“You must swim with the strongest currents in the Universe, Bronwic. How else could you have come so far so fast?” Taiwo asks when he sees me. He even relents and gives me the bro hug I know he’s always secretly wanted to before he leads me through a short maze of doors and hallways to a spacious, comfortable room with light colored furniture placed all around it. In the center is a floating holographic depiction of Earth; our planet is around the size of a large Swiss ball.
“What’s this about?” I ask.
“I assumed you were here to discuss what reward you might select with your KCT victory,” says Taiwo. “And I also feel compelled to make sure you understand some things about gaining your Ascended Class.”
“Can’t a guy just come chat with his friend after a lot’s happened?” I ask, and he hesitates slightly to answer before I continue with a grin. “And… yeah, that would be great.”
“I’ll remind you about Legendary Classers not being allowed on Earth except in special circumstances approved by the SSA? That’s the case on a lot of worlds, and the same applies for Ascended Classes, although some like Tenebris bend the rules a bit to their liking. Ascended Classes operate on a whole different level than everyone else. New rules, new threats, new alliances, and new challenges. You’re part of it now.”
Before I can get into it with him, I sense a flexing of reality all around us with my Dimensional Manipulation Affinity and instinctively I reach out to strengthen everything around us to protect against some kind of attack. Before I use my Affinity to seal it up, I recognize something about the attempt and explore it for a few seconds, then realize it’s Tenebris attempting to join us by breaching the Shop’s dimensional locks and defenses.
“Tenebris is trying to join us…?” I say to Taiwo.
“It is advisable to allow him to do so if you can assist,” he replies with a lot of certainty, but no urgency.
I use my Affinity to bend the threads of the defensive measures that prevent Tenebris from easily breaking through, without removing them. A small nudge and a bit of convincing to let the powerful attempt through, and a couple seconds later Tenebris materializes before us. The pressure of his presence is still intense, but it weighs on me a lot less heavily than it used to. He turns his huge, powerful body and gaze toward me and I feel no need to cower or make myself scarce.
We stand in silence for a few seconds and I lock eyes with him. I still have no idea how much information about me he can pull through his Mana Interface, or divine through other means, but eventually he grunts and it seems like I passed the first inspection.
“I was hoping you might get another shot at the KCT,” rumbles Tenebris to me. His attention is intense and full, like this is the only thing in the world that matters to him right now. “Your progression is unnaturally fast.”
I don’t know where this is going, so I don’t say anything and I find myself relatively unbothered about wherever he takes it.
“Dark Mana Knight. Unique amongst Ascended, I can tell you Bronwic. You are aware Dark Mana is highly dangerous and its properties are still mostly unknown? Despite all you went through to gain your Dark Mana Tempered Title, you have still chosen this Class…”
Tenebris pauses and contemplates me for a few seconds while I wonder where he’s going with this, then he continues.
“I approve greatly. Perhaps one day I will have the Mark of Bronwic,” he suggests with what I think is… humor? A prediction? Respect? All of them seem unlikely and I try to puzzle out what he means.
Taiwo and Tenebris both begin to laugh at the look on my face, which is very motivating, and I decide that’s exactly what I’ll aim for. Giving Tenebris the Mark of Bronwic because I’m so much more powerful than he is. I don’t really care if they notice I’m not laughing along with them. Tenebris gestures with a powerful arm around the room and in particular at the hologram of Earth.
“I assume based on this you have not selected your KCT reward yet?” he asks me.
“No, I came here to discuss it.”
“Good, very good. If you let me assist you, humanity will benefit greatly and I will only take a small slice of the benefit. I will also assign you an Ascended advisor so you don’t get yourself killed immediately.”
He sounds magnanimous about it, like he’s doing me a favor. Maybe he is. Part of me wants to tell him to fuck off, that we’ll determine our own fate. That we won’t sell our future off to vultures that are circling or bend our knee to organizations like Oblivion Shroud or the Qillathe Syndicate, and that I can forge my own path. But I know that’s dumb and there’s no way we will thrive to the extent we could without the right people to coach, advise, and help us - and that includes me.
There might be a downside of dealing with this particular devil, but at least there is some evidence that he’s a net positive for humanity and there’s more than a shred of trust between us. Pretty much any other Ascended Classer I’ve encountered is dead or tried to kill me.
“I’m very happy to hear what you have to say and listen to your suggestions, but I can’t commit right here and right now that I’ll follow them. Humanity needs to find its own way, even with strong allies.”
“The strongest allies,” Taiwo interjects with emphasis on strongest, perhaps reminding me who I’m dealing with. Tenebris seems unperturbed.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“If we do this right, Earth will become less dangerous to humans while also giving them the chance to gain Levels and the ability to colonize other worlds, plus significantly increase trade with Galactics.”
“And…” I ask, knowing there must be more to it, but these kinds of discussions and negotiations aren’t my strength.
“And we will be right there to help you and take a cut of the meat,” says Tenebris with no shame. “Not the biggest cut, or the best. But a cut that has value to all parties.”
Since I don’t know what I’m doing, is it really so bad if he’s involved? The world was full of people pre-Influx who helped to advance other people’s interests in exchange for a slice of the pie or for money. Why should it be any different now, if I don’t understand his motivations? Seems like a problem that’s existed before the Influx and will exist long into the future.
