Marke rested on the roof and watched the storm roll closer. It looked like it would beat the afternoon eclipse. Marke didn’t know if he would be able to “observe” the eclipse sufficiently to level up. Feeling groggy and tired, Marke pulled up his status instead of trying to remember what points had been allocated. “Status.”


    <blockquote>


    Name: ineedabreak


    Class: Soul Eclipse


    Level: 37


    Stat Points: 1


    </blockquote>


    “Assign stat point.”


    <blockquote>


    Stats:


    Strength: 10 (+)


    Agility: 8 (+)


    Endurance: 10 (+)


    Intelligence: 5 (+)


    Soul: 8 (+)


    </blockquote>


    Marke hesitated, his body and mind were in rough shape. What would be the best stat to increase his chances of getting off the roof and finding food? Agility? His agility had allowed him to briefly use Grace twice in the escape from the Captain’s office, but another use of Grace might kill him. Intelligence helped him use Priority Mind, which had orchestrated the escape, but he was mentally fatigued and tired. Soul made Kente feel better, but it didn’t affect the physical world. Strength and Endurance were potentially beneficial, but neither would help with a broken shoulder.


    “Kente.” He said finally. “I’m failing Priority Two.”


    Kente responded after a pause. “Are you giving up?”


    “No.” Marke said. “I’m out of options. I won’t fail Priority One and let myself be recaptured, and I can’t get off this roof before dying from exposure in the storm.”


    “Please look over the other sides of this building first.” Kente said anxiously.


    Marke winced. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say I’m killing myself, I mean that I’m going to die and I can’t stop it. I’ll go look.” Marke crawled over to the side of the roof near the prison and peeked over. The wall was smooth and blank. Guess no one wants to look out and see the wall of the prison. He thought. As he crawled to the front of the building, the sun passed behind the storm clouds. He felt like a snail in a race against a giant. The sky turned dark and a chill wind picked up. He peeked over the front of the building. Someone closed a shutter below him. The front of the building was smooth and the closed shutters lay flush with the stone. Marke sighed. “I guess powerful storms are normal here—everything is built to deal with lots of wind. If this building was only a single floor I would try jumping down. It’s hopeless.”


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Kente’s voice strained to sound upbeat. “One more side to check!”


    Marke crawled, face into the wind, to the last edge of the roof. He looked over the edge. Nothing. He huddled down behind the lip of stone to hide from the wind. He briefly tried to use Hide to actually hide from the wind, but it had no effect. “Kente, it’s no use.” Marke said.


    “I’m sorry.” Kente said.


    Marke shook his head. “No, I’m sorry. We don’t know what will happen to either of us when I die and I never got a body making skill for you.” With no options left, Marke struggled to find a reason to stay awake. The wind picked up speed and began to howl. Marke lay on the roof and waited for the storm to hit.


    When the rain started to fall, Kente spoke into Marke’s mind. Marke, we should try and break the System. I think I know how we can do it.


    Marke shivered from the cold. Breaking the System is even more likely to kill you than me just dying. He protested.


    It’s better for you. Kente insisted. If you respawn in this world, you might obsesses over getting me back, and even if you could get ‘Second Soul’ again, it might not be me. It’s better to be sure. Priority One: Don’t Suffer. Kente’s voice was firm and calm.


    Marke began to try with exhaustion and emotion. Ok. He tried to think of something else to say but failed. How do we break it? He asked.


    We each assign the stat point simultaneously. I’ll assign to Soul, you assign to Inteligence. I’ll count down from three, on zero we add the stat point. Got it? Kente asked.


    Got it. I’m ready. “Assign stat point” Marke said aloud.


    Kente counted clearly and evenly. Three. Two. One. On ‘Zero’, Marke tapped the plus next to Inteligence. Nothing happened. Kente didn’t say anything. “Status.” Marke croaked the word, barely able to speak.


    <blockquote>


    Name: ineedabreak


    Class: Soul Eclipse


    Level: 37


    Stat Points: -1


    </blockquote>


    “Assign stat point?” Marke said uncertainly.


    <blockquote>


    Stats:


    Strength: 10 (+)


    Agility: 8 (+)


    Endurance: 10 (+)


    Intelligence: ERR (+)


    Soul: 9 (+)


    </blockquote>


    Marke hesitated. He reached out to tap the plus next to Inteligence. The realm shattered.


    <hr>


    Marke opened his eyes to see the inside of a stone cave. The cave was completely bare. Sunlight shone through an exit at the end of a short tunnel. A blue box popped up right in front of his face.


    <blockquote>


    Welcome Hero! Enter your name:


    Done


    </blockquote>


    Marke stared at the box but didn’t read it. Kente is gone. Marke couldn’t think anything else for a long time.


    “Isn’t this the brown realm?”


    Marke choked on spittle as he gasped in surprise. He rolled on his side and coughed violently. Ow. He thought. “Kente!” He managed to cough out Kente’s name. Kente’s laughter sounded from around the room as he seemed to zip around the space.


    Marke managed to clear his lungs. “You’re alive!” He shouted.


    “That might be debatable.” Kente said smugly. “After assigning the stat point to Soul I hid in the shadow sea. It was pretty weird. Your light body down there melted entirely. I was stuck for a while because I couldn’t figure out how to stop using Meditate. I assume that is because the System that supplied Meditate broke. Anyway, here I am!”


    Marke lay on his back and smiled up at the blue box. “I’m so glad. Wow, that was a rough time. I can hardly believe it’s over now.”