The Tower Trader disappeared as swiftly as he had come, leaving Scott alone with more questions than answers. Staring blankly into the distance, Scott’s mind raced. So, it’s just as Orion suspected—time flows differently here. But… why do I feel like that guy wants me gone? He couldn’t quite shake the feeling. He didn’t know how many years had passed in the outside timelines or how much had changed for Zara and the others. Despite his hardened resolve, a trace of unease lingered, a rarity he seldom felt.
“Orion, I ran into the Tower Trader,” Scott said over their private channel.
“Oh? And?”
“You were right. He confirmed this place exists beyond time’s confines. He hinted that the others have been through a lot over the last couple of years. Then he vanished before I could ask specifics.”
Silence followed Scott’s words until Orion finally broke it. “Quite the predicament,” he mused. “So, what do you want to do? We could stay, or we could leave through your domain. Either way, I’m with you.”
Scott paused, deep in thought. Is there even a point to staying? He weighed the Nameless One’s warning against his desire to rejoin his companions. Would becoming a Territorial Lord truly help us? His brows furrowed as questions clashed in his mind.
“Give me a moment. I need to confirm something,” Scott said, disconnecting before Orion could respond.
Alone in the dark, tendrils emerged, winding around Scott and drawing him deeper into the endless void. He felt his form dissipate, merging seamlessly with the nihility surrounding him, leaving behind only a formless consciousness.
“I seek an audience with you!” he called, the words reverberating through the vast darkness. He didn’t know how he spoke here, but he’d learned to project his voice in this place after his time cast adrift within it.
“If you leave the Endless Bridge, you and your companions will perish,” a commanding voice answered, each word powerful and final. “You are not ready to face those who hunt you. Do not heed Arcanis’ guileful words! Carcosa will protect your companions; your focus must be on growing stronger.”
Then, with an abrupt finality, Scott found himself ejected from the nihility. The presence behind the voice left no room for debate.
What in the hell is going on? Scott’s thoughts reeled. He had always believed he’d ended up on the Endless Bridge by chance, but now… he wasn’t so sure.
“Orion, we’re staying,” Scott announced over the channel.
“Works for me. Any changes in the rankings?”
“Not yet. I’ll keep you updated.”
Scott’s gaze wandered over the portals from which his chains extended, lingering on one as it began to reel in whatever it had ensnared. In seconds, the chains drew forth a lopsided, meaty creature—a being of rolling folds and glistening eyes, too many to count, each one shimmering like a distant star.
The creature paused, surveying its new surroundings before its eyes fixed on Scott, widening with what could only be described as shock. Scott noticed the creature’s eyes flashing with a strange, twisted symbol—a yellow sign intertwined with blackened tendrils. The creature scrambled forward, its numerous eyes bulging as it hurtled out of the shadows, chains rattling in its wake, leaving a wet, sloshing trail in its stride.
What the hell is that thing? Scott shook off the question, taking a step forward. Answers could come later—he had a job to do.
With each of Scott’s steps, the nihilistic zone expanded, devouring the corpses scattered across the ground and consuming anyone foolish or bold enough to wander into its depths. A faint, chilling jingle echoed from afar, and Scott paused, realizing it came from the same direction the recent abomination had fled.
Suddenly, his vision blurred, and he stumbled. What the… Before he could gather his bearings, his perspective splintered. He could see through countless angles, observing thousands of champions, each as if through multiple eyes. Stranger still, all those champions were staring back at him, their pupils flashing with the ominous yellow sign as they stood in dazed reverie.
Scott blinked, and he found himself moving through layers of illusions—the same illusions entrapping each champion unfortunate enough to meet the gaze of the multi-eyed entity now casually strolling across the battlefield. Blinking again, his vision cleared, and the dizziness faded. Which one of these abominations has the most twisted abilities? he mused, pressing forward. They’re just trapped in an illusion now, not in any real danger.
With a subtle tug on the chains, Scott directed the one-eyed triangular entity and a tentacled creature spewing noxious gas toward the hypnotized champions entrapped by the multi-eyed abomination’s illusions. Notifications flooded his interface, but he dismissed them, unmoved by anything short of new information. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of champions had fallen by his hand or indirectly through the unleashed horrors, their numbers escalating by the second.
“Um, Scott… is that—”
“Yeah, the multi-eyed freak’s mine,” Scott replied, cutting Orion off. “Don’t worry; it won’t target you, but your clones might be at risk. Only those marked with the imprint of madness are safe.”
“Oh? Good to know. When this is all over, let me collect a few samples, okay?” Orion’s giggles reverberated over the channel.
Scott merely exited the private chat, striding onward, expanding the nihilistic zone’s reach further. While the abominations unleashed carnage, Scott was the silent reaper who swept up behind them.
You have slain numerous champions! You are approaching the 2000th rank on the Territorial Ranking! Congratulations! You have attained the minimum requirements to be ranked on the Territorial Ranking! Current Rank: 2000th Warning! Holders of the lowest rank will be stripped of their title if they do not establish and upgrade their territory! Congratulations! You are now entitled to the authority of a Territorial Lord!
