Nathan followed behind Gius’s shuffling figure. Gius had said something about preferring that this be done in a more suitable location. Perhaps sensing the tension, even Nathan’s newfound flower friend had chosen to leave.
Nathan, while hesitant, agreed. They ended up in the backyard of the meeting hall. Walls had been set up to enclose the place whilst still allowing for trees and grass to spring up in the interior. In the center of the yard, there was a table with two seats.
Gius took the right seat. Nathan took the left.
“I think that it’s about time you came clean,” Nathan said.
Gius glanced at Nathan before he averted his gaze.
“I haven’t been entirely truthful with you, my lord,” Gius said. “Information has been hidden, and for that, I apologize.”
“I see.”
“Among other things, the raid menu was hidden, as well as the Authority menu.”
“I assume the raid menu controls my ability to raid other towns—such as the one that’s been attacking us?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Why did you hide it?”
“I was afraid you would use it and send us to our deaths, my lord.”
Nathan’s face twisted. “Why would you think that?”
Gius’s jaw clenched.
“It’s a long story.”
Nathan tapped his fingers against the table.
“Authority,” he said. “What is it—?“
Gius stood up from the table. “I confess it all.”
“What?”
“The truth is this: my lord. For the past several weeks, I’ve been plotting a coup.”
“Wait, what—“
“This was to be done via the theft of your Authority,” Gius said. “A stat that determines rulership over the town, even allowing you to force us to do things against our will.”
“You’re going a little fast—“
“Authority works in a ‘use it or lose it’ manner. This is why you were constantly excluded from decisions and why we attempt to sideline you.”
“Uh—“
“Once we stole all your Authority, I’d become the ruler of the Mushroom People.” Gius clenched his fists. “But it didn’t work.”
Nathan waited for a few seconds to confirm Gius was done talking.
“Why are you telling me all this now?” Nathan asked.
“Because I was wrong about you,” Gius said. “I was afraid that you would be a tyrant, my lord. We lost… many people under our last leader. I feared his return in your form. But I was wrong. Time and time again you have proven yourself to be a good leader and a better man. There is no one worthier of leading us… perhaps even leading us to freedom.”
This is a lot.
“What now?” Nathan asked.
Gius kneeled and bowed his head.
“I understand that what I’ve done is treasonous,” Gius said. “But I ask that I’m the only one punished. I beg of you, spare the council. They don’t deserve to perish.”
Nathan was probably supposed to feel angry… but he didn’t. It was hard to dislike Gius after he’d come forward of his own volition and explained everything. And besides, how could Nathan blame Gius? Nathan was some random outsider who’d been appointed by the system. Nathan might’ve had the same reaction if he were in Gius’s shoes.
…Nathan hadn’t even been aware he could surrender power. That might be something to consider, later, when the mushroom people were more established.
“I have a different idea,” Nathan said. “If you were doing this because you were just interested in getting power, I wouldn’t be taking this very well. But you were doing all this because you were trying to protect your people. I think that’s pretty admirable, honestly.”
Gius lifted his eyes. “My lord?”
“I think you’ll have to go on a probationary period where I’m going to inspect what you and the council are doing.” Nathan reached up and scratched his chin. “After that, I think you’ll be getting more power, not less—but I expect you to use it to serve the town.”
Gius blinked slowly. “I…” He dropped into a low bow. “I am your servant forever, my lord.”
“Er, good. You can stand up now. “
Gius stood up straight. “Yes, my lord.”
“Now then, the first order of business—is there a way to send us in for a counterraid without sending you guys with us?” Nathan asked.
If I’m lucky, this Vin-SYS is some kind of pseudonym for Vince and I’ll get to take back the Pandora.
“Are you certain, my lord? You should at least bring Fuge,” Gius said.
“No, in case we die you’ll need her again.”
“As you wish.”
Gius opened up his menu and started clicking away at various symbols and buttons. In moments, he was done. He stared up at Nathan.
“Are you ready?” Gius said.
Wait, should I grab my friends and warn them?
…Nah, I’ll explain on the way.
“Leave Kason behind,” Nathan said. “He only recently recovered, give him a break.”
