Brutal Battery has progressed to Bronze 0!

Absorb has progressed to Bronze 0!

Expend has progressed to Bronze 0!

Your capacity has grown. Whenever you empty your stores, energy regenerates to fifteen percent. The restoration occurs over one second once every half an hour. Otherwise, it takes a minute.

The notification appeared as soon as Nil woke the following morning. Ability ascensions didn’t take as long as body ascensions. He woke a little more than twelve hours after going to bed to the sound of Selia in the shower. Before joining her, he checked his Schema interface. It was strange how much had changed in the eighteen months or so before Nil became a Summoned.

* Might: Bronze 0

* Finesse: Bronze 3

* Mind: Iron 4

* Spark: Bronze 8

Brutal Battery: Bronze 0

* Absorb: Bronze 0

* Expend: Bronze 0

* Toggled Supercharging: Iron 5

* Energy Instinct: Iron 7

* Anti-Friction lattice: Iron 0

Feats:

* Armmaster’s Disappointment

* Through Sheer Grit

* The Power of Belief

* Primal Origins

Source Gauntlets: Iron 5

* Wield The Source: Iron 5

* Galvanized: Iron 5

Ironroot Whelp: Iron 8

* Reinforce: Iron 6

* Regenerate: Iron 8

Nil expected growth to slow down significantly now. Most of his attributes now demanded three Schema Tokens per rank. Absorb and Expend would take significantly longer to grow too. According to Isabella, even the best Summoned took, on average, two years to meet the prerequisite ranks for Silver Realm. Then, it was a matter of finding the increasingly rare ascension tokens. Nil hoped that working for the Nexus would ensure that he and his friends wouldn’t have to wait for long. Susan had spent more than three years at Bronze Realm before she gained a token to advance her ability.

For the time being, Nil was in no rush. His family was healthy, safe, and flourishing. After becoming a Summoned, Emily was no longer allowed to attend school with civilians. She didn’t seem to mind and seemed far more interested in learning about the multiverse and mastering her abilities. Udit still ensured she attended online classes and kept up with her education.

The number of children in the ludus had increased over the past few weeks. There were more teenaged Summoned, and several staff members had finished moving their families into the Forge. Emily missed her friends but had other people of the same age to keep her busy. Sam also enjoyed the new company, and Layla started the process of ensuring all could receive a tailored education to meet multiversal standards without leaving the compound.

Nil planned on focusing his efforts on training his remaining abilities. He especially wanted to get a feel for Anti-Friction Lattice and push Toggled Supercharging to Bronze Realm. There was no telling how ascension would affect the latter ability. However, he expected the basic boost to increase significantly. Nil primarily relied on speed, but his toughness and strength also saved his hide on several occasions.

Energy Instinct and Brutal Battery’s primary abilities would grow with time. Nil had discovered they progressed most on quests, in the arena, and during danger. So, there was no point in rushing things. Nil was sure Wield The Source would climb rapidly as he mastered the relevant energy techniques and learned to harness the Source’s new form.

The couple ate a late breakfast after their shower while scanning channels for mentions of their recent matches. They had already spent a while on Festus The Curator the previous opening and were glad to learn that the newly coined title had caught on.

“Godpuncher Nil put Pietro the Frost Emperor’s reign to an end. The God of Death Gauntlet took twenty-two lives, specifically targeting other Iron Realm fighters from Earth. Even though the arena construct allowed targeting foes from anywhere in the multiverse and also offered random pairings, he only ever challenged aspirants of our world, robbing us of several valuable Summoned.

“Godpuncher’s victory came barely three weeks after he nearly died stopping a terrorist attack near Piccadilly Circus. What’s next for him? Will he serve the government, making the world a better place for everyone? Or will he continue climbing the arena ranks and become the next Adrian ‘Wildshape’ Wilson?”

“Did they forget about Shawn?” Nil asked, flipping to another channel. “If he didn’t contain the blast, Absorb wouldn’t have worked. I and a whole lot of people would’ve died.”

“He was yesterday’s news. The news cycle always needs something fresh to keep the audience entertained. Besides, Pietro was more widely known and hated than Silverbolt. Pietro had the title of God of Death Gauntlet and Iron Gauntlet for a reason. The man got more powerful and seemed more untouchable with every victory. Adam drew blood, but it's been a while since anyone got him to display genuine fear.”

Clips of Nil’s victory played in the corner of several channels talking about him. They showed his naked form from the back. He rarely saw the angle of himself. The skin covering the rippling muscles was pale. Nil looked several shades lighter than his usual self, and frost covered his bottom. The only sound besides the death rattles of the Cursed Ones was that of his fists pounding Pietro’s face. The subtle cracks of teeth and bone breaking accompanied it. Nil barely remembered the experience but remembered thinking how unusually tough Pietro was for a mage.

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It occurred to him that across twenty-two Death Gauntlet victories, the man had likely pushed all of his attributes to Bronze-Nine. Then there was also all the empowerments he gained from his corrupted soul weapon and all the Cursed Energy he had absorbed. Pietro was truly the most terrifying opponent Nil had ever faced. He somewhat understood why all the channels were going on about the victory.

“So, what’s next for Godpuncher Nil?”

The channel involved an almost talk-show format. It had clips playing in one corner while two hosts spoke to each other and the camera. The focus moved between the pair as each spoke.

