~~~Stanley~~~
Zeke's aura was definitely getting stronger, and its soothing effect was even enough to let Stanley forget about Bernard's bullshit. Briefly.
"...whole lair in only an hour!" Zeke didn't seem to care about the situation he'd walked into, and Stanley wondered for the first time if the kid felt the same thing everyone else did from his aura. Was he walking around basically high all the time?
Eve must have built up a tolerance to the aura, because she was her usual angry self as she alternated between glowering at Stanley and at all the curious people who'd come to see what the commotion was about.
Honestly, it was a little upsetting to feel how calm most of them were. It was almost like they were getting used to him... with only a dozen or so actually worried. Mostly all Bernard's people, too. Though even they were calming down after their idiotic leader whispered something...
Nate was talking to the bastard—the fucker! How dare he mention Samantha!? First, he threatened to take Stanley’s food. Now he was insulting Samantha. It was like he wanted to die. Every time they talked, the idiot fuck did his damnedest to get killed...
At least his soul was afraid. Finally. Maybe he'd realized that his little game of pretending to be a soldier didn't actually mean shit in real life. It didn't matter if people called him a general or if he called them officers or whatever. All that mattered in this world was power. Real power.
Teamwork was just a meaningless word if your teammates didn't have actual power to back them up... so, of course, now Nate wanted to make another team. Was it the same team Bernard had been so graciously and generously offering to allow Stanley to lead? His soul had done some weird things when Nate made the offer...
Bernard's soul was still doing weird things as Nate loudly thanked him for being a useless fuck. Why did the guy feel like he'd lost something? He was still alive. What more did the greedy shit want!?
Caffeine whined and licked his chin, so Stanley looked away from the annoying moron. "You're a good boy, Caff," he whispered into the dog's fur. "Sorry I pushed you away like that, but I didn't want you in the vacuum."
It hadn't hurt nearly as much as he'd expected, which made sense given that he was E-grade. It had also proven how laughably easy it was to completely disarm someone with wind magic. What was the point of controlling an element if you couldn't even hold onto it when you needed it most? Psionic was obviously a way better class. He didn't need anything other than his mind to fight.
Zeke finally finished his story about his day of hunting, and Stanley mustered up a smile and a soft, "You're doing great, Zeke." Then he remembered the boy's other issue. "You ever find any non-class skills you can learn?"
"No," Zeke said, losing some of his irrepressible cheer and earning Stanley a fresh glare from his sister. Then his smile returned in full force. "But I don't mind! Being able to help so many people here is worth not getting more skills!"
Stanley didn't share that view. He couldn't imagine a worse situation to be in than where Zeke was. He was practically helpless when it came to his own power, but so ridiculously valuable that he'd never be free to do as he pleased. He was literally trapped here, whether he knew it or not, with the only upside being that he actually enjoyed healing people.
Poor kid. People sucked. Well, most people. Zeke was an obvious exception. Even though the kid was probably off his rocker after everything he'd been through... and it was just lucky for everyone that his crazy involved helping others. Very lucky. Or most of these worthless fuckers would already be dead.
"Here." Stanley pulled out the skill shards he'd been collecting to trade. "Might as well check these." Even if it was a long shot.
Nate finally wandered over, feeling annoyingly pleased with himself. "I noticed your soul felt quieter today. Make some more progress on the repair?"
Oh, right, Stanley remembered. Today was a good day. He'd bumped the soul wound down another level... and then let Bernard ruin his good mood.
"I did," Stanley said with another glare at Bernard. "Down to a major wound now, which... well, it's better than deadly or critical."
Eve flinched at his statement, almost like she was in pain, and Stanley flicked on Soul Sight to check her soul when he felt her response.
It looked fine. Or at least the same as it always did. Though she didn't seem to appreciate his scan... but then she didn't appreciate anything, so whatever.
"What's this about a new team?" he asked Nate, rather than worrying about Eve's drama. "And what did you mean about them having... issues?"
Nate waved dismissively. "We don't need to do that today if you want..."
"Just tell me." He'd only come here to grab food for Caffeine, and now he was just wasting time that he could use to get stronger. Though after Bernard's little stunt... maybe he wouldn't subject the innocent pug to the terrors of the ocean just yet.
