Now, Earth
Cal found his sister standing in front of a recently filled grave in one of the local cemeteries. “Yo, word.”
Rayna snorted. “That was old before all this bullshit started.”
“I’m old,” Cal shrugged. “How did it go?”
“It was a funeral,” Rayna shrugged. “Spoke to the family, said how sorry I was, how much their father’s, mother’s, son’s, daughter’s, brother’s, sister’s sacrifice meant to our future,” she clenched her fists, “the lie got easier after the hundred and fiftieth time. Only thirty-two left.”
“It’s not entirely a lie.”
“Don’t try to make me feel better. I don’t want to feel better. I don’t deserve to feel better. We could’ve done the Quest without losing one life. You and me. The rangers on support. Sure they wouldn’t have gotten so many Universal Points or leveled up so much, but they’d be alive.”
Cal didn’t respond. His thoughts on the matter were similar.
“Saved over a hundred enslaved people. That’s something, right?” Rayna’s eyes pleaded.
“I’d say so. The Cabal had tortured thousands of people over the years. Your rangers brought justice for all of those people, while preventing future victims.”
“There is that. Except that the Vitiator is still out there.”
“I’ve been searching for weeks with no signs of his presence,” Cal sighed.
“An elf from another world and he turned out to be a sadistic bastard.”
“Well, he didn’t name his species, so can we really say that? Sure he was tall, thin, strong and magically inclined,” Cal shrugged.
“Mom said he had pointy ears, that’s good enough for me.”
“So, more of a Lord of The Rings-style elf than a D&D-style elf, except evil.”
“What’s the difference?”
“The first kind are super tall, super strong, both physically and magically, but as you know, Tolkien’s style of magic was more soft.”
“No, I don’t know. I’m just hearing a lot of nerd-speak and I’m kinda tuning it out.”
Cal continued, undeterred. “D&D elves are weaker and smaller than humans, but more agile and magical.”
“Does any of that have any bearing on what we’re dealing with? This is real life. Not fiction.”
“I’ve considered the possibility that there might’ve been some kind of psychic bleed through into the collective human unconscious.”
Rayna nodded. “Like human imagination was getting unconscious glimpses into all these other worlds? One of the theories we’ve got is that the spires have been on Earth this whole time, just out of phase with our reality.”
“If that’s true then our planet’s been connected to other worlds this whole time.”
“Seems reasonable to me. Fits why some of the monsters are straight out of make believe. Same with the magic, Skills and even our superpowers.”
“The question is… did the spires influence human imagination? Or vice versa.”
“Mix of both,” Rayna shrugged.
“My concern is how the Vitiator got here. According to the spires the Threnosh world should be the only currently connected upworld and the way to our immediate downworld isn’t open yet. No telling when that will happen.”
“So much of this bullshit seems random. As for the Vitiator, there was that message about entities with ‘special dispensation’, figure he was one such example, like that Deep Azure Remy and Nila were dealing with. Eron’s had some encounters too over the past couple of years.”
Cal nodded. “Sounds most likely. I guess we have to keep reacting to all these crises.”
“I don’t like that. If this is the tutorial period then what sorts of things are we going to have to deal with once all restrictions to our world are lifted?”
“Unity.”
“Trying.”
“And you’re doing a pretty good job of it so far.”
“Not really, I’ve got the rangers which I’ve lost close to two hundred. Three hundred left with a bit under a hundred trainee-recruits.”
“You’ve got, what, around 300,000 people in your territory? Do a recruitment drive.”
“We’ve got all the volunteers we’re going to get and I’m not going to do a draft, even if Kayl’s pushing for one.”
“Create better incentives.”
“With what? I’m not going to withhold essentials. The only thing worth anything else are Universal Points and why are people going to risk their lives for that when they have enough food, shelter and safety? Can’t blame them. The population of the county was over 3 million when the spires appeared. We’re at ten percent of that. The population isn’t growing, which makes sense. Why would you have kids when you’re living during the apocalypse?”
“The children are our future,” Cal sighed. “They’ll grow up in this environment with Classes. They’ll learn magic and Skills from an early age.”
“I’d like to find more people like us. One’s with superpowers. Classes are too weak. Too many losses when taking on boss level monsters and assholes,” Rayna said.
