couldn't become powerhouses in ZionLine; only their prospects in reality would dry up. However, with ZionLine's ability to manifest mental abilities, those with them would always have a leg up on the competition.

Since Raine failed to develop a mental ability in the past, the boon of materializing bloodlust was a godsend. That didn't mean his progress from here forward would be smooth. It was, in fact, the opposite. He had no idea how mental abilities tied into becoming a full-fledged master or grandmaster, only that it was an undeniable fact they were an integral part of the process. Additionally, his knowledge of methods to nurture his budding talent were basically nonexistent.

What Raine knew for sure was that intentional practice was the sure and steady path to advancement in all things. It was too bad that repeated uses of bloodlust gave him a tremendous headache. He wasn’t about to throw in the towel so easily. By the time they reached the trail, his vision was swimming, and a stubborn trail of blood leaked from his nose no matter how many times he wiped it away.

A blaring call from Raine’s HUD was answered before the first chime could finish eviscerating his skull. His voice reflected none of the pain he felt, only excitement, “You found him?”

The young guild leader of Enders Fall nodded, his articulate words clanging through Raine’s skull, “Indeed. He was last observed near Shadow Springs Town. The local forces of Righteous had yet to subdue him as of two hours ago.” A file-sharing request came through, and Raine accepted it. He briefly glanced over the data, finding several reports that pertained to Rhino’s supposed activities.

He’s still fighting Righteous. Since it’s now clear that Righteous and CronGate are one and the same, it's only a matter of time before Master Torune comes after me to settle our score. Here, and outside, I’ve put a target on my back that he can’t possibly ignore.

Raine trembled at the thought. In the past, he was no match for the peak class five master. Even now, after taking ReGen and fixing the holes in his martial style, Raine knew he would die just as quickly. The threat and promise of a worthy challenge was precisely the pressure every cell of his body craved. The reckoning with his old master was coming, and Raine would rise to the challenge with every fiber of his being.

Since we’re already going to be such good friends, I might as well give CronGate another fatty black eye.

Raine didn’t try to keep the anticipation out of his voice, “Great. I’m sending you a datastream with the information you wanted. I suggest you send someone versed in finances to complete the quest.”

“Most excellent. It has been a pleasure conducting business with you.”

Raine ended the call, then closed one eye to stifle the throbbing in his head. He removed a tutorial shield and short mace from his inventory, tossing them to Fizgore, “Here.”

The man caught both items, equipping them straight away. With an excited grin, he banged them together three times, filling the canyon with a cataclysmic racket, “The fates are truly kind! How did you guess my weapons of choice?”

Raine’s jaw creaked with how hard he clenched his teeth, “The girls need a tank; I figured you could handle it with the way you move. I’m leaving for now. I’ve got to go pick someone up. I’ll call you three with a meeting spot when I’m done.”

Fizgore looked back at the girls, then returned his surprised gaze to Raine, “You would entrust the protection of your women to a stranger?”

Raine was well aware that Fizgore was the kind of man who repaid betrayal tenfold, while trust given was returned a hundredfold. “It’s the other way around. They’re going to keep you alive until you get a few levels back. But think whatever you want. Besides, I can tell you’re an honorable man.” Fizgore bowed in response, moisture building in his eyes, his chest too tight to speak.

Mel was huffing, hands on her knees from the intense training, “Why can’t we… come with you?”

“You’ll slow me down too much. If you want to stop being left out, get stronger. I expect you both to be level five when I’m done. Don’t pick a skill; we’ll cover your builds in detail later,” Raine handed each girl two new types of weapons in case they maxed out their attunements, then waved goodbye, “You three play nice, I’ll see you soon.”

Before they could respond, he Leaped several meters straight up. A Lunge off thin air sent him soaring to a tiny ledge, where he paused long enough to charge another Leap. Within seconds, he was at the top of the canyon, where he vanished from sight.

Fizgore’s neck was craned, jaw hanging open, “Did I see that right? Did he truly jump off the air?”

Nestled in a motherly aura, Celeste clapped him on the shoulder, “You’ll get used to it, little brother.”

UNEXPECTED COMPLICATIONS

73

Peridot the skamp

- Somewhere in the Demonic Realm -

Traveling through the rippling waves of cosmic forces was never an easy task. For one as weak as Peridot, the trip was taxing in the extreme. If not for the items gifted to her, she never could have survived the journey without a properly attuned gateway.

She arrived with a splash, landing in a prepared pool of enriched blood. The dense Demonic Power flowing through the liquid seeped into her flesh, recovering the severe damage in seconds. Her arrival didn’t go unnoticed. A pressurized hatch slid open with a hiss, and a familiar demoness entered.

Why did it have to be her?

The new arrival—Beryl—leisurely strode into the sealed chamber. Her every step was a marriage of strength and grace. Gently curved horns adorned the crown of her head. She retained the rest of her humanoid guise—proof of successfully passing her first evolution into a lesser kin.

As an unevolved scamp, Peridot knew her place. She bowed deeply and maintained the posture until exiting the pool. She dropped to a knee, supplicating before the more powerful demon. Aware of Beryl’s temperament, Peridot didn’t speak, waiting patiently for the customary pleasantries that never arrived.

Beryl’s voice was just as enchanting as the rest of her, “Dotty, did you already finish your assessment of the Travelers in the twelfth region?”

Peridot hated how much Beryl’s evolution had gone to her head. She wasn't stupid enough to let that insubordinate thought color her obsequious response, “Not exactly, sparkling one. I gathered a significant portion of the requested information but was forced to flee by a Bearer of Cassidy.”

Beryl tapped pouty lips with a manicured nail, “A bearer? After so long? How is that possible? No, you must be mistaken. Or, you’re using such an outlandish lie as an excuse.”

Peridot sighed, relieved that her news was entertaining enough not to be killed on the spot, “He was-is a Traveler, sparkling one.”

“He?!” A spiked heel dug into the back of Peridot’s head, crushing her face into the floor. Blood leaked around and into her ears. Pleasure laced with pain assaulted her senses as Beryl loomed over her, “How is he still alive? The grand shimmering one lent you many tools to ensure your success!”

Trembling, Peridot answered as quickly as she could, “H-he easily resisted my abilities, sparkling one. As commanded, I used the tracking curse on him.”

“Give it to me!” Beryl hissed.

The deathly tolling of the Mors Campana—bells that rung when the river of the dead overflowed—sounded loud in Peridot’s ears. It would be the simplest of matters for Beryl to kill her and claim the prestige of owning a tracking curse on a Bearer of Cassidy. Peridot had already failed in her task. None would be surprised if she were eliminated for her failure.

Instead of subjecting herself to the torments of a natural rebirth, she took a gamble, already looking forward to the punishment she would receive. With trembling fingers, she withdrew the grand shimmering one’s tracking jewel, moving as if to hand it to Beryl. Before the demoness could snatch it, Peridot squeezed it in her hand.

Beryl screeched as the essence of its contained spell flowed into Peridot’s flesh and blood, binding itself to her. Then, it crumbled to dust. After that, there was only pain and pleasure.

Raine KongRu

- ZionLine -

Raine plunged from the sky at terminal velocity. Intense winds crashed against him, altering his course. His torso flexed powerfully, taking advantage of attributes to press against the world and slightly adjust his trajectory. The target was just below, unaware of his extreme method of approach.

[Bandit Lord (Elite): Level 13 (HP 4,200/4,200)]

The bandit lord remained oblivious until Raine’s Lunge canceled his downward momentum, sending him hurtling directly toward the boss. A pulse of bloodlust caused Last Chance’s Gambit to materialize in Raine’s hand for the first time in a long while. The dagger felt like it was made for his grip, its weight perfect for his current Potency. He glanced at his Attack Power, smirking as it rose from 171 to 241.

Raine’s prey made it as far as grasping the hilt of his sword before the dagger plunged into his neck, sinking to the hilt. Fifty percent of Raine’s EP drained away to activate Final Gambit. Centralized at the weapon’s tip, a flash of light so bright it could be seen through the boss’s neck was born. Raine withdrew the dagger, but the ball of light remained. It expanded, enveloping the bandit lord’s head and torso, which promptly vanished as though they never existed. [Critical hit! -14,041]

Raine didn’t bat an eye at the overkill. Between his excellent level fifteen gear, overpowered weapon, and cursed ring, one-shotting a lower-level elite was to be expected.

[Obtained 0 Superiority (-100% for defeating a monster more than 2 levels below you)]

[Obtained 0% Attunement (-100% for defeating a monster more than 2 levels below you)]

Hopefully, that's the last of those messages for a long while. Rhino should be easy to find, then we’ll be off to power-leveling city.

A shower of loot bubbles dropped, one of which was the entire reason Raine stopped here on the way to Rhino. His hands were a blur as he snatched them from the air before they landed. Fifty nearby bandits charged him, blood in their eyes. Not interested in fighting with little reward, Raine Leaped several meters into the air, then Lunged until he was out of Discipline before activating his skydrifter.

