Which system to choose?

Zoe had already invested so much into the Crimson Armada System, and a lot wouldn’t pay off until later. Her body path [Bell at the Center of the World] would reach fruition after 50 levels in total, so she still needed to reach level 60. If Oriz was correct in her hypothesis, then Zoe’s abilities would become phenomenal. She recalled — on a visceral level — the colors and pressures of traveling between dimensions. If that power could become her’s…

Not to mention the versatility of her skills. The ability to cut and perform surgery on Skein had helped her repair herself and the other victims of the Gambler's latest — last — game.

Speaking of which…

She checked her status and sighed.

It was humbling, and not a little aggravating, that after all the torture of the Feast of the Gods, she had gained no levels. But her eyes widened at the last lines. There was something new.

Epiphany of the Tongue: 37%

Epiphany of the Kidney: 1%

This must be some holdover effect from gaining parts of the Earth System, similar to how she had Chains from the Black Star system

ding!

Does it feel different to talk now?

“No…”

The percentage didn’t tick up, but why would it be so much higher than that of the kidney?

“What’s up, Zoe?” Bella asked with a faint look of concern.

“There’s something new on my Status after taking the body parts of the Earth System. A stat called ‘Epiphany’.”

“What does it do?”

“Looks like it needs to reach 100%”

Bella gazed at the corpse thoughtfully.

“You think if I eat some of the Earth System body, I’ll gain an Epiphany gauge?”

Zoe made a face.

“You want to do that?”

“We’re already in hell, what better time to start communion?”

Zoe snorted.

“I mean… yeah… not the worst way to gain a power-up. Not the best, but not the worst…”

She wasn’t the only one who had a new body part, but rather than bother Rosa, she walked over to Brassus. Bella followed. With both rune weapons slung over her shoulders, she looked like some ancient Valkyrie.

Brassus nodded at their approach.

“How can I help you?”

“Do you have an Epiphany in your status?”

“Epiphany of the Foot.”

“Huh. What percentage?”

“It was at zero, but when I stood it reached eleven. Should it get easier to walk?”

“It will,” Zoe said. “Our bodies heal faster than before, but also better. Vitality knows how to restore flesh. If you had lost your foot normally, I would have put money on it growing back. The Gambler’s blade made such regeneration impossible, but with this transplant, you should walk normally soon.”

He smiled.

“I can’t thank you enough, Zoe. When we first saw you in this place, well, I thought we would end up with our hands around each other’s throats. It’s good to know that some shred of humanity survives.”

“I feel the same.”

“Have you decided what System you will choose?”

“No… in all honesty, I’ve been putting off the decision.”

“If your procrastination let my daughter see again, then I am in favor of you putting things off forever,” his grin was bright in the burning shadows. “My family is in your debt. If we meet again, I will help you however I can.”

“If? We’ll be together until we exit hell. Plenty of time to save each other’s lives.”

“We chose the Heart Torn system,” Brassus explained with a shake of his head. “I have received a quest to explore this region and, if possible, claim its power.”

“Oh… you’re not leaving?”

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“Not for the foreseeable future, not that I can.”

“Can what?”

“Foresee the future.”

He grinned, and though Zoe found his humor annoying, curiosity overwhelmed her. Likewise, Bella leaned forward.

“What’s the Heart Torn system like? Is it talking to you? Do you have new stats?’

He shook his head.

“Not talking to me any more than the last one. It feels similar, but I imagine things will start feeling different when I gain Accolades.”

“What’s an accolade?”

“It melted down my attributes into two stats: War and Love. It converted my 27 levels into seven Accolades.”

“Weird,” said Bella.

“When I got this system,” Zoe flexed her chains. “It spoke into my mind and gave me these chains. It rewards friendship, and we’ve become friends. The Crimson Armada system wants us to fight and to serve it — to be soldiers. I wonder what the Heart Torn wants?”

“Well, it gave me a quest to rip out the localized heart of this hell and take a bite, so I’m not sure, but I don’t think it’s peaceful.”

“I thought you hated Rue?”

“Hate is a strong and simple word for such a complicated world. Did you know I met Rue once before? No? Well, when the apocalypse swept through my town, I fled with my family. We were on foot following the highway, pushing a wheelbarrow of supplies when a group of magical hyenas attacked.” He stroked the robe he wore with a distant grimace. “We found shelter in a dead van. I was terrified, out of my mind with fear, and then Rue snatched me up. He took me from my family and my planet and planted me down in front of himself and a lady of shadows.”

“Why?”

“I’m a brewer, and he wanted to ask me something... I don’t even remember the question he asked me. I just begged him to save my family. After a minute or two he sent me back. When I returned, the hyenas were inside the van. My wife barely kept them from eating my girls. It filled me with such rage I manifested a technique and killed the damned animals with my two hands. Sure, I was mad at Rue, at the indifference of the gods, but I also saw the peak of power. If I could reach that level then I could whisk my family away from danger. I wouldn’t have to pretend the world was hell because I could make it a heaven for them. So, when Rue offered his choice, I sided with him.”

