“Most days, I wish I’d just stayed home. Despite admiring their form, I’ll never understand the female brain. And it doesn’t matter whether I’m having chemo-brain or not!”
Jordan’s Journal Entry age 15.
######
With a sharp inhale, I exited the Source. I must have been holding my breath as it took a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. My mind was still considering all that had just happened and the updated information about my class skills.
Collector seems quite literal, I thought to myself. “I wonder what I can do with the…” I cut off my verbal line of reflection as I realized I wasn’t alone.
“What were you doing? We could feel whatever that was, you know?” a girl between 18 and 25 stood before me. She was wearing the same armor and athletic wear as me. She had an athletic build, and her armor had more room in the chest for her feminine curves.
“My eyes are a little bit further up,” She challenged. I hadn’t realized from my position on the floor that I was staring at a beautiful woman and, unfortunately, unaware of my distracted line of sight. I was so used to years of hospital beds and crushes on the young nurses that I forgot to be discreet or respectful.
“I apologize; you’re just so hot,” I slammed my hand over my mouth, and instantly, my face turned lobster red as my heart was pounding.
“What do you mean? I haven’t even warmed up yet. Do you have a heat perception skill? We’ve all heard you would be different.” She turned immediately inquisitive and dropped the offended tone she had before as she squatted down to my level
“Sorry, forget I said that; it doesn’t translate well. On my planet, it means you look strong,” I lied through my teeth as I smiled.
“Oh well, thank you. You, too, look hot,” she smiled and unnaturally returned what she thought was an Earthly greeting, clearly mirroring me but thankfully not understanding the true meaning. “But looks are deceiving with system powers. Care to prove how hot you are?”
“Um…” I stammered, and her misuse of my phrase and my inability to forget its true meaning made me even more embarrassed.
“My name is Olympia,” she said, standing and extending me a hand. I focus on agility and will specialize in rogue combat with short blades and projectiles, as my family always has.” I reached for her hand, but she overextended past it and clasped my wrist. With a solid yank, she had me on my feet with only my delayed assist.
“My name is Jordan,” I returned the greeting. I saw other people our age jumping onto the platform under the skylight.
“We probably don’t have much time, but care to spar?” Olympia requested with a devious smile.
“For some reason, I don’t think that would be a good idea,” I countered. Her smile became kinder before she stepped to the center of the platform and motioned me forward.
“Sure, I’ll bite, but take it easy on me; I don’t have any formal combat training. Other than a little TG sword fighting,” I humbly admitted.
“That’s fine. We will limit contact to strikes and grappling. But I insist you don’t bite me. That’s not something you do with a crowd watching,” She winked and took an athletic combat stance. Her arms balled into fists and bounced on her toes.
I, too, mimicked her stance and prepared to defend myself.
“We don’t have much time, so let’s go until first blood or submission,” her directions were excited and eager. “On go! Three, two, one, go!”
My perception responded by slowing time. I was incredibly fast when I focused compared to any other earthly human. But Olympia was dancing toward me with darting changes of angle and speed. She closed the distance, changing her attack level to go low as if to kick my shin. Then, before I could adjust to the incoming kick, she slipped up and to my left. She sent a punishing jab toward my face.
As her right-handed jab came closer and closer, my perception doubled in speed, slowing down everything, hopefully allowing me time to block and dodge the incoming strike. I raised my arm slightly to the left of my face and tried to slip under the punch. But as I blocked my vision for the briefest of moments, she pulled the punch, and a right cross came into my lower left ribcage. It caught me off balance, too, and I tumbled to my side. She was on me in an instant. Standing just to my side, I saw a blur as a kick came towards my exposed side.
The impact of the kick hit the same spot the punch had, and I thought I felt a rib snap. My lungs clenched as I was sent, trying to pull in any air I could. Somehow, it felt like the air was gone or my airway was blocked. The kick not only impacted my side, but it flipped me over twice as I rolled away in into a miserable heap—this time, she stayed back. I looked over from my back and tried to pull in my next breath.
My ribs burned, but I finally pulled in one desperate breath after another. I reexamined my body. Several ribs were bruised, and one possibly broken.
I’m unsure who was most surprised when I stood back up, her or me. I felt my improved body could take more punishment. But my goal wasn’t just to be her punching bag. I now had something to prove to myself. I needed to get stronger, and she looked like the next challenge I needed to overcome.
