Mathew

Staring down Grant's clever eyes, Mathew didn't summon a Mental Attack intelectus. Doing so would risk the progress of his budding skill and Mathew had enough self-control to glare instead.

Grant's stoic image cracked, and a dark smirk showed through. "And if I did?"

"Then you should have told me!" Heat filled Mathew's chest.

"So you could what? Run away?" Grant scoffed. "No, you are- Just. Like. Me."

It was Mathew's turn to scoff. "I don't hardly think so. You have others make the sacrifice you aren't willing to make yourself."

"Just like me, you've stayed and helped people when you didn't have to," Grant said. "At least Amber is wise enough to see the price I've paid. I could have left for the Eastern Kingdom or the Western Empire and tried my luck with an established civilization half a year ago! Without me, you and all the people you will save would be dead."

"You poisoned me!" Mathew growled. "Being lucky doesn't make you responsible for my success. You would have put me in a grave for an edge to pursue your self-proclaimed worthwhile mission."

Grant puffed his red cheeks. "You're fasting must be getting to you. I think it's best if I go for a walk."

Mathew pressed his willpower through the same form he'd been practicing for endless hours. A container of memory and imagination. The idea of a chain that bound them against each other. Paying the price twice, Mathew sacrificed to a skill so simple and focused that it could inflict harm on himself. Then he paid to fill the container with his willpower and anger.

It formed as he'd felt before. Unable to cross the boundary of imaginary into real, the willpower was compressed against a limit without pushing through it.

Subtle frustrations of this moment slipped into the practiced working. A fresh wound of irritation at being trapped within the barren Spire. With Grant's prodding, he was aware of another frustration. Directed at his own sacrifices to save others. Sacrificing for others sucked, and he wasn't sure anything made it worthwhile. Yeah, he was mindful that he was embracing the suck, but he did half of that by trying to ignore the costs.

A mind is too good to trick itself so blatantly, though. Mathew had gotten away with it at those moments, but somewhere deep in his mind, the real score of cost vs. benefit was being kept. The burr that dug deepest was that it made him feel like Grant acted. As though his sacrifice was a justification for moral failure or martyrdom.

As Grant turned through the looking eyes towards the Hub's door, an ethereal chain formed. Made of links that transitioned between being pearl metal and wafting vapor strung from Mathew's chest into Grant's back.

[New skill awarded: Deathbattle Chains

Bind yourself and an opponent to a Deathbattle. When an opponent moves away from you, they lose health. When you move away from an opponent, you lose health. Raise skill level to improve opponent damage and reduce self-damage.

Alpha Effect: When initiating a Territory Deathbattle skill level causes more opponent damage and less damage to self.]

For that one moment, Mathew truly would fight to the death against Grant's way of life. No, it wasn't even that. It was a way of death. Even as that motivation was part of himself, Mathew would kill the toxic idea that his choices weren't, in truth, his own. Choosing to sacrifice wasn't the same as being a victim and it didn't vest the honor of being a hero- Even deeper than his improved cognition could track all the reasons Mathew felt that way was wrong.

"Huuuurrkk," Grant arced his back and spun around. The chain stayed locked to some point and barely moved. Surprise was written on his face. "Is this my thanks for all I've done?"

"Yeah," Mathew broke his casting. "Now we're even. You pressured Ben to steal from us, poisoned me, abandoned us to 4-2's monsters and Amber lost a hand. You were wrong to do those things... but Amber's right. We should cut you some slack. So now I've stabbed you in the back, and we're as close to even as I'm willing to abuse you."

Mathew really hoped this would just be accepted. The hunger had worn away some of his rational thought, and now he was just looking for an acceptable out. With giddy realization, Mathew recognized he got his skill, which meant he could spend all his magic.

"Esh," Ben cringed. "And you call me an overdramatic teen. Anyway, I'm going to be gone for a day or so. Gathering up some treasures I've hidden around."

Grant nodded slowly. "Small price to pay for putting leftover issues behind us. For good." Grant glowered pointedly, before nodding. "I also have a small collection of supplies to move over here to the Hub. We should get this out of the way before viable survivors arrive."

"What do you mean viable survivors?" Harper asked.

"Those intact enough to survive," Grant scratched his beard. "No need to put too fine a point on it. Right now, we are talking a half dozen people."

"I remember you said that before. Why that number, what is the limiting factor?" Mathew tried to transition to teamwork.

