At the gym, Robert worked hard on his swordplay with the help of the holographic sparring dummies.

After the fairy realm, things settled into normalcy. Amanda used a whole week to process and digest the excitement and weirdness of that encounter. He postponed any other adventures to prioritize healing and training.

He knew he had to shore up his mundane skills. Some encounters showed him he couldn't rely on his spells or even his talents to win his fights. The Moon beasts, the MCP CEO... That one still made his extremities go cold. The fact he could survive having his head crushed and severed was almost as scary as having his head crushed and severed.

While he trained his body, his imprint in the mind palace read books.

"Yeah, you show them ghosts!" Spidersilk cheered from a nearby chair.

Too bad these platforms didn't work in the liminal void. The enchantments used to create the holograms were very essence-hungry. Too bad he couldn't use the clockwork Dungeon either. Amir still hadn't appeared. Robert couldn't believe the murderer managed to get himself killed inside. But the risk of going there to find out was too big. Even if he stuck to the liminal void, he ran the risk of having his time frame synchronized with the Dungeon's time frame and getting catapulted into the future.

So, until he either found a power source that could keep the holograms running in the liminal void indefinitely or Amir came out to reset the clockwork Dungeon stretched time, he needed to use his precious time in the real world to spar with the holograms. It was worth it. The platforms had literally thousands of imprints from warriors of all styles. Maybe not all styles but the difference was rhetorical. It was almost as good as sparring with the real warriors. Though the holograms lacked some creativity and the ability to improvise, they also lacked substance. That meant they could hit like a real fight, leaving only a small bruise and pain behind, instead of a mortal wound.

But sparring wasn't everything. While Amanda had her slow week to get acquainted with LiMeiLin, Robert used the time to add more books to his growing psychic collection. He finished the Academy and went around the world, visiting other big libraries in the dead of the night, making copies of rare books they had, leaving no trace of his visit. With each book he added and read, his intellect fortress became stronger and sturdier. It was a good addition since all the time he had to develop his mind palace was now focused on strengthening the thought shield.

He sought something he'd lost after "dying". The innocent and naive drive to grow stronger, the rush of power he felt after opening the Void Gates of Nirvana. He knew that if he let himself stagnate he'd get stuck, unable to advance further. One of his shoulder demons whispered, why bother? He had more money that he could use, he already had some power and reputation, and he could live a life of comfort. He even got the girl. Power for the sake of power? What did that even mean?

His inner turmoil caused the warrior hologram he was fighting, a dagger wielder, to score a nasty hit. The platform recognized it as a deadly strike and ceased the simulation. Robert's heart was made of sturdier stuff than mere human flesh and wouldn't even... fuck that. It was time for a break.

*

*

Freddy lay on the living room couch, trying to take a nap. It was impossible, though.

A blur of golden fur flew over him. A paw struck his back. The bundle of endless energy turned and barked right on top of his ear.

"WOOF! (LET'S PAAAARTAAYYYY!)" Poochline woofed.

Freddy cracked an eye open. Why was this guy still behaving like a puppy? What was wrong with this dog's brain, what did the humans do to Poochline to get him stuck on his highest setting? Did he have the canine version of human ADHD?

And yet, it would be easy for Freddy to use his talent and just hide from Poochline. He didn't do that because it was useless. Poochline would search everywhere in the house until it stumbled into Freddy. And then he'd bother the Minotaurs. For the sake of the peace, Freddy used himself as a magnet for Poochline's... affection?

A rift opened mid-air. The purple crackling energy scared Poochline, who decided that digging between Freddy and the couch was a good way to find a hiding spot. Good grief.

Biscuit came out of the rift. He was also an Arch-Taulusian and an ascended one at that. His body was very similar to the Earth dog breed known as corgi. Purple tentacles made of pure energy floated around his back. Biscuit was also the strongest Taulusian in the multiverse. He was the leader of the warrior faction that decided to remain behind to fight for their world. While Freddy's faction gave up the pursuit of power to become refugees on Earth. They also had forfeited their right to ascend in power and remain mortals for the sake of an imaginary covenant between the Taulusians and the humans.

Freddy suffered from this delusion for too long. It even led him in a downward spiral that could destroy him. Only because Robert and Amanda helped him see the falsehood of that covenant did he take the power that was his birthright.

"Brother Freddy," Biscuit barked. "Why don't you seek greatness? Even with the power you have, why do you insist on behaving like a household pet?"

"Greetings, exalted one," Freddy barked back. "What brings you here?" He ignored the questions he didn't want to answer.

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"You. I came to take you on a journey to find your true power. You spent too long lazying around without earning your keep. We need your help in the great war."

"I'm not a warrior. I refuse to hurt others," Freddy set his paw down on the upholstery.

"The path you seek is a laudable one and it makes you even more important. Because when the time comes to settle and have peace, old veterans like us will need a guide. A leader with the vision to teach us what peace really means. It's a foreign concept for us."

"Woof! (More friends! Let's play!)" Poochline woofed as he poked his head out from underneath Freddy's hindquarters.

"You don't need to fight if you don't want to," Biscuit said. "We will honor your wishes. But we are in dire need of a scout, of someone who can find enemies, and deliver messages between camps. Come, Freddy. If not for Glory, for our beloved Taulusia. If you truly love peace, then seize the power to make it happen."

Part of Freddy felt like he didn't deserve the honor. But he remembered how the elders lamented the loss of their land. Their world. He stood.

Poochline stared at Biscuit, saw the tentacles, and ran off to hide underneath Robert's bed.

"If you want my power, then I'll lend it to you," Freddy barked confidently. "All of it. Whether you like it or not."