Strong winds rushed up the side of the mountain, giving Raine the lift to reach the skylanes, where his speed increased severalfold. His remaining flight to Shadow Springs Town was short as it was only two mountains away.

As this was the heart of Righteous-controlled territory, he once more equipped his Bandit Face Shroud and swapped out the bladed weapons in his cursed ring’s roulette. He anticipated a fight but wasn’t at all interested in unnecessarily lowering the durability of his best weapons with Great Divide. He could repair them with consumable repair kits, but those would reduce the maximum durability by one with each use. Only a master blacksmith could repair an item with zero repercussions, and the closest of those was in the nobles’ quarter of Silverlight City.

Passing over the last mountain peak revealed the plains surrounding his destination. The town was tucked between two hills that protruded from the flatlands like two sore thumbs. Littered across the expansive fields were rank-upon-rank players. They were a hodgepodge bunch. Missing pieces of armor dotted their numbers, and none wore a complete set. But their numbers alone were more than threat enough. 

Raine had been in command of and fought against many armies. Estimating their numbers at a glance was child's play. He quickly concluded there were close to fifty thousand. He whistled sharply, impressed at Rhino's audacity in facing so many alone.

In ZionLine, fielding massive quantities of soldiers wasn’t abnormal; it was the norm. Food, logistics, coordination, communication, transportation - all the most challenging aspects of army management were alleviated - allowing humanity to do what it had done best since before the first civilizations graced the lands: kill other humans. While not unusual to see so many players in one place, that much manpower not actively generating credits or gold by farming for drops was a colossal waste.

Raine licked his lips, near delirious with greed.

Vaneese must have recalled her troops from the front line with DyingNight. Since she was slow to reorganize them, guess I have no choice but to rob them all blind.

Buried beneath his desire to kill them all was an uncomfortable realization. It was only a matter of time before he fell behind guilds like Righteous and DyingNight. For now, he was powerful enough to fight a few hundred alone and come out on top. It was only a matter of time until he ran into an army of players led by someone as strong as him. Without a guild of his own to counter their superior numbers, he wouldn’t last more than a few seconds.

I’m still days away from getting my guild off the ground. I can’t afford to waste too much time here. Alright, Rhino. Where the hell are you?

The most reliable reports from Enders Fall indicated Rhino was using the vast open fields to hide while utilizing hit-and-run tactics to pilfer loot. Raine angled his invisible drifter to the east, spotting several smaller regiments of players spread out in an obvious search pattern. Once above their zone, he reduced his elevation, zipping across fields of tall grass. Since they couldn’t see him, he would need to use another method to unite the spread-out troops for optimal plundering.

The total search area was several square kilometers, but Raine had multiple advantages that Righteous couldn’t match. As a past leader of CronGate, he was intimately familiar with the region. He knew each monster type that populated it, how many there should be in each section, and what items they frequently dropped. Such knowledge was a requirement for optimizing the allocation of guild members for farming—a task often forced upon him.

Since the shadowy beasts were a trifle to spot from the sky, it didn’t take long to find where they had clearly been thinned out. Raine circled that particular field twice until his quarry appeared. The young man—dressed head to toe in black leather—leaped out of stealth to land on the back of a darkly-hued plains raptor. Wrapping his legs around its upper torso, he repeatedly stabbed its neck with dual daggers.

The beast thrashed, flopping onto its side to dislodge its attacker. Rhino smoothly jumped from his perch. He didn’t immediately resume the offensive, waiting patiently for the creature to kick itself in a circle to stand. Perfectly timing the moment its feet were under it, Rhino landed on its back to resume his mount and stab tactic. It was a smoothly executed kill, considering the beast’s three-level advantage. The only shock was Rhino using daggers like an assassin and not the spear he was so well known for in the past.

Did he run into a fortuitous encounter that took him down the path of the spear?

Raine was far less familiar with Rhino than Fizgore. By the time he started playing, Rhino had already dealt incalculable damage to Righteous, which he initially thought prompted their takeover by CronGate. It turned out CronGate had always been in control and only revealed themselves when their reputation grew so bad they needed a clean slate.

As Rhino collected the few coppers that dropped from his kill, Raine stored his drifter and fell, smoothly landing beside him. Rhino was on him instantly, daggers darting toward his neck. Raine casually intercepted the boy’s wrists, grasping each in an impossibly firm grip. Rhino’s foot lifted to kick, but Raine’s boot landed in his gut.

Air blasted from Rhino’s lungs as both his feet left the ground. Raine held tight, turning the kid into a curtain billowing in the breeze. When gravity called, Raine allowed him to fall face-first, then promptly sat on him and pinned his arms, “Don’t you know it's polite to offer tea before trying to stab someone?”

Rhino coughed, then chuckled darkly, “I really caught a big fish this time. Wish I could see the look on your master’s face when you tell them you had me pinned and still managed to die.”

“Sorry to disappoint; I don’t have a master. Even if I was part of CronGate, I wouldn’t fall for such a cheap provocation. Why bother, though? Wait, don’t tell me you didn’t know there’s a suicide option in the menu?”

“Seriously?!” Rhino blurted, falling silent as he started searching for it.

“Yup. It’s under miscellaneous options, avatar interactions, debug,” Raine helpfully supplied, still having to restrain the struggling Rhino.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Thanks!” Rhino thrashed so hard his shoulder popped. He didn’t so much as flinch and continued to wrench his limbs as though nothing had happened.

“Sure. You ready to have a conversation now?”

“Aren’t we already doing that?” Rhino wheezed.

Raine sighed and sent Rhino a friend request. When the boy saw the attached name, his thrashing halted, “Wait, the Alaric? Why the hell are you working for them? Haven’t you been killing CronGate’s people for a while now? Hold the board; you know who’s behind Righteous! You must have been working for them all along. Talk about the mother of all conspiracies!”

This… isn’t going how I expected.

Raine stood, giving Rhino some distance to hop to his feet. The boy’s knees were bent, ready to dash away. Raine stood casually, arms crossed and head tilted, “How the hell did you come to that conclusion? Never mind, I don’t want to know. Just accept the friend request. I have an item that can kill every member of Righteous outside town. All we have to do is block the entrance and collect the loot after the slaughter.”

Rhino hesitated, eyeing Raine critically. He casually yanked on his dangling arm, snapping it back into place with a pop, “I call donkey crap. No way such a good thing exists. And why would someone working for CronGate want to kill a bunch of his own people?”

Raine sighed, massaging his temples, “I am not, I repeat, NOT working for them. I don’t need your help for this either; just thought you might want to join in on giving them a black eye.”

“No way. You’re shifty as they come. You’re definitely hiding something,” Rhino turned to leave.

Raine clicked his tongue, only having one last card to play before he would have no choice but to give up on recruiting him for now, “What happened to you? Last time we met, you weren’t nearly so disagreeable. I would have killed you then if I knew you would return the favor like this.”

“Last time?” Rhino paused, glancing back.

“Outside Vile Peak Town…” Raine supplied.

Rhino’s eyes widened, and he pointed at Raine, “That was you?! No. This has to be another trick.”

Seriously? Who’s this paranoid? If this brat didn't have the capacity to become the number one spearman in the Tri-glades…

Raine didn’t let his frayed patience work its way into his tone, “Accept the request, and I’ll send you the unedited VRVod I took of the fight.”

Rhino narrowed his eyes, whispering under his breath about how stupid he was being, then finally accepted. Blowing a raspberry, Raine sent him both the VRVod and the description of the item Rhino had used in the past to so thoroughly devastate Righteous’ bottom line. The very item he had retrieved only minutes ago from the bandits.

“Well, I’ll be a monkey’s piss-drunk uncle. Does that really do what it says?” After realizing the implications, a vicious smirk pulled at Rhino’s cheeks.

Raine’s grin was just as evil, “Yup. And I’ve got over two hundred pieces of gear they already donated to get the ball rolling. By the time we get them all in one place, they won’t have a chance to recover before they’re wiped out.”

“Oh! I get it. You know they hate me, so you’re using me as bait. Then, you’ll betray me at the last second and take everything for yourself! I knew you were shifty!”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Raine threw his hands in the air. Already, his eyes were darting across his interface, drafting the contract that might finally put the idiot at ease.

A DAY TO REMEMBER

74

Rhino’s paranoia exceeded Raine’s expectations. One contract wasn’t nearly enough to settle his nerves. Ultimately, it took three, each more complex than the last. The boy shook his head, “Can’t believe a contract can cut off your arm while increasing the pain high enough to actually kill. ZionLine’s system is intense. How did that make it past the devs?”

Raine couldn’t blame the boy’s reaction. His was the same when he learned how lethal contracts could be. The day he found a coworker killed by nothing more than a thetadrive headset was the last time he thought of ZionLine as a ‘game.’ This place was just as real as any other reality, and its consequences were equally deadly.

