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Apocalypse Arena(Book 2 complete)
137. Death Gauntlet Quest Complete

137. Death Gauntlet Quest Complete

You have received 1 Bronze Ascension Token, 10 Schema Tokens, and 2000 Schema Credits for winning three Death Gauntlet matches and contributing to the recovery of valued realms.

Victory also comes with promotion to the Bronze Gauntlet. Ascension to Bronze Realm will mark the acceptance of the promotion. If you fail to ascend in six months, you will need to win another Death Gauntlet match or start afresh in another ascension path.

Slaughtering the Executioner of Heiligberg has won you the favor of several Control Worlds. More of the Nexus Market is open to you. You also have earned three additional vouchers to spend on exclusive vendors, tutors, and artisans.

Victory against a vastly superior combatant with 11 Gauntlet of Ten and 22 Death Gauntlet wins has earned you an additional prize. Please speak to your caseworker to claim it.

You have earned 5 Schema Tokens and 1000 Schema Credits for completing your quest.

Nil was so cold he slipped in and out of consciousness for hours. The arena backroom’s healers worked tirelessly, slowly warming him from the inside out. They pumped him full of warming concoctions and wrapped him in a conjured blanket of golden-green light. When Nil finally recovered from the discomfort, he found a new scar on his abdomen. It had a rough cross shape, and the pale white stood out against the rest of his light sandy brown.

The Death Gauntlet quest was done, but the scar would forever remain as a reminder of everything Nil had learned, experienced, and overcome during it. The idea of killing other human beings had terrified Nil not long ago, but now he understood the importance of it. Once superhumans got involved, the law struggled to do what was necessary. He didn’t know how the Control Worlds managed everything. Nil imagined a council of individuals with power beyond comprehension ruling such utopias. After all, several Immortals were supposed inhabit the Control Worlds. Nil guessed individuals of realms beyond theirs needed to keep such entities in check. He doubted the same would happen on Earth in his lifetime.

“Do you want to keep this?” The healer asked as Nil put on the fresh clothes he had brought around. She held up the vial containing Tundra Survivor’s Brew.

“I didn’t think it survived after my clothes disintegrated.”

“Gate sixteen’s alchemist sells quality products and uses enchanted containers. They can survive most things. It's why he costs so much more.”

“Is the potion clean?” Nil asked. It was the bottle Adrian ‘Wildshape’ Wilson had given him. “It's not adulterated or poisoned?”

The healer looked at Nil like he was crazy. “It still has the signature magic seal. Why would there be anything in there besides what's supposed to be? If I were you, I’d hold on to that. It might just save your life in a pinch. By my estimates, the enchantment should last another six months. Don’t let it go to waste. Alright?”

“Thank you.” Nil pocketed the vial.

“Pay and move on.” The woman waited until Nil transferred the necessary credits to her before waving him away. “Invest in more durable clothes before your next match. My children watch these matches.”

“You let your kids watch Death Gauntlet? That doesn’t sound responsible. Maybe—”

“Look for the tanner and seamstress by gate four,” she said, interrupting him. Nil's joking tone appeared wasted on her. “Now, get lost.”

Nil obeyed. He wanted nothing more than to go home and eat with the people he loved. Unfortunately, it was just afternoon when he returned. All but Selia and Andrew were off doing their own things. However, messages from his family, all of his friends, acquaintances and people he barely knew flooded Nil's holo device within minutes of his return and for hours afterward. He bathed, had a private celebration with Selia, and then got together with everyone in the cafeteria at dinner time.

It wasn't just all attendees from the failed Misdirection dinner that gathered. Besides the eight attendees, Isabella, Noah, Cara Sue, and Zora were also in attendance. They had to bring in a table and chairs from a second private dining room to accommodate everybody. Instead of taking individual orders, the kitchen prepared a large family-style meal for everyone. To satiate the Summoned and their large appetites, a variety of meats cooked in several different styles adorned the table. They also provided a couple of extra options since Udit and Sam didn't eat beef.

“Are you ready to ascend?” Shawn asked Nil halfway through dinner.

Nil nodded. “I can’t wait. How come you haven’t yet?”

“There is no telling how long getting to Bronze Realm will take. I wanted to find out how your match turns out first.”

“I told you he’s sweet,” Selia commented, placing an elbow on Nil’s shoulder and leaning against him. “How about we all ascend together tonight? That way, we’re all down at the same time and can take on a quest together afterward or something.”

“You lot just finished something with an insane mortality rate but want to go into something new already?” Isabella asked. She looked disappointed but sounded amused. “Take some time to practice and get used to whatever the ascension gives you first.”

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“Maybe talk to Layla before you make any decisions. She might have updates regarding you know what.”

“That sounds like the smartest next step,” Shawn commented.

“Fine.” Selia sighed. She swiveled in her chair, facing Nil. “What did the ascension token offer you?”

“I won’t know until later tonight?”

“Why not?” Shawn frowned. “You know the ascension only starts when you go to bed, right?”

“I didn’t.” Nil grinned sheepishly.

Brutal Battery is ready to ascend.

Pick a new sub-ability to support Brutal Battery:

* Kinetic Coating: Wrap an object or organism in energy, protecting it from harm. Your target will accelerate faster and harder while moving, burning the coating to reduce the effects of environmental resistance. Items in flight will benefit from the coating’s protection until the moment of impact, regardless of whether the kinetic infusion was burned during flight. Leftover energy can be set to detonate.

