My Affinity flares up as I feel an invisible Wormhole opening right on top of me, intent on sucking me in. I snarl and push back at the speed of thought with my new sense of what’s around me and manipulate the very fabric of space to prevent the teleportation from taking hold. The pressure grows exponentially and I set my feet then clench my fists, stubbornness and determination taking over. Adrenaline dumps into my system as I hold it back. Slowly at first, then faster, I push it back away from me. The power of it surges again and I mentally slam a bubble down around me then grind inch by inch to push it back again.

Angry and wondering who the fuck I need to go beat the shit out of, I force it back some more. My body tingles as my Affinity rips me apart more slowly than my massive, overpowered Regeneration pieces me back together and I find an equilibrium, for now. Space all around me for a five meter radius ripples as the irresistible force of a Skill or powerful technology meets my immovable object of will and Affinity. It’s then I realize Foresight hasn’t triggered and my Danger Sense is silent.

Cautious, I probe the Wormhole with my Affinity and can tell the other side is still somewhere in the Milky Way, but not at all close to Earth. I also potentially sense a hint of Dhromea’s Portal patterns or essence in the way the Wormhole is formed. Maybe I’m just imagining it, but there seems to be some kind of an imprint of hers on it, now my attention and focus are dialed up to 11 out of 10.

I’m still pissed about being ambushed, but now a bit curious. Everything’s sorted in Reykjavik and Dublin. There’s nothing keeping me here right this second, so I take a moment to trigger all my normal Skills and release my Affinity’s push against whatever’s trying to take me somewhere. Like a rubber band stretched to the limit that’s let go, except infinitely more powerful and dealing with the fabric of reality, I’m snapped into another location with my guard up.

The first thing I see is Dhromea’s green eyes roll back into her head as she collapses to the floor. There’s plenty of time at the speeds I move to catch her, but Taiwo is right next to her and holds her up with one hand while pulling one of those comfortable chairs he carries around out of his Inventory. He lowers her down and glances at me, looking around as a message I should pay attention to, but my Perception and Skills have already given me a full assessment of the situation. I put Dhromea to the back of my mind; she’s alive and so will recover.

I’ve been transported to a large warehouse-like building that looks suspiciously like the one where all the human contenders were kept for Earth’s part of the Koldaavi Combat Championship. My Perception and my minimap both tell me this massive complex is a carbon copy of that KCC spot, but I’m a lot farther from Earth than I was then. I can smell everything from food to aliens and fried circuitry. It’s also clear I’m standing in a room of half a dozen powerful Legendary Galactics whose defences are up as they watch me warily. Perhaps my reputation precedes me once again, or maybe it’s just the way I’ve made my entrance and the fact I am fully ready to launch into combat.

With the situation seemingly not dangerous, I dismiss my Swords and release Acceleration then relax a bit. The tension in the room dissipates along with my change in posture.

“High Enforcer Cadimus,” says a familiar voice. I pull as much information from everyone around me as I can and turn to see a familiar goblin, B’esloor Adwandiansie. He’s dressed quite formally and looks as tidy as a goblin can look. There’s no way I’d ever forget the Sapient Species Alliance representative from the Galactic part of the KCC who granted me my rewards for being a finalist, and added some extra on top to make things right after what the goblins did in Queenstown.

I’m surprised to see Kauran, the Beholder-like being who ran the KCC for us is also here. For now he floats and observes us with his one great eye set over a mouth full of shark teeth. The power difference between Kauran and I is not nearly so great as it was the last time we were together. Four other Legendary combat Classers are here and I wonder what’s going on.

“Is this…?” I begin while I look around in confusion. “What is this? Is the KCC on again?”

“Actually, yes it is on again soon. But we will speak of that later,” says Kauran in that strange way that echoes more in my mind than in my ears. Maybe my SMI is somehow able to translate communication that’s not sound and feed it directly to me. Instead it’s B’esloor who continues.

“It is a pleasure to see you again, Bastion Cadimus. Humanity is still exceeding all expectations in military and economic exploits. On behalf of the SSA, I’d like to introduce you to the Leaders of the Legendary Strike Forces we committed to you,” he says.