“Understood.” Gius glanced at Nathan. “One more thing, my lord.”
“Yes?”
“This Pandora… it’s a tool of ascension.”
“It is, that’s why Vince wanted it so badly.”
“Do you plan to use it?” Gius glanced at his arm. “I’d assume so, given your state.”
“I’m not sure. I think it might be of better use with someone else.”
Gius pursed his lips.
“If you do, then I must warn you of something,” he said. “The Divine Seed is at its strongest right now. Metaphysically speaking, it is pressing up against the bounds of this entire dimension—at least, that is what Papim is saying. Using the Pandora will weaken the barrier between your town and you for a split second. In that moment… given the immense amount of power the Divine Seed has, there’s no telling what could happen.”
Nathan raised an eyebrow. “So you’re telling me I shouldn’t use the Pandora?”
“No, my lord, not necessarily. The risk may be worth it. I’m merely stating that you should be prepared for any possibility. Your arm will be healed, but after that, I cannot say.”
“Understood.”
Gius reached his hand up to his menu. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
Gius pressed the button.
----------------------------------------
Vince threw the cube into the air. The light of the moon hit its side, and iridescent beams shot across the ground and Vince’s eyes.
Around him, his men had long since dispersed. Vince wanted some privacy while he ascended. Overhead, the stars cast their rays across the ground and provided a small amount of illumination while behind him, he could hear the gentle bubble of a flowing river.
He caught it and took a closer look.
“So how do you use this thing?”
He twisted it in his hands. The description hadn’t been of much help. All it’d said was that it would be really painful.
Maybe I’m supposed to eat it?
Vince stopped. He turned around just in time to feel something hit his barrier with so much force that it was almost destroyed in a single hit.
The barrier shimmered, barely holding, as the face of death itself loomed into view. A one-armed man stood there, eyes glowing with unholy light, a fishing rod in hand. His entourage followed, looking as if they'd just teleported in from a Renaissance painting of divine retribution—though one of the angels was throwing up in the bushes.
The hook bounced off the barrier and crashed into a wall, embedding itself several inches deep.
Vince felt his heart drop in his chest.
Maybe I’ve made a mistake.
----------------------------------------
Nathan turned back to his allies, his brow furrowing as he tried to piece together what just happened. Bjorn groaned, rubbing his temples like he was nursing the hangover of the century. Chad was bent over, contributing liberally to the local ecosystem in the form of stomach contents.
Emi blinked hard. “Why are we here? I swear three seconds ago we were in your town…”
Mara, meanwhile, looked fresh as a daisy.
“Hi Nathan!” she said.
Nathan raised a hand. “Hi.”
“Y-you!” Vince shouted. “How did you get here!? HOW DID YOU FIND ME?!”
Nathan turned his head back. "You don’t have a town, do you? Because if you did, we should’ve ended up there, not... right in front of your face.”
“W-what are you talking about?! No, I don’t have a damn town, no matter what those System messages say!”
Nathan paused, nodding slowly.
“Huh. Well, that raises some questions.” He tapped his chin thoughtfully, his fishing rod slung over one shoulder. “Like, for starters, why the system thinks you do have one and who was actually raiding us—“
“STOP ASKING QUESTIONS AND GET AWAY FROM ME!” Vince screeched.
Nathan turned his attention back to Vince, finally noticing the cube in his trembling hands. He sighed, pulling his harpoon out of his inventory.
A droplet of sweat rolled down Vince’s face. “You won’t be breaking past my barrier, no matter how dangerous you are—“
Nathan threw his harpoon forward. Water burst from the rear and slammed into the barrier with the force of a speeding bullet. The barrier cracked once, then twice, each crack kicking up sparks and making a loud glass-bending noise.
Vince cursed and dived out of the way. A moment later, the barrier smashed into hundreds of little shards and the harpoon flew forward, right into a tree. The water trails behind it spread out and a few droplets hit Vince on the side.
Nathan perked up. Hunter’s Instinct had kicked in.
Perfect.
