Mosh looked down at the hibernating Tigermouse, tenderness showing on his face. He put extra padding around it, making sure it was comfortable before turning to the corpse of the Zeil Ganev. He placed his hands on it, concentrating on his absorption skill while wondering where to direct the energy. The evolution tier had dramatic effects, but he doubted they would be that dramatic in every tier, and his class advancement depended on his indexes. Briefly, he wondered if adding to the Shaping Potential would spark anything and give him a hint as to what it could do but left it, satisfying his curiosity may have too high a price. Of his indexes, Mana seemed far above where his Body and Mind were, so, for now, he would push on those, though none would gain a tier up before he got a level up, so it didn’t seem to matter which he pushed on, all had to advance to the threshold on each index, though perhaps there was a benefit to postponing class levels to level indexes instead? He sent the query to Midkar, waiting for the normal sarcasm and narcissism from his Mentor.
‘You been hit on the head too hard too many times that some sense has been knocked into you? A decent question from the fledgling at last!’ Midkar’s voice sounded relaxed for once, he couldn’t stop himself from insulting Mosh, but it was mixed with half a compliment. ‘Yes, there are reasons to do so. A major one is that better class evolutions are offered with higher Tiers. In your case, no point at this stage yet. The number of points you need per level is far below what you need for indexes it advance. So the trade-off is much too costly. But you are at a class evolution gateway and your next class level requires a huge investment, it is why so few outside of the Crucible or Challenge Worlds gain the Class evolution. Instead of the ten points per index needed to raise your class level, you need a base of fifty per index, and then another one thousand three hundred and fifty. It is a debate amongst scholars why it is structured like that, the extra can come from any index, even Soul, or for those that have it, the Astral index. And before you ask, that is unique to some races that have not been seen for close to a hundred millennia! My favourite theory on this. Whatever it is that governs the Mana Records examines how we use it and use it to guide our class evolution. So do the first fifty in whichever index you want in whatever order you like but think carefully about how you want to distribute the rest even if it seems less than perfect!’
Mosh mentally sent his thanks, then absorbed the energy. If order didn’t matter, he would just work his way through his indexes. He pulled the energy and sent it to his Body index.
Absorption Skill advanced to Tier 0 Level 2. Absorption efficiency increased by 10%.
Mosh could hear Midkar laughing. ‘Yeah, I didn’t tell you because I wanted the fun of watching your surprise, and from the mental pause I could see, it was a good one! Yes, that is why I pushed for you to learn Absorption early. Not just for the extra bit of energy which while nice was still only a drop in the ocean, but because it improves in efficiency as it levels. And the Tier-ups are even more impactful! Enjoy, and don’t forget to say thanks, brat!’
As much as Mosh disliked Midkar’s attitude, he had to admit that he had to be truly grateful for being pushed to gain the Absorption skill. ‘Thanks, Midkar. I do apologise for not always consulting with you. I have to admit you have been most helpful! ‘
‘Say that louder, Kid. Maybe if the Elders of the Inner Council hear you they would reduce my sentence. Though I sincerely doubt that, miracles do happen!’
Mosh mentally chuckled and recovered his light stone from where it had fallen. He was shocked at its resilience. Despite being thrown from its rocky perch and having rocks falling on it, the stone remained unmarred and still looked polished. Gripping it so it shone brightly and dispelled the shadows, he stepped into the side passage. He followed as it descended downwards. He had reactivated his Mind Detect skill and he used that to track the location of the shadow creatures, but they seemed to have been sacred off, they followed him at a distance, never coming close enough to threaten him. In his march down the corridor, he could measure by evenly spaced doors that led back into the main corridor. On this side, they were marked by what looked like painted lines on the walls, and touching one caused it to silently open into the main corridor. Mosh had stepped through into the corridor and then watched as it closed again, completely hidden and undetectable. He could find no way to open it and had to backtrack and repeat his journey to that point.
The corridor descended until it opened into a room from which bright light flowed. Looking into it, he could corpses of the Zeil Ganev, and standing at the back, guarding a crystal plinth upon which a black orb rested, a statue of black metal. As Mosh stepped into the room, the statue turned towards him, its featureless face giving nothing away. A series of squeaks emanated from it. Then a few low growls. Various sounds and melodies emanated as it regarded Mosh. Mosh examined it, then spoke. “Hi, are you the guardian of House Tiasidh? I came in from outside, I hope I am not disturbing anything.”
The statue, or Golem he supposed since it moved and seemed to serve some function other than being decorative stepped forward. Its arm stretched out and palm upright. Its other arm remained at its side. Mosh blinked, the gesture was a familiar one, he had seen it in his textbooks as the “Peace Greeting of Equals” used between Greater Mileu races. Since Earth had been mostly cut off it was not often used, he had never seen it done, but it was recognizable. He stepped forward, his arm outstretched, his palm coming up to meet its. He made contact and he regretted it as he felt a wave of energy pulse into him, Psi energy that penetrated, staggered him and forced him to his knees. His vision went dark, and as it cleared, he gripped his spear from where it lay at his feet, surging to his feet, and was stopped by a notification.