“That’s only useful if said people aren’t bad guys, like those wannabe warlords.”
“Can’t I hope that not everyone with power out there, aside from us, aren’t dicks?”
“Be hopeful, but not blind… I guess.”
Rayna smiled sadly. “Such words of wisdom, oh eldest brother. I bow before it.”
“I try, but I’ll admit that I’m not the best shoulder to lean on.”
“You’re passable… thanks for trying and mostly succeeding at getting me to take my mind off this,” Rayna regarded the grave, “at least for a little bit.”
“Anything for the baby of the family.”
“Ha! Not anymore! Rynnen’s got that role locked down,” Rayna’s smile fell.
“He’s got powers,” Cal grinned.
Rayna frowned.
“What? He’ll be able to fight, protect himself and others…” Cal noticed the look on his sister’s face, “when he’s old enough.”
“He’s also been through multiple traumatic events, not counting the whole apocalypse thing. Seriously, Cal! W-T-F!”
“I think he was feeling powerless,” Cal ventured carefully, “now he’s beginning to come out of that.”
“Did you look into his thoughts?”
“Not deeply.”
“Can you… help… with traumatic memories?”
“What? Like erase them?”
“Yes,” Rayna said softly.
“I’m not sure,” Cal lied. “I think that when it comes to the human mind it’s dangerous to mess around with it on such a deep level.”
“Is that your belief or experience talking?”
“Both… someday I’ll have to tell you about some of what I went through on the Threnosh world.”
“Yeah,” Rayna frowned. “I guess you want to know why I wanted to talk to you?”
Cal smiled. “You’re my sister. You don’t need a reason to talk to me.”
“You came down here to rest and recharge. Instead, I involved you in a horrible battle and now I’ve got you flying all over Southern California looking for the Vitiator and dealing with the warlord assholes.”
“I think a couple of months rest was good enough,” Cal lied for the second time. “I’m doing all that because I want to help.”
“There’s just this one thing… you can say no…”
“Just tell me what you want.”
Cal listened intently.
----------------------------------------
A month of funerals was finally over.
Rayna had felt like a raw nerve the entire time. It was like the battle with the Cabal had never ended. She had went into it with four hundred rangers and returned with a little over half that number.
The ranger base was a hive of activity.
Those that hadn’t suffered grave injuries were on the training fields practicing with their new, more powerful spells and Skills.
It turned out that Level 20 was a milestone that unlocked greater power.
Were the deaths worth it?
Rayna didn’t know.
She went straight to the command center and her office.
“Hey.” Kayl was waiting inside.
“What are you doing here?”
“Turns out my Skills are good for post-birth recovery,” Kayl grinned. “Still, little Daylen wasn’t so little and I’m just okay enough to walk around now.”
“Congratulations.” Rayna tried to smile. “Sorry, I haven’t been to see her.”
“Don’t worry about it you’ve been busy doing my job for me in addition to yours,” Kayl waved the apology away.
“You missed all the funerals.”
“I know,” Kayl scowled. “Sorry. You shouldn’t have had to face all of them alone.”
“I wasn’t alone.”
“I’m Ranger Captain. I should’ve been there for every single one. It was my responsibility. Our brothers and sisters died because I pushed for the mission.”
Rayna grunted. “We’re both responsible.”
“True enough. Well, now that I’m here you can go home.”
“What?”
“You’re off duty for at least a week. Although, it’d be better if you took a month,” Kayl waved a hand. “No complaints. You’ve been in fight mode since we crushed the Cabal. Just give me the rundown of what I’ve missed then be on your way.”
Rayna sighed. “Okay, that sounds fine. First thing is we need to increase recruitment. I just don’t know how.”
“I have an opinion on that, but since conscription is a hard ‘no’ for you then we’ve got less options. I’ll make it a priority for our strategic meetings,” Kayl said. “I’ve looked at some reports concerning level increases over 20. Thoughts?”
“Nothing that isn’t already in those reports. 20 appears to be a milestone. One either gets a stronger version of a spell or Skill they already have or a new, more powerful one. General power level doesn’t appear to scale in a linear version post-20. A Level 25 Warrior isn’t just 5 level stronger than a Level 20. You’ll want to read 13th Squad’s account of their fight with the Cabal mage called Baal. He had claimed to be Level 25.”