“What’s that noise?” a voice called out in the distance. A group of men appeared in the treeline. One of them stared at Nathan and his jaw dropped. He pulled a sword from his sheath—
Only for Bjorn to come in from out of nowhere. The man was forced to dodge. “Shit!”
Emi and Mara ran in behind him, their weapons at the ready.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“We’ll keep them busy, Nathan!” Emi shouted. “Take care of Vince!”
Chad’s neck snapped toward Vince. He wiped the vomit off his mouth and jumped forward. With a terrifying shriek, his katana sliced through the air toward Vince’s neck at supersonic speed, the metallic shriek echoing in the silence.
Then Vince vanished from view.
“Getting real sick of cheating shit!” Chad said.
Nathan twisted his hips and faced toward Vince, Hunter’s instinct guiding him. Vince hadn’t gone far. Only a few feet away. Nathan ran forward and grabbed his harpoon from the tree, then dived forward and lined up a shot toward Vince.
Vince screamed at the top of his lungs and held out his hand. A shimmering red barrier appeared.
Nathan threw his harpoon forward.
Unlike last time, the barrier seemed thinner and more fragile. The harpoon ground against the barrier for a split second, then the barrier shattered apart with a tinny sound. The harpoon flew forward and smashed into Vince’s arm. The Pandora, which had been in Vince’s hand, flew out and to the ground.
A blood-curdling scream ripped out of Vince.
“You bastard!” he shouted. “Damn you!”
Nathan tensed his legs. Was Vince done? Doubtful.
Vince reached into his inventory and pulled out another scroll.
“Another gift from the Head Hand,” Vince said. “Watch THIS!”
Nathan dived forward to grab it out of Vince’s hand, but the scroll had already lit up.
Nathan’s instincts screamed and he redirected to the left. A moment later, a red laser beam blinked past Nathan followed by a flash of heat. Behind him, a tree vanished from sight thanks to the laser.
Vince grabbed Nathan’s harpoon and tugged it out of his arm. He growled and held his hands out. Two barriers appeared to Nathan’s left and right, then closed in on him with a snap.
Nathan dived forward, but he’d been too slow.
He couldn’t move. He was trapped.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
“It burns mana like a bitch, you know,” Vince breathed deep. “I’ll have to spend a few days recovering after this, but it’ll all be worth it!”
The pressure increased, Nathan felt his body squish together in an uncomfortable way.
Then Vince clenched the scroll—but he didn’t point it at Nathan. He pointed it at Bjorn and Emi.
The two were busy with Vince’s men. Neither of them saw what was about to happen.
“Bjorn!” Nathan shouted. “Move!”
Bjorn didn’t hear him.
Emi, however, did. She caught his eye. Nathan stared at her and mouthed a single word: Please.
Emi’s hands twitched.
Each millisecond seemed to last hours. Her eyes flickered.
Then she pointed her staff at Bjorn.
The wind threw him several feet forward, and, at the same time, the force of her staff threw Emi backward into a messy heap on the ground.
The laser shot out, obliterating what was left of Vince’s own men. It flickered and disappeared.
Bjorn pushed himself up and stared at Emi. Emi herself was staring at her hands like she’d just murdered a small child.
Before they could say anything, Nathan groaned loudly.
“A little help here, guys?!” Nathan shouted.
Bjorn’s neck snapped over toward Vince. He ran forward and swung his war hammer. Vince’s eyes widened, he jumped away and the barrier disappeared. Nathan dropped to the ground, the rough gravel scratching his knees, and gasped for air.
Vince held the laser-scroll in his hand and pointed it at Bjorn.
Bjorn dropped to the ground. A second later, the laser beam shot out and hit the ground, melting the dirt in a single second.
Nathan ran forward and picked up his harpoon. He jumped into the air, harpoon pointed down at Vince.
Vince roared and his tattoos lit up red. A barrier appeared—
And Nathan’s harpoon broke through it.
Vince’s eyes widened and the two stumbled backward, right into the cold swirling river.
Water flooded Nathan’s eyes and mouth. He couldn’t see or think. Despite that, he could still sense every single thing in the stream. He swam through the fluid and grabbed Vince by the neck, then slammed him into the dirt of the riverbed.
