Kaz rested on the desk beside the monitors, it was hard to gain a grasp on the controls when it was on a tablet so I went with something easy first. I pressed on the button of a mic.

"We're running it again, the AI are going to be smarter now, Blue, make sure you fully check a room this time, Red, keeping your guns out when aiming it at someone gives them a chance to retaliate, either arrest them or fire." The entire room changed, fitting to the randomness of the simulation. The blue part of the team reloaded everything, while the red portion were already prepared. Despite being on the same team their tactics and attitudes were different. Red was a lot more hotheaded, like they were trying to speedrun the simulation, Blue was slower, but they were so cautious things slipped past them. If they could combine both of their tactics...It would create a better team. I pondered as they went through the simulation again. My HUD opened, with a message from Sam, it was one of those chibi stickers, this time Sam looking around a corner.

Yello!

-Sam

Busy?

-Sam

Not at all, go ahead

-Lee

CSF are still looking for you, they're starting to get really

annoying with their search

-Sam

Kenneth and Nicholai understand so they're not messaging you,

Quoting Nicholai "He probably had a plan, he's not that dumb" It was more Vulgar

but...i'm not typing or thinking that

-Sam

Being brutally honest as always

-Lee

Kaz and I are doing fine up here, though it hasn't been that long so

who really knows how it'll be

-Lee

Well you seem fine now, it can't take that major of a down turn right?

-Sam

Probably...

-Lee

P...probably?

-Sam

It's the Guardians, I wouldn't doubt if a random CSF ship appears

-Lee

How'd we go from future heros to treasoners? :[

-Sam

I don't consider it my home or country

-Lee

Fair enough...

-Sam

Well, we have a few things to do, take care

-Sam

I leaned back on my chair, all I could do was watch the simulation play out, even with it being a simulation, the injuries each person got was at minimum painful, I suppose the reason they did it this way was so they didn't rush through since there'd be no harm if they made injuries impossible

"How're they doing?" Loui came through the door, his eyes instantly going to the monitors.

"Not bad, their faults are at least obvious"

"Hah. Least you also have an eye for this stuff."

"I just said they were obvious. Their other faults are more or less harmless." I crossed my right leg over the left one, trying to find a way to get more comfortable.

"People even pass over the more obvious things, something like this is no exception" Even though I had just told them their faults they still kept them.

"I see your point now..."

"To why I'm here though, it's bout time you learn some new stuff"

"I've barely been here"

"You've run a few simulations, and I can tell from here they've at least...learned...somethin"

"Exuding confidence here"

"Ya wanna learn or not?"

"Right" I uncrossed my legs and stood up. "Kaz, mind watching this for me?"

"I gotcha!" Still on the table, Kaz turned to actually face the monitors this time.

"Then let's get going kiddo" As he said, I began to follow him into an entirely different room, it was more spacious and looked similar to a dojo with the more wooden, padded flooring. Other soldiers were sparring with each other too, but not with magic or weapons, but hand to hand. "You know there's a record for you right?"

"Record of what?"

"A normal record, Name, Date of Birth, all that crap"

"Your point?"

"It mentioned you were a delinquent."

"And? I was just around at the wrong time, and I was seen as the problem"

"But you still fought"

"I guess..."

"So you have to have some sort of style" We stopped walking in the center of the room. Almost immediately upon stopping Loui turned around. "Kid like you wouldn't just widly throw punches, even if you are a troublemaker"

"I told you I was there at the wrong time"

"Say what you will" Loui slid one of his legs back, along with raising both his hands.

"You're not fist fighting someone my age are you?"

"I'm not fighting someone your age, I'm fighting you"

"That's the same thi-" Loui threw an uppercut, I almost had to bend back fully to avoid it and even then I could feel it moving the air as it narrowly avoided me. "Hell is your problem?"

"I said i'd teach you, I never said how."

"goddamnit" I mumbled. I could see Loui bending his arms slightly. How is this teaching me anything? I was ready to block from the sides but Loui's arm quickly straightened, throwing a straight jab at the side of my face. I barely kept my footing on the ground and a stinging pain on my face started to become apparent after a moment passed.

"Don't make your glare apparent"

"Whah?"

"You made it too obvious you were trying to see what I was going to throw, so I changed it."

"I was just looking goddamnit!" I could faintly see Loui's eyes squint, clearly annoyed by my response. He threw another straight punch, I closed my hands together, hoping to block it but my arms crumbled from the pressure. Loui quickly retracted his arm before fully punching me in the face, all the while my arms were hurting. "And that?"

"You whine too much" It was like a different person, even the small accent faded. Loui stepped back before quickly lunging forward with an uppercut.

"Screw this" I raised my whole arm and slammed my elbow down on his raising fist, the moment it made contact I saw a slight shake from Loui, yet the pressure continued before my elbow and arm were thrown up.

"Counter can be as good as you want, but if you're not strong enough it won't work" Loui's feet shifted back and forth, whether he was going back to swing, or rush forward...If I'm not strong enough...Then I'd just have to focus on dodging. I saw Loui take a bigger step backwards then he was doing before, his right arm began to raise. I get it. I tilted to the side, Loui's overhand quickly came by but the distance between it and me were farther than the dodge from before.