“13th squad would’ve been level 15-18 at the time,” Kayl said.
“It took six of them to kill him and they lost three in the process.”
“Might be more about the match up. Styles make fights, after all. I’ll talk to 13th Squad, get their perspectives. With 200-plus rangers over Level 20 we can test this out.”
“Next thing concerns the people we rescued,” Rayna grimaced. “We’ve got them set up in the vacant apartments over at Bella Terra.”
“What’d Hardin say about that? They’ve been wanting those places.”
“I’m done with the Hardin's. You didn’t hear what their Freedom Force did on the night we took down the Cabal.”
“I went into labor before I could get to the debriefing meetings.”
“Read it, I’m not up to talking about it. Just thinking about it makes me want to fly there and flatten them all,” Rayna shook her head. “I’ve written my response into the record. Read it and come yell at me after if you feel like it.”
Kayl’s eyes narrowed. “Did you do what I’ve been pushing for months?”
“Something like that.”
Kayl’s grin was feral. “Finally!”
“The cabal survivors— are traumatized to put it mildly. Rehab and therapy are the only things I can think of to do for them. The things the Cabal did to them were… the mundane stuff was bad enough, but the magic stuff took it to another level of horribleness. I don’t know if you can fix the damage that stuff did to their souls, if you believe in that sort of thing,” Rayna shrugged.
“We keep them fed, safe and comfortable. Time heals, right? Maybe our Priests can do something for the soul part of it.”
“That’s your area.”
“I’ll reach out see what they’re willing to do for us. I can’t see them refusing to help especially once I tell them exactly what those poor people were forced to endure.”
“That’s about it for the major stuff. My brother’s looking for the entity behind the Cabal.” Rayna ignored the questioning look on Kayl’s face. “Too long for me to explain. You can read it in—”
“—the reports, got it,” Kayl said. “You say ‘entity’, so not human? A monster? Like that sea god your other brother was dealing with in San Francisco?”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“More like an elf from another world,” Rayna deadpanned.
“Uh huh…” Kayl nodded. “I’ll… read the report.”
“Last thing, Cal said he detected something during his flyby over San Diego. Magical in nature, probably.”
“Seems a fitting explanation for those zombies,” Kayl grinned at the wince on Rayna’s face. “If it looks like a walking corpse then I’m calling it a zombie.”
“They were clearly more than just a dead body walking around. There was variety to their shapes, sizes and abilities.”
Kayl shrugged.
“Okay, whatever.”
“We should probably get some scouting missions going. Did your brother pinpoint the location?”
“In the general vicinity of downtown San Diego.”
“He couldn’t have taken care of it for us?”
“He’s helping us out as a favor to me. I don’t want him fighting our battles.”
“I guess, but we’re talking about the survival of the human race. I’d think all battles are basically every human beings’ at this point. Unless you’re a total dick like the Cabal and the gangs.”
“I’ll look into it myself,” Rayna said flatly.
“Not until after your vacation and a proper plan,” Kayl said. “Now, shoo,” she waved Rayna toward the door. “Oh, one last thing. Next time you see your brother can you ask him a question for me?”
“I guess… if it doesn’t involve investigating a dangerous zombie situation.”
“Nothing like that. I’d just like to know how he knew that I was having a baby girl. It’s been bugging me this whole time.”
“Seriously? He’s got superpowers.”
“Like X-ray vision? Super hearing?”
Rayna walked out of her office. “Sorry, it’s against proper etiquette to share information about other people’s superpowers without their express written consent.”
Kayl snorted. “Opsec… I get it.”
----------------------------------------
Gunfire struck the form-fitting telekinetic shield covering Cal’s body. “Wow… what a bunch of morons.” He grabbed their guns with telekinetic hands and broke them.
He flew to the Hardin mansion near the upper portions of Anaheim Hills.
More gunfire bounced off his telekinetic shield.
The monotony of that was broken up by the occasional fireball, just as ineffective.
Men and women at the gates opened fire as he descended to the driveway.
More emerged out of the mansion to add to the furious fusillade.
“Freedom Force was such a cool game, your militia besmirches it with your overall terribleness,” Cal addressed the militia members. “Bring your leader out.”
“You don’t give orders here,” the lead militia man said warily.
