From the discovered writings of 'The Dark Brotherhood of Entropy'
One must accept that this Universe is like all others, except for one aspect. Genesis. This accursed entity holds back the heat-death that all must eventually face, keeping us in some form of stasis that holds back the onslaught of entropy. We must always fight against this, pushing our universe towards its real fate.
The large creature stands a few hundred feet away from the four of us and rhythmically beats its chest with four arms. Its body is covered in a thick coat of grey fur that allows it to blend in with the rocky mountainside. Above its head rest the words Gori, King of the Mountain [Lvl 41]. The creature is the highest leveled monster that we’ve encountered in the past month since we started training and is obviously some sort of area boss.
Were we the same chaotic and untrained group that had wandered into these mountains a month ago, this monster would have been a tough fight for my team. Unfortunately for Gori, we’re not. A month of constant and never-ending training, both as individuals and as a team, had honed our teamwork and trust. Hakim steps forward and begins to limber up in preparation. We’d been directing all of the kills in his direction to help him reach the point where he’d be able to unlock a Class and he was right on the edge.
“It’s going to start chucking some rocks at us. Watch out for the upper right arm, that one’s the strongest. Once we get close it’s going to activate a berserk Skill. Hakim you’ll be able to distract it while Cael deals damage. Alejandro, you’re with me in the backline.”
The three of us nod, having gotten used to Carmen’s strategy in the weeks of training. Her Foresight Skill had improved by leaps and bounds since our arrival, drastically increasing her range forward. Her personality has also … mellowed. Constant close proximity to others and budding friendships seemed to be softening her edges, if only slightly.
Hakim begins sprinting towards the monster, the runes on his skin lighting up as he begins to power them. I fall in behind him, content to let my team handle the majority of the battle. I could handle Gori by myself with one hand behind my back but that would defeat the entire purpose of our training.
Rocks come flying out at us, forcing Hakim to dodge to the side with flares of increased Dexterity. A single hit from one of these rocks could do massive damage to our backline so I glance backwards to make sure that both Alejandro and Carmen are okay. Of course, my worry is completely unfounded. Carmen dodges the rocks with absolute ease while Alejandro has managed to get his armor on, made of the same strange metal as his hammer. A few rocks slam into him, only to stop dead in their tracks upon contact with his armor rather than pushing him backwards or damaging him.
Glad to see that particular experiment is working. I had been confused when he had first asked for some of my Motion Mana and a little skeptical that his project would come to fruition but yet again Alejandro managed to make something spectacular.
Hakim finally reaches the creature and, just as Carmen predicted, the beast lets loose a primal war cry as it’s fur begins changing, the mottled grey becoming a dark blood red to match the aura of bloodlust now emanating out from it. With another cry of rage, it jumps forward, all four arms slamming down towards Hakim, who just manages to cross his arms in a defensive position before contact.
To the monster’s surprise, the blow barely effects Hakim. The Physique rune over his heart erupts with light, visible through his thin cotton shirt. Digging his feet into the ground, he pulls his crossed arms apart and grabs onto one of the creatures arms. Without any runes to increase his Strength, Hakim has relegated himself to the role of tank. He distracts the opponent while I come in for the damage.
Activating Mana Infusion, I sprint around Hakim and Gori. The monster tries to turn around to attack me but Hakim deters it by grabbing another arm, keeping it rooted in place. I conjure a Mana Blade in both my hands and stab them into the creature’s legs, creating a pathway for the Skill that I’d unlocked a few days ago.
Focusing intently on the new Skill, I conjure up Electrical Mana from my Well and watch as it begins to spark and travel across my skin. The Mana takes the form of constant and ever-shifting electro-static shocks, building up around my hands in a series of flashing lights. It takes a full second to charge myself to the necessary point after which I find myself sporting a huge grin, eager to finally try this Skill out in combat.
“Electrical Discharge”, I whisper, knowing full well that I don’t need to speak it out loud but choose to do so for the first combat usage. Upon activation of the Skill, the Electrical Mana gathers together inside of my body and then flashes down the conduit I’ve created with the Mana Blades. The currents ionizes the air around blades as the electricity goes rushing into the monster’s body.
The creature’s body seizes as the electricity wreaks havoc within, muscles seizing and spasming uncontrollably. Hakim lets go and jumps backwards to remove himself from the damaging effects of the electricity and watches as I continually pump more and more Electrical Mana into Gori.
It only takes a few more moments for Gori to become overwhelmed with the electricity before he falls backward, unable to handle the sheer wattage that I’d pumped into him. Just as he is about to die, I nod to Hakim and he jumps forward, pummeling the unconscious creature until it finally dies.
Taking a step back, I nod over at the blood covered Hakim, whose eyes have glazed over in a way that I now recognize as someone staring at the system screens. It’s strange to realize that my own eyes have probably glazed over like that a thousand times.
After a few moments, Alejandro and Carmen join us, staring at the slightly smoking monster with no trepidation or worry. In the four weeks that we’ve been training, they’ve come to trust in my leadership. Carmen may still complain, mock, and roll her eyes at me, but she obeys any and all orders when she knows our lives are on the line. We wouldn’t be able to operate as a team without it.