"Gotcha" A smirk formed on my face as I threw my left leg to Loui's chest, it hit, he moved showing it hurt, but no pain, no major shift or unbalance. Just then a large glimmer in his eyes before his mouth opened with the biggest smirk I've seen.

"Gotcha" His arms quickly formed around my leg before he kicked the inside of my other one, knocking me down. Seeing as both my legs fell down I had assumed he let go upon contact.

"What the hell are you?"

"You're drifting from your style."

"Pardon?"

"I never said it was bad you were a troublemaker, sure they have their issues and one can go too far. But that have something that can be tapped into" He thought for a moment. "How bout this" His accent though fainter than before, returned. "We'll call that style agent, Guardian, or DT Style...whatever. But what we want is to tap into that delinquent style."

"I don't really fight like that anymore...I got hit too much."

"But you won"

"I..."

"We're more durable, and if you haven't noticed, someone like you would be in more pain right now if you were human, which proves my next statement, we don't feel pain as much. It's still there, but less. Your style of fighting aggressively fits more now than ever. Think of it like Reverse Anger Management, or R.A.M"

"That fit a lot more than you hoped for huh?" By the faint smile I knew I was right.

"Now, again" I tried thinking of things that would bother me, yet I was more stumped than I thought I'd be, like all my troubles were locked past a haze. I tapped into it somewhat during the tavern, but now I couldn't even get a drop of it. "Can't tap into it ay?"

"...No...Not even a piece" I looked down at my hand. "Maybe i-" Without any prior warning, something impacted against my nose, I staggered backwards while holding it. "Fng, Goddamnit!" By the time I looked up I saw Loui pulling his hand back. "The hell was that for!?"

"We don't have forever"

"So you punch me!?"

"You seem annoyed enough"

"Oh, you think!?"

"So redirect it to me"

"It already is!" I wanted to throw punches towards him, yet a part of me decided against it, as though instinct told me it's better to take it slowly.

"Come on, you can do it, or do I need to hit ya again?" I couldn't respond, out of nowhere I got hundreds of mixed signals. Hit him, don't hit him, what if I distract him and get the upper hand that way? All the signals faded as I saw another punch coming my way. I clenched my fists and threw one forward, making contact with Loui's punch. It hurt, and I could see my arm wobbling momentarily but it worked enough. He pulled his arm back to himself, but his other hand arched back. Not this time. Seeing him throw another uppercut I fully slammed my elbow down again, and though it hurt I kept pressing down until he pulled back. As he recovered I heard the other people in the training room shout.

"Heads up!" One of their staffs came flying over from above. Seeing as Loui was shifting backwards, I leapt into the air to grab it but the moment I did I could see Loui running up to hit me on the fall. I let go of the staff until I grabbed the very end of it, then I jabbed it towards Loui, he grabbed the staff with both of his hands to stop it all the while I let go. I landed and punched Loui in the stomach, his hands opened and I grabbed the staff before backing away.

"I get it, weapons..." Loui wiped something that was dripping from his mouth "Are your Forte..." He chuckled a bit, it was unsettling. "For a first day you did alright."

"I was winning" I kept the staff pointed at him.

"After you lost" He crossed his arms, his face becoming more stern. "You think I was gonna go all out on a kid your age?"

"Course it wasn't that easy..."

"Hopefully you keep in mind that's in a non-ideal situation, no magic, no way to summon your weapon. No situation is mostly that."

"So why'd we start with it?"

"I just wanted that side of ya to be back."

"You don't even know what that side is"

"Maybe not, but it clearly has some potential to it. Point is, a style of fighting can go to anything, including if you have a weapon, starting with the basics are always good to do as well." While Loui kept talking everywhere I'd been hit slowly started to become numb.

"Damnit...what did you do?"

"I simply hit ya hard enough"

"Course...what'd I expect?" I dropped to a knee while sharply breathing.

"You'll be fine in a moment, we have to be quick with your training, the slower we are the faster the CSF can get ya. Speaking of which" Loui turned to fully face me. "How bout you head back down soon"

"What? Won't they kill me?"

"They let you live at the start, even when your corruption is apparent, we've seen kids be born and killed the second corruption is seen, along with the parent"

"Guess I have heard about Corruption transferring to newborns before..."

"So if you weren't killed on the spot, they want you for something, we'll have some Guardians on watch to make sure you don't die"

"Are they gonna punch me to help?"

"Don't be a smartass, it won't help. Anyhow, if ya got your team down there, they're at risk too, seeing as how you went on your own and fought alongside a total group of strangers just to get meds for one of em, I think they'll see you all are close, they may think they're lying about not knowing where you are."

"Well, one of them does actually know."

"And would that happen to be the sickly one you needed meds for? The CSF and so don't have to follow Raymond's general orders, unless they're explicitly told not to do something they will, I wouldn't put it past them to interrogate a sick person."

"So what, you want me to head back down?"

"Not immediately, just when you figure it's needed"

"I'll go tomorrow morning...they take priority"

"At least you're loyal, can't say that about a lotta people" I was able to stand again once the numbness faded. "You can just stay in your little overwatch room, come in and out when you please"

"Won't this place move? How would I know where to go?" Loui shook his head.