“But I still don’t understand why?” Zoe asked.

“The Gambler’s Game is one expression of ultimate power, and Rue’s rebellion is another. I chose the one that fought for who he loved.”

His expression grew serious.

“I’m afraid my quest has grown urgent. Tilly, Rosa!”

He called over his family as a portal bloomed overhead. Reality folded into a blade and cut itself apart. The edges unfurled like silver petals, and in the center, a void yawned. Brassus saluted Zoe as his wife and daughters joined him.

“Good luck, and thank you.”

The portal fell upon him and dissipated. Nothing remained. Zoe stood there, beside Bella, and they listened to the screams and wails and distant clanging of chains against bars.

“Well,” Bella said.

“Yeah,” Zoe said as she looked over at one of Anton’s wondering eyes. “Anton, did you hear all that?”

“Yeah, still waiting at this door by the way.”

“Come back. I think we need to regroup and figure things out.”

“Leave? Come back? Make up your mind.”

His eye winked out before Zoe could retort.

“He’s got a bee in his bonnet,” Bella said.

“I think he just wants to eat that eyeball.”

“Oh. Fair enough. I want to eat something if it will give me superpowers. What do you think would happen if I ate his junk?”

Zoe shook her head.

“What?”

“Would I get a super-powered dong? Or do you need to stitch it to me?”

“Do you want me to sew a god’s… penis… onto your body?”

Bella shrugged.

“I’m feeling a little crazy, you know?”

Zoe eyed the corpse. It waited there. Hacked apart. Pale. Full of potential.

“I suppose.”

“You given any thought to taking its hands?”

“I hadn’t, actually.”

Bella turned with surprise.

“Really?”

“No, that was a lie,” Zoe said as she looked down at her chains. “I’ve thought about it, but at this point, I think that means cutting the Black Star off of me entirely.”

ding!

Um! Ummmm! Ummmmm!

“Don’t worry,” Zoe said with a soft chuckle. “That’s not happening.”

ding!

That’s a relief!

Bella quirked an eyebrow.

“Looks like I’m not the only one talking to myself these days.”

“You ever look back on how our thoughts used to be and think it was kind of —”

“Lonely?”

“Yeah.”

Anton waved at them from the distance as he jogged out from between a gorge of stacked cages. Arms dangled from the upper cages, some had more fingers than expected, some had less, but all were limp with ennui. Standing beside Bella again, with Anton approaching and Oriz in his tow, it was easy for Zoe to forget she was in hell. Funnily enough, this was the first time she had an actual moment to breathe in as long as she could remember.

Behind Oriz sauntered the bleached blonde punk calling herself Skidmark Steffanie. She walked beside Jack, and the two of them seemed deep in some esoteric conversation. Words drifted onto the edge of Zoe’s insight, but she didn’t know if they were bands or code or both.

Zoe didn’t know what to make of Steffanie yet. Sure, she had stabbed her former allies in the back, but Zoe felt the secure grip of [Our Hearts Toll as One] inside her ribcage.

Did one betrayal beget another?

Anton reached her first and stuck out his palm. The eye remained in the center of his hand, and it rolled up to look at her. The golden iris surrounded a pupil as deep as any mineshaft. When did the eyes become gold? Or had they always been that color? She recalled the way it stared out of the face of the little girl Rosa. It would have been nice to talk to her and ask how it felt to have a God’s eye view. Well, she supposed she could ask Anton soon enough.

“Should I eat it?” Anton asked testily.

“Someone’s impatient.”

“I don’t know if you should eat it,” Zoe said. “But it’s time for an experiment.”

She gestured at the corpse, and Anton rubbed his hands together with glee.

“I was hoping this was the plan. Bella’s on kitchen duty I assume?”

“Why is that?” Bella asked.

“Because you’re the only one with a blade that cooks while it cuts. Don’t worry, I’ll supervise.”

“I don’t need you to supervise!”

Oriz scooped her hand around Bella’s stomach and pulled her into a gentle embrace.

“Calm down, darling.”

“I’m calm,” Bella huffed. “So fine and dandy I could do a little dance!”

“I would love that.”

Bella calmed a little.

“Did you see any?”

“No, not a one.”

“Any what?” Anton asked.

“Demons,” Oriz responded. “We have been in Hell for some hours now, and not a single demon has approached us.”

Steffanie approached their conversation with fearless confidence.

“That’s good, right?” she said in her Scottish accent. “No demons is good?”

“It’s good, but… why aren’t there any?” Bella asked. “You expect sharks if you swim in the ocean all covered in blood.”

“The Gambler’s death affected the balance of the Crimson Armada system. He controlled the demons, so erratic behavior is to be expected after his death.”

“We’ll keep an eye out,” Zoe said with a nod toward Anton. “For now, I want to maximize the use of this corpse before we move on. Furthermore,” she took a deep breath. “I have allied myself with the Crimson Armada System.”

[Thank you, Zoe Chambers. We will reward your continued faith]