I faced her and took a couple of light bounces on my toes. She still had her hands raised and ready. I decided defense was not going to help much against her. I nodded in thanks for allowing me to reset. Then she waved me over.
I lunged toward her, covering most of the distance in one jump. I covered the rest while attempting a front kick.
She took a rapid sidestep and punched me in my right upper ribs, this time just under my armpit. Unsupported in the air, I was tossed at an angle. I tried to roll back to my feet as I hit the ground.
When I looked at her, Olympia smiled sadly and disappointedly, shaking her head with arms crossed, and she began to walk away.
“I expected more after your show at the ceremony,” She exhaled in a huff. “Honestly, you showed no technique or strategy and were much slower than before. You’re either holding back or unworthy of being here. Good luck in the TG today. I doubt anyone here will let you on their team.”
Then she walked away while I stared at her retreating figure. I was caught between confusion, frustration, and an entirely unhelpful bought of teenage hormones as I couldn’t help but admire her departing figure. She joined a small group standing near the platform’s edge, and a not-so-hushed conversation began that I immediately ignored due to the glances of disdain sent my way.
I slowly stood and touched my ribs. They were tender and bruised, but nothing seemed painful or broken.
“Man, she hit harder than falling forty feet to the ground,” I muttered but turned around quickly as I sensed someone approaching from behind me.
“Yeah, she is strong for this class,” a male approached me. His attire matched us but with a gold symbol on his front-facing right shoulder. “You should have gotten a warm-up with someone more interested in helping you adjust than measuring your competence. Now, it will be difficult to join a group when word spreads of you getting rag-dolled so easily.”
“I can see that now,” I wanted to vent my frustration, but this guy didn’t seem to be here to kick dirt at my pride. The rest of my new classmates were gathering around Olympia. “So, any suggestions?” I asked in exasperation.
“Yes, but first, you can call me Ian; nice to meet you,” he said with an extended hand and the beginnings of a smile. “You must be Jordan.” I took his hand and matched his familiar earth-like greeting with my best, confident, firm grip.
“I’m the Instructor’s Assistant for this class. I’m in my third year at the academy. If you have questions, feel free to ask me, but we will be starting soon, so hold them while your instructor addresses the class.”
That was precisely when Instructor Gamble appeared on the platform.
“I don’t see any of you warming up or gathering,” Jim spoke gruffly as he took command of all present. My classmates snapping to attention. I caught on and mimicked them as best I could.
“Join your TG team for today’s class, warm up, and gather. You have twenty minutes; use them wisely. We will be going further today than before. And Jordan, to me,” he barked out.
It took me a moment to realize that he expected me to get there and not to be slow about it. I closed the distance and chose to stand at attention like before, with my right fist over my left clavicle.
“Nice attempt, but your salute needs work,” he commented on my attempt. “I saw you made an effort to stand out again already. Unfortunately, I think you alienated your classmates. You’ve got ground to make up in understanding the material, culture, and combat. After your showing a minute ago, most won’t risk their delve team with you. So, I’ll have Ian team up with you and get you up to speed for now. Prove you deserve to be here. You either hone yourself to a sharp edge or shatter your blade in the attempt.” He nodded to Ian. “Run him through a warm-up; I saw his unique gathering method, so focus on other aspects before we depart. Get him a weapon and give him the rundown for today’s delve.” He started to sit down as if on a chair, and by the time he was done, the platform had formed one beneath him that caught his body and slowly lowered him into a lotus position as he closed his eyes and sunk beneath the floor, like falling slowly through thick liquid.
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“Follow me,” Ian grabbed my shoulder and pulled me around. My neck stayed glued to another wonder of this world’s technology.
“How did the floor change like that? And where did he go?” I asked.
“The whole room can be adjusted to accommodate the instructor’s needs. Making a chair to catch his fall is probably the most mundane thing it can do. He probably wants someplace quiet away from all of this,” he waved around at the chattering students. “Until we have to leave, I need you to try to focus; we have about nineteen minutes to prepare you for the delve. And be certain any TG can be deadly. Today, you’ve got me, but don’t get complacent.”
