The sturdy metal cup I hold in my hand crumples like a tin can as the sight of Jon and so many others flash through my mind. As always, physically I feel at my absolute peak, so far beyond normal human range it’s not really even comparable. Even though I think my Mana Interface and the Mana have been helping all of us cope since the Influx, my mental and emotional condition are not nearly as good.
I sit alone at a sleek, black metal table in a small self-service restaurant not far from Finn and Alana’s place. There’s nobody here but me; even the food of synthesized meats, cloned vegetables, and nutrient-rich broth that provide small, temporary boosts to Attributes is served by a faceless robot that accepts my Credits. A low-level field of magic that encourages good moods and passivity hums through the air in the same way train stations used to play classical music, but it would roll off me even if I wasn’t immune to its effects.
Only an hour has passed since Jeff and I pulled the last humans out of Iceland. I know I need to put this behind me, to get on with the next fight and not just sit here thinking about Jon and the blow I just delivered to humans across the world. I know there’s nothing I can really do about Hvitserkur and despite what Zarithrax said, maybe it’s not actually my problem to solve. I took my shot and it fell way, way short.
I throw the cup away in disgust and take a second glance as it rockets right through the wall like a bullet in an explosion and shower of debris. Fuck.
Unsure what to do or how to feel, I trigger Omnipresent and look at the conflicts and threats all over the world. So many. Hundreds of thousands of times too many to make a difference to all of them. Like at the end of my Class quest, I don’t really have a choice. I just have to count on humanity to Level up and fight and win, and do what I can for everyone that’s fallen, especially the ones that have fallen because of me.
“Still in a funk?” Jeff asks from the doorway. It’s impossible for anyone to sneak up on me now with my Perception, but I was hoping he would just pass by. “Saw the cup blow through the wall on my way over… bet the Yankees would have signed you in a second.”
“Now’s not the time, Jeff.”
“Actually Bronwic, now is exactly the time. Stop being so fucking arrogant and thinking the world revolves around you. Jon made his choices, and so did everyone else including me. We knew it was risky… that thing is over Level 500 for God’s sake! You’ve done more to save more of humanity than anyone else, and even if you make a bunch of huge fuck ups - and I’m not saying this was your fuck up - you’re still way up in the win column.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” I reply as Jeff sits down a couple tables away on a seat that groans in protest. “Sometimes I just want it to stop. To not have to deal with all of this, all of the time.”
I finally look up at him and see his dark complexion looking at me without any judgment. Just like always, all the way back to the first time we met in Fish Creek when I left those Adventurers to save Carter’s family. I’m not really sure why he hasn’t fully gone his own way already. He’s established a new Class, he’s building something in Somerset that seems positive.
“Why are you here?” I ask him.
“To make sure your dumb ass doesn’t do something stupid,” he growls at me with a glower.
“No, I mean… why aren’t you in Somerset or somewhere else? Why are you here?”
Suddenly I feel only the barest whisper, a faint twisting of space, with my Affinity. My Danger Sense rockets off the charts and I leap out of my chair, sending the table flying. Foresight is silent but every fiber of my mind and body is on high alert.
“Bronwic?” shouts Jeff and he spins out of his chair into full combat readiness within a split second, instincts now finely tuned to danger. We’ve been together more than long enough for him to know I’m usually the first one to know when the shit’s going to hit the fan.
Without so much as a Portal, Tenebris appears before us. His presence is immense, like a mountain just appeared to loom over us while we endure the heat of the sun. His dark, scaly skin ripples as his draconian form settles again into the shape I’m familiar with. Jeff falls to one knee with his arms raised to defend himself, and out of the corner of my eye I see all his defensive Skills flare at once.
Fear effect resisted
Mental influence resisted
Then, as suddenly as the pressure hit us like an avalanche, it’s gone as Tenebris drops or restrains whatever could only be stopped by Unbreakable. Tenebris locks eyes with me for a split second then appears to lose focus, concentrating on something else. Almost immediately his attention returns to me.
“Hvitserkur is still on your world,” he states to me while his nostrils flare in a tone I interpret as curiosity and judgment. He exhales a sharp breath and glances at Jeff, who is back on his feet and cautiously watches us with no Skills active, looking like he’s ready to bolt or surrender. It sticks in my mind because it’s so far away from everything about Jeff and I’m sure it’s exactly how I’d be if it wasn’t for my Resistances. Just the enormous presence of Tenebris is enough to activate our lizard brains despite our own power and Levels.
“We tried,” I tell him. I try to keep my tone neutral but the anger and frustration bleed through. “Hvitserkur killed some of the most powerful humans and we didn’t even come close to taking him out. He almost killed me.”
Tenebris looks in the distance again, calling on some kind of Skills or abilities.
“The Mana Influx has forced humanity to progress far beyond most species, or die. Perhaps, though, I have overestimated your capability. As a percentage there are far, far more humans that have surpassed their Basic Class than on other worlds and in time you could truly become a Galactic force. The two of you and others will need to progress further and faster, though. There are already a lot of Ascended eyes that have passed over this planet.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Can you… help us?” I ask.
Part of me knows the answer must be ‘no’; surely a creature like Tenebris with interests all over the Universe doesn’t have time to spend on a task like this. And yet, he stands before us rather than somewhere else. Jeff and I stand waiting for a while as Tenebris clearly works through notifications at high speed. We exchange a look that makes it clear to me Jeff is also surprised the answer is not an immediate ‘no’, and that he’s more uncomfortable in the same room as Tenebris than I am. Eventually Tenebris subtly shifts his attention back to me and my senses dial up to 11.