Biscuit stared for a while. "So be it. Come, let's go."

"You misunderstood, honored one. My power lies not in my soul, but in the friends I made along the way."

Freddy walked to the kitchen and scratched a part on the side of the fridge, revealing a thin crystal plate underneath the paint. Robert had left this emergency beacon in case something went wrong. Freddy launched a blast of Wind at the plate, breaking it.

"Now, we wait."

*

*

Robert was drinking a glass of cold water when he sensed it. The distress beacon he left with Freddy had triggered. He blinked next to Spidersilk and scooped the fairy, rustling her silk dress.

"What is going OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—"

And they sailed through the true void. In less than a minute, Robert resurfaced in the liminal void attached to his apartment. The corgi-like Arch-Taulusian floated in his kitchen.

The four-star alien unfroze as he crossed over into the liminal void. Colors returned to his body and tentacles as the alien stared at him. Robert saw the four stars blazing bright in the Taulusian's soul.

"Void Emperor," Biscuit greeted curtly.

"Exalted one," Robert returned the greeting in kind. "What brings you to my humble residence?"

"Our eternal war reached a turning point. We are at a stalemate with our sworn enemies. We need more warriors. I'm here to recruit Freddy to the war."

"And does he want to be recruited? Freddy is a pacifist."

"And I respect him greatly for that. He has a strength that I lack and admire. You know very well how easy it is to cause untold destruction and never look back. But answering your question, yes. Freddy agreed to come. But he insists on not going alone."

Robert approached Biscuit. Staring into a canine's eyes was a sign of challenge but he wouldn't back down. "Freddy and I are brothers. His troubles are my troubles. We will fight. Both of us. Do you need to depart now?"

"The rift between dimensions I currently keep open is taxing. I don't have much time. You must hurry."

"Can you take me across that rift? I can reach any realm I've visited once."

"Of course. Wherever the void touches, there the Emperor finds his way. I'll trust you, human."

"I'll join you in reality in just a few moments."

"Very well," Biscuit said and left the liminal void, his form losing all colors.

"That's an odd dog," Spidersilk said from his jacket breast pocket.

When Robert's time was up, he appeared in the kitchen. "Freddy, I'm going with the Exalted one to mark the place we will arrive at. Then I'm going to come back and get you."

"Okay!" Freddy barked.

Biscuit offered Robert a tentacle. He grasped it, the energy appendage as solid as if it was made out of matter. They went to the living room and entered the rift. Poochline ran and jumped at Robert right as they were crossing it. Biscuit spared a glance but did nothing. Robert grabbed the mixed-breed golden retriever and finished crossing the rift.

*

*

They arrived at a hot and moist jungle camp. Several Taulusians wandered around, using various forms of magic to manipulate objects. Telekinesis and Ether constructs were the favored forms but one Taulusian in particular kept teleporting objects around to where they should be.

"You may use this clearing here as your ingress point," Biscuit barked.

Poochline wriggled until he broke free. The dog started to run around with all the energy a dog could have, smelling the Taulusians. But it seemed that the aliens weren't bothered by him. Some even threw amused glances and wagged their tails at the bundle of joy.

"You may leave the puppy in our care. No harm will come to him."

"Okay," Robert barked. "I'll be back soon. I think I'll bring a large group, though."

Biscuit chuffed a laugh, "Our war is neverending, our enemies are inexhaustible. Bring an army, bring your whole world. As you say, 'the more the merrier'," Biscuit said the last part in perfect British English. Biscuit winked and Robert used his talent.

*

*

Robert reappeared in the gym. Noah was helping Caroline with the crafting tools. She was doing the same they did in the abandoned city, carving heating plates out of base crystal. He took a glance at the teacher's mask and flinched. Did the curse grow stronger? Was it devouring Noah?

"Robert," Noah said. "You look distressed."

"Something came up. The Taulusians need us. They reached a turning point in their war. Freddy decided to go and I am going too."

Noah looked at Caroline and got a nod from her. She seemed determined. Then he pointed the finger guns at Robert.

"You son of a bitch, I'm in."

*

*

Robert popped right in the middle of Amanda's bedroom. The girl was sitting naked on the bed with her back to him. He looked away because he didn't want to know what she was doing even though his spatial senses betrayed him.

"Robert!?!" She yelped and hid something under a pillow. "Why are you here?"

"Freddy and his people need us. Are you coming?"

LiMeiLin came out from underneath the bed. Amanda conjured a bathrobe from her ring and deftly put it on. She came out of the bed. "I need a minute."

He stepped outside and met Veronica in the kitchen.

"Is anything wrong?" The former salesperson asked.

"We're going to war," Robert said. "I think Amanda is coming. Do you want to come?"

"You'll need a healer, right?"

"Can't hurt," Robert smiled.

Veronica nodded. "You son of a bitch, I'm in."

*

*

Robert went to his apartment to collect his tame monsters and spare equipment. He teleported the Minotaurs to Amanda's backyard and stashed his mutant puffblooms in his jacket's inner pockets.

Veronica came out wearing light armor designed to give her vitals the best protection without encumbering or hindering her mobility. Amanda walked behind her, dragging a large stasis crate too big to fit in her ring. Her eight-cubic-meter ring. LiMeiLin was nesting in her head, the roots braided with Amanda's hair.

"We are ready," Veronica said.

"A little help here!" Amanda said.

Robert levitated the crate with his telekinesis.

"I didn't get your answer," Robert asked Amanda.

Amanda leaned on the crate, put a chocolate cigar in her mouth, then winked. "You son of a bitch, I'm in."