~~~Lee~~~
All remaining invaders have retreated.
Dungeon: [Feigned Onslaught] successfully defended.
Victory.
Buff Gained: [Victory](04:23:59)
Lee frowned at nothing while watching the aftermath of the battle at his fort's walls through Mana Mind. Nothing but more mindless monsters again, all of them dead or retreated, and an even shorter victory buff for their efforts.
He hadn't noticed that the previous one had been six days instead of seven until it expired today, once again literally at the same time they'd been invaded... and there was the similar dungeon name as well.
It seemed like a good thing. No one had died, at least not that he'd seen. There'd been a few injuries when E-grades ran up against the D-grades among the invading force, but they had enough of their own D-grades now that it wasn't a problem.
"What is happening, Z?" he asked the alien when it came to him bearing gifts in the form of what was presumably more D-grade cores. A lot of them...
"We are being attacked intentionally," Z said. "With no intention of conquest. Fits with dungeon names and retreats. System knows. Gives us less reward for less risk."
"I figured that out already! What I want to know is why!?"
"Unknown. Fast invasion suggests they do not wish others to attack. Suggests they are watching. They know what is here and do not wish another to claim it." A touch of uncertainty entered Z's soul. "But does not explain the retreats... System punishes retreat. Expensive, and with no gain other than depriving others of the chance to attack."
Lee had a worrying thought. "Could it be the prince I let go? Or his father? He did threaten to come back..."
"Possible... more possible if you killed him, but doubt it." Z held out the cores again. "Suggest you evolve to D-grade before the next attack."
"Are you insane!?" Lee yelled, drawing nervous attention from the people trickling out of the surrounding apartments. He lowered his voice and continued in a hissing whisper. "What if that's exactly what they're waiting for so they can send in a C-grade to wipe us out!?"
"C-grades will not attack you," Z said, and not for the first time. "Certainly not at low D-grade. Disparity is too great. System is fair. C-grade is a huge leap beyond D-grade. Cannot compare to E and D-grade."
"You don't know that for sure!" Lee said. "And I can't risk it!"
"What risk!?" Maria demanded, appearing beside Z in a blurring streak of mana.
"He's still trying to get me to hit D-grade," Lee said.
It wasn't the first time they'd had this argument, and after the attack today, Lee was more certain than ever that holding off was the right choice. Someone out there was clearly waiting for something. Most likely for him to evolve...
The solution was obvious. He needed to stay in E-grade.
"World close to D-grade," Z said when Maria looked at him. "Will not matter after."
"How soon?" Maria asked. Was she actually buying into Z's propaganda?
"Not an expert," Z said, which was obviously why they shouldn't trust him on this. "But soon. D-grades everywhere. Shouldn't delay." His helmeted head swung back to Lee. "System will treat all as D-grade even if not. Will not reward weakness."
Amy betrayed him by nodding along. "More hunters are finding D-grades out there, and I wouldn't mind you being stronger than a paper bag, considering I'm the one who has to keep you alive."
"I'm not a damn..." Lee closed his eyes and took a breath, trying to calm down. It made him more aware of Stanley's anger in the distance and the likely reason he was feeling so on edge himself. Instead of piling on with more, he turned and left without another word.
Not that he could go anywhere! Since he was trapped in this damn building!
I'm sorry, Three, Lee thought at the building a moment later. You're wonderful. I'm just... He didn't know what he was. Angry for sure... or was that just Stanley influencing him? Maybe? Either way, he paced around the top-floor balcony, and Amy followed behind him with her stupid, stomping footsteps. Couldn't she walk fucking quieter!?
A circle of runes flashed up around him, and the world went silent but for his own breathing.
Lee stopped and stared at the sound-canceling runes he hadn't asked for. Or had he? Three did things like this sometimes, but he still wasn't sure if it was the building acting on its own recognizance or simply his own subconscious at play, and there wasn't exactly a good way to test which it was. Three, are you there?
