You’ve completed your quest!

You have gained 200 Schema Credits.

You have gained a Schema Token.

The Schema dropped Nil off at the Fountain of Pyrene.

The Fountain of Pirene senses your injuries. Would you like to receive healing?

4 Schema Credits will remove all your bruises and partially heal all lacerations and burns.

13 Schema Credits will heal all of your injuries.

15 Schema Credits will heal all ailments.

This time, Nil used the cheapest option. He didn’t feel any fractures. The quest only caused strained muscles, bruises, sprains, and one burn. Now that his family home was in decent condition, Nil hoped to use whatever funds he received after taxes for an eventual Ludus membership. The dull ache along his back and shoulders instantly faded. The angry nerves along the side of his hand calmed. Unlike cuts and bruises, the pain from burns didn’t just disappear into one’s subconscious. Minor discomfort along his neck remained but Nil resisted the thirteen-credit option.

The registration and the first month’s fees combined cost two-and-a-half thousand schema tokens or its current equivalent. Most people relied on getting scouted or receiving sponsorships. Nil lacked the connections for such privileges. Service to the Ludus or its benefactors also won members discounts. He hoped to alleviate future costs through such means.

I'm still eons away.

“You going to be long?” A pink Layla asked. “There is much we need to discuss.”

“Lead the way.”

The Nexus appeared more crowded than usual. Staff ran around like headless chickens, and far more Summoned walked the halls, unlike his last visit. He heard people discussing refugee limitations on something called a Control World. Next, he passed someone ranting about the failure of Summoned and a Nexus department that allowed the Void incursion to happen. It wasn’t long before Nil found himself in Layla’s office, sitting on the opposite side of her cluttered desk.

“I’ve been looking forward to our meeting,” she said. “How are things going for you?”

“Excellent. Are you the reason why I got an invite to the emergency quest?”

Layla nodded. “I’ve been looking into this whole matter regarding the cursed energy and how it ended up on your planet.”

“And?”

“Since you weren’t forthcoming, my agents investigated you, and we pinpointed the event that got you your soul tool and cursed energy.” Layla paused, probably scoping for a reaction. “You weren’t the only one.”

“There are other unformed soul weapons full of cursed energy out there?”

“No. The other cases aren’t identical to yours. We have a few unformed soul weapons on civilians. They’re full of cursed energy and broken. Even if they ascend someday, there is no way to fix theirs.”

“Do you know how they got there?” Nil asked, leaning forward in his chair.

Layla smiled. It seemed she got the reaction she wanted. “We have also found a few instances of people with increased attributes and abilities who were never Summoned. They’re Iron Realm at best and can’t ascend any higher.”

“And they’re brimming with cursed energy?”

“Correct. We suspect they’re the reason such high concentrations of cursed energy is on your planet. The Seeds that grant you power and alter your attributes are born of aether. There aren’t natural sources of aether in your world.”

“What about aethertech? They’re constructed and fuelled with aether, right?”

“Yes. But the form in which Apocalypse Arena and we provide it can’t be used to manufacture Seeds. They’re processed. Tamed. The aether they receive is fuel. We took away its power to create.” Layla rolled out a map of London on her table. It was the most detailed piece of cartography he had ever seen. It also featured nineteen hand-drawn circles. Nil couldn’t help but notice one was in Hyde Park near the metro station—the bit where Winter Wonderland used to be seven years ago. “Cursed energy, on the other hand, can’t be modified. It exists exactly as it is or not at all. Magic that can be used to create misfortune may also be molded into power that causes misfortune. We don’t know who is behind the import of cursed energy or how they’re doing it. That’s where you come in.”

“Where I come in?” Nil raised an eyebrow, ripping his eyes away from the map. “Are you giving me an earth-side quest?”

“More like a job. Since you’ve been bathing in cursed energy for the past seven years, you could potentially develop the ability to sense and perhaps, someday, purge it.”

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“A job? How much does it pay?”

“Since it's not a Schema-given quest, our options are limited. But we could help you with Nexus benefits. Things like soul weapon development, processing or purging cursed energy, Nexus Market, and a lot more.”

“If I had the funds to join and live in a ludus and had the means to take care of my family, I’d happily go along with this and help with your investigation—not that I have the skills for it—but I can’t afford to right now. Could I get some of the cursed energy sorted out as a part of my bonus?”

“Bonus?” Layla raised an eyebrow. “Why would you expect a bonus?”

“Was my performance not satisfactory?”

“You did as expected. Your little friend went above and beyond her parameters. So, she gets a bonus. You’re receiving double the credit that Mortals do and a Schema Token. That’s more than fair.” Layla paused. She looked over the map and the other documents on the table. “You don’t have to agree to work for us straight away. But if you agree to look out for cursed energy sources, I could give you a little ability to help you out.”