“If you’re satisfied, sign, and let’s get started. If we delay any longer, Righteous might reposition their people before we catch them with their pants down,” Raine wasn’t willing to negotiate further. The deal he was offering the kid was better than he would get anywhere else.

“Alright, alright. I heard you the twelfth time. This is a big decision for me; two years is a long time,” Rhino’s lips were pulled back in an ugly cringe as he stared at his interface.

Raine was at his wit's end. Annoyance crept into his tone, “Then we’ll make it a year, but I’ll cut your benefits in half.”

“No! That’s… not necessary. I’m fine the way it is. There, I signed. Happy?” Rhino winced, closing one eye and turning away as if expecting a blow.

Raine’s jaw jutted forward with a sigh, “Seriously?! You still thought it was a trap after all the contingencies and exit clauses we added? It doesn’t matter; you’ll understand eventually. Here, take the flag and stealth to these coordinates. Ping me when you get there. I’ll send a message when it's time to start.” 

Raine first invited Rhino to a party, then activated the flag, marking himself as the leader so it still ‘belonged’ to him before handing it over. He then used an inventory-to-inventory trade and selected over two hundred pieces of basic gear, which Rhino accepted with wide eyes and a disbelieving shake of his head.

Not waiting around, Raine dashed into the tall grass, heading toward the nearest search party. They weren’t the only ones alerted by his loud approach. Several level seven and eight Shadow Raptors peeked their heads above the grass, spotting him and giving chase with warbling cries. The players shouted as well, gleefully charging his position.

Raine sprinted low, not bothering with complicated maneuvers to minimize damage as he barreled right through the center of the players’ formation. Since they were spread out, only a few managed to swipe at him as he blurred by, and only one connected. Without being affected by multiple defense-weakening debuffs, the hit failed to penetrate his armor. [-1]

Confused, the players spun to get a good look at him, “Who?”

“That’s not-Argh!” The speaker was pounced on from behind by a level eight raptor that sliced his back open.

Raine Lunged, canceling his forward momentum to spring back into the action. A shield appeared on his arm, and he adjusted his swing to catch the nearest woman with a hook that brought its metallic edge into her jaw. The level-five woman didn’t fly away or even recoil from the hit. After receiving multiple times her health pool in overkill, she burst into a cloud of stardust that produced a pair of gloves wrapped in a bubble of gray light. Humming cheerily, Raine scooped up the loot.

The next closest player dove at him with bloodshot eyes, “Mariaaaaaaa!”

A casual sidestep sent the spear’s tip sliding harmlessly under Raine’s arm, the same arm that delivered a devastating shield blow to his face. A pair of boots joined Raine’s growing collection of donations. All but five of the thirty remaining players turned on him, fury clouding their judgment.

Their leader shouted, spittle flying from his lips, “Kill him!” Raine laughed in their faces, then turned and slowly ran toward the direction of another group he’d spotted from the air. “Groups two and four deal with the raptors. Everyone else, after him!”

As they gave chase, the nearby search parties received intel on Raine’s location and quickly positioned themselves to surround him. Seeing them take the bait, he changed his course, heading toward the nearby town. By the time he needed to break through another group, over twenty raptors were on his tail, along with several hundred players.

This time, he singled out their leader—a massively muscled middle-aged man. He was the highest-level player Raine had seen at fourteen and carried a massive greataxe. As Raine heedlessly charged toward the man through rank upon rank of players, a wave of undodgeable debuffs showered him.

[Negative afflictions received (Armor Down): Baseline Armor reduced. Multiple applications detected. Total physical damage mitigation reduced by 50% (Duration 3.21 seconds)]

[Negative afflictions received (Resistance Down): Baseline Resistance reduced. Multiple applications detected. Total elemental and divine damage mitigation reduced by 50% (Duration 3.21 seconds)]

A shower of arrows and blasts flew toward Raine. He crouched, momentarily halting his momentum before jumping with all his Potency. Most of the ranged attacks whiffed as he hurtled forward. A full-power burst of bloodlust caused the melee players around him to jerk back in surprise, some even falling to their knees as unexplainable terror overwhelmed their instincts. 

Raine hadn’t left combat yet, so he still had the shield, its weight pulling him slightly to the side. The leader shrugged off the fear with a grin and repositioned himself to take advantage of Raine’s supposed imbalance. 

His earlier fears of facing a powerful martial with an army at their back became a reality. Utilizing a martial stance Raine recognized all too well, the burly leader front-flipped forward with a burst of Discipline, turning his oversized axe into a whistling cleaver powered with Slash.

Raine clicked his tongue, dipping into his precious resources to Parry the dangerous attack. An ear-cracking pang resounded as the man’s rotational force turned against him. His trajectory was jarringly altered. He flew to the side, cleaving through two players before crashing into the ground.

“General!” A concerned woman shouted, sending a ball of green light zipping through the air to heal the fallen man. 

The general was already back on his feet by the time her Mend uselessly splashed across his chest, “Fool woman! How many times have I told you to check my health before wasting your CP?” With a growl, he pointed at Raine’s retreating back, “After him! 1st and 3rd regiments, block him before he reaches town!” 

Since a regiment could contain up to five thousand players, Raine knew he had their attention. No longer limiting his speed, he tore across the plains toward Shadow Springs Town.

General? This guy is no joke. A peak class four expert, maybe even class five master. At least by today's standards. How am I not familiar with him? He’s using Torune’s techniques, so he can’t be an outside professional. Who is this guy?

Marco Salvatore, 1st General of Righteous

- Shadow Springs Town -

After issuing several commands, Marco punched in an Ncode, sending a message marked as urgent, and then called the same recipient. She picked up on the first ring, an annoyed twist to her lips. Seeing the much younger, thin-lipped woman, Marco smiled broadly. The anticipation of claiming her caused his heart to clench and heady emotions to leak into his voice, “Wife, I’ve caught the little fly who embarrassed you so severely.”

“Don’t call me that!” Vaneese snarled, “I’m already watching your vodcast. The only thing you’ve caught is a face-full of mud.”

Marco shivered, his desire only ratcheting higher the more she resisted the inevitable, “Wife, you’ll soon learn that everything I set my eyes upon eventually becomes mine.”

“Keep dreaming, disgusting pig. Why are you even pretending to fight one of yours in the first place? You’ve already achieved your goal with this farce. Don’t tell me you betrayed him after getting what you wanted? How classic of you and master. I look forward to watching him kill you. Then, I’ll relish watching my forces finish him off.”

Utterly confused, Marco shook his head, “What nonsense are you spewing? Well, it hardly matters what fanciful ideas are rolling around in your pretty little head. I’ll let it slide since you were kind enough to send your husband reinforcements. It’s nice to know you care despite your sharp tongue,” Marco’s smile was back, his legs pumping to catch up with the slippery player. 

They both knew her 5th Division was en route. The delayed arrival of her twenty-five thousand players was the only reason they hadn’t re-distributed their forces yet after calling an end to the war. When they did arrive in a few minutes, their total on-hand players would exceed a hundred thousand: a full fifth of Righteous's borrowed manpower—from Morok The Viper. It was more than enough to snuff out one insignificant player, no matter how stubborn he might be about dying.

Vaneese’s upper lip pulled back in disgust. Unable to bear Marco’s voice and his stubborn denials of using the mysterious disciple to betray her, she ended the call.

Raine KongRu

- Shadow Springs Town -

Over the next several minutes, Raine broke through multiple spread-out lines of players arrayed to trap him. He took a circuitous route, giving Rhino time to get in position. When he received the ping that everything was prepared, Raine angled directly toward the front gates of the town. Several thousand fighters, rangers, and casters blocked his way. More piled out from the safety of the walls with each passing second.

Eager to begin, Raine dashed straight toward their ranks. The sky darkened, filled with arrows just before blossoming with multi-colored brilliance as the casters unleashed their salvos. There was too much incoming fire for a mere sidestep or Lunge to save him. Debuffs coated him before the attacks landed, ensuring more than enough damage would be dealt to kill him.

Raine altered his approach angle by fifty degrees, sprinting to the side. Most of the attacks would now miss, but the players were far from done. A second wave of projectiles and spells was launched, then a third in the opposite direction, cutting off all avenues of escape. He didn't change directions again, instead flowing into a complex series of shuffle-steps that made it impossible to tell how far away he was. The fourth wave of missiles were loosed right as the second showered down around him.

Just before they struck, a heavy mace materialized in Raine’s right hand, and a brown sheen of energy flowed from the ground to slither across his armor.

