Kai’s eyelids fluttered open when the sun dawned on his face. He rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn as he stretched and his back clicked. Rocky ground did not make a good bed, even with an enhanced body.
Kai glanced around, Algrom was passed out on the floor but Matt was sitting up watching him. Kai yawned, rose and began stretching.
“What are you doing?” Matt said after awhile, circling Kai curiously.
“Training,” Kai said, his muscles straining as sweat dripped off his chin.
“Why?”
Kai finished his rotation before responding. He was channelling aura throughout his body to increase his weight. “The more you sweat in training”—space rippled as he thrust his palm forward—“the less you bleed in combat.” He also wanted to see if he could improve his body stat this way.
Matt began imitating his forms, flailing like a fish out of water, but that didn’t stop him. The Rakin kept trying. Kai smiled awkwardly at first but as time passed he began pointing out ways Matt could improve.
Kai pondered what his next move was. Seek out and kill primals to get stronger? Search for his friends and rescue people? Kill 49 more humanoids for the bonus tokens and vital essence? His stomach lurched. He could make a cabin in the woods and live out his days there? Empires would always rise and fall.
Somehow the thought of sitting and doing nothing, dying quietly in the night, scared him more than anything.
He calmed his breathing as he finished his training routine. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
“Where is your home, your family?” Kai asked Matt. He noticed groggy bleary-eyed Algrom wince at the mention of family.
Matt looked at them reluctantly for a few moments. “I’ll take you there, it’s not too far. I owe you a washing at least.” He waved his hand in front of his nose, then fell to the floor and clutched his chest mockingly as he reached for the heavens; his pink tongue lolled out his mouth.
Kai grinned at him; he was going to offer to take Matt home, so this worked out.
“Thanks,” Kai said with a mock bow.
Matt rolled his eyes. “Ahh how are you so calm? That’s no fun!”
Kai chuckled. “Let’s get going.”
After a brief discussion the scraggy Algrom decided to join them, saying he didn’t have anything better to do till his hangover had ended. Given that he could have attacked Kai while he slept, it seemed safe enough.
While trudging through the lush woodlands, Kai started absorbing an aura crystal, making his soul even denser.
Kai kept stride with the Rakin, not letting him wander too far away. He told the young man he would get him home safely, and he planned to do just that. He would think about his path on the way, this direction felt right for some reason, perhaps it was his apex explorer trait at work, it was hard to tell.
Kai turned to the slovenly Algrom, unsure how to phrase his question. “So for traits, next to them it says ‘Flawed’, what exactly does that mean?”
Algrom rubbed his temple, spat out some green phlegm and cleared his throat. “The ranks are flawed, fine, flawless and perfect. The best way to improve the potency of traits is through evolution or fusions, two flawed make a fine, two fine make a flawless, two flawless make a perfect. There are rumors that more powerful ranks exist, but I have never met anyone who’s shared the details of such mastery.” Algrom took a few swigs of water then wiped his soaked beard. “Essentially the idea is to reach an absolute truth through refinement and consolidation.”
Algrom rubbed his chin; his eyes had a faraway look. “But be careful you don’t upgrade beyond the strength of your soul, otherwise it will crack under the pressure and you will die.”
Kai nodded slowly, and made a mental note before he continued with his next question as he brushed a branch out of his way. “…and what can you tell me about competing in the trial or being a disciple?”
Algrom stopped abruptly to look at Kai, resting on his staff as he examined Kai’s tense face, as if searching for something.
“Ideals without power to back them are a joke, and power without ideals is empty. What’s your ideal?” Algrom said, as he swatted a luminescent green fly, then continued walking.
“…Fairness?” Kai said, stumbling after Algrom as he thought about his unearned ninth bead.
Algrom grunted. “If you expect this world to be fair with you because you are fair, you’re fooling yourself. That’s like expecting a lion not to eat you because you didn’t eat him,” Algrom said.
Kai furrowed his eyebrows, thinking. After a few minutes he spoke again. “If peace is not the absence of war, then surely it must be the presence of justice as an ideal?” Kai said.
Algrom waved his hand flippantly. “You’re clearly conflicted, boy. Just remember the one who ultimately holds dominion and is sovereign of Earth, can set some unique rules for the planet, it’s a coveted position.”
Kai briefly wondered if it might be better for humanity if some country leader or military general got that kind of benefit, since he’d failed to protect those close to him. Algrom’s right, I am conflicted. Ultimately after thinking about it more, he decided he couldn’t just give away opportunities to others and hope they would use them for good. After all, the filthy trash that killed his parents may be running around alive and well. And as far as he could see, the human race was losing.