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The candidate is being offered the Psi enhancement of
Mosh laughed, crisis notification? Only because he was creating the crisis and mistaking a gift for an attack! He accepted the notification and looked towards the Golem
Psi enhancement Telepathy accepted at Tier 0 Level 1.
As he accepted it, he could feel something waiting for his acknowledgement. He sent out his telepathic connection and the two came together like a handshake, meeting calmly and intermingling.
“Greetings Sapient. House Tiasidh left this memorial for future generations to learn and gain knowledge to help them grow. To help them gain knowledge. To help them overthrow the Inner Council of the Greater Mileu who perpetuate the War. Know this, the Inner Council is not the Mana records. The Mana Records are not the Inner Council. Each makes use of the other to perpetuate the war.”
“War? What War? We on earth have heard of no War.”
A blackness momentarily came over his vision and when it cleared the Golem held a rectangular block in its hand, shining blue veins flowing into runes that danced on its surface. “It would appear that the Earth gambit failed as you are here and a scan reveals your origins. A pity, but not entirely unexpected and one that has contingency plans. Enter the main sanctuary using this key, there are rewards for you within.”
Mosh took the block and watched as the Golem stepped back, the crystal plinth and itself dissolving as it did so. A wave of energy gushed out, enveloping him and pulsing as it poured energy into him, along with a fine spray leaving a coarse layer on him that slowly faded away.
Mana Records detects the presence of unregistered nanites. Attempting to purge unregistered nanites. Purge failed. Attempting to register nanites. No forbidden technology was detected. Nanites registered. The purpose of nanites is unknown.
Mosh looked at the message, confused. He had no idea what nanites were, or what they were supposed to do. The mana records seemed to accept him, so he saw no need to panic, and he prepared to return to the main corridor and make his way down to use the key he had been given.
Arbiter Zak
Kai’Rop hated disturbing the Arbiter, he could not recall a time when entering the Arbiter’s office had not found him immersed in his work. He knew from other magistrates that was not the case with all the arbiters, but Arbiter Zak took his role seriously. He also gulped nervously, not because the Arbiter would berate him, he had found him most accommodating and understanding, but because of what had been revealed when he wore his full dress uniform, the first time he had seen it! The medal cluster was impressive, but it was the bar atop them, the Martyr’s Award, or what was officially called the Mileu Medal Of Gallantry. A medal so seldom awarded to anyone living that it was commonly known for what it was, The Martyr’s Award, a medal given to those who had covered a strategic retreat against vastly more powerful foes to allow an army to escape destruction, and Arbiter Zak had done so, and LIVED! He had not known he worked for a living legend.
He entered as he came in, sinking to his knee with his fist to heart before standing, to see Arbiter Zak sigh. “There is a reason I do not wear my medal cluster often. Forget you ever saw that!”
“Forget? Lord Arbiter, even the Elder council is meant to greet you first! How could I pretend I never saw that?” There was almost panic in Kai’Rop’s voice as he addressed the Arbiter with the thought of being informal.
“You will forget and refer to me as Zak in private because I have told you to do so!" Zak almost seemed to be laughing, "The hero has spoken so do it!" He gestured and waited for Kai to be standing, "So Kai, why have you come?”
Kai swallowed before reporting, “Lord Arbit… I mean Zak”, he stumbled as he used the term he had been ordered to and fought against every instinct to flagellate himself for talking to the Hero so casually. “There has been a disruption in the Crucible broadcast.”
“For you to bring this to my attention means it must be more than just a simple disruption. What makes it so important? Many things disrupt broadcasts!”
“Forgive me Arbiter, I mean Zak,” Kai rushed his words, “The issue is what was seen just before the broadcast was disrupted." He removed a viewing crystal and activated it. It lit up and showed an over-the-shoulder shot of Mosh entering the brightly lit room, of the black golem and the crystal plinth. “This is what was seen before it was disrupted, and when it returned the golem and its interface unit were gone.”
Zak stared at the image, surreptitiously rubbing at where once wings had sprouted from his back, where unhealable scars remained that not only took his wings but bound him to this form. “Progenitor forbidden technology. Are they back?”
“It is unknown Arbiter. We don’t even know what it revealed to the candidate. But it falls within your domain as the candidate is one from Earth, the planet you went to after the broken Mana contract.” He paused, another image coming from the viewing crystal, this time of the Arbiter handing a pack to a human boy, “It was one of the candidates you met, the one that the system broke the contract for.”
Zak stared at the two images, his mind working. Coincidence? A world that was broken away and used forbidden technology, and now the progenitors seem ready to return. This will seal the decision that they will be shown the sterilisation, and hopefully, they will take the warning to heart. There can be no more chances for this world