[Guardians Embrace: (Novice) Buff an ally within 10 meters for 5 minutes. Increases Defense by 50 + 10% maximum CP (Cost: 40 CP) (Cooldown: 5 minutes)]

[Immaculate Damascus 2-H Mace: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +78) (Attack Speed -.25) (Defense +22) (PTC +14) (PHY +16) (CNC +15) (Durability 200/200)]

Due to the debuffs on him, Raine only received half the bonus Defense from his expensive skill, which was a not-insignificant 32. Unfortunately, many of the players he faced were elites who managed to stay alive through the war. Any above level ten were unaffected by the law of five, meaning their damage was unmitigated by the level disparity. Regardless, few had the attributes necessary to break through Raine’s 157 Defense.

Yet the despair of absolute numerical advantage reared its ugly head. Even dealing a single point of damage apiece, Raine was hit enough times that his health quickly dropped below fifty percent. Damage notifications flooded his HUD, which rapidly flashed crimson. Healing Burst kept him alive. [+292]

[Healing Burst: (Novice) Lay hands upon a target to restore health equal to 200% maximum CP. Additional 200% CP health restored over 120 seconds - stacks 3 times - each stack refreshes timer (Cost: 30 CP) (Cooldown: 60 seconds)]

Raine’s blood sang with adrenaline as the fourth deadly wave loomed high. A tall, broad-shouldered woman lowered her raised arm, signaling the front rows of players to charge. Before they met, arrows and spells crashed into the ground behind Raine, releasing a thunderous clatter. His repeated martial techniques threw off their aim; combined with a double Lunge, he escaped with only another hundred damage.

He met the charging players head-on, roaring as he dove into their ranks. Their combined warcries utterly drowned him out. He crashed into raised shields, and his arm snaked out to grasp a man's face. Life Drain brought him down to sixty-one Celestial Power, killing the man and charging Raine’s health. [+292] He only had enough CP for four more uses of the skill, and the battle had yet to start in full.

The sky once more filled with enough arrows and Blasts to blot out of the sun and simultaneously birth a new one. Snarling, Raine swung and struck the air, releasing a Rupture that popped two dozen players, clearing him a path forward. Shouts too numerous for any individual to be discernible assaulted his ears as the wide gap he’d created was filled in moments. Raine dove into them, his Potency great enough to throw players bodily away from him. Unfortunately, that left them piling up, creating walls of flesh, armor, and iron he couldn’t budge.

Most of the bombardment fell behind Raine, killing hundreds of players. His eyes were glued to his health. He relied solely on his peripheral vision to dodge while blasting through shields and hasty guards with his oversized club. Men and women fell like flies before him as his health rapidly ticked down. Just before the cooldown on Life Drain reached zero, Raine forced another activation of his Roulette. The cursed item’s vile lightning coursed through his veins, attempting to seize his muscles. [-102]

He swore at his foul luck when his two-handed mace vanished, only to reappear in his hands again. At the exact moment, Greater Werewolf’s Regeneration and the HOT (Heal Over Time) from Healing Burst activated. [+105] Raine grumbled under his breath that at least the two canceled each other out. Then, he utilized the martial spin-step he’d stolen from SolemnRiver so long ago. His body blurred as he spun, and the heavy weapon crunched through more bodies than he could count. Raine had yet to draw a slashing weapon for Great Divide, and his Celestial Power was already low. He was forced to take a desperate gamble, balancing his health below half to get the most out of Greater Aspect of the Werewolf. With little choice but to accelerate his plans, Raine sent the already-composed message to Rhino; it was time to begin the real battle.

Idris Iselda AKA Rhino

- Shadow Springs Town -

Rhino had been holding the precious item in sweaty hands for what felt like hours as players from Righteous charged by to surround his mysterious new boss. Crouching in the tall grass, he could clearly see the innumerable ranged attacks filling the sky in the distance. Shouting and explosions rang loud in his ears while the ground beneath his feet trembled from thousands of boots. His torso was wound so tight with urgency he felt like he was going to piss himself.

When the message arrived, Rhino’s grin split his face. He slammed the butt end of the item into the ground, activating its effect.

[Flag of the Bandit King: (Lustrous Blue) For one hour, summons 2 bandits for every piece of sacrificed equipment. Bandit levels are equivalent to sacrificed equipment (Minimum level 5 / maximum level 15)]

Nothing happened until Rhino started unloading the two hundred-plus pieces of equipment Alaric had given him. The moment the first hit the ground, it vanished. Two misty apparitions formed into men in loose, linen armor. One wielded a curved shortsword and shield, the other a spear and shield. They ignored Rhino and charged the nearest player with a whooping shout. A dozen more bandits were already materializing behind them.

Taken off guard, the first players died in a second. The others nearby called out in alarm, “W-what?! We’re under attack!”

“Where are they coming from?”

“It doesn’t matter; they’re only level five. Kill them!”

When tens of bandits turned into a hundred, the scattered members of Righteous found themselves outnumbered. One of the many nearby commanders quickly established order, and a hundred players turned away from the battle at the walls to engage the few bandits. 

While not full-on mercenaries with excellent gear, these bandits were nonetheless Vaaterrans capable of displaying the minimum standard of a class three martial. Boosted by attributes equivalent to a player with every attunement unlocked, they cut through the members of Righteous as easily as running through the grass. The hundred players were decimated, and their dropped loot was quickly gathered in dirty hands to spawn even more bandits.

Raine had included several pieces of level ten and fifteen gear in what he’d given Rhino. The bandits created from them were of a higher level and much better equipped. They took command of the others. Two in particular were created from a level fifteen Lustrous Blue breastplate. They stood head and shoulders above the others, wielding wickedly serrated glaives.

One charged into battle while the other raised his weapon high, “There’s enough shineys here to make us all kings! Gather the loot and get it back to the flag, boys! Let’s raise an army and show these motherless dogs what a real war looks like!”

The bandits’ return roar shook the ground, rattling the teeth in Rhino’s ear-to-ear grin.

KING OF BANDITS

75

Another ruthless wave of arrows and Blasts descended on Raine, forcing him to dive deeper into the throng of melee players. Those behind collapsed on his position, giving chase in the form of numerous weapons seeking his blood. Meanwhile, those in front launched suicidal attacks, whittling down his health. 

Allowing himself to be surrounded was a necessary evil, as his Resistance was less than half of his Defense; tanking the Blasts would have resulted in significantly more damage. The falling elements and arrows devastated the members of Righteous, who charged after him, filling the air with screams of all too real pain.

It only took one debuff every four seconds to reset the cooldown on his reduced defenses. Considering how many casters were backing up the melees, that was a simple feat. Raine’s bloodlust was cranked to full power the entire time, but with morale so heavily stacked against him, it had no effect beyond reducing their attributes. Worse, his Celestial Power was below half, and he was taking so much damage that he wouldn’t survive long enough for the cooldown on Rupture to end.

With no other choice, he tanked multiple stabs, slashes, and crushing blows while charging a Leap. After bounding into the air, he Lunged twice in rapid succession, sending himself hurtling through the open gates of the town. The players he left behind stared at where he’d been with slack jaws.

“He jumped off thin air?!”

“How is that possible?”

“He escaped… General Marco’s going to kill us.”

Raine growled, cursing his roulette’s choices of weapons. Frustration simmered in his chest after revealing the aerial Lunge. It was a trick anyone could use once they understood the principles behind it. However, they were unlikely to discover the secrets behind jumping off Connection, as utilizing that attribute was far from intuitive.

Hopefully, they'll assume it was a special skill. They saw me changing weapons mid-fight, too. That's not normally possible. Well, at least I know who that general is now.

In the past, Marco Salvatore was a star pupil of Master Torune and his last living relative. That didn’t last long, as the man died under mysterious circumstances shortly before Raine was swindled into joining CronGate. If not for Vaneese occasionally bragging behind closed doors that she had something to do with his death, Raine never would have remembered the man’s existence.

Five players at the gates craned their necks as Raine flew over their heads. When he landed, they jumped him and were killed by the nearby guards in a heartbeat. The rest of the nearby players hesitated, giving Raine a chance to throw back a Celestial Restoration Potion. While tapping the dropped loot, he stored his weapon before spreading his arms invitingly.

A man with the off-colored armband of a captain shouted, “Do it! Kill him! He can’t get us all bef—”

His head promptly exploded when a spear-wielding guard appeared at his side with an outstretched arm. He moved so quickly that even Raine couldn’t follow the movement, “Stand down! We’ll not abide you Travelers causing a ruckus inside our walls!”

The demonstration of overwhelming power had the right effect. Weapons were sheathed, and those closest to Raine took a step back. Satisfied he was safe for the moment, Raine flicked a silver to the guard, then sat in a lotus, eager to regenerate the rest of his resources. The members of Righteous shouting indignantly all around him was music to his ears, helping him enter the meditative state of mind all the faster.

MeanyMouse

- Shadow Springs Town -

As she swapped between live Vodcasts in an attempt to spot the hated, mysterious disciple, Vaneese noticed how dire the bandit threat was. They were more skilled in combat than any of her elites and dealt significantly more damage. At first, she thought there were only a few dozen of them and eradicating them would be a matter of time.