Kai’s deep thoughts were broken by a shallow question from Algrom. “Is it true that shiny rocks are preferred among human females for mating?” Algrom suddenly said.
Kai blinked. “…Yes but—”
“Good!” Algrom said, rubbing his hands with a grin.
Kai shrugged and dropped the matter; that would be a fun exchange to watch.
Just what kind of shows had Algrom watched?
The longer they travelled through the woodlands of the sky island, the more Kai found it strange that he saw no other people, or even animals around. Just the occasional corpse. He couldn’t even identify most of the remains, not because they had been brutalised or picked clean — although some had, but because he didn’t recognise the species. Algrom pointed at one that looked like a pile of rubble and teeth and laughed. “New integrations are the damn best, the fusions make it unique every time!” How many times had he done this, and why?
Matt scrambled up the giant rock pile and hauled a large white tooth down. A triumphant grin spread across the Rakin’s face as he wiped his brow with a sweaty paw. Kai smiled and helped Matt bind the banana-sized tooth to the Rakin’s necklace; it looked rather goofy, since Matt was half the size of a human.
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“Looks good,” Kai said with a grin and gave a goofy thumbs up, which Matt mimicked excitedly. Algrom, who was leaning on his staff, swirled his eyes.
The next corpse they encountered was some kind of rhinoceros beetle the size of an elephant. Its emerald carapace and broken wings shimmered under the fierce sun. Had the sky island been picked clean to the bone as everyone competed for levels? Kai was about to voice his concerns when he heard the sounds of battle echoing from a hillside up ahead.
They glanced at each other before crawling up the grassy ridge quietly. Kai peered over the edge. There was a battle raging between mostly Lizardfolk and Vanara, with some other races mixed in on each side. Each side appeared to number in the dozens.
“Disciples and their entourages working towards the trial objective most likely,” Algrom whispered. Kai found it hard to discern what was happening. Auras of all colours swirled on the battlefield, battering against each other like clouds in a storm. He watched a group of Lizardfolk get sucked into the ground, screaming as it crushed them. Then an antlered bear composed of rotting leaves charged into a pack of Vanara, causing flesh and weapons to rot and decay. Lightning arced across sharpened steel. A tower of hulking muscle, more brute than human, lumbered slowly through the chaos, crushing the few people he could catch like pancakes. However his senses must have been low since his speed was terrible and his blows were easy to avoid. Kai wondered if the human had only improved his body? The man was gradually getting stabbed to death as he roared in pain.
Algrom spontaneously narrated the battle in a hushed whisper to them while they peered over the hill.
“The order of the Infinite Void has the advantage.”
So that’s the mainly Lizardfolk side…their mission is to keep the post-collapse cycle intact… whatever that means.
“The order of Dawnbreakers are stumbling to hold their line.”
That’s the mainly Vanara… Vanarian? side…they believe technology is good and want to restore some parts of it. Kai didn’t care for that ideology, but he liked the cruel Lizardfolk even less so far.
He spotted Saurkar in the backlines, her red scales shimmering as she breathed bubbles from her bowstring like a dragon breathing fire, volleys of acidic bubbles rained from the sky. People had a surprised look on their face as parts of their bodies melted and sloughed off. She followed this up with a firestorm of explosive red bubbles, dirt and fire raged wherever they struck, gouging spherical holes into the earth.
Kai started to sweat. Saurkar was not someone to be trifled with; he didn’t think he could beat her as he was.
Algrom gave Kai an awkward wink.
“Yer welcome.”
Kai ignored Algrom, his attention drawn to the dead humans who littered the ground on both sides. People were strewn around like casually discarded trash cans of drunken vital aura. Mothers, fathers, teenagers. His anger smashed against the side of his mind like a ship caught in stormy seas. The rational part of him told him not to move, but his body tried to stand anyway.
A steady hand pressed down on his shoulder.
“Don’t, lad. They are already dead,” Algrom said. Kai saw his pain reflected in Algrom’s eyes. “If they see us, we’re dead too.” Algrom bit his lip, then tapped his charred leg. “I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me. You would do well to remember that.”
Kai’s heart thumped in his chest as he watched the carnage; he couldn’t do nothing. He grasped at an idea that would even the odds, but there was something he needed. His storm of emotions calmed. “I’ll t-teach them not to underestimate us,” Kai said through gritted teeth.
“Back in a moment,” Kai said, rushing back down the hill, away from the battle while a red-faced Algrom furiously mouthed obscenities at him. Kai blanched but continued dashing.