“And one from Tenebris,” Taiwo adds, nodding toward a humanoid dragon-like creature that reminds me a bit of our Sponsor. He’s over seven feet tall with dark crimson scales covering his muscular body and two massive, leathery wings folded across his back. He exudes raw power, with glowing amber eyes and long, sharpened claws that look like they could do some serious damage. I’ve pulled his basic Status information already.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Zarithrax Vulkaainan, Draconic Warlord, Elemental Mage, War Leader, Destroyer of the Yiiltin, Underworld Combat Champion, more… (Level 28 Battle Tyrant) (L)

[Tenebris Strike Force] [Laniakea Supercluster]

The three SSA leaders are an impressive group. A powerful Centaur, the first of her kind I’ve encountered, a Tauran, and an incredibly complex spider-like Mech suit stand before me. The Centaur’s skin is etched with tribal runes that give hints at her Skills and Class. The Tauran male looks like a towering figure of muscle and rage dressed in what I could loosely call an outfit from Braveheart. He reminds me of Captain Kulnuk, only bigger and meaner with a bull-like head crowned by massive, sharp horns that seem Mana enhanced. The spider-like Mech suit looks intricate and powerful with 8 hydraulic legs, each equipped with high-precision weaponry and utility tools.

They are all Level 30 in their Legendary Class and I realize immediately that they’re probably in a similar situation to what I was, stuck there while they complete their Ascended Class Quest. I wonder if this is part of it.

Calyndra Stormhoof, The Thunder Charger, Storm Blessed, Mistress of Weather, Spear Master, Slayer of Imps, Goblins, more… (Level 30 Storm Herald) (L)

[Ixionidae] [SSA Legendary Strike Forces] [Laniakea Supercluster]

Rogar Qaaldon, Guardian of Bhavnagar, Guardian of Gyritor, Ragebound, Navigator, Protector, more… (Level 30 Voidkeeper) (Enhanced Legendary)

[Tauran] [SSA Legendary Strike Forces] [Laniakea Supercluster]

The Webweaver, Electromagnetic Dynamo, Unstoppable, Survivor of Ty’sselthod, Mazerunner, more… (Level 30 Mechanical Tactician) (L)

[Arak-T7] [SSA Legendary Strike Forces] [Laniakea Supercluster]

I look around and wonder if this group could take on Hvitserkur. Within this room there’s certainly enough posturing and collective confidence to take on anything. This is one powerful, scary group of people and I hope the SSA has chosen them well for their abilities and dispositions. Earth needs these Legendary Strike Forces; as long as they do their job then we’ll welcome them and I definitely don’t want to be in the position to try to keep any of their teams in check. Hopefully being SSA representatives keeps them focused on the task at hand.

“High Enforcer Cadimus, our teams are ready for deployment,” rumbles Rogar. The others seem content to wait for me to tell them what to do. That’s the second time in this room I’ve been referred to by my new Title… maybe there really is something to having Clearance 7 in the SSA.

I glance at Taiwo and then around at the others, expecting some advice. None is forthcoming so I consider. It also seems strange that I’m making this call since there are so many people on Earth who are running Settlements and defensive activities on a day to day basis. Since I had a big part to play in having this capability available to us, maybe it makes sense. I consider how they could make the biggest difference and can’t come up with anything better than scaling up what I’m already doing.

“What’s the composition of your teams? Can you figure out where you’re needed and get around quickly?” I ask the team leaders. B’esloor steps in to answer for them as a group.

“I can’t speak for Zarithrax, but the SSA teams all have a mid range Portaling specialist or the equivalent and high grade communications equipment they can set up in a wide net. The same net can provide good scouting of high Level threats. Please remember that all our teams will follow SSA Protocols and stay only within certain Zones. This is usually set at 200+, but you have a special dispensation to go down to Level 100 if required for an initial period.”

I nod and turn to the Battle Tyrant who seems a bit restless.

“Zarithrax?”

“Similar, but no Zone restriction,” he grunts. I like him.

“We will take Australia and New Zealand,” says Taiwo, gesturing to Dhromea and Zarithrax. “A few more will join us.”

I furrow my brow in confusion. That’s definitely not where I would have assigned a Legendary team, but I can take it up with Taiwo later. I create a map of Earth in a large notification window and make a couple of adjustments then offer viewing access to everyone in the room. It’s a lot of ground to cover with a few teams, but nobody knows that better than me from trying to do it by myself or with the Sentinels.

“Calyndra, your team should cover these areas. Rogar, your team should operate here and Webweaver, your team here,” I tell them, indicating North and South America, then Europe and Africa, then Asia respectively. I purposely leave out Iceland; no need to poke that bear.

No arguments or discussion, just acceptance of orders. Then it occurs to me that there are probably no humans in any of their teams and that’s going to make it very challenging for me to locate them or get to wherever they are.

“I won’t be able to Portal to you, but I’ll keep an eye on the biggest conflicts and help out where I can,” I say to try to set expectations. They don’t seem concerned at all.

“Move out,” says B’esloor and all three of them activate some kind of device that I feel with my Affinity briefly before they disappear. It’s just Kauran, Taiwo, Dhromea, Zarithrax, and B’esloor left in the large space.

“Now, for the real reason we’re here,” says Kauran and I blink at him in surprise. He has my full attention.