“A new ability!” Nil's heart skipped a beat. “I didn't think I could a new one outside of ascensions. What kind of ability are we talking?”

“It won't be much. You already have the necessary senses, thanks to your cursed energy saturation. The ability will only guide your ability to identify and read arcane energies. It should also refine your ability to track and read Brutal Battery better.”

“And I only need to report if I sense anything the next time I have a quest?”

Layla nodded.

“I'd be foolish not to accept. Sensing magic will help me avoid them.”

“Good. You'll soon find out that most Summoned without soul weapons carry trace amounts of its curse energy.” Layla conjured Schema screens and went about tapping through menus as they spoke. “It's impossible to deal with Cursed Ones or their plots and not end up with some clinging to your soul. This accumulates over time, and we help people turn into the curses you're now familiar with. On the other hand, you and these other people have high concentrations of it. In many instances, these are multiple curses worth. This is what we'll rely on you to find.”

When Layla finished with her screens, Nil received a new notification.

You have learned Energy Instinct.

Brutal Battery: Mortal 4

* Absorb: Mortal 5

* Expend: Mortal 4

Energy Instinct: Mortal 1

They next debated what to do with his Schema Token. Nil had initially intended to increasing Finesse since the Schema marked it as Brutal Battery’s secondary attribute. His Might score may have blown past it, and despite the durability from it, he hadn’t planned on increasing the attribute. Motor skills, improved reaction time, and senses would help him avoid damage altogether and redirect force he couldn’t absorb. So, he wanted to prioritize it.

Layla agreed with his reasoning but believed increasing Might would serve him better. Increasing Might to its peak would let him use the Iron Ascension Token and raise it and Spark to the Iron Realm. The act would also ascend his body, allowing him to increase Finesse and Mind past Mortal-Nine without another ascension token. He would only need one to ascend his ability. Layla advised him to dedicate future Schema Tokens to catch up his Finesse attribute.

The most important takeaway from the course of action would be removing the limiter on Spark. Brutal Battery’s capacity was tied to the attribute. Increasing the attribute would increase how much he could Absorb without getting hurt and also allow him to Expend more. Since almost all Power Seeds generated by the Schema were unique, Layla couldn’t be sure whether his capacity’s growth curve would be exponential or linear—the other attributes offered logarithmic growth as they approached their potential. However, she was almost sure each Realm’s battery capacity growth would be significantly greater than the last.

In the end, Nil followed Layla’s advice. Natural Finesse would come in the same way Might had. He just needed to be patient and invest time in relevant exercises.

“Use the Ascension Token before bed and sleep in the bathtub,” Layla told him. “It's not the most pleasant or clean process. Doubly so, when Might or Finesse are involved.”

Layla talked him through the ins and outs of his new ability, helping him differentiate between several stimuli and sensations. Nil Was surprised she had the time for such a task despite the chaos outside her office and used the opportunity to ask questions regarding how the Schema, Nexus, their enemies, and Apocalypse Arena functioned.

“There are three types of worlds,” Layla explained. “First, we have places like your Earth. We call them Seed Worlds. High population numbers with high-potential but poorly-utilized people and generally low to no arcane energy. These places often have resource issues or some sort of instability. We offer these places magic in exchange for access to their people. Because of low-to-no magic or divine presence, it doesn't interfere with the Schema's integration

“Next, we have Beacon Worlds. These are high in arcane energy but, as a result, attract Cursed Ones and the Void. Wild magic keeps the Schema from integrating, but its purity, power, and limitless potential are essential for growing and gathering resources that help combat interdimensional threats. Their protection and the war against the Void are the most common types of worlds, and that is why the Schema and Nexus were created.”

“So residents of Seed Worlds help maintain the stability in Beacon Worlds?” Nil asked, intrigued by the topic.

“Indeed. Stability helps repel the Void and slay Cursed Ones. When it fails, more Summoned are deployed for the job. Your emergency quest took you to a mostly stable Beacon World whose locals were almost powerful enough to take care of themselves. But traitors in their ranks opened the gate for Oth the Destroyer, hoping for power. The fools will get mere years to enjoy it before the Void Titan drains all magic and life from the world and leaves them to die.”

“What's the third kind of world?”

“Control Worlds,” Layla answered. “They're stable, arcanically advanced worlds who have found the means to repel or destroy Cursed Ones and the Void without our assistance. They work with the Nexus to get menial jobs done or volunteer to go on adventures, gain wealth and glory, and the like. Unlike Beacon Worlds, Control World residents can join the Apocalypse Arena, too. Most deem it below them, but it's a good source of entertainment. In fact, it's a coalition of Control Worlds in partnership with Nexus, which operates Apocalypse Arena.”

“They sound like powerful people. I wouldn't want to end up against one of them in a quest.”

“No. You wouldn't. Some of these entities might as well be gods as far as you're concerned.”