[Hidden escalation, stage 3: There is an egg hidden at the center of this conflict. with gestation interrupted, there is now limited time to leave a mana imprint on it before it is born.]
[Timer: 24 hours]
Cal beckoned the team with a gesture, his eyes scanning the space as they converged. "Jerry was toying with some dark stuff. I guess that runs in the family," he pointed at Jabor and Jaxon, voice dipping with gravity. "He was working on turning steel and circuits into something... alive. An egg, believe it or not, is at the core of it."
“The mana imprint that is common in newborn beasts is the driving force of this reaction, though there are materials and mana stones that are also necessary.”
“There’s quite a few details I’m skipping over, but through luck or fate, we have all the materials here to finish the job. To be honest, I’m not sure if we should – we’d be painting a target on our back from this Cageman guy.”
The air thickened with intrigue. From the corner, a rustling preceded Jobe's emergence. The creature's elongated form uncoiled with serpentine grace, and it fixed its wide, shocked eyes on Cal.
"Easy there, Jobe." Cal's words sliced through the tension. "You were on that list, once. A potential ingredient." His usual stoic mask softened for a breath, a wave of relief passing over his face. "But not anymore. And I’m glad."
“Jaxon, this explains why Jobe, er the previous Jobe, bro, was killed over an egg as well.”
“That’s right, this could be game changing. Jerry was willing to die for it too. Pops didn’t tell me anything? Jenna?”
“… Pops told me to watch out for an egg. He said to kill any egg I couldn’t get. I think we need to do this, Jaxon.”
Jobe flicked its tongue, tasting the air, its body language a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Cal's admission hung among them.
Cal extended his hand and stroked Jobe’s fox ears, a gesture that brought an instant stillness to the creature. "No need to worry," he assured. The room's anxious energy waned as attention shifted. He reached into his pocket, producing the shimmering portable hub crystal with a flourish. "At least for now, let's focus on what else we've gained."
The crystal caught the dim light, casting prismatic dances across their faces. Cal's voice was steady, grounding. "You all get one of these too?"
"It's not exactly rare, but not common - given to those who survive the kind of challenges that they shouldn’t. It’s a way out after escalations get out of hand." Jenna added, her tone knowledgeable yet tinged with excitement. She leaned in closer, her fingers brushing the air near the crystal as if to feel its power. “Usually single use.”
“Wait, how many escalations are there usually? Didn’t we complete this trial already?” Cal remembered the faces in the crowd. He had no idea how many survived, if any,
“It varies, Cal. If we keep failing, it gets out of hand quickly. Escalation 3 is typically mortally dangerous.” Elena replied.
“I suspect we have completed it. We should have been portaled out already, but this new timer should be a new limit.” Greg added.
Greg’s words stirred a collective murmur, the team's eyes reflecting the crystal's glow. Greg pulled one out and Jabor pulled another. “Looks like we have 3 total, bro.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Cal! This is excellent – I had suspected we could use this was about to use mine, but there is a slot that we can test. You. You are the key to this whole room, to a million mysteries.” Greg pulled out a stage-three crystal with symbols etched. Greg pointed to a crystalline slot. Without hesitation, Greg guided the crystal towards it. A soft click echoed, and the room seemed to groan, seemed to warp, bend, and snap back into place.
Cal's grip tightened around the portable hub crystal in his hand. “Greg!! What are you doing!”
“Trust me, you’ll like this!”
The walls hummed, responding to the crystal's call. Each member of the team held onto the wall and water sloshed in small waves.
A doorway shimmered into existence, edges sharp against the mottled stone of the chamber.
"Another room..." Greg muttered, squinting at the threshold. “AMAZING!”
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Cal's voice cut the tension, even as he stepped closer.
“Let’s deal with this water first, yeah?” Elena followed, pulling out a spatial treasure. She started filling it with the knee high water.
Jabor followed, but the rest clustered behind Cal, their eyes fixed on the new door. Greg put his hand on the doorknob and twisted, but it was unable to open. Cal moved him aside and tried himself. The ring resonated with the room and the door clicked open.
The room beyond was a similar size to the first but was dominated by a monolith of crystal in the middle.
"Massive..." Jaxon exclaimed. “This. This…”
“It’s a hub crystal. A city hub crystal. But it’s a different color.” Elena added, as shocked as Jaxon.
"But what's it for?" Cal added
Jenna trailed her fingers across the surface, her touch gentle against the cold, hard lines. "It's not like the usual city crystal. It’s bigger and denser – I don’t know what this is for."
“Hub crystals are how we interact with the system, Cal. Don’t you know that? Evolutions, marketplace, skill fusion. You need a hub for all of them – we will have to understand what this type of crystal can do. This might be groundbreaking.” Greg added
"Cal, the hub crystals are also the connections that connect cities." Jabor agreed, allowing himself a rare moment of wonder. “A mobile hub crystal is unheard of. Cal," he said, urgency lacing his voice. "We must consider every angle."
Cal studied the crystal, its facets casting prisms of light across his face. Greg edged closer, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Agreed," Cal replied, his gaze never leaving the monolith before them. "Let's tread carefully then." Cal's muscles tensed, prepared for whatever may come.
Greg nodded, his eyes scanning the runes. "The patterns, they're not random. They're language, history, and maybe... magic. That’s unusual for a hub crystal. Very interesting.”
Cal stepped forward, the air around his single use crystal sparkled and then it shattered. The large crystal charged with the released energy. Cal’s eyes locked onto the list etched into the crystal's face—a catalogue of destinations unknown and mystifying. Among them, one pulsed with a soft glow: Hetar 116 – consulate (1). The script beneath it flickered, revealing a single charge available.
"Interesting," Cal murmured, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Well, that is something," Jenna said, peering over Cal's shoulder, her hand tracing the air above the illuminated words. "Hetar 116... That's where the trial began, isn't it?"
"Right," Jaxon affirmed. He turned to the group, their faces a mix of anticipation and concern. "We've got three jumps then."
"It’s not our only way out. I’d rather stay here in this room." Greg countered, crossing his arms. His keen eyes never wavered from the glowing destination.
"We need to decide. Do we teleport some of us back, wait it out, or look for the egg?" Elena questioned entering the crystal room now fully, her gaze flitting between her comrades, seeking the unspoken consensus. "We're strong together, but do we need to risk it?"
"Ready as we'll ever be. If we stop advancing, especially with something great in front of us, then we will never reach the peak." Jaxon grunted, cracking his knuckles with restless energy. "We cannot be cowards, no glory id found in retreat, broski."
"Glory is not our goal," Jabor reminded him softly, yet firmly. "We don’t know how dangerous this Cageman is."
"I agree with Jaxon," Jenna said, her voice a silken thread weaving through the fabric of their determination. "We can’t let anyone else get that egg."
“Elena, what do you think? I know this isn’t your fight.” Cal asked.
“For better or worse, it is now. If a single one of those bastards got our alive, they’ll know I’m in it with you all.” She sighed.
Cal said decisively, his mind set. "We've never shied from the unknown." He looked at each member of the team, seeing their resolve reflect his own. "Let's find the egg and use this room as a failsafe. Greg, you’re free to stay here, but don't leave and do not. do not use the crystal.."
With a collective intake of breath, the team rallied around the crystal.
"Let's get to work," Cal said, nodding once..