We spent the remaining time discussing available weapons, and he asked for my general fighting style, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. After he explained that I should not give too many details about my stats and abilities, I did my best to answer very generally, and unsure whether it helped, I kept my voice low to attempt to keep even that between the two of us. Fortunately, he was being helpful and protective. It was considered rude to ask too specifically, and that social norm would also protect me from potential manipulation and hard counters to my abilities.
I gave a brief rundown of what I did in the woods on my first and most recent TG delve. I wanted to use my Arc-formed sword but left it in my room. I considered forming another, but he suggested I try one provided by the academy for today.
The twenty minutes passed too quickly, and Ian used them as best he could to give me advice based on what he had learned. I soaked up every tidbit. My lack of experience and unfamiliarity with everything made even basic information about delving and the academy priceless.
“Since you have only had your system for about a week, you are managing well, but now you need to learn everything the rest of the class knew from early childhood and everything we teach at this level. It won’t be an easy adjustment, but I am excited about what you could grow to be. I saw your ceremony performance. I guess we all did,” he indicated to the rest of the room. "Just try to follow my lead, and I’ll get you through today.”
“Thanks, it has been a wild ride lately, and yet I’m loving it, for the most part,” I smiled with excitement for the TG we were about to enter while I rubbed some of my bruises.
More instructions were given, and after the platform smoothly but rapidly descended and melded into the gym floor, I followed Ian and the rest of the class. We passed through a series of doors and short hallways. They were all lined with supplies, weapons, backpacks, and more. Ian handed me a small pack and a sword based on my earlier description. He helped me fasten it to my back at an angle to be drawn over my right shoulder. Then we continued as the hall opened into another room about the size of the first gym, but the ceilings were half as tall.
The TG entrance was similar to the one at my new home.
In the center of the room area was a raised circular pool filled with subtly swirling mercury-like gray liquid. Unlike the birdbath-sized pedestal at home, this one was the size of a large ornate fountain with the top at waist height. A six-inch band ran on the floor around the fountain and was about twenty yards in diameter. The floor between the pool and the outer circle was like polished dark graphite metal, contrasting the matte appearance of the liquid ring and pool.
While I took in the room, our Instructor marched us all to the edge of the pool and turned to face us once we were all grouped close to the pool.
“You all have your assignments. Don’t go beyond the newly assigned boundaries. If you encounter anything beyond level 9, turn around. You are not to engage them. Alright, set your clocks and be back here thirty minutes before the end of class.”
The students began to place their hands into the pool and were gone in a blink. I followed Ian and did the same. And like my first Temporal Gate, I saw a flash of light all around that originated from the liquid band circling the pool and created a visible dome over me and down to the small pool on the pedestal. I hadn’t seen it when the others entered but only when I did. I briefly scanned the bright space around me and saw a pair of black eyes examining me. Then the light flashed intensely like the brightest LED headlights, and after blinking away the spots in my vision, I saw I was no longer in the academy.
“Alright, we have a little less than a day. So let’s get going.” Ian said as he took off in a jog.
My vision had already cleared up, and I kept up with Ian. The entry point was like a vast cave system. It had a ceiling maybe a mile high, and I struggled to see the side walls. A mist limited our vision to a few miles from our raised position. We jogged down the small mountain we started at and continued into a humid forest.
Our pace never slowed as we continued for several hours. The size of the area was mind-boggling. We were moving so fast; other than our first few minutes, we hadn’t seen another soul. We passed close to a handful of low-level creatures. I was able to see most of them before Ian pointed them out, but we didn’t stop to fight them. I expected them to attack, but they mostly ignored us, and some ran away. Eventually, we arrived at a river that crossed our path.
“We will follow this till it drops down to our destination. The rest of the class is probably headed to a well-known and productive hunting ground. I thought for our first time delving together, I’d show you my favorite spots. They’re off the beaten path; only some third-year students know of the first spot. And only the Instructor knows of the second. When I say jump, follow after me, and don’t overthink things. Got it?” He questioned but didn’t leave room to answer as he took off even faster than before.
The next hour, we ran at the bank of a rapidly moving river. The path was winding and covered with roots and the occasional animal. We were leaping and hurdling all the way, and trying to keep up with Ian’s acrobatic parkour became a game taking all my focus. I was absorbed and having fun when I suddenly noticed the sound of the river change.