No response came back.
Get rid of the runes.
The circle vanished, and Lee resumed stomping... pacing around the building. Maria and Z fucked off before he got back around, so that was nice.
Far away, Stanley calmed down, and Lee slowed to a stop as he did so, waiting for... something? He realized what he was waiting for when it didn't materialize. Or rather, when it didn't go away. He was still angry...
Lee dropped a speed bubble on himself out of reflex. It was the best way he'd found to keep his own problems from bleeding over to Stanley. At least he hoped it was. That, or he was dumping everything on his brother in a single burst... One thing it definitely accomplished was that it gave him time to calm down.
Which he did. Mostly.
He resumed his pacing, but at a more sedate pace. A calmer pace.
Saira intercepted him before he made another circuit. "I have the watch," she said to Amy. "On my life, he will be safe."
Amy left, relieved, and Lee only then noticed how worried she had been. He wasn't that bad, was he? Or was it Stanley? It had been a trying past few days dealing with his brother... nothing to the point of that one morning, but they hadn't gone even a single day without having to intercede on his behalf. Maybe she was regretting the choices that stuck her here with him and Stanley?
"Come, Lee," Saira said, linking her free arm with his and pulling him along. He couldn't resist her strength if he wanted to, and that thought brought him back to the topic he didn't want to think about.
She said nothing as they strolled along the balcony, but it wasn't exactly silent either. Aasha burbled happily while her gaze roved unceasingly, and the children recently freed from their protective confinement made even more racket below. Gabriel was down there with his new staff, and so was Anita, the latter contributing substantially to the noise levels...
He didn't mind. The kids might not be as up to speed as the adults, but they knew enough. They knew what those notifications meant, and now they were letting off the nervous energy generated by that knowledge. He could feel it clearly when they spotted a returning parent—or surrogate parent, in some cases. That second category was the worst. They knew what could happen all too well.
They knew fear like only someone who has lost everything can.
Lee shared in their fear, and he shared in their relief when the worst didn't come to pass. It wasn't a fair trade. Each test took something from them they would never get back. A piece of their innocence.
This world was grinding all of them down, and it would either sharpen and forge them into weapons or it would destroy them. Just like Z kept saying, the system didn't reward weakness. Which left Lee in the terrible position of having to gamble with all of their lives if he wanted to get stronger...
He pulled away, and Saira let him go as he retreated into his apartment. She followed him inside and sat beside him on the floor. Once again, she said nothing and only held his hand while he struggled to breathe through the pounding in his chest. He couldn't do this! What was he supposed to do!?
Stanley must have noticed something was wrong because his rage flared high in the back of Lee's mind, and it only made him feel worse... especially when Three expanded the soul link without his permission and flooded everyone's souls with his pathetic weakness.
Some of those souls recoiled, but not all. Not most. Instead, they pulled him close, and the warmth of their embrace burned hot against the icy nugget of terror in his chest.
Of course, none of that warmth could compare to the fire of Stanley's rage roaring higher; only this time, it wasn't the cold, uncaring rage Lee had learned to dread. There was still a touch of that lurking within Stanley, but there was also something else. A protective wrath reaching out to shield him in its searing presence.
It was... comforting, in a terrifying sort of way. In an 'I will burn this world to ashes to keep you warm' type of way.
Lee basked in the fire and didn't fight it when Saira pulled his head down onto her lap. Her fingers felt cool as she ran them through his hair, and Lee closed his eyes as everything got a little less hectic, though Aasha was a little less gentle with her tiny fingers and surprisingly strong...
He stayed there until he felt calm and until his twin recognized he was calm and relaxed as well. Then he told Three to close the link. Only then did he let the embarrassment rise to the surface. What the hell is wrong with me!?
Not receiving any answers in his head, Lee opened his eyes and asked the only other adult in the room with him. "What the hell is wrong with me?"
"It's called a panic attack," Amy yelled through the door.