"Not how it works, if that was the case, when a planet orbits wouldn't you be in space sooner or later or your portal would be inaccurate?"

"So...It's like warp points"

"Warp Perms"

"Hm?"

"No one can warp to here because they don't have perms, otherwise we'd have CSF on our doorstep every day, terrorists and such can't reach Eaxura because almost no one has perms to it, hell, no one even knows where Eaxura is in Zullo, it's like a lost dimension"

"So how did people find it?"

"It used to be a part of another dimension, but Eaxura was ripped out of it, hence why it's a similar to a floating island."

"Wouldn't someone be able to figure out what dimension Eaxura used to be a part of by noticing the massive goddamn crater is must've left behind?"

"Even if someone does find it, it don't mean they can get perms to Eaxura."

"So why have I seen every Eaxura resident warp around? Even if it's warping in the same dimension, wouldn't you still need perms?"

"Everyone born in Eaxura is automatically given perms, that don't mean it can't be revoked though, hell, they might revoke your perms today or tomorrow." I was silent, I was debating whether I should go now. "I'm kidding, if that did happen you could just kill yourself and rewind.

"You know about that?"

"Your rewinding is only for one dimension you know, you haven't mastered it enough to rewind the entire multiverse"

"No...that's not right..."

"Oh?"

"There's this show that one of my friends watch in the living room, it was playing one episode and when I died by the CSF in a different dimension, I woke up in Eaxura where it was rewinded too...it was playing the same thing and they acted like nothing happened."

"Did you do it yourself?"

"No" I took out Crescent. "This did" Loui looked at it.

"Crescent Moon huh?" He looked at all the engravings. He looked out the window of the ship, even I could see he looked towards the moon just outside of Eaxura, it was difficult to see, seeing as we had to be ages away from Eaxura for us not to get spotted. The moon looked different from earth's, but from this distance I couldn't tell what that difference was. "See any visions of stars?"

"Once, yeah" I saw an expression I haven't seen from Loui before, it was surprised, but there was another emotion in there I couldn't pick out.

"Can I see Crescent real quick?" I nodded, he took Crescent from my hands and after holding it, he flicked down to reveal the two barrels. "It's the exact same..."

"To what?" Loui flicked it back up, closing it. He set Crescent down, to which it quickly returned to its sheath.

"That's different though" He shook his head. "Listen, there's someone else with that sword."

"Yeah, I saw it too in a vision."

"No, no no, this is different. It's...nevermind"

"You can't just be like that and not tell me."

"You'll be too paranoid if I do"

"And I'll be paranoid of everything if you don't" Loui looked conflicted between keeping quiet, and telling me.

"Protect that coin, that's all I can say, I can't say who they are, or even mention them by description or they'll know" He put one of his hands on my shoulder. "You, are one of the only people with white hair, if you see another person your age with that hair, you run, you hear me?"

"Why not just defend myse-"

"You won't get past two seconds, you have to keep that coin out, that's the downside, but if possible, if you have to buy time before you can run, you die, instead of letting them take it, you can come back, but if they get it...I'm already risking it by just talking. You can't tell your buddies about this one, if you slip up even slightly on how you describe them you're screwed" All I could do was nod. "Good...it's probably best you head out now, just incase"

"Guess so" Loui was silent as I left, it wasn't difficult to find where we were before, and Kaz seemed to be doing well...doing well sleeping that is. "Didn't I say to watch over them?"

"The guy from earlier said they were good to go"

"Sorry then, my bad...we're heading back"

"What? So soon?"

"Yeah, I can't really explain, but...we gotta"

"If you say so..." Kaz hopped off the table and made it to my shoulder. Taking out Crescent I opened the portal as normal. I took a single step in, and was rewarded with multiple different variants of rifles aiming at me, their wielders? People who have massive CSF letters on their coats.

"Course..." Without even seeing where they were, a rifle swung into the side of my head, making my mostly perfect vision into black.

I heard the splashing of water, vines surrounded my barely visible hands and from that I knew where I was.

How am I here? I didn't even mention it or think about it? Am i drowning? They wouldn't just kill me like that would they...no...Crescent would kill me if I was in danger, or...did Crescent feel betrayed that I made their rewind pointless in the end? More unsolved strands appeared.

'The unknown coin hunter'

'CSF's motive'

all things that just confused me. More importantly

'Clouded Memories'

I still haven't regained any memories, yet, I was able to replicate a style, even if badly, without remembering any of it.

'Is Raymond allowing this?'

If he is...Forget this...if I was forced into reflection space I'll force myself out.

I took a sharp breath, getting out all the ways I have before.

"-ion" My back was against a wall and my hands were clamped in something. My vision soon returned, the ground and walls were rusting away, I looked up and saw I was locked behind a door with my only visible way to see out the room was a small rectangle window at the top of the door. I barely heard the end of someone's sentence, my head was pounding, even hurting more than when I was shot or hit with weapons before. I couldn't have just been hit...something else happened I wasn't aware of. I coughed, even if it was short it was more painful than anytime i've coughed before.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

"W..." No words came out, my head pounded. How'd it get to this...