He returned a few hours later. If not for his enhanced senses and mind, navigating the way back would have been more troublesome. He’d obtained several of the floating obsidian boulders from outside the dungeon. Kura’s pride had refused to store more; it had taken a considerable amount of begging just to get five, and only after his aura had smothered them — to improve the flavour apparently.
A charred body lay next to Algrom and Matthias.
Since he was busy catching his breath, Kai questioned Algrom with a raised eyebrow instead of his voice.
“Scout,” Algrom grunted. “The damn battle finished a while ago! Did you find a light to illuminate wherever you went in the sun god’s asshole?”
Matthias and Kai chuckled. “Y-yeah, got what I needed from the dungeon. I’ll be ready next time.”
Algrom looked at him with confusion, even going so far as to raise his thick monobrow.
“From where?” Algrom said.
In short order Kai learned dungeons weren’t a thing, but mystic realms were, and they were rare locations. A mystic realm usually connected to a pocket dimension somewhere else in the universe that was frequently created by multiple worlds or black holes colliding in deep space and varied in size. Kai had big eyes, perhaps that explains how there had been an almost endless tunnel of water in the grotto where I started. He briefly wondered what else was down there, but put it out of his mind for now; it was buried under hardened magma, sand and some tentacled monstrosity.
Kai peered over the hill. “Why did they leave the bodies?”
“Where else would they be?” Algrom said.
Kai made his way to the massacre, offering silent respect for the dead with a slight bow. He had been caked in filth for so long that the smell of blood and death barely bothered him like it had in the early days.
Out of curiosity, he tried on some chest plate armour.
Chest plate
Details: Minor damage reduction in covered area.
Rarity: Uncommon
Hotplates vital trait: Disabled
Well, that’s unfortunate but makes sense. Hotplates were better anyway, it worked anywhere on his body. The plate armour clanked indignantly when he tossed it to the ground. He couldn’t move well in it anyway.
Looking at the battlefield, he reaffirmed his need to keep growing stronger. Hoping the dead wouldn’t blame the living for trying to stay alive. He wandered the battlefield, hand outstretched. White light trailed behind him like a dust storm, swirling into the ring on his finger. Kura’s exuberance made him feel like he was drinking a bubblegum milkshake on a summer’s day.
Let me know if you find anything nice?
Mmmm mmm.
Algrom followed behind him. “What are you doing, lad?” he spluttered.
“I honestly don’t know mu-much about it, is spatial storage rare?” Kai said.
“Spatial storage is not uncommon, just expensive and has limits, however it doesn’t store bodies.” Algrom looked nervous. “What do you want with a pile of corpses?”
Kai paused, nervous about the ring’s appetite. He was unsure if revealing Kura was wise. He was curious about aura crystals, and steered the conversation that way.
“The ring converts them to aura crystals,” Kai said.
Algrom stood there flummoxed, his beard jingling as his mouth opened and closed like a fish.
“You must have an incredibly powerful spirit treasure? Very few people can do that and their services are prohibitively expensive.”
“Why are aura crystals so important?” Kai said. He had some hunches, but wanted to learn more. Seeking sponsorships from an order made more sense to him if aura crystals were normally hard to come by.
Algrom sighed. “It’s the currency of the universe. Obviously.”
Another sphere of light pulsed out from Kura.
“So, where can I spend it?” Kai said.
Algrom snorted derisively.
“Like you will ever have enough to spend, even with that ring’s ability—”
Kai’s attention drifted as he reflected on his dealings with Hafez; he had yet to receive a single aura crystal sale… profit? Clearly he was still not someone worth following and he needed to change that, or Hafez had tricked him.
“—are valuable because it’s a source of pure aura anyone can use, at any time. Sitting near a volcano for years absorbing fire aura might be more effective, but it’s more painful than eating salad.” Algrom gestured to his charred leg. “It’s simple and safe to use aura crystals.”
Kai wasn’t so sure about that. What about deeper understanding?
Algrom stroked his beard.
“Lad, if you really want to spend it, a merchant order should appear in later trials. Not much profit to be made in early trials.” Kai recalled the wondrous city he’d seen behind Hafez.
They continued talking and twenty minutes later, Kai checked his haul. He now had over one hundred F-grade crystals, three E-grade crystals and several healing crystals. More importantly Kura had restored some pride and was 379/500 to evolving. He would have liked to be more selective about what she consumed in case it affected her evolution direction, but it would be foolish to squander this opportunity.
Kai noticed a peculiar item that he was sure didn’t come from the battlefield. He tried to rouse Kura, but she was essentially stuffed and passed out on the couch.
Since it wasn’t an emergency, he simply sighed. He’d look at the item when they were less exposed.