I had been correct. The rest of that day was a long one, and there were many more to come. While it might be possible to sprint at the speeds of a cheetah or lift a ton without too much hassle, getting people organised was no easier since the System arrived. Not entirely true, I conceded as I continued to purchase the buildings Julianna told me to. She had been given access to these options, but hadn’t had nearly the amount of funds I was able to use.
Both too slowly and yet, at a breakneck pace, the newly joined towns of Newtown and Ascentown began to thrive. This was mostly due to the fact the claimants were out of the way. With full control of my area, I could place a little bit of focus and a lot of wealth into its growth. Plans began to become reality and a new era came into view. A world where everyone lived with the System and used it to better themselves and others.
It was a nice thought.
The moment of truth I had been waiting for came from an unexpected route. With the explosion of Grade Ones came more and more people to feed Dao into some weird computer in Newtown. I’m not sure why, but I hadn’t expected magic to be able to do anything with Earth’s modern technology until I sat down in front of the screen. With a combination of coding, mana infusion and Dao manipulation, programs had been created.
So far, there was a game, an Aspect-Guidance Stone skill database and a map function. The creator, a woman called Darla, said she had no actual control over what capabilities the machine got, but I wasn’t sure. The game was quite popular. By sending mana into the machine, the person’s mind was placed into a simulation. It wasn’t possible to gain levels inside, but non-life threatening training against monsters was invaluable.
The Aspect-Guidance Stone skill system would be worth far more. The computer was now able to guess what sort of power a guidance stone would add to a specific Aspect, and I was definitely going to wait until I could use the database before adding any more of the permanent abilities to my roster of skills.
Finally, and of course, most importantly was the map. It took my breath away to see the distance it covered. Darla was behind me, explaining the functions as I was shown the computer for the first time. “It’s the internal map data from everyone in the towns, as far as we can tell. Anywhere they’ve been, we know about. Including-”
“Including before the System.” I almost choked as I zoomed further and further from the recognisable layout of Ascentown. So much of the map was blank with no detail, but as I pulled out even more, pockets of civilization started to appear. The machine wasn’t just taking data from right now, it was able to show where the world had been jumbled. It took a few minutes but I was eventually able to figure out where the landmass of Ireland was, at least.
This was it.
I understood what the System had done to my world more than most. The most pressing change, for myself, was the absolute ballooning of scale to the new world. With how the planet had been torn apart and put back together with more landmass, finding my home was an impossibility. Until something like this came along and showed me exactly where it was in relation to myself, that is.
Unable to stop myself, I jumped up and hugged Darla. “Oh,” she said simply, “alright.” Her awkward taps on my back didn’t matter. She had done it. I promised her anything she wanted in the world, but my excitement had me out of the door as soon as I memorised a general route and the exact direction I needed to go from the screen before me.
I knew where they were.
———————————————————
There were only so many checks to do, a set amount of preparations which could be made. With judicious use of my credits, the forges of the crafting quarter were active and well-used. Various professionals were appearing, specialising their Aspect or Dao to a more business-minded task such as creating armours, weapons or other clothing. I had once thought only monster fighting could lead to growth. The fact I was wrong made my heart fly with happiness for those who couldn’t fight.
Even so, those who could, should.
While the name Fledgling had become a thing of pride, it almost felt rude to call some of them by such a small sounding name. If it were me just leaving the dungeon, I wouldn’t have been able to beat a six person squad of them alone, which was impressive growth in a short time. A small group was joining Naea and I for the first leg of the journey, a scouting expedition to extend the maps we currently had.
The leaders of Newtown took control of the background working impressively well. Stephanie had been performing most of Tom’s work while the man himself had been obsessing over strength. Almost all of his anxiety, and by extension her’s, came from fear. Fear of me, in various ways.
Gaz particularly had been absolutely stunned at the power of the Fledglings. His mind had been fuzzy for a long time, so he was only now realising the strength that surrounded him. He threw himself fiercely into catching up with the others, but I didn’t believe strength was the main factor to leading. The people of Ascentown had first been from Newtown, after all, and they respected Gaz. What had happened to him upset them all.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Aaron was trying to fashion himself as a merchant baron and I wasn’t going to stop him. In his mind, he was making far more money than anyone else and that was all that mattered. His Dao of Control and chain magic had become surprisingly handy in building, so he was setting up franchises. I didn’t bother reminding him that it all went to my coffers eventually. Even merchants were able to get experience from the System, so no one minded or paid attention to his antics much. Their wages were secondary for now.
Ellie had honestly surprised me. In no uncertain terms, she had become unenthusiastic about fighting. Instead of slowing down her growth, she had taken to alchemy like a fish to water. I didn’t disturb her as she was currently in the zone, trying to come up with new recipes from what we had collected so far. She was wasting copious amounts of ingredients while she did so, but the results were impressive.
Item - Apprentice Health Potion
A classic brew, made with marigolds and ether rose by a talented apprentice.