"The hell're you doing?" I heard someone being yelled at outside the room. "He's already been roaming for days, if he went corrupted he would have ages ago!"

"You know how it is, we do whatever the hell we find right unless you tell us. Get off your high horse and realize you're at fault too"

"Then I'll take fault now, now move" The door swung open. Raymond was there, but he looked completely different, at least outfit wise, it was way more formal. "You alive?" It was difficult to see Raymond's face with the light coming into the room from the door behind him. I didn't respond, not just because I physically couldn't, but I still wouldn't by choice.

"Considering you're breathing, I'd say so." He took out something before flicking it towards me, the sound clanked towards me. I looked down and saw my coin beside me. "You rewinded didn't you? The CSF woulda found you sooner if you didn't"

"When...you're about to be shot...yew...you...tend...to preserve yourself..." I spaced out my words to make it easier for me.

"Sorry about that." Someone came into the room.

"Raymond, issues"

"Can you be more specific?"

"You know what, those issues" Raymond looked worried.

"Alright..." He knelt down and raised my hands as he took out a key, a moment later, the things around my hands opened. I was getting ready to stand up and leave until Raymond grabbed my shoulder. "Listen, the CSF may not have killed you now, but they're going to if you seem like a threat, every week, afternoon, you come to me. That way I can convince the CSF I'm testing you"

"The hell is your obsession with me?"

"Pardon?" My words blurted out on their own.

"Kai, and you...this isn't normal, you're not watching over anyone else as much as you do to me." I swung my arm forward to escape his grasp. "Not telling me my power, not explaining much, now watching over me like a damn hawk."

"...I h-...In time, it'll be clear. If I told you now...I can't assure the future is going to be good."

"And how would you know?"

"There was someone before you, with the same coin, she got herself killed over something stupid, you'll make the same mistake if you rush too far ahead." For once it was an answer I was content with, one that actually made sense on why I couldn't be told. "That's all I can say"

"Were they killed by the person looking for the coins?"

"How do you know about that?"

"Rewinding is one helluva trait"

"Smug bastard..." Though he said that as an insult, he seemed proud. "No, more so they went missing"

"So how do you know they died?"

"Our HUDs, when she was missing we still had a trace, her health and all were perfect, one day, it dipped all the way to zero."

"So you were part of the same team. That's the only way you can see that"

"Good to know some people pay attention...regardless, I have stuff to attend to. Behave yourself" He walked out with the woman who told him about the issues. "Disable that MEMP" I could hear him speaking to one of the guards as he left. The moment it was disabled I got a bunch of messages the more recent ones being-

Are you alright!?

-Sam

Give a location, we'll plan something

-Nicholai

I'm Alive

-Lee

Oh, finally!

-Sam

Sam was ready to take drastic measures

-Nicholai

Weren't you saying you're ready to plan something?

I never said she was the only one

-Nicholai

I started to walk out of the facility, it was a straight hallway, any other door was either locked or guarded. Even with that I could hear people behind the doors. Anytime I stopped to listen the guards glared at me.

So where are you?

-Sam

My map ain't working, I'll just head back to base

-Lee

What if you get nabbed again?

-Sam

I don't think that'll happen

-Lee

Right...

-Sam

Jinxing yourself again huh?

-Nicholai

The walls were perfectly maintained, a contrast to inside the room I was in, the doors looked more...peaceful? If that was the word.

"Out this door" The guard standing next to a double door spoke out. I couldn't really do anything but listen, if I didn't I'd just be walking in this hallway forever.

I was almost blinded as I stepped outside, I didn't realize how dim the lights were until now.

"There you are!" it was really faint, but I could recognize that voice from miles. She ran over and soon became even more worried. "What happened?" She wasn't looking directly at me, more so the side of me, I felt the side of my head and flinched as I made contact with a cut.

"Hit hard enough to do that...apparently. Surprised you saw it."

"It's not hard to notice a cut when you have white hair...White...pinkish...yeah I'm sticking with calling it white hair."

"God...damn..." Kenneth and Nicholai eventually caught up, with Kenneth more tired than the others...though Nicholai seemed a bit out of it too.

"How long have you guys been looking?"

"Hours...half a day really" Hearing that made me realize just how long Sam can keep going for if she needs to, being a DT must've helped with that.

"Thanks for that"

"Don't mention it"

"Please mention it...Screw photography she needs to be a goddamn drill instructor"

"How about we head to the base...there's some stuff that I found out."

"Alrighty! Kenneth, get up we're going!" Kenneth was in the middle of sitting down, at least until Sam told him to do the opposite.

The trip back was simple, I told them everything, including the coin guy.

"So this guy has their own version of Crescent?" Kenneth sat on one of the chairs. "Our soul weapons are meant to be one of a kind..."

"What if it's from that woman Lee saw in that vision?" Sam leaned forward as she spoke. The two of us were on the couch, Nicholai for one reason or another decided to stand. "If it really is Lee's mom, then maybe the person who used to be on Raymond's team was her, that would explain how they also have Crescent."

"That would mean she's dead" Nicholai spoke up.

"That's...true..." Sam leaned back.