“We reached out to his partner channel, Festus The Curator. Unfortunately, there is no news on whether Godpuncher will attempt the Gauntlet of Ten again or pick another path. Apparently, he has no plans of trying the Death Gauntlet again.”

“But most people who end up running it say the same. They flunk out of the Gauntlet of Ten or lose patience with the point system.”

“That might be true, but this is the Bronze Gauntlet. There are group events to gain points, including the Cleansing. Godpuncher is from the Forge, and it has two other rising stars.”

“Specter and Shieldmaster are interesting subjects too. But the Cleansing might be reaching. All three of them qualified at the same time and progressed through Iron together. The question is whether they can get enough tickets to enter the Cleansing. Wilson Luduses pretty much monopolize our world’s slots. Even if the trio get in, are they experienced enough to get any of the top three slots by themselves?”

“They have eight months to prepare for the next Cleansing. If not, there is another in twenty. It's worth a try. I do agree, though. They don’t have the necessary experience to win. Things might be dangerous if they get a sniper or artillerist. A decent ranged combatant will round out their group nicely.”

Nil didn’t like his new title. It felt silly and arrogant. However, Bunty considered it a marketable name. He had coined it during his livestream commentary and the majority of the eighty-thousand-or-so viewers had loved it. Individuals who watched recordings and curated versions afterward, apparently, also enjoyed it. There was no changing things now. Everyone was talking about the title, and it was there to stay.

Early in the evening, all three new Bronze Realm Summoned met Isabella in the training building. Zora and Cara Sue accompanied her. Everyone tested and played with their new developments under the watchful eye of the more experienced arena fighters. They pointed out faults, but Nil, Selia, and Shawn didn’t take the session seriously. After the stress of the past few months, they wanted a few relaxed days.

Selia’s upgrade did precisely what she had described. She seemed to move through the practice blocks much faster than she did before and had greater control over her exit location and angle. On a few occasions, she also seemed to almost fly out of them, covering a handful of meters before landing.

Meanwhile, Shawn’s barriers no longer seemed spatially locked to wherever he conjured them. They either moved with him or followed his telepathic control. He had an easier time wrapping a barrier around his sword too. It wasn’t narrow, and the edge wasn’t as sharp as the technique demanded, but it was still valuable progress. Shawn also created a surfing-board-shaped barrier and rode it around, moving just about faster than running speed.

Anti-Friction Lattice proved much more challenging to use than Nil predicted. He took a running start while supercharging speed. Once at terminal velocity, he activated his new ability around his feet and adopted an awkward surfing stance. Nil shot forward in the same direction, sliding on the ground. Only air resistance seemed to slow him while the lattice remained active. As expected, it took significantly less energy than running with Expend. Nil leaped or pushed off surfaces with his hands to change direction. The energy blasts he had practiced for aerial movement also proved capable of doing the job and also increased his feet.

“You need to leash Nil,” Selia joked. “I’ll climb on your barrier with you, and we can ride him through the Cleansing.”

“That’s assuming the three of you can get tickets,” Isabella said. “I know the five of you haven’t worked together before, but it might make sense for all of you to try to get them.”

“I don’t mind trying,” Zora said, shrugging. “My body is already Silver, and unless I find another ascension token, I’ll be stuck here for a while. My ability is three ranks away. I also almost have enough points. I could always attempt the events and try to score a ticket. Then, hand it off to someone else if I meet the ascension prerequisites.” She grinned. “I’ll expect a cut of the reward in exchange, of course.”

“That’s a given,” Shawn said. “But I’d much rather try to earn my own entry.”

“I have qualms on the matter,” Selia added. “If you get a ticket and I don’t, I’ll happily take yours for ten percent of whatever I win.”

“Make it twenty, and you have a deal,” Zora replied.

“If everyone is, I’ll also give it a shot,” Cara Sue said. “CIT will take priority, though. My ability is already Silver; I just need a token to ascend my body. If the Nexus is kind enough to give me what I want, I’ll be happy to hand over one of my tickets.”

“Same cut as Zora?” Nil asked.

Cara nodded. “I would’ve asked for more, but I’ll be nice about it.”

“You sure you don’t want our help with the investigation?” Nil pressed. “That symbiote absorbed my feats and was grown to bond with me. I feel I should be involved in taking it out.”

“You’ve done your part,” Cara replied. “Layla is right. You’re too personally involved in the matter, and there is no telling what might happen if the symbiote and you get together. I would’ve considered while you were still Iron, but you’re too powerful to deal with if it takes control of you or something. Besides, I think Layla already has a new quest for you. When do you see her next?”

“Tomorrow,” Nil answered.

“All three of us earned bonuses from either the last match or completing the Death Gauntlet quest,” Shawn added. “The Schema instructed us to talk to your caseworker about it.”

“Huh.” Zora frowned. “We’re also due to meet with her tomorrow. I wonder if she has something for me as well.”

“When was your last Earth-side quest?” Selia asked.

“A year ago,” Zora answered. “I was asked to infiltrate a Turkish ludus. They were ruled by an asshole who sapped attributes and abilities from other Summoned. Turns out he befriended a Void Lord during his quest and signed a soul contract.”

“What happened to him?”

“I let him think he had seduced me before putting a fiery spear through his stomach.”

Zora’s nonchalance gave Nil chills. He imagined the woman had a terrifying side the rest of them hadn’t seen quite yet.