Nil's leg needed a couple of more days to recover enough from the break. So, he had to take it easy with training, which frustrated him immensely. Isabella reduced the launchers’ firing frequency, and Nil focused more on catching with Absorb than Expending. The former ability was starting to fall behind, and he needed to grow it to Mortal-Eight as soon as possible. Since he had an Iron Realm body, he believed it would win him some leeway. The qualifiers were just about three weeks away, and he doubted he'd achieve the necessary ranks or win an Iron Ascension Token in time.
“This isn't working,” Nil grumbled to Isabella, almost a week after the event, when he saw no improvement in ability or attribute ranks. “Absorb won't grow like this.”
“Think about all the instances around the growth," she said. “Were there any special conditions around you gaining a rank?”
“It's almost always in battle,” Nil answered. He thought back to the last couple of times Absorb grew. “Not during spars but when there is a real danger of serious injury or death. The last time Absorb grew was when Brutal Battery got pushed past capacity.”
“Maybe it's a combination of getting pushed past your limits and the stress of real combat. Every ability is different. As are their growth parameters. Discovering new uses and breaking boundaries always grant greater and quicker results than regular practice. Maybe it's the overcoming of physical and mental barriers that play a role.”
“So, what's the solution then? I can't exactly go back to—” Nil caught himself before he could mention the Pits. Isabella's eyes narrowed, and he was pretty sure he saw the woman containing a grin.
“I could whoop your ass, but I doubt that will help, and it's best if we don't risk breaking bones so close to qualifiers.” She paused, studying him for a moment. “You've completed two quests, right?”
Nil nodded.
“Why don't you take another two or three days of muscle training, and when your leg is back to optimal strength, volunteer for quests? You have three weeks. Maybe you could squeeze two quests or a single long one in that guarantees combat. There are no guarantees, but maybe that's what you need to get the final ranks and a half. Get the main ability to Mortal-Eight, and I'll see if I can pull a few strings to get you into qualifiers.”
“You'd do that?” Nil's eyes widened. He didn't expect the usually cold and restrained trainer to go out of her way to help him. She usually only offered sage advice and then moved on to someone else.
“Even though the Barrier Mage served you your ass on a platter, you put on a great show,” Isabella answered. “Whether you make it through qualifiers is on your opponent and whatever event the organizers throw at you. However, your performance, progress, and adaptability to a variety of opponents tell me that you're ready for the Iron Gauntlet. Fighting in the lower levels of Apocalypse Arena is the best training you can get. So, the sooner you get there, the greater the chances of you becoming one of Earth's champions.”
“You really think I could get to the Silver Gauntlet like you?”
“As long as you don't get caught up in celebrity status or politics and powerplay, I think you could go even further than that. You have the attitude and drive for it. That ability you scored has incredible potential, too. If you pick the right upgrades and feats during your ascensions, I think you could rise to the levels of Wildshape Wilson, if not surpass him.”
“Thanks, Isabella,” Nil said. “That means a lot coming from you. I'll rest another day and then see what quests the Nexus has on offer.”
“Just don't get overconfident and pick a Bronze danger-level quest just because one's on offer. The Nexus gets desperate sometimes when there aren't enough available or suitable Summoneds and tempts people with exceptional rewards.” A hint of sadness entered the woman's voice. “Far too many people have gone against my advice and never come back.”
“The Nexus already offered me one of those. It was an hour-long quest with three tokens and three hundred credits on offer. It involved me playing someone's champion in a trial by combat. I didn't want to risk it.”
“Good. I'm glad you've got some brains to go with the ability and technique. People who know their limitations are most likely to make it to old age.”
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Doctor Shina Patel called Nil in for testing and a symbiote check a week after the event. Nil was surprised the woman waited as long. He thought she would want fluid tests and want to inspect the symbiote straight away.
When he arrived at Symbiotech’s offices, the staff put him through the usual tests. He was glad when they agreed to his requests and increased the strength compressor. The device involved something akin to a hydraulic press that slowly pressed downward, and he needed to push back on it until he couldn’t do it anymore. The first time Nil encountered the machine, getting inside terrified him, but the staff talked him through all the safety measures, and one also demonstrated its limitations.
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Before heading to Southall, Nil had emptied Brutal Battery’s stores. So, he activated Absorb and let the machine press down until he reached capacity, but his basic pushing power couldn’t hold it back. Then, he burned the energy on their internal power measuring machines and obstacle course before repeating the process.
Might has progressed to Iron 1!
It wasn’t the result he wanted, but better than nothing.
