Congratulations, you killed Human
Congratulations, you killed Human
Assisted kill, Human
The words flashed across Ezra’s tired face as he exited the arena. Milo and Erik followed close behind with even more gray screens winking into existence. In such a short time, the words no longer bothered him. He understood that fact of life in the higher layers. They didn’t need to kill each other; in there, everyone could have gathered their tickets in peace, but that insatiable desire to go higher, to be the first to the top, drove the idea that only the strongest were allowed to survive. And how else would they get stronger than killing each other? Yet Ezra knew he wasn’t strong. So why am I still alive?
Level 15 achieved
Would you like to distribute points to your skill or robustness?
As his finger hovered over the option to accept, a thought passed through his mind as similar screens appeared for every person who walked out of the arena. Why is this only happening now?
“Hey, Milo, did you level up at all during the test?” Ezra asked.
Milo adverted his pondering gaze from his screen. “No, but I’m level ten now. Almost catching up to you.”
“And you don’t find that strange? We’re supposed to level up immediately after defeating someone.”
“Now that you mention it, that is a bit strange.” Milo tapped on his skill and began to pour points into the attribute.
Erik closed his screen and itched his shoulder nonchalantly. “It’s likely to keep all the test takers on a level playing field. At least as much as possible.”
“No, not that. I get the sentiment, but I don’t get how they can do that. Why do they have control over our pockets?" Ezra pressed the accept button as Erik and Milo considered the question.
Ezra Arkin
Level 15 . . . Rank: Seeker
Robustness Lvl 0 Distribution [Lvl 10 required]
Skill Lvl 1 Evolution [Lvl 50 required]
Upon seeing his stat screen, Ezra realized he had never upgraded using the remaining points from the first layer test and the beast on the 2nd layer. A pit in his stomach formed as he comprehended how much of a disadvantage he had been at. With fourteen points left, Ezra carefully considered how to spread them between the two options. He reached up to feel the bruising along his neck. The sensation still stung and was enough to convince him to put ten of his points into robustness.
Distribution available! Please wait a moment while your biometrics are taken.
The message disappeared and was replaced by three dots that flashed in succession across the screen. Another light, like the one when he first received the A.S.H.O. system, bored into the back of his eyes. Soon his vision cleared, and a simple outline of his body appeared on the screen. He briefly recalled the words of the test admin on the first layer. He mentioned something about robustness deviations. I don’t remember what, but it must be something like spreading your defenses throughout your body.
Clicking the segment on the diagram’s neck, another screen materialized.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
10 points available to distribute: Part 2 out of 32 selected. Would you like to continue?
[Yes] [No]
Clicking yes, Ezra put seven points into his neck. Thinking of everywhere else he could get hurt, he subtracted several points and decided to only put two into his neck. He gave two more points to his head and two each to his pecs. With two points left, he carefully considered the next segment of his body to strengthen. He clasped his hand into a fist and imagined punching Marcus in his smug face. The feeling wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying if his knuckles burned with pain. One point went into each of his hands, and Ezra closed the robustness screen.
His three remaining points went into his skill, and as he exited the attribute screen, he faintly felt a tingly sensation in the parts of his body that were upgraded. “So have you come up with a good reason for it all?”
Erik shook his head in shame, and Milo raised his eyebrows as if he were finally free of the burden the question had imposed upon him. “Nope, not a clue. Maybe Hugo would know.”
“You know that’s not going to happen,” Ezra sighed.
"Yeah, you’re right,” Milo admitted. “He’s probably cooped up in some secret research lab somewhere.”
Before Ezra stored away his pocket, an idea lit up his mind. “I met Douglas earlier, and I have his contact info. He might know.”
“Who,” Milo said.
“The guy at that weapons shop on the first layer.” Ezra glanced at Erik, wondering if he would pick up on the nature of the shop despite not mentioning it was an illegal operation.
Milo hit his forehead with his palm as the memory came back. “Oh him! But what has he got to do with the A.S.H.O. system?”
“He told me he worked for Faulpher-tek. The admin on the first layer said it was that company’s founder that discovered the system 400 years ago, so they have to have some insight.”
"Yeah, give it a try,” Milo said as he noticed Erik rubbing his fingers along the leather rifle strap. “You good? What's on your mind?”
Erik adverted his gaze to the floor as a few more people entered the room. “I’m not sure I want to get involved in this.”
Ezra paused in the middle of typing his message to Douglas, and Milo gave a reassuring smile. "Hey, I know this is a lot. We do not expect you to follow us after this test. After all, we just met today.” Erik raised his gaze, and Milo stood with a confidence that belied his experience. “But even if we never meet again, I want you to know this. You were great out there. Ezra didn’t see every shot you made, but I did. I wouldn’t think twice if you ever wanted to be teammates.”
“It’s just I’ve heard a lot of things about Faulpher-tek and...”
Milo cut Erik off and put a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t need to justify your decision to us. Be proud of what you accomplished today.”
Various conversations went silent, and the three of them turned to see Hana and her teammates walking through the door. They looked like a party of adventurers returning from a grand journey. The three men in gleaming armor and cloaks whiter than clouds strode into the hall with confident grins as they basked in their win. Yet Hana, who led the three, looked ashamed of herself. She raised her head to provide the growing crowd with a weak grin. People cheered, but Ezra saw that only made it harder for her to hold a smile.
“Clear the way,” the tallest man shouted in a booming voice. “Let the Bai Lou party through.”
It’s not even her party. It’s her family’s. Instead of enving her connections, Ezra was beginning to feel pity for her situation. Her words earlier were starting to make sense. I was given a future that wasn’t mine.
As they passed by, Ezra opened his mouth but soon realized he had no words that could comfort her. Nearing the end of the hall, the crowd closed the gap they had formed, and Ezra lost sight of the women in turquoise robes.
Returning his attention to the message screen, he typed up a brief message to Douglas.
Let me know when you’re available. I’d like to talk about your work at Faulpher-tek as soon as possible.
He pressed send and closed the screen. With that, they exited the entrance hall to the arena, and Erik thanked them for taking the test with him. A warm grin spread across Milo’s face. Ezra could tell that Milo, who was usually so talkative, had for once said everything he had wanted to say.
“May your journey be blessed by the infinite sky,” Ezra and Milo said in unison as they waved Erik goodbye. That boy. He fears this world, yet he still faces it. I hope we see him again, Ezra thought as he watched Erik leave the building.
Ezra jumped as his pocket buzzed. Pulling it out, he finally registered that the disturbance was the device notifying him that Douglas had messaged back.
Apologies; my schedule is packed. The soonest I can schedule a meeting is two weeks from now. If this is acceptable, I can make room in the early afternoon.
The message was disappointing, but Ezra expected something like this would happen.
“What does it say?” Milo asked.
“The soonest he can meet is two weeks from now.”
"Well, that's a bust. I’m sure you don’t want to wait that long.”
“No,” Ezra said as he was beginning to type a message back, “but we may not have a choice. We have to get stronger before we retake the test, so being here for two weeks might happen.” He looked up at the ceiling and hoped Marcus hadn’t proceeded to the higher layers. “I’ll let him know that two weeks from now is fine. If things change, we can always let him know.”
Once he pressed send, Milo asked another question. “So whatcha want to do next?”
“There is still one other person that knows about Faulpher-tek.”
“Him,” Milo replied as if even suggesting the idea was ridiculous. “But we don’t even know where he could be.”
“But we do know what he’s searching for, a man named Marlaove.”