After using Analyzer on his status message, Wyatt just stared at the new information before him.

He felt like an idiot for not thinking to try it sooner.

But the messages weren’t physical things, so what was he actually using the skill on? His thoughts?

He reached out and touched the message. It flashed like the first time he’d tried it, and he still couldn’t tell if he could actually feel it or not.

He shook his head, and read his new status message, his hopes of a single-stat build fading away like dust in the wind.

Wyatt Willaby Johnson

Level: 1

Stats:

┍ Nervous System: 13

┕ Regulates Senses, Speed, Skill Use, ?

┍ Immune System: 9

┕ Regulates Resistances, Recovery, ?

┍ Hard Tissue: 11

┕ Regulates Durability, ?

┍ Soft Tissue: 11

┕ Regulates Toughness, Strength, ?

┍ Energy: 6

┕ Increases available Energy, ?

Skills:

• [Debuffer]

• [Analyzer]

• Empty

Based on what each stat affected, no matter what build he went with, he’d need to boost several of them.

Maybe Jasmine hadn’t done so bad when she’d put one in each.

What are the question marks? Would they go away if I used an Essence Orb?

But there was no message telling him to use one.

He tried anyway, but it didn’t work.

He focused on his skills and tried to use Analyzer again, but there was nothing. Even with as little Energy as it took, he didn’t have enough after being drained from Jasmine’s sword. It made him realize it used varying amounts of Energy depending on what he was analyzing.

He made a mental note to try again when his Energy was full, which should only take a few minutes.

He smiled. Now he knew how to make that recharge faster.

His smile fell as he thought about it more. Immune System boosted Recovery, but did that include Energy recovery?

He focused on Recovery, trying to get more information but not expecting to. To his surprise, it worked, draining his little remaining energy.

Recovery: Governs generation speed of all internal renewable resources.

His smile returned. That definitely sounded like it covered Energy.

He made another mental note to examine each item with Analyzer. And every message.

For now, he had Essence Orbs to figure out what to do with.

There was the level 1 Essence Orb he’d looted back in the pyramid, plus the two they’d looted from the tlilcoatl. One was level 2, the other level 3. Which meant two people could reach level 1, or Wyatt could reach level 2 and someone else level 1.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Assuming Patrick had remembered right. It seemed weird that it would cost the same to go from level 0 to level 1 as it did to go from level 1 to level 2.

Maybe there’s a difference in the level of the orbs, and it’s not simply addition? Like maybe a level 3 orb isn’t the same as a level 1 plus a level 2 orb.

We really should find out if it only takes three to reach level 2. So that would mean I should use them, or at least try to.

Emma is level 1 also, so is Tyler, but between us I make the most sense to use them since it might affect how many stacks of Debuffer I need.

We could also give them to Patrick to see how many it takes to reach level 3, but then he’d be two levels above any of us.

This idea made Wyatt uncomfortable, so he discarded it.

Who to give them to…

Wyatt came back to the present to realize the group had started arguing about exactly that.

Akira was holding both of the orbs, and looked uncomfortable.

At least no one seems to be arguing for themselves.

It sounded like most people were voting that Camila should get them, but a few were suggesting that Wyatt should.

Patrick surprisingly wasn’t saying anything.

Nor was Emma.

Wyatt sighed, and spoke up. “I say we give the level 3 orb to Camila so she can reach level 1. Even if all it does is make her more resistant to skills, that would be okay. With her skill, we want to keep her alive at all costs.”

“Gee thanks,” she muttered.

Wyatt frowned, wondering why she would be upset at that, but pushed on. “As for the level 2 orb, it’s not enough to boost anyone up a level.” He took his own Essence Orb that he’d gotten in the pyramid from his belt. “I still have this one, and I think my Debuffer skill works better the closer in level I am to a monster. It stacks, and I need one for each level above me it is.” This was only a guess, but no need to complicate his explanation. He had a bad habit of doing that. “So unless anyone has objections, I’ll take the level 2 Essence Orb.” He gave them a chance to object. Coming off as a tyrant wouldn’t be helpful. He’d found that people were more likely to go along with you if you made it seem like it was their own decision.

