Over the next week The Crew had sent out the weakest citizens to power level with stronger more offensive ones. The lowest member was now level 5. D and Rob were both level 12. Dave had hit level 10. He was still trying to train that animal with minimal success.

Joe had woken up two days after he was healed. He didn't remember much from the attack, but everyone could tell his family was happy he was still alive. Leah seemed the most reliable healer they had, D would have hate to lose her to sorrow while everything was coming together.

Dan had taken charge of the blacksmith shop and to everyone's surprise he was actually getting pretty good at making bladed weapons. Dave had been either training out in the forest or working with his beast. Rob was now able to scout farther then anyone else. His speed and senses allowed him to travel out alone and come back in one piece. He had found a group of 4 people lead by a women who went by the name Reez. She was level 4 when Rob found her group fighting wild boar for food. They had a small camp set farther down stream from the settlement. D was happy when he brought them back. It was enough to open the rest of the town hall.

The Crew had only briefly explored the contents but Gina was really working hard to get a grasp on what they had. The first parts of the plan were coming together. The settlement as a whole was improving quickly. Ana had crops growing. They still had tons a meat from the horde, the next phase of the plan was where things would get tough. D had explained to The Crew that he wanted to explore father from the settlement. Rob's scouting had brought back some different information. There were strong beasts and monsters out there. Some now we'll above level 10. D hoped to be able to start to bring them down. He wanted to assemble as strong team to go out for a few days. They needed better loot, more powerful weapons and armor. It was hard to gain Exp killing anything below your level they had figured that out pretty quickly after everyone got to level 5. The beasts in the area just weren't enough to keep up the pace D had set in his mind.

Tonight after dinner he would gather Rob and Dave and get some input on who they wanted to work with. It was time to push themselves again. It had been almost two weeks now in this new world. D wanted to push them harder. He just knew more dangers were coming. He wanted to be able to handle them. He wanted to be able to crush monsters or enemies. Crush them not just be able to win, but win so easily it would deter anyone from trying to mess with the citizens of Providence. This was the only way they were going to be able to travel and gain more levels and more power.

D had sent one of the newer members of the settlement to gather Rob and Dave. They met in the barracks. With Joe bad up and able to work he had been building smaller homes for people. They would be ready in the coming weeks. Dave arrived first and sat down waiting on Rob who came in a minute later. D asked anyone else to leave the barracks. It was time for a hard decision.

"I want to go claim the territory that we can see. The others have been claimed. We got our best loot from claiming this one and we need more then that if we're going to thrive. I want both of you to gather two citizens you trust. I'm going to ask Leah and Tiffany to join my group. I suggest you both bring a healer and someone with offensive mana." D said

"Why are we heading out so soon? Things are barely settled here?" Dave asked

"Soon either monsters or beasts will try us again or worse a group of people who could be in our levels. We need to do something big. A few days travel will net us a few levels and also some well needed loot." D responded

"You know I'm down to go but we don't have people to hold another settlement." Rob said

" That's not the plan. We're just taking this one for the rewards and buffs. Then we'll set some traps around it and abandon it. By how far the light is I think we'll be gone for about a week and a half. I'm going to have Dan get everyone ready. We're leaving tomorrow morning. Round up your teams. We need to take steps to always be at the front of the pack. I wasn't the first to reach level 10 but we will be first to all other milestones." D said

"Give us a few hours and we'll report back." Rob said. Rob and Dave shared a look, then stood and left the barracks.

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D went over to the town hall to check Gina's progress on the new areas open to them. As he walked towards the town hall people nodded or waved. The citizens were settling in well for basically an apocalypse world. Everyone was missing family or friends, but they knew this was just how it was going to be now. As D neared the town hall he hoped Gina had some good news on mana cultivation. It was the one area D was pushing for them to grasp more then anything. D didn't knock he just entered the town hall.

"Gina how's it going so far?" He asked

"The cultivation manuals are a little hard to grasp, but we have learned that there are fighting and attack skills people can learn from scrolls we've found. I'm going to put them aside for now. We will be able to get those with non offensive mana to be able to help if we're ever attacked again." Gina said

"We will be attacked again it's just a matter of time. This is now a might makes right world. Someone or something is going to want what we have here and we need to be ready. I would like 3 of the cultivation manuals. One for myself one for Rob and one for Dave to study while we travel." D said

"Travel where? Things are going well here why would you leave?" Gina asked

" We're going to claim the territory stone that's still visible. We need the buffs and loot were going to get from it. I'm taking a team of 9 people only to help with this. Everyone else will be here under your and Dan's lead." D said

"Do you truly think that's wise. If the citizens see the most powerful people leave it will hurt moral." Gina responded

" We have no choice we need more Exp and levels and we've secured the area the best we can. Things are slowing down. We can't stagnate, we have to continue to advance. I can feel it. A challenge is coming we will have to be ready." D said. Gina didn't look pleased but D had saved her family and given them hope in this mess of a world she wouldn't stop him from doing what he felt was best.

D was hoping to take a solid team on this expedition. He knew trouble could pop up at anytime and they would need to be well rounded to handle any threats. As he left the guild hall to walk back to find Rob something strange happened. His vision blacked out and suddenly he could hear a voice.

"My chosen it is time you remember what I have taught you." The voice said

"What the fuck is this who are you? How are you invading my thoughts?" D thought. He was unable to move time seemed to have grinded to a halt and nothing around him seemed in motion. His vision was still dim, but he knew this was real.

"My name is Torok and you were chosen to be my champion. You have done well and your plans are on par with what I would have expected, but I must step in now before you make a mistake. Taking another territory is a good idea, but first you must cultivate your mana. It's strength is greater then you realize. In a moment I will unlock the hold I have on your memory. It will be painful but it is now the time you remember what I taught you."

"Is this what the AI meant by I must have received some training?" D asked

"Yes your spark is strong as it that of your brother and friends. Before you set out you must strengthen your core and brighten your spark. Soon another will come to challenge you. He is of a similar level but his core is stronger. You must defeat him in battle. I expect in three weeks time you will make level 25 and upgrade your race." Torok said

"Listen I dont know how your doing this, but I don't like being controlled. I walk my own path so go ahead and unlock my memory and it seems important I'll do as you ask. If not you can fuck off. No one controls my destiny but me." D said anger fueling his words

D thought he heard a laugh then it felt as if his head exploded. He fell down to his knees. Suddenly his memories flooded back. All his time training in the time dilation chamber. The ways he was taught to see the weakness of beasts and monsters he fought. Then all the pain he had been subjected too. It was as if he could see himself living another life time. He finally could see the face of Torok the one who trained him. He was humanoid but covered in what looked like scales. He remembers the power that radiated off of him. The power he could bring to bare with minimal effort. D could only think of one thing, that one day he would be stronger then this being. That one day they all would be.

The world suddenly came crashing back to normal. D immediately turned around and went rushing back into the town hall. "Gina we should have books on strengthening your mana core. I need them now. I just remembered something important something I should have known from the beginning. Please grab them for me."

"Give me a few minutes I'll get them, are you okay you seem a little off?" Gina asked

"No time to explain please hurry." D said

He ran to the door opened it and yelled to the first person he could see. "Get Rob, Dave, and Dan over here now!"

The man looked shocked to be yelled at. He froze for a moment then jumped to do as he was told. Things were about to change. D knew now that they could fight much stronger beasts and monsters. That soon they would be able to do things they didn't think possible before. A smile crept on his face. This was what had been in the back of his mind eating at him. The pain of remembering was nothing compared to what they were about to do this week. It was going to be painful and exhausting, but it was going to be worth it.