Her horror mounted as five hundred level sevens chased a few bandits into the deep grass. As victory seemed imminent, the trap was sprung. Her people were surrounded by a force that doubled their number, then died in moments.

I have to… Wait. The more involved I get, the worse it will be for me when master discovers how many levels were lost. Right now, this is Marco's problem.

Thinking quickly, Vaneese linked and sent the Ncodes of all her commanding officers to Marco's secretary, giving him unilateral control of her forces. While an unreliable combatant, the secretary was an excellent administrator and would no doubt quickly relay whatever orders Marco came up with.

A few swipes of her fingers created several additional holographic displays, allowing her to simultaneously view multiple angles of the unfolding battle. Steepling her fingers, she leaned back in her office's comfortable chair, wishing she had a bag of popcorn.

Marco Salvatore

- Shadow Springs Town -

“What do you mean they're all dead?! We’re talking about a thousand adepts and a few fucking bandits!” Marco's clenched fist creaked as metal ground against itself.

The first two groups he sent to deal with the annoying threat had stopped responding, so Marco commanded an entire company to surround and wipe them out for good. Somehow, such overwhelming numbers met a similar fate.

His secretary met his gaze without flinching, succinctly presenting the facts and nothing more, “I watched the recording Captain Bergis sent; they met an equal number of enemies in an open engagement but ended up pincered by another force of a thousand bandits. They must have been hiding their numbers in the terrain.”

“You don't say…” Marco drawled, never having wanted to hit the worthless woman more than he did at that moment. He promised himself that she would pay later but now wasn't the time. “You said Vaneese’s commanders reached the area? Send them in from the back while the 2nd regiment spreads out to seal the net. We'll see how they like being pincered!”

Her fingers were a blur, recording Marco's commands and issuing them live to over three hundred officers, “What about the cockroach?”

“He's already scurried into town; nothing we can do about him now. The only way we can save face is to kill those bandits and get our gear back. With their strength, I'm betting they'll drop a hefty bit of loot.”

“Understood. Your orders have been relayed.”

“Good. Let's go join the hunt.”

Raine KongRu

- Shadow Springs Town -

The reason Raine was so particular when handing Rhino the bandit flag became known before his resources recovered.

[Achievement for murdering (intended or otherwise) 1,000 Travelers: Bandit Lords Charm]

[Bandit Lord’s Charm: (Common Grey - LVL 5) Further reduces light reflectivity while stealthed by 10%]

Raine didn’t bother equipping the finger-bone-shaped charm; his Locket of Rendition, with its daily teleportation, was far superior. The moment Righteous's members stopped yelling at him and dashed out of town, Raine knew they had given up on him to focus on the more serious threat. Fortunately, their grasp of the bandits' capabilities was nowhere near thorough enough to avoid significant casualties.

The Vaaterrans summoned by the flag excelled at stealth, so any typical attempt to pin them down was unlikely to succeed. If a leader was present, the bandits would also have a firm grasp of basic battlefield tactics, allowing them to scout, withdraw, and coordinate assaults on the weakest points of their enemy's formations. Combined with the low combat standards of players in this early stage of ZionLine, it was apparent the bandits would manage to quickly multiply.

Raine imagined they numbered in the thousands by now, even though it had only been a few minutes since Rhino confirmed the activation of the flag. With his health and Celestial Power nearly topped off, Raine hopped to his feet and poked his head around the edge of the gate. Sure enough, the players were arranging five deep in a long line. They advanced slowly, allowing the scattered remnants to join the disorganized ranks.

The only thing you’re giving time for is the bandits to grow stronger. Idiots probably think they'll get something good for killing them, too. As if ZL would be so kind with how good the flag already is.

The purpose of the flag wasn’t to wipe out armies or turn low-level gear into free Superiority. The bandits weren’t hard to deal with when you knew what you were against. No, the item's true purpose became evident when the prices for low-level gear dropped below a certain threshold. Constantly training tens of thousands of fresh recruits was a considerable drain on a guild's resources. With the flag, a highly realistic and controllable combat simulation could be created for relatively little cost; it was an excellent final exam for recruits and budding officers alike.

Originally, Raine intended to hold the gates, not allowing Righteous to retreat into the town while the bandits massacred them. Unfortunately for his enemies, he understood adaptability was a core tenet of victory on any battlefield. 

Raine left the town and Leaped into the air. A few aerial hops gained enough elevation to activate his drifter. It was too much to ask that nobody had seen him, but it hardly mattered with the drifter’s invisibility. Whoever later reviewed the VRVods would be scratching their heads trying to figure out what item he used to vanish.

From his new vantage, it was clear the bandits wouldn’t last long if nothing changed. From the west, a mass of condensed troops were closing in while the long line from the east was merely acting as a net and bait. The bandits numbered well over two thousand, but they were surrounded by close to forty times that many players.

Looks like the bandit leaders are hoping to bolster their numbers while fighting defensively. That would work if they were only outnumbered ten to one.

Devising a plan, Raine flew over the eastern army and dropped beside the flag. Fifty bandits turned toward him with murder in their eyes. Upon realizing he was the flag's owner, they relaxed, wearing broken-toothed smiles.

“Where did you come from? I thought you were going to hold position at the front of town?” Rhino greeted him with a suspicious glint in his eyes.

Raine ignored his paranoid behavior, knowing they were short on time, “Couldn’t handle it alone, and I’m needed more here. Take a hundred level tens and stealth to the north, around their formation. Don’t get within fifty meters of the town, or the guards will attack. Spread out and wait there. Don’t let Righteous take the easy way out. If they want to flee, they’ll have to run all the way across the zone.”

“You said there were over fifty thousand… You really think the bandits can kill so many before the flag expires? It’s only got forty-five minutes left.”

“Not on their own,” Raine grinned. With a warbling whistle that sounded exactly like the zone’s native raptors, he gathered the attention of the seedy Vaaterrans.

He spun a finger in the air twice, closed his fist tightly, then pointed southeast. They nodded in response, mimicking his silent command to those out of direct sight. Within seconds, the bandits were gathered and quietly moving in the indicated direction.

Another signed command gave Rhino his hundred fighters. Then, a hundred elite level fifteen bandits hid the flag in freshly cut grass. They stealthed around it, waiting in ambush for any unlucky enough to stumble across it. The remaining eighteen hundred followed Raine at a rapid clip toward the south side of Righteous’s spread-out net.

When they found the enemy minutes later, there were no complex strategies. Raine ordered a silent charge and led the bandits right down the players’ throats. Bursting from the tall grass at melee range, it was an absolute, one-sided slaughter. Rupture tore a hole through the middle of the five-deep line as his bandits wrapped around the end, attacking the rows of players from all sides.

They ate their way deeper, screams filling the air. A shouted order was silenced halfway through as Raine Lunged at the commander. His roulette had pulled a low-level dagger, which promptly slid into the man’s throat. A follow-up stab to the heart finished him.

Raine refused to complain about getting one of the weapons he needed earlier. Instead, he committed himself entirely to the melee. The familiar flow of life and death PVP pulled at his heartstrings. He was so close to leading his very own guild into battles just like this one that saliva overproduced, causing him to swallow incessantly.

When the next Righteous commander tried to issue an order, he died in a wave of amber light from below as Great Divide erased ten meters of their formation.

[Iron Dagger: Durability -2]

With a whistle and wave of his fist, the bandits grabbed the loot and smoothly disengaged. They had no inventories, but they could easily carry three items apiece. They broke line of sight thanks to the tall grass, then entered stealth and booked it back to the flag, where their numbers swelled once more.

A message from Rhino indicated his unit was already in position. With only minutes before the western wave of players found them, Raine called the two bandit leaders with glaives to his side. They were several centimeters taller than him, every millimeter of their bodies packed with rippling muscles protected by excellent-quality leather armor. 

They approached him confidently, one cracking his neck, the other his knuckles. Both wore smirks that were wiped off their faces when a burst of bloodlust washed over them. Eyes widening, they dropped to a knee, whispering, “Apologies for our disrespect, leader.”

Raine’s voice was low and challenging, “Kill a hundred of our enemies each, and I’ll let it slide.”

“A hundred? I’ll kill a thousand of these weaklings!” One boasted, earning him a nod from Raine.

“That’s the spirit. The enemy is almost upon us. Due to our ruse, they should focus their strength to the south, expecting us to still be in the area. Instead, we’ll split our forces into three and head west. Their flanking force on course to find the flag will die before they get the chance. A hundred defenders will stay behind. Spread them out to intercept their scouts. The longer we delay them finding the flag, the better.”

