Liam cautiously looked at the dark metal ball-like object, sitting unsuspectingly on the ground ahead. The reflective surface of the sphere was relatively smooth with a few chips. The only other noticeable feature was two grooves etched perfectly parallel in the middle of the sphere. The grooves revealed intricate mechanical components within the outer encasing.
Ordinance’s previous warning had scared him, and he was on guard. But after staring at the sphere for some time, it still remained unmoving.
Liam asked Ordinance in his mind about his earlier warning. “I don’t understand. It doesn’t seem to be doing anything. Didn’t you say it was dangerous? Why didn’t you show me its status window?”
Ding!
Notification: System Error!
…error…code x030…
Attempting to override…
Override failed…
Data corrupted…
Attempting to delete…
Deletion failed…
Isolating…
Isolation complete.
Designation ‘ordinance’ temporarily offline…
Rebooting…
The notification alarmed Liam. He worried that something was wrong with Ordinance, but was uncertain what caused him to go offline. He questioned Ordinance through his mind.
“Ordinance? Hey. Are you okay? What’s going on?”
Silence. His summon didn’t respond.
The sinking feeling in his stomach slowly grew and churned. The familiar sense of anxiety washed over him. In an abrupt moment, he felt powerless, unable to help.
“Ordinance?! What’s wrong?! Respond!”
Ordinance remained offline. Liam warily gazed back at the innocent-looking sphere.
Ledros observed Liam, waiting for a reaction. However, nothing happened. So he spoke to Liam.
“WELL, TOWER MINION? ARE YOU GOING TO USE MY SOLUTION OR NOT?”
Liam didn’t know what to do. He was uncertain, but he felt the harmless-looking sphere had something to do with Ordinance going offline. Cautious and confused, he asked Ledros for more information.
“What is that item? What does it do, and what am I supposed to do with this item?”
“IT IS NOT AN ITEM. IT IS A SUMMON YOUR NEW SUMMON. I FOUND IT A LONG TIME AGO. AROUND THE SAME TIME I MET ORDINANCE.”
Liam glanced back at the small metal ball. He knew lifeforms could be unique, coming in all shapes and sizes, but the sphere looked inorganic. Liam had never seen anything without flesh being alive.
“That’s a summon? Really? And how do you know Ordinance? Are the two related?”
“OF COURSE IT'S A SUMMON. NON-CREATIONS ARE DIFFERENT, IS ALL. SHOULDN’T YOU KNOW THAT BEST? ORDINANCE IS ALSO DIFFERENT IN THE SAME REGARD.
REGARDING ORDINANCE, WE’VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME. MUCH TOO LONG. TO ANSWER YOUR LAST QUESTION, I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO. WHY DON'T YOU ASK YOUR SUMMON?”
“He’s not responding.”
“… INTERESTING… YET PECULIAR AND STRANGE, VERY UNLIKE ORDINANCE… CURIOUS…
THOUGH I HAVE TO SAY HE IS RATHER POUTY… LET HIM POUT…
ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE MY SOLUTION? YOU HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS CURRENTLY FOR YOUR SECOND SUMMON, CORRECT?”
“But what am I supposed to do? How do I contract it?”
“I DON'T KNOW. I ONLY FOUND IT. IT’S NOT MY FOLLOWER. IT IS MINE SINCE I FOUND IT. I COULDN'T UNRAVEL ITS SECRET. HOWEVER, I FELT SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT’S SIMILAR TO YOU. MAYBE IF YOU INJECT IT WITH YOUR SOUL ENERGY?”
Liam stepped forward and picked up the metallic sphere with one hand, but the sphere was heavier than it looked. Liam used both hands to lift the ball and examined it.
“MASTER! DROP IT IMMEDIATELY!” Ordinance came back online and shouted at Liam.
Liam dropped the sphere and had to jump away, as not to get his feet crushed.
“Ordinance! You’re back! What happened? There was a notification window saying something about an error.”
“Master, I am fine. However, that sphere is dangerous! I’m not sure which version it is, but regardless, all types of Corruption agents are dangerous.”
“Why is it dangerous? How do you know? Ledros said he found it around the same time he met you. Is it related to you?”