Effect: Magical wound healing, Increases natural recovery by a massive amount for a time.
The liquid was a translucent red, and the flecks of gold fluttered through the potion as though caught on a breeze within. Some of the words in the System text had changed, and while I hadn’t needed to use one of the simpler potions yet, I could see golden healing mana dancing around inside at a prodigious rate. However, while health potions were the most obvious necessity to get right first, it wasn’t the only success she had seen.
Item - Mana Potion
Simple, brewed by a novice.
Effect: Small increases mana recovery by a time.
She had also made some fairly potent poisons, but I chose to leave them with the defenders of Ascentown. If they needed more killing power while I was away, the poisons were a good avenue to get that extra ounce of damage required.
Item - Degenerative Poison
Dao infused poison, focused on debilitating a target’s healing potential. Can be applied to a weapon, or placed within a quiver.
Effect: Small damage over time effect until poison is spent. Recovery is much more expensive while under the effects of Degenerative Poison.
Harry was still the battle leader of the Fledglings and I didn’t see that changing. He excelled at taking out a group of green recruits and keeping them safe enough for them to see their second battle. The Dao of Protection was well used in his hands and I had faith that between him and Gaz, this place would be safe until I got back.
Tom. He was the last stop I had to make. I had done a lot of dragging my feet, but only half of that was because I was scared to see my family again. The other half was because Tom had been asleep for days as magical changes took precedence over silly things like consciousness. I was more or less sure he was fine, getting stronger if anything, but even I had been a little worried until he woke up. I became slightly more worried when he immediately began asking for me, even before asking for food.
“Hey,” I poked my head around the door of his hospital room. I wasn’t anything so fancy, but I didn’t have a better word for a bed that sick or injured people stay in, even if this one was just in a tent near the training grounds. “How are you feeling, magic man?”
A pained chuckle told me a part of the story. I waited for Tom to tell the rest. “I’m sorry, Grant. I placed you on a pedestal, right away. Even now when I look at you, it’s hard to think of you as just a guy. My Dao makes my mana senses pretty potent, and you are like a supernova compared to everyone else. I thought that I wasn’t doing enough if I couldn’t reach that level of pure power. Then that monster came and showed me that I was nothing, and… I wanted to show you I wasn’t.”
I nodded. “What’s changed?”
“Me. I used the Aspect of Eternity and it made my magic stronger, but that’s all I used it for. I had a gemstone in my hand called an aspect of eternity and I crumbled it up hoping to get better pew pews.” We both laughed at that. He truly did seem in a better headspace. “I haven’t unlocked a new Dao path or anything like that, but I feel calm for the first time in a long time. I’m sorry I let everything get on top of me.”
“And I’m sorry for not noticing you didn’t have the support you needed. Luckily, while you were sleeping I gave about eight other people your job. You’re free to relax for a while, and then take up whatever you want to do.” He seemed to like that idea. We talked back and forth for a while, about things of no importance.
Eventually, the small talk died and Tom got serious once more. “What about you? What are you doing now?”
“Time for me to go find my family, mate.” I smiled at the surprised confusion and tentative excitement on Tom’s face. “Apparently you know all about Darla’s computer thing in Newtown? It’s managed to create a map function.”
Tom blushed and coughed. Was he upset he hadn’t told me about the computer earlier? “Glad for you,” he choked, reaching for some nearby water, “I never really had much of a family to begin with. I’m sorry I’m not coming with you.” He said the final sentence with such a serious and morose expression that I almost felt bad I hadn’t even wanted him to come.
I laughed him off. “Naea would kill me if I tried to bring anyone with me the first time we met them. No, if you do anything, try to make this place a magical one for my family to feel safe in when I get back.” We shook hands, Tom still mostly lying down and resting, and I went to find the scouting party.
Luke was actually joining the group, the first time he had left the safety of the town since his experience with Steel Fever. I felt awkward around him due to my unwilling connection to a creature he viewed as his abuser. However, Luke himself had gone to speak with Steel, without prompt. Afterwards, he wasn’t back to his old self, but he seemed better. More serious, but that was a fact of life in the System.
Everything was dangerous now.
Reaching the edge of my own explored boundary, Naea and I bid the group goodbye and set off. “Everyone is ready, the towns can be defended, the crafting sector is taking off and everyone seems actually happy. For the first time, everyone seems to be exactly where they want to be.”
Naea nodded. “Except for you,” she prompted. Naea was showing off by flying horizontally, upside down. She looked up at me from above hip height, genuine care flowing through our bond.
“Except for me,” I agreed. I needed to be in a whole other country. “No more stalling, no more distractions.” I meant it, too. Ascentown and its sister city of Newtown could survive without me, now. I placed nearly all of my gold coins, including the draconic ones, into the town’s storage before I felt like there was truly nothing more to do.
“Well… Let’s go and find my family, shall we?”