It was hard to be brave and aggressive when a guy wearing a t-shirt and jeans flies into your midst after getting shot with hundreds of bullets with nary a scratch on him.
Cal got that from their surface thoughts. He didn’t see a need to dig deeper. They may have been shitty assholes, but they were still human. He wouldn’t violate the sanctity of their inner thoughts unless there was a pressing reason.
“I have an important message from Rayna,” Cal pulled out a sealed envelope from his back pocket. It was a little crumpled.
Pryce Hardin came out of the front door.
Cal recognized him from the debate he had watched a few months ago.
The man had dark bags under his eyes. Stress practically radiated off of him.
“What is this?”
“Congratulations,” Cal said lightly. “You’ve got what you wanted. Complete autonomy. You are now free to govern your precious hills in whatever way you see fit. Now, that only extends down to the foot of said hills. Exactly in line with where you had your Freedom Force set up defensive positions when the gangs attacked your fellow citizens, well, formerly now. You do remember that, right? When you had your militia sit back and watch while innocent people were assaulted, raped and murdered.”
Pryce snatched the envelope out of Cal’s hands.
Cal continued to speak as Pryce frantically read the letter. “It’s all official. Rayna’s Rangers are no longer going to involve themselves with the defense of your territory. Furthermore, Rayna and my father have relinquished ownership of grocery stores, drug stores and other structures necessary for continued existence closest to your territory. You are now responsible for their defense. Though they are outside of your territory you will not be prevented from traveling to and from said sites. Furthermore, the ownership of emergency shelters within your territory will also be given up.”
“You can’t—” Pryce’s mouth hung slack, the blood drained from his face.
“The rangers have decided that they are no longer responsible for you and yours. It’s all in there,” Cal pointed at the letter. “Tell your father that this is the price for standing by and doing nothing when people needed help.”
“And you’d do the same thing?”
Cal shrugged. “This is what you wanted. Total control of your own fates. Man’s mastery writ large.”
“This isn’t right, we aren’t—”
“Strong enough? Yeah, I can see that.”
“People will die because of this. That’s on Rayna’s head! Your head!”
“The letter notes that an immigration process will be established in the coming weeks. Any individual that wishes to leave Hardin territory can apply.” Cal shook his head. “You wanted to be in control? Now you are. You were never going to give orders to Rayna and my parents. It’s a different world. The order that you benefited from was utterly destroyed when the spires appeared. That world wasn’t great anyways for most of the people. I guess we traded hidden monsters for actual ones. I go back and forth at what is worse.” Cal regarded the gathered militia. “I understand the Freedom Force has close to two thousand members. Maybe, that’ll be enough to hold on to the stores and protect your homes. Incidentally, I think the rangers are recruiting. Standards are higher, so no assholes need apply. I imagine you know who you are.”
Cal launched himself up into the sky.
The message was delivered and he even did some freelance work with that bit at the end.
It was time to continue his search for the Vitiator.
The outworld invader’s name or title or maybe even Class suggested one that corrupts, ruins, destroys.
Cal thought it fit from what his mom had described about some of the magic the Vitiator had used as well as the elf man’s own words.
He wondered at the accuracy of the spires’ automatic translation system.
How much of the true intent in the Vitiator’s words did it capture and relate?
The Cabal operation was designed entirely to corrupt people. Both the victims and the patrons were being corrupted in different ways. The mansions-turned-brothels had been temples to every sin and vice in humanity.
Cal had read the echoes of every terrible thing done inside those places. He could see the shape of what the Vitiator had been attempting.
No.
That wasn’t correct.
The invader had succeeded.
The young man, the mage of wrath had displayed amazing magic power.
Had the Vitiator managed to create more like him then the rangers assault would’ve failed utterly.
Cal needed to find and kill the Vitiator before the invader could start over somewhere else.
Thus, he flew above Southern California in varied patterns searching with all of his mental powers. He had been reluctant to open up his telepathic walls, but the need outweighed his personal discomfort.
Sifting through hundreds of thousands of individuals’ thoughts was maddening and worse it had yet to provide even the smallest hint of the Vitiator’s presence.
He had scanned through ruins of the mansions several times after he and Rayna had returned to flatten them the day after the battle.