“Corruption agents consume living beings. I partially analyzed the sphere upon sight and found it was a type of Corruption agent. However, while analyzing, the function pulled up a corrupted memory file, which caused the reboot. Luckily, I isolated the corrupted file without tainting anything else. That memory also allowed me to partially recall a fragment of my past.”
Liam looked at his hands and then at the unsuspecting metal ball. He finally understood why Ordinance deemed the ball dangerous. Leaving the ball aside, Liam focused on Ordinance and his explanation.
“You recalled something from your past!? What did you remember?”
Ding!
***
System Notification: Ability recovered: Remote Authority
***
Loading system function … partially failed
***
“I am Ordinance, a moderator system presiding over Anti-Corruption agents. I can’t recall any more than that. However, I also recovered another system ability: Remote Authority. However, the function is still not completely restored. We can slowly recover it with origin energy.”
“Do you have other abilities? What does this one do?”
“Yes, I believe I have other abilities. However, the corrupted abilities were isolated and locked. The number is uncertain. We can awaken them. However, I am uncertain if I can contain the corrupted data from spreading. For now, only Remote Authority is currently safe. The ability allows me to override and control Anti-Corruption agents.”
Liam was stunned by Ordinance’s recollection of his fragmented past. He continued asking Ordinance. “What is the Anti-Corruption, and what do they do?”
“The data is incomplete, master. From the little available information, the Anit-Corruption agents were developed using Corruptors as a base. However, our main function is to destroy the Corruption agents.”
“Do you know who created you? And the reason why you destroy the Corruption?”
“No, master. No other information is available.”
Liam couldn’t piece everything together, but he knew he was getting into something bigger. However, he focused on his immediate issue at hand.
“Is it safe for you to show me the status window of that sphere thing? Would it be correct to call it a creature?”
“All types of Corruption agents are not living until they consume biomass. That is the reason you should not handle them. However, once the Corruption agents do, they will incorporate the absorbed data and evolve. At that point, the Corruption agents become hybrid organic and inorganic beings. Calling Corruptions agents creatures at that point would technically be correct. I will now pull up the status window, as analyzing the creature is no longer risky since the corrupted memory file has been isolated.”
Ding!
System Function: Analyze
Name: Beta002
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Stage: 1
Species: Anti-Corruptor
Subspecies: none
Stats:
Strength: 0
Agility: 0
Dexterity: 0
Intelligence: 10
Willpower: 0
Aligned Elements:
None
***
Other Elements:
Chaos: 1
Skills:
Devour stage 1
Extract stage 1
?
Evolution Paths / Ratings:
?
Liam looked at the stats but was taken aback by the supposed dangerous little ball of metal. Confused by the lack of stats, he commented, “there’s not much on the status window. Is that normal?”
“This Anti-Corruption agent is rare, master. It has never initialized and awakened. As it is currently weak and defenseless, I can see why Ledros determined this would be a viable solution. The current powerless status of Beta002 will allow you to contract it with your second soul house. With Remote Authority, contracting the Anti-Corruption agent should be much easier and with little risks.”
“I AM GROWING IMPATIENT, TOWER MINION! WHAT DID YOU DECIDE!? DID YOUR SUMMON COME BACK AND REFUSE MY PROPOSAL?” Ledros shouted at Liam.
“I will take your offer, Lord Ledros!” Ordinance is working on it right now.”
Ding! Ordinance used his ability, Remote Authority.
The metal sphere started to rock back and forth as Ordinance took control of it.
“Master! Please select yes on the following prompt quickly! I awakened Beta002, and it’s resisting my control!”
Ding!
***
System Notification
***
Would you like to bind Beta002 to the second soul house?
[Yes] [No]
***
Liam quickly selected yes, and the ball of metal converted into streaks of light, flying into the crack of space in front of Liam. Liam closed his eyes, focusing on his third eye and soul palace. Observing his soul palace, he saw a faint yellow glow coming from his second soul house. The loud voice of Ledros brought Liam’s attention back to the world outside.
“HA! THAT ACTUALLY WORKED?”
Liam was shocked at Ledros’s comment. “What do you mean? Did you think it would not work?”