Vince’s tattoos lit up red and a barrier materialized between Nathan and him. Nathan slammed his fist against the barrier and it shattered in one go.
Vince lined up his laser-scroll and pointed it at—
Not at Nathan, but at a figures on the river bank.
Chad.
In a single moment, every single part of Nathan was in unison.
Nathan’s stomach sank and he stretched out his hand—
To do what? To attack Vince? Not enough time, never enough time, damn it. Everything had slowed to a stop, but he couldn’t do anything, he could never do anything…
There wasn’t anyone on the shore, either, no Emi to save the day.
But there was a technique that he’d kept trying to use. A shield. It always failed…
He tapped into the core of his being. For a second, it flickered, then slipped through his hand like sand.
The laser lit up.
NO!
Nathan’s soul burned with power and a blue, shimmering wall exploded to life in the path of the laser. Wave-like patterns shimmered, covering the translucent barrier. The smell of salt filled the river and in the distance, Nathan could hear the sound of waves.
Tidal Shield.
The laser blasted against the wall… but it wouldn’t budge. The laser vanished, revealing that no harm had been done to Chad.
Oh, so that was the trick. Protection of others, not of myself.
Kind of obvious in retrospect.
Nathan reached out his hand and Riptide Grasp roared to life. The water bent and Vince was gripped toward Nathan before he knew what was happening. Nathan grabbed Vince’s collar and they were propelled out of the water and onto the shore. The Pandora flew out of Vince’s hand and onto the dirt.
Vince coughed water. He tried to blink and move away, only for his hand to slip on the dirt. Nathan grabbed his harpoon from the side and stabbed Vince in the stomach. Vince let out a ferocious roar, and a shimmering energy barrier erupted, hurling Nathan several feet back from the Pandora with a bone-jarring thud.
There was something else.
A glitter—it had come from the water at some point when he wasn’t looking.
He narrowed his eyes.
A… circlet?
Crown of the Abyss (E+ Rank)
Set Item (3 of 3)
A circlet of gleaming silver etched with intricate wave-like patterns, adorned with small shards of deep-blue sea glass and a single, dark pearl at its center. The crown radiates an aura of quiet authority, as if touched by the profound depths of the ocean.
Surge of the Abyss: When the wearer’s will is tested, the pearl glows faintly, releasing a burst of energy that momentarily amplifies all abilities, mirroring the ocean’s unstoppable power.
Below, another message popped up.
Set Bonus (All 3 Equipped):
Harmony of the Tides: With the full set worn, the items resonate in unison, imbuing the wearer with an unparalleled connection to the ocean’s essence. Offensive, defensive, and supportive abilities synergize, granting a fleeting, but devastating tidal surge that can turn the tide of any battle.
Nathan grabbed the crown. The metal was cold in his hand, but the moment it touched his skin, he felt a surge of power roll through him, steady and unrelenting like the pull of the tide. He hesitated for a heartbeat, then jammed it onto his head.
The effect was immediate. Water exploded outward in all directions, spiraling into shimmering arcs before settling into a quiet, constant hum around him. Droplets hovered in the air, reflecting the light like tiny stars. A faint blue glow surrounded him, rippling like the surface of a restless ocean. The world seemed sharper, every sound and movement amplified as if the water itself was feeding him information.
Nathan turned to face Vince.
The man was on his knees, one hand pressed to his chest, blood dripping between his fingers. His glowing tattoos pulsed weakly, flickering like a candle about to go out. He met Nathan’s gaze, his expression defiant but faltering.
“Is that it? A fancy crown?” Vince rasped, though his voice shook.
Nathan didn’t respond. He raised his hand, and the water around him surged to life. A wave formed in an instant, towering over Vince, its surface rippling with power. Before Vince could move, Nathan brought his hand down.
The wave slammed into Vince with the force of a hurricane, lifting him off his feet and driving him backward. His body smashed into a tree, the crack of impact echoing across the battlefield. Vince slumped to the ground, his tattoos dimming completely as his head lolled to the side. He didn’t move.
----------------------------------------
Nathan stared down at Vince.
Still breathing. He briefly considered finishing the job, then the urge passed away as quickly as it came. He turned around toward the Pandora.