* Anti-Friction Lattice: Weave an energy lattice around both feet, hands, elbows, or knees, removing the effects to glide on surfaces without suffering the effects of friction. The coated body parts must remain in contact with a solid surface during use and can’t be used for pushing against the surface or gaining speed. While under the effect of the lattice, gravity will not pull you off walls and ceilings.

* Brutal Conversion: Convert stored energy into fire and lightning. They may be released with a standard Expend or combined with emission, shaping, and manipulation techniques. Converted energy suffers significantly less from natural diffusion and isn’t as unstable as the Source.

* Molecular Influence: Expend and Absorb may now be tweaked to function at a molecular level. Gradually Absorb molecular kinetic energy through skin to lower temperatures. Achieve the opposite with Expend. Molecular Influence works significantly slower than natural Absorb and Expend.

Isabella whistled as Nil displayed the options. He didn’t mind sharing the information with the people around him. They were all on the same side, after all. “Those are some incredible options.”

“I don’t envy you one bit,” Selia commented. “My decision couldn’t have been easier. I’d be obsessing for days if I were in your position.”

“What are you getting?” Nil asked.

“The Schema offered me precisely what I wanted. While phasing through solid objects, I can propel myself in any direction. The speed increases significantly when I emerge. I’m hoping it will combine well with the technique we picked up from Moon Rabbit Emporium.”

“Your options are pretty complex,” Shawn said, thoughtfully. “I foresee all of them being fairly skill-based. Mine were significantly simpler. I just went with the ability to move my barriers. The bigger and denser the barrier, the more the time and energy demands.”

“Simple can be powerful,” Nil said. “I can foresee you weaponizing barriers without having to shatter them.”

“Don’t forget mobility,” Isabella added. “Hypermobility is a close-ranged fighters greatest tool.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Hence, I’ve already made up my mind. Kinetic Coating would’ve been great if I were to rely on throwing Meatball more.” Nil made his pick and dismissed the screen. “My aim is good, but not enough to take on smaller, speedier foes. I like the offensive potential of Brutal Conversion, but don’t want to split my attention from mastering the Source—”

“It's possible the gauntlets will get you something similar to it or Molecular Influence with a future upgrade,” Andrew added. “They’re pretty basic functions. Given the right materials, I could probably make you something far more potent.”

“I guessed as much.” Nil nodded. “Anti-Friction Lattice is too good to give up. It may take a while to get used to, but if the lattice is anything like my Source weapons, I’ll spend a lot less energy than I do by running with Expend. Shaping techniques should help me minimize the drain.” He slid his left index and middle finger’s tips around the glass table, pretending it was him. “It sounds like I’ll have to keep both feet or whatever I coat in contact with the surface, which means changing direction and picking up speed will be a challenge, but I have hand blasts for that.”

“Oh, great.” Zora sighed. “Our spars are going to get a lot more complicated, aren’t they?”

“Maybe in a few months. Figuring this out will most likely take me quite a bit of time.”

“It’s a smart pick.” Isabella pulled her chair closer as she continued. “Speaking of the Source, what the hell was that silver thing? Did you figure out a way to rip off Shawn?”

“Andrew gave me the idea, and Shawn was the inspiration,” Nil answered. “Andrew got me thinking about the duality of my powers and in me.” Udit stopped his conversation, and his attention shifted to Nil. “Apparently, I have a destructive side and a protective side. So, I’ve been trying to achieve the same with the Source. Watcher has been helping me. Crimson is the manifestation of Expend. It destroys and disintegrates all it touches. Silver is Absorb. It's not as flexible as Shawn’s barrier, but I am an immovable shield with it.”

“Bullshit,” Udit said. The language and interjection appeared to surprise most at the table, especially Sam. He seemed unusually fired up. “I’m not arguing about your power or the Source. All of that makes little sense to me, but I disagree with this duality inside you nonsense, Nil. You’re not a person with the will to destroy or kill. You’re someone who is out to do good, protect, and help. There is duality in the act of it. Standing before the weak and shielding them isn’t the only path to protecting them from harm. Sometimes, you need to cut out the source. I see you as the person with the will and ability to do so.

“My father and grandfather saw war. One was a soldier, and another a freedom fighter. They were kind, compassionate men. But they both had the ability to steel their hearts and stay strong despite danger and fear. It pained them, but they did what was necessary, cutting out the darkness that intended to harm loved ones and other innocents.” Udit calmed. He took a deep breathe in and slowly exhaled. “Mental scars haunted my grandfather for what he had to do. My Baba fell trying to take out a terrorist cell in Kashmir. I just didn’t want the same to happen to you.” He glanced at Emily. “Either of you.

“However, I’ve seen you in battle, Nil, and I’ve seen you after it. You inherited the fire that skipped me. Don’t burn out, son. Put it to good use.” Udit smiled. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Baba,” Nil said.

A silence hung over the table for several minutes. Most didn’t have civilian loved ones or didn’t think about them when taking on dangerous quests or heading into the arena. More than one person bought Udit a drink afterward. He did his job well, and everyone seemed to respect him. Nil did, too. He treasured his father and hoped he wouldn’t have to put the man through the turmoil he had experienced because of Death Gauntlet.