Grant replied. "Access mostly. They are scattered across hundreds of miles of hostile wilderness. Ben and I can only be one place at a time each. This limits how many survivors we can escort."

"How many are in a single Territory? A more normal-sized one anyway," Mathew asked.

"I'd guess two to five," Grant answered.

"Will you be ready to go to war when you get back?" Mathew asked.

Grant's eyes bugged out. "Sorry, did you say go to war. You mean to expand the Territory? Yes, that would give us access to survivors within the conquered Territory. We'd still have to fight off poachers, but safely getting them to the Spire would be... manageable. Regardless, we aren't in the position to take on Alphas in their own castle. Conflict with them is madness."

"I've got ideas. We'll do what we can to get ready while you're gone. When you return, we'll be looking for scouting. Taking some Territory isn't without risks, but it's not nearly as crazy as you think. We should know more before dinner. If you'll excuse me, I've got scouting to get to," Mathew said.

Watching Grant's face, it was clear he didn't trust Mathew's judgment. That was fine; Mathew could work on that.

Next, Mathew dug into his Territory Management menu. Spending one essence on Amber and Harper each, they had enough progress to level. Funneling 22 stored essence to himself, Mathew also maxed out his progress to level 6.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Amber, Harper," Mathew said while shifting his eye contact. "You can level up now."

"Thank you," Amber replied. "Got a notification on it."

"Thank you," Harper added.

"You're welcome," Mathew replied, but his mind was already moving.

Quieting his thoughts, Mathew focused on his inner senses. Selecting level up in his Status Menu, he again watched the process. Blue energy funneled into his core, swallowing the spiral striped sphere. This time was more potent than the last. Even with his enhanced willpower and cognition, he couldn't gather many details on how leveling up influenced his core.

As much as his ability rose, the challenge to discover those secrets rose more. Hidden behind the roiling energy infusing his body and mind was the answer to how the blue power leveled him up. An answer hidden by the design of the new system.

Maybe Amber would have the freedom to discover it? Mathew held back on mentioning the idea. Perhaps he was looking too deep into things, but Amber had gotten shy about experimenting with her magic. It wasn't difficult to understand. This new world wasn't made to be compatible with freedom. Breaking free from the chains also meant breaking free from guard rails.

Mathew paid the price for Amber's uncontrolled over-application of freedom. His mind was at risk of becoming something inhuman. Again maybe he was reading too much, but it seemed like she took the price he paid to heart... maybe too much. If it wasn't for those unintended consequences, he wouldn't have been able to ascend and take over a Territory.

Even with a dangerous price, freedom was clearly worth it.

Something for him to keep an eye on, at least. No, this was more important than that. It needed a plan. Mathew closed his eyes for a moment. When it came to managing problems and people, the skills and perspectives came to mind as he was trained. Mathew pushed irritation down.

If something good can come from my family, then it wasn't a wasted 'childhood.' He thought.

When it was Amber's dinner chat to work on her build, he'd probe her magical creativity and just watch for now. The plan felt socially smart and would give his dinner planning program a good test.

Having a plan allowed him to set aside that part of his mind trained to see people as a collection of facts and relationships as logical operations.

Focusing on his own needs, Mathew walked to the stone hallway that he'd been using Alpha phage of Rocktooth Slime to eat into the Spire. Willing the hunger onto the bland grey rock, he contemplated ignoring social norms. Make demands, lay down the law, be an asshole. Grant would have it coming and it was a language he spoke.

It would simplify personal interaction, but good teamwork and loyalty were downstream of frustrating work. That wasn't the choice Mathew made though. Mathew could see Grant's view. After spending so much time rejecting the emotionally dictated answer, that rejection became Grant's knee-jerk response. So between laying low to build up power or taking a risk to save others... well, laying low was simple, and it should work. Why risk a sure thing?

For Mathew, the practical answer was that not having access to the skills and magic survivors possess was a risk. Sure, confrontation with another Territory was a risk too. The simple view of hiding away and coming back more powerful ignored that nowhere was truly safe.

Sometimes life can't be simplified. Including earning Grant's trust and picking out the lowest risk path.

Relief from hunger settled in. Mathew cut off the flow of magic with his pool about half empty. He was still unsatisfied, but the remaining hunger didn't stop his shoulders from dropping.

Clacking his fist into his palm Mathew bounced on his toes. He felt good in body and mind. Which was convenient because he needed his edge for what was coming next.