Nil also kept his eyes on the visage. After what Katherine told him about Symbiotech, he couldn’t help but wonder whether something shady was going on within the building. He wondered whether the visage’s odd behavior and the child he saw had something to do with the cover-up. Nil doubted the company would continue to do whatever they got into trouble for in their headquarters. However, they were also likely to get up to something new. Symbiotech’s ability to cover up its unethical activities could’ve improved, too.
Shina looked tired when she found Nil.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make time for you earlier in the week,” she said. “Things have been a bit hectic in other departments. Product launches and research hiccups have kept us busy.”
“It’s quite alright,” Nil said, putting on his best smile. “I’m just glad to be back. Your symbiote did a hell of a job. I wouldn’t have made it through the first round without it.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I saw the recordings. It’s a shame you lost it.”
“Lost it?” Nil grinned, touching the back of his neck. It grew over his arms, neck, and everything covered by his t-shirt and shorts.
“How?” Shina’s eyes widened. “I delayed because I thought you destroyed it with the big blast.”
“I think I unconsciously released energy through everywhere except my genitals,” Nil replied. “Wasn’t too keen on the stinging and burns that accompany it afflicting the area. So, the symbiote there didn’t get affected and then slowly recovered during the week.”
Shina laughed. A couple of her lab assistants joined in. “Well, that’s a relief. Losing the prototype would’ve set us back a long way. We still have samples of it but that’s never as good as the real thing.”
A lab assistant approached Nil with a strange device. It released a pulse of bright red, pink, and blue lights. The symbiote retreated, peeling off Nil and gathering at the top of his neck. They scooped it off him and placed it in a padded case. The mass of slime twisted, bubbled and squirmed. Nil felt an odd draw toward it. Its absence almost left him feeling naked.
“We’ll take some readings, run some tests, and send it back to you in a few days,” Shina said. “If things go well, we might just be able to grow a new one using the old one as its parent. Hopefully, it will be more energy efficient and more resistant to fire and ice than the last version.”
“It did amazing with fire,” Nil said. The pair continued to talk as they left the laboratory and walked along the corridor. “I failed to avoid most of the fire while my teammate was burning through the spiders. Thanks to a symbiote, I only suffered a few minor burns on my shins. It struggled against the summoner's frost spell, though.”
“That's expected. It will be difficult to create an organism that can resist and overcome two temperature extremes. Since you can warm yourself up with energy releases, I prioritized fire and heat. They translate to lightning better, too. So, it's really a matter of what you want.”
“Fire and eventual lightning resistance is better than cold resistance. Your decision was a good one. I have an unrelated question. You don't have to answer, of course. I'm just trying to satisfy my curiosity and trying to settle my anxieties.”
“For a skilled and cooperative partner as you? Anything. As long as we don't risk breaking any NDAs or your question isn't regarding company secrets, I don't see why we can't discuss it.”
“I heard a few unfortunate things about Symbiotech from someone at the event. It was about unethical testing.” Nil watched the visage trying to enter doors and press itself against walls out of the corner of his eye. “Then I recalled bumping into a kid wearing a hospital gown and in a wheelchair the last time I was here. I trust you, Shina, and am more than pleased with our partnership, but I just have to know.”
“Ah. That.” The woman's shoulders drooped. “The aethertech sector, especially the medical side of things, is competitive and cutthroat. When our competitors’ product fails because ours is just superior, they turn to spreading rumors or digging up old settlements where we more than fairly compensate someone for a bad reaction to our product or some testing accident. Symbiotech follows all government-dictated precautions and more, but melding magic with science is a challenging game. Just because something works as intended a hundred thousand times doesn't mean something can't go wrong.” Shina sighed. “Then the shitstorm hits, and it's me to solve it, appease the board, and keep the shareholders happy.”
“I'm sorry for dredging up old shit,” Nil said. “I just needed to ask for my peace of mind.”
“It's fine, Nil. I perfectly understand. You're starting a new career and don't want to entangle yourself in something unsavory that bites you on the button later.” Shina smiled, leading him toward the exit. “As for any children you might see in the building, they're almost all from places that fell during the Shattering. Some people have survived, and countries are giving them refuge, but many are afflicted by strange arcane ailments, and we don't want them to spread to the public. So, Symbiotech is one of the many institutions researching these cases and trying to find solutions from them. I know it looks strange, but we're only trying to help.”
“Thank you for being honest with me, Shina. I know you could've just given me a nonsense answer or placated me with bullshit and changed the topic. I respect your honesty.”
“Anytime, Nil. You're a good guy and have great potential. We're just glad to get in early with you and assist in your growth. Your success is our success.”