Mara stepped over to Nathan. “Are you going to take care of him?”
“Nah.”
Mara stared at his eyes. She sighed. “How disappointing.”
Behind him, he heard a loud shot.
He glanced back to see Vince slumped over, blood pooling on the ground.
Guess that’s the end of that.
He rolled the Pandora around, staring at the rainbow colors emanating from within.
If I ate this, I might be able to get my arm back.
It would be risky, though. Remember what Gius said?
And Gius is soooo trustworthy.
He probably wasn’t lying about that, though.
Stop delaying.
Nathan gripped the Pandora tightly—
Then opened his mouth, put it in, and crushed down on it. The taste of rock and dirt filled his mouth. It was like he’d just eaten a rock… which wasn’t that surprising, it was a giant crystal.
“He did it!” Emi grabbed Mara and shook her back and forth. “He’s going to ascend!”
Mara’s eyes rolled around in their sockets. “I can see—urgh—that!”
Nathan continued chewing, then swallowed.
“Ugh, that sucked,” Nathan said.
He looked at his arm stub.
Something’s supposed to happen, isn’t it?
Pain shot up his spine like fire and he doubled over. Everything burned. His back, his shoulders, his stomach, everything. Molten lava traveled up and down his veins. He gripped his heart so hard he felt he’d break his ribcage.
“Oh gods, is he okay?” Emi stepped over to Nathan.
“What do you think?” Chad said. “The guy’s doubled over and his face just went pale. I’m sure he’s fine.”
And then Nathan’s skin started to glow. Everything itched from the inside. He clenched his fists. A second later, flames lit up across his skin.
“Chad, he’s on fire,” Emi said. “Literally on fire.”
“I noticed.”
And then, through the flames, he spotted his arm stub expand in length.
It’s finally happening—
Nathan’s internal compass screamed at the top of its lungs. Something was about to happen, something big. A moment later, the ground shook and Nathan almost fell to the ground.
[Floor Requirements Cleared!]
Congratulations, brave adventurer! You’ve somehow managed to stumble, crawl, and probably scream your way through the First Circle! Your reward? A one-way ticket to the Second Circle—because you clearly haven’t suffered enough yet. Prepare yourself for an exciting new challenge in a world of endless dunes, where the sandstorm never stops and hydration is less a necessity and more of a myth. Sunscreen? Optional. Sanity? Highly discouraged. Good luck, and remember: sand gets everywhere. Enjoy your stay!
Oh, and I decided to speed things along and drop you in right now.
That’s not good.
Just as soon as Nathan finished reading the message, he spotted the portal forming underneath him and underneath every single person around him. Emi and Chad stared up at him, expressions of shock on their faces. Mara tried to step out, only to be blocked by a shimmering barrier.
Another system message popped up.
[Message From: Gius]
Nathan, the Divine Seed has gone berserk. We believe it’s attempting to spread its roots along the soul corridor between here and you.
That’s REALLY not good.
Nathan looked back at his regrowing arm. The feeling had started to come back to his regrowing section of arm. It felt like its insides were all twisted and warped, like vines tangled together, like his skins was in knots.
The portal opened up, and Nathan fell down.
The last thing he saw was the sight of the stars overhead disappearing from sight.
----------------------------------------
Nathan fell for what felt like hours. It was a black and inky void. Nothing for miles, the only thing to focus on was the pain running up and down his body.
And oh god was it painful.
It was like he was being reconstructed from the ground up, then destroyed, over and over again. He’d stopped paying attention to his arm, too distracted by the sensation of his skull shattering then being reborn. It ached. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t swallow. He couldn’t think. Distantly on top of his head, he could see his thin crown suddenly glow brightly.
Then it all disappeared. The pain, the burns, all of it.
Visions passed through his mind so quickly he could barely keep up with them. Visions of the sea and of salt and a voice whispering something over and over.
Meet me where the ocean meets the land.
How poetic. And cryptic. And inconvenient.
He fell to the ground.
Hot sand burned against his palms. He pushed himself up and was almost blinded by the brightness of the sun. He blinked and let his eyes adjust.