"First it was the CSF, now it's some coin guy." I hated the fact I was being hunted, hiding when I should do something. "Actually...I don't think there's reason to worry."

"Don't get over yourself."

"No, think about it" I took out the coin. "It glows whenever it rewinds, or I die...so when rewinding...So that's when its power is apparent, so long as I don't die or rewind often, there's no way for them to find out where I am" Everyone thought for a bit.

"I think you have a point...though we don't fully know how the coin or magic really works in this yet."

"Speaking of magic..." She paused, but only for a moment. "Those partner bonds, right now we can know where each other are on a map, but those bonds do more..."

"You're thinking we should get them" Nicholai eventually sat down on the couch arm.

"Yeah, that way if that guy comes along we can at least be a bit more prepared."

"Your call Lee"

"I agree with it, it allows us to share powers too if I recall."

"Bout that" Kenneth stood up. "I'm really the only one who's learned magic, except for Lee's blood magic stuff."

"We won't have to worry about that" I crossed my arms. "Think about it. If we can share magic, then we have to know what magic we're sharing, therefor, both parties can know what magic they have."

"...damn...that's, actually clever" Nicholai seemed amused.

"Well, if there's no contest, we can go now before anything else happens." I stood up, along with the others.

Links

Sender: Lee

Recipient: Raymond

Those partner-links or bonds, where do we get them?

I got a response almost immediately

You know you have my contact right?

-Raymond

You responded either way

-Lee

The dome where you did the trials, there's a subsection of it in the right wing

you'll figure it out

-Raymond

"Back to the dome it is"

"You got an answer that fast?"

"Guess he hasn't gotten to work on those 'issues' yet" With no further comments we set off back to the dome, we decided to walk instead of opening a portal there, that way we could get a better grasp on Eaxura.

"There sure are a lot of stores" Sam was looking around. When I looked at them, I realized how many different languages the stores were in.

"I can attempt to translate them if you wish sir"

"Goddamnit Dave!" Keeping the theme running, Dave appeared out of nowhere and perfectly guessed what I was thinking. "No...no I'm fine"

"Understood" Dave cloaked again, most likely going to startle us once more later on. When my attention returned to my surroundings I noticed a few of the people in the crowd were Guardians, when I looked their way, and they looked at mine, they gave a quick nod to acknowledge me, so I did the same.

"What was that?" Nicholai questioned.

"Nothing"

"Ahhuh, you just nodded for no reason."

"Me nodding can wait, we're here" Just like Raymond said there was an entirely different portion of the dome when you reached the right wing. It was a room filled to the brim with equipment. Two people just exited the room, they seem content, yet they held their wrists.

"Ah, there you all are" The person speaking stood in the center of the room where most of the equipment was. Their voice and appearance were modulated in a way. Kinda shady that the person doing this is wearing a full on cloak. "Before you panic, I wear a cloak so that I do not interfere with the process, and so it goes as well as possible" Oh damn...my bad... "It's rather simple, however, I will say, the process to reverse this is beyond painful compared to this, be sure if you want this"

"We're more than sure!" Sam answered for the group.

"Well, I see four of you"

"Yeah, we just all came together, it's me and her" I pointed to Sam. "Then those two" Then Kenneth and Nicholai.

"Alright then" Kenneth and Nicholai stepped forward. "Guess we're doing you two first. Place your hands on the table, opposing hands, left and right" Nicholai placed her right hand, Kenneth placed his left. "Now, do you have something you'd like to use as your link?"

"Pardon?" Nicholai spoke up.

"Flower, Braclet, rock I don't really care, when it's on your person it enhances the link, but when you start out, you need it for the link to even work at all."

"What about a marking?"

"I can do a marking"

"Lightning Bolt" Kenneth gave his idea. "On the back of our hands."

"A bolt? I'd get it if we both did tech, but I'm the medic"

"I have an idea then" The person snapped, but it sounded louder than it should be. The table Nicholai and Kenneth had their hands set on shifted as two claws for each of them wrapped around their wrists.

"What the hell!?"

"I did say it would hurt"

"You ba-" Nicholai was cut off by a wave of pain the two experienced. In the corner of my eye I saw Sam walking away. Luckily it was short lived. The claws went back into the table, and a mark was left on their hand. The top left half of a medical cross, and the bottom right half of the bolt. "Huh...not bad" Nicholai shook her hand, yet when she shook it and moved down, what looked like chains formed between the two, with a cuff around their wrists. The chain however looked somewhat faded when it got closer to Kenneth, or more so around the halfway point between the two. "What...is this?"

"It can be multiple things. A way to launch each other, a way to get to one another quickly. Transfer health, ect. It can really be whatever you need it to be, but only to each other...unless you're hitting people with the chain. That's simply just the chain though, as time goes on you'll become more attuned with it and gain more perks...though that depends on what sorta people you are...Now, the other...hey buddy your missing someone"

"Yeah...she sorta walked out"

"Heh, makes sense considering what she just saw" Kenneth and Nicholai walked back over.

"It's painful...but not that bad, it's pretty quick" Nicholai repeated the action of quickly twisting her hand and lowering it. The chain vanished just like she assumed it would

"Back!" Sam rushed back in, holding two roses.

