‘Formless skin.’

I finalize my decision with the system.

Immediately I feel a tingling sensation all over my skin. This tingling sensation quickly turns to an annoying itchiness on every pore of my skin. Then to a painful itchiness that makes me want to claw my skin off.

Thankfully it doesn’t get worse, but for five straight minutes I had to endure what felt like bugs crawling underneath my skin.

Once all is said and done, I don’t actually feel or look that different. I don’t really know what I was expecting to be honest. I’d say the only thing that may have changed is my skin feeling slightly softer if anything.

There were a lot of reasons I went with this one, but the main reason is my lack of skills. Without the versatility that skills provide, I need to find a way to make up for that lost versatility, hence what better option than the billions of creatures that exist in the wider multiverse.

‘Though I will have to do some research on how ‘in depth’ my knowledge needs to be for me to use it. Hopefully this Saving Face Corporation can get me a few books to read about skin types in the multiverse. I especially hope I can find something on some creatures from other realms.’

With that business finally taken care of, I once again walk towards the group of five who are talking to one another seriously.

“Hey guys, how long we got?”

“Ah yes, Rowan my boy, perfect timing! We were just about to go get you. We have about half an hour before we need to leave, so in the meantime, we are going to do a quick run-through of the plan.”

I nod seriously while I take in the group I hadn’t seen for what has been a week for me.

Delorie looks uncharacteristic morose and serious, and to be honest I don’t blame him. It’s impossible for us to know the type of resistance we’re going to receive, and if things go badly enough, one or more of us could die.

Hoggle looks about the same as last time I saw him, flippant and uncaring. Surprising really, when you consider the fact that he’s completely blind in both eyes, you’d think he’d be a little more nervous for war.

Garut is looking fondly at his axe like it’s speaks to him or something.

‘What a weirdo, he looks like he’s about to make love to it.’ I think to myself unable to realize the hypocrisy of my statement.

Gael look about the same, except far more deadly. His eyes sharper, his body more tensed and ready for action, even his usually gentle smile screams battle-ready.

Finally Uncle Moren is sporting his characteristic ‘nervous but doesn’t want to show it’ smile. TO be honest, I don’t really think he’s fooling anyone, as his sweaty forehead and palms pretty obviously give him away.

I tune back in to the conversation.

“Alright so with the small details out of the way, let’s talk about broader tactical options. Now this plan isn’t concrete so if you have any suggestion, please feel free to voice them.”

Everyone nods.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Okay good, so the plan starts when we reach the warp pad building. Initially, we’re gonna go as silent as possible, while picking off as many outer guards as we can without getting noticed. I expect this to last about five or ten minutes depending on how disciplines these guys are.”

We all nod once again to show our attention.

“Now, phase two of the plan is delaying any wide scale alarms as fast as possible. If we can keep the heavy hitters away from us until the teleports arrive, we will be in a much better spot tactically than if we don’t.”

“What will these alarms look like?” I ask.

“Well, there’s a few different kinds that we can look out for. The portable ones that the soldiers in the sewers used are the most dangerous ones by far. All it takes is one soldier to see us and decide to hide, and we’ll have soldiers swarming us like flies. “

He continues,

“Another type that is less worrying, but still a concern, are the blue levers on the wall. While these ones are easier to prevent from going off, these ones cause a blaring alarm that can be heard throughout the city to go off. I hope I don’t need to say how bad this would be.”

I nod.

“Okay, phase three is when we’ll be fighting a full frontal assault, I’ll go over the formation now. Gael and Delorie will be at the very front. They’ll be filtering any opponents Garut and I can take back and to the side where the two of us will be. Hoggle and Rowan will be in the very back, picking off any stragglers and giving us any support. For Hoggle this will be in the form of his bugs and weaponry. For you Rowan, this will be by killing any weaker opponents harassing us while we fight bigger fish. Understood?”

Everyone nods again.

Uncle Moren sighs,

“Now, there’s a lot of things that can go wrong with this plan. For one, our teleporter reinforcements could literally just not show up, or not enough of them show. I’m hoping that’s not the case, but with the limited time we have, we won’t know.”

He continues,

“Also we could get discovered to early and blow our cover. If this happens we’re really screwed, and most likely dead. Well, except you Moren, you can plead ignorance I suppose if you get caught, but even then I wouldn’t risk it.”

“The last problem that could arrive is they have too many heavy hitters on their side. We have no clue what kind of soldiers they have stationed here, could be a tier 10 for all we know, if that happens we’re double screwed. Unless a similarly powered reinforcement comes through the teleporter, But I wouldn’t bank on it.”

Uncle Moren look around at each and every one of us.

“I’ll be honest here guys, I don’t like our odds of everyone making it out of this thing, but I want you guys to know that I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”

Everyone looks at Uncle Moren’s guilty look and all the sudden burst out in laughter.

“Hahaha! Moren apologizing? I must be dreaming!” Delorie shouts out while holding his stomach in laughter.

Even Garut chuckles slightly.

“What the hell guys! I was being serious you know! This is my fault!”

“Oh please don’t flatter yourself! We all new what we were getting into when we became informants for the Kingdom! To be honest, we were bound to get caught eventually!” Delorie once again shouts out.

“No you weren’t! You could’ve been here for years, if not decades longer!” Uncle Moren says turning a slight shade of red.

“Ha! As if, did you know that seventy percent of all kingdom informants get caught after a decade or less? Granted this time is a bit worse considering we got caught smuggling talents out of their hands, but still my point remains.”

“What about Gael then? He’s been an informant for decades, maybe even centuries and hasn’t gotten caught! What’s up with that then?”

Gael chimes in with a smile,

“I’m an outlier, but my retirement would’ve been soon anyways, what better way than to go out with a bang.”

“I personally wanted no part in this, but whatever I’m over it, so don’t go and feel guilty about it, quit being dramatic.” Hoggle says while leaning his chair back dangerously far.

“Listen guys I appreciate the very ‘kind’ words, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is my fault to begin with. I shouldn’t have sent the kid to do that stupid mission, I shouldn’t have gotten Delorie or Hoggle involved, a lot of shouldn’t haves that I can’t change anymore. All I can do now is focus what’s in front of me, that being getting myself and you all to the teleporter… alive.”

“If you say so.” Hoggle says.

“Yeah, lets do this.” Delorie says with a stomp.

Even Garut lets out a grunt.

While everyone is hyping themselves up, I look over at Uncle Moren who seems to have solemn look on his face.

Seeing him look so serious sends a wave of ominous foreboding in my mind.

‘Please just let everyone make it through this.’ I silently pray to myself.