“Sounds good to me,” Tyler said.

Brandon nodded. “It sounds like you’re the only one with a skill that depends on your level. Tyler’s works on himself, same for Lena. Jasmine’s might make more powerful items if she levels up, but one level won’t make much difference. Same for Regan. And Patrick’s already level 2.”

To Wyatt’s shock, no one, not even Kevin or Patrick, objected.

Maybe they hadn’t noticed Emma was level 1. Or maybe they found her as weird and mysterious as he did.

He nodded. “Okay then.” He tossed the level 3 Essence Orb to Camila and gestured at the sacellum. “After you.”

🞠

“How do you feel?” Wyatt asked Camila as she stepped away from the sacellum.

While she’d been using it, she’d been obscured by a dark blur.

It wasn’t like she’d disappeared exactly, but he’d tried tossing a rock at her and it had simply bounced off.

He’d been tempted to see if Debuffer would break through the sacellum’s protection, but had restrained himself.

“Completely the same.”

“Really?” He checked the team status to make sure she’d reached level 1. She had. It reminded him of the Prime Redeemer thing after his own name, but she replied before he could try using Analyzer on it.

She shrugged. “I don’t know.” She let out an exhausted sigh, then closed her eyes. “Maybe I feel… um…” She frowned. “Actually, no, I do feel… not stronger, exactly. But something like that.”

“Good. The shrine takes a few minutes to recharge?”

“And we’re vulnerable in the meanwhile,” Kevin grumbled.

“It will give us time to go over the plan,” Wyatt said cheerily. He found that it was best to set the tone. Other people usually followed suit.

He clapped his hands, once more startling a few of the group. Chekotae let out a surprised chirp, losing its hat again.

Dammit.

He sighed.

“Regan, Tyler, Lena, and I will go out to scout and or kill the monsters if they’re weak enough.”

The three of them moved to stand next to Wyatt, Tyler giving him a high-five.

He hadn’t meant right this moment, but just continued. “The rest of you will stay here. Lena can carry the corpses back.” He forced himself not to look at her lest he get distracted. “Getting something that can cut through them quicker is a priority.” He looked at Jasmine, who nodded.

“I can do that,” she said with a smile.

“She does love being stuffed,” Olivia said.

“We’ll distribute Augment Orbs evenly until you all have Energy,” Wyatt continued. “Bailey will be first, since her skill seems the most useful for killing monsters. Then either Maria, Carlos, or David. Once those three have Energy, you can rock-paper-scissors.” He studied the group.

Again, there were no objections.

Maybe I should have Patrick come with us. He seems like he might be a kleptomaniac, so it seems risky to leave him here with the corpses we bring back. But he’s level 2 and has both a skill and armor, so would be useful defending the group if monsters attack while we’re gone. But he also could be a liability if he tries to loot things in the middle of a fight.

So is it better to risk that with him here, or where I can keep an eye on him?

He pointed at Patrick. “You’re coming with us as well.”

Patrick scowled, looked like he was about to say something, then frowned. Then he simply walked over next to Wyatt.

He’s definitely weirder than Emma. But is he more mysterious?

He shook his head. No, his weirdness is more obvious.

“Good. As soon as the shrine is recharged I’ll level up. Then we’ll wait here until it recharges again, then head out.”

“How are we going to decide which way to go?” Tyler asked. “Regan’s skill doesn’t give us a map, just that overlay, and that doesn’t have any landmarks.”

Wyatt found himself staring at the spiral, possible space elevator, in the sky. There was no way to tell how close or far it was, but they might as well head that way in search of monsters. And anyway, it was the same direction as Chekotae had pointed to when asked about the delubrum.

“Uh,” Regan said, “look at the overlay.”

“Did it change to give you landmarks?” Wyatt asked.

“It changed, but not like that.”

“The corpses are moving?” Tyler said, looking around the clearing.

“Those aren’t corpses,” Regan replied. “No crosses.”

Wyatt looked at the overlay. Several of the dots were moving. In their direction.

“Quiet,” he said, and everyone fell silent.

The sudden quiet revealed the sound of breaking branches.

It was getting closer.

Wyatt shrugged. “New plan. The monsters are coming to us.”