Ian looked back at me with a giant smile that turned mischievous. He raised a fist as if in victory, and after hurdling a downed tree at the river’s edge, he took off faster than before. I jumped after him and had enough time to see Ian dive head-first into a misty void. I tried to stop my momentum, but the ground provided very little purchase for my boots. I nearly stopped at the lip at the end of this forest. I toppled with zero grace into the void that swallowed the river and Ian below.
Even after falling for a while, I couldn’t see the bottom, but I quickly adjusted myself so I’d land feet first. The bottom of the waterfall sent so much mist billowing everywhere that I couldn’t see anything, but the rushing water let me know when I was approaching the bottom. I tensed long before I smacked into the surface. The impact was jarring, but I quickly started swimming toward the limited light above and after the bubbles that had been forced down with me.
I surfaced to see Ian smiling as he swam over to me.
“Good job, you took the plunge! And you still have your sword and pack.” He smiled and waved over his shoulder to follow as he swam to the nearest edge of what looked like a giant lake. I could only guess at the size by seeing flashes of lightning through the mist far away.
Ian helped and offered me a hand to get out of the water. I let my frustration at his practical joke slide off me with the water. Only a little bit of the water got into my suit, and nothing was hurt in the fall besides my pride. After a quick once-over of my gear and sword, I also realized the only water in my suit was at the front crotch area.
I may have peed my pants a little. I kept that realization to myself.
You did, but it was only about five milliliters. It will dry in approximately thirty minutes.
Ha ha, but thanks for the info. You continue to impress. But I wasn’t talking to you. Is there any news on my Class? I just jumped “into the void.”
You did receive a notification from your class.
Loot Exchange Active: [Level 1]
- Loot Exchange:
At level 1, you won’t gain experience points and no longer receive drops or items. Instead, you receive a lossless exchange of Zancara & Arcana for your drops, and level increases of this ability will unlock further options and sub-abilities.
“You long for more than the system’s leftovers; you Crave the very root, the Source.”
That will change things. I’m sorry you won’t get any items or drops; a lossless exchange should work out better for you though. I wonder if it will funnel into leveling the ability or something else
That’s the most information I’ve gotten about the Class so far. And there’s no going back on my decision now. I’m going to assume this is a good thing for now. Let me know if there are any other important notifications.
“Now, the fun stuff,” Ian laughed. He was all smiles after his stunt. We started running along a narrow animal trail through this new jungle area. The further from the waterfall, the better I could see as the mist thinned and light hit the ground between the tree canopy overhead.
As my surroundings were revealed, I noticed weathered bricks sticking out of the jungle floor. The size of the crumbled ruins and the frequency with which we passed them increased until we reached the foot of a massive ziggurat. Unlike the Aztec pyramids of Earth, no stairs were ascending the outside. A ground-level entrance was cut perfectly square into the first tier of the structure.
Without looking back, Ian walked towards a massive structure in the middle of the forest. Rather than entering through the wide passageway inside, he jumped ten feet along the side of the entrance and grabbed a gap between bricks. Like a monkey, he ascended over the edge of the first tier about forty feet up.
I joined him after the climb. With my enhanced strength, it was far more manageable. I continued to enjoy the surprising improvements to my body and power. Who knew what else my future held?
Ian crouched and dug into his pack, which was now open and resting on the ground. He pulled out a wrapped package.
“Time for a bite before our next stop. You did bring some food, right?” He asked with a straight face. Then he laughed, “Just kidding, there’s some things to eat in your pack.”
I unslung my bag and searched inside. I found a wrapped bundle the size of two of my fists. I eagerly unwrapped it and was happy to see a sandwich. At least they have something I recognize.
While you eat, I have a notification you should consider.
Send it my way.
Crave Class Ability - Collector (Unique): Active Ability (Summon Collection) available.
Summon Collection Details:
Activate the ability to summon Collected Source creatures stored in your Vault. Summoned creatures can be utilized for cultivation assistance, combat, and other options based on the collected creatures and the collector.
Warning: Creatures will be changed under the power and direction of your Class.
“You will always hunger…”
Stored Collection 1/3 was processed and is now available as a summon.
What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not an idiot, most of the time, but does this mean I can summon that giant shark-headed beast that Insatiable reeled in?