Saira smiled down at him. "I wouldn't know, but that sounds like an apt description."
"I don't have..." Lee trailed off when he remembered another time when he'd broken down even worse. After his near-death experience in Mexico... He tried to sit up as the shame of that memory flashed through him, but Saira refused to let him escape.
"Rest," she said in a tone that brooked no argument. "There are no pressing matters for you to attend. So, take your time. Talk to me. Tell me what drives you to panic."
"Is this about your evolution?" Amy yelled through the door again, and Lee opened it with a thought. It was bad enough that the entire building knew he had a mental breakdown without her screaming her head off out there.
Saira still wouldn't let him up when Amy sat cross-legged beside his head, and he glared up at both women before sighing in defeat. Her fingers in his hair did feel nice.
"I..." His throat threatened to close up as soon as he turned his thoughts back to... it, and he had to swallow before continuing. "I was thinking about the C-grade... and what would happen to everyone here if another one showed up because I got to D-grade."
"Oh." Amy sat back. "Yeah, that would be bad, but Z says that won't happen. Do you think he's wrong?"
"I don't know!" Lee exclaimed. "And even he can't be sure! Not absolutely! How can I risk it? Worse, it doesn't even matter what I do because a C-grade might show up anyway once Earth gets to D-grade!"
"It sounds like there's nothing you can do either way," Amy said unhelpfully. "So you might as well do the upgrade." As if it were really that simple!
Alejandro stuck his head through the doorway. "I'm in agreement with Z on this one."
"Seriously?" Lee glared at Amy as best he could while lying down with his head in someone's lap. It wasn't very effective.
"What?" Amy said, not even trying to hide it as she turned off the communication disc attached to her belt. "I was keeping him updated."
Alejandro grinned as he also sat down near Lee's head. "Is this like a slumber party or something? Who wants to get their hair braided? I've actually gotten pretty good at doing Anita's."
Lee sighed in resignation but couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. He had some great people here... which made it all the worse that he was the one putting them in danger. So he said as much.
"You're wrong," Alejandro said immediately. "Yes, your presence brings extra danger, but it more than balances out. I know you don't get to see what it's like out there, but our fort is far and away the greatest stronghold in the area. Maybe even in the entire country. Or the world." He held up a hand to forestall a response when Lee opened his mouth.
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"It's not just the runes," he continued. "Though they undeniably help. It's all the people you've brought together. You know how many people are alive simply because you gave the Anubians a chance? Hundreds! We're the only fort with potions that we've found, and Trak and his team can't even keep up with the demand anymore!"
"But..."
"Not to mention Saira here," Alejandro said, talking over him. "You know she's the only healer that can regrow lost limbs, right? We're getting visitors from as far away as downtown trekking all the way down here to get themselves or their friends healed. She would have died in Mexico if not for you. I would have died if not for you! So don't go acting like you're some big bad monster that only brings terrible things down on us! Because you're not!"
Alejandro was breathing heavily when he finished, with both his hands raised in the air. He appeared slightly chagrined as he awkwardly dropped them back into his lap. "Someone else can say something now." Amy and Saira only grinned at him. "Anyone?"
"I got it," Lee said, coming to the man's rescue. "I'm overreacting. But what if I go somewhere... except I'd have to leave Three behind... No, what if I..."
"Face it, Lee," Amy said while patting his shoulder. "We're in this together. For better or worse, and you should know by now that you'll never get rid of me."
"You're making it sound like we're married," Lee grumbled, not doubting her for a second. The price he paid for a bodyguard...
"Okay." He sat up, and this time, Saira let him go. "I'll do it. But I can wait until the timer is..."
"Do it now," Amy said, standing up to loom over him. "Better that you have some time to get used to any new changes, and it'll give us more time to prepare accordingly." She followed it up by pulling a D-grade shard from her pouch and holding it out to him. The damn woman had come prepared for this... but she had a point.