“I FELT IT WOULD! YOU AND THAT BALL OF MINE HAVE A SIMILAR MECHANICAL AURA. HOWEVER, I DID HAVE IT FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, WITH NO ONE EVER MAKING IT REACT. I DOUBTED AT FIRST, SEEING AS YOU TOUCHED IT WITH NO REACTION EITHER.”
Liam cursed Ledros in his head. The entity was purely speculating and experimenting with him. Still, he didn’t voice out his complaints, but he did ask more about himself.
“What do you mean by mechanical? How can I have a mechanical aura?”
“AURA, FEELING, SEMBLANCE, QUALITY… CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL. I CAN NOT PINPOINT WHAT EXACTLY IT IS, BUT IT IS FOREIGN TO CREATION.”
Liam remembered his time going over his status page with Ordinance.
He learned the reason why he couldn’t contract normally. His unknown subspecies running through his blood was the culprit, and likely what Ledros was referring to. It disallowed him to have any affinity over the elements of creation, making him unable to contract summons from entities of this universe.
Unable to figure out the mystery, Liam focused on his current situation. Even if he was a guinea pig, the deal with Ledros was now fulfilled.
“OUR AGREEMENT HAS BEEN COMPLETED. IF YOU WANT ANOTHER CONTRACT FROM ME, MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A BETTER SOUL HOUSE! THAT SHOULD BE STANDARD AND NOT REQUIRE MY REMINDER. ALSO, BRING ME SYMBOLS OF THE DAEMODS AND SEPHARATH! THE NEXT TIME WILL NOT BE SO EASY!”
A snap was heard echoing in the darkness, and Liam transferred back to the fifth floor of the Tower. Looking around, he saw Luke and Darrel quarreling while Hansel lay on his side, sleeping. The other guilds had long left.
Seeing Liam back, Luke stopped bickering with Darrel and rushed excitedly toward Liam.
“Hey! Took you long enough! You must have gotten something really good! You took almost three times as long as everyone else! How was the trial?”
Liam shyly looked away. He got a summon, a physical one at that too. But it was the summon with the weakest stats he’d seen so far. Luke took his reaction as a bad sign and patted his back.
“Hey, it’s okay! No worries! You’re part of the guild now! You don’t need a summon that can be called out. We’ll take care of each other!”
Liam shook his head, “I did get something that can be called out, but it’s just…” Liam sighed. “Here I’ll show you.”
Liam called forth his new summon. “Come forth! Beta002!”
A fracture in space appeared before Liam, and the metallic sphere rolled out and dropped to the ground with a loud thud from its weight. The once inanimate sphere now actively and lively talked, rolling around. The parallel grooves glowed a soft yellow, illuminating its internal mechanical components. It angrily spoke in a young man’s voice.
“Where is he?! Where is he?! Is it you?!” Beta was bitter and slowly rolled over to Luke. “How dare you force slavery upon me! Take this! And this!”
The round ball rolled back and forth, tapping at Luke’s shoe.
Luke turned and seriously looked at Liam. “Can I kick it?”
Liam bent down and picked up his new summon. “No! You can’t kick my summon! Can I kick yours?!”
“It looked like it wanted to be kicked. Doesn’t it remind you of our ball we used to kick around back in the day?”
Darrel walked over, amazed at Beta002. “You fool! Can’t you see it’s talking?! It’s highly intelligent! How many first-time summons can actually speak, and so coherently at that?! And you wanted to kick it?!”
Darrel marveled at the rocking sphere in Liam’s hand. However, Beta002 was not displaying a marvelous sight.
“Are you the one?! Are you my master?! Take this and this!” Liam glanced down at his new summon, rolling around in his hand. Ordinance’s stern voice reprimanded the new summon, connecting to Liam and Beta002’s minds.
“Behave yourself, Beta002! You’re in the presence of our master! How dare you be so unruly!”
“It’s you!” Beta002 shouted out in horror. “Where are you!? Get away from me, demon spawn!”
Luke and Darrel looked confused by Beta002’s comments. However, Hansel gave a questioning look at Liam. He pondered deeply about Liam’s first summon, but his second summon was a huge surprise as well for its small figure.
Ding!
Annoyed, Ordinance took control of the new summon and spoke to Beta002.
“Until you learn to behave yourself, I will be in control of your body. Your name is annoying and will now be designated Beta for short.”