When they nodded their understanding, Raine continued, “I’ll lead the first group in a charge to break a path through. Your groups will be right behind me. Stay in stealth. Once we’re on the far side, their numerical advantage will vanish. When they manage to get another flank going, we’ll use the same formation to pierce their lines and return to the flag. That will give us enough numbers to crush them outright.”

The two big bandits flashed fierce smirks. With another raptor cry, four thousand Vaaterran bandits slunk through the grass, weapons at the ready. It wasn’t until the screams started anew that Righteous began to realize how bottomless the pit of despair was that Raine had plunged them into.

PITS OF DESPAIR

76

AhriGato AKA ‘the secretary’

- Shadow Springs Town -

Marco’s metal gauntlets slammed together as he punched his palm, “How could they have disappeared?! There were over a thousand of them? Who’s in command of the scouts? Never mind, I don’t want to know; I want you to bring me his fucking head!”

AhriGato saw right through his blustering to the fear lurking beneath the surface. Calling him general would only remind him of the stakes and trigger him further; she left out the moniker as she pitched her tone to the subservience he found so soothing, “I received a report that the cockroach left town and vanished into thin air. At least we know there aren’t two of him. Considering the bandits’ perfectly timed escape, should we assume a traitor is feeding our movements?”

“A traitor? That would make sense. How else could they know when to withdra—”

“General!” A young man burst from the nearby grass, escorted by two of Marco’s trusted bodyguards. Out of breath and shaking with urgency, he pressed on with his report, “The bandit threat is far more dangerous than anticipated!” AhriGato was ready to strangle the idiot if he didn’t have something of substance to report. Lucky for him, he wasn’t completely incompetent and sent her the relevant VRVod as he continued, “We found where they're coming from! It's some kind of item that spawns them. One of my men caught them throwing equipment near the item. When it disappeared, more bandits spawned!”

Marco shuddered, rubbing his temples, “Dear god, they're growing as they kill us. No wonder. Where is this item?”

“I-I don’t know exactly, General,” seeing Marco’s expression turn to thunderclouds, the scout leader blurted the rest of his information, “It should be somewhere northwest of the last engagement. My scout was crawling to avoid detection. He couldn’t see over the grass, and they found him after only a few seconds of observation.”

Marco opened his mouth to start shouting orders, then stopped, glancing suspiciously over both shoulders at the nearby players. After briefly examining the recorded vodcast, AhriGato dared to interject, “It appears the summoning flag is a stationary item.”

“Finally, some good news!” Marco roared, “I don’t care what losses we have to take; find that flag in the next five minutes!”

AhriGato nodded, relaying the appropriate orders to their commanders. Even if they couldn’t reach the item, they would find it quickly enough if they swarmed the area where most of their people were dying. As scouts discarded stealth to boldly run through the grass, kill reports came in by the dozen. AhriGato relayed the relevant information to her office team, which had access to a holographic map they could use to triangulate.

Meanwhile, General Marco coordinated with the commanders directly, tightening the noose around their slippery foe. Right when it seemed the tables had turned, a report came in that turned the general’s face white as a sheet. As if she knew before he did, a call came through. Marco cringed, accepting it reluctantly.

The moment Vaneese saw his face appear, she screeched at him, “How could you let three thousand members of my division die so easily?!”

Seething, Marco growled, his voice low, “What? How dare you try to pin that on me! It was your people who let the bandits break through the encirclement so easily. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you told them to do it on purpose.”

As if the rodent wandered right into her trap, Vaneese’s supposed fury vanished, and her voice turned to a purr, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, husband. You’ve been in control of my forces since demanding I relinquish them to you. I haven’t communicated even once. It would be terrible if I accidentally countermanded one of your brilliant strategies…”

“Vaneese, stop messing around. This is serious. Master Torune isn't going to let you off with a light slap if you don't help me turn this situation around. Use one of those fancy gems and get your ass here on the triple! If you don’t, mark my words: I’ve plenty of ways to make you suffer.”

An evil smile pulled her lips wide, “Gems? Can you be more specific? I’m not at all sure what you’re referring to. Oh, look at the time. My favorite vodcast is airing right now. Ta-ta.” Without waiting for another response, she ended the call.

It had been a long time since AhriGato wanted to curse out loud. The expletive almost left her lips before she controlled herself with an iron will. Until the master no longer held her daughter hostage, she had to keep his unpredictable godson under control. She met Marco’s eyes, exuding the calm solidarity he needed to recover. However, as if she were cursed, another call came in. Marco released a shudder at the Ncode displayed in his HUD.

He answered with trepidation, “Morok, my dear friend. What can I do for you?”

“How many of my employees are you planning to kill, you incompetent little shit? Those men and women aren’t yours! They’re mine! Mine! Do you fucking hear me?”

Marco cringed, attempting to salvage the conversation, “Of co—”

“Shut the fuck up!” Morok the Viper’s voice turned shrill, “I’ll be sending a bill totaling every death and lost piece of gear directly to Master Torune. If I’m not refunded by the end of the day, consider our cooperation ended!” Morok didn’t allow any chance to respond, promptly ending the call.

“These damn bandits aren’t even dropping any loot, and now this?!” In a full-blown tantrum, Marco screeched and furiously kicked the ground, sending dirt flying. He repeatedly smashed a gauntlet against his chest plate, the reverberations calming his nerves. Facing AhriGato, he growled through a tight jaw, “There’s nothing we can do about containing the bandits now that they’ve broken through the pincer. If we assume that flag can make infinite reinforcements, then we have no choice but to make it our top priority. Order Vanee-the western forces to continue closing the encirclement. Anyone attacked should fight back to buy the rest of us time.”

Just then, a message tagged emergency came in from AhriGato’s team. She accessed it immediately, praying for good news. As her eyes flew over the words, the tension drained from her shoulders, “We’ve found it.”

Raine KongRu

- Shadow Springs Town -

Raine’s greatsword plunged through a woman’s chest, reaping a level and a piece of gear. A spear darted toward his head, but it was intercepted by one of the bandits at his side. A shuffle-spin brought Raine forward and around, his heavy weapon slicing through armor and flesh with equal ease. He finished the martial maneuver with a Rupture, sending fifty players off to respawn. It was hard to deny that he was having the time of his life. 

Butter on the biscuit, every CronGate employee that died put them one step further away from disrupting his future plans. When he started a guild, they would be the first to come knocking for revenge. This was his best chance to deliver them a crushing blow.

The bandits charged into the gap his skill created. They killed almost as quickly as he did. The morale of his enemies snapped like a dry twig. They bolted, and the bandits roared, prepared to charge after them. A sharp whistle from Raine stopped them in their tracks. Looking at the lack of forces made it clear they either found the flag or decided to prioritize locating it over trying to kill his elite Vaaterrans.

Looks like they didn’t take the bait. That’s too bad, but this works too.

Raine signaled for his troops to spread out and press the attack instead of remaining in a tightly clustered formation. The direct path east, back to the flag, was still open from when they broke through a few minutes ago. He commanded one of the bandit leaders to sprint his troops back to the flag, taking the five thousand pieces of gear they’d collected so far. They would still be outnumbered six to one, but it didn’t matter if they all died. They only needed to keep Righteous away from the flag for a few minutes.

The enemy casters and archers were the real problem. So long as they remained alive, the sheer numerical disadvantage would eventually wear down his forces. The remaining bandits charged in a wide formation. Raine was at the front, cutting through the fleeing stragglers while closing in on the back ranks of the rapidly advancing western encirclement. 

Raine sent a quick message to Rhino, “Get back into the fight. Stay on the outskirts and assassinate as many casters as possible. Stay focused on the flow of the battle. When Righteous breaks, get back to position and stop them from entering the town.”

“You sure know how to make a guy happy. Wait… how did you know that would make me so happy?” Rhino replied right away with a squinty-eyed meme.

Raine snorted, beginning to wonder if the kid’s antics were an act just for laughs. The fleeing players caught up with the main forces. They turned, weapons and shields raised and ready. Raine’s bandits plowed into them, the clangor of clashing weapons, rent armor, and screams filling the air.

Due to being concentrated in a smaller area as they closed in on the flag, this enemy formation was nearly a hundred players deep. Raine’s forces were also spread thin, resembling a school of piranhas attempting to eat their way through a whale. Luckily, Righteous was either incompetent or unfamiliar enough with the warfare in ZionLine not to concentrate their casters in the middle of the formation.

Arrows and Blasts filled the air in haphazard waves, some firing back at Raine and the bandits, some toward the flag's location. Due to the volleys being thin and the bandits having ‘adequate’ combat standards, most of them failed to hit. Raine wasn’t about to let them get their shit together without paying a hefty toll for their mistake.

“Don’t let up! Kill ‘em all!” He shouted, simultaneously unleashing a Great Divide that cut deep into the thick formation.

[Iron 2-H Sword: Durability -2]

Lunging into the center of the cleared space, he roared like a madman, unleashing a wave of bloodlust with all his mental strength. For fifteen meters in each direction, the frenetic pace of pitched combat stuttered to a stop. It was only a momentary pause but served to further disrupt their cohesion, allowing his bandits to kill hundreds more.