After a few seconds, he could finally make out the world around him.
He was on top of a desert dune. Wind splashed across his back and sand blew forward. In the distance, he spotted a massive swirling dust storm extending from one edge of the horizon to the other.
Wait… palms?
Nathan slowly pulled both of his hands up and stared at them.
He blinked.
Wait a second…
He had both of his hands back.
But one of them was looking a little… greener than normal.
He stared at his regrown hand for several seconds.
“Why are there plants growing from my arm?”
As if in response, the vines on his hand exploded out and smacked some random cactus, crushing it on the spot.
Huh. That’s new.
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System B32 was seething.
If he had a face, it’d be red. If he had a desk, he’d be pounding it. But alas, he was just an amorphous eldritch AI floating in the fifth dimension, absolutely losing his metaphorical mind.
Why?
Because there was an annoying human-shaped fly that just wouldn’t die.
B32 glared at the latest report. Vince had one job. One! Eat the Pandora crystal. Murder Nathan. Easy-peasy.
But oh, no. Apparently, humans have this weird thing about not eating mysterious glowing cubes of doom that cause immense pain. Real picky, these mortals.
B32 scrolled through the disaster file. Nathan’s improbable feats stared back at him like mocking graffiti.
The spider plan? Failed. Because of the lunatic with a fun obsession and homemade grenades.
The ascension potion ploy? Oh, that was a riot. He’d dropped an artifact of godlike power directly into Vince’s lap. Maximum subtlety, zero chance of failure. Right?
WRONG. Nathan had somehow turned the encounter into a joke and walked away victorious.
Then there was the werewolf raid. That should have been a slam dunk. Except, of course, Nathan won by using… the power of friendship. And also rhubarb. B32 didn’t even know what rhubarb was until that day, and now he hated it with a passion.
Every plan, every contingency, every move had been thwarted by sheer nonsense. And now Nathan was on his way to the Second Circle, all smiles and OP protagonist energy.
God. Damn it.
At the very least, the System had managed to make sure they were separated instead of going as a group.
…of course, Nathan would figure out the ‘trick’ to getting people across circles, if he hadn’t figured it out already.…
Really, B32 was seriously starting to wonder what was up with his luck? Nathan was good, but there was something else at work… something he didn’t have a full grasp on.
He shook his (metaphysical) head.
There were more important things to attend to.
Like how he was going to defeat Nathan before Dave came in to turn B32 into stardust.
As B32 stared through spacetime, he caught sight of a certain individual. The leader of some organization.
He’s not too far from Nathan. Perhaps he might have the kind of power needed to take down this cheating jackass?
B32 paused.
Wait, no, that’s an awful idea. What if he loses? Nathan will just get even more powerful. No… I need to keep Nathan out of conflict. Keep him distracted.
He double-checked Nathan’s psyche report, written by one of B32’s subsystems.
He loves side quests, doesn’t he? Well, how about I turn that to my advantage? There’s an oasis kingdom in the midst of a crisis. Food shortages. Nathan won’t be able to help… but he’ll try. And he’ll burn valuable time that should’ve been spent grinding.
The plan was foolproof. B32 laughed slowly, the sound growing louder and louder with each second.
He stopped.
“I’m just laughing alone in an infinite 5D void. What’s wrong with me?”
He looked back at Nathan. His mental tendrils swiped through the settings.
Prepare to meet your downfall.
Behind him, a notification sounded that Vince had managed to redirect his portal to someone he knew using an artifact.
B32 ignored the notification.
It wasn’t important.
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Vince fell to the sand in a tumble. He didn’t have long. Every second that passed, blood leaked from his chest and all over the ground like some kind of sick slasher movie.
A figure in front of him, looming over Vince.
“Vince,” he said. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be with your men.”
“S-sir!” Vince coughed. “I have news.”
“Oh?”
“My men have been… eliminated.”
“The entire force?”
“Yes, sir. The entire force.”
“Who’s responsible for this?”
Seconds left. Vince gripped his wound.
“Nathan Lee!”
His vision went dark. The world disappeared.
Oh, so this is what dying's like.
And then it was over.