Lee took the shard but put it away. "I will, but not just yet. I need time to prepare for the fortification because I want to get at least three attributes this time."
Alejandro stumbled while standing up himself. "Are you sure? No one's done three, and the penalty for failing is..."
"I'm sure," Lee said, getting up. "It's all or nothing, and I'll need every advantage I can get." Saira nodded along, and Amy only smirked, as if she'd expected nothing less from him. "And get Z. I want to talk to him before..."
Amy opened the front door and yelled through the gap, "Z, get over here!"
Lee shook his head as he settled onto the couch. "Don't ever change, Amy."
Z showed up quick, and Lee asked him again if he was sure about them not getting hit by C-grades after this.
"Yes. Stake my life. Very sure." His soul agreed, but then it had before.
"It's not your life I'm worried about," Lee growled, then hesitated at what he felt from Z's soul. "Though you have done well, Z. Better than I expected, to be honest. So thanks for that."
Z nodded brusquely while his soul soared with pride and... hope? "Of course. Zhint contracts are best for a reason."
Lee wasn't completely sold on that, given that he only had a zhint's word on the matter, but the alien had definitely proved his worth since signing on. Maybe even enough to make up for almost killing Mar and Bradley... No. Not quite enough for that. Not yet. But he was getting there.
Despite his brave words, Lee didn't kick things off right away. He knew the fortification would suck—more than suck—and he really wasn't looking forward to it. The very fact that he didn't have a time crunch only made it harder to take that last step and willingly subject himself to what basically amounted to torture.
He also wanted Stanley to be in a slightly more stable state of mind before starting. With that excuse, he dove into his rune storage and looked at his so-called time rune again.
It was complex beyond anything shy of Three at this point, and it still wasn't complete. No matter how much he racked his brain, he was still missing something. That final piece of the puzzle that would tie the whole thing together.
His latest tactic involved using his time bubble while working on it, and he'd even brought Jeremy in a few times to see if mixing in some space magic might jog something loose. Spacetime and all that... except Jeremy's physics lessons about time always went in one ear and right out the other...
Nothing was doing it. Worse, he was probably wasting his time because he knew, without a doubt, that no material they had would hold this rune. Not without the source... He knew something about the source broke the normal rules that he otherwise observed. It wasn't mana, even if it sometimes seemed to behave that way, and it wasn't close to anything else he'd seen. It was also the only explanation for how he'd created Three in the otherwise weak concrete building.
He was still stalling and scratching his metaphysical head while Stanley grumbled in the background when something fundamental changed. Something fantastic.
Debuff Removed: [Minor Soul Wound]
Trait Updated: [Ruthless Unbreakable Soul]
Lee wasn't sure if his new rune had pulled this off or if Stanley was responsible. Either way, they both shared in the relief and celebration of seeing it go. Hell, Stanley felt happier than Lee could ever remember since this all started.
He wanted to go look at the updated trait, but he also realized that this moment was as good as it was going to get and he could no longer justify waiting. It was time.
+0.1 All Base Attributes
All Base Attributes have reached the D-grade Threshold.
You may attempt to Fortify your Attributes before the Evolution process begins. Attempt Fortification Y/N?
Lee had thought about this moment and how to handle it based on his experiences as well as what he'd heard from others. So he picked willpower first, since he felt like it was his weakest area but also one he wanted—no, needed—to improve.
Willpower Fortification has Begun.
He'd been right to choose this one first. Because the wave of doubt and despair almost broke him the moment it started.
You may quit this test at any time. Quit Y/Y?
He’d almost forgotten how much he hated that notification... but Lee remembered Alejandro's little rant and resisted the urge to give up. He needed to be as strong as possible if he wanted to keep his family safe, and this was the first step.
As he'd hoped, Stanley noticed what was happening and came to his aid with a surge of...
Willpower Fortification Complete.
You may attempt to Fortify additional Attributes before the Evolution process begins. Attempt Fortification Y/N?