[Achievement for first to murder (intended or otherwise) 10,000 Travelers: Ethereal Powder dropped]

Raine snatched the falling item so fast its bright blue glow barely strobed before vanishing.

[Ethereal Powder: (Lustrous Blue) Sprinkle on the body to slip into the ethereal realm for fifteen seconds. Beware the hidden dangers that lurk within the unknown abyss]

[Regional System announcement: Congratulations Alaric for being the first to murder ten thousand Travelers!]

[World System Announcement: Congratulations Alaric for being the first to murder ten thousand Travelers!]

Amidst shrill screams packed with indignation, Raine bent his knees and Leaped high to get a snapshot of the battle. The area around the flag was swarmed with players and Vaaterrans alike. The bandits were down to less than five hundred, but those remaining were level ten and fifteen elites. Each took dozens of hits to kill, and they weren’t easy to hit. Tens of players died for each. Unfortunately, they had little time to secure the loot from their kills to spawn more bandits.

They wouldn’t last much longer against the eastern flank. It was no longer in a thin, broad line. They were now clustered two hundred deep, and the concentration of fire coming from within that sea of humanity wasn’t to be underestimated.

Lunging off the air, Raine flew headfirst into the thick of Righteous’s warriors. He landed with another Rupture, bringing his Discipline below half. Raine dashed into the ring of bandits around the flag, unloading the fifty pieces of gear picked up so far. Before the fresh recruits could coalesce, he was tearing into the enemies to the east.

“Damn you, cockroach!” A thunderous shout perked Raine’s ears. Looking up, his grin widened seeing General Marco again.

Raine’s spinning cleave cleared space as the man’s long axe whirled from above. Raine smoothly side-stepped without breaking the momentum of his greatsword. Marco ducked, expertly using his axe’s pommel to knock Raine’s sword up at the last second so it harmlessly flew over his head. Marco’s eyes shot wide as he was thrown back three paces from the brief contact.

He clearly expected to tackle Raine before he recovered from his overextension. Furious spittle flew from his mouth as he charged again, “How high is your Potency, you damn cheater!” Marco’s competence as an early class five martial master was on full display as he weaved forward with a complex body movement that left Raine dizzy.

There was only a single level difference between them, and Raine didn’t have the full set bonus from his armor, nor his level fifteen greatsword. Meanwhile, Marco was in head-to-toe, level ten Lustrous Blues. Still, Raine held an advantage in attributes and easily deflected a wickedly-angled chop from above.

When he stepped forward to return the favor, several flanking players stabbed at him with spears while those behind fired arrows and Blasts. Marco’s grin was wiped off his face as Raine simply tanked every last hit, closing the distance until both their weapons were useless.

Marco’s foot lashed out at his extended knee. As a fist fighter for thirty years, this was precisely the distance Raine felt the most comfortable. Additionally, while Marco might be a class five by today’s standards, he was closer to the future’s definition of a class four, though without knowing how to properly take advantage of his attributes.

With absolute control over every muscle in his body, Raine’s knee bent unnaturally as his quad and calf twisted it out of the way of Marco’s kick. His knee would have been dislocated if they were in the outside world. Instead, Raine merely suffered tremendous pain and a dip in his health. He ignored both as his foot snapped forward at an equally disturbing angle, catching Marco’s boot as it tried to withdraw. 

A heavy thud preceded the man trying to jump backward off one leg, but Raine had the advantage in forward momentum. He maintained their distance, the fist not holding his sword whipping out. Marco blocked the attack, but again, Raine’s muscles contorted, turning his arm into a snake that wove around the shaft of Marco’s axe.

There was little force behind the punch, but there didn’t need to be. The moment Raine’s fingers grazed Marco’s breastplate, Life Drain activated, sapping more than half the general’s health. He screamed and stumbled back, the pain from feeling like he was being turned inside out too much to bear.

Raine had guessed the man wasn’t used to taking damage. With his skills, and constantly fighting in a group, he might not have been hit more than once or twice since creating his avatar. Without the repeated experience of life-ending pain, shrugging off such a powerful skill was simply unrealistic. It’s not like he’d faced anything close to it in the outside world, either.

The half a second it took him to recover was far too long. Raine’s greatsword crunched into his chest. He rapidly spun the other way, the weapon slicing into Marco from the other direction. Each hit took a quarter of the general’s life. Left with only a sliver, Marco met Raine’s eyes, disbelief scrawled across his face as a boot crashed into his chest. He slid off Raine’s sword, the last of his health draining away.

Marco hit the ground in a spray of blood, and Raine stepped on his corpse. The last thing the general saw was a Rupture overkilling his trusted bodyguards, exploding them into clouds of shimmering dust. Due to merely meeting his health, Marco’s body vanished slower than his subordinates. It was replaced by a resplendent golden glow.

Frowning, Raine ignored the chaotic fighting around him to bend down and pick up the book that dropped, “Where did you find such a good thing? We should meet again soon so I can thank you.”

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

77

[Tome of seventy-seven praises to Bhima: (Marvelous Gold) Once per day a new passage detailing the ultimate wisdom of Bhima shall be revealed. Upon reading each new passage Potency increases by 1 (All accumulated bonuses are lost upon death) (Bonuses become permanent after 77 days and 77 passages) (This item will always drop upon death) (1 use per account)]

Raine jumped back far enough to be surrounded by his bandits, then quickly opened the book, reading the first passage: “In this, the Mortal Realm, there can be only one undeniable truth: There is no good, nor evil. Only weight, and those too weak to lift it.” Raine chuckled at the ridiculous line, then dropped the item into his inventory. He noted its ticking twenty-four-hour cooldown and the lone message in his interface.

[Potency: +1]

Poor Marco isn't having an easy time of it this life, either.

The book’s golden glow vanished, yet greedy eyes remained glued to him. The bandits weren't about to miss such a good distraction, and dozens of players died in under two seconds. A barrage of missiles tore into the space Raine was standing right after he dashed forward, back into the crowd.

“No, don’t com—” Raine’s greatsword cut the man’s head in two. His boots slid along the ground, collecting loot while positioning himself for a cleave that took out three more players. A few attacks hit his back, doing minimal damage. He turned with a snarl, and they fell back in fear, throwing their weapons up to block his next swing.

Their efforts were useless. The members of Righteous died in waves. Raine continued to dive recklessly through the ranks until he reached the casters. Rupture and another Great Divide reaped over two hundred lives. Those lucky enough to be outside his skills’ ranges slipped up in their shock, failing to refresh their defense reduction debuffs. Since he continued to chase them down, they couldn’t fully stack their skills again; the damage he was taking dove sharply. Raine didn’t bother restoring his health when it passed below fifty percent, relying on regeneration to get the job done.

A short time later, the bandit leaders cut their way through the ranks to join him. The three made wide circles around the flag, targeting the most formidable clumps of soldiers. Occasionally, enemy leaders made themselves known, and Raine expended Discipline and CP to close the distance and end them. 

A shift took place after what felt like hours but was really only minutes. Raine had been in enough battles to pick out the subtle signs of a conflict about to turn: Furious warcries became drowned out by screams, the press of the front line’s advance slowed, and then it stopped altogether.

Raine could feel Righteous was about to break. It was an odd sensation, going beyond his past experiences, as though he weren’t facing individuals but a collective hivemind and his finger was on its pulse. He messaged Rhino to return to his original position, then left the bandit brothers for the flag.

Raine raised his voice over the clamor of pitched battle, “That's enough summoning. We have the numbers to finish them! Press the attack; leave none alive!”

“Raghr!” The bandits thundered back, then swapped from defensive techniques to those bred for slaughter. For the first time since Righteous found the flag, the bandits pushed back and recovered lost ground. 

With a roar of his own, Raine pushed out a pulse of bloodlust that was so potent it instantly bloomed into throbbing needles behind his eyes. The closest players took one last look at him and his suddenly zealous bandits, then turned and ran. Others followed, and like ripples on a pond, a mass rout began.

“Those level ten and above, follow me!” Raine led the charge, quickly catching the players trying to press through their own allies to flee. Rupture and Great Divide opened a path, and his bandits flowed into it, widening it further. By this point, his crappy replacement sword was nearly destroyed. It hardly mattered with the mass of loot he’d accumulated.

Minutes later, they cut through the other end of the eastern formation and spread out to reinforce Rhino. The town was at their back as Righteous attacked Raine’s line with a frenzy. The gates to freedom were within sight, urging the players on. Devoid of leadership and coordination, they didn’t kill a single elite bandit. Seeing their last chance for salvation slip away, true despair clutched their hearts, and they scattered in every direction.

“Level fifteens with me. Everyone else, give chase! Prioritize looters and collect the drops near the flag!”