He had hoped for a trail, but only found the echoes of thousands of atrocities.
So much violence and pain.
Just as the spires wanted.
Eternal conflict with no way to escape.
Part of him wanted to gather up everyone he cared about and create a fortress deep in the middle of nowhere.
Why not?
Supplies wouldn’t be an issue when he and his siblings could fly and gather them.
It’d be easier to defend from threats.
And he wouldn’t be constantly faced with terrible threats and human suffering.
The latter was why his fantasy remained that.
The responsible part of him would never allow him to leave others to face such darkness, not when he had the ability to fight it.
And so, despite wanting to be anywhere else, Cal continued to soar above the land, searching and ultimately failing.
The Vitiator’s magic was strong.
Enough to hide. To flee.
----------------------------------------
Then, Beverly Hills
The Vitiator’s portal opened up in the mountains far to the north of his former place of power.
Former because an inferior species had managed to utterly destroy it.
It was an unexpected development.
He had foreseen the possibility that the Cabal fighters would fail. They were a ragged rabble after all. Them and their weak allies.
What he had not foreseen was that he would fail utterly. Unable to defeat an aged woman and a small child.
Even the best of his puppets, the Cabal, had fallen to the last… almost.
The dwellings had been destroyed by the powerful brother and sister, but they had failed to see what the Vitiator’s magic link showed him.
One Cabal member yet lived.
The Vitiator cleared the rubble with a mighty gust of wind from his hands.
Cambion lay in a small crater.
How had they missed him?
The young human was indeed on the edge of death. Only his magic, his wrath kept him tethered to the world of the living.
The Vitiator used a spell to read the tale of what had transpired here.
“You have risen above my expectations,” the Vitiator rasped. His mouth and throat had been damaged by the intense flames despite his spell of resistance. His mana had been drained and he couldn’t spare any for even the most basic of healing spells. “A Wrath Mage. One path upon the road to my own Class.” He regarded the young man’s shattered body. “Limbs can be replaced. It seems that you have lived up to your chosen name, unlike the rest of your failed brethren.” He gathered the broken young man into his arms like a father cradling his child. “Come, Cambion. You are not finished yet.”
The Vitiator considered his next move.
He would begin again that was without question.
But where?
There was a dark godling far to the north. The spray of salt and the deep, dark, cold of the ocean filled the Vitiator’s magically enhanced senses.
A flame that walked in the shape of man burned bright further still, in the white mountains to the northeast.
It mattered not.
This world was large.
He would find a population of its inferior natives to bend and shape to his purposes.
Young Cambion’s development had opened his eyes to their potential.
The native inhabitants were not only fit as chattel to be expended. They had potential, though scant in comparison to his kind.
He would create proper servants for the Emperor.
----------------------------------------
Now, Earth
Cal walked into the Sprouts a few streets down from his parent’s house.
People were walking in and out, shopping for groceries.
It would’ve been like it was in the old days, if not for a few details.
Most of the shoppers were armed. Guns, knives, clubs and tools from the hardware store were on their belts and harnesses.
There were no employees manning the checkout lanes. People simply grabbed the items they needed.
And there was a spire in the middle of the parking lot.
Text accompanied by the voice of the spires informed Cal that his sister was the owner of the store as soon as he stepped foot inside the building.
The rules Rayna had set governing how things worked inside flashed by in a split-second, but somehow he was able to comprehend it all without relying on his powers. He knew from previous experience that it was the same for everyone that entered the store.
Cal made his way to the meat section and was surprised to see a burly man behind the counter laying out a variety of meats in the display case.
“Uh… hello?”
“Be right with you, boss.” The man finished up and looked down at Cal with a bright smile. “What can I get you today?”
With his telepathic walls up Cal hadn’t noticed that there was a person actually working the butcher’s section. The man’s thoughts had blended in with all the other whispers.
“I guess, a two pounds of pork belly, three pounds of beef short ribs, three pounds skirt steak and that’s it.”
The man wrote down Cal’s order and went to work. “This is a lot of meat. Are you having a party?”
“My cousin’s turning seven,” Cal said.
“Always good to hear someone’s having one of those these days, especially the kids.” The smile in the man’s voice was evident
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but what are you doing here?” Cal said.
“Just working.”
“Are… are you getting paid?”