"What're those for?" I looked at the roses better, one was the color of my hair, the other hers. "Where'd you even get them?"

"The guy said we could make our link be whatever, and for where I got them, I grew them in my room"

"Well, now that both parties are here can we proceed?"

"You know you sound familiar" I spoke as I placed my left hand.

"Millions of people reside in Eaxura, sooner or later someone is going to sound familiar"

"Got me there..." I looked over at Sam who was clearly worried but placed her hand nonetheless.

"So, which flower is going to who?"

"Hm?"

"Well, is the pink one going to him because it resembles you? Or are you having the same colored flower as your hair?"

"Uh..."

"We can do the prior" The guy instantly nodded, and soon snapped his fingers. The claws appeared again, and just like Nicholai said, a quick yet vicious pain. I was going to slam my other hand on the table but before i could the claws already opened and the flowers were gone.

"You didn't exactly give me a location for them, so I figured you can move it wherever ya like"

"Doesn't explain where they went though." I thought it would be on our outfits, but then I saw Sam looking towards me just a bit more above eye level. Looking up a bit more was when I saw it, similar to the hands we placed, the flowers were intertwined in our hair like a clip, her's on the right side, mine on the left. "Actually doesn't look that bad..."

"Sorta glossy though" I heard Kenneth speak from the side. I mimicked what Nicholai did, and I could see Sam doing it too, flicking our wrists the chain appeared, but unlike the other two, it was complete, no fading whatsoever, and faintly I could see rose vines around the chain.

"I get it" I mumbled before speaking it again out loud. "It's stronger when activated at the same time"

"Spot on" The guy spoke once more. "It doesn't change much at the start except slight visuals and increased power, but it should still be practised for later...You know, you all are part of a team right?"

"Yeah, Bravo Team"

"Hmm" The person pondered for a bit before speaking again. "It's experimental, but I could try a team link"

"Hang on now, that typically means there's an issue" Kenneth spoke before anyone else could.

"Some teams already have it, but i've been told there's heightened emotions during combat"

"Elaborate"

"Our powers, as you should've been told, can change on emotions, someone who's angry typically has a higher chance of inflicting fear into their enemies, but that's not the point. With it being a link, I've noticed things I like to call synergies."

"And?"

"hmm, how to explain..." he snapped his fingers, the claws accidentally activated. "Ah...damnit..." He snapped again. "Anyways...think of it like an ultimate move, unblockable, unavoidable, and does heavy damage. It does tend to wear down the users mental state but...otherwise it's useful."

"Ahhuh..."

"Whether you get it or not is up to you. It doesn't take anything since you all already have links."

"Bit...sketchy...Guess it's up to you" Nicholai along with the others seem to have left the choice with me.

"We'll get it"

"Good" He clenched his hand into a fist. "Done"

"Pardon?"

"Yup...done"

"What did you even do?"

"Doesn't matter, now, all of you do it." I looked to everyone. We all did the motion and there it was, a chain that connected everyone. Me to Sam, Sam to Kenneth, Kenneth to Nicholai. "You have to be thinking of the team link when doing it, otherwise it'll be the partner one by default. Now, keep in mind, synergies tend to be two or three people, once it gets to four or more, you're by yourselves" Looking at our HP bars and the such I saw a new bar.

'Synergy:0%

Emotion:Neutral'

"Now, take care" They bowed and the four of us departed.

"Magic, Synergy, Links" I thought out loud. "The main things we need to learn. I mean it this time."

"Right, if that guy is gonna come for you sooner or later we need to prepare." Everyone seemed energized, more than before. If we can share HP, we might be able to share our energy too...that way, we can all be on the same track. The only negative was that we could all get tired if we keep sharing, but if it's done right, it may just let us fight for hours.

"Magic should be first, I think" Sam gave her thoughts on the matter.

"Agreed, Synergy can be done in the middle of a fight, and Links are mainly sharing our powers" I opened our HUDs, there was a simple mission to take out a few creatures. "We can take this one"

"Seems good enough" We all accepted it, this one was in a fully different dimension. Krouter. "What a name..."

"'Parently, it's pretty cold" I looked for more info about the dimension.

"We really need to get some actual jackets or something"

"Agreed" Summoning Crescent I cut open the portal just like all the other times before. "Now, come along!" We entered the icelands, it wasn't as bad as that one, but it was still cold and the fog made it hard to see farther distances.

"Jeez..." The cold seemed to have already hit Sam. "It's bad..."

"Not that bad"

"Says you!" Though I was kidding Sam was rather bothered.

"Yeah Lee, you got years of being outside"

"Me being homeless doesn't count, and it wasn't for that long eithe-" I stopped talking as I heard a snap, but it wasn't a human sort of snap, more like things clashing together.

"I think I see our targets!" From the fog crab-like creatures walked towards us, snapping their large pincers.

"Should be easy!" I grabbed tightly onto Crescent and prepared, I could see the others bringing out their weapons too. The crab creatures were slow at first, and I waited till they were close enough, yet, when they took notice of us, their speed increased drastically.

"Had to talk"

"Hey, you saying human running speed is too fast for you?"