Tenebris and Taiwo take turns explaining what I should do. We run over the whole design of what needs to get set up and we bring it to life on and around the holographic depiction of Earth. We discuss partners we might need for transport, trade, and military alliances. What Guilds we might want to ally with and what kinds of deals will be net positive for both sides. It’s a massive fucking headache for me and I take a bunch of notes, knowing I’m going to confuse all of it in my head.
“I’m not confident at all that doing all this is in my skill set,” I tell them honestly.
“Delegate as much as you can,” says Taiwo. “But… you need to know how the KCT reward you select fits into the puzzle and broadly what’s needed, so that you don’t derail everything by accident. Plus, irrespective of what delegations you put in place, some people are going to want to talk to you directly.”
What he’s saying of course makes perfect sense, but I’m still not that keen to be spending my time working out trade partners and global politics. I’d much rather be out there gaining Levels and doing the kind of work only I can do.
“And,” he continues, “I’ve got a certain nephew who I think we could convince to work with your delegates full time to set everything up and manage it.”
I roll my eyes, but it’s actually a good idea. I tell Taiwo I’ll consider it.
When I’m sure I’ve asked all the questions I need to and then some more on top, I thank them and exit the Shop, then trigger Omnipresent to take me to Jeff to get his opinion before I find B’esloor and Kauran to proceed with my reward.
If Jeff is on board, I’m ready to claim the reward the way Taiwo and Tenebris think I should. There’s nobody I know of on Earth who knows more about what I’ve been through and been right in the action firsthand like Jeff. I feel like he has the perspective and optimism I need to make sure it’s the right call.
Jeff is sleeping when I manifest a Portal and enter his room and, like all of us that have lived with danger hovering everywhere, it lasts a split second before he’s awake. I watch his eyes pop open, white against his dark skin, though he doesn’t move.
“You’re the only jerk who can bypass all my defenses and walk in here. And you’re also the only jerk who would do it in the middle of - holy fuck, Bronwic!” he exclaims and leaps out of bed, whatever he was going to say forgotten.
The excitement on his face is infectious and I’m glad he doesn’t sleep nude, because Jeff barrels over and gives me a massive bearhug. I wouldn’t let anyone else get away with it, but for Jeff I laugh as he squeezes me tight enough that I half think he’s just trying to test his Strength against my Resistances. When he releases me the words tumble out at high speed.
“Dark Mana Knight? What’s that? And you’ve Ascended? Dude, you didn’t even invite me to the party! Did you have a party?”
“No, no party…” I start to say, but he’s already on to the next thing.
“Wait.. does this have to do with that hellhole with the Mana experiments? Fuck that place sideways, dude. Did it corrupt your Class choices or some shit?”
I hadn’t considered that. I laugh and hold up my hands, palms out.
“Alright, alright, hold on. I’ll tell you all of it. But first I’ve got to ask your opinion about something.”
Instantly Jeff’s full battle armor appears on him. I can see he’s made a lot of progress as well, up to Level 15 in his Legendary Class.
“Bronwic, we can do it while you’re showing me what Ascended Level Skills can do, and I ain’t taking no for an answer.”
I didn’t specifically expect this, but I can see now that it was stupid not to. Jeff is always ready to jump into the action. He sees a tiny bit of hesitation in my expression and jumps in again.
“Dude, you’ve got to take us to fight something. Let’s smash some shit up. Something hard. But not as hard as that Hive Queen motherfucker you had to fight in the KCT - that was sick.”
“Fair Jeff, that’s fair. Let me find something.”
I trigger Omnipresent and look for something remote and over Level 300, where we can do some good and won’t have to worry about collateral damage or rescuing people. I hit the jackpot in South Africa near where Capetown used to be and open a Portal. As we glance through it to check out the situation like we have hundreds of times before, I trigger my armor with Dimensional Forge and get ready, only to be berated by Jeff, who backhands me in the chest before I can take a step forward.
“What the fuck is that, Bronwic? Holy shit! Now that we don’t do the Sentinels anymore, I’m supposed to be the one with the fucking awesome Class armor. You’re supposed to get your ass handed to you during our fights and get all ripped up, then heal up super fast like a tough guy super hero. That’s how it works, dude. You’re messing with our vibe.”
He’s gesticulating around and animated as hell even though I know he’s only half serious. I shake my head at him and can’t believe how much I’ve missed hanging out with Jeff. Everything seems easier to deal with when he’s around.
“Seriously dude, how strong is it? Can I take a good shot at it?” he asks.
Why not? I hold my right arm straight out and tilt my chin at him.
“Be my guest.”
Jeff doesn’t need a second invitation and without any hesitation he calls his flaming sword from his Inventory and whips it down onto my forearm at full Strength. He knows how much punishment I can take and how fast I heal, and uncomfortably this isn’t the first time the two of us have done something like this. This time, the expression on his face makes me wonder if he’s hoping to slice clean through despite Unbreakable. I brace myself with my own Strength and his sword bites into my armor, but doesn’t even make it through to my arm. My skin is untouched.
“How the fuck is that fair?” Jeff asks quietly, then presses his lips together while he shakes his head. He throws his arms into the air and gestures to me.
“Manifest the bloody Portal. Let’s go kick some ass,” he commands.
I’m only too happy to make it happen.