Alex made his way out of the tomb. He was still extremely unsettled by the turn of events.

Why do I always act before thinking? Obviously that was going to be something shady. I mean, I was walking through a literal tomb, what else would it be? At least it seems like it will be somewhat beneficial. It did make that king super durable.

He opened the items description to see what the changes were, if any.

Symbiotic Biomechanical Armor (Uncommon)

Armor that fuses with the host at a genetic level. Composed of organic matter. Upon binding, armor attaches to host’s neural pathways enabling cohesive movement between host and armor. Due to its biomechanical nature, science is melded with body fluidly. Enhances innate abilities of host through the armor. Armor is considered the users own flesh. When damaged, armor can self repair using host’s vitality. Armor can be retracted into storage ring that must remain on host at all times. Removal of ring results in a loss of symbiosis. Loss of symbiosis will result in the destruction of armor. To improve symbiosis further, armor can be given compatible organic material.

Highly upgradable.

+25 Durability

+5% All stats

+25% Absorption of Energy

He had to read it a couple of times to make sure he wasn’t going crazy. His armor had increased his durability by twenty points and his energy absorption by twenty percent. That was a significant increase.

I guess it’s fine. I’ll get over almost being taken over by that metal stuff. The hitchhiker is still a little problematic, but it is something I could get over. Maybe.

During his whole walk back, he hadn’t heard so much as a peep from the voice in his head. Not entirely sure what that meant, Alex just continued forward. He needed to find his way back to camp.

While he walked he played around with any other potential gains from absorbing the Eonsteel. He found out why his armor was considered more durable now. He could shift out some metal plating just like King Nagaar had in his vision. It moved just as freely as Alex’s armor had before, much more freely than it ever had for the king. He suspected it was because of the symbiotic armor. The armor had a type of neurolink with him. It reacted to Alex’s thoughts as easily as his own body did. Now, so did the living metal. Another added bonus was that the metal could cover up the lights on his suit if he wanted. Now he could not only be a superhero, but he could be super stealthy too.

He exited the underground funeral home and took in his surroundings, trying to find any landmark that could help him find his way back. The sun was already making its way back down. It was going to be night soon and Alex did not want to be outside of a camp when it got dark again. He had his fill of the night stalkers known as the Zotari. He knew he wasn’t done fighting them, but he did know that he was going to request a day shift or two before facing them at night again.

He started back the way he had originally come from. He didn’t know exactly the direction the camp was but at least he knew where the enemy camps were in this direction. He could avoid those easily enough.

His brief jaunt into the ruins had actually been good for him. He had recovered nearly all of his stamina and health. He felt much better about going through the valley now. If he were to run into a group of hostiles, he should be able to hold them off for a while and run away. He had no intention of a drawn out fight. He was physically rested, but mentally he needed to rest. It was exhausting having to be hyper alert every hour of the day. He had a massive headache and he realized that it was likely because his eyes were always shifting around at any sudden movement, whether it be the wind kicking up some sand or a lizard like creature running across the desert.

He passed the spot where his final stand had been made last night. He surveyed the aftermath. He counted eighteen bodies. He walked a little more following the same path he had taken and counted five more bodies that had died during the chase. He had killed twenty three in the course of a couple of hours. He looked at his status page to see the gains.

Alex Sullivan

Race- Human

Rank- Private

Grade- F

Class- Shift

Level- 14

Strength-67 (88)

Agility- 53 (72)

Intelligence- 20 (34)

Durability- 107 (163)

Endurance- 62 (82)

Health- 1,630/1,630

Stamina- 820/820

P.E.- 350/1,630

He was impressed with the growth he had seen lately. In a few days, he had gained more than nearly his entire time in the tutorial. His final battle with David’s group and the subsequent days that followed had already been a huge bonus. Granted he was also put under much more stress and risk of death during these days, but still. Progress was progress and Alex was starting to get slightly addicted to it. He felt a surge of power every time his stats were increased. Every level was a drug without compare. He didn’t know where the end of his path would be, but he would pursue it. He had already started to fall in love with the lifestyle he now had. There were things he could live without. Constant fear of death would be great to be rid of. He wouldn’t mind to not be a war slave as well, but the bad with the good. He just needed to make the most with what he had. He would one day find a way out of his servitude. Until that day, he would do what he could.

He continued following the path he had taken, being careful to avoid enemy campsites he knew about. After walking as far as he could remember, he tried to come up with a different game plan. He climbed a rock formation that would allow him a better vantage of the surrounding area.

Off in the distance he could see multiple skirmishes. Not too far from where he was, he saw a familiar rock formation close to his camp. He had a heading and he began to chart a path mentally. A couple of hours later and he returned to the camp without incident. Once he returned, he was swarmed by Krizzik and his entourage.

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“Where have you been grub? We had been looking for you all through the night and we had assumed you had died,” Krizzik asked without a hint of worry in his voice. He was a he, right?

Alex recounted the events of the night. The looks of shock on their faces grew every minute he spoke until he got to the part of ruins and the tomb. He didn’t mention the living metal at all or his vision. When he saw their response, he was glad he hadn’t. They all made a shrill yell in unison and spun around three times. Alex looked on the spectacle with both amusement and slight horror.

“What the heck was that about?” Alex asked the group.

“You have entered the cursed land. The Ekani were heretics of the highest order. They have long been eradicated by the gods, but their domain is not to be entered. You are lucky the great Sand Drake did not smite you for your transgression. Perhaps, because you did not know, you were spared. No one knows the mind of the Sand Drake,” Krizzik said so quickly, Alex barely got it all.