Okay, he hadn't expected it to be that easy... but he wouldn't complain. Intelligence was next, and he knew it would be harder than last time since he wasn't doing it first, but he was confident. Jeremy and his imaginary number math didn't count in this place.
He was right; the maze puzzle was harder than last time, but it was more due to the crushing pressure he had to deal with than the test itself. He still solved it.
Intelligence Fortification Complete.
You may attempt to Fortify additional Attributes before the Evolution process begins. Attempt Fortification Y/N?
The pressure to evolve was extreme as he stared at that message. He could still turn back without consequences right now... He didn't have to go through the torture. No one would even know, and they wouldn't blame him for bailing if they did. It was probably stupid to even try when so much was at stake.
Except that was the very reason he had to do it. Because everything was at stake. The monsters loved to attack him first. He needed to be tough enough to take it. Tough enough to take it and still hit back.
Lee pulled up his memories of Gabriel as the boy delighted in showing his mother a successful rune creation. He remembered Anita's giddy laughter as she chased her father around the courtyard, and he thought about what would happen to the siblings if anything happened to their parents.
He thought about Saira and their budding relationship. He didn't know where it was going yet, but he wanted to find out. He thought of Aasha's innocent yet ever-curious eyes and the feeling in Saira's soul when she gazed back into those eyes.
All of that was worth fighting for. Hell, it was worth dying for! What was a little pain compared to that? He selected vitality. Or, as others who had fortified vitality called it, the pain attribute.
It wasn't a little pain.
You may quit this test at any time. Quit Y/Y?
Over and over that message flashed, and over and over, Lee refused to give up. He'd been through hell and back. This was nothing! He'd been scorched to little more than bones and still survived. This was nothing! He'd had his soul ripped apart and had to stitch it back together himself while screaming in agony. This. Was. NOTHING!
Vitality Fortification Complete.
You may attempt...
Evolution to D-grade has begun.
Lee wanted to be strong, but he knew his limits, and the darkness of the evolution space welcomed him in like an old friend, even as the memory of what he'd just gone through faded into the background. He knew he'd see it again—probably in his nightmares.
But that was a worry for the future. For now, multiple orbs awaited his decision, and Lee went through each quickly. There were some he'd seen before. Like turning into a building, which he still wouldn't do. There was even a direct upgrade to his current evolution, but he wasn't sure if he really needed that much more mana... so he kept looking.
The third from the last caught his eye.
[Living Mana](D-grade Mana Entity)
Mana Calls to You. Become one with the Mana.
You have used more mana than any other Human. The mana is Mine.
You do not fear the burn of mana. It keeps me Warm.
You have the Trait: [Soulforged Mana]. I am Mana.
You have the Skill: [Mana Mind]. Mana is always on my Mind.
You have Fortified your Intelligence. I want to Know.
You have Fortified your Willpower. I Want.
You have the Trait: [Adaptable]. Adapt and become something Else.
Step onto the Path of Living Mana and discard the burden of your flesh...
Okay, so that one was out. Never mind that he'd no longer be human; he really didn't want to discard his flesh.
[Beast of the Rune](D-grade Rune Beast)
Let go of Logic and Embrace the Animal Within.
You are Soul-Bonded to the Beast Lord. Take from him what you need and start your own Lineage...
Not going to be a beast, either. He especially didn't like the part that said he'd 'take' something from Caffeine...
The next and final option stopped him in his tracks.
[Two Becomes Three](D-grade Creator Human)
You have created a Legendary Nascent Living Structure, but it is still young, malleable and without its own Soul. Begin the Process of helping it develop One. Give up your absolute control and instead enter a Partnership.
You have created a Nascent Living Structure. It is almost Alive.
You have poured your Twin-Soul into the Creation of the Nascent Living Structure. I am a part of It.
You have lived within the Nascent Living Structure since Its Creation. It is Shelter.
You have protected the Nascent Living Structure from harm and destruction. I care for It.