Hakim’s eyes are still glazed over, but his face begins to tilts down, concentrating on what’s in front of him.
“Hakim, you know the one you want, just pick it and save us the debate.” Carmen states, obviously using Foresight to look ahead at our conversation. It’s an annoying habit that she has picked up recently and the rest of us can’t stand it.
I give her a frustrated look, raising an eyebrow to remind her of the dozen conversations we’ve had about this habit of hers, and then turn back towards Hakim, whose eyes have now regained their focus. He seems … torn, stuck in the middle of a difficult decision. I stay silent and choose to give him the space he needs to voice out his thoughts.
Looking confused, and surprisingly not annoyed at Carmen, he says, “I just got my Class options. Carmen’s right, there’s one I want more but I’m not sure if it’s the right fit for the team.”
“What are your options?” I respond, wanting to know his true feelings. At the end of the day, it’s his Class and he has to live with the consequences. Which is why I don’t want to force him into something that doesn’t match his own goals. At the same time, I’m appreciative that he is considering the team dynamic, especially given its importance in the rapidly approaching Trial.
“Well there are only two that I’m considering. The one that might be better for the team is Empowerer of Ink. It allows me to empower tattoos that aren’t runes, which should give me a lot more flexibility. I also get a Skill called Tattoo of Healing, which could be really helpful. But it isn’t ranked and the level bonuses are mediocre.”
“And the other?” I ask, not wanting to pass any judgement before hearing both options.
“The other one is called Runic Monk. I’d be limited to using Runes for my tattoos but the level bonuses are great, it’s ranked, and … well if I’m reading this right, I think the Class would help me discover Runes. I’m pretty sure I’d get knowledge of the Strength Rune right off the bat if I pick this one.”
It’s obvious which one Hakim wants and I’m just grateful that he was even considering putting his own interests to the side for the betterment of the team. I won’t lie, I’m interested in the concept of a healing Skill but that is secondary to making sure my teammates are motivated to continuing their paths.
“Hakim, pick Runic Monk if that is the one that you really want. Having a healing Skill would be useful but your long-term potential will be much higher if you have better leveling bonuses.”
A smile breaks out on his face and I’m reminded of how young he is, not even eighteen years old yet. He’s a serious kid most of the time, which makes me forget that he should be worried about prom and girls, not the survival of a city nearly twenty thousand strong. To his credit however, he shoulders the burden with grace and I’m proud of the progress that he’s made over the last month.
He joined me to seek power and, now that he has it, he’s finally confronted with the far more important question; what to do with that power? I like to think I’ve nudged him towards the path of protection but only time will tell.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Now that we’ve got that all sorted out, can we please focus on the bigger issue? We just killed the mountain’s boss and you’ve got a promise to fulfill.” Carmen interrupts my thoughts to remind me.
A grimace appears on my face as I realize that she’s right. I’d promised to end the training if we were able to get rid of all the monsters on the mountain but had never expected us to actually be able to complete it. Now that I think about it, however, with Hakim having reached Lvl 25 and other two making quick progress, this isn’t a bad time to take a break. We can’t have more than a day or two remaining before the next Trial begins and having some downtime could help the team recover from a month of training.
There’s also the possibility that they could lose their edge when they are back in the city but I’m hoping that is just me being paranoid.
“Fair enough. Does everyone have everything they need?” I ask. All three of them nod, even Alejandro, whose miniature forge was a hassle to move around when chasing monsters. “Okay then, we’ll head back to Everwall and rest until the Trial.”
Carmen jumps up in the air and high-fives Hakim, following the over the top display with a small dance of excitement. “Comfy bed and bath, here I come!” she loudly proclaims.
I chuckle and begin following her as she starts walking in the general direction of the city. Instead of joining me by my side, Hakim wanders forward and falls in beside Carmen, the two of them having developed an unexpected friendship in the last two weeks. Alejandro falls in next to me and we watch the two conversing teammates in silence for a few minutes.
“Good match.” Alejandro finally says, breaking the silence and causing me to look at him in confusion. His eyes dart forward, gesturing to the two people in front of me. I raise my eyebrow in response, a silent gesture that asks for his reasoning.
I wasn’t very good at silent communication before we came to these mountains but four weeks with Alejandro have made me as close to an expert as I will ever be.
“Impulsive but kind. Foresight but selfish. They balance each other.” He responds monosyllabically.
I look forward and see their interactions in a new light. I hadn’t even considered the possibility but now their frequent conversations and budding friendship now make much more sense. I laugh as I realize that Carmen may be able to see in the future but it takes Alejandro to make me see what was right in front of me this entire time.
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We make good time in our travel towards Everwall, arriving just as the sun is beginning to set. The four of us are a very different group from the motley crew that left Everwall a month ago. Gone are the soft city dwellers, replaced with the hard features and eyes of those who have lived amongst monsters and proved themselves superior. It may not have been as taxing as my time on Helldarvin but the experience helped refine my team into a well-oiled machine, ready for the challenges ahead.