He also didn't feel bad about taking all the food because a parade of gatherers from Zeke's hunt were hauling in enough meat to keep Jerry busy for days. It was always nice to see the weaklings being useful. It was definitely a good idea to send out gathering teams, especially with Zeke, since they didn't have to worry about anything rotting.
"If you’re up for it, I'll meet you outside," Nate said. "Just give me a minute to round them up." Stanley nodded at him, even though there was obviously something he wasn't saying. Something bad.
Then he took a deep breath and just focused on the feeling from Zeke's aura. Today was a good day. He didn't need to be upset about anything. Especially when it was a problem he could solve by killing. Those were always the easiest.
"Wow!" Zeke said, staring at a core. "You think someone will use this to turn into a tree?"
Right. That weird root skill. Stanley thought about it, then shook his head. "I really don't care. Either of you know about this new team Nate's putting together?"
Zeke shook his head. Eve glowered at him before shaking her head, and Jerry said, "I know."
Of course, then he just grinned when Stanley looked questioningly at him.
It was Stanley's turn to scowl. "You ready to give up on being a better cook than Bill yet? Maybe do some actual fighting?" He glanced around the room. "Where is Bill, anyway?"
"First off," Jerry said. "Fuck you. I will totally wipe that floor with that prick. Also, the idiot blabbed about having a legendary class and someone tried to kill him for it. Now he's too good to hang out with us common folk."
Tried to kill him for... "What?"
"You didn't hear? One of our fighters died in a lair and instead of a normal skill shard, he dropped a class shard. A legendary one."
"That's... good?"
Jerry smiled grimly. "Of course, people being the bastards they are, they fought over who got it. In the process, they discovered that legendary classes always drop instead of a skill."
"That's... very interesting," Stanley murmured with a glance at Caffeine. Beast Lord was a legendary class. But it also said it was only for the strongest beast. A human couldn't take it, could they? Not that anyone even knew it was legendary. At least, not anyone human. Did the animals know? Is that why the tiger went after him? "Wait, what was the legendary class?"
Of course, Jerry just grinned at him. "I have a feeling you're going to find out pretty soon."
Zeke and Eve were no help, either. Zeke's soul felt upset, and knowing him, it was probably because of people killing each other. Eve was far more calculating, but she obviously hadn't heard about it before either.
"Are you the one who tried to kill Bill?"
Jerry shook his head with fake sorrow plastered on his face while twirling a knife between his fingers. "No, but man, I really missed my shot, didn't I?"
Zeke gasped in horror, and Eve rolled her eyes while pulling him away. "Don't listen to him. He's just fucking with you."
"Am I?" Jerry asked, twirling the knife faster while grinning madly. "Speaking of which, your class has gotta be pretty rare..."
Eve didn't even hesitate to move between them and stick a rapidly brightening barrel directly in Jerry's face. "I will end you in a fucking heart..."
"Christ lady!" Jerry yelped, dropping his knife and taking a step back. "I was joking! Gods, you're even worse than Stanley! Fucking angry people that can't take a joke..."
She bristled and glared. "I'm not... It wasn't funny!" Then she turned her glare on Stanley, which was completely unjustified. He hadn't even done anything to her.
"You kids have fun," Stanley said, heading for the window and flying outside before he got dragged into any more bullshit. It was past-time to see what new disaster Nate was cooking up.
At least Bernard had made himself scarce somewhere along the way...
...
"Guys," Nate said to the motley crew before him a short while later. "This is Stanley, assuming you don't already know that, and he's going to be your new team leader."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
His proclamation was met with a mix of reactions from the group. A wide mix ranging from outright denial to calm acceptance, with the most vocal belonging to the former category. "I don't belong with these people!"
Stanley was still thinking about what Jerry had said, particularly about someone here having a legendary class. He wasn't sure what it was, but something about the protesting man told him he'd just found it. A feeling, but one that he grew more certain about by the second. "You're the one with a legendary class?"
"I didn't do any..." The man stopped ranting to fix Stanley with a very condescending look. "Duh! Everyone knows..."
"Then hit me with your best shot," Stanley said and almost immediately got a premonition.
On the one hand, it was impressive how quickly the guy did what he'd asked. On the other hand, he went straight for the head, which, to be fair, was in line with his request to hit him with his best shot.
Stanley didn't get a very good look at what happened in his premonition, despite it happening inside his domain. There was only a single instant to note the baseball-sized hole that appeared in his brain... and everything went dark.