*Geez. They are really worked up over that. I didn’t even see a Sand Drake.*

“Wait you said Sand Drake? As in one?”

“Yes. The Great One still survives. It has been alive since the days of the Terrible Crusade. He is the last. There will be no more once he passes. A sad thing indeed.”

All of the Saxans nodded and emitted shrill cries.

“Were there Saxans here when the Terrible Crusade occurred?”

“Indeed. We were located underground to avoid the ire of the Ekani. They were bloodthirsty and proud. They did not wish to make alliances. They wanted to be the only ones on the planet. With their demise, the Saxans rose to the surface. We have thrived since our ascension.”

“Do you ever see the Sand Drake? Shouldn’t you be worried? It would be extremely hard to kill, wouldn’t it?”

“Indeed it would. It patrols the skies, but only occasionally over our lands. The Zotari are not so lucky. They have stationed themselves near the domain of both the Ekani and the Sand Drake. They are occasionally attacked from above. They are unable to relocate as well since we maintain constant pressure on their ships and ground forces.”

Krizzik said that last part with a sinister grin. Alex got the impression that he thoroughly enjoyed their enemies struggles.

It makes sense. They were allies. They feel betrayed. Maybe Krizzik had shared meals with the very Zotari they are now fighting. It would be more than enough to cultivate some added animosity between them.

Krizzik had been talking, but Alex was distracted easily and therefore had not heard what the Saxan had to say.

Krizzik repeated himself with some added annoyance, “How is it you came to know so much about The Great One?”

Alex was speechless. He had invested some points into intelligence to hopefully counteract his natural deficiencies. It was still by far his lowest stat and it was showcasing that deficiency right now. He didn’t want to share anything about his vision or the Eonsteel, especially not after learning how the Saxans felt about the Ekani. They would likely execute him if they knew he had had a vision from King Nagaar and had absorbed his legendary weapon.

He remained silent for another minute. Krizzik must have thought he hadn’t heard him once again, because he repeated it a third time. This time, Krizzik looked like he would strangle Alex. Alex knew he had to come up with something, anything.

“There were stories and pictures of them in the tomb,” Alex said, telling a partial truth.

Krizzik narrowed his bug eyes slightly before dropping the subject.

“Go get some sustenance, then go to your bunk and rest. We will be out in a few hours,” Krizzik ordered.

Not wanting to say anymore, Alex obliged. He wanted those things anyway, so why would he prolong this uncomfortable conversation?

He finally got his rest, however short it was. The food was great, the drinks terrible.

Alex patrolled the same way the next six nights. He ran into an occasional ambush, but nothing nearly as bad as what had happened his first night. After the sixth night, they were switched to the day shift. Alex was relived. He hated the night shift. He was excited for the much more straightforward battles of the day shift.

He wondered how Sophia and Ethan were handling their own tours. He had nearly died multiple times and he hoped they each were lucky enough to survive their punishments. He was worried about them all, but especially Sophia and Ethan currently. They were lower level than Alex had been when this all started. Alex was also more equipped to work solo. They would be at a high disadvantage if they were required to work alone. Alex wished with everything he had that they would survive. He wanted to be able to see all of them again when they got back to Hillcrest. They had started this journey together and he hoped to continue it the same way.

Well, I guess except for Cameron maybe. I still can’t believe he cut ties with all of us ‘murderers’.

Alex wondered how he would do in the same situations that he had been in. Alex had gone from killing zero people to having killed right around twenty five. He would be considered either a war hero or serial killer depending on who you asked. Cameron would either have a very rough time in the future or he would end up dead on some battlefield because he was indecisive at an inopportune moment. Alex hoped that he would figure it out before then. Cameron wasn’t a bad guy for having morals and Alex understood it completely. If you killed one person, where do you draw the line? Alex didn’t feel that way. If someone was attacking him or those he cared about he would stop them however he needed to. That didn’t mean that he would just resort to killing people if they cut him off in traffic or something like, but he wasn’t afraid to keep his options open. He may kill someone someday for cutting him off in traffic. If they deserved it, but not likely.

His rest time had ended and he made his way to the mess hall for some of that good slop. It was the highlight of his existence at the moment. Life and death battles, unlimited power, nothing compared to the gooey goodness of Saxar IV’s mess hall. The servers always have him strange looks. He was so excited every time it was his turn to get it. Alex got the impression that this food was garbage to all of the soldiers. They were hoarding the good stuff. He needed to somehow make his way to the main cities and try some of their other food, for science. He also wanted to try and see if there were better drinks.

Alex finished eating and made his way over to where Krizzik had indicated for him to go. He was ready to fight. He couldn’t even sleep last night he was so excited. Excited to be more in his element. He had been struggling during the night shift. The Zotari were nearly invisible and they were just extremely annoying if he was being honest. They always snuck up behind you and tried basically the same tactic, beat you to a pulp while you couldn’t fight back. The first night had caught him by surprise but by the third such attempt, he already knew how to counter it.

He was beginning to pick up on their sudden movements right before they struck. If they couldn’t catch him off guard, they were much easier to manage. He could control the flow of the battle when they didn’t get the drop on him. Once they made enough noise, reinforcements weren’t that far away. Most of the time, the Zotari would just cut their losses and retreat and Alex was not going to chase them again. He had learned his lesson. He would get his chance now that he was fighting during the day. That was why he was most excited. This was his opportunity to get some well deserved pay back.

Alex cracked his neck in anticipation as he came up to Krizzik’s already waiting squad.