“Hurrah!” Rhino shouted along with the bandits, rushing after a group of players and repeatedly stabbing them in the back.

“Kill ‘em! Kill 'em all!”

“Get da shineys!”

Raine dashed toward the town, stopping far enough away that the guards wouldn’t aggro his elites, “Spread out. Don’t let any of their reinforcements through.” Heading closer alone, he arrived before the gates and waited.

A standard, ‘first-time’ resurrection only took five minutes. Subsequent deaths within an hour would multiply that downtime, each by the law of five. Respawning from a third death took over two hours, and anyone foolish enough to die a fifth time would be unable to play for several days. Thirty minutes after the first players died, brave leaders managed to rally the revived soldiers, and they gathered at the gates. Raine stood on the road alone, daring anyone to take a step outside.

They didn’t.

Marco pushed his way to the front. Bloodshot eyes regarded Raine with seething hatred, “You have no idea how bad you just fucked your life. We’ll find out who you are. You won’t have any special little items to save you when we meet in the outside world.”

“That’s neat. Didn’t realize it was possible to race change to a chihuahua. If you want to do more than bark, I’m right here.” Raine spread his arms, grinning.

Marco spat on the ground between them, then raised his arm and spun it, “Get back! We’re done! I said, get out of the way! Line the damn walls. Stay off the streets before the Vaaterrans arrest you for impeding.”

Planting his hands on his hips, Raine remained where he was, standing confidently as the timer for the flag ticked down.

That was close. If they chose to keep coming until the flag despawned, I would be the one running for my life when my army vanished into thin air.

Ten minutes later, when only five minutes left, Raine pumped Discipline into his legs and tore across the nearby fields to return to his now-massive pile of loot. Rhino met him there, greedily eyeing the nearly thirty thousand items but unwilling to break their contract by touching anything.

Raine pointed him toward the north, “Run as fast as you can, and don’t stop. I’ll catch you soon.”

Rhino nodded and did as told. Despite Raine’s scrambling, he didn’t manage to gather everything before the bandits disappeared into puffs of smoke. He kept on, wading through the goods as quickly as he could. Furious roars filled the air from the direction of the town. The ground shook from thousands of boots rushing his way.

Seconds passed, each more precious than the last. Raine's hands and feet blurred. The pile disappeared into his inventory. If he died in the next two hours, the loot explosion would be a sight to behold. Not all the bandits returned to the pile with their ill-gotten gains before vanishing. Instead of turning north, Raine dashed toward the nearest pile. The first players appeared as he was on the fifth such cache. Led by Marco, they screamed bloody murder as they gave chase, “You’re dead! You’re fucking dead! Get our gear back! Don’t let him escape!”

Raine almost turned back to fight them, knowing he was close to the hundred thousand kills achievement. He chose not to, as attacking even once would enter him into combat again. At that point, escaping would be much more challenging. With tantalizing loot to be gained, Raine ran the other way at full speed.

Between Discipline to boost his basic movements, Lunge, and Leap, they couldn’t keep up. From one pile to the next, Raine stayed barely ahead. Despondently, he had little choice but to leave them a few scraps here and there that happened to be left in poor locations. Righteous grew more incensed with each retrieval, their forces spreading out to eventually box him in since he was weaving about chaotically.

When he could see no more loot, Raine bent his knees and turned toward Marco, giving him a friendly wave, “You guys are the best. Let’s do this again soon!”

Leap and three Lunges brought him high enough to activate his skydrifter, and he vanished from sight. A soul-wrenching scream followed him north. 

“Noooooo!”

Almost all the pieces are in place to start my guild. After I get everyone together and powerlevel them to fifteen, it’ll finally be time. Never even dreamt I would own my own guild in the past. This gear and the credits I’ve earned so far won’t be nearly enough. The second I need to equip and pay the salary for a hundred thousand players, I’ll be more broke than ever.

That knowledge couldn’t come close to dousing his excitement. Raine couldn’t remember feeling so eager at any time in either life. He swiftly caught up with Rhino, dropping to land beside him. Huffing, the boy shot him a wicked grin, “We looping back around to town?”

Raine shook his head, “We aren't going to town. We have more important things to do.”

“Really? Like what?”

Raine returned his grin, “Not telling.”

More fun to watch his paranoid ass squirm while trying to figure it out.

Predictably, Rhino blanched, his eyes darting around for the ambush Raine was no doubt leading him into.

They ran for several hours. After angling toward the nearest road north, they sped up, but it still took another three hours to reach the zone around Dry Canyon Town. They met several Righteous patrols, earning themselves a few extra pieces of gear.

During that time, Raine edited his VRVod of the battle and posted it on several trending threads until it took off. Alaric strikes again, using an extraordinary method to single-handedly defeat an army of a hundred thousand!

The responses were predictable, and Righteous learning the name of their detestable cockroach only further set them off. Another call came in, and Raine ignored it like all the others. His HUD indicated Morok the Viper had left him over fifty voiced messages. He passed them along to Morty, not expecting there to be anything worth responding to.

In a pleasant twist of fate, Fizgore, Mel, and Celeste were right where Raine told them to be. They met off the main road in a thick copse tucked behind a small hill.

Celeste’s greeting was a grumpy, “Who’s that?”

“My new slave,” Raine immediately realized his mistake when Mel’s eyes flew wide. “Joking, joking. This is Rhino. He signed a contract to work for me. Good job hitting level five. We can talk more on the road.”

Mel hid her disappointment as he dodged her wishes again, “We saw the announcement and post. I can’t believe you killed so many players. They’re not going to come after us, are they?”

Raine filled in the gaps, knowing she was referring to the outside world. There was no reason to sugarcoat it, so he didn’t, “They most certainly will. Growing strong enough to protect ourselves is our first priority. Don’t worry, Melbelle, by the time they find you, you won’t need anyone to protect you ever again.”

Raine met her embarrassment with a confident smirk, then returned to the road. He formed a raid group and added everyone to it. They took a few moments to adjust to the new pop-up in their HUDs. Raine made his own adjustments, then broadcasted a link to the raid chat, allowing them to copy his options for anyone who wanted a more streamlined version of the new interface mechanic.

Fizgore accepted Raine’s version, cupping his fists, “Endless gratitude, brother.”

“Oh, that’s way better,” Mel agreed, her tone not quite back to its usual carefree joviality.

As everyone put Discipline into their feet to speed up, Raine sent her a private message, “We’ll talk about your contract the next time we’re alone. I gave it some thought, and I have a few ideas.”

She responded instantly, blasting the back of his head with a brilliant smile, “Okay! Thank you!”

Their next location was bound to be far more challenging to reach than the last time he visited. In the mountain passes on the way to Silverlight City, they would have to travel through Vile Peak Town. Due to being one of only three intermediate towns connecting the outer and inner zones of the Silvergate Kingdom, it was guaranteed to be the bustling hub of activity Raine remembered from the past. With the war between Righteous and DyingNight ended and Vile Peak Town smack in the middle of both guilds, tensions in the area were sure to be sky-high.

Raine sent another message, this time to his brother, “We’re finally heading your way. Have there been any issues?”

Richtor took nearly an hour to respond, his message catching Raine by surprise, “Too many to count. Ever hear of a guild called Rising Endlessly? They’ve got all the mountain passes locked down, and they kill anyone trying to reach Vile Peak Town. We’ve tried to break through a few times, but these guys aren’t playing around like DyingNight.”

Raine had indeed heard of Rising Endlessly. They were the personal guild of Damian Tafell, Talerra’s cousin and rival for the Phoenix Clan’s line of succession. Since Raine was on good terms with her, he was unlikely to get his people through Damian’s territory without a brutal fight. 

Damian, Damian, Damian. We already have a date at the arena in two days. Are you really in such a hurry to die?

Here ends Return of the Martial Messiah Book 2

Thank you for reading!!

CONTINUE THE STORY

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TORAAKR'S OTHER WORKS

Check out ToraAKR's first series: Dawn of The Density God.

Madra: A planet stuck on hard mode set to devour everyone on its surface.

Jiran is just a child when he receives shattered, imperfect memories of a past life. Nestled inside these emotionless visions is a magic very different to the density and mana he knows, the magic of science. 

The empire stands alone against the relentless beasts of Madra. Their only means of survival is harnessing the density that saturates her surface, a magic they cannot possibly understand. Will Jiran realize he holds the key to unlocking humanity's infinite potential before they are all wiped out?

A cultivation LitRPG with a magic system that will blow your socks off, or your arm, or both your legs. Who knew magic+science could be so explosive?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ToraAKR fell in love with the fantasy genre at a young age after getting his grubby little hands on the Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It was all down hill from there as a love for fiction turned into a complete addiction for the LitRPG genre. It was the moment that no story could perfectly scratch the itch that he finally picked up the keyboard and started rolling his face across the keys until a story was born.