Nearly a mile away from the city walls, we leave the blanket of the forest and find ourselves amongst well-maintained farmland, a forest in its own regard. Either Genesis or the ambient Mana must have some sort of influence on the plants, as I’m able to spot dozens of corn stalks that are taller than me, an impressive feat to accomplish in the short time we've been gone.
Corn, wheat, fruits, and a host of other produce cover the land around the city, providing the burgeoning population with a decent portion of their daily diet. After surviving off of foraged foods and monster meat for a month, my mouth waters at the sight.
The lake glistens in the departing sunlight, showing us the countless small fishing boats that are returning towards the docks. Nets and lines drag behind the ships, making it clear that fishing has now become a central industry for the people of Everwall.
A nearby patrol of guards, outfitted in patchwork leather armor that have been dyed cobalt blue, wave at us as they get close enough to recognize who we are. A few of them even salute towards us. It looks like my mother has been hard at work influencing opinions in the town since we’ve been gone.
We manage to make it through the gates shortly after the interaction and the four of us take a glance at each other before simultaneously splitting up, each one of us heading towards their own destination. While spending four weeks surrounded by the same people is a great way to build comradery, it is also exhausting. Better to take a break than cause that comradery to sour and become forced.
I make my way back up to the manor, surprised at the amount of greetings and salutes that I get from regular city folk along the way. While the occasional passerby glares at me, most of the citizens seem to have changed their opinion in the last month. Whether or not the hatred towards the randomly selected has actually disappeared is irrelevant, as long as they can disassociate that particular hatred from me I consider that to be a victory.
It begins to get a bit uncomfortable the further I get into the city and the closer I get to the manor. The respectful nods and salutes are slowly replaced with bows. I have to gently admonish the people who do so, not wanting it to be a problem in the future. Respect and admiration is one thing, but deification and worship is another thing entirely. I can handle the former but will never allow the latter, no matter what.
Finally reaching the manor, I make my way past the guards manning the door and enter into the kitchen to hear the City Council, accompanied by what must be a new member, deep in debate one room over. Not wanting to interrupt their discussion immediately, I hide behind the frame of a door, leaning my back against it to hear the differing opinions before joining the conversation.
“W-w-we need to f-focus on sh-shoring u-up our patrols. Th-the rate of m-monster attack has inc-increased 16% i-in the last week a-and th-the farmers are u-upset. Pr-product-tion is down 7% a-and we n-need more f-food.” Even without being able to see them, I know Julian is the one speaking. His speech pattern is quite distinctive but I’d still be able to recognize his words without it. No matter the issue, he always bases his opinions on empirical data.
“Nah, you’re wrong. Food is an issue, yes, but our bigger concern is our economy as a whole. Assuming Cael becomes Primus, something none of you have managed to convince me of yet, we’re going to be forced to trade with Octavian’s people. Earth’s history has had plenty of examples of what happens when a weak economy meets a strong economy. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have no desire to be controlled by some tall blue alien.”
If I’m not mistaken, the new person in the City Council is none other than Elias Fisher. A quick activation of Active Search reveals that he was brought on right after I left and was charged with growingEverwall’s fledgling economy. Not a bad choice and a perfect example of the phrase ‘keep your friends close but your enemies closer’.
Another voice then interjects, “Both of those are important but neither of those will matter if we aren’t able to man the walls. We’ve made a few improvements but, by and large, they are still the same as when we first constructed them for the Trial. The priority needs to be building up our defenses and increasing our funding for the guards.”
Obviously that would be my father, pushing for his own people as always. He’s not wrong but he is misinformed on what the biggest upcoming conflict will be. Monsters and evolved creatures are a necessary evil. Without them, there will be no opportunities or motivation for the people of Everwall to grow.
“All of these are interesting ideas, but I want to hear what you think Cael.” My mom says, her voice pitched in order to carry into the kitchen.
I chuckle as I push the door open and walk into the living room, my hands raised guiltily into the air. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt. How’d you know I was here?”
“Suffice to say that you haven’t been the only one who has been training in the past month. Your thoughts and report?” She responds. Despite her business like demeanor, I can see the happiness in her eyes at my return. Mary King has never been one for grand displays of emotion, my initial return to Everwall aside, and I learned how to spot her love many years ago.
“I’ll start with the report”, I say, taking a seat along with everyone else. I then fill them in on all that happened, informing them about Hakim’s Class, Alejandro’s Skills and potentially city-changing discovery, and Carmen’s increased use of Foresight. Before I can get to my thoughts on the city’s next direction, a familiar ping appears and informs me that my rest will not be as long as I had hoped.
The Trial of Leadership has begun! Leadership is comprised of many parts, often at odds with each other. Cultivation of your talent and the talent of those around you, is absolutely necessary to ensure growth and continued success. As is the ability to make difficult decisions and put the needs of the many over the needs of the few.
With a team comprised of four citizens of Everwall including yourself, you must conquer or destroy the city of Farringham. Alternatively, you must remove their contestant, either by surrender or by death.
Time Limit: Two Weeks
Successful completion of the Trial will qualify you for advancement in the Primus Trials.
“Well … looks like my team will be leaving in the morning”.