You have gifted the Nascent Living Structure with a Skill. I want it to be More.
You have the Skill: Soul Awareness. It will Understand.
You have the Trait: [Ruthless Unbreakable Soul]. It will not Break.
You have Fortified your Intelligence. It will Learn.
You have Fortified your Vitality. It will Endure.
You have Fortified your Willpower. It Will.
Step onto the Path of the Creator and dabble in the most ultimate of magics, creating Life. Give of your Vitality and be Protected. Give of your Intelligence and be Known. Give of your Willpower and grant Purpose. Give of your Power and be Empowered. Give of your Twin-Soul and spark the seed of a new Soul.
Creating Life is not Straightforward. The Life you Create may choose against you. Creating Life with your own Soul increases the likelihood of Aligned Purpose.
Creating Life is not Free. It will cost you a portion of your Potential.
New Traits: [Adaptable](30%) [We Are Three]
Lee read through it twice, even as the pressure built and tried to force him onward. Three was never alive... but it could be. All those times it had helped him... saved him. It had all been his own doing? Was it just a computer program in there?
I guess this settles it. Three is not actually alive... but it could be? It was very interesting and... he didn't know. It sounded good, but... Three could turn on me? That would be... bad. The only reason it can't now is that it's just a machine. It's dead.
That thought left him feeling vaguely disappointed and despite the potential risks, Lee liked the idea of this one a lot. Creating life... But he had reservations. It was a hard choice, with serious risks.
So he turned away and went back to the only option that made sense. A straight upgrade. No risk, just more power. With how much mana he'd have after this, he could Mana Beam all his problems away.
The lingering problem was that his gaze kept sweeping back over to the other option. Two Becomes Three. Why do I want that so much? It didn't seem like the logical choice. There was no clear indication of how it would help him survive and some indication that it might actively hurt his chances.
Three has protected me all this time. Or am I just anthropomorphizing it? If it was never really alive, did it ever do anything that I didn't want or subconsciously will it to do? What about when I was unconscious? The soul links... Is all of that just programming or is there a spark of something real in there? A 'Nascent' spark?
The longer he thought about it, the more it absolutely felt like the right choice, the only choice, but he couldn't understand why. Every time he looked at the obvious, safe choice, he felt a gnawing anxiety that was only growing worse. Why? What is it?
Lee stopped his train of thought when he realized he was standing back in front of the final orb and reaching out towards it. He backed off, even as the pressure grew. I don't like this. Why should I trust this instinct? It felt... inevitable. As if it was always meant to be...
He thought of one more thing. Three could live beyond me if I take this; it could keep protecting people... protecting my friends and family.
It said it was a process to come to life, and he didn't know how long that would take, but still... It was a gamble, but one that might give him everything he wanted. If all his worst fears came true and something like that C-grade came for him... it wouldn't be the end for everyone else. He could die—well, not happy, but at least with some hope. Gabriel would be a runic no matter what at this point, and if they still had Three looking out for them...
In the end, it didn't matter. Lee knew what his choice was. He wanted this even if he didn’t understand exactly why. He craved it like a man dying of thirst looking at a cup of crystal clear, ice-cold water. So strange...
But he still felt relieved as he made his choice, the right choice.
You do not hold full dominion over your Twin-Soul. All involved parties must agree.
He felt a moment of extreme panic that Stanley might disagree...
All parties agreed.
Evolution to [Two Becomes Three](D-grade Creator Human) has begun.
-1 Twin-Soul
-?? Source
That last bit was somewhat concerning, but Lee didn't care. Instead, he smiled. Because in that moment, he felt something stir in the web of power surrounding him, a web that was vast and deep, but dead... silent. Rather, it was dead. Right up until he felt a spark of awareness blaze to life within it.
The spark was tiny, confused, even frightened. Then it saw him and it knew him. It was... happy to see him.
All of Lee's concerns fled in the light of that flickering spark.
I made the right choice.