Move
He got a better look when the actual attack appeared where his head used to be. A black sphere of nothingness appeared in the air and then vanished as quickly as it had arrived. It left absolutely nothing within... and then the air violently refilled the empty space with a pop and a flash of light.
Nate was right; that was powerful. Though he'd need to see it in action against something tougher than his own head. Like a lair wall or...
Then another premonition warned him an instant before the idiot tried to kill him again.
Stop
Move
Stanley unstopped the man only after his own hand was already tightening around the idiot's throat and he still heard the pop of another collapsing void behind him. "I said you're best shot," he growled, his face inches from the other man's. "You missed."
Caffeine helpfully punctuated Stanley's statement with his own growl, also from only inches away. Sadly, it didn't have the same intimidation factor when he was actually pug-sized... he was just too cute.
Maybe that was why it felt like the void-caster was about to attack him again... "Do you want my best shot?"
That did it. Or maybe it was because he added a touch of Mind Over Matter to his grip on the man's neck. Either way, the guy held up his hands in surrender.
"What..." the man wheezed while rubbing his throat. "Too much? You're supposed to be untouchable."
"It wasn't," Stanley said, then narrowed his eyes. "But that second one was just asking for it."
The cheeky bastard grinned at him, his soul not nearly frightened enough... and asked, "What rarity is your class?"
Stanley just stared at him.
"What? Everyone knows I have a legendary class. You think we don't speculate about yours? Especially since it's harder to tell if we're feeling your class or your soul when you go all angry like that."
Stanley re-upped his soul shield, ignoring the smirk on the man's face as he did so. "I'm assuming your little bubbles can at least destroy lair walls?"
He was tempted to have him test it on the sapient lair beside them, but everyone always got so upset whenever the notification appeared...
"Black holes," the other man said defensively. "I summon black holes, not bubbles."
Stanley shrugged. "I don't care what you call it. As long as it's actually powerful... and assuming you can hit moving targets?"
"How did you dodge it?" the man probed.
"What about the rest of you?" Stanley said, ignoring the question. "Anyone else want to take their shot?"
No one volunteered, but listening to their souls, one of them clearly wanted to; the singular woman among the group, and one that was practically draped around another younger man. "You," Stanley said, pointing. "I know you want a shot."
She flinched in surprise and moved further behind the man beside her. "M... me!?"
Was it possible she'd somehow never heard he could feel their souls? It didn't feel like she was pretending... "Yes, you. I need to know what all of you can do, and I'm hard to kill. So come on."
Sure, he was potentially taking a risk by doing this, but between his improved premonition and how calm Nate felt, it really was the best way he could think of to test their power. Though...
"One other thing," Stanley said, dropping his soul shield intentionally this time. "If any of you attack Caffeine..."
"I... I wasn't... I wouldn't!" she stammered. "Nate already promised to kill anyone who messes with your dog... or Barbie."
"Oh, good." Stanley smiled, then levitated Caffeine out of his lap. "So let's do this."
"Actually," she said, stepping out from behind the man, her soul eager and with just a touch of nervousness. "My power is only defensive. You'll have to attack... me."
It was a lie. She was lying about her power. Stanley didn't know what she was hiding but he let it slide anyway. It was only fair to keep some secrets about one's own power, but he would also watch her more closely for it.
"Okay." He stretched out a hand toward her. "You ready?"
Her nervousness spiked, and she held both hands in a warding gesture. "Just something small first!"
Cut
"Ouch!"
Whatever her power was supposed to do, he didn't see it. Instead, a perfectly straight line of red appeared on her outstretched palm as blood appeared and flowed from the cut Stanley had willed into being. Lucky for her, he'd indeed gone with something small...
"Sorry, I wasn't ready," she said, lying again while feeling pleased with herself. Extremely pleased. "But I'm ready now, if you want to try again."
Stanley didn't like either of her personalities—the sweet innocent face she was showing to the world or the sneaky coniving side hidden in her soul... He still repeated the attack, with a little slice in her palm beside the first.
Cut
His premonition didn't trigger, and her skin didn't split. Instead, he felt a sting in his own hand.
"Well?" she asked with a knowing glance at her own unblemished hand and a small smile. Her soul hid a much bigger grin, and her previous nervous energy vanished entirely. Probably because she knew her power worked against him...