What he'd realized after stepping out of his boundary was that the Alpha Spectrum and Territories created a network. One he hoped to use to scout and hopefully communicate.

With a clear mind, Mathew returned to the entry room.

"Is discovering the next layer of a stone wall what you call scouting?" Grant raised an eyebrow. "I regret to inform you that what Ben and I do is a bit more strenuous."

Mathew nodded in a passable imitation of being good-natured. "You're right. Let's go see our neighbor."

Grant's eyebrow dropped into a suspicious scowl. "Our neighbors are monsters."

"Yup," Mathew answered as he slipped out the door.

Going up to the caved-in ring at the top of the Spire, Mathew decided that would be an excellent place to operate from. With a platform spanning the top. He could see it now. Leave from any direction at a moment's notice, with an armory above and a vault for treasures.

I'll have to ask what Harper can manage. Mathew thought.

Making it a third of the way around the top of the Spire, Mathew launched himself down the slope. Going by himself, he didn't have to slow down to stay with a team. After a sprinting start, he sat back and body surfed down the slope.

It was exhilarating, and if he was honest, it was critical. Transforming beyond only human was the street he was several block down already. Even if he did get his Living Skeleton Armament skill high enough to get out of this shell, there was no going back to being fragile. No going back to being weak enough, he wouldn't have to constantly worry about accidentally breaking others.

Becoming a living rollercoaster cart would be part of accepting what he gained and what he lost with the changes.

Striking a crack running through the broken Spire, Mathew felt small cracks spread through his armor. If nothing else, reckless endangerment would likely result in gaining strength.

Reckless endangerment. Mathew worried again that he was wrong. Pressing at Territories to get information was it reckless? Was this just him being weak and not taking his status as a prisoner within his Territory well? Taking the risk now meant playing within the margins of safety rather than reducing all risk. Even if it worked, it would open the door to more difficult choices.

Steeling himself, Mathew watched the rapidly approaching Territory boundary. Activating his Sure Foot perk, he directed the intelectus to work weakly, slowing his approach. Synapse firing, he drew to a stop at the edge of the Spire, excess energy enough to stand him up.

Too bad no one else saw that. Mathew thought.

Staring over the adjacent Territory, Mathew picked up details he hadn't bothered to recognize before. This land was barren, like a curse had stripped away not just the life but the potential for it. Deep between the rocky crags was more rock rather than pockets of dirt.

The white strip of webbing across the landscape did limit what he could see, but it was poor land. Instinct told him the land was something lesser than even the barren rock of the broken Spire.

Setting his hand against the boundary between Territories, Mathew reached out through the break behind the terminal in his mind. Within the Alpha Spectrum, he felt out for the owner of this land.

As he worked, new sensations resolved. Behind him, around him... no, as an extension of himself, the Territory drew together as interlocking plates. In front of himself, the other Territory felt squishy. Only a bit firmer than a water balloon.

Working through these new sensations, Mathew looked for the same phenomena he'd experienced before. Where the eyes of other Alphas were pressing on him. Now it'd happened twice, and if he was right, it was why Clare knew to rescue him from the Alpha Field Cat attack.

Those on the Alpha spectrum could sometimes feel each other. When he crossed into the Territory of the Shard Bears, their Alpha and Mathew could sense each other.

With Clare being alive after being subject to hybrid experimentation and her arrival with spiders, it wasn't hard to guess some of what was going on. Reckless, but a calculated risk.

Mathew pressed against the barrier, and the world acted. Streams of red energy spooled out of his window into the air in front of him. The interlocking plates of Alpha energy clued him in that this was his Territory Reinforcement. What he wouldn't give for a rule book. Guided by feeling so vague they felt like his imagination, he kept going.

Pressing forward into the spider's Territory, he felt it back off and his Territory grew. Walking along behind the conquest, he felt the weight growing. The spider's Territory reminded him of a water bed. Pushing it back was a constant effort that would be undone as soon as you turned away.

Mathew's eyes sparkled. This was clever construction. More sure he was right; he tried to make a splash and get noticed. Building up willpower and aggression, the Alpha energy in front of his hand writhed within the confines of its form. Raising his other hand, Mathew channeled himself into a haymaker. Detonating the stored power in his reinforcement, the plates ripped forward.

A shockwave in the Alpha spectrum rippled outward. The spider's Territory was blown back a dozen yards away from his dimmed plates of Territory Reinforcement.

Through the energy of a world that sponsored death battles between Alphas, Mathew felt eyes turn to him.