A sapphire ring manifested suddenly on Scott’s left index finger, adorned with intricate runes, and he could clearly make out the words, 18th Order of the Mad Throne.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
You have caused the highest number of deaths within the neutral territory formerly known as the Plague Field! You have earned the right to claim this location as your territory! Do you wish to claim this location as your territory? Yes! No!
Scott’s gaze lingered on the flashing prompt, a thin smile curving his lips.
“Scott, you’re not going to believe this,” came Orion’s voice over the private channel, excitement barely restrained.
Did he become a Territorial Lord too? Scott wondered. “I was about to message you myself, but go ahead. What’s up?”
“Hello.” The voice that came over the channel was both familiar and different, light and innocent, like that of a child.
Scott’s brows shot up in recognition. “Fi-Fi?” he asked, startled.
“Yes,” the voice replied, sounding exactly as he remembered, full of naive wonder.
Orion’s chuckles echoed in the background. Scott could imagine the many questions he’d have for Fi-Fi and the samples he’d try to collect. Is Fi-Fi still an elemental slime? he wondered. She had been undergoing mutations for so long, it was impossible to say.
“How are you feeling?” Scott asked, genuinely curious.
“Fi-Fi feels like Fi-Fi, but also… not like Fi-Fi. How long has Fi-Fi been asleep?”
Scott wore a wry smile. Some things haven’t changed.
“Only Orion can give you an exact timeline, but it’s been a while, and a lot has happened since. Don’t worry, he’ll catch you up. Welcome back.”
“Fi-Fi is happy to be back,” she chirped, “but Fi-Fi wants a party!”
Scott didn’t know how to respond. Fi-Fi had just awoken in the middle of a battlefield teeming with chaos and destruction yet seemed more interested in celebrating than fighting.
“I’m sure we can arrange that,” Scott said after a brief pause. “You’ve been out of action for a while, so take it easy. Avoid any unnecessary battles unless you’re confident. Focus on getting used to your new form and abilities.”
“Thank you.” Fi-Fi’s voice faded from the channel.
“So, mentioned something about wanting to message me. What happened?” Orion’s voice chimed in next.
“I did it,” Scott replied.
A sharp gasp followed before Orion erupted into laughter. “No way! Tell me everything! I didn’t even have a chance to look over the notifications when I became one. Give me the full rundown!”
“We’ll talk about it later. Right now, I’m planning to claim this place as my territory.”
“Wait, you can actually do that?”
Scott’s gaze lingered on the notification seeking his approval. “Yes, I can. Though, I’m not entirely sure what all this ‘authority of a territorial lord’ entails.”
“Well, if you do make it your territory, I guess you’ll find out soon enough. Where are you? We’re coming over,” Orion replied, his tone eager.
“Not yet,” Scott interjected. “For now, keep an eye on Fi-Fi. I’ll join you both soon.”
Scott closed the channel before Orion could respond. He looked back at the notification and, with only a moment’s hesitation, tapped Yes.
Congratulations! You are now the owner of this territory! Congratulations! You wield absolute control over two territories! Current Rank: 1999th
Congratulations! As a Territorial Lord, you have unlocked the following privileges: Privileges Unrestrained right to use your affiliated authority within your territory and in territorial wars with other lords. Control over access to your territory, with the right to grant, restrict, or banish others—though this is forfeited during invasions by other lords. Full control over timeline links within your territory. Only those with your authority may enter or exit. Battlefield Selection: You may choose an unclaimed location as the battlefield for territorial wars, with agreement from all warring lords. Note: In the scenario where an unclaimed territory is captured by a new territorial lord not affiliated with the warring factions, they have the right to slay or pardon all beings within their territory if they’re powerful enough. Authority Sharing: You can share your authority with subordinates or transfer territorial ownership to another champion, though unranked champions won’t gain full benefits. Omnipresence: Nothing within your territory can escape your sight.
Congratulations! You now have the right to contest for the rulership of the Endless Bridge! Note: Only Territorial Lords ranked 11-1999 are eligible to compete. Territorial Lords will be seeded by their rankings.
A grin spread across Scott’s face. Omnipresence, huh? As soon as he thought of it, his awareness expanded, pinpointing Orion and Fi-Fi’s exact location amidst the chaotic battlefield. Every champion in the area appeared in his mind at once—each movement, every pulse of energy, as clear as if he were standing beside them.
“Scott, I can feel those vibrations again,” Orion’s voice cut through the channel. “You really did it.”
Before Scott could respond, a new system notification flashed before him.
Please choose a sigil to represent your territories!
As soon as Scott lay eyes on the message, the transformed yellow sign appeared on the blue screen, and another notification followed.
Your sigil has been recorded!
What the hell was that? Scott frowned. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d overlooked something important.
“Buddy? Can you hear me?” Slim’s voice echoed across the general channel. “We got your message. We just arrived. Where are you guys?”
~Book 3 End~