Stanley didn't ask the now smug woman what her power was; he just attacked her again... or tried to. Sort of... It was weird.
He aimed to take her whole hand off, and this time a premonition showed him his own hand falling in a spray of blood. He aimed for her neck... and saw his own death... He then tried to lift her off the ground and only floated higher himself. He squeezed her and felt the grip of his own power trying to crush him.
What the hell? It was disturbing. And weird. But... it was also very interesting. Especially as he put more effort into crushing her and, by extension, himself. More so when he tried to push back against that crushing pressure—against his own power.
He'd never actually felt his power like this, and he never really had a chance to defend against someone using psionic powers against him. Because that was what it felt like. Even though technically he already used his powers on himself all the time, this was a whole new experience from flying or the occasional self-dismembering.
"So, do I pass the..." she said, only to be cut off.
Cut
Debuff Gained: [Bleeding]
Despite knowing it was coming, both from a premonition and from his own actions, he still failed to keep his hand attached. Blood sprayed, the woman hid a smirk, and Stanley held the severed limbs together until his regeneration took over. So much easier than regrowing the whole thing...
"That wasn't a small..."
Cut
Then he did it again, with identical results.
His premonitions were especially strange... because it was the first time he'd been able to trigger one with his own actions. Normally, cutting himself didn't trigger it, but with the attack coming back at him from her...
Cut
Skill Level Up: Psionic Barrier
Skill Level Up: Mind Over Matter
He blocked it... partially. But this was great! She could help him get stronger.
Cut
Cut
Cut
Debuff Gained: [Hungry]
"Are you finished?" she asked while eyeing the blood dripping all over his stark white suit. Luckily, it didn't stick to Walter's creation and only flowed right back off to spatter into the dirt.
Everyone else seemed content, mostly, to watch him mutilate himself like this, so Stanley kept at it. There were some squeamish feelings, and Caffeine was definitely not enjoying the show. Still, it was important. If he ever ran into another psionic... or something similar. He had to be able to block them.
"Not yet," Stanley said, while he pulled Caffeine back to his lap to share in the snack time. Despite Bernard's attempts, he still had plenty to eat.
Cut
Cut
Cut
Debuff Upgraded: [Famished]
"You won't get through..."
Cut
Cut
Cut
"It doesn't matter how much you..."
Cut
Cut
Cut
Debuff Upgraded: [Starving]
His food consumption wasn't keeping up with the injuries, and he wasn't gaining any more levels...
"Satisfied?" she asked, folding her arms and looking at him with a smug expression. Or at least, her soul felt smug. It also felt slightly worried. Maybe she was running out of mana? Reflecting all of his attacks like that couldn't be cheap... could it?
"Mostly." Could she have turned the D-grade skeleton's chains back on it? Did it protect her from the miasma? He pulled a knife from beneath his jacket and sent it flying toward her. "What about physical attacks?"
"I can't!"
"Oh." Stanley stopped the knife in midair, an inch away from her leg. "That's... lame." Sure, her ability was strong—shockingly so, if it could block him like that—but all of that meant nothing if he could just throw a rock at her.
"I can also shield others," she said, a bit surly.
"Nevermind," Stanley amended while reclaiming his knife. "That is a good ability." It would be a massive boon to have that power on his side when he finally found the invaders.
His new knife looked... fine. An ugly, squarish, and heavy thing Hugo had crafted for him. Nothing fancy or magical, just a heavy-duty blade that should survive a lot of abuse. So perfect for him.
While he didn't really need a physical weapon anymore, after his experience with Hugo and what the man said about metal and Stanley's essence infusing it... Well, who knew what might happen to his knife in the future if he kept using it? Besides, it was probably a good idea to have it as a backup in case he ever ran into something that could resist his power.
Like the woman in front of him...
Stanley looked from her to the man she was once again holding onto, holding on with an odd... affection? She cared about him, but it wasn't the warm affection Stanley felt from most couples. It was... colder. Calculating. He was... treasured? Maybe he had a powerful ability, and she wanted to stick close because of it? Who knew. People were weird, and relationships were weirder.
The man in question met his gaze but shook his head and spoke before Stanley could ask the question. "I can't use my power on you." He glanced toward Nate with no small amount of fear. "I swore to never use it on another human."
"What's the ability?" Stanley asked, actually curious now.
Nate answered for him, a twinge of fear echoing from his soul as he did. "He has mind control."