Beta resisted, “No! Let me go! You can’t do this to me! I won’t allow it!”
“Master, please allow me to temporarily wield Beta’s body.”
Liam nodded and agreed. Now that Beta was under Liam’s authority, Ordinance had a much easier time dominating Beta.
The voice originating from the metal sphere changed into Ordinance’s refined manner of speaking, shocking the others around.
“Greetings. Please ignore my earlier disturbance. I am Beta002. You can call me Beta for short. I look forward to working with you all.”
Luke really thought a demon took over Liam’s summon for its earlier statement.
“Hey! Is it okay, Liam? Where’d the rowdy guy go? Who’s this classy demon?”
Liam made something on the spot, not wanting to reveal Ordinance to everyone. “Oh! This is its split personality Beta002. Beta001 was placed on time-out for its bad behavior.”
Luke's face gleamed with curiosity. “Oh, how cool! Your summon is like a two-for-one deal! Wow, you got lucky, Liam!”
Liam felt uncertain about Luke’s claim, but he was happy to get something at all.
Lady Gwendell interrupted their conversation with a serious voice. “Liam, correct? Show me your summon immediately.”
Lady Gwendell’s demanding tone startled the group. Her soft and gentle demeanor disappeared, no longer present. Hansel was especially surprised. Very rarely had he seen Lady Gwendell agitated. The number of times the Lady was in such a state could be counted on one hand.
Liam glanced up at the statue of Lady Gwendell and was in utter shock. He blushed and looked away. Her beautiful face had a large gash running from the side of her cheek down across her bosom to the side of her stomach. Liam tried to focus on her face and instinctually asked Lady Gwendell if she was alright.
“My Lady, how did you get wounded? Are you okay?”
“Yes, it is a slight problem. However, it was my own doing. I offended someone I should not have offended. The curse will take time to dispel. Worry not. I need to see your new summon. Lift it for me to see.”
The group was shocked to hear Lady Gwendell was not omnipotent. The others didn’t know, but Hansel knew there were higher powers. However, Lady Gwendell’s could be considered a part of the higher powers. He wondered who she could have offended to leave a wound without any retaliation from her. However, he had an inkling the entire ordeal related to Liam.
Liam complied with Lady Gwendell’s request and showed her Beta’s metal spherical body.
“… it looks slightly different…” the Lady said to herself.
“Do you know what it is? Did the Rule of Twilight say anything?”
“No, he said he found it is all.” Liam didn’t want to give too much information and probed the Lady for more.
“Could you tell me more about it, Lady Gwendell?”
She looked icily at Beta’s body. “It looks very similar to a horrid nightmare I am very familiar with. However, it’s clearly not the same. If not for the yellow glow, emanating from within, I would have destroyed it on the spot. I know of some Anti-Corruptors, and they glow yellow. However, I am wary of all of them.”
The Lady looked back at Liam and continued. “There are creatures called the Corruption, vile abominations that consume Creation. They look similar except they glow red. They may all come from the same origin due to their similarities, but I’m not sure. We do not know where they come from, but they are a threat to all of existence. I pray my evaluation is correct, and your summon is not part of the Corruption.”
Liam was surprised at how much the Lady knew. She seemed to know more but stopped explaining and addressed the group.
“I must rest and recover. Feel free to stay until you are ready to leave.” She glanced back at Liam and gave him one last piece of information.
“I do not know why the Ruler of Twilight took interest in you, young Liam. However, be wary. He has dealings with the Dungeon Heathens and cannot be trusted. Now with the Corruption, I question why he had your summon in his possession. Even the supreme entities are wary of them. You will benefit from being careful. I must go now.”
Liam was unsure of all the events that occurred. He looked at Beta’s body, uncertain of the future. Luke clapped his back in excitement.
“The Tower is afraid of your summon, Liam! That means the dinky ball is powerful! I can’t wait to see what it can do! We should hurry back and also get our new soul skills evaluated!”
Liam had forgotten about the soul skill that came along. He put it aside for later as Hansel walked towards him.
“You’re full of surprises, Liam! Pulling you into the guild was brilliant thinking.” He looked back at the group. “Now, let’s go home! We have a long journey back. We’ll have you guys get used to your second summons by the time we leave the Tower. Let’s go!”