“No charge, but you can tip me Universal Points if you want.”
Cal noticed the handwritten sign on the counter with the instructions. “Intent, huh? Just like the spires’ marketplace.” He focused for a second.
The man’s knife clattered on the counter top and his head swung around to gape at Cal. “Uh… I think you added a few extra zeroes?”
“How much do people normally tip?”
“Usually less than a point.”
“How much do you bring in per day?”
“Five to ten.”
Cal nodded. Compared to that a thousand points did standout. “Ah, I see.”
“Just tell me how much you want back.”
“Keep it all.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know, man. I didn’t think there was anyone walking around with so many points that they can just drop a thousand like nothing. Makes me worried you’ll want something more than excellent cuts of meat.”
“I recently gained a ton of points and they’re just sitting there, so…” Cal shrugged, “I swear I’ve got no ulterior motives.”
The man nodded hesitantly.
“So, why are you working here in the first place?”
The man went back to his slicing. “I worked in a place like this before the spires. Got the Butcher Class. So doing this improves my Skills, gives me Universal Points and nets me levels.”
“A Butcher would be good with slicing and cutting,” Cal said.
“Yup, you got it. All my actives and passives mean I’ve gotten pretty good at knowing where and how to cut to be efficient and effective.”
“Those abilities sound like they’d be good for battle.”
The man shook his head vehemently. “Sure, I’d get more points killing monsters, but I’ve got a wife and kids.”
“Fair enough, but if I may make a suggestion?”
“Sure thing, boss. You’ve paid enough for the right.”
“How old are your kids?”
“Fourteen, eleven and seven.”
“Wow… it must’ve been tough to survive the early days with two young children, let alone having a baby during.”
“Yeah, we got lucky Rayna and her rangers found us and kept us safe.”
Cal nodded. “So, if you haven’t already taught your kids everything you do here.”
“It’d give them a good foundation for joining the rangers,” the man sighed.
“I wasn’t necessarily going to suggest that, but that was my thought.”
“My wife keeps saying the same thing. I just— I was just kinda hoping that they wouldn’t need to fight. That life would get back to like it was in the old days.”
“I don’t think that’s likely.” Cal empathized with the butcher. “Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”
Cal had a thought.
“Oh man! How many Universal Points do you have?”
“Plenty and I think you’ve given me an idea. Give your kids points. Use them for tutorials and unlocking their personal sheets. Plan out their Class growth.”
“How? I don’t know how all that shit works. I don’t know anyone that does.”
“Ask the rangers, I think they’ve been on this track. If not, I’ll speak to someone about getting started.”
“Who are you?” the butcher handed Cal the wrapped and bagged meats.
“I’m just a guy trying,” Cal smiled. “You and your family take care,” he waved and left the dumbstruck butcher.
Cal stepped out of the store and headed to the spire.
The meat bag disappeared from his hand as soon as he stepped inside. He knew that it’d appear in his hand as soon as he stepped out.
Although, he realized that he didn’t know if it was now sitting on the parking lot.
It was November, which meant a sunny 70 degrees.
He had to be quick.
A quick check on the marketplace showed something intriguing.
One machete, enchanted to burst into flames when wielded.
The details were scarce, but the spires didn’t allow fraud.
The description was legit.
10,000 Universal Points.
Ridiculous.
Although, the knowledge that someone out there had discovered enchanting was priceless.
Cal noted the seller’s name.
TopEnchWiz69
He laughed and memorized the name. He needed to get in touch.
Cal walked down a hallway of ethereal mists. Up and down stairs of the same cloudy matter.
The strangeness of time’s passage within the spire had him worried about the meat. He could’ve been inside for seconds or hours, he couldn’t tell the difference.
He tried to impress haste into his intent as he walked to the message chamber.
Many messages awaited him.
Several from Shira. Updates on the kids’ training. He had corresponded often with the Threnosh and his family currently stranded on the other world.
Remy had been busy fighting monsters in an effort to gain Universal Points.
Megan and the kids had been training. They only recently started testing themselves against the monster zones surrounding the base.
One message blinked urgently at the top of the list.
It was from Eron.
Cal selected it.
Eron’s face was bruised and bloody. New wounds mingled with older ones. “Uh, yeah, so… I might’ve fucked up… I think I need your help.”