"Smartass" One of the creatures leapt at me, I straightened out Crescent and jabbed it forward, piercing through the underside of the creature. The rest began to circle. I pulled back and the creature slid off the blade, all the while I readied myself for the rest. The kept moving side to side at random intervals, even if it was at a speed I could keep up with, that doesn't mean I can predict when they'd stop or keep going. I heard slashing from around me, indicating the others decided on their own targets. "Goddamnit I can't hit any of em!" The stopped leaping, instead they kept trying to jab at our legs with their long pincers, it doesn't mean it was a threat however, it was easy to avoid it, just like how they could easily avoid us. Hell am I doing? We're meant to be practicing magic. I leapt back and concentrated, The blood magic stuff came from corruption, meaning I have to have more stuff I can do. I took a deep breath and pressed my free hand against my chest, it wasn't long before I felt a spark, it felt connected to Crescent somehow. I raised my sword up, aiming at the sky with the blade parallel to my face.

"Ignite!" Like it was instinct I slashed Crescent at the air, it soon engulfed into flames. The snow next to Crescent began to melt away, but something was off about it, the way it looked didn't seem familiar at all, and so, even with it most likely being wrong I leapt back and called for Kenneth. "Kenneth! Electrocute!" Almost immediately a spear was in front of me, the creature moved into it just in time, though it was snow water, it still electrocuted the creature all until it stopped moving. The spear soon faded. I turned to the others who were doing their own thing, I also realized each of the creatures were doing their own thing, mine moved side to side, but Sam's seem to move forward and back. I saw Sam's begin to rush over to her, so I did the same. "Jump!" With no questions asked Sam jumped up while I slid under her, I slashed the ground and a fire wall appeared, burning the creature as it leapt through.

"Where'd you learn that?'

"Felt like instinct...Just to slash the ground"

"Well good job either way!" The ground shook, and from the fog, a giant variant of the creature appeared, a part of it were other similar creatures all trying to get out of the main one.

"Oh god...that's disgusting" The entire creature was one, with what looked like purple welding them together. "Nother corruption thing..." I was starting to wonder what the limits of it were, it gave some powers, rotted others, now it's welding beings to be one. Light eminated from Kenneth as he continued hitting things with bolts of lightning, it seemed like he had a grasp of his powers already, most likely using it while working on stuff.

"Succumb to the fear-!" At first I thought the creature was talking, until the voice set in. I turned to Nicholai, she snapped her fingers while her hand was raised. A circle around her appeared and anything in it seemed to freeze up while looking mortified. "-And let the reaping commence!" The expression she had was terrifying, she swung her scythe all around her, cutting the creatures to bits, once it was over though, she seemed to become tired. The main creature began rushing over to Nicholai.

"Heads up!" I tried rushing over, but calling out to her would be the only way I could help. Nicholai perked back up and swing her scythe up at the beast, it slashed through parts of it until the multitude of pincers grabbed onto the blade.

"Go fu-" I threw Crescent at Nicholai, it flew over and hit Nicholai with the blunt end to prevent her from getting crushed by the other pincers.

"How'd you know it'd attack" Sam joined up with me.

"Once more-"

"-Instinct?"

"You know it"

"You hit me!?" She was faint, but still audible.

"Damn thing was about to crush you"

"Just my luck" From where I was I could see Nicholai very much annoyed, she had her Scythe prime but I noticed it was sparking white, from the corner of my eye I saw it.

'Synergy: 100%(First time usage costs less)'

I didn't see the emotion marker anymore, but it seemed like synergies changed if we had a major emotion between us all.

"Nicholai! It's go time!" I said it without thinking, like something took over me.

"Got it!" Like there was a crack in reality the whole thing changed. The scenery, and even our outfits. The scenery seemed to be a hospital room, yet it was stretched out to fill a massive portion of enemies, our outfits were akin to a military soldier and a military medic. Neither of us were really in control of ourselves, Nicholai took out a syringe and jabbed me with it.

"This world's doubt!-" Nicholai threw her Scythe, it wrapped around the enemies and cut them as they were pulled in, I could feel myself more energized, yet, I didn't know what Nicholai was on about...but even so I continued it.

"Will be cut away!"Crescent was now sheathed at my hip for whatever reason, as I was unsheathing Crescent the blade shined brighter than the sun. When Crescent was fully unsheathed it engulfed in something, but not fire from before, it engulfed itself with purple and white. I fired forward and slashed, for a moment it looked like I only cut one enemy, but with a single blink of an eye something was cutting through all the enemies, as though a sword quadruple Crescent's size was what I slashed. I appeared behind the enemies and reseathed Crescent. "Along with our own" The last four words were spoken to myself. Another glass cracking could be heard, and everything returned to normal, only now the creatures were mutilated.

"What...what was that!?" Sam rushed over to us, she wasn't terrified instead it was like seeing something mesmerizing.

"We weren't really in control but..." I looked at my arm, my fatigue and pain from before were gone entirely. "I wonder why we said that of all things..."

"That's how synergy works it seems..." Nicholai walked over, adjusted her outfit. "Emotions, along with who we are dictates what they are"

"I wonder how the others look then" I lowered my arm.