“I am willing to do this in exchange for something, but Hvitserkur is not why I am here. Perhaps it could be a fair exchange.”
I see Jeff shift out of the corner of my eye as a flood of hope and curiosity fills me. Tenebris pauses for a few seconds and then sends a notification to me.
Tenebris Arawan offers you a Contract to pass him all your existing Settlements in the South Island of New Zealand. In exchange, Tenebris will kill or remove Hvitserkur from Earth for a period in excess of ten Earth years, within 1 Earth hour from Contract signing completion.
Review terms and penalties?
(Y/N)
Accept the Contract?
(Y/N)
I accept the Contract without looking at it. If Tenebris truly can kill or remove Hvitserkur, what conditions or penalties could be worse than the death I barely escaped only a couple of hours ago? We’ve already thrown a massive chunk of humanity’s firepower at the Rock Troll and come up woefully short. How many more like Jon would have to die to try again? How many will die if I don’t accept the conditions? My Settlements in the South Island are deserted now and there are no Settlements I don’t own.
“Thank you, Tenebris,” I say with genuine feeling.
“What did you do, Bronwic?” asks Jeff with concern in his eyes.
“Made a deal. A very fair one since whether I manage to complete my side of the bargain or not, Hvitserkur will be gone.”
“Show me,” says Jeff.
“Enough!” says Tenebris with a gesture and a slight weight from his presence. Even that is enough to cause both Jeff and I to take a step back. “On your own time.”
I flick the note to Jeff while I turn my attention completely to Tenebris.
“Do you mind if I ask, why the Settlements in New Zealand?” I ask Tenebris, making sure my tone doesn’t stray from curious, even though I feel trepidation. I can’t imagine someone like Tenebris visits people like me for trivial reasons.
“I will establish an Academy and training area covering the whole island. Perhaps in time humans will be allowed into the Academy and on the island again. Particularly the one you gave my armor. He has my interest.”
“Wait, Logan?”
“The boy could become very powerful and is already known to the Researchers on your planet. Another time, Bronwic, I must fulfil my part of our deal, then you will not see me for some time. One last thing, I need you to win this round of the Koldaavi Combat Trials. Our interests are aligned in this due to the nature of the rewards for winning. Despite your unusual Class, you will need more Levels and more of your Skills to do it. Until the tournament I require to Level as fast as you can.”
Researchers after Logan? What does that mean? And I wonder if Tenebris knows about the fact I Level faster than people who got to Legendary Class the hard way, even without my 20% XP bonus. Unlikely, but I also don’t discount or underestimate anything when it comes to the powerful being before me.
“Why win?” I dare ask. “You’re one of the most powerful individuals in the Universe. Why not spend time on building your empire, or on things that interest you, or even winning the Ascended version of the Koldaavi Combat Trials, if there is one?”
Tenebris doesn’t seem offended at this question and even huffs from his dragon-like nostrils. He glances at Jeff then back at me, as if deciding whether to answer.
“Right now, I’m doing all three.”
I reel at the implications of that, more questions coming to mind, but Tenebris disappears with that whisper my Affinity can sense. No Portal, no Skill I could detect. Nothing. I woder if he’s merely turned invisible, but my Perception can’t locate him with any of my sensess.
A huge weight lifts off the shoulders of both Jeff and I and we both release a big breath at the same time, letting go of some of the tension we hold, then Jeff laughs.
“How the fuck do you get yourself into these situations, Bronwic? I mean, not just the craziness. It sounds like you just saved all of humanity from a massive threat we can’t hope to win. Again.”
I shake my head, a string of situations that led to this point flashing through my mind. So many times things could have ended differently, but I guess that’s the same for everyone all the time.
“A long, complicated series of unfortunate events,” I manage.
“It’s why I love hanging around you, dude. Always in the action. Always something different, riding by the seat of my pants and on the edge of death. Except that one time I was totally blown out just before you got your Class. That time, I needed a beer and a lie down.”
He’s so genuine and energetic that I can’t help but laugh despite everything.
“I’ve missed you,” I tell him simply.
Jeff nods in agreement.
“What do you think I should do?” I ask.
“I think if one of the most powerful beings in the Universe takes the time to give you a some advice, you don’t think about it - you just do it.”
Jeff closes the distance between us and places his right hand on my shoulder. Suddenly and unexpectedly it’s now the serious Jeff that only comes out when things are heavy.
“You want me to come? To fight with you and gain the Levels you need?” he asks while looking me in the eyes, and I know he’s not just talking about a Dungeon dive or two. It’s a good but unusual feeling to know he would drop everything and go somewhere else in the Universe with me, into the unknown with no way back to Earth if I don’t make it. Reminds me of Tatiana throwing herself through any Portal I open, fully committed to whatever path I decide on.
“Yeah, mate. I do. I really do. But you have a lot going on and even though you’re the toughest bastard I know, I’m going to have to put myself in situations where only my regeneration can cope, if I want to progress as fast as possible.”
Jeff looks thoughtful as he obviously wrestles with agreeing with me and arguing with me. Seeing it makes my mind up.
“Stay here, mate. Do what you can with your Knights and I promise if there’s a situation I need you and I have the chance, I’ll open a Portal.”
“Not the first time you’ve taken off on your own,” he says with a grin. “Take care of yourself. Watch your back.”
I nod and wonder to myself what’s going to come next.
Time to find out.