"Hey, Lee" Kenneth joined us. "Your sheath" I raised my arm over my shoulder, but I couldn't feel Crescent or the sheath, I looked down and saw it on the left side of my hip.

"Why didn't this change?"

"Well, that's what the synergy was like at the end no?"

"What if it's like an after effect, a passive?"

"Pardon?" Nicholai looked at me.

"I feel more energized, and my sheath is still at my side, unlike everything else which reverted back to how it was before." I tried pulling out Crescent slowly, mimicking the Synergy attack, and just like it, it began to glow, yet not as brightly, I slashed away from everyone, and a slash double the size of Crescent appeared. "Heh...alright, something else to pay attention to."

"So there are effects we get to using Synergies, I doubt they last forever." Nicholai desummoned her scythe. "I also doubt we can have multiple at once considering it changes us"

"It's all connected too" Sam had her HUD open. "When you guys used it, our charge went to zero as well"

"Hm...so we should think before using any..." The rest of our HUDs opened.

Mission Complete

Sender: Dave

Recipients: Bravo Team

Well done on the completed mission, you all will receive payment shortly.

"Hey is that...our Dave?" Sam tilted her head while looking for anything to confirm it.

"Yes" just like the many times before, Dave appeared in the middle of us. We were used to it, none of us jumping showed that. "Since there is no handler for Bravo Team yet, or at least an official one, I have asked Raymond to make me yours"

"Thanks for the help"

"I do my best Sir Lee, take care now" Dave cloaked again, I wouldn't be surprised if he could warp himself now.

"Something the matter Sam?" I noticed her looking at the ground.

"Well, I didn't get to learn any magic." I was ready to respond until Nicholai did it first.

"You're already dual wielding different weapons, short sword, daggers, pistols, sniper. Don't stress it"

"That's true, oh! Let's head back, the next few episodes of my show should be downloaded."

"Shoulda just mentioned that instead..." Nicholai spoke aloud but Sam didn't seem to notice. Grabbing and unsheathing Crescent from my Hip, I slashed open a portal and stepped in. We were back at base, I went to resheath Crescent, but it was gone again.

"You're kidding..." I raised Crescent and sheathed it on my back again, it seemed to be there. "Guess the passives go away when we're safe...that or go into different areas." The rest of the group came through the portal.

"Welcome back!" Kaz greeted us, it seems she was resting on the table in front of the couch.

"You know there's a couch right?"

"Yup!"

"Whatever..."

"Hey Nicholai...now that we're not in darkness...our outfits got messed up from the synergy huh?"

"Lee...take a look at yourself, you're way worse" Instead of looking at my arm I looked at the whole outfit, it was nearly completely stained in purple.

"Oh, goddamnit!"

"Seems synergy doesn't prevent outfits from being stained."

"You two are acting like you weren't excessive" Kenneth wiped his hands on his coat.

"Either way, I say we deserve a break" Sam stretched her arms out before sitting on the couch. "Mostly Lee though"

"Course, the guy who got hit in the side of the head with a rifle deserves a break" Nicholai threw me off as she spoke in her sarcastic tone. I sat down and took a breath.

Tomorrow, come to the dome again

-Raymond

"Goddamnit"

"What?" Sam turned to me.

"Raymond...again"

"Barely letting you breathe huh?"

"Nope, but that's tomorrow's issue, I'll check in on the Guardians too." I began to nod off, but I could still hear the others talking, not anything important, just random banter.

"How ya holding?" Before I knew it, it was the dead of night, I was laying down on the couch all the while Nicholai was sitting on a chair, reading a book.

"Why're you still awake?"

"No reason really, just needed to be out of my room." Though sluggish, I sat up. "I'll ask again, holding well?"

"There's still this painful pressure in my leg, but other than that, yeah I'm fine"

"It's been a few days, but considering we've been moving around and fighting...I guess it makes sense. There's nothing I can really give you, nor legally give you"

"Hm?"

"I'm still a high schooler, I can't exactly get medication from a hospital"

"They're letting us fight, I don't think they'd mind"

"Maybe, still ain't giving you any unless you start going into major pain though"

"Fair enough" I could see Crescent leaning against the couch, just beside where my head would be. "Always sticking close huh buddy?"

"Kaz was too for a while, then Sam went to bed and she followed her"

"Yeah that seems right, if Kaz was around when we were human Sam would've taken her immediately"

"hmph, we can agree on that" She gently closed the book and stood up. "Now that I know you're fine, I'll be heading to bed"

"So you were here for a reason"

"Contrary to how annoying you all can be, I still am your medic"

"We appreciate your service" She shook her head, but a smile was faintly there.

"Don't do anything stupid" She walked away shortly after. Crescent moved slightly, wonder if Crescent needs rest too, or maybe if I get tired, so is Crescent, would make sense since It's my soul weapon.

"Men, Your dedication to the cause must be rewarded" It felt like whenever there was silence, the TV always made a noise, then again it's my own fault for not noticing there was still light in the room, even with it being pitch black. how many episodes does this damn thing have? I laid back down on the couch, too tired to ponder on it anymore.

"eeeugh" I stretched the best I could before relaxing. To think this is just the beginning...